KEEL is a delinquent gang, known for the white hoods that cover their heads and eyes, preference for utilizing blunt weapons instead of their actual arms and legs in most confrontations, and a lack of information regarding their origin or overall goal. Serving as the primary antagonist in the KEEL arc, they re-emerged as minor secondary antagonists in the current Noroshi arc where their once large size[3] has been greatly reduced to a tiny fraction of its former self.[4]
Background
ā | It's the same for me. I know just about as much as Suo-san does. Keel... their ideals, their history, All of it is shrouded in the unknown. All I've heard are the rumors about the crimes that they're committed... I wonder what kinda team they are...?
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— Akihiko Nirei, pondering over existing information about Keel[5] |
Compared to the other groups/gangs in the series, basically nothing is directly known about its background. When the current KEEL leader Shingo Natori was asked by Bofurin's Ren Kaji whether the former was the one to form the gang in the first place, all the latter received was a puzzled look and a non-answer[6][7] which lead Kaji to question Natori's credibility in being able to recruit so many followers despite it being "such a fresh team."[8]
Appearance
Uniform
KEEL members wear a white jacket with their logo printed in blue on the back. The jacket style comes in only one size and is inspired by cyberpunk fashion. While not actually having short sleeves, the jackets do have fake layers sewed together There are multiple straps across the jacket, seemingly more for design than function, as well as two pockets on the chest area and one rectangular one on the back.[9] Most members also utilize the hood on the jacket to shadow their faces.
Logo
KEEL's logo is a blue dragon skeleton. It ties into the name of their group, which refers to the keel of the boat, as the Japanese characters for "dragon bone" can also be translated to the "keel" of a boat.[9]
Structure and Operation
ā | Just as I thought, you're a good one... It's so easy to use the weak ones who have an empty sense of justice. You really are the perfect sucker. And the suckers that enter our den are never allowed out again. This place is ruled by violence and fear, you see... Welcome to Keel.
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— Keel leader Shingo Natori, admitting to Nagato how things run in Keel before closing the doors on the latter[10] |
Unlike most other groups in the series, Keel utilizes both violence and fear to keep their members in line. In some cases, members of the group even lure in potential recruits, who are then intimidated from leaving once they entered the group's hideout.[11]
These new recruits are required to gather money for Keel by any means necessary within a certain period of time, with the amount going up every so often. Failure to complete fulfill the quota often ends with both verbal intimidation and a beating equivalent to one punch for every thousand yen.[12][13] Each member are forced to buy hand me-downs of clothes and shoes from members of a higher status (for the original price or higher).[9]
In terms of hierarchy, Keel is lead by Shingo Natori who, in his own mind, confidently rules with absolute authority[14].
Directly beneath Natori are the five "VIPS" (i.e., Kongo, Kirishima, Mogami, Kaga, & Tone), who are considered the top fighters out of the rest of Keel.[15][16] Both Natori and the VIPS would resort to intimidate or threaten the other members if they notice a lack of resolve or initiative[17][18]
Fighting Style
ā | But that team, Keel... they will gang up on someone, even if they're alone. Plus, they'll take bats or lumber and whale on you. That's why we need to be on guard.
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— Masaki Anzai, warning his fellow classmates about how Keel operates, based on his own personal experience[19] |
Out of all the known groups in the series, Keel is most notable for their preference of utilizing solid blunt objects as weapons against others. These objects would include wooden rectangular-shaped rods, bats, and steel pipes. Due to their origins as mainly coming from factories (especially the scrap wood), most of these weapons are already old and in beaten condition.[20] Unless they're either disarmed/unarmed or feel the need to do so, hands or legs are not utilized as often as in other groups.[21][22][23] [24]
Tactics mainly involve utilizing their strength in numbers to either charge or jump at their opponents with their weapons or hold them down for others to beat up. In addition, their VIPs would be the ones to confront the higher-ranking fighters in the other group in order to divide and conquer their opponents.[25][15][16][26][27]
Members
KEEL |
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Leader
VIPs
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Story
KEEL arc
KEEL is first introduced to the story as Anzai from Class 1-1 has been attacked by their members. It is revealed by Anzai's childhood friend, Tsuchiya, that another friend of theirs, Nagato, has been involved in KEEL. Nagato appears to be badly bullied by the rest of the KEEL members and coerced into stealing to reach a payment quota towards the group. Anzai tries to confront Nagato, all the while hiding his injuries from his classmates. Sakura leads Class 1-1 into a confrontation with KEEL at their warehouse base. When they seem to be outmatched, the 2nd years appear in their aid. Bofurin emerge victorious from this scuffle. After Bofurin leaves, a mysterious figure rises from the floor of the warehouse, making a comment on how Furin has grown weaker and that KEEL was a good time-waster. He sheds his jacket to reveal a "FRANK" tattoo on his left shoulder.
References
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Re:Start (Ch. 54, pp. 18-22)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): For A Friend (Ch. 41, p. 19)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Rage (Ch. 42, p. 17)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Dark Clouds (Ch. 103, pp. 10-12)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 42 (p. 4)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Extreme Emotions (Ch. 50, pp. 19-20)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Animal (Ch. 51, pp. 4-7)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Re:Start (Ch. 54, pp. 17-18)
- ā 9.0 9.1 9.2 Wind Breaker (manga): That Which We Protect (Ch. 45, pp. 19 & 20)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 53 (pp. 12-14)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Admiration (Ch. 53, pp. 8-14)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): For a Friend (Ch. 41, pp. 5-6)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Admiration (Ch. 53, pp. 14-16)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Absolute Authority (Ch. 47, pp. 4-5)
- ā 15.0 15.1 Wind Breaker (manga): Assassin (Ch. 43, pp. 13-18)
- ā 16.0 16.1 Wind Breaker (manga): Resolve (Ch. 44, pp. 2-6)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): That Which We Protect (Ch. 45, pp. 13-15)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Absolute Authority (Ch. 47, pp. 10-11)
- ā WIND BREAKER manga: Chapter 42 (p. 7)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): That Which We Protect (Ch. 45, p. 20)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Assassin (Ch. 43, p. 12)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Resolve (Ch. 44, pp. 10-12 & 16-17)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Proof of Humanity (Ch. 49, pp. 3-6)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Extreme Emotions (Ch. 50, pp. 1-4)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Rage (Ch. 42, pp. 16-18 & 21)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Resolve (Ch. 44, pp. 10-12)
- ā Wind Breaker (manga): Life-or-Death (Ch. 114, pp. 7-9 & 19-20)
Organizations |
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Bofurin Ā· Gravel Ā· KEEL Ā· Noroshi Ā· Roppo-Ichiza Ā· Shishitoren |