EVERYDAY IS HALLOWEEN IN MONSTERLAND

When I was a kid watching Ultraman on WSNS-TV 44, I remember a two part story where our silver and red hero battled the subterranean monster Gomora. These two episodes stood out, because there was a monster obsessed boy in the story just like myself and many other kid’s in my neighborhood. The boy had Bullmark vinyl figures of various Ultra Q and Ultraman monsters on his desk at home. That alone made you drool. The real cool thing was, that he and his friends had Ultraman and Kaiju Halloween masks that they play battled in. My friends and I always pretended we were Ultraman, Goldar, or Giant Robot fighting monsters, but just how much cooler would it had been if we had Halloween masks of our favorite heroes.
Here’s a few of the Japanese kid’s masks I’ve collected over the years. In Japan you can get a mask of basically any anime or tokusatsu character you can think of like Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Doraemon, Hello Kitty. I remember finding my first one in a Spencer’s Gifts of all the places, a Kamen Rider mask. You can find them pretty easily in Japanese gift and grocery stores, especially during festivals. They are great for display with your toy collection, check them out.

GROWING UP A CHICAGO MONSTER KID PART 2

WSNS Channel 44, was a local UHF station in the early 70’s. They were home to the Chicago White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bulls. Like most kids when you come home from school (me 2nd grade then), I turned on the television to watch cartoons. I would usually catch Speed Racer, Prince Planet, or Hercules. One day that all changed, the cartoons were not on when I came home. Instead there was a live action show (?). I saw a giant robot with long golden hair and big antennas on his head. I watched and holy crap he changed into a rocket and he’s fighting, ah yes my new love GIANT MONSTERS!!!! Yep this was Goldar the Space Avenger in Space Giants. Later that week there was other shows just like it, Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot, and Ultraman. For these groundbreaking Japanese TV shows there were no books, no reference, no toys available in my area, but I could draw. For weeks and weeks I drew every single monster I saw so I would never forget that daily treat of sweet foam rubber. Of course I wasn’t the only one in my small Mayberry-like neighborhood who experienced this. Soon everyone followed my lead and had their own hand drawn Monster Books. Even my Mom’s best friends daughter was sucked in. These were some of my best childhood memories, everyday seemed like it was sunny and alive. I still live my life grasping and obtaining those positive feelings as much as possible. I’m extremely blessed to have like 8 best friends who are just as corrupted as me and grew up the same way and share this madness with me.
SPACE GIANTS
Bum Bum Bum BumBumBumBumBum…. “From the far reaches of Outer Space comes a threat to Planet Earth.” That was, along with some cool music, the opening to Space Giants. Created by Japanese manga artists Osamu Tezuka (best known for Tetsuwan Atom/Astro Boy), Magma Taishi (Ambassador Magma) told the story of a robot family who protected Earth from the alien invader Goa. In 1966 the popular manga was created into a live action TV series by P-Productions in Japan. Of course by the time it made it stateside the title was changed and some names as well.
A young boy Miko and his father Mura, a news reporter are contacted by the evil planet conqueror Rodak to spread the word of his arrival on Earth, and his plans for conquest. Miko meets Goldar the Space Avenger who takes him to his base inside a volcano to meet his robot family and Mathusum his creator. They review pictures Miko took with his camera and acknowledge the sudden appearance of Rodak on Earth. Miko is given a rocket shaped whistle to summon anyone in the rocket family if Rodak makes his move and his threats prove to be true. He blew the whistle once for Gam (Goldar’s son), twice for Silvar (Goldar’s wife), and three times for Goldar himself. Rodak attacked the Earth (Japan) with giant space monsters every week. Every episode had pretty intense drama, and you really felt like Rodak was a real threat. My favorite part of Space Giants were probably the fights Miko and Gam would have against Rodak’s henchmen, the Lugo-Men. Gam would fire laser blasts from his helmet antennae and it would melt the Lugo-Men into a jelly-like substance. I really dug the background music "Gam's Song" for those sequences .
JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT
“Come on Giant Robot!!!!” is what you heard kids in in my neighborhood shout into their wrist watches, mimicking Johnny Sokko calling his Giant Robot. Mitsuteru Yokoyama manga artist and creator of Gigantor (Tetsujin 28) jumped into the live action game when Toei Productions produced a 26 episode television series of Giant Robo. Of course we were served it in the States as Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot. The story begins with the full on invasion of Earth by the Gargoyle Gang (Big Fire in Japan) led by the Emperor Guillotine. Meanwhile Johnny Sokko is befriended by Jerry Mano who he meets on a cruise liner. Jerry is a secret member of the Unicorn Agency who is basically an Interpol like organization who deals with the constant terrorist attacks by Gargoyle. Jerry is investigating the disappearance of ships in the area. The cruise liner is soon attacked and sunk by a giant monster Draculon. Johnny and Jerry wash ashore of a deserted island that ends up being a Gargoyle base. The two quickly discover the Gargoyles have had a giant robot built to take over the world. Johnny mistakenly shouts a command into the robot’s controller, a special wrist watch, which gives him sole command of the metal titan by being the first voice recorded into Giant Robot’s brain. Johnny becomes a Unicorn Agent and uses Giant Robot in every episode to destroy the Gargoyle Gang’s evil space monsters. This show has one of my favorite dubs. At some points you forget this was originally in Japanese. The voice actors were perfect castings. The soundtrack is very jazzy and Bond-ish at times. Giant Robo also spawned two anime mini series as well.
ULTRAMAN
Created by the Toho (the Godzilla guys) special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya, Ultraman is Japan’s equivalent to our American Superman. Responding to a UFO sighting the Science Patrol, a specialized police force with high-tech weaponry, investigates the phenomenon. One of two of the UFO’s reveals a giant space monster Bemular. The other UFO crashes into Science Patrol member Hayata‘s jet. The mystical silver and red alien inside merges consciences with Hayata to save his life. Hayata is given a device called a Beta Capsule which allows him to transform into the giant hero to fight aliens and giant monsters. When Hayata becomes Ultraman, he has a limited amount of time to fight. Attached to Ultraman’s chest is the color-timer which signals Ultraman when he is running low on solar energy. Most of the monsters in Ultraman were just as popular as the hero himself. One such is Gomora, a two part episode, is star of his own series, Ultra Galaxy. Ultraman became the standard in giant hero/monster television shows which spawned several sequels and copycats.
Ultraman was actually the second Ultra series Tsuburaya Productions unleashed on the masses. The first was Ultra Q, a hero-less series that followed three news reporters that investigated strange happenings including alien invasions, giant monsters on the loose, and the supernatural. If you like the Outer Limits, you’ll really dig Ultra Q. Shot in glorious black and white.

LOOK UP IN THE SKY!!!! IT’S RODAN!, ITS THE SY-3!, NO!!! IT’S NATIONAL KID!!!!!

In 1955 Matsushita Electric (aka National now Panasonic) in Japan introduced their new ad mascot National Kid. Created by Minoro Takesegawa and Juzo Umino, National Kid has a very obvious Superman look to him by sporting a large capital “N” on his chest.
August 4, 1960 National Kid debuted in his own television series which broadcast on Net TV, nowAsahi TV Thursdays 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. with a total of 39 black and white episodes. National Kid was the first science fiction based TV hero. The TV series was produced by Toei along with Matsushita Electric backing. Ichiro Kojima starred in the lead role which was later taken over by Tatsume Shiutaro.
Each episode started with the narrative monologue, “He is faster than a jet aircraft, stronger than the steel! The invincible knight of peace and justice.... National Kid! .”
The monologue was followed by the “Song of National Kid” by Masayoshi Onuki, composed by Masami Sano, and sang by the Victor Children's Chorus. In the context of the series, National Kid is a messenger from the Andromeda system who is immortal and protects the Earth from invaders. National Kid’s alter-ego on Earth was Massao Hata. Massao was the son and apprentice of the world renowned scientist, Dr. Masachika Hata, who holds his practice in a suburb of Tokyo. His powers include supreme strength and flight. He also carried the “Aurora Laser Beam Gun”, which was similar too the flashlight sold by National Electric.
The National Kid series is contained in four stories serialized through 39 episodes. The first story, “Inkazoku no Raishu” (Attack from the Inca Invaders) lasted 13 episodes. The very basic story has National Kid defending the Earth from alien invaders. This time he must protect us from the Inca, who arrive from the planet Venus. Throughout the attempted invasion the Incas unleash massive UFO attacks on Japan. The UFO scenes are supported by great jaw-dropping effects. One scene that stands out is when an Inka UFO hovers over Japan’s Diet Building similar to Ray Harryhausen’s Earth vs. Flying Saucers. The Inca also release a virus in which National Kid struggles to find a cure. NK flies into the mountains and uses his Aurora Laser Beam Gun to blow apart some boulders in order to uncover some rare minerals that helped in creating a remedy for the virus’ effects. The remainder of the episodes primarily had National Kid saving children and himself from Inca attacks.
National Kid leaned towards the beginnings of the kind of action and atmosphere that would set Toei apart from other studios superhero fare. In a very enlightening scene, children are menaced by the Inca and all seems lost. National Kid arrives with his theme music playing the background, forced at you with a blaring saxophone. Though he is surrounded by evil, National Kid stands confidentially ready to go. This style would forever be duplicated in great effect from then on in Toei Hero television series.
The second story “Kaiteimao Nerukon” (Nerukon, Devil from the Ocean Floor) ran 9 episodes. Already using new techniques including blue screen, the special effects are significantly improved over the first story’s efforts. This time National Kid battles an army of oceanic creatures called the Nerukon. The Nerukon walk around in black masks with ceremonial robes and a humanoid appearance. When unmasked, their true forms are revealed as creatures with Coelacanth-like heads and gillman bodies. The Nerukon come to the surface world riding in a submarine that looks like a giant mutated prehistoric angler fish causing seismic waves destroying naval ships. This story is probably the most exciting of the whole series because of it’s imaginative monstrous villains and all the crazed fights National Kid has with them.
The third story arc titled “Chitei Maba Jyou” (Underground Magic Castle) ran eight episodes. The role of National Kid was taken over by actor Tatsume Shiutaro for the remainder of the series. It’s back to basics this time as National Kid takes on armed forces from beneath the Earth’s surface. The subterranean people are looking for the formula to a rare element that will give them supreme power. Once again UFO’s attack Japan killing civilians.
The fourth story arc titled “Mei no Uchu Shonen ( Space Boy Mystery) were the final nine episodes. A space boy named Taro accidentally falls to Earth. Then Taro’s father mistakenly threatens the destruction of Tokyo and unleashes the giant monster Gyapura for his boys blunder. Taro befriends Massao Hata’s students, and tells his father Earth is a peaceful planet. After this final threat, Massao Hata reveals he is the Earth’s hero National Kid and returns to Andromeda.
National Kid was the most expensive Japanese program on during it’s time. The show employed the use of cutting edge special effects. The flying scenes stood out the way the old Republic serial Captain Marvel did… it actually looked like National Kid was flying. The series became a huge hit in Brazil, but wasn't distributed in the United States unfortunately. For me National Kid is the coolest of the monochrome heroes of Japan’s yesteryear. If you like the movies Invasion of the Neptune Men (Uchu Kaisoku-sen)(1961) and Prince of Space (Yusei Ouji)(1959), National Kid is for you.

GROWING UP A CHICAGO MONSTER KID PART 1

I was born in 1969, in the Chicagoland area. Growing up a Monster Kid, this was a great time. In the early 70’s the Chicago airwaves were filled with monster movies every weekend. WGN-9 had the legendary Creature Features, WFLD-32 had the groovy ghoul, Svengoolie and WSNS-44 treated us to the Monster Rally. Even ABC-7 had a daily afternoon movie in which they would have a Hammer Films week, King Kong week, or a Planet of the Apes week. The genre would change week to week. The first house I grew up in was very small. I was in second grade at the time when parents upgraded to their first color TV setand I got the old black and white one. This was like Christmas day in the summer for me. One late Friday night I was watching WSNS-44 and caught for the first time The Monster Rally, my first horror host experience. The show opened with a cloaked figure with a wide brimmed hat walking out of a thick fog slowly. When the ghoul got closer he stopped and said in a sinister voice “Welcome to the Monster Rally HA HA HA HA!!!” The two movies I remember seeing was Caltiki, the Immortal Monster an Italian classic which Mario Bava worked on and Majin, Monster of Terror from Daiei studios Japan, the guys who brought you the giant atomic turtle Gamera. I was hooked, I became a Monster Kid. I still remember the Saturday afternoon I was mesmerized by a movie I saw that was like no other up until that point in my life. I was checking out WFLD-32’s Monstrous Movie. That was the day they unleashed the Son of Godzilla on me. I thought this was the coolest thing I ever saw. A giant radioactive monster and his son fighting enormous praying mantises and a huge spider. I pushed aside the Mego dolls and GI Joe (12 inches tall and he talked!!), to make room for the King of the Monsters. I knew what a Japanese Monster movie was now and nothing else from then on would ever measure up in this Monster Kid’s life again.