Bill Burton (ビル・バートン Biru Bāton)[4] is a fictional character in the Shaman King manga and anime series. He is one of Hao's followers[6] and part of Team "Tsuki-Gumi" for the Shaman Fight.[7]
Years after the Shaman Fight, Bill, along with Brocken Meyer and Hang Zang-Ching, works for Tao Ren and his company, the Leidi Group.[1]
Appearance[]
Bill's block armor.
In battle, he wears a modified version of his old football uniform with spikes on his helmet and kneepads. His upper body is completely bare save for a pair of chest plates and spiked shoulder pads. He has stars on his gloves and wears a cape with patterns similar to the American flag.
When he is dressed in the public he wears a pair of orange overalls, an orange cap, black boots, and black gloves.[8]
Later on in the Manga series, Bill is shown wearing several red and yellow block pieces worn over his normal outfit including shoulder pads, a neck bracer, chest armor, gauntlets, and boots, presumably gained from Brocken.[9]
Personality[]
He is very loyal to Hao and is not above attacking opponents from behind or when their guard was down, but he has also shown a sense of honor and gratitude after being saved from the X-Laws by Asakura Yoh and even guided Yoh and his friends towards the Patch Village.
Abilities and Powers[]
Spirit[]
- See More: The Big Guys
His Guardian Ghosts were the deceased twenty-one players of his former football team called "The Big Guys" that were all killed in a bus crash.[2] Even after their death, they still followed him and took orders as if they were still alive and were a football team.
History[]
Past[]
Bill after his accident.
Bill was born on April 5, 1967 in Detroit, Michigan.[4] He was once the captain of the American Football Team called "The Big Guys", nicknamed by the team's fans because of his great skills. One day, however, their bus drove over a cliff and the entire team except for Bill were killed. Later it was revealed that the brakes had been cut by a fan who Bill had refused an autograph. Bill was forced to retire due to his injuries and later he became known as "Little Bill". He had lost hope until one day, he met a younger Asakura Hao who had appeared before him and healed all of his injuries with a single touch of his hand. That day, he swore loyalty to Hao.[10]
Bill after joining up with Hao
In 1995, Bill agreed to join Hao, who flew him inside the Spirit of Fire to where his other followers were camping. However, Hao left shortly after, leaving Bill bewildered. Bill ridiculed the surroundings before almost picking a fight with Hang Zang-Ching. As the majority of Hao's group came to introduce themselves to him, he remained very skeptical of such an odd bunch living together, until he met Brocken Meyer who seemed to be a genuine person and happy and thankful to Hao, noting that bad habits aside, they seemed to be genuinely good people. When BOØWZ attempted to pick a fight, Bill merely glared them down, while Brocken warned them not to mess with their newest ally.[11]
Shaman Fight in Tokyo[]
Not much is known about his performance during the preliminary round, but Bill did win two matches and advanced to the main competition. Bill and the other qualifying competitors attended the opening ceremony at Mimata Hall.[12]
Traveling through America[]
Hao and his followers gathered at Yokocha Base
A month later, at Yokocha Base, Bill and Hao's other followers interrupted Hao, who was playing around with Asakura Yoh and friends, so that they would not miss the Patch Jumbo that would take them to America. Hao and his followers sat together on the plane. All of the shamans were tasked with locating and reaching the Patch Village within three months. While still tens of thousands of feet in the air, the jumbo jet was revealed to be an Over Soul shortly before it was dematerialized, dropping all of its passengers. Hao and his allies rode on the back of the Spirit of Fire and safely descended to the ground.[13]
Bill and his allies at Mesa Verdede
Weeks later, Bill, Mohamed Tabarsi, Zang-Ching, Boris Tepes Dracula, and Damayaji encountered Yoh and his friends at Mesa Verdede. Bill and the others were unbothered by Boris killing Damayaji, their own ally.[14] While Boris fought Yoh's group, Mohamed decided that the three of them should head on into the Patch Village, leaving Boris behind.[15]
Bill attacks the X-Laws.
The three waited inside to ambush any following shamans. Zang-Ching and Mohamed confronted Yoh's group and the X-Laws, who had defeated and killed Boris. When Bill attacked the X-Laws from behind, they countered with their Archangels, easily defeating him. Before the X-Laws could execute Bill, Asakura Yoh came to his defense, proclaiming that even if Bill deserved death, they should not kill anyone else.[2] Zang-Ching wanted to fight the X-Laws, but Mohamed convinced him that retreat would be better, even though it meant abandoning Bill. Yoh eventually convinced the X-Laws to leave and his friends to bring Bill along with them.[16]
Umemiya Ryunosuke carried Bill as they ventured deeper into the mesa. When he wakes up, Bill states that he owes them a debt for saving his life, so he reveals that the pathway they have chosen was guided by their souls being called to the "Celestial Holy Ground", which the Patch Tribe have protected for generations. When pressed by Ren for more information, Bill refused to say more since his debt had been paid and that they should continue on. When asked by Yoh what he will do now, he proclaimed that he would continue onwards with his own power, boasting that as Hao's most resilient man, he will not die so easily.[17]
Bill survived and reunited with Hao's other followers in the Patch Village.[18]
Shaman Fight Second Round[]
Two months later, the competing shamans were transported to the island Tokyo.[19] Bill sat in the audience with Hao and his companions and watched the matches of the tournament.[20][21]
Bill and Brocken attack the Icemen.
After receiving a report from Patch Officiants Magna and Nichrom, Hao and his followers headed out to gather the souls of their competitors,[22] intending to feed them to the Spirit of Fire. Bill and Brocken Meyer attacked the Icemen and their boat, stopping them from leaving the island. When Horohoro stepped in to defend the Icemen, Bill criticized him for not attempting a surprise attack, but Horohoro pointed out that it would have been no use since they too can use Shamanic Oracle. Bill overpowered and defeated Horohoro and the Icemen. As Bill prepared to kill the shamans, Usui Lycan walked past him and built a makeshift raft. Bill tried to kill Lycan, but Gororo easily punched through Bill's Over Soul and knocked Bill unconscious. Later, after Horohoro exhausted himself to defeat Brocken, Bill regained consciousness and was about to deal a finishing blow to the weakened Horohoro when Lyserg Diethel's Archangel, Zelel, cut Bill down.[23]
While the group was ordered to deal with a fleet of human warships, they begin to wonder if they are doing the right thing. When Hang Zang-Ching asks Peyote and Mohamed to stop because they scare him he is suddenly killed by Peyote's O.S. "Grande Fantasma". Peyote tells them to calm down as he only wants to make them stronger by dying, but then pierces Bill completely and reveals that he was just kidding.[24]
Invading the Plants[]
Though Bill and most of the others were revived, in a conversation with Anahol Pokki, he reveals that because Peyote and Mohamed's bodies took too much damage, they were the only ones from the slaughter who were unable to be revived.[25]
Bill, Brocken, and Zang-Ching inside the Great Spirit
After Hao awoke as the Shaman King, he killing everyone, including his followers on Tokyo. Bill, Zang-Ching. and Brocken boarded the train of souls inside the Great Spirit and rode it up to the highest commune. Bill stated that despite Hao's denials, it was obvious that he needed them.[26]
Day After Maize[]
Bill, Zang-Ching, and Brocken with the Leidi Group
After being revived, Bill returned to his normal life but was unmotivated due to burnout. Several years later, Tao Ren, together with Bill, Brocken Meyer, and Hang Zang-Ching, built the Leidi Group, a large electronics manufacturing company, with Bill in charge of sales. The three quickly rose through the company's ranks and eventually became the personal bodyguards for Ren, Jun, and Men.[1][27]
Red Crimson[]
One day, Bill, Brocken, and Zang-Ching were out escorting Men when Kamogawa Yohsuke, Black Maiden, and Dong Yonhon visited the family's apartment and killed Jeanne.[28] Later, after Jeanne's body was discovered, Bill, Zang-Ching, and Brocken listened in as Ren comforted Men. Afterwards, Ren told them to return to work, and they questioned how the Tao Family and Jun would react.[29]
Bill and Zang-Ching accompanied Jun on her visit to Paris, France. As they flew back to the Tao Family's estate, they came across Horohoro fighting Enki, a member of the Dong Family.[30] After Jun killed Enki, the group continued on their way but were confronted by Dong Honhon. Although Jun shot at her with an RPG, Honhon's Over Soul protected her and chopped through the helicopter's tail, causing it to fall. Bill used the Big Guys to cushion their fall, and the men raced to catch up to Jun and Honhon.[31] Along the way, Zang-Ching informed the others about the Dong Family and the legend of Keiten, and the men were grabbed by the Tao Family and their Jiang Shi. They all interrupted Jun and Honhon's fight, but Honhon disappeared with an explosion.[32]
Anime/Manga Difference[]
Bill in the 2001 anime series.
Like the rest of Hao's followers, Bill was seen less often in the 2001 anime series. Bill was sent with Ashil to keep him from "accidentally" killing Yoh. For a while he kept Yoh from entering the battle, although Yoh was eventually able to get past Bill and fight along with his friends.
He initially fights Porf Griffith in the battle of Babylon Gate, and is later shown killing Larch Dirac by tackling his Archangel and crushing Larch with it. In the final assault, however, Bill could not control his new power boost that his body could not handle. This ends up killing him in the progress ("knocked out" in the English anime).
In the 4Kids version of the 2001 anime series, he was given a southern accent.
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Volume 27 Extras; Shaman File 351
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 104
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 182
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Shaman King Guidebook - Mentalite (p.59)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shaman King Manga - Volume 21, Character File No.110
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 78
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 239
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Volume 11
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Volume 22 Extras; Shaman File 300
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Volume 10 Extras; Shaman File 121
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Zero Chapter 5
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 65
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 78-80
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 95-96
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 98
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 105-106
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 107
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 109-110
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 112
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 114
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 129
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 144
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 181—186
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 248, Pages 12-17
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 272; Page 13
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 299; Page 50
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Day After Maize
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Red Crimson Chapter 4
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Red Crimson Chapter 10
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Red Crimson Chapter 1
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Red Crimson Chapter 2
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Red Crimson Chapter 3
External Links[]
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