Serious Mr Karate by Nona

Dan Hibiki in Street Fighter 4!

Everybody's favourite joke character Dan Hibiki makes his way into the home console port of Street Fighter 4! The long awaited fourquel is due for release in February 2009. Joy unto man. Above image is shamelessly appropriated from stellar Street Fighter news blog, er, The Street Fighter Blog. Please visit! It's a rapid update treasure trove of fighting street info.

Dan Hibiki was introduced lurking behind the scenes as a secret challenger in 1995 prequel franchise opener Street Fighter Zero. His design riffs off a pin-up portrait of Sagat issued with Street Fighter II' Champion Edition that depicted a look alike of SNK's enduring Ryu / Ken homage (knock-off) Ryo Sakazaki popped out of shape by the beanpole Muay Thai master. Running with this twos-up-to-nearest-competitor lark, Capcom took a whiffy Art of Fighting moveset impression, added a "Damn that Sagat!" dead-Dad backstory, before garnishing with a shocking pink gi and a monster ego that prides elaborate taunts over adequacy: Dan was born!