Giant Robo
Giant Robo | |
A vintage Giant Robo toy | |
ジャイアントロボ (Jaianto Robo) | |
---|---|
Genre | Action, Mecha, Secret agent |
Manga | |
Written by | Mitsuteru Yokoyama |
Published by |
Shogakukan Kodansha |
Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Sunday |
Original run | May 1967 – March 1968 |
Volumes | 3 |
Giant Robo (ジャイアントロボ Jaianto Robo) is a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, in which the huge robot of the same name as the title appears. Tokusatsu, Anime, etc. based on this manga were produced.
Since Toei requested a plot for Tokusatsu TV series from Yokoyama, he wrote this manga. Yokoyama made the setting "Giant Robo follows only a hero" for differentiation with his Tetsujin 28 which everyone can control.
Plot
Part 1
The secret society "Big Fire" scheming to conquer the world is furthering Project GR. The special investigation organization of the United Nations dispatches an agent in Country T to interfere with the plan. Daisaku Kusama, a Japanese tourist, is mistaken for the agent, and is abducted by "BF".
Part 2
Daisaku Kusama comes back barely alive to Japan with Secret Agent Azuma with GR1. However, "BF" plans an attempt on Daisaku's life to recapture GR1, and they let GR2 and GR3 attack Tokyo.
Part 3
A bomber carrying a hydrogen bomb crashes into Japanese waters. The hydrogen bomb has already been recovered by "BF" though the bomber is recovered at once. "BF" demands that GR1 should be exchanged for a hydrogen bomb.
Characters
- Daisaku Kusama: A teenage Japanese boy who was traveling to T Nation in order to study.
- Azuma: The chairman of Japanese branch of the special investigation organization of the United Nations.
Robots
- GR1: The robot for land battles made by Big Fire. Eventually in Daisaku Kusama's possession and is upgraded in the third chapter to have both flight and naval capabilities.
- GR2: The robot for naval battles made by Big Fire.
- GR3: The robot for air battles made by Big Fire.
Adaptations
Adaptaions include:
- Giant Robo (tokusatsu), a 1967 live-action series based on the manga. Also known as Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot.
- Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still, a 1990s direct-to-video series inspired by the manga.
- Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Burned, a 2006 manga series from the creator of Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still.
- GR: Giant Robo, a 2007 re-imagining of the original manga.