Free Comic Book Day 2025- Street Fighter VS Rival Schools

 By Mark Rodriguez

Udon always has something cool set for Free Comic Book Day, and this year the Street Fighters go up against the class from Rival Schools. This is perfect timing since Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is coming out later this month which will introduce Rival Schools to a whole new generation. 

"Deadly Lessons!" opens with Gan and Edge walking down the dark alleys of Aohura City. Edge is angry after losing another fight to Batsu. Gan asks what's the big deal since he just won a fight against some other guys. Edge says since he lost four fights in a row to Batsu, the other schools think that Gedo High students and pushovers. He says everyone it taking swipes at them, and he asks Gan where he was during the last fight. Gan says he was the convenience store. There was a sale on onigiri and he can't fight on an empty stomach. Edge says they'll be in trouble if they don't start racking up some wins when suddenly they are confronted by a large monster.

A few days later at Tanyo High, Hinata prepared a bento box to share with Batsu and Kyosuke. Batsu goes for the sausage octopus and Hinata said she saved that one for herself. They both fight over it with their chopsticks and the tasty snack is sent flying in the air. Kyosuke snatches the snack out of the air and eats it. Hinato and Batsu are angry and Kyosuke said as head of the disciplinary committee, he couldn't let that food go to waste.

Ran suddenly busts in holding up a newspaper, asking if they heard the news. She tells the group that tough fighters from local schools were getting beat up by a 'monster student' from Gedo High. Most witnesses are too scared to say anything other than how crazy strong the monster is. Kyosuke says this warrants investigation and Batsu is eager to fight. Hinata realizes that the article in the paper was written by Ran herself... and she waited until after it was published before telling anyone. Ran says she couldn't ruin her own scoop.

As the trio walk outside, Hinata tells Batsu that Gedo High is probably lashing out like this because he was pushing them too far. Batsu says those jerks deserved it. Kyosuke says that now the other schools are paying for it. Just then several students run past them, yelling about the 'monster student'. Batsu grabs one of the students and asks where the monster is. The guy says he's attacking their school. Kyosuke recognizes that the guy is from Gorin High. Hinata runs off saying that Gorin High is Natsu's school. Kyosuke and Batsu run after her.

Meanwhile, Natsu is getting attacked and is sent flying back as Shoma catches her. Edge taunts them, saying they aren't so tough. Shoma asks why they're losing. Roberto says that they can handle Gan and Edge, but they can't get a hit in with the monster on their end. Roberto says they'll have to take it out first, as he charges towards them, alongside Natsu and Shoma. There's a big explosion that can be seen from a distance which alerts Hinata, Kyosuke and Batsu.

The monster student turned out to be Blanka in a school uniform, Edge tells Batsu that he made it in time for his beating, and offers to introduce him to their new transfer student. Hinata asks since when high school students are green. Batsu asks if they shaved a bear and put it in a high school uniform.

Edge explains that sometime after their last fight, they heard a growling coming from the back alley. They found out it was coming from a martial arts master and what they thought was his pet. This was Dan and Blanka as they cook some sausages over a makeshift fire and they're both starving. They gave them something to eat and it turns out that Dan can take them on as students for a 'nominal fee'. Dan said Jimmy was one of his star pupils. They sent Jimmy off to buy more snacks, while Edge and Gan negotiated Dan's 'nominal fee' by beating him up. They told Jimmy that Dan wanted to help them take care of the nasty bullies that have been harming the school's reputation.

Edge points out that Batsu is the worst bully of them all. Blanka charges after Batsu as he narrowly escapes his attacks. Batsu explains he's not a bully even though he did rough them up several times before. Hinata says that's not helping. Just then, Hinata ducks to avoid a kick from Edge. Edge and Gan decide to take care of Kyosuke and Hinata while Blanka takes Batsu down. 

Hinata says Edge most likely tricked Blanka into fighting for them. Hinata fights with Edge and says that Edge should tell Blanka the truth or she will. Edge gets Hinata into position so that Blanka can spin in the air and zap all three Taiyo students. Batsu, Hinata and Kyosuke are down and Edge decides they should leave and get Blanka more onigiri. 

Just then Batsu gets up and says it'll take more than that to keep them down. Batsu dashes at Blanka, swinging his fist at him. Sakura suddenly leaps in the way and gets socked across the face instead. The impact sends her sliding across the ground. Blanka and Batsu look concerned until Sakura raises a thumbs up, saying she's OK.

Hinata asks Sakura if she's hurt. Sakura tells Hinata to remind her to never run into Batsu's fist ever again. Sakura asks Blanka's where he's been and why he's fighting with his friends. Batsu is surprised that Sakura knows him. Sakura says she's been looking everywhere for him. Batsu says some bad influences got to him and tricked him into fighting the local students. Edge and Gan try to sneak away but are cornered by Dan, Sakura and Blanka. 

Dan hits Gan with a Koryuken (forever shaming him to be defeated by Dan) while Blanka hits Edge with a Rolling Attack followed by Sakura's Shinku Hadoken. Sakura says that will teach them to trick defenseless green persons. Edge says there's nothing remotely defenseless about Blanka. Shoma is impressed by Blanka's left hook and Roberto wants a rematch sometime.

With Edge and Gan defeated, everybody regroups. Sakura asks Natsu and Hinata if they're up for some milkshakes. As the crew leaves, Dan leaves Edge and Gan one of his dojo business cards, in case they change their minds.  

"A shot at Freedom"

At Interpol Headquarters, Hong Kong, Lt. Cheung greets Miss Kyoko who arrives in helicopter, as they didn't know who else to turn to. Kyoko says they need to make it quick since she has students that need her. She asks about the status of the patient. Cheung says the patient is very agitated and it took eight Interpol agents to restrain her to the infirmary. She locked them with her to prevent another escape. Since they are some of their toughest agents, there shouldn't be any trouble. We see Chun Li, having beaten down all the agents.

Kyoko tell Cheung to take the men to the rest area so she can tend to their bruises later. She says she won't need to close the door behind her. Cheung says Chun Li poses an extreme flight risk. Kyoko confidently says she won't be getting past her. Chun Li gets introduced to Kyoko Minazuki. 

Chun Li says she's not letting that 'thing' get anywhere near here. Kyoko says there's a lollipop in it for her. Chun Li says she's getting out of there, even if she has to go through her. As Chun Li swings her hand at her, Kyoko grabs her wrist and checks her pulse, while checking her stethoscope to check her heartbeat. Chun Li asks who she is and Kyoko says she's a school nurse. Chun Li says it must be some school. Kyoko remarks that she has no idea.

Chun Li throws several punches, which Kyoko counters with her own. Chun Li's arms suddenly fall limp as they are now numb. Kyoko says it's temporary but she hit her pressure points. Chun Li says she should have gone for her legs as she hits her with several or her powerful kicks. Chun Li walks off, saying she will commandeer a patrol car and drive it with her teeth if she has to.

Chun Li's legs suddenly wobble and she falls over. Kyoko says she took her advice and applied pressure points as she took that volley of painful kicks. As Chun Li lays numb, Kyoko pulls out a needle. Chun Li says she hates needles as she takes a shot to the butt. Kyoko says she raised a lot of trouble over a mandatory vitamin booster. Chun Li rubs her butt, saying she always hated needles since she was a little girl. Kyoko says Chun Li earned her lollipop as Chun Li takes it. 

 My Thoughts-

So these were some totally random stories, but I guess they had to get Street Fighter characters and Rival School characters to fight each other somehow. Edge and Gan tricking Blanka into fighting other high schoolers is kinda weird, even if the high schoolers are fighters. Seeing Blanka fight them, as well as Sakura making an appearance it reminds me that the Rival Schools characters are still in high school. I know that the games take place in a high school setting, but by the time of Street Fighter 5, Sakura, Karin, and Ibuki. It just shows that Capcom needs to get on the ball and make a Rival Schools College Edition game or something.

With Blanka and Dan being in the story, I wondered if Sakura was gonna show up. Dan finally gets a win. Sure, Gan is still a high schooler, but a win is a win. I know Batsu, Hinata and Kyosuke are the main characters of the series, but I wouldn't mind a story taken from the Gorin High crew. It would be cool to see more of Natsu, Shoma and Roberto.

As for the bonus story, it was a cool little match between Chun Li and Kyoko. At the end of the story, Chun Li and Kyoko are drawn chibi style, so I couldn't quite tell if Chun Li looked kinda embarrassed or ashamed or whatever, or if it was just the look her face made with a cartoonishly large lollipop in her mouth.  

I noticed the comic didn't even advertise Guile's story, while it did show that Elena's story is coming in June while Zangief's story is coming in August. I wonder what happened that made Udon push Guile's story back, especially since it looked like he was going to face one of the new Vortex villains. I wonder if Elena and Zangief will be facing them too. Guess we'll find out.

The book was a fun read, and as always, it's great to see the Rival Schools characters again. I wish I bought a copy of the Playstation game back in the day, since it's now super rare and super expensive if you find a comic. That will change once Capcom Fighting Collection 2 comes out.