Iron King

Infobox Television


caption = Iron King title card
show_name = Iron King
format = Science fiction, action, adventure
runtime = 24 minutes (per episode)
country = Japan
network = TBS
num_episodes = 26
creator = Mamoru Sasaki
director = Noriaki Yuasa
starring = Shōji Ishibashi
Mitsuo Hamada
first_aired = October 8, 1972
last_aired = April 8, 1973
imdb_id = 0299239nihongo|"Iron King"|アイアンキング|Aian Kingu is a "tokusatsu" superhero TV series about a giant cyborg. The series was produced by Nippon Gendai and Senkosha (now Senko Planning), and aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 8, 1972 to April 8, 1973, with a total of 26 episodes.

Plot description

The "Shiranui clan" have planned for 2000 years to conquer Japan, in retaliation for being banished from the country by the Yamato clan (who eventually become known as the Japanese people). Each member of the clan controls a gigantic robot warrior in order to overthrow the "Yamato Government," as they call it. In response to the threat, Japan's "National Security Organization" send agent Gentaro Shizuka (Shoji Ishibashi), best described as a singing cowboy, to stop their plans with the assistance of comical, mountain climbing-clad, Goro Kirishima (Mitsuo Hamada). In an unusual direction for such "tokusatsu" (visual effects) programs, it is not Gentaro but Goro who has the power to become the giant cybernetic hero Iron King by touching the medals on his "Turning Hat", and shouting "Iron Shock!" when danger threatens.

However, often Iron King is unable to defeat the clan's giant robots without help from Gentaro, who wields a weapon called the "Iron Belt" that can become a slender sword or a whip capable of hurting giant monsters. Transforming into Iron King quickly dehydrates Goro and he can only remain as Iron King for a short period of time. Strangely, though Gentaro knows Iron King's time limit comes from dehydration he never manages to connect it with Goro's omnipresent thirst.

In the tenth episode the Shiranui Clan is destroyed but their place is taken by the "Phantom Militia" who also use giant robots to enact conquest of Japan, but rather than being humanoid in shape theirs take the form of "kaiju". From the eighteenth episode to the end of the series Gentaro and Goro battle the alien "Titanians" who have various inhuman powers such as flight, mind control and the ability to enlarge their bodies to giant size. Upon doing so they are able to assume insect-like monster forms.

Episode list

Availability

On November 6, 2007, the complete series was released on Region 1 DVD in the United States on BCI Eclipse's Ronin Entertainment label. [cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Iron-King-Complete-Series/7223|title=Iron King - The Complete Series|accessdate=2007-11-28|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|language=English]

Notes

References

* (From the "Iron King" liner notes booklet)
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Tsuburaya Productions