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Mariya (マリヤ) is a minor character from the Strider Hiryu manga. She's only seen in a flashback in Chapter 2, which was later expanded in aspecial chapter released after the manga's end, Strider Hiryu Gaiden[2]. Her death is briefly alluded to in the NES adaptation, when Hiryu makes a passing mention about his sister being similarly insane after defeating Kain.

Mariya was Hiryu's elder sister, and the first woman to ever reach A-Rank in the Striders[1]. She and Hiryu were very close, and Hiryu always refers to her as "big sister" when speaking about her. She was noted for her skills and fighting ability, placing her above most normal agents in the Striders. Due to this, Hiryu was finally the one selected to stop her rampage.[1]

Story[]

Manga[]

Mariya1

Mariya (Manga)

During an assignment, Mariya seemingly went mad and slaughtered ten Strider trainees. Due to her skills, the mission to stop her was considered too difficult for ordinary agents, so Kuramoto finally decided to assign Hiryu the task[3]. Upon finding her, Hiryu first attempted to talk to her, but his words had no effect and a battle ensued. After a desperate struggle between them, Hiryu pierced through her torso with his Cypher just as she was about to strike him. Before dying, Mariya started crying and uttered her last words while in shock, asking Hiryu what had happened.

For the following six months, Mariya's death weighted heavily on Hiryu's conscience, and he became erratic and extremelly violent during missions, as he was seeking to die on the battlefield. During this time, he carried a pendant that once belonged to Mariya. While fighting against the Zangi Brothers, the pendant stopped a bullet shot at his chest, saving his life. Hiryu took this as a sign that his sister wouldn't want him to die like this, renewing his desire to continue living in her name.

After completing the mission, Hiryu abandoned the Striders and left to carry out a normal life in the Mongolian wilderness. He made a symbolic grave outside the house in Mongolia where he moved, and buried his Cypher there. Two years later, when Hiryu was forced to confront a brainwashed Kain, he realized Mariya's madness came from the same source as Kain's: both were guinea pigs in Enterprise's ZAIN Project. With this revelation and Sheena's recent death, both Striders swore to put an end to Enterprise and their weapon for good.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The manual for the NES Strider states Hiryu eliminated "the sister of a mad A-Rank Strider", which is a mistake on the translator's part, as the line should read "eliminated his sister, a mad A-Rank Strider". This is further confirmed in-game, as Hiryu refers to "his sister" after defeating the brainwashed Kain.
  • Her name is never mentioned in the manga proper, as Hiryu refers to her exclusively as "big sister". It was first revealed in the Gaiden chapter.[2]
  • While Mariya does not appear in Isuke's scenario draft, the text states Hiryu has a sister 2 years younger than him.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wada, Tatsumi (November 10, 1989). Strider Hiryû. Chapter 2, Pg. 74. Kadokawa Shoten. ISBN 4-04-713009-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Strider Hiryu Tankobôn Missing Pages" (Japanese). Accessed July 20, 2016
  3. Wada, Tatsumi (December 1988). "Comp Comic". Strider Hiryû Gaiden, Pg. 311. Kadokawa Shoten.
Strider Manga/NES Series
Main Articles Manga (Gaiden) • Strider (NES)Moto KikakuTatsumi WadaMasahiko Kurokawa
Characters AranaCommanderFaceas ClayHiryuKainKubiraKuramotoMaticPolice ChiefScientistSheena
Game only: BadgerDragon FiendFlash BladeKodiakRyuzaki
Manga only: Commander KeithDr. HoganFlower GirlDirectorMariyaMinor StridersRinYuriZangi Brothers
Stage Enemies BirdClawed StridersDobermanEgypt SoldierGiant RobotMachine CannonMechanical SnailRobot Arm
Robot ClawRobot FrongRussian InfantrymanScuba SoldierSharkmanSky WingSpark Machine
Turret/Laser TurretTwin Bats
Technology Assault RifleBootsCypherKaliKunaiPhantom TrainRescue AircraftShadow Tag BulletsStealth Chopper
SystemT-48Transport TubeZAIN Project (ZAIN TerminalZainsYggdrasil)
Locations AmazonKazakh Federation (KazakhMental Institute) • Los AngelesMongoliaStrider Headquarters
AfricaAustraliaChinaEgyptJapanRed Dragon
Techniques Acceleration JumpBoomerang ThrowCypher AttackPlasma ArrowSlide InTriangle JumpTricks
Groups EnterpriseKazakh Secret PolicePhantom UnitRebel ArmyStriders
Strider Matic UnitSpecial Forces
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