Starred Yamaguchi,
Akira as Secret Police (Himitsu Keiji) agent Daimon, Yutaka; the man
who controlled Denjin Zaboga (Electroid Zaboga). Yamaguchi Akira also
played Yuki Joji/Riderman in Kamen Rider V3.
Unlike the quiet Yuki Joji, Daimon Yutaka is always shouting as he goes
into combat. Daimon is determined to destroy the evil group Sigma, for
its murder of his father (the creator of Zaboga). This determination
leads him into bloody battles against cyborgs and robots which are
usually stronger than he is. Of course Daimon and Zaboga always win.
(Yamaguchi, Akira died on April 6, 1986 of lung cancer. He was only 39
years old.)
At age six Daimon,
Yutaka was "killed" in an automobile accident. To revive him a special
circuit (a kind of super pacemaker) was implanted in his chest. This
circuit keeps Daimon alive when he's been so badly wounded that he
should die. This circuit was created by Daimon's scientist father who
decades later created Denjin Zaboga. Daimon and Zaboga are linked by
this circuit. Zaboga is powered by Daimon's anger. In at least one
episode Zaboga cannot function because Daimon is not angry enough.
While Daimon, Yutaka
was out of the country his father, Dr. Daimon was murdered by his
former partner Dr. Akunomiya. Dr. Akunomiya murdered Dr. Daimon over
Dr. Daimon's invention of the metal Daimonium (which Dr. Akunomiya
wanted to use to create cyborgs and robots to carry out a crime spree).
Daimon, Yutaka returned to Japan to find his father's murderer. Dr.
Daimon left his son a map to his secret lab and a key. The key turned
on Dr. Daimon's greatest invention the robot warrior Denjin Zaboga
(made out of Daimonium).
Unlike the android
heroes "Jinzo Ningen Kikaida" and "Kikaida 01" or the non-transforming
"Robot Detective", Denjin Zaboga can not speak, has no emotions and has
to be activated by Daimon's command "Go Zaboga" or "Denjin Zaboga Go"
or "Fight Zaboga" or "Henshin Zaboga". Once activated, Zaboga's
programming allows him to fight, although Daimon normally has to order
Zaboga to use the special techniques. Daimon controls Zaboga through a
microphone built into his motorcycle helmet.
Should Daimon not be
wearing his helmet he can still control Zabogā using a second
microphone. In early episode he kept this backup microphone in his
pocket. In later episodes he stores it inside an especially designed
watch.
Daimon, Yutaka knew
that Zabogā was needed because he received radio messages, which only
he could hear, through a special receiver implanted on his eyeglasses,
whenever cyborgs, robots or dinosaur men were on the prowl. In the
early episodes the messages came through Chief Inspector Nitta,
Daigoro. In later episodes the messages came from the Zaboga-Head Base
(introduced in episode 26) operated by Nitta, Hiroshi; Daigoro's son
and the young woman Asao, Yuki.
Daimon, Yutaka was
trained in Shorinji Kempo, Judo and Karate. His special combat
technique is "Flying Dragon Tri-Stage Kick" (Hi Ryuu San Dan Geri).
Zaboga's special
attacks are "Jet Punch" (fist on chain fires at enemies at 10 yards per
second), "Double Punch" (both fists shoot out), "Boomerang Cutter" (his
"ears" are blades which, when thrown, return to him after doing their
damage)...
...and "Rapid-Fire
Destruction Gun"(Sokusha Hakai Juu) - his mouth opens to reveal a gun
which fires exploding shells to destroy the evil robots.
Inside Zaboga's head
is Heli-Cat, a miniature helicopter with a video camera, used for
spying on the villains. The video appears on a screen on Machine
Zaboga's back.
Zaboga's eyes take still photographs.
Inside Zaboga's back is a Sea Shark, looks like a miniature jet and
flies but also operates underwater like a submarine.
In each of Zaboga's feet is 1/2 of a small car. The two pieces snap
together to form Mouse Car.
(Daimon,
Yutaka tests out Sea Shark and Mouse Car)
Initially Daimon,
Yutaka is assisted by Chief Inspector Chief Nitta, Daigoro who has a
daughter Miyo and a son Hiroshi. Hiroshi is the requisite child. He is
played by the Jinzo Ningen Kikaida Masaru actor
Kamiya, Masahiro. Later in the series Detective Nakano takes over for
Chief Inspector Nitta.
After Miyo and Hiroshi learn that Daimon, Yutaka controls Denjin Zaboga
they run the Zaboga-Head Base
for Daimon.
Denjin Zaboga's
52 episodes were divided into two chapters. The first chapter, episodes
1-39, featured the terrorist group Sigma,
led by the evil Doctor Akunomiya and his female assistants Miss Borg
(episodes 1-35) and Lady Borg (episodes 37-39). This part of the series
was shown on TV in Hawaii.
After many others have
failed to kill Daimon, Yutaka, Dr. Akunomiya assigns the task of
eliminating his greatest enemy to Akitzuki,
Gen (episodes 22-30 and 34-38) a young assassin who rides the
motorcycle Machine Hawk.
After the
death of Dr. Akunomiya and the destruction of Sigma peace should have
been restored, but another group arose to terrorize Japan....
Denjin Zaboga vs. the Dinosaur Army
(Denjin Zaboga tai Kyouryuu Gundan)
The second chapter,
episodes 40-52, had a new version of Zaboga, Strong Zaboga fighting Kyouryuu Gundan (Dinosaur Army), led
by Triple Neck Demon, Devil Hat and Queen Meza. Actually the Dinosaur
Army was introduced in episode 39 but Daimon, Yutaka doesn't encounter
them until episode 40. This part of the series was not shown in Hawaii.
Starting in episode 40
Daimon, Yutaka wears a sort of uniform, green and red jacket, white
shirt, red tie, green and red pants. The episode also introduces Secret
Police (Himitsu Keiji) agent, Matsue, Ken
who rides a motorcycle that has two bazookas mounted on it, Machine
Baja. After episode 43 Daimon, Yutaka's shirt is black and the tie is
gone.
Nitta, Hiroshi's sister Miyo vanishes from the show to be replaced by
Asao, Yuki who seems to like Matsue, Ken.
"Change Gattai Zaboga!"
In episode 41 Machine
Baja and Machine Zaboga combine to form Strong Zaboga.
Episode 42 reveals that Matsue, Ken can command
Strong Zaboga.
Strong Zaboga's new weapons are "Jet Boomerang", "Rocket Jet Punch" and
"Strong Bazooka Fire".
Over all I prefer the
Sigma episodes over the Dinosaur Army episodes. Daimon, Yutaka gets in
more fights with Sigma soldiers then he does the dinosaurs, and Denjin
Zaboga sees more combat than Strong Zaboga. Matsue, Ken doesn't add
much to the series, his primary function is to get beaten up by the
dinsosaurs, in place of Daimon.
P-Productions
also
produced Magma Taishi [Ambassador Magma]
(1966-1967), Kaiju Ouji [Monster Prince] (1967), Supekutoruman
[Spectreman] (1971-1972), Kaiketsu
Lion Maru [Swift Hero Lion Maru] (1972-1973), Fuun
Lion Maru [Storm Cloud Lion Maru] (1973) and Tetsujin
Taiga 7 [Ironman Tiger 7] (1973-1974). As far as I
know Denjin Zaboga was their last tokusatsu
series.
