Big Science Action
Encyclopedia
Big Science Action is a team of fictional superheroes, comic book
characters published by DC Comics
. They first appeared in Final Crisis Sketchbook
#1 (May 2008), and were created by Grant Morrison
and J.G. Jones.
JLA
back in the day, with a ring or halo-shaped base hovering above Mount Fuji
."
known as the Colonizers.
The Big Science Action team are seen together for the first time as they appeared in the "Silver Age" of Japanese superheroics, in a Tokyo
television documentary
retrospective
in the pages of Final Crisis #2 (June 2008). During this appearance Rising Sun complains about the ongoing process of self commodification
being carried out by modern Japanese superheroes such as the Super Young Team
.
An updated version of Big Science Action appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, in this issue Junior Waveman Kimura invites his daughter Shiny Happy Aquazon from the Super Young Team to join the team, and introduces her to new team member Nazo Baluda.
riding hybrid of Shotaro Kaneda, the Human Torch
and the Ghost Rider
. Bosozuko's hair is made up of nuclear
flames as are the tires on his special motorcycle. His name Bōsōzoku
translates as "violent running gang", and stems from the Japanese Bōsōzoku motorcycle gangs of the 1950s
.
c extraterrestrial
android who requires specials crystal
s to power his "roller boots" up for interstellar travel
. According to his creator Grant Morrison "What only we know is that his "Maker" is a monstrous space tyrant who has sent his little herald out to identify and pacify target planets". Using his roller boots Cosmo Racer can currently travel at the speed of sound
. His body is made from an unknown nearly frictionless alien material similar in texture to terrestrial ceramic
s or plastic
s. He is apparently a hybrid of Astro Boy and the Silver Surfer
.
tank. The Goraiko construct only speaks in haiku
and mathematical equations. The girl has a Totoro
styled doll in the tank that appears to be the inspiration for Goraiko's shape, but it is unknown if it is necessary for the manifestation of the being. The being known as Goraiko is large and superhumanly strong, two versions of the Goraiko construct are known to exist, the 'green version' in Big Science Action and the 'gray version' in the Ultramarines. According to writer Grant Morrison "I also threw in Goraiko, the ‘Nuclear Totoro’ character I created for the Ultramarine Corps back in the JLA days and changed his colour as a little tip of the hat to gray Hulk/green Hulk". He is a member of the International Ultramarine Corps.
, who is also a supersmart science hero
ine pilots the monster fighting suit of powered armor
known as a "Hammersuit". The Hammersuit appears to use arc
generating, steampunk
inspired electrically energized
pneumatic drills
as weapons. The suit of armor can also act autonomously, and is based on both Gundam
and Gigantor
. An adult and much older Kusanagi appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, this issue also reveals her name. Despite her much older age, even compared to the now middle-aged Waveman Kimura, she's still effective, heavily relying of newer and more powerful iterations of the "Hammersuit" to "stay competitive".
. Formerly led by Senior Waveman Otomo who died while saving Riki Kimura's life. He was rescued and raised by the Wavemen after his parents were slain by an army of monsters. He is also the father of Shiny Happy Aquazon, a member of the Super Young Team. He is apparently based on Marine Boy
. As of Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, he is now the much older Senior Waveman Kimura.
, and a veteran member of the Global Guardians
. A drunken, unshaven and overweight Rising Sun appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1.
and actor
, and a founding member of Big Science Action. He died in Crisis on Infinite Earths
#12.
dedicated to fighting kaiju
, known as the Ultimon Society. The Ultimon Society are a group of Giant Monster Killers who survived the "Monster Wars" that nearly destroyed Japan. He and his "master" defeated a trio of monsters called the "Colonizers", they were Scarrba the Protector (King Ghidorah
), Kry-Torr the Burrower (Baragon
), and Lorloxx the Layer (Gyaos
). His concept and design is based on Ultraman
. Ultimon's master died during the battle and he inherited his powers. Recently the ghost of a being calling itself Ultimon Alpha has been appearing in recurring visions witnessed by Most Excellent Superbat, in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1.
, a Japanese term which translates as "beautiful youth".
and anime
series Yume No Senshi Uwingu Man
(Dream Warrior Wing Man).
, and is invited to join Big Science Action by her father in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4. She later declines her membership, with her teammates Atomic Lantern and Superbat reminding her of the obligation she still has with her original group. Waveman Kimura, however, still thinks that her membership in the Big Science Action team is her birthright.
. Fuji Station is apparently equipped with a working teleporter system.
are:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
characters published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. They first appeared in Final Crisis Sketchbook
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
#1 (May 2008), and were created by Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
and J.G. Jones.
Publication history
Big Science Action debuted in Final Crisis Sketchbook #1. Some of the founding members of Big Science Action such as Rising Sun, Sunburst, and Goraiko are pre-existing DC Comics characters. Goraiko was originally created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter in JLA #26 (February 1999). According to writer Grant Morrison "These guys were Japan'sJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
JLA
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
back in the day, with a ring or halo-shaped base hovering above Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
."
History
The team formed while coming to the aid of Dai Yokohama the new Ultimon, they helped him to defeat an army of monsters which sought to avenge the deaths of Scarrba the Protector, Kry-Torr the Burrower, and Lorloxx the Layer, three giant kaijuKaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
known as the Colonizers.
The Big Science Action team are seen together for the first time as they appeared in the "Silver Age" of Japanese superheroics, in a Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
television documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
retrospective
Retrospective
Retrospective generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place. For example, the term is used in medicine, describing a look back at a patient's medical history or lifestyle.-Music:...
in the pages of Final Crisis #2 (June 2008). During this appearance Rising Sun complains about the ongoing process of self commodification
Commodification
Commodification is the transformation of goods, ideas, or other entities that may not normally be regarded as goods into a commodity....
being carried out by modern Japanese superheroes such as the Super Young Team
Super Young Team
The Super Young Team is a fictional Japanese superhero team in the . The team first appears in Final Crisis Sketchbook #1 , and was created by Grant Morrison and J. G. Jones.-Publication history:...
.
An updated version of Big Science Action appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, in this issue Junior Waveman Kimura invites his daughter Shiny Happy Aquazon from the Super Young Team to join the team, and introduces her to new team member Nazo Baluda.
Boss Bosozuko
Boss Bosozuko, is a hotheaded motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
riding hybrid of Shotaro Kaneda, the Human Torch
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
and the Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
. Bosozuko's hair is made up of nuclear
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
flames as are the tires on his special motorcycle. His name Bōsōzoku
Bosozoku
is a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs.-Traits and history:The word bōsōzoku is also applied to motorcycle gangs, who share an interest in modifications for motorcycles, such as removing the mufflers so that more noise is produced...
translates as "violent running gang", and stems from the Japanese Bōsōzoku motorcycle gangs of the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
.
Cosmo Racer
The being known as Cosmo Racer is an amnesiaAmnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
c extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
android who requires specials crystal
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
s to power his "roller boots" up for interstellar travel
Interstellar travel
Interstellar space travel is manned or unmanned travel between stars. The concept of interstellar travel in starships is a staple of science fiction. Interstellar travel is much more difficult than interplanetary travel. Intergalactic travel, or travel between different galaxies, is even more...
. According to his creator Grant Morrison "What only we know is that his "Maker" is a monstrous space tyrant who has sent his little herald out to identify and pacify target planets". Using his roller boots Cosmo Racer can currently travel at the speed of sound
Speed of sound
The speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
. His body is made from an unknown nearly frictionless alien material similar in texture to terrestrial ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s or plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
s. He is apparently a hybrid of Astro Boy and the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
.
Goraiko
Goraiko is a psionic construct projected from the mind of an unnamed young Japanese girl who resides in a high tech sensory deprivationSensory deprivation
Sensory deprivation or perceptual isolation is the deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. Simple devices such as blindfolds or hoods and earmuffs can cut off sight and hearing respectively, while more complex devices can also cut off the sense of smell, touch,...
tank. The Goraiko construct only speaks in haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
and mathematical equations. The girl has a Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro
, is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan...
styled doll in the tank that appears to be the inspiration for Goraiko's shape, but it is unknown if it is necessary for the manifestation of the being. The being known as Goraiko is large and superhumanly strong, two versions of the Goraiko construct are known to exist, the 'green version' in Big Science Action and the 'gray version' in the Ultramarines. According to writer Grant Morrison "I also threw in Goraiko, the ‘Nuclear Totoro’ character I created for the Ultramarine Corps back in the JLA days and changed his colour as a little tip of the hat to gray Hulk/green Hulk". He is a member of the International Ultramarine Corps.
Hammersuit Zero-X
Miss Kusanagi a Japanese schoolgirlSchoolgirl
A schoolgirl is a girl attending either primary or secondary school, generally aged between four and eighteen years old.-Academic performance:This has led in some countries to calls for greater equality for education in the school system...
, who is also a supersmart science hero
Science hero
Science hero is a term coined by Alan Moore in his work for America's Best Comics to describe fantastic heroes. This includes those that have a science fiction explanation for their powers, as well as magical and non-powered characters. The term is used extensively throughout the ABC titles,...
ine pilots the monster fighting suit of powered armor
Powered exoskeleton
A powered exoskeleton, also known as powered armor, or exoframe, is a powered mobile machine consisting primarily of an exoskeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the activation-energy for limb movement.Powered exoskeletons are designed to assist...
known as a "Hammersuit". The Hammersuit appears to use arc
Electric arc
An electric arc is an electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air. A synonym is arc discharge. An arc discharge is characterized by a lower voltage than a glow discharge, and relies on...
generating, steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
inspired electrically energized
Electrolaser
An electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel...
pneumatic drills
Jackhammer
A jackhammer is a pneumatic tool that combines a hammer directly with a chisel that was invented by Charles Brady King. Hand-held jackhammers are typically powered by compressed air, but some use electric motors. Larger jackhammers, such as rig mounted hammers used on construction machinery, are...
as weapons. The suit of armor can also act autonomously, and is based on both Gundam
Gundam
The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
and Gigantor
Gigantor
Gigantor is an American adaptation of the anime version of Tetsujin 28-go, a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama released in 1956. It debuted on U.S. television in 1964. As with Speed Racer, the characters' original names were altered and the original series' violence was toned down for American viewers...
. An adult and much older Kusanagi appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, this issue also reveals her name. Despite her much older age, even compared to the now middle-aged Waveman Kimura, she's still effective, heavily relying of newer and more powerful iterations of the "Hammersuit" to "stay competitive".
Junior Waveman
Riki Kimura, the Junior Waveman is a member of the Wavemen, an eight person Japanese version of the Sea DevilsSea Devils (comics)
The Sea Devils are a team of characters in comics published by DC Comics. They are a team of conventional adventurers, in undersea adventures. They were created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Russ Heath ....
. Formerly led by Senior Waveman Otomo who died while saving Riki Kimura's life. He was rescued and raised by the Wavemen after his parents were slain by an army of monsters. He is also the father of Shiny Happy Aquazon, a member of the Super Young Team. He is apparently based on Marine Boy
Marine Boy
Marine Boy was one of the first color anime cartoons to be shown in a dubbed form in the U.S., and later in Australia and the United Kingdom. It was originally produced in Japan as by Minoru Adachi and animation company Japan Tele-Cartoons. It was sold outside of Japan via K...
. As of Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, he is now the much older Senior Waveman Kimura.
Rising Sun
Izumi Yasunari, also known as Rising Sun, is a prominent Japanese solar physicistSolar physics
For the physics journal, see Solar Physics Solar physics is the study of our Sun. It is a branch of astrophysics that specializes in exploiting and explaining the detailed measurements that are possible only for our closest star...
, and a veteran member of the Global Guardians
Global Guardians
The Global Guardians is a team of fictional DC Comics superheroes whose members hail from countries around the world. The concept originated in the Super Friends Saturday morning cartoon, in which several heroes were added to the Justice League to give it more ethnic diversity.-History:The...
. A drunken, unshaven and overweight Rising Sun appears in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1.
Sunburst
Takeo Sato the original Sunburst was a popular Japanese stuntmanStuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and a founding member of Big Science Action. He died in Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
#12.
Ultimon
Dai Yokohama, the hero known as Ultimon comes from a dynastic line of Super SentaiSuper Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
dedicated to fighting kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
, known as the Ultimon Society. The Ultimon Society are a group of Giant Monster Killers who survived the "Monster Wars" that nearly destroyed Japan. He and his "master" defeated a trio of monsters called the "Colonizers", they were Scarrba the Protector (King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
), Kry-Torr the Burrower (Baragon
Baragon
is a fictional Kaiju that was first featured in the 1965 Toho-produced film, Frankenstein Conquers the World. Baragon is a four-legged dinosaur with a horn on his head and large ears. His main weapon is a heat ray that he can fire from his mouth...
), and Lorloxx the Layer (Gyaos
Gyaos
, is the name of several daikaiju from Daiei's Gamera film series, introduced in their 1967 production Gamera vs. Gyaos and one of Gamera's most famous opponents...
). His concept and design is based on Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
. Ultimon's master died during the battle and he inherited his powers. Recently the ghost of a being calling itself Ultimon Alpha has been appearing in recurring visions witnessed by Most Excellent Superbat, in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1.
Boss Bishonen
Boss Bishonen is a new male member introduced in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, he is described by Senior Waveman Kimura as the successor to Boss Bosozuko and "carries the torch of a grand tradition of fiery champions". His name is a reference to BishōnenBishonen
is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth ". The equivalent English concept is a "pretty boy".The term describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man whose beauty transcends the boundary of gender or sexual orientation...
, a Japanese term which translates as "beautiful youth".
Nazo Baluda
Nazo Baluda is a new female member introduced in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4, she is described by Senior Waveman Kimura as the team's "dark star stealth warrior". The Japanese word nazo translates as riddle, enigma or mystery. And the name Baluda is a reference to Dominatrix Baluda, a leather clad super villainess from the Japanese mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Yume No Senshi Uwingu Man
Wingman (manga)
, also known as , is a Japanese science fiction manga series by Masakazu Katsura. It was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983 to 1985. It was adapted into an anime television series in 1984....
(Dream Warrior Wing Man).
Shiny Happy Aquazon
Shiny Happy Aquazon is the daughter of Senior Waveman Kimura the current leader of Big Science Action. She was a founding member of the Super Young TeamSuper Young Team
The Super Young Team is a fictional Japanese superhero team in the . The team first appears in Final Crisis Sketchbook #1 , and was created by Grant Morrison and J. G. Jones.-Publication history:...
, and is invited to join Big Science Action by her father in Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #4. She later declines her membership, with her teammates Atomic Lantern and Superbat reminding her of the obligation she still has with her original group. Waveman Kimura, however, still thinks that her membership in the Big Science Action team is her birthright.
Equipment
Fuji Station is Big Science Action's halo-shaped base of operations, which hovers above Mount FujiMount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
. Fuji Station is apparently equipped with a working teleporter system.
See also
Other Japanese superheroes published by DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
are:
- Ace Archer (Green Arrows of the World)
- Arashi (Arashi Ohashi)
- Asano Nitobe
- Doctor LightDoctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
(Kimiyo Hoshi) - Kana the Shadow Warrior
- KatanaKatana (comics)Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
(Tatsu Yamashiro) - RamRam (comics)Ram is a fictional Japanese superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Millennium #2 , and was created by Steve Engelhart and Joe Staton.-Fictional character biography:...
(Takeo Yakata) - Sonny SumoSonny SumoSonny Sumo is a fictional sumo wrestler, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared briefly in Forever People vol. 1 #4 , and was created by Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
- Tsunami (Miya Shimada)
- Judomaster (Sonia Sato)