Akuma Shogun
Akuma Shogun is the supreme leader of the Devil Chojin in the Kinnikuman series. His true identity is Goldman, an ancient god of battle and one of the Perfect Origin. Commanding his dark army through superior combat ability and absolute charisma, he stands as one of the ultimate antagonists in the franchise and remains a pivotal figure whose presence echoes across multiple story arcs.
Overview
Akuma Shogun is the supreme leader of the Devil Chojin in the Kinnikuman series. His true identity is Goldman, an ancient god of battle and one of the Perfect Origin. Commanding his dark army through superior combat ability and absolute charisma, he stands as one of the ultimate antagonists in the franchise and remains a pivotal figure whose presence echoes across multiple story arcs.
Appearance
Standing 220 cm tall and weighing 162 kg, Akuma Shogun wears heavy armor reminiscent of medieval knight attire, along with an iron visor covering his entire face except his eyes. Long golden hair flows from behind his helmet, though his true facial form beneath is the Golden Mask itself. Retractable blades are stored within his arm gauntlets, and his physique is heavily muscular. In an animated feature film, his visual design shifted to a more mechanical armor laden with spikes and a sinister helmet mask.
Personality
He displays immense majesty and unmatched charisma, commanding profound respect from his followers. Combining high tactical intelligence with cold decisiveness, he adheres to a fighting style focused on relentless, rapid attacks. Although earlier depictions occasionally showed violent outbursts when agitated, he fundamentally maintains the composure and grandeur of an absolute dark ruler. He firmly rejects indecisive battle results, demanding definitive resolution through victory or death.
Abilities
He possesses the ability to control his body hardness at will. At maximum diamond hardness, he repels all physical blows, whereas at zero hardness, his flexible body slips out of joint locks and submission holds. Lacking a fixed physical body or pain sensation, he can instantly recover from damage by focusing through a yoga posture and endlessly reassemble even if shattered into pieces. The Diamond Swords deployed from his gauntlets readily slice through heavy metallic armor. He analyzes opposing techniques after experiencing them once to reverse them, and can boost his attributes sixfold by drawing upon the full power of the Six Knights within him. He employs a sequence of moves known as Hell's Nine Point Seal, destroying foes with techniques like Skull Crash, the spinning attack Hell's Merry-Go-Round, and his signature knee-drop finisher, Hell's Guillotine.
Background
Formerly the ancient warrior Goldman, he lost his physical body in a mutual double knockout during a fierce duel with his younger brother Silverman, after which his head came to be revered as the Golden Mask by the Justice Chojin. Refusing to accept an inconclusive result, he made a pact with Satan and combined the physical forms of the Devil Knights to manifest as Akuma Shogun, sparking a major war across the universe. Though eventually defeated after a harrowing clash with Kinnikuman, he resurfaces across animated films, Kinnikuman II Sei, and modern revival series, remaining the revered founder of the Devil Chojin.
Relationships
He shares a bitter history with his younger brother Silverman, having engaged in a decisive clash due to conflicting philosophies. His devoted subordinates, including the Devil Knights and Buffalo Man, render him absolute loyalty, offering up their own bodies to construct his form. He left a lasting trauma on the protagonist Kinnikuman through their brutal confrontation. Additionally, his materialization and return are closely intertwined with the entity Satan.
Trivia
Due to his overwhelming portrayal of power, series creator Yudetamago mentioned that designing a realistic way to defeat him posed an extraordinary challenge. He is widely acknowledged as one of the strongest characters in the franchise and maintains immense popularity among fans, consistently ranking near the top in official character popularity polls.
