If Spider-Man Joined the Power Rangers...

Here's a quick post, just to inform everyone of Supaida-Man, the Japanese version of Spider-Man developed by Toei in 1978, as part of a four-year deal with Marvel that allowed Toei to use the Marvel Comics characters in any way they see fit. Clearly, judged on that damn trippy opening sequence, they went as far as they could. I never knew Peter Parker, sorry, I mean Takuya Yamashiro, was part of the Power Rangers. I miss the Power Rangers. As a point of reference, this giant Megazord was called Leopardon, for whatever reason.

Also, the special effects budget ran out by episode five (OF FORTY-ONE!), and from episode ten, no more footage of the robot could be made, since someone stole the suit, so stock footage had to be used. The episode titles are also trippy as hell, and I'll link to the wikipedia article to show you, there's so many bad episode titles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supaid%C4%81-Man , but The Onion Silver Mask and the Boys' Detective Group is by far my favourite at first glance.

The villain, Professor Monster, is also equally stupidly-named, but his Iron Cross Army actually sounds pretty cool.

Japanese TV scares me sometimes. Just read the subtitles of the opening credits, and the lyrics are so daft, just the stupidest interpretation possible of what Spider-Man actually does. Look at this villain. I mean yeah, Mysterio was stupid-looking, but this takes the biscuit...

Christ on a bike, this is a very odd show. Now, while I leave you for now, here is episode one of Supaida-Man, Fukushū no Toki wa Kitareri! Ute Tetsu Jūji Dan!! (The Time of Revenge Has Come! Beat Down Iron Cross Group!!) ENJOY! Or weep, your choice...



Darren out, saying eyes sparkle with the flash of anger... (SPIDER-MAN!)