Baki Community Members - Stories & Art 35+ Year Retrospective

BAKI Retrospective Fanzine: A Work in Progress Hi everyone! So, very few of you know me as I only post in here every once in a blue moon. I’m more active on other platforms, here I usually just lurk lol. That being said, you can call me Mer! I’m posting this time around because I wanted to share a bit about the Baki passion project I’ve been working on for sometime now with you guys! I’m putting together a Baki Retrospective in the form of a Fanzine that centers around the discussion and celebration of over 35 years of content- not just about the series itself, but the really awesome and dedicated community that’s grown around it! I’ve already gathered a ton of material, and very soon I’ll be ready to move into the design phase. And while of course there will be discussions of important aspects of the series, my goal isn’t to make just a wiki or a recap. I want this to feel like… more of a reflection of what Baki has meant to different people across multiple generations. For example, while I’ve only been a fan for a short time (got into it around spring/summer of last year), it’s become an integral part of my life. From the life changing perspectives it’s shown me, the philosophies I’ve carried into my own life, to literally being the reason I flew halfway across the world to meet my amazing “Baki Best Friend” after we met online and bonded over this series…\\\* \\\*Baki has impacted my life in ways I never could’ve imagined. These are just a few reasons why it means so much to me. A HUGE reason I wanted to make this is because I was impacted so much by it that pretty often I find myself wondering what it means to everyone else, too. How has it changed their lives? What memories has it given them? You feel me 😁 Some of the things I’m including are fan interviews and community spotlights, such as extensive interviews with not only long time & newer fans, but prominent members in the community such as Minedor of the Spinyback Team\\, and the creator of popular japanese blog\\ WEEKLY BAKI. There will be sections that cover fan translations, multiple aspects of fan culture, theories, cosplay and art, Itagaki himself, the video games, rare and obscure media/merchandise, visual essays including my personal takes, and much more! One of the coolest parts so far has been connecting with long time Japanese fans who’ve been following Baki since the 90s and early 2000s. Hearing their lived experiences, personal connections with the series, and how they’ve watched it evolve over time has added so much depth and perspective to this project!! 😁 Also, I’m planning to turn this into both a physical book and a PDF! That way it can be accessed by those who prefer convenience, and as a way for collectors to own a piece of fan made Baki history! I think more than anything, I want this to be something the community can look back on years from now and feel proud of 😃😃 Anyways, if there’s anything you’d like to contribute - personal stories & reflections, your art & cosplay etc., I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Here are a few questions that you’re welcome to answer if you’d like! (Please try your best to limit each response to a question to one or two sentences!) I’ll be including your answers in the community spotlight section of the zine! What does Baki mean to you personally? Who’s your favorite character and why? In your opinion, which fight is the most memorable and why? When and how did you first discover the series? Has Baki had any kind of impact on your life/who you are as a person? Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to read all this! I’m really looking forward to any feedback, ideas and opinions you may have. 😊