The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Himekawa)


 * This page is about the manga by Akira Himekawa. For the manga of the same name by Ataru Cagiva, see The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Cagiva)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a manga by Akira Himekawa that was released on July 28, 2005. It is based on the story of. An English-language translation of this manga was released on February 2, 2010 by Viz Media.

A Legendary Edition also containing the was released in Japan on July 28, 2016 and in North America on March 14, 2017. It features new cover art and color pages.

Synopsis
''At the beginning of A Link to the Past, a young boy named Link is awakened by a telepathic message from Princess Zelda, who says that she is locked in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle. As the message closes, Link finds his uncle ready for battle, telling Link to remain in bed. However, Link ignores his uncle's command, and after his uncle leaves, follows him to Hyrule Castle. When he arrives, he finds his uncle seriously wounded. Link's uncle tells Link to rescue Princess Zelda from her prison, giving him a sword and shield. Link navigates the castle and rescues Zelda from her cell, and the two escape into a secret passage through the sewers that leads to a sanctuary.''

Prologue
Link, a young farmer, is shown living with his uncle after both of Link's parents died when he was young.

Act 1: Voice
As Link is sleeping, he is awakened by the voice of Princess Zelda, who summons him to help her. As Link awakes, he discovers that his uncle has disappeared. Link sets of for Hyrule Castle to save Zelda. As he walks through the dungeons, he sees his uncle getting murdered by a mysterious cloaked man, Agahnim. Link's dying uncle gifts Link with a sword and shield. Link navigates the castle and rescues Zelda from her cell, and the two escape into a secret passage through the sewers that leads to a sanctuary.

Act 2: Legend
While Link is traveling, he is ambushed by the bandit Ghanti. After narrowly escaping, he discovers his face on a Wanted poster. Link also meets an old man searching for his son, who was searching for the sacred power of the Triforce. Ghanti falls into the tavern and begins to eat most of the food there. However, castle guards invade the tavern and Link escapes. Ghanti appears and kills some of the castle knights who were chasing Link. Link thanks her and Ghanti requests to join him on his quest. They venture to the Sanctuary to meet Sahasrahla. Sahasrahla meets them there and informs them of the legend of the Triforce and Ganondorf's past. He also tells Link that he is descendant of the knights of Hyrule. Ghanti attempts to stab Link, claiming that he is her enemy. Link soon sets off on a quest for the Pendants to obtain the Master Sword, however he is gravely injured by scorpion poison. Ghanti appears behind him and saves his life but runs away. Link awakes puzzled, but continues his quest. Link collects the pendants and gets the Master Sword.

Act 3: Sacrifice
In his castle, Agahnim begins to sacrifice Princess Zelda. Link soon arrives and kills Agahnim's minions. Agahnim then freezes Link and begins to tease him. Link strikes back with the power of the Master Sword, but the gate to the Dark World opens. Link falls into an endless chasm and awakens in the Dark World. He is then attacked by monsters, but a wolf appears and guides him. The wolf presents itself as the Dark World form of Ghanti.

Act 4: A Link to the Past
As Ghanti leads Link through the Dark World, they meet a group of bandits transformed by the power of the Dark World. They inform Link that Ganon, the King Of Evil, plans to transform the Light World into a world of darkness. A tree begins to talk to them as well. It informs Link of the dark fate of his parents. Link and Ghanti embark on a quest to find Princess Zelda and defeat the bosses and therefore rescue the seven Maidens. As Link encounters Agahnim, a dragon attacks him. After the dragon is defeated, Agahnim reveals that it was actually Ghanti. Link begins to turn into a beast due to his inner greed, and Princess Zelda attempts to remind him of his former self. She succeeds and he turns into his original forme. Meanwhile, Agahnim tells them of his backstory. He was studying to become a wizard and had a friend who is soon revealed to be Link's father. During Agahnim's reading, he discovered how to break the seal of the sages and obtain the Triforce. He cursed his friend and his wife and sealed them in the Dark World. As Agahnim tells them of his story, Ganon interferes. He gloats over his power and tries to get more. Meanwhile, Zelda reveals that Ghanti is a knight of Hyrule and her earring is actually the Siver Arrow. Ghanti summons the Light Bow and shoots Ganon with the Silver Arrow, killing him. The Triforce appears and grants Link's wish. The trio returns to the Hero's Apple Farm, and Link offers Princess Zelda an apple.

Trivia

 * The part when Link raises the Master Sword skyward and the Sword asks to be raised is similar the scene in the beginning of SS - with Fi in the Chamber of the Sword.
 * The Ganon figure to which Agahnim talks to has the appearance of Ganon from, before he fights Link in his simpler design from the SNES game.
 * The Armos Link fights at Sahasrahla's hideout has also the 's design.
 * The Link from the Oracle of Seasons manga is not the same Link as in the Link to the Past manga, unlike in the games.
 * This would later be revealed to be correct after the timeline was updated to have the Oracle games set after, making the Links from those games two separate characters.
 * Many elements from the plot are shared with Ishinomori's comic adaptation of the same game:
 * Link witnessing his uncle's death at the hand of Agahnim in the castle's dungeons.
 * The uncle giving Link hope in meeting his presumed-dead parents, trapped in the Dark World, as he dies. A hope Link won't be able to fulfill by discovering their passing.
 * The NaN Soldier (Enemy)s being empty suits of armor moved by dark magic.
 * Zelda being captured right after she was taken to safety in the Sanctuary and Link failing to stop Agahnim from taking her, still enraged for what he did to his uncle.
 * Link meeting an original character, who can transform at will in the Dark World, that is originally hostile to him but later becomes his ally.
 * Link obtaining the Pendant of Courage directly from Sahasrahla, without the need of beating the Eastern Palace boss.
 * Link crawling out in agony from the Desert of Mystery, then falls unconscious and wakes up mysteriously healed by someone.
 * Link not meeting Bully and his friend after stumbling into the Dark World the first time.
 * Hera's Tower being just a spiral staircase where Link fights a boss that isn't Moldorm.
 * Agahnim starting Zelda's sacrifice after talking directly to Ganon's spirit.
 * Link discovering in shock that Agahnim can't be hurt by the Master Sword directly, followed by the wizard immobilizing him with a spell while he continues with the sacrifice.
 * Link turning into a wolf, instead of bunny, in the Dark World and Zelda calming him down from giving in to his inner beast.
 * Link being accompanied in the Dark World by a girl jealous that Link is only thinking about Zelda, temporarily abandoning him for it.
 * Ganon's Tower being a giant, floating, spiked sphere.
 * Zelda and the original character helping during the final battle.
 * Link talking to the ghosts of his parents and uncle after retrieving the Triforce.
 * Link's Uncle and the King of Hyrule not getting revived at the end, unlike in the game.
 * Hyrule celebrating Ganon's defeat with a ceremony led by Zelda with Link by her side as her knight.

Gallery
de:The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Manga)