Matic
Stats
Japanese:	マティック Matikku
Debut:	Manga: Chapter 1 Game: Strider (NES)
Profile
Gender:	Male
Hair Color:	Blonde
Eye Color:	Unknown
Nationality:	British
Affiliation:	Striders
Strider Rank:	Vice-Director
Weapon:	“Long” Cypher
In-Game Information
Hit Points:	20 HP

Matic (マティック) is a character exclusive to the Strider Hiryu manga and its NES adaptation. He's the main antagonist of both versions, and retains the basic same role almost identically between them, though the game shows him a bit more pro-active.

Matic is the Vice-Director of the Striders, and the one left in charge after Kuramoto stepped down from his duties. Matic is a cruel, coldhearted individual, who rules with an iron fist and does not hesitate to use violence^[1]. Matic is also a very ambitious man, who craves for power and control, and desires to rule the world^[2]. Even though he retains his rank as "Vice-Director", he is virtually the one in charge. Even then, he desires Kuramoto's death so he'd truly take over his position within the Striders.^[3]

Matic's most recognizable feature is a large scar which runs across most of his face's left side. Matic's Cypher is also quite unique in that it is twice the size of a common Cypher. Matic's quite skilled with this weapon, capable of disarming even Hiryu with a well-placed strike. He's, however, also vulnerable to having his weapon shot out of his hands.^[4]

Contents 1 Story 1.1 Manga 1.2 Strider (NES) 2 Skills and Abilities 3 References

StoryEdit

MangaEdit

Matic works as the Vice-Director and current commander of the Striders organization after Kuramoto abandoned his duties. His ambition has lead him to secretly join foces with the bussiness organization Enterprise, and to support their ZAIN Project. However, Matic is only interested in ruling both organizations. With the Striders' militar power and Enterprise's financial strength, world domination would be within his grasp.

After Kain is captured by Kazakh forces during a mission, Matic decides to force Hiryu out of retirement to find and eliminate him. At first turning down Matic's offer, he then threatens the lives of the innocent civilians he's been living with if he doesn't accept. With no other choice, Hiryu dons his old uniform and leaves with Matic to carry out the mission.

This, however, proves to have been a grave mistake when Hiryu discovers the ZAIN Project and subsequently proceeds to destroy the Kazakh Institute and the ZAIN Terminal within. He sends his subordinates Arana and Kubira to stop his advance, but not even them are able to stop him. During his stay on the Enterprise's quarters, he spots Hiryu and Kain disguised as repairmen. Matic reveals their identities but is unable to catch up to them as Kain blows the room up. He finally faces Hiryu just moments after he has killed Faceas Clay. Matic then reveals he has been manipulating the events to benefit himself: he has knew of the ZAIN Project for 3 years, and realized it was an once-in-a-lifetime chance to fulfill his ambition. He needed Faceas Clay eliminated, something Hiryu unknowingly did for him, and then he'd eliminate Kuramoto and blame Hiryu and Kain on his death, eliminating all loose ends and claiming leadership of both organizations and the ZAIN weapon.

Matic and Hiryu engage in a violent battle, with Matic holding a slight advantage. Then, Matic notices many of the Striders standing behind Hiryu and, confident in his victory, orders them to attack. But no one answers his orders. Kuramoto appears from among the Striders and reveals he's retaken leadership of the group, and orders Matic to surrender. Not willing to give up even if cornered, Matic threatens all presents with a switch to set off a bomb, but just then he's victim of his own ambition when the Mother ZAIN lets loose one of its cables and pierces through his chest, killing him instantly.

Strider (NES)Edit

Vice-Director in charge of the Striders after virtually stripping Director Kuramoto of all his powers, Matic forces Hiryu out of retirement by threatening to eliminate innocent mongolian civilians if he didn't agreed to one last mission. Once on the Blue Dragon, Matic tells him that Kain has been captured, and that rescuing him now that he's known by the enemy is useless. He orders Hiryu to find and kill him. Hiryu, however, is not willing to accept those terms and rescues him instead, unveiling the ZAIN Project in the process.

During Hiryu's fight against The Syndicate and their ZAIN Terminals, one disk recording reveals Matic to be in league with the group's director, Faceas Clay. Later, during an appointment with Clay in Los Angeles, he (apparently) finds and eliminates Sheena, who was looking for the runaway Kain. Having been pursued by Kain himself into his base in the Red Dragon, Matic confronts and kills him as well. He's, however, able to reveal his hideout to Hiryu before dying.

Hiryu infiltrates the Red Dragon, and is greeted by Matic as he claims he can't defeat him. Hiryu makes quick work of every subordinate of his, and finally reaches him. After a long battle, Matic is defeated and killed by Hiryu.

Skills and AbilitiesEdit

As the appointed Vice-Director of the Striders, Matic holds qualifications that are equal to an Special-A Class agent, thought he has no interest in fighting fair and will take any advantage he can in a direct confrontation, like facing an exhausted Hiryu while backed up by armed soldiers^[5] or ordering other Striders he believes obey him to kill him^[6]. He's a very cunning man, manipulating others into unknowingly doing as he wishes, like using Hiryu so he'd take care of Faceas Clay for him.^[5]

In battle Matic uses a custom Cypher twice its normal size, which he can effortlessly wield with both hands for strength-focused strikes, as well as one-handed for faster continous attacks.

In his boss fight in the NES game, however, he appears to wield it in a battôjutsu stance (despite the Cypher lacking a sheath): first he approaches Hiryu until he's next to him and stops, standing in place with his hands close to his Cypher. If Hiryu attacks with his own Cypher, Matic will instantly counter with a fast strike, hitting the Cypher off Hiryu's hands and leaving him defenseless until he recovers it. However, if he's struck with the Plasma Arrow technique, Matic's Cypher will be blown across the room, leaving him open to damage as he moves to recover it.

ReferencesEdit

Strider Manga/NES Series
Main Articles	Strider Hiryu (Manga) • Strider (NES) • Moto Kikaku • Tatsumi Wada • Masahiko Kurokawa
Characters	Arana • Commander • Faceas Clay • Hiryu • Kain • Kubira • Kuramoto • Matic • Police Chief • Sheena Game Exclusives: Badger • Dragon Fiend • Flash Blade • Kodiak • Ryuzaki Manga Exclusives: Captain Keith • Kazakh Institute Scientist • Mariya • Rin • Yuri
Stage Enemies	Doberman • Egypt Soldier • Giant Robot • Hunchback • Machine Cannon • Mechanical Snail Robot Frong • Russian Infantryman • Scuba Soldier • Sharkman • Sky Wing • Spark Machine
Technology	Cypher • Kali • Phantom Train • Shadowtag Bullets • Stealth Chopper • T-48 • ZAIN Project • Yggdrasil
Locations	Africa • Australia • China • Egypt • Japan • Kazakh • Los Angeles • Red Dragon
Groups	Enterprise • Kazakh Secret Police • Striders • Strider Matic Unit