Skunk Kusai

Also known as スカンク草井 (Sukanku Kusai)

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Skunk’s name in Japanese is a combination of the English-derived word “skunk” and kusai, which can mean “stinky, smelly and/or suspicious” – a perfect moniker for a greasy villain.

Distinguishing Features

Skunk is based on Richard Widmark, the Hollywood actor known for his bloodcurdling performances in Kiss of Death (1947) and other films. He is easy to spot with his large protruding forehead (exaggerated by his lack of eyebrows), pug nose and long, greasy-looking hair, and his trademark expression “heh, heh, heh…” gives him the overall feel of a laughing hyena.

Status: Secondary Star (★★)

Skunk Kusai is one of Tezuka’s least savoury characters, and often the perfect choice to play any number of thugs, thieves, kidnappers and other criminals. While Kin Sankaku, Acetylene Lamp and Hamegg each have a certain foolishness that makes them impossible to truly hate, Skunk’s slimy expression behaviour is so loathsome it’s almost impressive.

As such, he usually finds himself cast in roles where he acts on his own (or with an accomplice) rather than as another villain’s underling. On those occasions where he finds himself “demoted” to roles where he plays a part of a larger criminal organization, he usually acts a key lieutenant for a more powerful crime boss.

Notable Roles

Although he is most closely associated with the series Astro Boy (1952-68), after he made his debut as a gangster in the chapter “Electro” (1955), he has made notable appearances in several other series, including Wonder 3 (1965-66), Black Jack (1973-83) and Rainbow Parakeet (1980-81). His long and successful career even garnered him an appearance in one of Tezuka’s very last works, Ludwig B (1987-88).

Manga Appearances

If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!

1955

Astro Boy (“Electro”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1956

Astro Boy (“Atlas”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1957

Lion Books (“The Multi-Eyed Devil”) as “a passenger on the train”

1963

Astro Boy (“The Devil’s Balloons”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1964

Astro Boy (“The Bad-Guy Robots”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1965

Wonder 3 as “Skunk Kusai from Hardboiled Inc.”

1967

Astro Boy (“The Faceless Robot”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1970

Miraculous Conception as “a fugitive from the space prison”

1972

Lion Books (“The Mud-Covered March”) as “a reporter”

1973

Black Jack (“A Girl who became a Bird”) as “Dr. Black Jack” (Human-powered flight contest audience)

1974

Black Jack (“Son of Hariti”) as “one of the kidnappers”
Black Jack (“Eyewitness”) as “the bomber”

1975

Black Jack (“Treasure Island”) as “a kidnapper”

1976

Black Jack (“Showa Shinzan”) as “a patient”

1977

Black Jack (“The Helper”) as “a doctor”
Black Jack (“Gunshot Wound”) as “the robber”

1980

Astro Boy (“Astro vs. Atlas”) as “Skunk Kusai”
Astro Boy (“Pula, The Baby Elephant”) as “Skunk Kusai”

1981

The Rainbow Parakeet (“Hamlet“) as “a shooting target”
The Rainbow Parakeet (“Peter Pan“) as “one of the drug smugglers”

1986

Phoenix (“Sun”)

1987

Ludwig B as “Skunk Kusai, the thief”