Project arms Ryo Takatsuki The Jabberwock

Ryo Takatsuki 

Ryo Takatsuki

The main character of the anime. He seems like your regular polite and friendly teenager, but he has extraordinary hidden abilities. Ryo's parents, Iwao and Misa Takatsuki, are former mercenaries who knew he would have to combat Egrigori someday, and quietly trained him in survival techniques, martial arts, and strategy. Ryo always calmly analyzes any new situation and figures out the best solution. Ryo also has a high regard for human life and free will, and always fights for these with everything he has. Cool headed most of the time, Ryo is an excellent leader, strategist, and overall combatant, Ryo nonetheless dislikes killing, but will do so if necessary. Ryo cares a great deal about his childhood friend, Katsumi. As of the epilogue, they are married and have a child who is strongly implied to be the reincarnation of the redeemed Black Alice.

In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Nobutoshi Kanna. In the English dub, he is voiced by Kirby Morrow.

The Jabberwock

The Jabberwock is the most powerful of the four original ARMS, due to its ability to evolve extremely quickly in response to any threat; by the end of the series the Jabberwock has developed an extensive list of combat abilities (listed below). Its AI is extremely violent and unstable; the Jabberwock is the embodiment of Black Alice's hatred - for most of the series its transformed state is simply an engine of destruction, though it eventually submits to Ryo's will. It can feed off Ryo's anger and vice versa, allowing them to synchronize much more easily than Hayato, Takeshi or Kei. Initially it was a powerful hand to hand weapon that could elongate, transform into a shield, and exhibited a limited ability to move on its own to protect Ryo, focused in his right arm. The Jabberwock's nano-machines also give Ryo an innate ability to heal much faster than a normal human even in his untransformed state. The Jabberwock's ultimate form is a hulking red demonic humanoid containing nothing but pure rage and destructive force and is triggered by its host's hatred and anger.

In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Shūichi Ikeda. In the English dub, he is voiced by Paul Dobson.

• Compressed air cannon- This ability was first developed during the fight against the Chapel Twins Al and Jeff. It consumes raw materials like concrete or metal, converts them into crude bullets, and fires them with compressed air at extreme speeds. This ability is highly destructive and was able to severely damage and disable the personal combat cyborgs of the Chapel twins. During a full transformation matter does not have to be consumed to create bullets. The Jabberwock is able to create them internally. This is one of the most commonly used powers by Ryo and establishes him as the only original ARMS with any significant long-range firepower.

• Anti-ARMS nano virus- This ability is what makes the Jabberwock especially dangerous to other ARMS units. The claws of the Jabberwock contain a virus which permanently kills the nanomachines of other ARMS in a very localized area around the point of contact. This stops any and all ARMS regeneration in all forms. It can only be transmitted to another ARMS by direct physical contact. The nano-machine virus does not appear to be dependant on the Jabberwock itself to be potent as Iwao Takatsuki comes into possession of a claw that had become broken off from the Jabberwock and the nano-virus was still potent and feared by those it was used against.

• Partial transformation- though originally a precursor to Ryo losing control of himself and transforming into the Jabberwock, he has learned to control the activation of this ability. It manifests around his head, with the nanomachines becoming visible across his face, as well as his hair and mouth changing to resemble the Jabberwock's. During particularly tough fights when Ryo needs his strength enhanced beyond its normal limits, his ARMS nano-machines begin to spread throughout his entire body. The nano-machines significantly reinforce his body structure making him more resistant to injury, accelerates his regeneration, and amplifies his strength, speed, and endurance far beyond what they normally are. Ryo has also shown that the partial transformation gives him a significant resistance to toxic materials and poisons. The first use of this ability in combat takes place shortly after the incident at Abumisawa village when Ryo is cornered in an abandoned building by some Egrigori cyborgs and he dispatches them with ease. However, during this time he was extremely mentally unstable so it is unclear if he was willingly using this ability or allowing the Jabberwock to feed on his anger and hatred. The first intentional use of this ability happens during the second battle at Gallows Bell while Ryo is fighting against Stinger.

• Telekinetic immunity- developed after the fight with Cliff of the X-Army. During their fight and after sustaining severe damage, the Jabberwock evolved so that it could no longer be directly influenced by Cliff's telekinesis and then showed the ability to tear through the telekinetic shields that he erected to protect himself.

• Limited flight- During the fight with Cliff of the X-Army the Jabberwock displays the ability to fly via several small thrusters grown from his back and shoulders, though he is nowhere near as fast or agile as the White Rabbit by any means. He seems to be able to keep himself aloft and charge ahead in a single direction.

• Temperature control- After recovering from the nanovirus introduced into his systems by Colonel Gall of the Red Caps the Jabberwock showed the ability to increase the temperature of its body by thousands of degrees. This allowed it to breathe fire, create flaming shockwaves simply by waving its hand, and essentially acted as a shield by vaporizing bullets and other munitions in midair before they could even touch his body.

• Electromagnetic distortion- During the fight with Keith Silver the Jabberwock evolved the ability to create electromagnetic fields to distort and deflect the laser blasts fired by Keith Silver in his standard and ultimate forms.

• Anti-matter production- The most dangerous ability exhibited by the Jabberwock to date. During the fight with Keith Silver in Gallows Bell the Jabberwock absorbed all the energy from Keith's most powerful laser blast and used it to create anti-matter which he used to create a massive explosion that wiped out most of Gallows Bell, dealt severe damage to Keith Silver, and created a powerful EM pulse that disabled all local electronics including Egrigori's top of the line cyborgs. In issue 11 it was stated by Dr. Samuel Tillinghast that the Jabberwock can create large quantities of anti-matter and this ability could lead to the destruction of the entire world. Though this ability currently takes too much power to use under normal circumstances. This ability is also the only one shown thus far that can severely and permanently damage another ARMS unit without the use of a nanovirus. When the ability was first used in Gallows Bell the antimatter was shot through Keith Silver's shoulder before detonating in the city. The sheer amount of damage done to Silver took him out of commission for an extremely long period of time despite the regenerative properties of his ARMS unit as he was recovering at Area 51. When he finally does reappear it is revealed that the damage to his body was so profound that his arm was permanently stuck in its transformed state and his shoulder appeared to be badly misshapen and had several limiter devices implanted in it. After the giant Jabberwock absorbs a nuclear warhead, it evolves to become a "giant particle accelerator" (according to Violet) and no longer needs to absorb energy to create anti-matter.

• Space-time tear immunity- After the first encounter with Keith Green the Jabberwock evolved an immunity to the space-time tears he could create and showed the ability to tear through the space-time shields Green used. (Similar to Cliff)

• Hypersonic Vibrations- This ability is acquired by the Jabberwock in issue 16 during the fight against Huey and the Successors. The sonic vibrations emitted by these mechanical men are so powerful that they cause the very atomic structure of the target to shatter and crumble. The Jabberwock at first develops counter vibrations strong enough to neutralize those of Huey and the Successors to allow itself to regenerate, but quickly adapts them into an even more powerful form that not only overpowers the vibrations of the Successors but shatters their vibration resistant bodies. The Knight warns Hayato that this new power is equal in strength to his Lance of Mistilteinn and could make it near impossible to destroy the Jabberwock should he go out of control.

• Hyper Acceleration- This ability is gained in issue 16 during another fight against the Successors. What is notable about this power is that it is used by Ryo while the Jabberwock is dormant. Ryo sees an image of Alice that calms his and the Jabberwock's rage and convinces him to believe in his own will and not the power of the Jabberwock. This ability allows Ryo to move at speeds equal to, if not greater than, Egrigori's high speed cyborgs and the Successors. When Hayato fearfully wonders whether the Jabberwock has gained a new power the Knight says that Ryo is the one in control, is bending the Jabberwock to his will, and this power is coming from Ryo himself. Therefore, it could be said that this power is more Ryo's than the Jabberwock's.

• Electromagnetic Rail gun- This ability is developed in volume 17 during Ryo's rematch with Keith Silver. Due to his compressed air cannon being ineffective against Silver's energy shield, it evolved to utilize the previously defensive magnetic fields used to deflect Silver's particle beams into a rail gun which uses electromagnetic induction to launch projectiles many times faster and with more destructive force than its previous incarnation.

Ryo and Yugo inside Jabberwock

In the manga and anime series "Project ARMS," Jabberwok is a central character whose role and significance are intricately woven into the story's overarching narrative. "Project ARMS," created by Ryoji Minagawa and Kyoichi Nanatsuki, draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass" and includes references to the poem "Jabberwocky."

Overview of Jabberwok in "Project ARMS"

Real Name: Ryo Takatsuki
Alias: Jabberwok
Affiliation: ARMS (Artificial Radical Manipulated Species)

Background and Abilities

Ryo Takatsuki, the protagonist of "Project ARMS," is a high school student whose life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers he is one of the children modified by the ARMS project. These modifications grant him superhuman abilities, transforming him into a living weapon. Ryo's ARMS, codenamed Jabberwok, is the most powerful and destructive of the ARMS.

The Jabberwok ARMS grants Ryo a range of abilities that are both a blessing and a curse:

1. Superhuman Strength and Speed: The enhancements make Ryo incredibly strong and fast, surpassing ordinary human capabilities.
2. Regeneration: Jabberwok provides rapid healing, allowing Ryo to recover from injuries at an accelerated rate.
3. Combat Skills: The ARMS not only enhances physical abilities but also endows Ryo with advanced combat techniques and instincts.
4. Transformation: Ryo can transform parts of his body or his entire form into a monstrous creature, the Jabberwok. This form is immensely powerful and almost unstoppable, but it also poses a risk of overwhelming Ryo's human consciousness.

Jabberwok's Symbolism and Story Arc

The character of Jabberwok is deeply symbolic, representing the themes of duality and inner conflict. Ryo's journey is marked by his struggle to control the immense power of Jabberwok and maintain his humanity. This inner battle reflects the series' broader themes of identity, the morality of scientific experimentation, and the nature of power.

Throughout "Project ARMS," Ryo faces numerous challenges, both from external enemies and his internal turmoil. The series explores his relationships with other ARMS users and his quest to uncover the truth behind the ARMS project and his own existence.

Key Story Points Involving Jabberwok

• Discovery of Powers: Ryo's initial discovery of his ARMS abilities sets the stage for his transformation into Jabberwok and introduces the central conflict of the series.
• Battle with Egrigori: Ryo and his friends, also ARMS users, confront the sinister organization Egrigori, which seeks to exploit the ARMS technology for its own ends.
• Control and Mastery: A significant part of Ryo's character development is his struggle to control Jabberwok's power. His fear of losing himself to the monstrous side of Jabberwok is a recurring theme.
• Final Confrontation: The culmination of Ryo's journey involves a final showdown where he must fully embrace and control Jabberwok's power to save his friends and defeat the antagonists.

In summary, Jabberwok is a complex and pivotal character in "Project ARMS," embodying the themes of power, identity, and inner conflict. Ryo Takatsuki's transformation and battle to control his ARMS form the emotional and narrative core of the series, making Jabberwok a memorable and significant element of the story.