This screenshot demotivational poster is highly, highly Anti-Kouga. So, sit back, relax, and revel in the evisceration I have in store for this miserably appalling excuse of a wolf yokai warrior from an anime series I have the most epic love-hate relationship with.
When I first encountered Kouga on the small screen on Adult Swim as a thirteen-year-old seventh grader, I was quite enamored with how rugged he was thanks to his attire, manner, and wild wolf man appeal. I even enjoyed the rivalry he bore with Inuyasha not only in terms of their strength but also how hotheaded both of them are.
However, as the years rolled by accompanied by repeated viewings of Inuyasha, my sentiments for this loser turned into bitter, unapologetic resentment and hatred. This was mainly attributed to his initial appearance in Episode 35 where Kouga was introduced on the hunt of a bandit who stole his Shikon Jewel shards. As soon as he spotted him, the bandit gave him the jewel shards, and Kouga killed him off with one slash. Furthermore, he proceeded to command his wolves to feast on anyone they can sink their teeth on to the point where Rin was killed by them before being resurrected by Sesshoumaru’s sword which can revive anyone, Tenseiga.
After his ruthless deed, he ended up kidnapping Kagome, as she could sense the Shikon Jewel shards, which spurred him on to see Kagome as total wife material. For the record, he did manage to treat her more like a princess and make her feel appreciated than Inuyasha ever could, but that was only because of her mere ability to sense the Shikon Jewel shards and little else. Even when Kouga did get himself injured when trying to fight off one of the Birds of Paradise, he still tried to assure Kagome and his tribe that it was just a flesh wound with the former being surprisingly warm towards him. I think I agree with Inuyasha when he tried to punch Kouga, but I hated it when Kagome sat him for doing so. Personally, if I were Inuyasha, I would have ended Kouga’s life with one single punch and slash after what he has done to the villagers, Rin, and, yes, even kidnapping Kagome.
All sentiments of wanting him have his comeuppance aside, Kouga did show promise as a fierce fighter when he thought that Inuyasha slaughtered his clan mates, when it was actually Kagura who manipulated the lifeless bodies of Kouga’s tribesmen to do battle with Inuyasha and his gang. As the truth was discovered that Naraku, through Kagura, was the one who slaughtered Kouga’s fellow tribesmen, he swore to avenge his fallen comrades.
However, this was where my initial interest in Kouga as a fighter wavered because of a couple of factors.
First of all, Kouga bears Shikon Jewel shards in his legs, which give him rapid speed, as with them he can outrun anyone. That right there is more of a cheat than applying his own natural strength to become better as a combatant.
Speaking of being a combatant, this leads me to my second reason, as Kouga is more well-known for talking the talk but not walking the walk. For someone who is supposed to be fierce, determined, and ferocious as a wolf yokai, I am very surprised to see him having occasions where he is running away from battle and is mainly relying on the Shikon Jewel shards’ power on his legs without even using his own strength, skill, and ability to overcome his own shortcomings without them.
Come the release of “Inuyasha: The Final Act”, specifically in Episode 8, where my disillusionment of Kouga reached a new level.
It did start off with Kouga combating a wolf guardian to obtain the legendary Goraishi, but I will go more into detail about that weapon in another screenshot demotivational poster.
However, by the time Naraku deprived Kouga of the Shikon Jewel shards on his legs, he abdicated his pursuit of avenging the lives of his fallen comrades because he was weak without them. That right there is disgrace to his tribe, cowardice, and ending up as nothing more than a pathetic wuss of a sissy incarnate when he up and left Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and even Sesshoumaru, Kohaku, and Rin to face off Naraku without him. Moreover, it was a major letdown from Kouga, as his potential to prove that he was something more was utterly wasted and he did not deserve the happy ending that just came out of mid-air.
Speaking of his farce of a happy ending, I am just as gobsmacked to have seen Kouga undeservedly marry Ayame all while getting the praise and honor of his tribe? Ha! What a laugh, what a farce, and what a copout for Kouga. I would have been in the right mind of banning Kouga for all of his horrid misdeeds of killing villagers, not avenging his fallen comrades, and being a coward in the face of real battle. I would even have Hakkaku and Ginta dump this loser for good and have Ayame end up with Inuyasha while being under Sesshoumaru’s wing in a heartbeat. Ergo, Kouga deserved nothing! He lost! A miserable bite of Karma on this pathetic wolf warrior.
There you have it, folks. Kouga is nothing more than a pathetic Karma Houdini and a bluffing coward rolled up into one measly package. He is just nothing but hot air and nothing more.
I hope you all enjoyed this Anti-Kouga demotivational poster, and I will see you in the next submission. Take care and stay safe, everybody.
Kouga from Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise.
