Record of Ragnarok features 14 human fighters chosen from humanity’s greatest, but how do the human fighters compare to the real-life people from history? The Netflix anime takes some artistic liberties in bringing these historical figures to life, a feat that is particularly understandable considering some of the characters have no known existing images or likenesses of them. Here are all 14 human fighters and their real-life counterparts.
Record of Ragnarok tells the story of a pantheon of the world’s gods. Every 1,000 years, the Gods’ Council meets to decide whether humanity should continue or go extinct. When the gods decide to wipe out humanity, the Valkyries are able to convince the gods to host a battle that would allow humanity to fight for their existence. It’s decided that 13 gods will fight to the death against 13 of humanity’s best in the battle of Ragnarok. If seven humans win their battles, humanity will continue; if seven gods win, humanity will go extinct. The human roster includes historical figures from different eras and cultures, including Adam, Jack the Ripper, Buddha, and Simo Häyhä.
While the entire roster of human fighters has been announced, not all have been featured in the series so far. Record of Ragnarok is adapted from a manga of the same name, and some fighters that have appeared in the manga did not appear in Record of Ragnarok season 1.
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Lü Bu
Lü Bu (voiced by Kaiji Tang from Jujutsu Kaisen) was a Chinese military general and warlord from the Eastern Han dynasty who was known for being one of history’s mightiest warriors. Lü Bu served under multiple warlords from the early 190s until 199 AD when he was captured and executed. Throughout his years in service, he frequently switched loyalties and betrayed alliances, which ultimately led to his execution by the warlord Cao Cao. There is no known physical description of Lü Bu, but he was illustrated by later dynasties. Record of Ragnarok draws inspiration for Lü Bu’s character design from these illustrations (though they are more gratuitous with his musculature). In Record of Ragnarok, Lü Bu’s prowess is reflected in his godly strength and speed, durability, and endurance.
Adam
In the Bible, Adam (voiced by Jonah Scott from Sk8 the Infinity) is described as the first man, created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden. Eve was then made from his rib, and the two existed together in Eden. After they ate the forbidden fruit, the pair was cast out from the Garden. They would go on to parent children together that would populate the Earth, meaning every living person can trace their lineage back to the original Adam and Eve, at least according to the Bible. Adam has been painted or carved by multiple artists over the centuries, typically portrayed as a light-skinned man with long, light hair. In Record of Ragnarok, Adam possesses godly abilities including Eyes of the Lord, an ability that has shades of Marvel’s Taskmaster. As Adam is designed by a god, he is given the ability to perfectly replicate any move used by any divine being he sees, making him a formidable foe.
Sasaki Kojirō
Sasaki Kojirō (voiced by Keone Young from Teen Titans Go!) is a famed swordsman from feudal Japan, sometimes referred to as “history’s strongest swordsman.” The real-life Sasaki’s swordsmanship is evident in the Record of Ragnarok version of the warrior, whose skills with a sword make him equal to the gods in combat. Sasaki was famous for his speed with a blade, and his iconic “swallow cut” technique, said to mimic the movement of a swallow’s tail, can be seen in Record of Ragnarok. He is able to memorize and analyze his opponent’s movements during battle, making him almost impossible to defeat. The real-life Sasaki was defeated in battle against fellow legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, though some historians speculate Musashi cheated in order to defeat him.
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper is one of the most infamous serial killers in human history. Jack the Ripper was never caught, so his true appearance and identity are unknown. During his reign of terror, Jack the Ripper murdered at least five women across London and disemboweled them with surgical precision. In Record of Ragnarok, Jack is a British gentleman with a sadistic heart. He is an expert tactician and master of stealth, proficient with knives, and can discern a person’s emotions as fields of color with his right eye.
Raiden Tameemon
Raiden Tameemon is one of the most important sumo wrestlers in history. At 6’5″ and 373 pounds, Raiden was seen as a giant in his day. In his career, he amassed 254 victories and only 10 losses, giving him a winning percentage of 96.2, an all-time record. During his career, some matches would request he not use his usual moves, just to make the fights last longer. In Record of Ragnarok, Raiden possesses godlike strength and the strongest muscles in human history, with a wide range of sumo techniques. Without the seals on his body, his muscle mass would increase to the point of destroying his bones — but with the seals removed, Raiden possesses an unbelievable physical strength.
Buddha
Buddha was born as a human named Siddhartha Gautama, but the philosophical figure was able to attain enlightenment and godhood during his lifetime. In real life, Buddha was the founder of Buddhism, one of the largest religions in the world. Along with the Valkyries, Buddha is not in favor of destroying humanity and so, despite reaching deity status, Buddha decides to fight on the side of the humans. His status as a deity gives him godly abilities, such as precognition and the ability to share power with the Pure Land.
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of unified China from 221 to 210 BC. Qin Shi Huang expanded the size of China, implemented massive economic and political reforms, and left lasting impressions on the history of China. Qin Shi Huang has yet to appear in Record of Ragnarok, but his design was released in the manga spin-off “Shuumatsu no Valkyrie – The Legend of Lü Bu” in December 2020.
Simo Häyhä
Simo Häyhä, nicknamed “The White Death,” was a Finnish military sniper in World War 2 and the Winter War against the Soviet Union. He is credited with killing 500 men over 100 days, the highest number of sniper kills in any major war. Häyhä was seriously injured after a bullet hit his lower jaw in 1940, leaving his face permanently disfigured. Though he hasn’t appeared in the series yet, his design was released early in 2019.
Okita Souji
Okita Souji was the captain of the first unit of a special police force in Kyoto, Japan known as the Shinsengumi, which was created to protect the shogunate representatives. He was known for being one of the best swordsmen on the force but died at a young age due to tuberculosis. No known photos exist of Okita Souji, but the Record of Ragnarok character seems to be modeled around photos of known Shinsengumi members. Okita hasn’t appeared in Record of Ragnarok yet, but his design was taken from a series that runs in the same magazine, Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem.
The Remaining Fighters
There are five fighters left on the human roster that have yet to be seen; Nikola Tesla, Michel de Nostredame, Sakata Kintoki, Grigori Rasputin, and Leonidas I. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and engineer with countless inventions that continue to influence modern-day technology. Nostredame was a French astrologer and seer who wrote a collection of 942 predictions for the future. Sakata Kintoki was a samurai well-known for his warrior abilities and was the basis of Kintarō, a folk hero in Japanese mythology. Grigori Rasputin was a Russian mystic and holy man. Leonidas I was a king of Sparta and the leader of the 300 Spartans who were given modern-day awareness with Zack Snyder’s movie, 300.
Record Of Ragnarok’s Season 2 Characters
As for which fighters will feature most prominently in Record of Ragnarok season 2, if the series is renewed and continues to follow the manga, audiences can expect to see Jack the Ripper, Raiden Tameemon, and Buddha in the starring roles. Just as Record of Ragnarok season 1 focused on Lü Bu, Adam, and Sasaki Kojirō’s battles, season 2 will probably highlight just three fighters if it follows the same model. As with season 1’s main characters, Record of Ragnarok season 2’s likely protagonists represent a wide range of time periods and cultures, which should make for fascinating matchups against their respective godly opponents.
The Next Matchups According To The Record of Ragnarok Manga
Provided Record of Ragnarok season 2 follows the manga in similar fashion to season 1, it will see Jack the Ripper face Hercules, Raiden Tameemon take on Shiva, and Buddha battle against Bishamonten. As with season 1, these battles are certain to be dramatic and action-packed, but with a new set of powers on display. As humanity continues to fight for its life in Record of Ragnarok season 2, the stakes should become higher and higher.