James and Steven discuss the concluding adult arc of the manga, breaking it down using Joseph Campbell's monomyth template. And even speak of the bonus skull kid chapters, which separate from the full story also acts as a good rendition of the hero's journey formula. Skip synopsis @ 5:14

 

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124: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vol. 2

Story and Art by Akira Himekawa

Based upon the work of Yoshiaki Koizuma, Tôru Ôsawa, Kensuke Tanabe, Yusuke Nakano and Shigeru Miyamoto

Translation by Jon Werry and Steven Brown

Lettering by John Hunt

 

Synopsis:

 

Previously the young Link used the Ocarina of Time gifted to him by Zelda to unlock the temple of time. In doing so he sees the legendary master sword, and just like Arthurian legend, Link is worthy to wield it, although there is a twist in that Link is only worthy to wield it as an adult, hence forth he falls under a sleepy spell within the sanctum of the temple only to awake as an adult. Raul (or Rauru depending on the translation you read) greets him. Raul is the spirit of the sagely owl that has watched over the young Link and appears to him in spirit as an elderly man. He tells Link that the world is a harsh place now since Ganondorf rules but hope exists so long as Link finds the remaining six sages who can banish Ganondorf.

 

On this quest Link revisits places he travelled to as a child all whilst being tracked down by the sentient shadow of Ganondorf. He finds that the children of the Kokiri forest do not age nor do they recognise Link. The baby dragon he once fostered has become the beastly creature Volvagia, an agent of evil. The young girls he met are now women looking for suitors but one thing is different. Sheik, a mysterious man who helps Link turns out to be the one who is working for Ganondorf and so seemingly betrays Link.

 

Through being captured Link can find the final sage and free her mind from Twinrova, the soothsaying witch who works for Ganondorf. This brings Twinrova out from the shadows and Sheik shows their true allegiance by attacking the witch. We learn that Sheik is cloaked in a magical spell and is in fact the princess Zelda in disguise. After Zelda reveals herself to Link Gandorf captures Zelda. And so, the final battle between Link and Ganondorf commences, but this time Link has the sages on his side.

 

In the end Link puts an end to Ganandorf's reign. But heroes are not needed in peace time and Zelda decides to deal with the consequences alone. Zelda uses the Ocarina of Time to send Link back to his childhood, back to the moment before he touched the master sword and before he first met Zelda. Although Link may not look it, he has changed, branded by the experience it is now with a younger Zelda that he may find a better way to save Hyrule.

 

 

 

Topics:

 

 

·       The symbolism and archetypes of Zelda.

·       The refusal of the call, how it is often ignored in some stories and how it is a player's choice in terms of videogames.

·       women representing the final test for boyhood to manhood, winning the boon of love. And what it means to be an adult.

·       the skull kid chapters and the monomyth...

the forest is the belly of the beast, the heart of hell. Whilst skull kid is what link may become but he is also the supernatural aid to link. link must prove his worth to his tribe.

·       The time travel aspect, the refusal to return.

 

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