Baoh (バオー来訪者) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki, most famous for his manga JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Originally serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1985, it was later compiled into two tankōbon volumes. The series was adapted into a single-episode original video animation (OVA) by Studio Pierrot and distributed by Toho in 1989. Baoh is Araki's first series to display his signature amount of over-the-top gore.

Plot

17-year-old Ikuro Hashizawa is kidnapped and turned into a Baoh, a bioweapon with superhuman strength and other abilities, by the organization Doress. He escapes with the help of Sumire, a 9-year-old psychic girl. Dr. Kasuminome, head scientist at Doress, sends various assassins and monsters to try and kill Ikuro, desperate to stop the Baoh virus from spreading and infecting the world.

Characters

Main characters

Doress

The Secret Organization Doress (秘密組織ドレス) created Baoh and seeks to kill Ikuro before the virus can spread.

Cast

Staff

English localization

Licensing

The manga was licensed in English and released in monthly chapters by Viz Media in 1990; sales were pitiful, and it was not until 1995 that they released it in graphic novel format. The OVA was licensed for an English DVD release by AnimEigo in 2000 and was released in 2001.

Other appearances

The series' main protagonist, Ikuro Hashizawa, was released on 14 November 2013 as a downloadable playable character in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle in his Baoh form. In the 2022 remaster JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R he is included in the initial roster.

Reception

Hiroyuki Takei, author of the manga Shaman King, said it was one of his favorite series along with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in his youth.