Cast: The Good Guys

Shunichi Ibé

Ibé-san is a reporter from Japan, and an old friend of Max Lobo's. He came to New York City with his young assistant Eiji, to do a report on youth in street gangs. Instead, he became deeply involved in the mystery of Banana Fish. Well, things never work out exactly as planned, do they?

Ibé is incredibly over-protective of Eiji. Ash criticizes him for coddling Eiji too much. Ash says that it's because of Ibé that Eiji can't look out for himself at his age... and the accusation is partially true.

Ibé is a peace-loving man who abhors violence. He is highly intelligent, and even under extreme duress, can still manage to come up with a clever comment or two - such as when being held hostage at Papa Dino's dinner party, Ibé spontaneously composes an impromptu haiku about Ash.

Max Lobo

"Max Lobo" is the pen name of Max Glenreed, a good-natured Vietnam veteran, former cop, journalist, novelist, and jailbird. As a journalist, Max wrote a regular column for the Village Tribune. He also wrote a novel about the Vietnam war called Seven Hundred and Thirty Days in Saigon. When we first meet Max in the manga, he is jailed for punching a cop. However, considering his cozy relationship with Charlie, Antonio, and even the prison guards, there is a strong suggestion that Max is keeping himself in jail as long as he wants. He practically brags that he could get out at any time; however, staying locked up seems to be serving the purpose of good old-fashioned investigative journalism.

Ever since the Vietnam war, Max has been hot on the trail of "Banana Fish," and has secretly been collecting notes and research for years. In Vietnam, his close friend Griffin Callenreese took some illicit drugs and went on bad trip, going on a shooting rampage and killing fellow members of his unit; it was Max, ultimately, who shot Griff's legs out from underneath him and stopped the carnage. Max had to abandon Griffin to the "nut house" in Saigon, although after the end of the war, he spent years searching for Griffin's whereabouts. To this day, Max is haunted by the memory of Griffin. Later on in the story, this guilt drives him to protect Ash from danger, despite the antagonistic relationship that Ash initially forces him into.

Max provides a lot of comic relief in the story. He sometimes acts as a fool, sometimes as an idiot savant. He loves his son and his ex-wife, Jessica, even though he is deathly afraid of Jessica's temper.

In an interview, Akimi Yoshida said that Max's character design was based on actor Harrison Ford.

Shorter Wong

Shorter is the "boss" of Chinatown, a loyal friend to Ash, and a criminal with a heart of gold. Like Ash, Shorter is an unusual "thug" with a deep sense of honor, and a drive to always do the right thing. He'll go to any lengths to protect his loved ones... even when the interests of those closest to him come into irreconcilable conflict.

Shorter is clever, resourceful, and as tough as steel. He's equally skilled at brawling, shooting, and sneaking around like a shadowy thief. Shorter can disguise himself as a completely different person, and fool even Eiji into thinking that he is a dotty old Chinese man.

Shorter has an irrepressible sense of humor, and can wear a lopsided, devilish grin even during the grimmest of circumstances. Like Ash, he is a charismatic leader who can easily unite the other kids on the street under his rule.

At the beginning of the series, Shorter has a mohawk hairdo. But by volume two he has shaved off all of his hair and is completely bald. (Pity, I liked the mohawk.) Shorter's trademark fashion statement is his ever-present sunglasses. He even wears them while sneaking around a cornfield in the middle of the night! In an interview, Akimi Yoshida said that Shorter's character design was inspired by Sanburaza Nakano.

Charles Dickinson

Charlie is an NYPD cop and works closely with Jenkins. He is also an old friend of Max's, and it is he who originally enlists Max to help protect Ash. Charlie admires Ash, and wants nothing more than to be on his side. However, Ash coldly refuses any and all help that Charlie offers him.

Charlie is secretly involved in a relationship with Nadia Wong, Shorter's sister. Charlie loves Nadia, but fears that her loyalty to her family and to "her people" will eventually cause a conflict of interest.

Interestingly enough, one of Papa Dino's bodyguards looks just like Charlie. During some action scenes it's hard to tell the two of them apart. John reports that the Charlie-look-alike is named "Gregory," and that he has nothing to do with Charlie himself.

Antonio Jenkins

Inspector Jenkins, also with the NYPD, is another cop who just wants to help Ash out. Unfortunately, Ash treats him with the same hatred and contempt that he does Charlie.

The character design for Inspector Jenkins is based on actor/director Danny DeVito.

Sing Soo-Ling

After Shorter Wong leaves Chinatown in New York City, Sing Soo-Ling steps in to take his place as Chinatown's gang boss. But Sing is still loyal to Shorter, and is NOT pleased that the Lee family is in cahoots with Papa Dino. "Our suits did a deal with Dino Golzine, but that's got nothing to do with us! I don't know what kind of shit they're planning, but we've got our own rules! And OUR boss is still Shorter Wong!" With these words, Sing Soo-Ling convinces Alex and the remainders of Ash's gang to go to war against the unified forces of Dino Golzine and Daai Yan Lee.

Sing may be only fourteen years old, but don't let his looks fool you. He is extremely intelligent and cunning, as well as a skilled fighter. Ash is the only person who has ever survived Sing's attack with his deadly weapon, the 'Flying Dragon Fang.' Sing is also pretty arrogant, although he never hesitates to admit defeat when he feels that he has truly lost a battle.

Blanca

Coming soon.