Episode 17

EPISODE 17

白虎・地獄の雄叫び (Byakko・Jigoku no Otakebi)

Byakko’s Hellish Roar

First Broadcast: February 6, 1993

Equivalent Manga Chapter(s): second half of chapter 37 (WSJ #38, 1991, September 9), chapter 38 (WSJ #39, 1991, September 16)

Summary: Kuwabara manages to overload Byakko with spirit energy, returning him to normal.  In Byakko’s acid-filled exercise room, Kuwabara manages to win by knocking Byakko off his platform into the acid below

Anime/manga differences after the jump.

Differences from the Manga
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• The episode starts be repeating the end of the last episode, with Byakko absorbing Kuwabara's energy.

• In the manga, Kurama’s the one to note that Kuwabara’s only method of beating Byakko’s energy-sucking technique is practically suicidal and may cost him his life.  In the anime Hiei says this.

• Right after the above is another brief Koenma/Jorge filler scene.  Koenma thinks the gang’s chances are looking gloomy.  Then later when Byakko shows off his shockwave attack thing, Koenma says all they can do it pray to God.  Jorge is not thrilled.  Koenma also shows relief at the end of the episode that Kuwabara’s still alive.

• When Byakko overloads on Kuwabara’s energy, in the manga he bursts a leak and goes zipping around like a balloon, ultimately crashing into the gateway to his gymnasium room.  In the anime he just plain explodes and vanishes from site, and then turns out to be inside his gymnasium without any explanation.

• During the brief interlude where it looks like Kuwabara has defeated Byakko, in the anime Botan calls and gives Yusuke another update on her attempts to deal with the demon bugs.  There’s more of the anime’s “Kuwabara loves Botan” running joke.  That won’t be around for much longer.

• Kuwabara and Byakko’s conversation about how Kuwabara’s out of platforms to stand on is a little different in the anime.  The only really notable thing is that in the manga Byakko says Kuwabara would have to be (real-life track and field star) Carl Lewis to make the jump to the next platform.