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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?<\/p>\n
Well, look no further mes amis<\/em>:<\/p>\n There is a consensus that “Nicky Larson” (or “City Hunter” in the original Japanese<\/a>) is one of the most memorable mangas ever dubbed in French language.<\/p>\n The storyline revolves around Nicky, a Magnum 357-carrying garde du corps <\/em>(bodyguard) and\u00a0d\u00e9tective priv\u00e9<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(private investigator) with an unmatched fighting capability, whose shooting skills are as sharp as his infallible wits (well, most of the time, at least.)<\/p>\n Other than that, Nicky Larson is seconded by his somewhat “tomboy” looking sidekick, Laura.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0<\/em>(upholder of the law) is next-to-zero.<\/p>\n That is Nicky Larson for you.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0une fille mignone <\/em>(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 <\/em>(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.)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S_G_9q0UeqE<\/a><\/p>\n G\u00e9n\u00e9rique<\/em> (Intro) of “Nicky Larson” <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n (“City Hunter” in the original Japanese manga)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n (An exclusive translation from French into English for the Transparent Language French Blog)<\/strong><\/p>\n N<\/strong>icky Larson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Nicky Larson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Une ombre file dans la nuit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n A shadow is cast in the dead of night<\/p>\n C’est un assassin qui s’enfuit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It’s an assassin running away<\/p>\n Et comme un d\u00e9mon il sourit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n And like a demon he smiles<\/p>\n Son crime restera impuni<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n His crime will remain unpunished<\/p>\n Une voiture qui surgit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n A car shows up<\/p>\n Un coup de frein, des pneus qui crient<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Brakes are hit, screaming tyres<\/p>\n Un coup de feu qui retentit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n A gun shot resounds<\/p>\n La justice s’appelle Nicky<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Justice’s name is Nicky<\/p>\n Dans la chaleur<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In the heat<\/p>\n De la nuit<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Of the night<\/p>\n Le mal est toujours puni<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Evil is always punished<\/p>\n Aucun danger ne l’impressionne<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n No danger impresses him<\/p>\n Les coups durs, il les affectionne<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Hard blows, he cherishes<\/p>\n Et la justice le passionne<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n And justice enthralls him<\/p>\n Nicky Larson ne craint personne<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Nicky Larson fears no one<\/p>\n Lorsque les coups de feu r\u00e9sonnent<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n When gun shots resound<\/p>\n Comme un \u00e9clair il tourbillone<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Like lightning he whirls<\/p>\n