Nebula Mask Machineman


Nebula Mask Machineman is a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei Company. It aired from January 13 until September 28, 1984. It revolves around the adventures of Nick, a college student from the Ivy planet and his arrival on Earth to study the earthlings' behavior. Upon arrival, he is called in for the activities of the evil organization called "Tentacle", whose don, Professor K, wishes to eliminate all children in the world.
The series is rumored to have been inspired by the American DC Comics superhero, Superman, although this was never confirmed by either Ishinomori or Toei.

Plot

Traveling in the spaceship "Space Colony", Nick, with the help of his ball-shaped robot "Ball Boy", arrive on Earth to study the behavior and manners of human beings for his doctoral degree thesis. Under the human identity of a young man named Ken Takase, he meets Maki Hayama, a photographer at Shukan Hit newspaper, and later saves her from a building fall. Maki was taking pictures for a scoop about a building which had been mysteriously demolished. Later, she and Ken find that the evil organization "Tentacle" is behind the demolitions and other evil deeds around the world. Nick then decides to extend his stay on Earth and uses his advanced technology and superior powers to protect Maki and the children of Earth under the alter-ego of Machineman, a red- and yellow-suited superhero. Armed with an advanced technology weapons, he begins fighting Tentacle's cyborgs and protect humankind.
A few episodes later, Machineman succeeds in dismantling Tentacle; however, Professor K flees to Spain and his niece, Lady M, appears. With her aide Tonchinkan, they establish a new organization called "Octopus". Like her uncle, she is allergic to children. In the beginning, she calls up various thieves and legendary criminals from around the world, but later robotic drones are assembled to combat Machineman. By the end of the series, the missing Professor K returns, bringing with him the biggest threat the hero had ever faced: Golden Monsu, a fortified version of Tetsujin Monsu.

Main characters

  • Ken Takase /Machineman: the series' protagonist and main hero, Ken was born at the Ivy Planet and eventually graduated with a degree in Sociology. Upon arriving on Earth, his primary objective is studying human behavior and mannerisms in order to obtain his doctoral degree. However, upon meeting Maki and learn about Tentacle, he decides to stay longer in order to protect her and the children from Professor K's plans.
  • Ball Boy: a baseball-shaped robot who is Nick's companion. Smart and clever, it usually serves as his friend, advisor and sidekick, to a certain point. It is also used as a throwing projectile by Machineman in battles, under the name "Fighting Ball". Ironically, Ball Boy says it does not have any information about baseball.
  • Maki Hayama: a photographer and journalist at Shukan Hit newspaper. She is involved in a traffic accident with Ken and they eventually become friends. She instantly falls for Machineman after being saved by him, but begins to fall in love with Ken a few episodes later.
  • Masaru Hayama: Maki's 10-year-old brother. Usually serves as victim of Tentacle's inventions and is saved by Ken/Machineman.
  • Editor-in-chief Henshu: The editor-in-chief of Shukan Hit, and Maki's boss.
  • Rumiko: A member of Shukan Hit's junior editorial staff.
  • Kameta: The greengrocer for the Hayama family.
  • Hiroshi, Saburo, Yutaka & Misa: Masaru's classmates, that were involved with the incidents of Tentacle and Octopus.

    Criminal Groups

Tentacle

Tentacle is the organization led by Professor K.
  • Professor K: The leader of the Tentacle criminal organization.
  • Iron Man Monsu: A humanoid robot that serves as Tentacle's chief executive. In episode 17, Monsu was defeated by Machineman.
  • Mechanical Parrot: A robotic parrot created by Professor K, and can speak fluently.

    Octopus

Octopus is the succeeding organization led by Lady M, after taking over Tentacle.
  • Lady M: The niece of Professor K, who made her appearance in Episode 20 after her trip from Spain. She renovated Tentacle's headquarters to form Octopus.
  • TonChinKan: Lady M's boyfriend.

    Episodes

  1. The White Textbook Case: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  2. Rainbow-Colored Diamond Tears: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  3. Crush the Idol: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
  4. Magical Stone Baked Potato: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  5. The Stamp Thief of Three-Hundred Million Yen: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  6. Me... Mama's Children?: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  7. Hong Kong Karate Dangerous Ken: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Michio Konishi
  8. Secret of the Baseball Boy: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Michio Konishi
  9. The Mustache-Growing Girl: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  10. Telepathy Battle: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  11. Unimaginable Part-Time Job: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
  12. Children are Disappearing: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  13. K's Look-alike: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  14. Ball Boy's Leaving Home: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  15. The Demon's Present: written by Atsuko Osoya, directed by Shohei Tojo
  16. Maki Hates Mice: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  17. Ironman Monsu's End: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  18. It's Nopperabo!: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  19. Stray Dog Koro's Adventure: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  20. Octopus Queen: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  21. Rain Rain Fall Fall!: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  22. The Clown's Secret Commands: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  23. Interesting Funny Gun: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  24. Showdown! The Ninja Thief: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Shohei Tojo
  25. Challenge of the Mummy-Man: written by Isao Matsumoto, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
  26. Scary! The Laughing Doll: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
  27. Monster's Hands Swimming At Sea: written by Susumu Takaku and Tatsuro Nagai, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  28. I Like I Like! Maki: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  29. Find the Pirate's Treasure!: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
  30. The Village Inhabited by the Red Demon: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  31. The Dangerous Gourd: written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Shohei Tojo
  32. Voice of a Bird Called Conflict: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
  33. The Dogs have a Time Bomb: written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
  34. K and M's Winning Strategy: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
  35. Today is Goodbye: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
  36. Collection Of The Fight Scenes: written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Saburo Yatsude

    Cast

;Opening theme:
;Ending theme:
  • "Ore no Na wa Machineman"
  • *Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • *Composition: Yuji Ohno
  • *Arrangement: Yuji Ohno
  • *Artist: MoJo

    International Broadcasts

  • In Thailand, the series received a Thai dub on Channel 7 on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in 1984. It was re-aired on Channel 9 on Sundays in 1993.
  • In the Philippines, The series was locally aired on IBC-13 in 1992.
  • The series was also broadcast in Brazil: first on Rede Bandeirantes, where it had a VHS release from its video label VideoBAN, in 1990; later on the Record network in 1993, first in the morning hours, later shown at 8pm. In 1994, the series was also broadcast by TV Guaíba, at the time an independent station; the station had local rights to some series aired by Record, which had no affiliate in the state at the time. United Kids also released VHS tapes under the title "Força Total Machine Man".