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GOLGO 13

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Full Name: Duke Togo
Codename: Golgo 13
Nationality: Japanese
Organization: None
Occupation Freelance Agent

Creator: Takao Saito
Time Span: 1973 - 2009

ABOUT THE SERIES

Duke Togo, Golgo 13, is a freelance agent.

Technically he is and has been for quite a long time an assassin. He kills people for money. He does not do the various things that one might connect with an agent like gather intelligence, steal vital technology, sabotage ongoing projects or facilities, or suborn others to do the same.

However, I have marked him as a freelance operative because far more often than might seem likely for someone who illegally kills people for profit, he does so at the request of governments which, for the purposes of this compendium, qualifies him - hence 'agent'. He alone decides which contract he will take from whichever government might approach him, and those government departments might be the CIA or MI6 or Mossad or a dozen other alphabet-inclined agencies - hence 'freelance'.

The name listed above might be real or it could be fake, we are never ever told for certain but since it is used repeatedly throughout the many adventures that exist of him, it is as real as it needs to be. The Golgo 13 is a codename routinely given by him to avoid the use of the name.

I have listed Japanese as his nationality though even there disagreement exists. MI6 believes it. The CIA has him down as of 'Japanese descent' only. The KGB believes him Japanese-German. Other groups put him as Japanese-American. Obviously from his physical appearance he is decidedly Japanese but with his uncanny skill with languages, placing his origins any closer is impossible.

He is 6' tall (182 cm) or close enough. He weighs just over 175 lbs. (80 kg). He had black eyes and sports closely cut black hair with long, wide sideburns. If he allowed himself to show emotions, which he almost never does, he might be considered handsome by most but instead he is attractive to many woman largely due to his intensity and aloofness.

To conduct his trade, Golgo 13 is apt to use an M16 or similar model but any rifle would be lethal in his hands. For a handgun he goes most often with the simpler, trustier .38 but again he can use with superb ability anything at hand. And with his hands he is devastating as well. If the contract requires, he is efficient with explosives as well. By and large, though, what makes him so deadly is the rifle and his skill at killing from impressive distances.

Golgo 13 has his own set of codes he lives by. He will take a contract on either men or women but he will only take a contract from one client at a time. Even when several parties might want him to kill a person, he accepts payment from only one of them. He does not care for ambiguity or anonymity from his clients - if a prospective hirer will not meet him in person and be able to explain clearly why the target is do die, Togo will usually decline. Once he takes a contract, he sees it through. He insists on payment up front and should a client renege, that would not go unpunished. In fact, any betrayal of him will result in the death by his hands of the traitor - no easy way out.

Togo has no personal life per se. He has been known to favor remote mountain regions for long periods of solitude but otherwise he has no permanent place to retreat to when the job is finished. He is said to own numerous houses and apartments around the world but these are just places, not home.

He has no lasting relationship with anyone. He is extremely fond of women and 'visits' them frequently but he has no one particular person to spend time with. He has no known offspring though considering the number of 'visits' we are talking about, there could be a good number who might call him father, if they ever had a chance to meet him, which they would not because once he leaves, he does not look or go back.

MOVIES

Number of Movies:4
First Appearance:1973
Last Appearance:1983

       There have been 4 movies about Golgo 13 as of this typing.
       The first two were live action while the last two were anime.

1 Golgo 13 Golgo 13
Released: 1973

The target for Golgo 13 is Max Boa, the leader of a world-wide crime organization deeply involved in drugs, arms, and human trafficking. To kill him, Duke Togo has to travel to the Middle East.

2 Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
Released: 1977

"Master assassin Duke Togo—codenamed "Golgo 13"—is hired by an American crime syndicate to kill Chou Lei Fang, a powerful member of the syndicate's Hong Kong branch who has been selling their drugs through his own channels. At the same time, he has to keep an eye out on Smith, a hard-boiled Hong Kong detective who is hell-bent on taking down Chou and his drug-manufacturing organization."

3 Golgo 13: The Professional Golgo 13: The Professional
Released: 1983

"Golgo 13 is hired to assassinate Robert Dawson, the son of oil baron Leonard Dawson and the heir of Dawson Enterprises, and succeeds. Later, after accomplishing a hit on a powerful crime boss in Sicily named Dr. Z, Golgo is suddenly attacked by the U.S. Military and CIA. His local contact, a clockmaker, is also murdered by a genetically enhanced supersoldier named Snake. Aided by the Pentagon, the FBI, and the CIA, Dawson has become determined to kill Golgo and avenge his son's death."

4 Golgo 13: Queen Bee Golgo 13: Queen Bee
Released: 1983

"Master assassin Golgo 13 is hired by the advisor of presidential candidate Robert Hardy to assassinate "Queen Bee," the beautiful and deadly leader of a South American guerilla army. Golgo, however, finds this job too easy and digs further information to find out the true connection between Hardy and Queen Bee."

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:50
First Appearance:2008
Last Appearance:2009
Network:Syndicated

REGULAR CAST
Hiroshi TachiDuke Toto (Japanese) [ 1 ]
David WaldDuke Toto (English) [ 1 ]

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:20
First Appearance:1986
Last Appearance:2008

       According to Wikipedia, it was in the January 1969 issue of the Japanese periodical Big Comic, released in that country in October of 1968, that the first Golgo 13 adventure was presented. After a few years of adventures the stories (or 'chapters') were repackaged into tankobon format with each volume containing several of the previously released adventures.
       The titles of the Japanese stories are:
Click here to show


1 Into The Wolves' Lair Into The Wolves' Lair
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

1st of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #1.
Golgo 13 is hired by Mossad to break into a maximum security Nazi compound, find a hostage held there, and get that person out alive. It also contains a shorter story taking place in Afghanistan where he is being sought by the entire army.

2 The Fall of the Fourth Reich The Fall of the Fourth Reich
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

2nd of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #1. Originally was story #183
[plot unknown]

3 Galinpero Galinpero
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

1st of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #2.
Golgo 13 has the assignment to avenge the death of a man's family. The killers are the Galinperos, a bloody gang of diamond mine overseers who terrorize a multitude of small Brazilian town.

4 110 Degree Angle 110 Degree Angle
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

2nd of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #2. Originally was story #194
Golgo 13 is hired by an advisor to the Saudi king whose niece was killed. The man wants the one responsible killed in revenge.

5 Ice Lake Hit Ice Lake Hit
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

1st of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #3.
Using his Duke Togo alias, Golgo 13 is in Canada 'hunting moose'. After getting in trouble with the local authorities for killing two with the same bullet, Golgo 13 eventually tracks down his real target - a CIA agent gone bad and Golgo 13 is working for the US government on this one.

6 Machine Cowboy Machine Cowboy
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1986

2nd of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #3. Originally was story #196
A female rancher is more than a little upset that someone is rustling her horses and the authorities cannot be bothered to investigate.

7 The Ivory Connection The Ivory Connection
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1988

1st of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #4. Originally was story #140
Golgo 13 ...

8 Scandal! The Unpaid Reward Scandal! The Unpaid Reward
Published by Lead Publishing

Copyright: 1988

2nd of 2 adventures in Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #4. Originally was story #104
To make sure that one of his biggest contributors wins a defense contract, a West German political leader hires Golgo 13 to eliminate his political rival.

9 The Impossible Hit The Impossible Hit
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1989

Single adventure in Lead Publishing's second Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #1.
When a homicide detective investigating the murder of a prominent man in the city comes upon a spent cartridge, he calculates the trajectory and that takes him to the hotel where Duke Togo, Golgo 13, is staying.

10 Hopper The Border Hopper The Border
Published by Lead Publishing
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1989

Single adventure in Lead Publishing's second Golgo 13 Graphic Novel Series #2.
Golgo 13's target is a mystery through most of this adventure which concerns a Russian hitman who has just fulfilled his contract in the snowy mountain region of this tale. The man comes across an eloping couple, fleeing the woman's rich and possessive father. Then there are two gangsters who just happen upon the cabin they are all taking refuge in. The title refers to the helicopter pilot hired to help transport the couple.

11 The Professional The Professional
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 1989

A 3-issue telling of the adventure. Originally was story Special #51.
Golgo 13 is contracted to kill the son of Robert Dawson, an American oil baron and industrialist who is gaining immense political power. Dawson then goes on a full-scale hunt and kill campaign to eliminate Golgo 13.

12 Supergun Supergun
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #1, Jan. 2006. Originally was story #364, The Gun at Am Shara.
Iraq is creating a gigantic new cannon capable of reaching great distances. It is hidden in the side of a dam. Golgo 13's job is to take it out.

13 Hit And Run Hit And Run
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #1, Jan. 2006. Originally was story #144.
"1979: On the streets of San Francisco, a hit-and-run accident intersects with a mob boss's terror that he is Gogol 13's next target."

14 Hydra Hydra
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #2, Apr. 2006. Originally was story #88.
"1974, the snakes of the Corsican mafia writhe from Mexico to Marseilles as G13 takes a trip into a psychedelic triple-cross where the corpse on the floor won't be just an acid casualty!"

15 The Deaths of June 3rd The Deaths of June 3rd
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #2, Apr. 2006. Originally was story #290.
"1989: Tiananmen Square. In a matter of hours, the People's Liberation Army will massacre the students of the Chinese democracy movement. But one person will die first, as Golgo 13 walks through the chanting crowds. Who is he here to kill--and why?"

16 Power To The People Power To The People
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #3, Jun. 2006. Originally was story #333.
"1994: Nelson Mandela, after 27 years in prison, has just become president of South Africa. But with deadly enemies both white and black, Mandela turns for help to the man he once served time with--Golgo 13!"

17 A Fierce Southern Current A Fierce Southern Current
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #3, Jun. 2006.. Originally was Special Edition Story #39
"1994: Golgo arrives in the Spratly Islands--a few bits of coral in the South China Sea, sitting on oil reserves larger than Kuwait's. Six nations claim them--but it's Golgo 13 who will close the deal!"

18 The Orbital Hit The Orbital Hit
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #4, Aug. 2006. Originally was story #137
"1975: The Apollo-Soyuz mission is about to launch--the first-ever space rendezvous between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. But this gesture of peace could trigger a war instead, unless Golgo turns astronaut...to carry out a sniping job 140 miles up"

19 English Rose English Rose
Published by Viz Media

Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #4, Aug. 2006. Originally was story #369.
"1997: As Princess Diana's car drives into a Paris tunnel, Golgo follows, ready to fulfill a contract worth 1.5 million pounds--only to find there are two assassins riding that fateful night!"

20 Wiseguy Wiseguy
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #5, Oct. 2006. Originally was story #301
"1991: Every September the Feast of the Martyrdom of San Gennaro fills the streets of Little Italy. But this year more than sacred blood will flow when Golgo is asked by an elderly don to settle a vendetta!"

21 Germany Is One Germany Is One
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #5, Oct. 2006. Originally was story #288
" 1989: On the eve of the Berlin Wall's collapse, a roll of the die may determine the future of Europe in a bizarre board game in which Golgo gets the final toss!"

22 One Minute Past Midnight One Minute Past Midnight
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2006

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #6, Dec. 2006. Originally was story #377.
"1998: Security on death row has never been tighter, as ex-CIA agent Henry Mitchell prepares for his fate. But if a lethal injection awaits him, why is Golgo needed to execute the sentence?"

23 Zdrowas Maryjo Zdrowas Maryjo
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2006

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #6, Dec. 2006. Originally was story #179.
"1981: Pope John Paul II survives an attempt on his life--or does he? To uncover the conspiracy that lies behind the missing pontiff, Golgo 13 will need two million dollars, a rifle, a revolver...and a priest's robe!"

24 Eye Of God Eye Of God
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #7, Jan. 2007. Originally was story #319.
"1993: When a spy satellite records a clandestine desert rendezvous, the true meaning of which could shift the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, who can be trusted to see the details: the satellite's designer or Golgo 13?"

25 Far From An Era Far From An Era
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #7, Jan. 2007. Originally was from story #126.
"1977, a wealthy, respectable, middle-aged California millionaire can't live with the fact that his beautiful young bride is a fugitive student radical, and someone must die for his discontent!"

26 Gravestone In Sicily Gravestone In Sicily
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #8, Apr. 2007. Originally was story #139.
"1982: Golgo 13 never misses...until now! A beautiful KGB agent guards his target--yet her secret is not of the heart, but in the mind."

27 Telepath Telepath
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #8, Apr. 2007. Originally was story #184.
"1978, a young priest finds he cannot forgive a killer when the victim is his own family. Hiring Golgo won't be enough, though--the man of the cloth must assist the assassin in a bizarre scheme to get Golgo's rifle past the watchful eyes of mobsters who trust neither of them!"

28 Headhunter Headhunter
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #9, Jun. 2007. Originally was story #204.
"1983, New York: When an investigator looking into a shady corporate acquisition is run down, his grandfather hires Golgo--but the old man is no armchair spectator to revenge!"

29 Accidental Accidental
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #9, Jun. 2007. Originally was story #61.
"1972. Golgo has just broken two of his own rules. He's seeing a client again because of the other broken rule: he failed to carry out the job!"

30 Wasteland Wasteland
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #10, Aug. 2007. Originally was story #213.
"1984: A year before Chernobyl, Golgo 13 is hired straight from a mission of death to carry out a mission of mercy: prevent the meltdown of a reactor that could render Los Angeles uninhabitable for 25,000 years!"

31 Route 85 Route 85
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #10, Aug. 2007. Originally was story #249.
"1987: A lonely road in Nevada is the site of a surprising duel involving Golgo 13."

32 The Wrong Man The Wrong Man
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #11, Oct. 2007. Originally was story #360.
"It's known that Golgo 13 will kill anyone who tries to impersonate him. But if you're merely mistaken for him by a Chicago crime boss, can you possibly escape alive?"

33 Okinawa Syndrome Okinawa Syndrome
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #11, Oct. 2007. Originally was story #350.
"1996: Okinawa, Japan's smallest prefecture, holds 75 percent of the U.S. military presence in Japan. When a Self-Defense Force officer is murdered by his associates, Golgo steps into the ominous discontent behind one of Japan's greatest controversies!"

34 Shadow Of Death Shadow Of Death
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #12, Dec. 2007. Originally was story #105.
"1976: When congressional hearings expose a CIA chemical warfare program, Golgo is tasked to destroy the evidence on a hellish Pacific island--where he faces a showdown with one of the few men he could call an equal!"

35 The Dark-Skinned Sniper The Dark-Skinned Sniper
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2007

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #12, Dec. 2007. Originally was story #83.
"1974, the Deep South gets a visit from Golgo 13 when Black Power activists hire him for a job in Mississippi that reveals him to be one bad brother!"

36 Flagburner Flagburner
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2008

1st of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #13, Feb. 2008.
"The 2000 U.S. presidential election comes down to a handful of recounted ballots in Florida. But the decisive vote will be cast by a bullet from Golgo 13!"

37 The Serizawa Family Murders The Serizawa Family Murders
Published by Viz Media
Contributors: Taiko Saito (writer and artist)
Copyright: 2008

2nd of 2 adventures in the Viz Signature series of Golgo 13 #13, Feb. 2008. Originally was story #100.
"1946: Amidst so many dead in the postwar ruins of Japan, the brutal murder of five members of the same family still has the power to shock--and even more so 29 years later, when the unsolved crime may point to the origins of Duke Togo!"

GAMES

Number of Games:2
First Appearance:1988
Last Appearance:1990

1 Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Video Game
Vic Tokai
Copyright: 1988

Golgo 13's mission is to kill the leader of the Drek group. According to Wikipedia: "The story begins when a helicopter transporting a vial of a deadly bacillus known as "Cassandra G" is destroyed near the Statue of Liberty, but the vial is nowhere to be found in the wreckage. Golgo 13 is blamed for the destruction and possible theft as a bullet of an M-16 was discovered in the wreckage, which he is known for being partial to. However, those in FIXER refuse to place blame on Golgo 13, and task him with hunting down the real assassin. On the way, Golgo 13 must pass through several areas, including East Berlin, Athens, Rio de Janeiro, and Alexander Island, which is located off the coast of Antarctica."

2 The Mafat Conspiracy The Mafat Conspiracy
Video Game
Vic Tokai
Copyright: 1990

Created for the Nintendo Entertainment System video game console. According to Wikipedia: "A weapons satellite has been snatched out of orbit, and the world is facing nuclear destruction. Behind this act is a group of terrorists known as the Mafat Conspiracy. The terrorists plan to extort the U.S. and Soviet governments by threatening to make their satellites fall from space. The Mafat are demanding that the Soviets turn over their research on electromagnetic waves, and the American government to give them the Los Angeles, a ship that is equipped with nuclear warheads. The CIA and KGB are blaming each other, and Golgo 13's mission is to eliminate the leader of the Mafat Revolutionary Group, destroy the Satellite Capture System, and rescue Dr. Barrows. The doctor was kidnapped from his lab in England many years ago and taken to Paris, where he remains in confinement."

MY COMMENTS

For reasons I would be hard to explain, I held off on adding this series to the compendium. It is baffling in a way because from the moment that I bought, years ago, the first English version of a manga about him, I was hooked.

I loved the character, hard and emotionless though he usually is. I adored the artwork which is gorgeous and richly detained without being overblown. And I loved the wide variety of plotlines, which considering how many adventures he has had over the impressive number of decades is stunning.

So why the long delay to add him here? No idea! But he is here now and rightly so.

GRADE

My Grade: B+

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