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Kaiketsu Zubat (快傑ズバット, Kaiketsu Zubatto), translated into English as "Swift Hero Zubat", "Extraordinary Zubat" or "Vigilante Zubat", is a tokusatsu superhero series that on TV Tokyo in 1977. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, this 32-episode series harkens back to tokusatsu superhero shows of the 1950s, but with a late-70s twist. The series was released on Japanese DVD in 2008.
Overview[]
This work was originally planned as a follow-up program of Chojin Bibyun (NET TV), which was broadcast from the previous year, but at the same time, Ninja Captor, which was being broadcast on Tokyo Channel 12, was discontinued, so it was changed to a program later[1]. After Bibyun, the TV anime Glacier Warrior Guy Slugger (TV Asahi series, produced by Toei and Toei Agency) was assigned.
Hideyoshi Nagasaka, who wrote most of the script, has a unique world view, and Hiroshi Miyauchi, who plays the main character, is highly popular among many tokusatsu hero programs for his unique dialogue and flexible acting[2]. Immediately after the end of this work, Miyauchi joined the regular role of JAKQ Dengekitai
(TV Asahi series) as the action leader Big One as a measure to strengthen it. It is said that the exaggerated play that inherited the tension of Ken Hayakawa had a great influence on the role creation, and it was said that the four main characters were seen as subordinates.
Main writer Nagasaka wrote 30 out of 32 episodes. He explained why he left two episodes (episodes 7 and 12) to other scriptwriters, saying, "I thought it would last for a year, so I thought I wouldn't be able to write it all by myself." However, the difference in style was noticeable, so he decided to write the rest by himself. He ended up with 32 episodes, so he said, "If I had known it would be the case from the beginning, I would have written it all myself."[3]
Planning[]
to be added
High Viewership and Early Termination[]
to be added
Story[]
After the private detective Ken Hayakawa's best friend, Goro Asuka was murdered by the criminal group Dakker, Ken tries to find out who the killer is, then get revenge. Using the Gorou suit design originally intended for space exploration, Ken invents Zubat Suit which gives him the speed, dexterity and superhuman strength, making him as Swift Hero Zubat.
Characters[]
| Zubat | Ken Hayakawa |
Allies[]
Other[]
| Zubat | Unidentified user |
The Consortium of Evil, Dakker[]
- Leader L
- Tenkaizan Brothers
- Dakker Combatants
Bosses[]
- Hell Dragon
- Black Star
- Gold Mask
- Kanzo The Devil
- Crimson Spider
- Kid The Pirate
- The Invincible Tousai
- Miki Yazan
- Iron Claw
- Black Lizard
- Gold Tiger
- Darkness Gang Boss
- Poison Scorpion
- Shaku Ji
- Wolf Guy
- Nazi Jaguar
- Black Beard
- Saint Devil
- Jiyumonji Aobei
- Yasha Maru
- Mister Z
- Crimson Fox
- Don Tenzan
- Captain Devil
- Mushujin
- Boss Hebi Maru
- Akuten Bou
- Kurobei of the Dark
- King Bow
- President D
Bouncers[]
- Lancock
- Kaze, Ryunosuke
- Killer Joe
- Waltz Lee
- Deadly 'Hustler'
- Red Boa
- Great Kong
- Jigoku Ichi
- Jyubei
- Tommy
- Satan
- Boomerang Jack
- Saburota
- Jinjuro
- Komatayu
- Bartender Sakoji
- Sammy
- Redford
- Blue Dragon
- Red Dragon
- Imaheir
- Canaus Drey
- Tenichi Oogami
- Uri Kellar
- D'Artagnan
- Doc Woody
- "Wind" Ugon
- "Thunder" Sakon
- Black Cross
- Jintaro
- Gulliver Baba
- RyuOhMaru
- RyuTenMaru
- RyuKaiMaru
Cast[]
Regular[]
- Ken Hayakawa (早川 健, Hayakawa Ken) / Kaiketsu Zubat (快傑ズバット): Hiroshi Miyauchi (宮内 洋, Miyauchi Hiroshi)
- Midori Asuka (飛鳥 みどり, Asuka Midori): Nobuko Oshiro (大城 信子, Ōshiro Nobuko)
- Osamu Terada (寺田 オサム, Terada Osamu): Nobuyuki Nakano (中野 宣之, Nakano Nobuyuki)
- Shingo Tojo (東条 進吾, Tōjō Shingo): Makoto Saito (斉藤 真, Saito Makoto)
- Leader L (首領L, Shuryō L): Ryuji Hayami (はやみ 竜次, Hayami Ryuji)
- Narrator (ナレーター, Narētā): Shin Aomori (青森 伸, Aomori Shin)
Stunt suit actors[]
- Ken Hayakawa (快傑ズバット, Kaiketsu Zubat): Yutaka Nakamura (中村 裕, Nakamura Yutaka)
- Dakker Members (ダッカー団員, Dakkā Dan'in):
Episodes[]
- Episode 1: After the Explosion, the Wandering Begins
- Episode 2: The Bird Migrates into Flames
- Episode 3: The Golden Angel of Sorrow
- Episode 4: A Critical Strike, Through Tears
- Episode 5: The Flower Girl and the White Powder
- Episode 6: Machine Guns Over the Ocean's Roar
- Episode 7: A Bad Wind in a Harbor Town
- Episode 8: Propane Explosion of Sorrow
- Episode 9: Turn Back to the River of Tears
- Episode 10: Knock Baseball's Enemies Out of the Park
- Episode 11: Don't Die, Dear Friend! One Second to Execution!
- Episode 12: Ten Seconds to Execution
- Episode 13: The Ballad of the Young Killer
- Episode 14: White-Fletched Arrows and a Tearful Parting
- Episode 15: The Sad Mother's Lullaby
- Episode 16: Falsely Accused, Ken Falls into Sorrow
- Episode 17: The Grief-Stricken Sister and a Pair of Kens
- Episode 18: Bubble Love in Peril!
- Episode 19: Blighted Love: The Torn Love Letter
- Episode 20: The Lady Dragon and a Tearful Vow
- Episode 21: Farewell, My Long-Lost Mother
- Episode 22: The Young Boxer and Tears for a Father
- Episode 23: The Three Oogami Sisters and Brother Tenichi
- Episode 24: Ken's Tears and Love in a Strange Town
- Episode 25: A Tearful Departure on Mt. Koujin
- Episode 26: Forgive Me, My Son!
- Episode 27: Surprising Purpetrator! Asuka Killed?!
- Episode 28: An then, He Becomes Nobody
- Episode 29: Orphan Children, Tearful Revenge
- Episode 30: Between the Sorrowful Life and Death
- Episode 31: Showdown! The True Culprit, Leader L?
- Episode 32: The Day-to-Day Battle is Gone, and then
Broadcast stations[]
- Tokyo 12 channels (now TV Tokyo)
- Sapporo TV (STV): Saturday 17:00-17:30
- East Japan Broadcasting System (KHB): Saturday 7:30-8:00
- Nagano Broadcasting (NBS): Friday 18:00-18:30 (22 April - 2 December 1977)
- Chubu Nippon Broadcasting (CBC): Thursday 17:30-18:00 (February - March 1977) - Thursday 17:25-17:55 (April - September 1977)
- Kansai TV (KTV): Sunday 11:00-11:30 (4 days delay)
- TV West Japan (TNC): Saturdays 18:00-18:30 (10 days delayed)
- Kumamoto Broadcasting (RKK): Thursday 17:00-17: 30
- Toyama TV (BBT): Monday 16:30-17:20
Expanded media[]
Online distribution[]
From November 5th, 2012 to February 24th, 2013, all 32 episodes of Kaiketsu Zubat were released on YouTube's Toei Sci-Fi Live YouTube Official channel and re-released from August 4th, 2014 to November 23rd, 2014.
Card game[]
Parody[]
- This series would be parodied by Daicon Films (now Gainax) in 1982, in a series of short films starring the superhero Swift Hero Noutenki (who also has the same alter-ego, Ken Hayakawa).
Notes[]
to be added
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ Gakken <Gakken Mook>. (2013). "Revive! Ishinomori Hero File". p. 61, "Hero File Glacier Warrior Guy Slugger". ISBN 978-4-05-610166-9.
- ↑ Futabasha. (2002). "Kaiketsu Zubat Taizen". p. 9. ISBN 978-4575293715.
- ↑ Futabasha. (2002). "Kaiketsu Zubat Taizen". p. 174. ISBN 978-4575293715.