Do you wish to know a fictional character who left a distinctive mark upon an entire generation of French boys -and probably legions of girls too- now aged between 25 and 40?

Well, look no further mes amis:

There is a consensus that “Nicky Larson” (or “City Hunter” in the original Japanese) is one of the most memorable mangas ever dubbed in French language.

The storyline revolves around Nicky, a Magnum 357-carrying garde du corps (bodyguard) and détective privé (private investigator) with an unmatched fighting capability, whose shooting skills are as sharp as his infallible wits (well, most of the time, at least.)

Other than that, Nicky Larson is seconded by his somewhat “tomboy” looking sidekick, Laura.

Whenever he shows up (his dramatic entrance is each time heralded by an ominous background music), the villains who were up to no good suddenly start shaking, because they simply know that their chance of upstaging this justicier (upholder of the law) is next-to-zero.

That is Nicky Larson for you.

Now, having said that, and in order to offer you the full picture, one must say that the man is not entirely without flaws and weaknesses: Every single time Nicky Larson lays an eye on une fille mignone (a cute girl) who happens to be passing by, he completely loses his mind, and immediately starts acting (as well as looking) utterly silly—at which point, Laura, who is very jealous though never wants to admit it, hits him real hard on the head with a huge massue (club), or sometimes with an enormous hammer, both of which usually weigh in the range of 1000 tons (for the “mini” ones) and 1,000,000 tons (for the really gigantic ones.)

As to where Laura may have been concealing these punitive weapons all along (or why she’d never put them to good use against the villains, for example), the question remains to this day a rather compelling mystery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_G_9q0UeqE

Générique (Intro) of “Nicky Larson”

(“City Hunter” in the original Japanese manga)

(An exclusive translation from French into English for the Transparent Language French Blog)

Nicky Larson

Nicky Larson

Une ombre file dans la nuit

A shadow is cast in the dead of night

C’est un assassin qui s’enfuit

It’s an assassin running away

Et comme un démon il sourit

And like a demon he smiles

Son crime restera impuni

His crime will remain unpunished

Une voiture qui surgit

A car shows up

Un coup de frein, des pneus qui crient

Brakes are hit, screaming tyres

Un coup de feu qui retentit

A gun shot resounds

La justice s’appelle Nicky

Justice’s name is Nicky

Dans la chaleur

In the heat

De la nuit

Of the night

Le mal est toujours puni

Evil is always punished

Aucun danger ne l’impressionne

No danger impresses him

Les coups durs, il les affectionne

Hard blows, he cherishes

Et la justice le passionne

And justice enthralls him

Nicky Larson ne craint personne

Nicky Larson fears no one

Lorsque les coups de feu résonnent

When gun shots resound

Comme un éclair il tourbillone

Like lightning he whirls

Surtout si la fille est mignonne

Especially if the girl is cute

Nicky Larson ne craint personne

Nicky Larson fears no one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1pCNyO5PDs

The version with the full lyrics

(Lyrics below start at 1:16)

Comme un chasseur il suit sa proie

Like a hunter, he chases his prey

Pour que la justice et le droit

So that justice and law

Triomphent, il est prêt à donner

Prevail, he is ready to give

Toute sa vie sans hésiter

All his life without a second thought

Quand sa silhouette apparaît

When his figure appears

Les méchants se mettent à trembler

The villains start shaking

Ils savent qu’ils ne pourront jamais

They know they could never

Echapper à ce justicier

Escape from this upholder of the law

Dans la chaleur

In the heat

De la nuit

Of the night

Le mal est toujours puni

Evil is always punished

Aucun danger ne l’impressionne

No danger impresses him

Les coups durs, il les affectionne

Hard blows, he cherishes

Et la justice le passionne

And justice enthralls him

Nicky Larson ne craint personne

Nicky Larson fears no one

Lorsque les coups de feu résonnent

When gun shots resound

Comme un éclair il tourbillone

Like lightning he whirls

Surtout si la fille est mignonne

Especially if the girl is cute

Nicky Larson ne craint personne

Nicky Larson fears no one