Super Giant
Japan's first celluloid superhero, created from steel by the Emerald Planet.
Super Giant (スーパージャイアンツ, Sūpā Jaiantsu) is a Japanese superhero from a series of tokusatsu short feature films released by Shintoho between 1957 and 1959. In Japan, he is also called Giant of Steel (鋼鉄の巨人, Kōtetsu no Kyojin); in the U.S. he was known as Starman, and in France and Italy as Spaceman. Though Ōgon Bat (Golden Bat) appeared in a 1950 film, predating Super Giant's 1957 debut, Super Giant remains a landmark as one of the earliest Japanese superheroes to hit the big screen. He became a template for later Japanese superheroes, notably Ultraman and Kamen Rider.
The series title uses the plural “Super Giants,” even though the hero is a single, human-sized character. This name likely drew inspiration from the American TV series *Adventures of Superman* (then airing in Japan) and the popular Yomiuri Giants baseball team. Moonlight Mask became Japan’s first made-for-television superhero in 1958, but Super Giant remains the first theatrical superhero series.
Super Giant is a humanoid being forged from the strongest steel by the Peace Council of the Emerald Planet. His purpose is to destroy evil and restore peace across the universe. He appears as a Japanese man in white tights and a cowl fitted with an antenna, with capes under his arms, and is virtually indestructible. A “Globe-Meter” device on his wrist lets him fly through space, detect radiation, and speak or understand any language. It also allows him to disguise himself as an Earthling, typically wearing an ordinary suit and fedora hat like a police detective, though he still uses the name Super Giant. His secret identity is not particularly hidden; he works openly with Japanese authorities. He is equally powerful in civilian form and gets along with Earth children, whom he protects because they represent the planet’s future. After each mission, he flies back to the Emerald Planet.
Actor Ken Utsui played Super Giant in the first eight films, but the ninth film featured a different actor or the role was uncredited. Despite his earnest, heroic performance that left a lasting impression on children worldwide, Utsui disliked the role and downplayed it until his death. He was embarrassed by the costume, especially the overstuffed crotch area—producers believed female viewers were attracted to well-endowed men, so they padded it with cotton.
The films are as follows: *Super Giant* (1957, part 1 of 2) p
- field
- Tokusatsu superhero films
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Early Japanese theatrical superhero series; role model for Ultraman and Kamen Rider
- portrayed_by
- Ken Utsui (first eight films); uncredited/recast in ninth film
- first_appearance
- 1957
- production_company
- Shintoho
Quick Facts
- Series
- Super Giant
- Creator
- Ichiro Miyagawa
- Nickname
- Starman
- Portrayer
- Ken Utsui
- Species
- Steel Humanoid
- Last
- Super Giant Continues: The Poison Moth Kingdom
- First Issue
- Super Giant (1959)
- Last Issue
- Super Giant: The Space Mutant Appears (1961)
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- Alien-made humanoid
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Super Giant is a human-like being created from the strongest steel by the Peace Council of the Emerald Planet. He is virtually indestructible, wears a white tights/cowl with an antenna and capes under his arms, and carries a 'Globe-Meter' device on his wrist that allows him to fly through space, detect radiation, and speak any language. He can also disguise himself as an Earthling in ordinary suit and fedora, working openly with Japanese authorities and protecting children, whom he sees as Earth's future. After each mission, he flies back to the Emerald Planet.
Super Giant was played in the first eight films by respected actor Ken Utsui, who hated the role due to the embarrassing costume—especially the overstuffed crotch area, which producers believed would attract female viewers. The ninth film featured a different actor or an uncredited recast. Despite Utsui's
Reader's Guide
Super Giant holds a foundational place in Japanese popular culture as the first theatrical superhero series, predating television superheroes like Moonlight Mask (1958). The series' title, though plural, was inspired by the American Adventures of Superman and the popular Yomiuri Giants baseball team. The films were later compiled into U.S. releases such as Atomic Rulers of the World, Invaders from Space, Attack from Space, and Evil Brain from Outer Space. The series also sparked controversy: after a child imitated Super Giant by jumping from a window, director Teruo Ishii left the series, and the incident became a liability issue for Japanese superhero programs, eventually leading to safety disclaimers in later shows like Android Kikaider. Super Giant's influence is seen in the design and ethos of later iconic characters such as Ultraman and Kamen Rider.
Did You Know?
- Super Giant was Japan's first celluloid superhero, debuting in 1957.
- Ken Utsui, who played Super Giant, hated the role because of the overstuffed crotch area in his costume.
- Director Teruo Ishii left the series after a child imitating Super Giant jumped from a window and was seriously injured.
- The Kapia-Seijin villains in Super Giant 3 were based on the Japanese mythical kappa (water imps).
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