Return of Ultraman
Encyclopedia
is a tokusatsu
SF
/kaiju
/superhero
TV series, and is the 4th Ultra Series
.
Eiji Tsuburaya
had originally intended for the Ultra Series
to end with the 1967 series Ultra Seven
(Urutora Sebun, 1967), but Ultraman
(Urutoraman, 1966) proved to be too popular a character to keep down. After Eiji Tsuburaya's death in 1970, his son Hajime Tsuburaya (who took over Tsuburaya Productions
until his own death in 1973) revived the Ultra Series with Return of Ultraman.
Featured in this show is a new Ultraman named , or just , like the show's title. In 1984, however, he was renamed due to licensing issues, after Tsuburaya and Bandai
(which had just bought the Ultraman toy license in Japan) held a contest for children to pick a new name for this Ultraman. Although he is called "Ultraman Jack" for licensing in and out of Japan, he is still sometimes referred to as "New Ultraman"/"Kaettekita Ultraman," by some fans (and also in some official sources). This change was done due to a last minute decision as the original plan for this series was for the original Ultraman to return to Earth to resume the fight against aliens and monsters.
While nearly identical in appearance to the original Ultraman, the red pattern on his silver suit is slightly different, and he can be distinguished by his shorter "pants," fuller "sleeves" and "kneepads," and pinstripes along the red areas.
Also of note is that Ultraman Jack is one of the few Ultra-Crusaders who requires no device (like the "beta capsule") to transform. Hideki Gô, the human host for New Ultraman, simply raises his hands to transform at will when New Ultraman signals him to do so--or, sometimes, against his will in a very desperate situation. Also there are times when Hideki Gô tries to transform only to have the process blocked due to New Ultraman refusing to transform under the circumstances.
For the first time, Ishirō Honda
, best known for his work on the Godzilla
movies and other classic Toho
tokusatsu
, worked on the Ultra Series, and directed some of the episodes of this series, including the first episode (titled , which is the same as the Japanese title for the film All Monsters Attack
).
and Ultra Seven
. The first episode begins with a fight between two giant monsters Takkong and Zazahn in Tokyo. Amid the monster destruction, young race-car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT (Monster Attack Team), but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over him is "New Ultraman (Ultraman Jack)," who is so touched by his heroics that he decides to combining his own life-force with Hideki's, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT asks him to join the team, which he does, especially since, in this frightening new "Age of Monsters," Earth will need a savior.
In times of crisis, Hideki Go will raise his right arm and, by force of will, transform into Ultraman Jack to fight monsters.
Ultraman Jack is also the first Ultra-Crusader to suffer many types of humiliation, from having his Color Timer ("warning light") torn off to being decapitated.
20 years later, in 2006, Go and the other Ultra Brothers transform again in order to help Ultraman Mebius. Eventually, the Ultra Brothers regain their powers and returned to normal when Zoffy and Ultraman Taro came to help them.
Ultraman Jack is one of the few Ultra-Crusaders to remain in contact with his human host; Hideki Go still serves as a vessel for the mighty alien warrior, as seen in the Ultraman Mebius series and movies.
"Enter Ultraseven." Ultraseven made a guest appearance. He and the original Ultraman made appearances in other episodes, especially Episode 38, "When the Ultra Star Shines." In that episode, both Susumu Kurobe and Koji Moritsugu reprise their roles as Shin Hayata and Dan Moroboshi (the alter-egos of Ultraman and Ultraseven, respectively). (For more on "When the Ultra Star Shines," skip two notes down.)
"The Forgiven Life", (about a mad scientist who engineered a rampaging giant lizard/plant monster) was written by then 16-year old Shinichiro Kobayashi, who later wrote a similar story that became the basis for Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), upon his story winning First Place in Toho's Godzilla Story Finals Contest (a big fan event at the time). Furthermore, the hit rock ballad "Flower, Sun, Rain" (Hana, Taiyô, Ame), by famed Japanese rock band Pyg, was played in the episode's climax.
("Ultraman Dies at Sunset" and "When the Ultra Star Shines," respectively), a two-parter, are considered among the best and most classic episodes in this series, as well as the entire Ultra Series. This story arc features one the more intelligent alien foes, Knuckle-seijin, who traps Ultraman Jack to his untimely "death" at the hands of his bodyguard monster, Black King. As he is about to be executed, Ultraman and Ultraseven appear to rescue him. Furthermore, regular characters Ken Sakata and his sister Aki are both killed in this episode.
Godai also has the energy to "see" invisible villains by piercing pver their camouflage and tekkens them.
from May to December 1971.
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
SF
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/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....
/superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
TV series, and is the 4th Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
.
Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
had originally intended for the Ultra Series
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
to end with the 1967 series Ultra Seven
Ultra Seven
is tokusatsu SF TV series that aired on Japanese TV in 1967. Created by Eiji Tsuburaya, this follow up to Ultraman went on to become one of Japan's greatest fantasy TV series...
(Urutora Sebun, 1967), but 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...
(Urutoraman, 1966) proved to be too popular a character to keep down. After Eiji Tsuburaya's death in 1970, his son Hajime Tsuburaya (who took over Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions
is a Japanese special effects studio founded in 1963 by special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and was run by his family, until October 2007, when the family sold the company to advertising agency TYO Inc. The studio is best known for producing the original Ultraman TV series, as well as the Ultra...
until his own death in 1973) revived the Ultra Series with Return of Ultraman.
Featured in this show is a new Ultraman named , or just , like the show's title. In 1984, however, he was renamed due to licensing issues, after Tsuburaya and Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
(which had just bought the Ultraman toy license in Japan) held a contest for children to pick a new name for this Ultraman. Although he is called "Ultraman Jack" for licensing in and out of Japan, he is still sometimes referred to as "New Ultraman"/"Kaettekita Ultraman," by some fans (and also in some official sources). This change was done due to a last minute decision as the original plan for this series was for the original Ultraman to return to Earth to resume the fight against aliens and monsters.
While nearly identical in appearance to the original Ultraman, the red pattern on his silver suit is slightly different, and he can be distinguished by his shorter "pants," fuller "sleeves" and "kneepads," and pinstripes along the red areas.
Also of note is that Ultraman Jack is one of the few Ultra-Crusaders who requires no device (like the "beta capsule") to transform. Hideki Gô, the human host for New Ultraman, simply raises his hands to transform at will when New Ultraman signals him to do so--or, sometimes, against his will in a very desperate situation. Also there are times when Hideki Gô tries to transform only to have the process blocked due to New Ultraman refusing to transform under the circumstances.
For the first time, Ishirō Honda
Ishiro Honda
Ishirō Honda , sometimes miscredited in foreign releases as "Inoshiro Honda", was a Japanese film director...
, best known for his work on the Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
movies and other classic Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
, worked on the Ultra Series, and directed some of the episodes of this series, including the first episode (titled , which is the same as the Japanese title for the film All Monsters Attack
All Monsters Attack
All Monsters Attack, released in Japan as , is a 1969 tokusatsu Kaiju film, also known as Godzilla's Revenge The 10th film in Toho Studio's Godzilla series, it was directed by Ishirō Honda, who also directed the special effects, assisted by Teruyoshi Nakano. This is the second film to feature...
).
Story
This series is a follow up to the original UltramanUltraman
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...
and Ultra Seven
Ultra Seven
is tokusatsu SF TV series that aired on Japanese TV in 1967. Created by Eiji Tsuburaya, this follow up to Ultraman went on to become one of Japan's greatest fantasy TV series...
. The first episode begins with a fight between two giant monsters Takkong and Zazahn in Tokyo. Amid the monster destruction, young race-car driver Hideki Go is killed while trying to rescue a little boy and a dog from the falling rubble. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT (Monster Attack Team), but an unseen being also takes notice. Looking over him is "New Ultraman (Ultraman Jack)," who is so touched by his heroics that he decides to combining his own life-force with Hideki's, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT asks him to join the team, which he does, especially since, in this frightening new "Age of Monsters," Earth will need a savior.
In times of crisis, Hideki Go will raise his right arm and, by force of will, transform into Ultraman Jack to fight monsters.
Ultraman Jack is also the first Ultra-Crusader to suffer many types of humiliation, from having his Color Timer ("warning light") torn off to being decapitated.
Later Events
In 1986, Ultraman Jack and the Ultra Brothers chase Yapool to Earth, in which they imprison the monster under the ocean near Kobe City. In the process, the Ultra Brothers lost their powers and are forced to live as human beings. Hideki Go, in particular, returns to the car-racing industry and works as a racing instructor. He appears to own a racing academy.20 years later, in 2006, Go and the other Ultra Brothers transform again in order to help Ultraman Mebius. Eventually, the Ultra Brothers regain their powers and returned to normal when Zoffy and Ultraman Taro came to help them.
Ultraman Jack is one of the few Ultra-Crusaders to remain in contact with his human host; Hideki Go still serves as a vessel for the mighty alien warrior, as seen in the Ultraman Mebius series and movies.
Notable Episodes
- Episode 18
"Enter Ultraseven." Ultraseven made a guest appearance. He and the original Ultraman made appearances in other episodes, especially Episode 38, "When the Ultra Star Shines." In that episode, both Susumu Kurobe and Koji Moritsugu reprise their roles as Shin Hayata and Dan Moroboshi (the alter-egos of Ultraman and Ultraseven, respectively). (For more on "When the Ultra Star Shines," skip two notes down.)
- Episode 34
"The Forgiven Life", (about a mad scientist who engineered a rampaging giant lizard/plant monster) was written by then 16-year old Shinichiro Kobayashi, who later wrote a similar story that became the basis for Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), upon his story winning First Place in Toho's Godzilla Story Finals Contest (a big fan event at the time). Furthermore, the hit rock ballad "Flower, Sun, Rain" (Hana, Taiyô, Ame), by famed Japanese rock band Pyg, was played in the episode's climax.
- Episodes 37 and 38
("Ultraman Dies at Sunset" and "When the Ultra Star Shines," respectively), a two-parter, are considered among the best and most classic episodes in this series, as well as the entire Ultra Series. This story arc features one the more intelligent alien foes, Knuckle-seijin, who traps Ultraman Jack to his untimely "death" at the hands of his bodyguard monster, Black King. As he is about to be executed, Ultraman and Ultraseven appear to rescue him. Furthermore, regular characters Ken Sakata and his sister Aki are both killed in this episode.
Ultraman Jack Statistics
- Height: 40 meters
- Weight: 35,000 tons
- Human Form: Hideki Goh
- Transformation Artifact: None, using Force of Will (Urutora Nenriki). He is an exception among Ultra-Crusaders, since he does not use an external device to transform, like Ultraman's beta capsule, Ultra Seven's Ultra-Eye("Task-Mask"), and so forth.
- Home Planet: "The Land Of Light," Nebula M78
Ultraman Jack's Powers & Weapons
- Specium Ray: Jack can fire the Specium Ray by crossing his arms in a lower case "t" shape. It is exactly like the original Ultraman's Specium Ray. It can obliterate monsters in one shot.
- Ultra Slash: Jack can fire the Ultra-Slash from his hand. Same as Ultraman's and Zoffy's. Can slice through monsters easily.
- Ultra Bracelet: A multipurpose weapon that can be used like the Eye Slugger, but can also transform into a lance, a cross, shield, and light reflector. It can even piece back together a dismembered Ultraman.
- Cinerama Shot: L-styled beam fired from his right arm.
- Fog Beam: Jack can fire a stream of energy from his hand when he places his other hand above it. Similar to Ultraman's Slash Ray.
- Eye Beams: Jack can fire powerful energy beams from his eyes.
- Ultra Barrier: A telekinetic barrier that is powerful enough to turn back a tidal wave. Possibly one of the most elaborate display of movements for any Ultra ability.
- Ultra-Frost: Jack can fire an ice beam attack that can defrost any freeze monsters.
- Body Spark: Jack can send electric shock waves though his body. Used to shock monsters who are grabbing hold of Jack.
- Palm Fireball: Jack can send out a fireball from his palm.
- Finger Shot: Godai can smoke a strong crusher from his finger in a dragon rice as the Codenic Crusher, but counter than usual Codenic crusher.
Godai also has the energy to "see" invisible villains by piercing pver their camouflage and tekkens them.
Theme song
-
- Lyrics: Kyōichi Azuma
- Composition: Koichi SugiyamaKoichi Sugiyamais a Japanese music composer, council member of JASRAC , and honorary chairman of the Japanese Backgammon Society...
- Artist: Jiro Dan, Misuzu Children's Choral Group
Manga
A manga series by ran in Bessatsu Shōnen SundayBessatsu Shonen Sunday
was a monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan in Japan from Spring 1960 until March 1974. It was initially published quarterly, but switched to a monthly release beginning in December 1964. Due to sluggish sales and the paper shortage caused by the 1973 oil crisis, the magazine's last issue...
from May to December 1971.