Plot description
The Shiranui Clan have planned for 2000 years to conquer Japan in retaliation for their nomadic ancestors being banished from the country by the Yamato Clan (who eventually became known as the Japanese people). Each armored ninja-like member of the clan controls a gigantic robot warrior in order to overthrow the "Yamato Government," as they call it.
In response to this terrorist threat, Japan's National Security Organization send agent Gentaro Shizuka (pop star Shoji Ishibashi), disguised as what can best described as a Spaghetti Western version of a singing cowboy, to stop their plans with the assistance of comical, mountaineering-clad Goro Kirishima (Mitsuo Hamada). In an unusual direction for such tokusatsu (visual effects) programs, it is not the heroic but often surprisingly ruthless Gentaro but the bumbling, bespectacled Goro who has the power to become the giant cybernetic superhero Iron King by touching the medals on the sides of his funny red Turning Hat and shouting "Iron Shock!" when danger threatens.
Description
- Title : Iron King
- Created by : Mamoru Sasaki
- Directed by : Noriaki Yuasa
- Starring : Shōji Ishibashi, Mitsuo Hamada
- Country of origin : Japan
- No. of episodes : 26 (Iron King)
- Running time : 24 minutes (per episode)
- Original channel : TBS
- Original run : October 8, 1972 – April 8, 1973
In the tenth episode the Shiranui Clan is destroyed but their place is taken by the skull-symboled keffiyeh-clad Phantom Militia (A/K/A the Phantom Opposition Party) who also use giant robots to enact their revolution against the Japanese government, although rather than being humanoid in shape theirs take the form of dinosaur-like kaiju.
From the nineteenth episode to the end of the series Gentaro and Goro battle V For Vendetta-like black cloak and Puritan hat-clad white-masked aliens called Titanians who have various inhuman powers such as flight, body-possessing mind control and the ability to enlarge themselves to giant size. Upon doing the latter they are then able to assume insect-like monster forms.
Episode list:
- Secret Messenger of the Morning Wind
- The Swan in the Ruins
- The Warrior's Smile
- Gentaro Travels Alone
- The Duel in the Autumn Wind
- Lullaby for a Warrior
- Those That Fly the Skies
- The Shadow Area
- Gentaro in a Close Shave
- A Kiss for the Dead
- Tokyo Is Burning
- State of Emergency in Tokyo
- Attacking the Underground Fortress
- Secret of the Brainwave Robot
- Marathon Monster Capri-Gon
- Destroy Tora-Girasu!
- The Order to Assassinate Iron King
- Monster Robot Annihilation
- The Giant Bug Kabutoron Appears
- The Titanians Strike Back
- Kama Guras Wants Lethal Gas!
- Terrifying Titanian Underworld
- The Insect Humanoid Masquerades as a Woman
- Tokyo Assault Frontline Base
- Iron King in a Panic!
- The Great Tokyo War
- On November 6, 2007, BCI Eclipse released the complete series on DVD in Region 1. As of 2009, this release is now out of print as BCI Eclipse ceased operations.
- On March 9, 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment re-released the entire series on DVD in Region 1.
