Inazuman

is a mutant superhero that appeared in tokusatsu, manga and anime.

Created by mangaka Shotaro Ishinomori, Inazuman first appeared in the self-titled 1973 tokusatsu TV series, "Inazuman". He has become quite unique amongst the superheroes of the Henshin Hero genre. There are plans to release the series on DVD in North American in November, 2008.

Inazuman Specs

Inazuman is, in reality, young college student Goro Watari (渡　五郎), a mutant. He lost his mother as a child, and had other dark moments in his childhood (he had a childhood girlfriend named Teresa, who was taken away by an American soldier during the US occuptation of Japan). But when the Neo-Human Empire (新人類帝国 - "Shinjinrui Teikoku") begins its invasion on mankind, he puts his mutant powers to the test . . .

First, he performs a henshin pose (crossing his arms in front of his chest) and uttering the phrase, "Gôriki Shôrai!" (剛力招来 - literally "Summon Mighty Power"), he is wrapped in a blue cocoon, which bursts, revealing the creature Sanagiman. He resembles an armored brown larva mutant with a white belt, which has a biomechanical power meter on it.

Then, when Sanagiman gathers enough energy on his belt, he crosses his fists in front of his chest, uttering the phrase, "Chôriki Shôrai!" (超力招来 - literally "Summon Ultimate Strength"), and spreads them aside, with his chest emitting a swirl of colorful energy. Sanagiman's exterior then explodes to pieces, and in his place is Inazuman! He is a moth mutant, wearing the same power belt as Sanagiman, and resembles a blue man with huge colorful oval eyes, feathred lightning-shaped antennas, yellow scarf, black gloves & boots, and yellow lightning-shaped marks that stream down his blue body.

As both Sanagiman and Inazuman, his abdominal fighting cry is "Chest!" (チェスト！ - "Chesuto!") (as opposed to "Hyaa!" "Tou!" "Eii!" etc.)

NOTE: Inazuman's name is a cross between "inazuma" (a Japanese word for "lightning) and the English word "man". The same is done for Sanagiman ("sanagi" = Japanese for "chrysalis" or "pupa").

Manga

In the manga version by creator Shotaro Ishinomori, Goro Watari is named Saburo Kazeda (風田サブロウ), and is nicknamed "Sabu" (サブ).

Inazuman looked somewhat different than the one from the tokusatsu version (he looked more "naked" and less streamlined, and had a curled probiscus on his forehead), and was even able to grow moth wings out of his back! Sanagiman was slightly different as well.

1973 Tokusatsu Series

"Inazuman" (イナズマン) was produced by Toei Company Ltd. and broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from October 2, 1973 to March 26, 1974, with a total of 25 episodes. It was followed by a sequel series, "Inazuman Flash". The series starred Daisuke Ban (as "Naoya Ban") of "Kikaider" fame in the title role. In the following series, the main enemy is the President Geisel (ガイゼル総統, "Gaizeru Desupaa"), which was also the name of the brazilian president of that time, Ernesto Geisel.

This series was also featured on TV in Hawaii.

"Inazuman Flash"

See "Inazuman Flash"

Anime Appearances

Inazuman finally appeared in anime form in the 2002 OVA special, "", based on an issue from the "Inazuman" manga that teamed the insectoid mutant superhero with Ishinomori's android superhero, Kikaider.

Pop-Culture References

In the "Teen Titans" animated series, the teen superhero Killowat superficially resembled Inazuman.

ee also

*Shotaro Ishinomori
*Henshin