I don't know all the ins-and-outs of Street Fighter continuity, so I'm not sure how Alpha relates to II. I'm guessing it's an alternate timeline to account for adding new characters and shifting the backstories and relationships of various characters.
Now Ryu and Ken's teacher was killed by his brother, Akuma, who has mastered some force called the "Dark Hadou," which Ryu keeps tapping into when he loses control of his anger or his life is threatened. Except Ryu doesn't control it, he just goes Kung-Fu Incredible Hulk on everyone. He's now responsible not just for the big scar across Sagat's chest, but also taking his eye.
This two-volume manga really ups the destructive power of, well a couple of characters. Ryu destroys a police cruiser the first time he goes off, dodging bullets and no-selling everyone's attacks like the most annoying pro wrestler you can think of. In the climactic fight, he and Bison wipe out a skyscraper fighting up the side of it.
But most of it is about Ryu trying to come to grips with the Dark Hadou. You know, acknowledge the darkness and power within him and accept it, rather than denying it. This is expressed through the Shoryuken attack, which is at least one thing consistent between the two mangas. Both stories insist Shoryuken is a lethal attack, one that Ryu hesitates to use for that very reason. Ken, on the other hand, spams the things like it's the only button combo he ever figured out.
Nakahiro draws the Shoryuken as the entire character doing a twisting uppercut (see above), while Kanzaki drew it like only the forearm was corkscrewing or, like, formed little buzzsaw tornadoes around it (see last week's entry.) I think Nakahiro's style, looser, more simplified style works better. It also works with Alpha's more humorous tone, especially with the addition of Dan Hibiki as the jobber, and Ryu being the sort of a meathead who complains when Chun-Li has his gi washed - awful nice after he was acting as bodyguard for a gang and destroyed a ship - because it washed off the essence of all the fighting spirit from his countless battles.
Those are probably the parts I like best, the lighter bits. Or the fights that are driven by more personal things. Ken's up there punching Ryu to convince the both of them the Shoryuken isn't automatically going to mean unleashing the Dark Hadou, because their master told him he'd have to kill Ryu if that happened, and Ken can't stand that idea. Or when Chun-Li stops Ryu from jumping in to help a genetically engineered soldier of Bison's (not yet named Cammy), only to jump in and defend her herself. It works better than when some character named Guy no-sells the Dark Hadou while telling Ryu that he threatens the destiny of the world, and so the world may destroy him. I, um, OK? Sounds like a lot of New Age horseshit you'd say when trying to sell me special "crystals".
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