Otoko Gumi | Cover #2 & Weekly Shonen Sunday #24 | Crying Freeman

Ikegami, Ryōichi - original cover from "Otoko Gumi" 男組 published in Weekly Shonen Sunday (1974)

Ryoichi Ikegami (1944–) is best known for his highly realistic artistic style, cinematic panel composition, and his gekiga / seinen / mature-oriented manga, which combine stylized drama with raw human emotions. He published his first work, Makyō, in 1961 and in 1966, Conscience of Sin, published in Garo, caught the attention of Shigeru Mizuki, who decided to make Ryōichi one of his assistants.

This led to his first major publications: the original Spider-Man manga in 1970, Oen’s Love, Lonely Rin, I. Gyo-o Boy (A-I-U-E-O Boy), and finally Otoko Gumi (男組) in 1974. His most internationally recognized title is Crying Freeman (1986–88), which follows a highly skilled assassin who sheds tears after every killing as a sign of regret. Through works like this, Ikegami established a reputation for visually sophisticated storytelling that merges realism with dark narratives.

Ikegami is regarded as one of the key figures in the development of seinen manga, particularly for his ability to bring a cinematic sensibility to the medium. He has enjoyed significant recognition, particularly in Europe, where his work has been widely published and appreciated within the broader context of adult-oriented manga. His presence has been reinforced by winning the Shogakukan Manga Award for Heat (2001) and through events such as the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France.

Otokogumi is a manga set within a highly charged social environment. The story centers on the conflict between Goji Shinryu, a young man with immense power who uses it to commit various acts of violence, and Jiro Ryuzen, a man who rises up to oppose and defeat Goji’s forces.

In a period when martial arts such as karate and kung fu were gaining popularity, Otokogumi is regarded as one of the best manga series to incorporate martial arts into its action sequences. Ikegami combines these influences with elements such as American football to create dynamic and physically grounded combat scenes, informed by research and interviews conducted by Ikegami himself.

Otokogumi also played a role in influencing later youth delinquent, school-themed manga and is considered to be one of the origins of Be-Bop High School.