Secret Messenger of the Morning Wind (朝風の密使) – A fun first episode that lets us know just what high-energy show this is going to be. Singing cowboy Gentaro Shizuka, tasked by the National Security Organization to take down the 2,000-year old Shiranui Clan, has apparently made quite the name for himself, with the clan members quite fearful he’ll put a stop to their operations, which makes one wonder about all of his past escapades. Likewise, the titular hero Iron King is already known to Gentaro, having been created by Professor Tsushima of the National Security Organization, presumably to help combat the Shiranui Clan. Despite this, Iron King is hardly portrayed in the best light, with him really low on water both times and him not even delivering the finishing blow to the enemy robot, with it instead being destroyed in a really bizarre and abrupt fashion. Goro and his newly-assigned partner Gentaro, and to a degree the mysterious girl Yukiko, immediately have great chemistry, but the best is yet to come. 4/5
The Swan in the Ruins (廃墟の白鳥) – Not much plot to speak of, but a ton of fun to be had, with Gentaro, Goro and Yukiko being targeted by the Shiranui Clan left and right, who REALLY want them out of their way after the events of the previous episode. Gentaro finds the idea of a mayor wishing the remain in his city despite it being under attack idiotic rather than noble. Plenty of fun set pieces (Most notably the flooding police station) and character banter to be had make it a fun romp. We first here about the missing tenth member of the Shiranui Clan, somebody their leader seems to know the location of. 3.5/5
The Warrior’s Smile (戦士の微笑) – Continuing from where the last episode left off, with the trio wandering about, looking for clues as to where the Shiranui’s base is, while the Shiranui try in vain to kill Gentaro. The Shiranui seem to have learned their lesson from their robots being controlled entirely through pendants, installing a cockpit in their latest mech. We start to learn a bit more about Yukiko, with her seemingly rather sympathetic towards a captured Shiranui member, along with wandering off, almost as if she’s meeting someone in secret…Just like the previous two, not a whole lot in the way of plot, but is made up for in fun factor. 3.5/5
Gentaro Travels Alone (弦太郎孤独旅) – The episode that reveals the true nature behind Yukiko. Aside from that, it’s also notable for testing Gentaro’s personal feelings, with his kamikaze attitude towards Shiranui’s robots being put to test when Yukiko is revealed to be in their hands. He’s come off as distant to both her and Goro, but we’ve clearly seen moments of him caring for both of them, diminishing to wannabe machismo attitude. You know Gentaro is badass when giant robots aren’t believed to be capable of killing him. Instead, the Shiranui Clan must lure him into elaborate traps. Apart from Yukiko’s revelation, a pretty solid episode that shows Gentaro really does have a heart of gold despite his occasional sexism and devotion to his job. 3/5
The Duel in the Autumn Wind (秋風の中の決斗) – An episode that dives deeper into Yukiko’s true allegiance, with Gentaro beginning to question it. The gang are first lured by the Shiranui’s extremely goofy robot posing a crashed meteorite that they go to check out, which seems a bit overdone when the robot simply appearing would have been more than enough to get them to show up (Though it could be argued throwing Gentao off-guard could increase the chances of killing him). The ending is pretty heartwarming, though becomes almost pointless considering what happens next episode…3.5/5
Lullaby for a Warrior (戦士の子守唄) – The final appearance of Chieko Morikawa (Who just could not stay on any Tokusatsu show with this and her short-lived role as Ruriko in Kamen Rider) as Yukiko, with her true nature fully revealed to both Gentaro and Goro at last. Gentaro apparently still knew from the last episode, but has some clear sympathy, given she was born and raised on those ideals. Indeed, the question as to why Gentaro wasn’t simply poisoned or killed in his sleep is raised given how badly the Shiranui Clan wants him dead, though it could be a matter of honor for them. The Shiranui Clan are given almost a dose of sympathy, with Yukiko stating how they were an oppressed clan desperate for happiness of their own. Gentaro commits a senseless act of violence towards a horse, pushing it into a minefield when simply throwing a shoe or a rock would have proved his point. Though perhaps her arc was cut a bit too short, a solid end to Yukiko’s character arc. 3.5/5
Those That Fly the Skies (大空を征く者) – The first standalone episode, and a nice change of pace, with Goro and Gentaro befriending a young woman who’s pilot father was killed by the Shiranui Clan’s latest flying robot. Gentaro leaves an old couple in a burning building, more determined to get to the robot, much to the woman’s anger (She did after all, lose her father to it). This does seem like a bit of a betrayal to his character after the lesson he learned in Gentaro Travels Alone. However, since the last person he wound up saving instead of attacking the robot wound up being with the Shiranui Clan, it isn’t entirely surprising he wouldn’t want to bother. Gentaro and Goro’s friendship is really blossoming here, with Goro defending Gentaro, insisting upon his bravery (Citing his decision to travel alone in order to lure Shiranui away from the village), even striking at the woman when she yells at him (Something he immediately regrets, at least). The daughter is played by Kaori Seki, who was originally cast as Minami in Ultraman Ace before pulling out, which is funny considering who appears in the next episode. 3.5/5
The Shadow Area (影の地帯) – Co-directed by Noriaki Yuasa of Gamera fame, an episode that draws nearer to the conclusion of the first act, with Gentaro and Goro coming to close to discovering the Shiranui Clan’s base. In an effort to lure them away, they send their robot Silver Rider to attack Tokyo, prompting an argument between Gentaro and Goro, with Goro wanting to go and protect the people from it and Gentaro wanting to stay behind and attack their base. And for once, Gentaro is right. It’s obviously a ploy to draw them away, and the military and (as far as Gentaro knows) Iron King should have Silver Rider covered. Several Shiranui sleeper agents are called upon, including a brother and sister who have been living in a small village and grown accustomed to it and the people. Gentaro acknowledges the oppression felt by members of the clan, but disavows their violent methods. The sister is played by Mitsuko Hoshi, who was then-recently canned as Minami on Ultraman Ace. A good episode with a solid cliffhanger. 4/5
Gentaro in a Close Shave (弦太郎危機一髪!)/A Kiss for the Dead (死者へのくちづけ) – The final appearance of the Shiranui Clan in the show’s first real two-parter, and a very fun one at that. With all 9 members dead and Gentaro and Goro near their base, the leader commences an all-out attack, unleashing his robot Gold Fire and riding in his extremely goofy mouse tank. There’s plenty of great action to be had, including several one-on-one duels between Gentaro and the leader. The second parts introduces a local woman named Kyoko whom begins developing romantic feelings for Gentaro. While their romance is nice (And leads to one of the show’s legitimately tragic scenes), is does happen awfully fast. In a perfect world, she would have been introduced in part one, which features Gentaro and Goro taking shelter with a couple of camping girls, with the “main” camper being played by starlet Yuki Okazaki (In essentially an extended cameo). Combining those characters into one, with her gradually falling for Gentaro (Even after he put their lives in danger by staying at their campsite) would have felt more natural, though it should be noted both episodes had different directors. Despite some minor shortcomings, a solid end to the Shiranui arc and two solid, and occasionally emotional episodes in general. Just when our heroes think they can catch their breaths, a new adversary approaches…4/5
Tokyo Is Burning (東京は燃えている) – The proper introduction of the Phantom Militia as villains, who start out pretty strong, managing to cause some good destruction with bombs and their monster. Their monsters are your traditional Kaiju, though they are revealed to all be robots, controlled through pendants like their predecessors. Their next mission is to capture an exchange student (Teresa Noda) from a country we never learn the name of, who is in fact a princess set to become queen in a few days, with the intention of publicly murdering her and ruining Japan’s reputation around the world, which is kind of sleazy, if a bit undercooked. The chemistry between the soon-to-be-queen, Gentaro and Goro is pretty fun, with Goro acting all chivalrous given she’s royalty, while Gentaro remains as chauvinist as usual. Not to say she’s a spring chicken, as she’s constantly running away, not wanting their protection as said protection means her returning to her country and becoming queen, something she doesn’t want. Her running away winds up causing mayhem, something Gentaro certainly has the right to be mad at. A pretty fun episode and an alright start for the Militia. 3.5/5
State of Emergency in Tokyo (東京非常事態宣)/Attacking the Underground Fortress (地下要塞攻撃命令) – A loose two-parter involving Phantom Militia member Uzuki (played by Return of Ultraman‘s Ko Mitsui) and his girlfriend Reiko (Silver Kamen-turned Pink film star Junko Natsu), who still pursues him despite his joining. Her joining is out of the question, as the Militia does not allow women. This is rather emblematic of the frequent sexism displayed by antigovernmental movements. She of course winds up in the company of Gentaro, where she attempts to justify her boyfriend’s joining, stating that while the organization is extremist, at least he’s fighting for something he believes in, unlike Gentaro who just likes a good fight. With her not wanting to leave Uzuki, his fellow members indulge in one of the filthiest schemes imaginable to lure Gentaro away, and later test her feelings for him against her potential feelings for Gentaro. It becomes clear that unlike the Shiranui Clan, who were an oppressed group, the Phantom Militia are just plain despicable with no real justification for their actions. They once again target a foreign diplomat in order to ruin Japan’s international reputation, this time in the form of famous scientist Professor Flasher, who along with his assistant just REALLY wants to have fun, abandoning his protectors to go bowling, watch a show and golf. The second part has them simply target some peace conference, and successfully. The ending is very dark, and questionable from a moral standpoint given what Reiko has been through, but there’s certainly the aspect of it keeping her safe from any more danger. A solid pair of episodes with the right amount of goofy (Like the aforementioned Professor Flasher and the revived Tongazaurus’ floating head) and genuinely serious. 4/5
Secret of the Brainwave Robot (脳波ロボットの秘密) – Another emotionally-driven episode involving a robotics scientist kidnapped by the Phantom Militia to create some brainwave-controlled robot and Gentaro and Goro off to rescue him along with his daughter. The scientist and his daughter are shown to have a very close relationship, something that clearly irks Gentaro, as he’s said to have lost his parents (Whether they died or abandoned him isn’t clear) at a young age. Goro’s parents on the other hand, are apparently alive and well, and are what keep him risking his life to defend mankind. The monster Jurasdon bears a strong resemblance to Takkong from Return of Ultraman, who was also designed by Noriyoshi Ikeya. Who’s to say if he wanted to redo Takkong or if it was just a quick way of whipping up a new monster. The ending is quite shocking. 4/5
Marathon Monster Caprigon (マラソン怪獣カプリゴン) – Another episode with a real mixture of the silly and serious. The Phantom Militia’s plot doesn’t go beyond sending a monster to kill Gentaro and Iron King, with said monster being the marathon-running Caprigon, which leads to some super goofy scenes of it and Iron King racing. The serious part comes when Gentaro is badly injured and is treated by a small town nurse. Despite her constant warnings, he continues to fight, and really makes you wonder just how far he’s willing to go. The ending is another very dark one, with the idea of innocents being dragged into their conflict at play here. For once, Gentaro has no excuses or justifications – he blames himself. 4/5
Destroy Toragiras! (トラギラスを倒せ!) – A pretty simplistic episode with the Militia capturing a child to lure Gentaro and Goro to their deaths, though made unique with the addition of a potential love interest not for Gentaro, but Goro. The catch is, she’s a nun (And the teacher of the captured child), meaning any chances of him ending up with her are out the window. Gentaro acts like a complete jerk to her, having clear disdain for religion along with her scolding of their violent natures, prompting a feud between him and Goro. Whether Goro had a religious upbringing or is just acting nice due to his feelings for her (Or is just a nicer guy in general) isn’t clear, but their feud is certainly more extreme than their usual spats, and there really isn’t a “both sides” viewpoint here – Gentaro is just pretty unlikable throughout. That makes the episode a little hard to watch at times, but still a decent enough episode. 3/5
The Order to Assassinate Iron King (アイアンキング殺害命令) – The end of the Phantom Militia approaches, with them having a hunch on Iron King’s true identity. They test this by injuring Goro in the leg – if Iron King emerges with an injured leg, they’ll know it’s him. The episode bears some similarities to The Shadow Area and Gentaro in a Close Shave/A Kiss for the Dead with the presence of a young woman who’s brother is a member of the Militia, with her desperately convincing him to leave it. Though a bit repetitive, she does come in handy towards the climax. Present is arguably the show’s best monster – Dodzilla (Dojira). A solid episode all around. 4/5
Monster Robot Annihilation (ロボット怪獣全滅作戦) – The final appearance of the Phantom Militia, who go for the kill with an attack on Tokyo. Their remaining headquarter is in the form of a small village they overtook about a year prior, killing many villagers and driving everyone else away, with the exception of a young woman out for vengeance. Like the Shiranui Clan’s departure, we have a one-on-one fight between Gentaro and the Militia’s leader, with a pretty great contribution from Iron King. Curiously, the leader doesn’t even bring up Goro’s identity as Iron King despite now having confirmation of it. A solid end to the militia, but of course another group awaits our heroes…3.5/5
The Giant Bug Kabutoron Appears (大虫人カブトロン出現)/The Titanians Strike Back (宇虫人タイタニアンの逆襲) – The debut of the Titanians, masked spacemen who are in fact giant bugs. Their first plan is…weird, with their first member spewing toxic balloons out of his mouth and spreading them across Japan. Apart from that, we get our first look at the National Secuirty Organization’s headquarters (Which is the Nagasawa Filtration Plant, seen in numerous other Tokusatsu shows) and meet Professor Tsushima (Played by Dr. Komoyoji himself, Hajime Izu). Also introduced is National Security agent Noriko “Tenko” Fujimori, who’s assigned to accompany Gentaro and Goro from now on. The three immediately have great chemistry, with her strict, by-the-books attitude being a great contrast to Gentaro and Goro’s slacker behavior. That’s certainly not to say she’s anything more than a foil, as she’s easily the most competent and prepared of the three. At two parts and with not a whole lot of plot, things do get a little repetitive (Iron King and the monster fight twice within minutes if one watches both back-to-back) and some parts feel a little padded, especially the fight against the Titanian-possessed villagers (Though it does have Gentaro shouting “Rider Kick!”), but still a fun pair of episodes with a unique snowy setting. 3.5/5
Kamaguras Wants Lethal Gas! (カマギュラス殺人ガスを狙う!) – A decent enough episode, if a little on the generic side. The plot is fine enough, with the Titanians wanting their hands on a lethal gas created by a scientist, but is a little confusing considering the Titanians were already shown to have their own lethal gases literally an episode before. One must wonder if this episode was written with the Militia in mind, as they would have been more appropriate. Easily the most interesting part about the episode is the scientist behind the gas and his willingness to sell the gas knowingly to aliens. Having been shunned by the scientific community for his work, he’s perfectly content with others being killed, just as long as he and his daughter have money. Still feels a little ho-hum, but an enjoyable enough affair. Gentaro’s method of stopping the monster during the climax is bound to raise some eyebrows among environmentalists. 3/5
Terrifying Titanian Underworld (恐怖のタイタニアン地獄) – An action-a-minute episode with virtually no plot whatsoever. What little plot there is concerns Gentaro, Goro and Tenko stumbling across a underground Titanian base in the works, and the Titanians extracting their revenge, prompting loads of fight scenes. Titanian No. 4 relies on oil to power his monster form, which is weird, but leads to a funny death sequence. The Titanian leader proves what a nice guy he is, by complimenting Titanian No. 4 for letting Gentaro place a tracking device on him – that way, Gentaro, Goro and Tenko will show up and be ambushed. There are some callbacks to The Titanians Strike Back, with the Titanians possessing villagers to fight the trio. The lack of any real story is problematic, but still a fun romp if you’re in the right mood. 3/5
The Insect Humanoid Masquerades as a Woman (女に化けた虫人) – A pretty fun episode with the trio assigned to escort a woman (Ryoko Sakaguchi) carrying the formula to a new rocket fuel whom Gentaro and Tenko suspect of being possessed by a Titanian. Turns out though, its Tenko who’s possessed. And if you think that’s a spoiler, it isn’t, as we go the whole episode knowing it’s Tenko. The viewers being left wondering if the woman is really possessed or not, with a few sly hints at it being Tenko sprinkled throughout would have been a lot better. But as it stands, still a pretty fun episode, with some real funny scenes of Gentaro trying to prove the woman’s a Titanian. The song “Let’s Get Married” by Shoji Ishibashi himself can be heard at a restaurant, which will be making another appearance during the finale. 3.5/5
Tokyo Assault Frontline Base (東京攻撃前線基地) – An episode displaying capitalistic greed at its finest, with the owner of a new apartment kicking everyone out in favor of letting the Titanians use it as an outpost (Similar in concept to Mirrorman‘s The Invaders are Next Door), thanks to them offering a huge sum of money (Perhaps the same money they stole originally for the lethal gas). Certainly doesn’t portray landowners in the best light. The frequent Toku trope of using children against the heroes, making it difficult for them to fight back, with the Titanians possessing a group of kids (Something even the landowner thinks is going too far). And though it briefly gets Gentaro and Goro in jail, during the climax, Gentaro has no qualms in beating the snot out of kids. A pretty fun romp overall. 3.5/5
Iron King in a Panic! (アイアンキング大ピンチ!)/The Great Tokyo War (東京大戦争) – Not perfect, but a solid finale. After their several defeats, the Titanians go for the kill on Gentaro and Iron King. If there’s one thing the finale does well, its showing just how far Gentaro and Goro have come in their friendship. They’ve become so close, Goro even proposes to Gentaro (For real)! The Titanians use this to their advantage, possessing Goro, making it real hard for Gentaro to fight back, all while the Titanians level Tokyo. Gentaro needing to fight his best friend is pretty heartbreaking, though does lose a bit of its impact when you remember how willing to beat up kids he was in the previous episode. Goro possessed winds up meaning possessed Iron King (Who gains an evil cape through it), prompting him going on a rampage alongside Cricketton, who’s honestly one of the coolest final monsters in all of Toku (Even if he doesn’t do anything especially noteworthy). Seeing Gentaro and Tenko’s hero wreck havoc is pretty gutwrenching, as is the failed attempt at removing the Titanian from within Goro. The final scene of Tenko chasing Gentaro and Goro on the beach while a montage of the show’s highlights plays over the end theme is one of the best endings to any Tokusatsu show. During the show’s rebroadcast on Television Saitama in the 1980s, The Great Tokyo War was not aired (Thanks to its print being in the hands of author Noriaki Ikeda), resulting in the show ending with Iron King attacking Tokyo. This shocking ending lead to the urban legend claiming the last episode of Ultraman [sic] ends with him destroying Tokyo. A bit on the simple side perhaps, but a solid ending that only makes you wish there were more episodes. 4/5
Beta Capsule Reviews 