Spectreman
A cyborg hero battles pollution-born monsters from space.
Spectreman is a tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series produced by P Productions and created by producer Souji Ushio. It aired on Fuji TV in Japan from January 2, 1971 to March 25, 1972, totaling 63 episodes (divided into three segments) plus a pre-series pilot. This was the first major Japanese superhero show of the 1970s, premiering three months before The Return of Ultraman and Kamen Rider.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Tokusatsu
- Superhero fiction
- Science fiction, Action/Adventure
- Runtime
- 25 minutes
- Creator
- Ushio Sougi
- ja
- うしおそうじ
- Producer
- Tomio Sagisu
- Takaharu Bessho
- ja
- 別所孝治 (Fuji TV)
- Company
- P Productions, Fuji Television
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese
- Network
- FNS (Fuji TV)
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Dr. Gori, a mutant mad scientist from the simian Planet E in the Geisty Solar System, was banished after his plot to conquer his home world failed. With his gorilla-like assistant Karras (Ra in the Japanese version), he travels to Earth in a flying saucer. Captivated by Earth's beauty but appalled by its pollution—a major issue in Tokyo, then the world's most polluted city—Gori decides to conquer humanity to save the planet. Ironically, he uses Earth's pollution to create giant monsters for his campaign. The Nebula 71 Star, an artificial satellite resembling twin Saturns, observes Earth and sends Spectreman, a super-cyborg agent, to stop Gori. Spectreman disguises himself as Jôji Gamô, a Japanese man, and works with the government Pollution G-Men led by Chief Kurata. The group investigates pollution phenomena but cannot handle giant monsters; Jôji secretly leaves them to help as Spectreman. In the final episode, after Gori's subordinates and Ra are defeated, the mad scientist faces Spectreman alone. The hero urges Gori to use his intelligence for good, but Gori replies he would rather die than live with inferior, self-destructive humans, then commits suicide.
Spectreman specifications and powers
Spectreman disguises himself as Jôji Gamô and transforms by raising his right hand toward the Nebula Star, which shoots a beam at him, turning him into a super-powered cyborg. He says 'Ryōkai' (Japanese for 'Roger') or 'Ready' in the US version. His form features a gold-and-copper cuirass and a fin-topped helmet with an angular metal face. He can change size at will, starting human-sized. He possesses superhuman strength, agility, and flight. His weapons include the Spectre-Flash (a rainbow energy beam from his hands or wrists), multicolored shuriken from his belt buckle, Spectre-Blades from his forearms, and a Spectre-Sword and Shield or Spectre-Gun sent from Nebula Star upon request. Though virtually invincible, he can be damaged; in one episode a leg injury caused green blood, and a space vampire bite produced bright yellow blood. He faints when transforming back to human.
United States release
The entire 63-episode series was dubbed into English and syndicated across North America, including on Superstation TBS, starting in fall 1978. The English dubbing was co-written and performed by character actor Mel Welles, known for his role in the original film The Little Shop of Horrors. The US version is mostly faithful, but the most notable change is a new theme song using 'The First Day of Forever' from the album Awakening by the Mystic Moods Orchestra; its instrumental version replaced the Japanese theme during action scenes, though the instrumental Japanese theme was often kept. Some violence was edited out for US children's television, and dialogue was sometimes altered to add Welles' offbeat humor. The US version was released on VHS but has not been released on DVD or Blu-ray.
In popular culture
Tuyama produced a Spectreman Bowling Pump water gun in 1971, shaped like a bowling pin with an SD Spectreman sticker. The Franco-Belgian series Télechat parodied Spectreman as Leguman, a vegetable-based hero with carrot arms, pea pod legs, a pumpkin head, and a radish chest emblem, fighting low-budget battles with robot monsters made from everyday items. Spectreman appears in the graphic novel The Arab of the Future by Riad Sattouf, where the protagonist watches it in Libya and notes similarities between Dr. Gori and his father. Dr. Gel from Space Dandy was partially inspired by Dr. Gori. Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls uses hand gestures clearly inspired by Dr. Gori. In Thailand, the series aired in 1972, leading to many toy products including play money called Bank Gamô, still popularly known. Dr. Gori and Rah guest appear in the 2005 film Cromartie High – The Movie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Spectreman?
Spectreman was created by Ushio Sougi and ja.
Which network aired Spectreman?
Spectreman aired on FNS (Fuji TV).
More in Japanese Television Series with Live Action and Animation
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced