Bastard!! is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Kazushi Hagiwara (萩原一至). It began its serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1988, and has continued irregularly in Ultra Jump since 2000, with its latest chapter released in 2010. As of 2012, 27 collected tankōbon volumes have been released. The manga was formerly licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media; only the first 19 volumes were released.
A six-episode original video animation (OVA) series was produced by AIC and released from 1992 to 1993. An original net animation (ONA) adaptation of the same name, by Liden Films, premiered on Netflix worldwide in June 2022. A second season will premiere in July 2023.
Bastard!! is set in a world of magic and swordplay, where the forces of good and evil are locked in an eternal battle. The story follows Dark Schneider, a powerful sorcerer who is sealed inside the body of a young boy named Lucien Renren. When Lucien’s childhood friend Yoko is kidnapped by the forces of evil, Dark Schneider is released and must use his powers to save her.
The series is known for its over-the-top violence and sexual content, as well as its heavy metal soundtrack. It has been praised for its creativity and its unique blend of fantasy, action, and humor.
Bastard!! has been a commercial success, with over 30 million copies of the manga in circulation.
