As many people know, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004) will be the last Big “G” film for quite a while. When Toho finally revives everyone’s favorite monster, it will be like the Cubs winning the World Series among Godzilla fans, except the latter will actually happen. This is not the first time fans had to wait a long duration, to see the mighty monster hit the screens again. I still remember in 1978, running home from school to catch the 3:30 movie (WLS-7 Chicago) which was showing THE TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA for the first time. As a kid you didn’t realize that this would be the last Godzilla film for a long time. I raided magazine racks at the drug store, looking for monster magazines with pictures of Godzilla, including Fangoria #1. The first issue of Fangoria had of an article on Godzilla, along with rumors for possible new movies, like GODZILLA VS. THE DEVIL and GODZILLA VS. GARGANTUA. Obviously none of these films came to be. To satisfy my hunger I discovered the Japanese Fantasy Film Journal and joined the Japanese Fantasy Film Society. In the meantime I discovered other Japanese staples of the Sci-Fi genre, like KAMEN RIDER, which I now live and breath for, and the UCHU KEIJI series.
Finally in 1984, news surfaced of a new Godzilla film coming. The brand new feature would be released by New World Pictures as GODZILLA 1985. Now, there was the wait until the fall of 85’ to see the radioactive King of the Monsters once again. My local Horror Host, the SON OF SVENGOOLIE, of course played a slew of Japanese Monster movies that year, all from the AIP catalog. Best of all, Sven had a Godzilla 1985 contest, where you could win all kinds of cool Big “G” swag. All you had to do was send a postcard to WFLD 32 Chicago to win. Postcard, postcard, ah yes, I had the Fangoria postcard book which had 24 of those suckers. I had to win, so I mailed all 24, to my favorite ghoul.
Weeks went by, until the Saturday came where they would announce the winner. Well, the Friday before the big day, I was walking home from school and my Mom was standing in front of my house waiting for me. I figured I had to go grocery shopping or something with her. She had something behind her back, I’m thinking what’s up? All of a sudden she held out a package, and I just saw the words Svengoolie and WFLD, then I knew what it was. That truly deserved a “Holy @#$#!”, think of Ralphy and his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring times 1000. I may have used the Force, because I'm sure I opened the package without touching it. There were bumper stickers, a record, a vest, free movie passes, and other promo items. I thought wait a minute, I have to record Sven tomorrow, they’re going to announce the winners!!! It just so happens New World was in Chicago that week with a “G85” suit promoting the movie. Svengoolie was there to interview Godzilla and have him announce the lucky winners of the contest. Imagine being 15 years old and have Godzilla growl your name as it scrolled down the screen of your favorite TV show. I never did drugs, but I’m sure there’s nothing on the streets to beat that high.
Hey that's me Roy Ware!!!
Around that time a brand new comic shop opened in my town called Graham Crackers Comics. The manager, now best friend/mentor, Frank Kurtz (http://laughingreindeer.blogspot.com, check it out!!! dammit), was a huge Godzilla fan too. He just got the huge encyclopedia we called the Toho book at the time. I never knew books like that existed. This hardbound giant had pictures of every Toho film ever made. Frank said I can get you all the Japanese books you want, and that he did. Along with Big “G” books, he was able to get me all of the Fantastic Collection Series of books which included KAMEN RIDER, SPACE SHERIFFS, SUPER SENTAI and ULTRAMAN. He also got me started on the monthly Japanese kid’s magazines TV Magazine and TV Kun, which I haven’t missed an issue in 25 years. I bought all the Godzilla 1985 books a lawn mowing maniac kid could afford, and boy I could mow a lot of lawns with that kind of incentive. I remember the movie getting bad reviews and laughs, but in my eyes, Godzilla 1985 was Oscar material.
When it comes to manga based on ninjas, there is nobody more famous than Sanpei Shirato. Born in 1935, Sanpei Shurato set the standard for unfolding action scenes in his manga. His manga boasts a slow multi-panel style of story telling that builds tension for it’s readers. This talent was very apparent in his first popular work, NINJA BUGEICHO. Sanpei Shurato’s super detailed illustrations are jaw dropping. Many of his action packed stories went on to be movies or anime. Some of the most famous were, SASUKE (1968), NINPU KAMUI GAIDEN (1969) and the live action feature WATARI (1966). The earliest entry was Toei Doga’s SHONEN NINJA KAZE FUJI-MARU (Boy Ninja, Fuji-Maru of the Wind). This 1964 black and white animated TV Series ran for 65 episodes and was serialized in Bakura magazine. The title of the show was named after the program’s sponsor Fujisawa.
The series takes place during feudal Japan. It begins with a woman working the fields in the country. While tending to her chores, her baby (Fuji-Maru), sits in a basket under a tree. Suddenly a giant eagle swoops down out of the sky and grabs the young boy, then carries him away. Years later we find that Fuji-Maru has grown up and was taken in by a band of ninjas known as the Fuma Clan. Under the guidance of his master, Tasuke, Fuji-Maru becomes a very powerful ninja who is the master of wind. Not only can he summon large whirlwinds to knock his enemies off their feet, but he uses an array of ninja weapons and in some cases ninja magic. The countryside is in a three way war among lords, struggling to possess the “Book of the Smoking Dragon”, which are powerful scrolls that contain special martial art techniques. Fuji-Maru must keep the scrolls out of the wrong hands and hopefully reunite with his mother.
The action scenes in SHONEN NINJA KAZE FUJI-MARU are just as exciting as Sanpei Shurato’s ninja manga. During battles you see shurikens thrown, manriki chains used, ninja kamas, and even the traditional sword.
For a special treat, at the end of each episode, there’s a few minutes of live action footage detailing the art of ninjutsu. The short features are hosted by Grandmaster or Soke, Masaaki Hatsumi, who also starred in Toei’s live action hero TV series SEKAI NINJA SEN JIRAIYA (1988). The footage is really cool, and some of it looks as if it may have been culled from a ninja TV series or movie, because it’s kind of slick and well done. When I was a kid, I remember being a fan of Sho Kosugi‘s movies, ENTER THE NINJA and REVENGE OF THE NINJA. I would have really dug SHONEN NINJA KAGE FUJI-MARU if it was on in the US back then.
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba, is the result of two major companies merging in 1939. The first was Tanaka Seizosho who manufactured telegraph equipment, and then later became Shibaura Seisakusho, who was a leader in heavy electrical machinery. The second Hakunetsusha, later renamed Tokyo Denki, produced incandescent electric lamps. The original merger was known as Tokyo Shibaura Denki, before officially becoming Toshiba. Aside from inventing the laptop, DVD, and the not so popular HD DVD, Toshiba also was associated with a popular Japanese iconic character. Sci-Fi Hero KOUSOUKU ESPER (LIGHT SPEED ESPER) became the advertising mascot for Toshiba in 1964. Even the company’s pencil sharpeners were called Esper.
Kousoku Esper’s design was created by Asano Riji, who also illustrated a manga version in “Shonen“ magazine. The manga was later taken over by Akira Matsumoto. Akira later in his career changed his name to Leiji Matsumoto, who is the well known, legendary manga artist that was behind such hits as SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, GALAXY EXPRESS 999, DANGAURD ACE, and CAPTAIN HARLOCK. Matsumoto’s character designs and mecha are some of the most memorable images in manga/anime history.
In 1967 Senkosha Productions, with backing from Toshiba, released a 26 episode color TV series of the sci-fi action hero. The story begins with a young boy Hikaru Azuma (Kiyotaka Mitsugi)(SHIRO-SHISHI KAMEN, ULTRAMAN TARO) and his parents who are enjoying a balloon ride. Suddenly their balloon explodes and they crash into the forest leaving Hikaru’s parents dead. We find out the balloon collided with an alien spacecraft from Andromeda. The friendly aliens known as Esper Seijin (Alien Esper), feel bad for what they have done and possess the bodies of Hikaru’s parents so the boy is not left alone. The Espers/Hikaru’s parents, are very aware of an impending invasion by the Giron Seijin (Alien Giron) who want to conquer our planet. Meanwhile Professor Asakawa of the Atomic Research Institute is designing a super jet suit, but can’t quite figure out how to complete it. The Espers use telepathy to give the Professor the knowledge he needs to finish the super suit, and thus creating the Light Speed Esper.
Now Hikaru will use the Esper suit against the Giron invasion. The suit has many weapons and gadgets, it’s main one is a rocket pack which allows the operator to fly anywhere, even into space. The suit can withstand volcanic heat, extreme cold, and even heavy underwater pressure. Most of the suit’s operations like the jet pack and a shrinking mechanism are controlled by a lighted dial on the wearer’s chest. Hikaru is also armed with a multi function ray gun that can not only shoot lasers, but heat blasts and freezing beams. The helmet has an array of functions as well, including radar, transmitting and receiving radio waves, and protecting the operator in deep space and underwater travel. Hikaru becomes a master of the suit which enables him to repel the Giron Seijin’s attacks. Everything from alien funguses, giant monoliths, and massive meteors, Hikaru is able to stop them all.
The Espers give Hikaru advice and aid during missions by telepathy through a mechanical bird Chika. Hikaru is able to contact Professor Asakawa with a Dick Tracy-like watch that lets both parties talk and receive a video image of each other. Later Hikaru is joined by the Professor’s son Hikari (Kousoku Esper 2), who also has a super space car. Kousoku Esper has a lot of cool stories and original concepts. Even though the effects are not high end by today‘s standards, the intentions of the visuals hit big. If you dig Flash Gordon, Buck Rodgers, or even Captain Video, you’ll have a lot of fun watching this one.
