The 18th volume of Blue Lock was released on March 21, 2023, and the author disclosed the true inspiration for Isagi’s club, which was not Bayern Munich. In the beginning of the volume, the author had shared that the ‘Bastard’ aspect of the football club was influenced by the manga series BASTARD!!, as he was drawn to the sound of the word.
The decision to use this particular word stemmed from the belief that it would make the opposing club feel pressured by the idea that a group of ‘bastards’ were outplaying them, ultimately creating a sense of superiority.
Additionally, the author expressed his affection for the German club and alluded to its other name, Munchen, being associated with Bayern Munich. He also shared his desire to one day visit the city of Munich.
Disclaimer: The article includes the author’s opinion and may reveal potential spoilers from the Blue Lock manga series.
Inspiration behind Isagi’s Club in Blue Lock
Muneyuki Kaneshiro is a renowned Japanese manga author, famous for his works such as Jagaaaaaan and Kami-sama no Iutoori.
The author’s most famous manga, Blue Lock, is a sports manga. In this series, the protagonist is a member of the football club Bastard Munchen, playing alongside other skilled players.
The club’s origins and name suggest that it draws inspiration from Bayern Munich, a highly successful German football club known for its talented players.
Despite the obvious assumption, the name of Kaneshiro’s football club was actually inspired by a manga series, demonstrating that the obvious solution is not always the correct one in this case.
The manga series BASTARD!! (also known as Bastard!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy) served as the inspiration for the ‘Bastard’ part of Bastard Munchen. In volume 18 of the series, the author shared that he was a fan of the manga and found the word ‘bastard’ to be quite cool. This dark fantasy series influenced the creation of Bastard Munchen.
Therefore, he incorporated it into one of the most successful clubs in his manga series, envisioning a scenario in which the opposing club would be rendered powerless after being defeated by unscrupulous individuals (the definition of bastards).
Summary of Blue Lock Volume 18
The Blue-Lock football team was granted a two-week break after defeating the U-20 Japanese football team. Upon receiving notice of a second phase in their football program, they returned from their holiday, eager to improve their performance.
During the international Phase 2 of Blue-Lock, the Japanese players were given the option to represent one of four countries. Isagi ultimately decided on Germany, while the rest of the players followed their instincts and selected countries where they believed they could best display their skills.
Once all the countries had been selected, Jinpachi Ego announced the participating clubs, including the debut of Bastard Munchen, and their renowned coaches who were former strikers from various parts of the globe. This marked the beginning of the Neo-Egoist League, an ongoing tournament as of the time this article was written.
Concluding Remarks
Despite this revelation, it cannot be denied that Isagi’s team is indeed inspired by the real-life German club, as suggested by the club’s name.
The author had to find inspiration for the German club in his manga since he couldn’t use its real name, which is the main source of inspiration for the BASTARD!! manga series.
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