Heroman
Heroman is a Japanese manga and anime series created by Marvel's Stan Lee and Bones. The manga was published in Square Enix's magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan from August 2009 to October 2011, with its chapters collected in five tankōbon volumes. The 26-episode anime television series was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April to September 2010. Lee came up with the series' basic plot, referring to the series and character as "a new hero for the 21st century".
Synopsis
Orphaned American little boy Joey lives with his grandmother, working at a restaurant in the West Coast city of Center City, while going to school. Upon hearing of a new toy robot called the Heybo, Joey believes that getting one will make his life better, turning him into a hero to protect his friends and family. However, he cannot afford to buy it on his meager salary. His luck changes when he picks up a broken down Heybo abandoned by a school bully. He tries to fix it, naming it Heroman, but does not have any luck in getting it to work. However, when it gets struck by a bolt of strange lightning, it transforms into a giant robot, just in time to save his friend Lina from impending danger. Now, Joey and Heroman are Earth's only defense against the evil insectoid Skrugg aliens, unknowingly summoned to Earth by Joey's science teacher.There are some differences in story between the anime and manga series.
Characters
Main characters
;Joseph Carter "Joey" Jones:;Heroman:
;Simon "Psy" Kaina:
;Lina Davis:
;Professor Matthew Denton:
Center City residents
;William "Will" Davis:;Nicholas "Nick" de Carlo:
;Vera Collins:
;Hilly:
;Stan:
;Lina's Father:
Joey's family
;Virginia "Grandma" Jones:;Holly Virginia Jones:
;Brian Carter Jones:
;Catherine Mae Jones:
Skrugg
The Skrugg are an evil race of cockroach-like aliens, led by Kogorr, who travel to Earth in order to invade it after being inadvertently contacted by Denton. They have powerful armor that can withstand the majority of Earth's weaponry. Their own arsenal includes laser pistols, as well as powerful shoulder cannons that convert air into a powerful energy blast. Besides the strength Heroman is capable of, they are also weakened by high pitched noises due to their manner of communication.;Gogorr:
;Skrugg Soldiers:
;Skrugg Operator:
Generas Industry
;Doctor Minami:;Amanorich:
;Stallion:
;Veronica:
;MR-1: The MR-1 is Generas Industry's experimental giant robot, originally built to fight the Skrugg until Heroman beat it to the punch and was used as a dump truck instead in the reconstruction of Center City. The robot is later used by Minami to act out his grudge against Heroman.
American government
;Axel Hughes:;President:
;Watkins:
;Elmer Howard:
;Ravi
All American Network
The All American Network is a television station based in Center City.;Keisha Jackson:
;Leo:
Manga-exclusive characters
;Grudge: Grudge is a spirit possessing an ancient suit of armor. He feeds off the grudges of people and possesses them in order to carry them out. He possesses the owner of an antique store which was being threatened with being closed down by Lina's father due to a lack of business. He kidnaps Lina in the hopes of a large ransom, but is defeated by the appearance of Heroman.;Ezzi: Ezzi is a powerful Skrugg forged from the DNA of a praying mantis. As well as having command over other praying mantises, using them to spy on Joey and his friends, Ezzi also wields powerful mantis-like scythes on his arms, which are strong enough to seriously damage Heroman's armor.
;Burito: Burito is a powerful Skrugg forged from the DNA of a pill-bug.
;Paua: Paua is a powerful Skrugg forged from the DNA of a rhinoceros beetle and stag beetle.
Media
Manga
A manga adaptation of Heroman, illustrated by Tamon Ohta, was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan from August 12, 2009, to October 12, 2011. Square Enix collected its chapters in five tankōbon volumes, released from March 20, 2010, to December 22, 2011.In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Vertical. The five volumes were released from October 30, 2012, to July 23, 2013.