Marco Lasso (マルコ・ラッソ Maruko Rasso)[4] is a fictional character in the Shaman King manga and anime series. He is the captain of the X-Laws,[5] only overruled by Iron Maiden Jeanne. For the Shaman Fight, he participates as part of Team "X-I", with Jeanne and Lyserg Diethel.[6]
Following the Shaman Fight, Marco chose to train in Hell until he could be reborn as an angel.[7] He establishes Team Marcos for the Flower of Maize.[8]
Appearance[]
Marco in his battle uniform
Marco is an average-sized man, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen wearing an X-laws uniform. He wears glasses because of his high astigmatism. They can break easily so he carries three spare pairs of glasses inside his shoulder pad, each with a varying degree of resistance.[9]
When not in his X-Laws Uniform, Marco wears a simple white shirt, a necktie with a leaf pattern, black formal pants, and black leather shoes. He carries his "Marco Full Auto 9" in a patterned shoulder strap. He also has a white suit that he wears whenever he is driving Iron Maiden Jenne around.
Marco also has a personal battle uniform that he wears beneath his X-Laws uniform. It consists of a pair of black boots and black shorts. His white dress shirt and cuffs are fully unbuttoned, and he places his pistol strap underneath his shirt. When opening his shirt, he also reveals a cross necklace. The battle uniform is used to create a stronger spirit and more perfect conditions for the Over Soul, which requires personal acknowledgment and permanent requirements.[1]
Personality[]
Like most members of the X-Laws, Marco is extremely loyal to Jeanne and will stop at nothing to achieve what he believes will bring about Jeanne's ideals of a world free of corruption and evil. Like Jeanne, he tends to see issues in absolutes; something is either good or evil. Those who join the X-Laws are considered good and those who do not are automatically evil and with Asakura Hao.
However, he later came to change his views on the world. After fighting with Luchist twice Marco realized and acknowledged that true justice is love and that turning one's back to it is evil's true form.[10]
When he first appeared he seemed very gentle but later, as commented by Luchist, it is revealed that he lacks flexibility and is very impatient which causes him to easily become annoyed and angry about the smallest things. When agitated and stressed he usually ends up crushing his own glasses and for that reason, he carries a set of three spare glasses in his shoulder patch.
The only thing that can calm him down seems to be Jeanne and in most rare cases, high-quality chocolate with a cup of coffee.[11] He heavily believes in discipline, to the degree where he physically punished Lyserg when he was up too late or spoke against their plans. During fights, he has a tendency to give people several death sentences. He also has a great love for cars, which led him to form his own car dealership, named Super Marco LLC.[12]
Abilities and Powers[]
As a human, he has above the average strength, as he is able to hurt Lyserg Diethel by just slapping him. He is able to use his handgun for a sort of fencing style, though not as capable as Luchist Lasso who easily bested and subdued him during both of their fights. As explained by Luchist, Marco can create a more powerful spirit by using his own battle uniform instead of his X-Laws uniform.
His glasses are bulletproof as seen when Blon tried to impale Lyserg only to have his attack stopped by the glasses.[13] Despite this, they break easily as seen when Luchist smashed them with his colt.
After the Shaman Fight, Marco decided not to be reborn with the others and instead opted to train in hell until he could become an angel. After being reborn, he gained a tremendous power, able to overwhelm even Lucifer.[7] The process of turning into an angel, forced Marco to reincarnate as a young boy, and according to Luchist, his young body is unable to handle the full scale of his new abilities, with the risk of his body breaking if he pushes himself too much.[14]
Spirit[]
- See More: Michael
His Guardian Ghost is a car-based tsukumogami empowered by a piece of the archangel Michael. The media for its Over Souls are 9mm bullets for a modified Beretta 93R.[5] The original vehicle was a red 92 'Ferrari Testarossa that Marco treasured.[12] Like all other archangels, it has the ability to shatter souls.[5]
During his final battle, it is revealed that he can also use his glasses as a shamanic medium for his Over Soul to create a fake copy of himself which was called O.S. "Fake Marco".[15]
History[]
Past[]
Luchist and Marco
Marco was born on November 17, 1973 in Sicily, Italy. When he was young, he lost his parents in an accident and was taken to a Catholic church and orphanage, where he was raised by Reverend Luchist Lasso. During that time, he was called "Little Marco" and was bullied. Luchist allowed Marco to learn ballet and took him to car shows.[1] After Marco graduated from the University of Toledo,[10] he started his own car dealership, Super Marco LLC. At a time when Marco's company was on the verge of creating their very own sports car, however, Asakura Hao came and took everything away from him, burning down the orphanage and killing the children.[12]
Marco vowed vengeance against Hao,[16] so he and Luchist created the X-Laws.[1] Upon discovering the orphaned Jeanne at Mont-Saint-Michel, they decided to raise her to believe she was a holy person who was destined to destroy Hao.[17] In 1996,[18] Luchist encountered Hao again and joined Hao's followers, betraying the X-Laws, much to Marco's disbelief and hatred.[15]
Shaman Fight in Tokyo[]
Not much is known about his performance during the preliminary round, but Marco won two matches and advanced to the main competition. Marco and the other qualifying competitors attended the opening ceremony at Mimata Hall.[19]
Travel Through America[]
A month later, Marco and the other competitors gathered at Yokocha Base and were flown to America in the Patch Jumbo. 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.[20]
The X-Laws tracked five of Hao's followers to Mesa Verdede and watched as the followers attacked Asakura Yoh and his friends. After Umemiya Ryunosuke defeated Boris Tepes Dracula, Yoh attempted to talk with Boris, but Marco shot Michael to impale Boris, killing him and shattering his soul. As the other six members of the X-Laws appeared, Marco preached about justice, the X-Laws, and their mission to destroy the root of evil, which they believed to be Asakura Hao, and that for this reason, they had joined the Shaman Fight. Marco then introduced himself[5] and offered to escort Yoh and his friends in order to protect them from Hao's other followers.
The X-Laws defeats "Big Guy" Bill Burton.
As the two groups ventured into the mesa, Marco introduced the other X-Laws members and explained that they all had suffered by Hao's hand and were therefore bonded together by their common goal to defeat him. At this time, Hang Zang-Ching and Mohamed Tabarsi appeared and mocked them. Marco noted that they were not taking the X-Laws seriously and that they were missing one man. Tabarsi informed them that he was busy with something else, at which point Bill Burton appeared behind the X-Laws with The Big Guys ready to attack. Announcing that there would be no pardon for those who allied with Hao and informing Bill that he deserved capital punishment, Marco and other X-Laws aimed their weapons at him and attacked Bill with all seven of their Archangels, quickly defeating him. Marco prepared to kill Bill but is stopped by Yoh, who disliked their methods.[21] Both Yoh and Marco then started an argument over one another's morals. In the end, in order to prevent Marco from killing Bill, Yoh clashed with the sword of Michael which resulted in Harusame being broken. Acknowledging Yoh's bravery, Marco allowed Yoh and Bill to live and then left with the other X-Laws.[22]
After reaching the Patch Village, Marco comforted Lyserg Diethel who was sad about being so weak. Lyserg asked if he could kill Hao, to which Marco replied that he could because he had the combined strength of the X-Laws with him. Telling Lyserg to stop crying, he noted how the boy was able to do well all alone until now and that Lyserg's parents would be proud of him. Marco offered to take Lyserg to meet their superior who would give him the strength he desired. The X-Laws then left Lyserg to think over his decision.[23]
Once Lyserg joined the X-Laws, Marco personally trained the boy.[24] For the tournament, Marco formed Team "X-I", with Jeanne and Lyserg.[6]
Shaman Fights Second Round[]
Two months later, the X-Laws were brought to the island Tokyo, where the tournament would take place. Their first match was Team "X-I" against Team "Niles",[25] which took place on the first day.
Before the match, Team "Niles" boasted about their abilities, but Marco dismissed their power, for which Jeanne reprimanded Marco. As such, she ordered Lyserg to fight their opponents by himself. Although Lyserg defeated Team "Niles", Marco noted that Lyserg had not killed them and questioned if they would retreat on their own. Even if they attacked back, Marco was confident in his training of Lyserg. However, Lyserg was unwilling to kill Anatel Pokki, so Marco threw Jeanne and her Iron Maiden into the ring, striking Lyserg. Disappointed that Lyserg still harbored doubts, Marco ordered Lyserg to submit himself to punishment later. Marco then unlocked the Iron Maiden so she could pass judgment on Team "Niles".[26] As Jeanne easily overpowered and killed her opponents, Marco and the other X-Laws (except Lyserg) exalted her and Shamash. Afterwards, Jeanne returned to her Iron Maiden, and Marco carted her away.[27]
Later that night, the X-Laws retired to their ship, the Ark-X. When Lyserg secretly met up with Yoh, Marco struck Lyserg for breaking rules and refused to let Yoh leave, while the other X-Laws surrounded Yoh. Jeanne, who had been undergoing water torture, ordered them to stand down since she had sensed no evil in his furyoku. Marco objected, pointing out that Yoh had aided one of Hao's followers and obstructed them from dispensing justice. Jeanne instead suggested that they welcome Yoh and so she asked him to join the X-Laws, which shocked and frustrated Marco. When Yoh refused, Marco attempted to shoot him for his ingratitude but was caught off guard by Yoh's faster attack, though Yoh stopped short of injuring Marco. Yoh was then allowed to leave peacefully, as Jeanne ordered.[28]
The next day, the X-Laws watched as Team "X-III" took on Team "Hoshi-Gumi", Hao's personal team. Meene Montgomery, Cebin Mendel, and Chris Venstar sacrificed themselves to test the capabilities of Hao's Spirit of Fire, but Hao gave away the secret of his Over Soul's medium himself, which Marco believed made a mockery of their sacrifices. Marco then explained how Venstar's special grenade would deplete all of the oxygen; however, Hao survived the attack by transmuting the Spirit of Fire into water. Marco pledged to devise a new plan so their sacrifice would not be in vain.[29] The X-Laws then watched in shock as Hao had the Spirit of Fire consume the souls of Team "X-III".[30]
After Ren was killed by Peyote Diaz, Yoh sent Manta to ask Jeanne for her help in saving Ren. In the Lincoln-X, Marco drove Jeanne, Manta, and Lyserg to Yoh and Ren's location.[31] When they arrived, Marco refused to let Yoh see Jeanne until Yoh agreed to their terms. Marco also criticized Yoh for sacrificing himself to save one person, behavior Marco considered unfitting for a king. Yoh then agreed to Jeanne's terms and withdrew from the tournament.[32] Marco refused to believe that Yoh would give up so easily, but Umemiya Ryunosuke, Johann Faust VIII, and Oyamada Manta affirmed that Yoh cares deeply for his friends. As Team "Funbari Onsen" and Manta left, Marco dropped to the ground, still shocked and angry with Yoh. Bason then insisted that they hurry to save Ren.[33]
Afterwards, the X-Laws brought Ren's body to one of the abandoned buildings on the island and prepared for the ceremony to revive him. However, Marco suggested that they let Ren die due to the evil in Ren's heart. Jeanne insisted that she could never break a promise, so Marco suggested that he be allowed to execute Ren in case the boy tries to attack her upon revival, to which Jeanne agreed. Marco stood with his gun aimed at Ren's head while Shamash kissed Ren to revive the boy. When Ryu suddenly burst through a window, this distraction caused Marco to turn away from Ren. Since Ren was now conscious, Marco demanded the boy grovel before Jeanne, but Ren dismissed her help as a nuisance. Furious at this insult, Marco summoned Michael to kill Ren, but the Archangel was stopped by Bason's Tōgenkyō. With his newfound strength, Ren fought his way past the other Archangels and successfully escaped. Larch Dirac questioned if they should pursue Ren, to which Marco responded that Jeanne's safety was more important and added that Ren's revival meant Yoh was no longer in the tournament.[34]
That evening, Marco punished Lyserg for continuing to hold doubts about their justice and for being upset at Yoh's withdrawal. Afterwards, Marco brought Lyserg down to the X-Armory and bestowed upon him the Archangel Zelel so that the boy would finally cast aside his doubts and punish evil.[35]
The next night, Yoh returned to the Ark-X in order to fight the X-Laws for permission to participate in the Shaman Fight again. Marco and Team "X-II" attacked Yoh, but Yoh easily dodged all of their attacks as he had used Soul Integration with Amidamaru. After Yoh switched to his O.S. "Spirit of Sword", the Archangels managed to pin down Yoh, but before Michael could deal the final blow, Yoh sliced through the Archangel with a second Over Soul, revealing that this first was a trick by Imari and Shigaraki. Yoh used Shamanic Oracle to slip between John's, Larch's, and Porf's attacks and aimed to smash the ship. Marco reformed his Over Soul in time to block Yoh's sword, for which Yoh complimented him as the leader of the X-Laws. This slight to Jeanne infuriated Marco, and he lashed out with Michael, declaring that Yoh deserved a hundred executions. However, Marco's rage stopped when Luchist appeared on the shore. Luchist then stated that Hao had sent him to aid Yoh.[36]
Invading the Plants[]
After being transported to the Continent of Mu by the Patch Tribe, Team "Funbari Onsen", Team "The Ren", and Team "X-I" decided to forfeit the tournament saying that none of them were able to face Hao. Both Luchist and Opacho agreed to this, thus making Hao the next Shaman King by forfeit. The three remaining teams watched as Hao was escorted into the plants by the Patch Tribe.
Marco prepares for his final battle with Luchist.
When Marco, Yoh, and Ren, and their respective teams proceeded to follow, they were all blocked in their path by Luchist. He proceeds to reveal his battle suit and summoned his Archangel. Recognizing his battle suit, Marco declares that he would be his opponent.[37] Before anything can happen, Lyserg yells to Marco in fear, only for Marco to declare that the two had to finish the fight they started, a fight that was only between the two of them. He continues to tell him that he does not need to worry and reminding him of what he had already told him before. He reveals his Over Soul, his battle suit and yells that, as he had told Lyserg before "Justice Always Wins".
Marco and Luchist come to have a discussion about "Justice" that leads Luchist to reveal how he first met Hao and how his original belief of justice changed. Both fighters attack each other with Luchist getting the upper hand by quickly destroying Marco's Over Soul seven times finally revealing Marco with no Over Soul. Crying, Luchist aims his colt at Marco and wished him goodbye, saying that he will see him again in the Great Spirit and watched as Lucifer shatter him.
Marco suddenly appears behind Luchist and grabs him while holding his gun to his chin. He reveals that he used his glasses as a medium for Michael to create an Over Soul of himself called O.S. "Fake Marco", which was shattered instead. Marco threatens Luchist not to move or he would blow his head up and proceeds to reveal his plan, knowing from the start that he had no chance against him. Marco begins to explain about his own justice being that of love, revealing how he received the compassionate love of Jeanne and realized that his justice was wrong. He yells that compassionate love is the answer to everything, even the one he received from Luchist.
The death of Marco and Luchist
Luchist then makes one final challenge, wanting to see how strong love is and makes Lucifer attack them both. He uses the bullet medium to kill both of them. While dying, Marco makes an apology to Jeanne, saying that he had sinned for going against her ideas, going against his own "father," and going against her orders by sacrificing himself to kill Luchist. As he finally dies, his life flashes before his eyes and Marco remembers all the good times he had with Luchist. The spirits of himself and Luchist talk to Yoh, who questioned their actions. Both of them say that it is because they do not know how to stop.[10]
When Hao created a Black Hole within the Great Spirit, the X-Laws appeared in their 'Supercars' to protect the train.[38]
Rebirth[]
After learning about the upcoming Flower of Maize from Luchist, Marco decided to become stronger not only to lead the X-Laws, but also to expiate his actions. When Hao offered to resurrect him like the others, Marco refused and instead asked the new Shaman King to make him an angel. Hao told him that it was impossible due to the nature of the angels, so Marco submitted to entering Hell and endlessly killing demons in the hopes of gaining their approval. Eventually, the angels did accept him and Marco was reincarnated as an angel.[7]
Luchist raised and trained the boy in preparation for the Flower of Maize while also keeping him hidden from Team YVS.[39]
Marcos[]
In 2014, Luchist arranged for the X-Laws, who had been searching for Marco, to convene at Mont-Saint-Michel. During the fight with Spimea Lasso, Luchist placed Marco and the golden Iron Maiden in the steeple of the monastery.[40] Upon awakening, Marco easily defeated the incomplete Lucifer and destroyed Spimea's right arm and eye. After Spimea fled, Marco reunited with the X-Laws and extended his gratitude and apologies to them.[7]
Anime/Manga Difference[]
In the 2001 anime, Marco went along with the plan to open the Gate of Babylon with Jeanne. He battled Hao but lost. When Jeanne opened the door, he was sucked in and was later released.[41]
His guardian ghost was given to Lyserg to fix Morphine. After Hao's defeat, he went back to his hometown Italy and enjoyed the rest of his life before the next fight was announced from the destiny star.
Trivia[]
- A running gag throughout the manga and anime series involves Marco somehow destroying his glasses when he gets angry or shocked.
- All of his clothes are Italian brand.
- His childhood nickname, "Little Marco," is a reference to the manga series Chibi Maruko-chan.
- In the character popularity polls, Marco ranked #14 in the second.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 214
- ↑ Shaman King Guidebook - Mentalite (p.106)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shaman King Manga - Volume 14, Character File No.67
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Remix Track 7
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 103
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 120
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 11
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 18
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Volume 10 Extras; Shaman File 119
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 266
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 219; Page 05
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 218
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 273
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 16
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 265
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 15
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 217-218
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - relax
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 65
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 78-80
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 104
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 105
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 111
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 122
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 112
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 120-123
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 124-125
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 136
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 137-140
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 141
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 153-155
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 156
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 162
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 178-181
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 187
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 210-212
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 264; Page 17
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 299, Pages 38-45
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 13
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Marcos Chapter 10
- ↑ Shaman King Anime - Episode 57
External Links[]
- Sicily - A Wikipedia article about Marco's hometown
- Beretta 93R - A Wikipedia article about the gun model which Marco had modified and uses as a medium
- Archangel Michael - A Wikipedia article about the archangel on whom his spirit is based
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