Rockman X4 (manga)

Rockman X4 (ロックマンX4, Rockman X4) is a manga by Iwamoto Yoshihiro based on the game of same name. It was originally serialized in Comic BomBom from September 1997 to August 1998 in 12 chapters, and later compiled in two volumes in 1998. However, as each volume had five chapters, the last two chapters were not included in the compilation due to complications with Comic BomBom, leaving the story incomplete in the volumes. The last two chapters were later included in the 2005 release from Fukkan, which also included new pages to the penultimate chapter, the battle between X and Magma Dragoon.

Story

The story continues from the Rockman X3 manga.

Suspicion

A smoking gun?

Suspicion (疑惑, Suspicion) is the first chapter from the manga, originally published on September 1997.

The Maverick Hunters are celebrating X's return, with X seeing Dr. Cain and Zero again and meeting Double. However, the party doesn't last long as the nearby city is attacked by the giant Mechaniloid Eregion. X immediately calls out his Hunters from the 17th Unit to help him, and Zero pitches in with help from the 0th Unit. X delivers the finishing blow to Eregion, while Zero saves a mysterious girl who was injured in the attack. Then, Repliforce field commander Colonel arrives and reveals that the girl is his sister, Iris, and thanks Zero for saving her. However, Colonel is suddenly snared with electrical chains from a hunter's gun, and Double from the 17th Elite Unit of the Maverick Hunters runs up to Zero, showing a piece of equipment with Repliforce's insignia on it that was spotted next to the Mechaniloid's corpse, and accuses the Repliforce of being involved. Zero then sternly demands for the Colonel to explain himself. Colonel angrily breaks free of the chain with his saber, and refuses Zero's request to disarm, saying it would be dishonorable to do so for a soldier such as himself. He then leaves the scene with Iris, although he still says he owes Zero one for saving her.

Uprising

An army's defiance.

Uprising (蜂起, Uprising) is the second chapter from the manga, originally published on October 1997.

Fallout continues from Eregion's attack on the city and the suspicion that Repliforce may has been responsible. The number of human fatalities is rising, and public sentiment has turned against the Repliforce as humans are demanding a reduction of their troops. The Maverick Hunters continue to investigate the scene and search for any more evidence to see if Repliforce was truly responsible. Zero, in frustration, beats his left arm against the wall after a Training Room session, rendering it inoperable and needing a metal cast. Meanwhile, Storm Owl and Colonel have a meeting in the Repliforce conference room with the General, planning on what their next move should be. General says that since they have already made a "mistake" once, there will never be allowed to make a second in humanity's eyes.

X meets up with Zero, and informs him that the human government has decided to temporarily disband and disarm Repliforce while the Maverick Hunters continue their investigation. However, the day before that was supposed to happen, Repliforce blimps and airships appear across the sky, broadcasting a message to humans from the General at the Repliforce Memorial Hall. Indigant at being accused of Mavericks after working so hard to support humanity, the General announces they will become an independent organization, and that they have already occupied many areas and main roads to aid in their rebellion. He says they shall fight to the end. This causes the government to declare the Repliforce as Mavericks.

Later, at the Hunter base, Zero is assaulting some fellow Hunters and announces that he is in agreement with the General's philosophy. X threatens to shoot him, but relents at the last moment, giving Zero the opportunity to slash him with his saber and incapacitate him temporarily. He warns X not to get in his way.

Jungle

The lamentations of a defeated soldier. "These pointless battles will never end..."

Jungle (密林, Jungle) is the third chapter from the manga, originally published on November 1997.

X is driving on a Ride Chaser to the Kagikira Forest to investigate the disappearance of a group of Hunters who had went there. There were reports of a Repliforce frontline hiding in the jungle, which the aforementioned investigation team went to the forest to check out only to never return. Zero is now officially a fugitive from justice after his actions in the last chapter. After X arrives at the forest, he is soon attacked by the animated corpses of the killed investigation team who have become Reploid zombies with someone pulling the strings and ordering them to attack him. X, however, decides to let them keep shooting at him until they run out of ammo, and the strategy works.

Web Spider, the commander of a guerrilla unit in the Repliforce, comes out and reveals he is responsible for everything that has occurred. As a former Maverick Hunter who worked with Zero, he reveals he knows about X and that Zero was right about him being naive. Spider then falsely tells X that Zero has really betrayed the Hunters and asked to join the Repliforce to aid them in their coup, as a strategy to get X angry and make him sloppy in battle. Spider engages X in battle, trapping him in a Lightning Web and revealing that it was the Repliforce who had acted in the shadows to support humanity since before Sigma's rebellion, but that didn't stop the public from criticizing them for refusing to aid the Hunters' in quelling Sigma's uprising as they had less authority than the Hunters.

Like the Colonel, Spider considers his weapons to be his pride, and is indignant at the humans and Hunters for ordering Repliforce to disarm. He reveals a secret beam cannon that he has constructed with Repliforce's help, which he plans on using to burn down a nearby city to kill the humans there in order to showcase "the anger of the soldiers." The only way to stop it is if Spider were to die. Not wanting so many people to die, X breaks free of Spider's Web and fights with full power, ultimately mortally wounding him with a charged shot.

Spider is left with a broken body and dismembered head, which he holds up with right arm. As X laments in tears about pointless battles, Spider responds that they will never truly end. Because humans are imperfect and created Reploids, it is only natural that Reploids would be imperfect as well. He said as long as there are heroes like X who do the humans' bidding, Reploids are forever destined to be mechanical puppets, wandering in an endless hell.

Ocean

Ocean (大海原, Ocean) is the fourth chapter from the manga, originally published on December 1997.

Zero Ride Chaser Jet Stingray

Conviction

Conviction (信念, Conviction) is the fifth chapter from the manga, originally published on January 1998.

X Split Mushroom

Ice Fang

Ice Fang (氷の牙, Ice Fang) is the th chapter from the manga, originally published on February 1998.

X Blizzard Buffalo Frost Walrus

Strength

Strength (力, Strength) is the th chapter from the manga, originally published on March 1998.

Frost Walrus part 2 Ride Armor

Big Tree

Big Tree (, Big Tree) is the th chapter from the manga, originally published on April 1998.

Zero fights against Colonel

Diving

Diving (潜行, Diving) is the ninth chapter from the manga, originally published on May 1998.

Zero is in a virtual training program when something goes wrong. He see strange images of Reploids killed by him, Sigma screaming, and a mysterious scientist. He fights against Cyber Peacock.

Running

Running (疾走, Running) is the tenth chapter from the manga, originally published on June 1998.

Slash Beast

Fate

Fate (運命, Fate) is the eleventh chapter from the manga, originally published on July 1998. The 2005 release included new pages to the chapter.

Zero fights against Colonel and Iris, and X against Storm Owl and Magma Dragoon.

Tears

Tears (涙, Tears) is the final chapter from the manga, originally published on August 1998.

X fights against Double. General sacrifices himself to stop the weapon.

Gallery

Rockman X4 vol. 1 (February 1998)

Rockman X4 vol. 2 (July 1998)

Rockman X4 (September 2005)

2005 cover art

Bonus illustration from the 2005 release