Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan

infobox television
show_name = Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan


genre = Tokusatsu
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Toei
country = flagicon|Japan Japan
network = TV Asahi
starring = Ryūsuke Kawasaki
Kinya Sugi
Asao Kobayashi
Shin Kishida
Yumi Nemoto
Takayuki Godai
narrated = Tōru Ōhira
producer = Takeyuki Suzuki
Yūyake Usui
Susumu Yoshikawa
opentheme = Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan by Akira Kushida
company = TV Asahi
Toei Company
Toei Advertising
composer = Michiaki Watanabe
first_aired = February 7, 1981
last_aired = January 30, 1982
num_episodes = 50
preceded_by = Denshi Sentai Denziman
followed_by = Dai Sentai Goggle V

nihongo|"Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan"|太陽戦隊サンバルカン|Taiyō Sentai San Barukan, translated into English as "Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan", is the fifth installment in Toei Company's Super Sentai tokusatsu television series. It was broadcast in February 7, 1981 - January 30, 1982 and is the only Super Sentai series to serve as a direct sequel to the previous series, "Denshi Sentai Denziman". Currently, it is the only Sentai team with no female members at all.

Plot

The threat of the Machine Empire Black Magma causes the EPDS (Earth Peace Defense Squad) to decide to establish the Solar Squadron at a summit. From the EPDS's air force, navy, and rangers, Commander Arashiyama assembles three specialists to become Sun Vulcan. Harsh training begins. Learning of this, Black Magma attacks the EPDS base, but the Sun Vulcan debuts in time to save it. Hell Saturn prays to the Black Solar God and is rewarded with a revived Queen Hedrian, now a cyborg with a mechanical heart and a metallic afro. But plot after plot of Black Magma, even with Hedrian's aid, fails. Following the death of 01, Amazon Killer, a Vader, arrives from space, destroying the Sun Vulcan Base. A new Vulcan Base is built.

The original Vul-Eagle, Ryuusuke Oowashi, is replaced by a friend and master of the sword, Takayuki Hiba (who first appeared on episode 21). The team successfully defends the psychic descendant of the Denzi, the nun Himiko, from Black Magma. Shortly after this, Lightning Galaxer shows up. Sun Vulcan devises the New Vulcan Ball, but their attacks are no use against Lightning Galaxer until he becomes the gigantic Lightning Monger. Finally, the trio and their commander go to the North Pole to rescue Arashiyama Misa, and succeed not only in doing so (despite a fake Misa to confuse them), but also in defeating the Omnipotent God, the true leader of Black Magma, by feigning surrender and striking when it lowers its guard.

Heroes

Sun Vulcan

"Shine! Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan!"("Kagayake! Taiyō Sentai San Barukan!")

*nihongo|Ryuusuke Oowashi|大鷲 龍介|Ōwashi Ryūsuke / nihongo|Vul Eagle I|初代バルイーグル|Shodai Baru Īguru (Episodes 1-23) - An EPDS air force officer. He left to pursue space shuttle research for NASA in the United States.
** Age: 24 years old
** Special moves: nihongo|Eagle Wings|イーグルウイング|Īguru Uingu, nihongo|Eagle Diving|イーグルダイビング|Īguru Daibingu, nihongo|Eagle Fire|イーグルファイヤー|Īguru Faiyā
*nihongo|Takayuki Hiba|飛羽 高之|Hiba Takayuki / nihongo|Vul Eagle II|2代目バルイーグル|Nibanme Baru Īguru (Episodes 23-50) - A colleague of Oowashi. Master of kendo. Hiba took over for Oowashi after he left for NASA shuttle research.
** Age: 23 years old
** Special moves: Hiba Gaishi (Hiba Return), Shin Hiba Gaishi (New Hiba Return), Secret Sword Style Cross Cut.
*nihongo|Kin'ya Samejima|鮫島 欣也|Samejima Kin'ya / nihongo|Vul Shark|バルシャーク|Baru Shāku - An EPDS naval officer.
** Age: 25 years old
** Special moves: nihongo|Shark Washer|シャークウォッシャー|Shāku Wosshā, nihongo|Shark Diving|シャークダイビング|Shāku Daibingu, nihongo|Shark Rolling|シャークローリング|Shāku Rōringu, nihongo|Shark Jaws|シャークジョーズ|Shāku Jōzu
*nihongo|Asao Hyou|豹 朝夫|Hyō Asao / nihongo|Vul Panther|バルパンサー|Baru Pansā - An EPDS army officer.
** Age: 22 years old
** Special moves: nihongo|Panther Galaxy|パンサーギャラクシー|Pansā Gyarakushī, nihongo|Panther Claw|パンサークロー|Pansā Kurō, nihongo|Panther Bomber|パンサーボンバー|Pansā Bonbā, nihongo|Panther Mole|パンサーもぐら|Pansā Mogura, nihongo|Rolling Panther|ローリングパンサー|Rōringu Pansā, nihongo|Panther Throw|パンサー投げ|Pansā Nage

Arsenal

*Vulcan Brace - Sun Vulcan's transformation device. The transformation call is "Sun Vulcan!" (or, for individual members, their codename)
*nihongo|Vulcan Sticks|バルカンスティック|Barukan Sutikku - The standard-issue weapon for the Sun Vulcans.

Mecha

*nihongo|Jaguar Vulcan|ジャガーバルカン|Jagā Barukan - The flying fortress. Its jaws open to let the components of the Sun Vulcan Robo launch.
*nihongo|Sun Vulcan Robo|サンバルカンロボ|San Barukan Robo - The first combining Sentai robot, and also the first to "talk" in the form of shouting attack techniques. Cosmo Vulcan and Bull Vulcan combine when the command nihongo|"Fusion! Grand Cross!"|合体グランドクロス|Gattai Gurando Kurosu is given. It is armed with the nihongo|Solar Sword|太陽剣|Taiyō Ken and its finishing attack to destroy monsters is the nihongo|Aurora Plasma Return|オーロラプラズマ返し|Ōrora Purazuma Kaeshi. Its other weapons are the nihongo|Vul Shield|バルシールド|Baru Shīrudo, nihongo|Vul Tonfa|バルトンファ|Baru Tonfa, nihongo|Vul Hand|バルハンド|Baru Hando, Vulcan Sun, and nihongo|Vulcan Cannons|バルカン砲|Barukan Jū.
**nihongo|Cosmo Vulcan|コスモバルカン|Kosumo Barukan - It is piloted by Vul Eagle. It is stored in the Jaguar Vulcan's mouth. It forms Sun Vulcan Robo's head, arms, and body.
**nihongo|Bull Vulcan|ブルバルカン|Buru Barukan - It is piloted by Vul Shark and Vul Panther. It is stored in rear of the Jaguar Vulcan, divided in half. It forms the Sun Vulcan Robo's legs.

Allies

*nihongo|Daizaburou Arashiyama|嵐山 大三郎|Arashiyama Daizaburō - The commander of the EPDS. He is an expert at robotics. He was the designer of the team's mecha.

*nihongo|Misa Arashiyama|嵐山 美佐|Arashiyama Misa / nihongo|Belle Swordswoman White Rose Mask|美剣士白バラ仮面|Bikenshi Shiro Bara Kamen - The Commander's daughter. She was also Commander Arashiyama's secretary and took care of the talking dog CC. In Episode 29, she transforms into White Rose Mask (likely through the quick-change talent that she shares with many Super Sentai heroines) to aid the Sun Vulcans in their battle against Red Rose Mask (Rose Monger).

Machine Empire Black Magma

nihongo|Machine Empire Black Magma|機械帝国ブラックマグマ|Kikai Teikoku Burakku Maguma is an organization worshipping the Black Solar God based at the Iron Claw Castle at the North Pole. Intends to have its Mechahumans rule the world.

*nihongo|Führer Hell Saturn|ヘルサターン総統|Heru Satān Sōtō (1-49) - The leader of Black Magma, draped in black. He was revealed as underling of the Omnipotent God.

*nihongo|Zero Girls|ゼロガールズ|Zero Gāruzu (01-04) - Female spies ; cf. the similar girl team in Shaider. 01 ultimately dies mid-series.

*nihongo|The Omnipotent God|全能の神|Zennō no Kami - The true leader of Black Magma

*nihongo|Queen Hedrian|ヘドリアン女王|Hedorian Joō (5–49) - The main villain from the previous Sentai series Denziman, now brought back as a cyborg by the Omnipotent God to serve Black Magma.

*nihongo|Amazon Killer|アマゾンキラー|Amazon Kirā (23–50) - A Vader field officer who came from space. She replaced the slain 01.

*nihongo|Lightning Galaxer|イナズマギンガー|Inazuma Gingā (45–49) - A space pirate known as the nihongo|"Invincible Electric Man of the Galaxy"|銀河無敵の電気男|Ginga Muteki no Denki Otoko. He is sought by the Galactic Police. He ends up as the Lightning Monger

*nihongo|Dark Q|ダークQ|Dāku Kyū(1-22) - A spy robot able to change its appearance.

*nihongo|Machinemen|マシンマン|Mashinman - The grunts in black with the red insignia of Black Magma on their faces.

*nihongo|Hell Fighters|ヘルファイター|Heru Faitā - Black Magma's black fighter planes with the red insignia of Black Magma.

Black Magma's Monster

*Ground Beetle Monger (1)
*Dolphin Fish Monger (2)
*Naumann Monger (3)
*Bird Monger (4)
*Genie Monger (5)
*Machine Monger (6)
*Baseball Monger (7)
*Infinity Monger (8)
*Scorpion Monger (9)
*Spider Monger (10)
*Fern Monger (11)
*Diamond Monger (12)
*Iron Monger (13)
*Armadillo Monger (14)
*Time Monger (15)
*Tobibako Monger (16)
*Gas Monger (17)
*Camera Monger (18)
*Toad Monger (19)
*Wrestler Monger (20)
*Sea Anemone Monger (21)
*Horseshoe Monger (22)
*Great Octopus Monger (23)
*Water Bug Monger (24)
*Fireworks Monger (Movie)
*Sea Snake Monger (25)
*Hungry Monger (26)
*Alien Monger (27)
*Crystal Monger (28)
*Red Rose Mask/Rose Monger (29)
*Buffalo Monger (30)
*Thunder Monger (31)
*Pettan Monger (32)
*Crab Monger (33)
*Curse Monger (34)
*Cockroach Monger (35)
*Satan Monger (36-37)
*Totem Pole Monger (38)
*Centipede Monger (39)
*Bat Monger (40)
*Teakettle Monger (41)
*Dragon Monger (42)
*Mechanic Monger (43)
*Flying Squirrel Monger (44)
*Boxer Monger 45()
*Shinonawa Monger (46)
*Fighter Monger (47)
*Mummy Monger (48)
*King Magmar (50)

Episodes

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Cast

* Ryuusuke Oowashi: nihongo|Ryūsuke Kawasaki|川崎 龍介|Kawasaki Ryūsuke
* Takayuki Hiba: nihongo|Takayuki Godai|五代 高之|Godai Takayuki
* Kin'ya Samejima: nihongo|Kin'ya Sugi|杉 欣也|Sugi Kin'ya
* Asao Hyou: nihongo|Asao Kobayashi|小林 朝夫|Kobayashi Asao
* Daizaburou Arashiyama: nihongo|Shin Kishida|岸田 森|Kishida Shin
* Misa Arashiyama: nihongo|Yumi Nemoto|根本 由美|Nemoto Yumi
* Sun Vulcan Robo: Eiji Kanie
* President Hell Satan: Shozo Izuka(voice)
* Queen Hedrian: Machiko Soga
* Inazuma Ginga: Takeshi Watabe(voice); Jyunichi Haruta (body)
* Narration: Tōru Ōhira

ongs

;Opening theme
*nihongo|"Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan"|太陽戦隊サンバルカン|Taiyō Sentai Sanbarukan
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Artist: Akira Kushida, Koorogi '73

;Ending themes
*nihongo|"Youth is a Plasma"|若さはプラズマ|Wakasa wa Purazuma
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Artist: Akira Kushida
**Episodes: 1-33
*nihongo|"One plus Two plus Sun Vulcan"|1たす2たすサンバルカン|Ichi tasu Ni tasu Sanbarukan
**Lyrics: Keisuke Yamakawa
**Composition: Michiaki Watanabe
**Artist: Akira Kushida
**Episodes: 34-50

External links

* [http://incolor.inetnebr.com/stuart/sunvulcan/ Henshin Hall of Fame's Sun Vulcan page]