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The following list comprises the various antagonistic factions that appear in the manga Saint Seiya and the sequel Saint Seiya: Next Dimension , written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada.
The antagonistic characters appear as various deities from Greek mythology, who rule over the realms that form Earth, and their servants who form part of their armies created to wage war against Athena, the protector of the Earth realm. In addition, several factions aren't presented as soldiers of these armies, but as organizations who pursue their own ends.
The Black Saints (暗黒聖闘士, Burakku Seinto, lit. "Black Saintly Fighter"). alternatively spelled in ateji form as Ankoku Saint (暗黒聖闘士, Ankoku Seinto, lit. "Blackness Saintly Fighter") in the anime, appear as servants of the Bronze Saint Phoenix Ikki, on his quest to kill all the Bronze Saints. The Black Saints are former Saints who were stripped from their title and Cloth for using their strength for personal gain and apprentices who didn't succeed in becoming Saints, turning to a life of crime and violence. All of them trained in Death Queen Island along with several sons from Mitsumasa Kido, but most of them died. Although there is a Black Saint counterpart for each one of the 88 constellations, Kurumada featured prominently only four in his comic book, the dark mirrors of the protagonists (with the word black in their names replaced by ankoku in the anime adaptation): Black Pegasus (暗黒ペガサス, Burakku Pegasasu) voiced by Shigeru Nakahara, Black Andromeda (暗黒アンドロメダ, Burakku Andoromeda) voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa, Black Dragon (暗黒ドラゴン, Burakku Doragon) voiced by Ken Yamaguchi and Black Swan (暗黒スワン, Burakku Suwan) voiced by Kazumi Tanaka.
They were regarded as the most powerful among the Black Saints and were collectively known as The Black Four (暗黒四天王/暗黒四天王, Ankoku Shiten'nō/Burakku Fō). Their Cloths and techniques are counterparts to the ones from Pegasus Seiya, Dragon Shiryū, Andromeda Shun, and Cygnus Hyōga. Although, there is only one counterpart of each Cloth, in the manga the Black Dragon Saint has a blind brother that helps him to fight. Additionally, there are also several Black Phoenix Saints, who refer to themselves as Ikki's shadows, although in the anime one of them appears as the strongest one. The four Black Saints are defeated by their equivalents, and in the manga, they are later killed by the Silver Saints, who were meant to kill the Bronze Saints, but mistook them due to an illusion created by Aries Mu.
Additionally, the Black Four were featured in the anime-inspired printed side story "Nebula Chain – The bond of brothers", in which they were given names, Black Pegasus was known as Kenuma (ケヌマ), Black Swan was called Jid (ジド, Jido), Black Dragon was named Sinadechro (シナデクロ, Shinadekuro) and Black Phoenix was called Ritahoa (リタホア, Ritahoa), leaving Black Andromeda unnamed.
Before Ikki, the leader of the Black Saints, who stole the Phoenix Cloth and kept it until it was retrieved by Ikki, who afterward killed him.
The Blue Warriors (氷戦士, Burū Woriā, lit. "Ice Warrior") are an order of powerful warriors from the ice lands of Bluegrad (known as Sinigrad in English publication), who also draw their strength from their Cosmo. Their order was formed centuries ago by mighty warriors who, in the same way as Athena's Saints, were capable of rending the skies with their fists and splitting the earth with their kicks. The Blue Warriors were led by Alexer (アレクサー, Arekusā), prince of Bluegrad, and protected their homeland against any menaces. They were presented by Kurumada in vol.13 of his manga, in the short story arc, he dedicated to Hyōga, The Chapter of Natassia, from the Lands of Ice. Their only known technique is Alexer's "Blue Impulse".
In the same way, Athena has Saints, Poseidon has an army that has assisted him since the age of myth, the Mariners (海闘士, Marīna, lit. "Sea Fighter"). With Poseidon's Undersea Temple serving as its base in the Marine Realm (海界, Kaikai), it is formed by hundreds of low-ranking soldiers and commanded by seven powerful warriors known as Generals, whose Cosmo rivals that of a Gold Saint. These Generals don mantles called Scales (鱗衣, Sukeiru, lit. "Scale Mantle"), which are said to be as resilient as the Gold Cloths and are modeled after marine creatures of legend. Their duty is to defend the Mammoth Pillars (巨大柱, Manmosu Pirā) of the seven oceans (North & South Atlantic, North & South Pacific, Arctic, Antarctic, and Indian) that safeguard the Undersea Temple. The strongest pillar, the Main Breadwinner (メインブレドウィナ, Mein Buredowina), is defended by Poseidon himself.
The seven most powerful warriors of Poseidon and commander Generals (海将軍, Jeneraru) of his army. Endowed with might that equals or surpasses that of a Gold Saint, the Mariner Generals wear the Scale mantles, said to be as resilient as the Gold Cloths.
The Specters (冥闘士, Supekutā, lit. "Dark Fighters") are the equivalents of Athena's Saints in Hades' Army. The 108 Specters, several of the most powerful among them are ranked as Heavenly Stars with the remaining ranked as Earthly Stars, as well as their respective epithets, are based on the 108 Stars of Destiny from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin . The proof of their status is found in the mantles they wear, called Surplices (冥衣, Sāpurisu, lit. "Dark Mantle"), said to shine as a dark diamond, which endow them with supernatural abilities, such as walking the realm of the dead alive without the need for awakening the eighth sense. The leadership of Hades' army is formed by the collective known as the three Magnates of Underworld whose might surpasses that of the Gold Saints.
The Heavenly Realm (天界, Tenkai) comprises the individual realms of several of the Twelve Olympic gods, while also being related to Mount Olympus, where some of them take residence and tend to their affairs temporarily in their temples. To date, author Kurumada has presented the moon goddess Artemis, the Sun god Apollon as two of the ruling gods of the realm, along with their father Zeus, the Heavenly Emperor who is mentioned as its supreme ruler.
The Angels (天闘士, Enjeru, lit. "Heavenly Fighters") are Powerful warriors from the Heavenly Realm (天界, Tenkai), servants of the Olympic gods, and wearers of the Glory (天衣, Gurōrī, lit. "Heavenly Mantle") armors. To date, Kurumada has shown them as loyal to the moon goddess Artemis and to her brother Apollon, the god of the Sun; the author also reveals that Angel Tōma, one of the warriors in their ranks, was one of the four closest aides of Apollon. Three other unnamed Angels appear as Apollon's retinue, who also wear Glory mantles and are able to shapeshift into winged horses to pull the Sun god's chariot.
The Lunar Realm (月の世界, Tsuki no Sekai) is ruled by the beautiful goddess Artemis, older sister to Athena and younger sister of Apollon. Although Artemis initially shows hostility to Athena, she later offers her assistance. Despite this, Artemis' servants plot secretly to kill Athena and her Saints. Additionally, the Angels, the warriors of the Heavenly Realm, have pledged allegiance to Artemis as well to her older brother, Apollon, the Sun god.
The Satellites (月衛士, Sateraito, lit. "Moon Guardians") are the guardians of the moon and women soldiers of Artemis, they fulfill a lesser role in her army, equivalent to the Skeleton soldiers in Hades' army. The Satellites are all excellent archers, they wear light armor which evoke the japanese folk tales of the moon rabbits. [26]
The Sun Realm (太陽の世界, Taiyō no Sekai) is the realm ruled by the extremely powerful Apollon, the god of the Sun and older brother to Artemis and Athena. Also linked to Mount Olympus to some extent. Kurumada reveals Apollon's temple in his realm while detailing the causes of Angel Tōma's fall of grace. Apollon's temple is the place from which he presides over his realm and where he is tended to by his Angel combatants. Even though Apollon shows hostility towards Athena and her Saints for their transgressions against the gods, he does it out of concern for his younger sister and to protect Earth from Zeus' wrath; as he later shows mercy and spares Athena's and her Saints' lives but removing their memories of their past connection and their time together.
Some antagonistic factions do not exist in Masami Kurumada's Saint Seiya manga, appearing only in the TV anime adaptation. These include the Ghost Saints, the henchmen of Pope Arles, some Silver Saints and rankless Saints and Odin's Asgardians.
Saint Seiya, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1990, with its chapters collected in 28 tankōbon volumes. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media.
Masami Kurumada is a Japanese manga artist and writer, known for specializing in fighting manga featuring bishōnen and magical boys.
Pegasus Seiya, simply known as Seiya, is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the Saint Seiya manga series created by Masami Kurumada. He is the eponymous protagonist who makes his debut in the first chapter "The Saints of Athena", published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on December 12, 1985. Seiya is one of the eighty-eight mythical warriors known as Saints who have served the Goddess Athena throughout the ages, protecting justice and peace on Earth though Seiya is only interested in finding his missing sister Seika in the series' beginning. As a Saint, Seiya dons a powerful armor of divine origins known as a Cloth, the one which represents the constellation of Pegasus. Seiya also possesses superhuman strength and speed, two of the many extraordinary abilities the Saints draw from their guardian constellations and an inner essence called Cosmo. Seiya has also appeared as a supporting character in other works related to Saint Seiya such as the television series Saint Seiya Omega and the Saint Seiya Episode.G manga trilogy, becoming one of the twelve strongest Saints, the Gold Saint Sagittarius Seiya, personally supporting Athena's reincarnation, Saori Kido. Seiya is the successor of Sagittarius Aiolos, the previous wielder of his Gold Cloth who often sends his protection even before coming a Gold Saint.
Andromeda Shun is a protagonist in the Saint Seiya media franchise, which originated in the manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada, that subsequently inspired an anime series, soundtracks, OVAs, films, video games, and other collectibles. He is one of the strongest characters in the series, although his gentle disposition and kind nature tend to hold him back from using his full power until he has no other choice but to do so. Shun is also the younger brother of Phoenix Ikki, a fellow Bronze Saint.
Cygnus Hyoga is a main character in the manga series Saint Seiya, created by Masami Kurumada, and later adapted to anime. Hyoga is cold and calm by nature, which complements his abilities as a saint. He was the third of the five main protagonists to be introduced. In some English adaptations he was named Swan Hyoga.
Dragon Shiryū is a fictional character from the Saint Seiya universe created by Masami Kurumada. As one of the protagonists of this media franchise, he has made appearances in the several manga, the original anime adaptation, OVAs, films and video games. He has also inspired a large number of collectibles. Considered the most mature and wisest of the five heroes, Shiryū is the Bronze Saint of the Dragon constellation, whose Cloth possesses legendary defensive and offensive properties. Shiryū is one of the ten surviving orphans trained to become Athena's Saints by Mitsumasa Kido. With Kido dead, Shiryū and his allies become the protectors of his adopted granddaughter, Saori, Athena's reincarnation.
Saint Seiya, retitled Saint Seiya: Evil Goddess Eris on its home video release, is the first in a series of anime films produced by Toei Animation based on the manga Saint Seiya by Masami Kurumada. The movie premiered on July 18, 1987, at the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival, where it was shown as part of a quadruple feature along with Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle and the movie versions of Hikari Sentai Maskman and Choujinki Metalder.
Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – The Myth of Hades, also known as simply The Lost Canvas, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shiori Teshirogi. It is a spin-off based on the manga series Saint Seiya, which was created, written and illustrated by Japanese author Masami Kurumada. The Lost Canvas was published by Akita Shoten in the Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine since August 24, 2006, concluding after 223 chapters on April 6, 2011, with twenty-five tankōbon released. The story takes place in the 18th century, and focuses on how an orphan known as Tenma who becomes one off the goddess Athena's 88 warriors known as Saints and finds himself in a war fighting against his best friend Alone who is revealed to be the reincarnation of Athena's biggest enemy, the Underworld God Hades.
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension – Myth of Hades is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It is a direct sequel to Kurumada's manga series Saint Seiya, while also serving as a prequel to the events presented in it. It was irregularly serialized for eighteen years in Akita Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from April 2006 to July 2024; its chapters have been collected in fifteen tankōbon volumes as of May 2024. The main plot is set in the 18th century during the previous "Holy War" between the goddess Athena and the god Hades, and centers on the battles between each deity's warriors who are known as the Saints and the Specters, respectively, during that era.
Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary, is a 2014 Japanese CGI animated fantasy martial arts action film produced by Toei Animation, directed by Keiichi Sato and written by Tomohiro Suzuki. It is based on the manga Saint Seiya by Masami Kurumada. It is the sixth film based on the series. Legend of Sanctuary was released in Japan on June 21, 2014, after premiering at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 11, 2014. It stars the voice talents of Kaito Ishikawa, Ayaka Sasaki, Kenshō Ono, Kenji Akabane, Nobuhiko Okamoto, and Kenji Nojima in the leading roles, and the executive producer is Masami Kurumada. The plot focuses on five young warriors known as Saints who take on the mission of protecting Saori Kido, the reincarnation of the goddess Athena from enemies in the Sanctuary.
Saint Seiya: Meiō Iden – Dark Wing is a Japanese manga series written by Kenji Saitō and illustrated by Shinshū Ueda. It is a spin-off of the manga series Saint Seiya by Masami Kurumada. The manga started serialization in Akita Shoten's monthly magazine Champion Red in December 2020.
Saint Seiya: Time Odyssey is a French comics series by Jérôme Alquié and Arnaud Dollen based on Masami Kurumada's manga series Saint Seiya.
Saint Seiya: Gigantomachia is a Japanese novel series written by Tatsuya Hamazaki and illustrated by Shingo Araki. It is a spin-off to the Saint Seiya manga series by Masami Kurumada. Two novels were released by Shueisha, under their Jump J-Books light novel imprint, in August and December 2002.
Saint Seiya: The Hades is a three-dimensional fighting video game developed by Dimps and published by Bandai for PlayStation 2. Released on December 20, 2007, in Japan and November 27, 2009, in France, it is the seventh video game based on the Saint Seiya franchise, a manga series written by Masami Kurumada.