JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT
A Complete Episode Guide to Toei's 1960s Sci/Fi Series
by
Keith Sewell

PART THREE
Episodes 17 - 26

(Originally published in KAIJU-FAN Issue #5 June 1997)
Revised edition published in G-FAN # 54 January 2002

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Science has manufactured a super radiation element known as the YZ metal, the product has become a thousand times more powerful than uranium. The YZ metal is to be used for the good of mankind, and the United Nations atomic energy committee holds a meeting at Tokyo's Green Hotel to discuss the metal's uses. Unicorn soon picks up a unidentified flying object on their radar. A squadron of Air Force jets are launched to meet the object, which is  a weather balloon. When the jets fired at the balloon, it balloon transforms into the rebuilt gigantic hand Ganger, its armored bulk red-colored this time. Using its back missiles, Ganger annihilates the squadron. After receiving the report, Azuma decides to have the Green Hotel guarded in case of attack from Big Fire, and his fears are confirmed when Ganger attacks and snatches the tower containing the scientific board. Two Unicorn guards are then shot to death by an unseen assailant. When Azuma and his unit arrive they find a letter near the bodies. The killer known as Big Fire agent X-7, demands the YZ metal in exchange for the abducted scientists.  Previously the mysterious X-7 has caused destruction at the Unicorn Hawaii and Manila branches, as well as the assassination of the Hong Kong branch chief. U3 is assigned to watch over Daisaku at his elementary school for safety purposes, while inside the school, Daisaku's class is introduced to a transfer student from Hawaii, Shinichi Kuroda. Later on after school, young Shinichi invites Daisaku and some classmates to his birthday party at his home.  As the boys enter the chauffeured driven car, Juro hails a taxi and follows them. But the taxi driver is a Big Fire agent, and renders U3 unconscious with sleep gas. At the house, the boys are greeted by Shinichi's Uncle, Ippei. The birthday cake however is a Big Fire trap and sleep gas emerges from the candles. All are rendered unconscious except for Uncle Ippei. Soon afterwards Red Cobra enters. Now imprisoned in a room, the boys, along with U3, awaken.  Daisaku manages to escape using plastic explosives and Shinichi offers to help trap his evil uncle.  U3 and U7 take him to their Unicorn compound.  At the headquarters, Red Cobra contacts Unicorn and demands the YZ metal or Tokyo will face destruction. Meanwhile Ganger commences its attack on Tokyo. U7 contacts Giant Robo and joins the Unicorn team, leaving Shinichi behind in the compound.  Soon however, U6 discovers that Shinichi is in reality, Big Fire agent X-7 (his uncle was X-5), who sets a time bomb to explode within minutes. Although she is bounded, U6 is able to contact Azuma, who, along with U3 and the others, rushed back in time to save her. U7 is left behind to control Robo as the metallic wonder grapples with Ganger.  X-7, now in his Big Fire attire and controlling Ganger, appears and challenges U7. After an enraged battle Giant Robo succeeds in destroying Ganger. As the walls of a building come crumbling down, X-7 is pinned, and Daisaku comes to X-7's aid. Stunned and shocked by U7's rescue, X-7 reveals to him the location of the missing scientists. Suddenly X-7 is shot by X-5 and his unit. That same bunch is then cut down by the arriving Unicorn vehicle. With his last dying words X-7 thanks Daisaku for his friendship. To U7, X-7 will always be just Shinichi Kuroda to him. The Unicorn team and Robo now depart to the site of the abducted scientists and release them.

Commentary: In the U.S. version Shinichi Kuroda was called..."Kenny Shinichi." His wicked uncle, Ippei/X-5 was called..."Ivor". An English version of X-7's warning letter was inserted into the film as Azuma reads on. During the escape, U-7, U-3, and Kenny came upon a booby trap tape recorder. U-7 identifies the voice of that of Ivor's, although it sounds an awful lot like Emperor Guillotine's voice. After U-7 and his classmates were rendered unconscious, Red Cobra and Big Fire enter the gas-filled room. The BF commander was the only one not wearing a gas mask. Is he immune to gas or something? Prior to that U-3  inadvertently flags down a taxicab operated by Big Fire. He too gets gassed. Didn't U-3 learn anything after what happened in Episode #10?  Those captive classmates are not too bright. After all if I saw my friend carrying plastic explosives in his pocket, I'd suspect that he was either, (A) a Unicorn person, or (B) a terrorist. Are these children that naive? Stock footage of Ganger's initial appearance was used in two instances. This is quite noticeable at moments when Ganger's red steel hull is suddenly reverted to silver color and then back to red.  Emperor Guillotine is not seen in this nor the three stories that follow.



A mysterious space saucer crash lands in the mountains of Okutama.  At once U3 and U7 are sent to investigate. Two hunters discover the space saucer and enter. Inside they find an unconscious alien. He bears a fossilized face with three eyes. The revived being wishes to show his gratitude for their help by offering the two hunters food capsules. Moments after swallowing, the two men recoil with pain and die standing. Soon U3 and U7 enter the saucer and they too find the unconscious alien. The same food capsules scenario is about to be repeated on the two Unicorn agents. However Commander Azuma contacts the pair on their wireless before they can swallow the fatal capsule. When U3 tells Azuma of their findings, he orders him and U7 not to eat the capsules and bring the alien to Unicorn HQ. As the three exit the ship a Big Fire unit opens fire on them. Trapped inside the space saucer, the BF minions prepare to shoot the space alien. As they fire their machine guns, the space being magnetizes the bullets in his hand. He then emits a strange ray from his "third eye" and immobilizes the whole unit. This beam increases the weight of Earth's gravity. The pair then escort the space being to their helicopter and escape. The chopper however, was tampered with by Big Fire and catches fire, and U7, U3 and the alien are forced to jettison before the fateful crash. Finally arriving at Unicorn HQ, the space alien introduces himself as Metro Three, an officer from the Andromeda space police force. He's been dispatched to arrest Emperor Guillotine for his crimes. Azuma assures him Unicorn cooperation in apprehending the evil emperor.  Given shelter inside the compounds, Metro Three is given a tour of Giant Robo. U6 however disbelieves and distrusts Metro Three. She reminds U3 of the time Black Dia used this very similar tactic. Juro dismisses her suspicions as nonsense. Meanwhile the persistent Big Fire minions launched an attack on the Unicorn forces guarding the space saucer. Successful, they gain access to it and commences take off. Alerted by the event, Azuma and company rush to pinpoint the saucer's location. As they all leave Robo's hangar, Metro Three returns and uses his gravity ray on Robo and two Unicorn men, making their movements impossible.  He then contacts Big Fire and instructs them to land the saucer. The alien craft lands in a baseball stadium, Big Fire's secret base. U7, U3, and Azuma accompany Metro Three to the stadium, and when they arrive at the spot, Metro Three begins his decoy strategy by entering the saucer alone. The trio are then surprised at gunpoint by Big Fire. With his true character revealed, the evil alien showers the trio with the ray from his "third eye." When U6 sees Robo and the two immobilize Unicorn men, she knows her suspicions were true and that Azuma and company are in danger.  Unable to resist the ray's effect, U7 can only watch as the space alien suddenly calls forth GR-2. The reconstructed robot appears from beneath the baseball stadium and commences its chaos and destruction.  A unit team led by U6 rushes to the baseball stadium. Aiming with a long range rifle, U6 shoots and shatters Metro Three's "third eye". With the gravity control broken, Robo and all of the motionless Unicorn men move once again. U7 then calls Giant Robo into action. The two metallic titans begin waging their fight, while Unicorn scuffles with Big Fire. Metro Three escapes in his space saucer during the confusion. He doesn't know that U7 is right behind him. In one of the compartments, U7 discovers the standing corpses of the two hunters and other people who have trespass in the space saucer. GR-2 introduces two new weapons to Robo. lts own laser beam eyes and a detachable head. The head horns quickly tighten on Robo's head, but with a discharge of electric current, GR-2's head releases its grip. Making random gunshots at U-7, Metro Three accidentally destroys both the saucer's controls and GR-2's control apparatus as well. No longer in the control of Metro Three, GR-2 stands motionless as Robo tears its head and arm from its body. Robo's laser beam eyes wipes out GR-2 once again. U-7 falls from the endangered saucer and is caught by Giant Robo, just as the space saucer explodes terminating Metro Three.

Commentary: Its strange how Robo's form is seen moving and tottering about while in a non-functional state and under Metro Three's gravity ray. Even when the ray's effect was shattered Robo is shown in the hangar with his arms raised, yet still inactive. Two comedy moments occur during the robot clash. The first occurs when Giant Robo perform a revolution stunt. When observed it reminds you of rotisserie meat being roasted on a spit. The other takes place when GR-2 poses in somewhat like a ballerina and begins rotating as if performing a pirouette, the only thing missing on GR-2 is a tutu. The actor portraying Metro Three is seen in most of the stories as one of the Unicorn extras. From this point on Mari ditches her hair barrette.



Above the Earth, a enormous fireball collides with and destroys Unicorn's communication satellite. Unicorn Central request the Japan branch to investigate the cause of the accident. They respond by sending up Giant Robo. The mechanical wonder soon encounters the fireball and blasts it with its rocket missiles. But the enormous fireball was nothing more than a camouflage for the now reconstructed evil ball Glober. It makes a surprise attack on Robo by firing its new Metalon ray. The dread beam suspends all of Robo's functions. Glober then transports Giant Robo towards Big Fire's secret base off the Izu peninsula. BF's cruel leader, Red Cobra, plans to exchange Robo's electronic brain for a new one. Therefore Robo would be used against Earth as originally planned. Suspecting a Big Fire plot, Azuma assigns U3 and U7 to locate Robo. They're able to do so courtesy of a radio transmitter U7 has placed on Robo.  Using a helicopter the pair soon discovered the secret base.  Red Cobra fires a missile towards the chopper, obliterating it completely. However U3 and U7 escaped from it moments before. They soon succeed in infiltrating the secret base. Unfortunately they fall into one of Big Fire's traps. Now imprisoned, the pair face a drowning death as Red Cobra sends quantities of detergent foam into their underground dungeon. In the meantime Red Cobra sends Glober to attack Japan's atomic power center. Using their explosive boot heels, U3 and U7 succeed in blasting their way to freedom. Though they find the shackled Robo, U7 is still unable to revive Robo due to the Metalon ray's effect, which last for an hour. Glober meanwhile commences an ambush attack on the national defenses' tank corp.  In the underground factory, U3 engages in a gun battle with Red Cobra and his BF horde. In his attempt to start Robo, U7 gains entrance to his electronic brain. Soon the gunfire presses closer to the pair. It takes U7's pleads and tears to finally revive Robo's electronic brain. Robo slowly fights off the ray's effects, and, after breaking his chains, grabs the Unicorn pair and takes off through the base fortress. The Big Fire bunch look for an escape as their  headquarters crumbles around them. As Red Cobra and Big Fire seek escape on the elevator lift, Red Cobra's artificial leg falls. The artificial leg's machine gunfire ignites the gas canisters causing the whole base to explode taking Red Cobra and all.  At the atomic power center Azuma and his unit arrive. Risking their lives to prevent radiation fallout, Azuma's unit prepares to remove the atomic fuel. On route Commander Azuma became slightly injured by falling debris. Giant Robo arrives in a hair's breath as Glober approaches. The evil ball now has two metallic legs extending from its body. Quickly Robo dodges Glober's Metalon ray attacks. After a fierce fight Glober tries to escape Robo. Firing his finger chain, Robo catches and wraps the evil ball. He ends the duel by thrashing Glober into the side of a mountain, pulverizing it completely. The atomic center is saved and Red Cobra is no longer a threat.

Commentary:  In the U.S. version the evil ball Glober has gone through some name changes. During the Episode #2 trailer it was refer to as "Neutron."  In the episode itself it was called "Nucleon."  On this, its second outing, it was simply refer to as the "Radion Globe," and its weapon the Metalon Ray was renamed the "Radion Ray."  In Toei's original  story line this episode was Red Cobra's finish. However in the A.I.P. episode line-up, this story would be proceeded by the "Opticon" (Gammons) story where once again Fangar (Red Cobra) is seen. We're led to believe that he survived the base explosion. Red Codra's forehead and face was damp and shiny through-out the story.  During the final clash, Giant Robo releases a barrage of rocket missiles on Glober, during which it appears as though another Glober has emerge from the original. This is again repeated when Robo Megaton punches it.



In the Green Hill community, a mysterious figure pours red poison into the aqueduct. One by one children are being turned into mummies after drinking the water.  This outbreak case soon reaches Unicorn HQ. Azuma is certain that this is another Big Fire plot, and he soon receives a recorded message in the mail. When played, the voice announces himself as Big Fire's latest commander and Red Cobra's successor, Meeler Man. He threatens to turn all the citizens of Tokyo into mummies within 24 hours unless Unicorn hands over Giant Robo.  Soon Unicorn receives reports of a round meteorite descending to Earth. U6 pinpoints the object's location in Okutama.  The meteorite lands softly in front of a monastery. It then transforms into a huge crated box. The box is then brought before the evil Meeler Man, for the monastery is actually Big Fire's secret base, where the members walked about disguised as nuns. Inside the crated box is the resurrected ninja monster Dorogon. Although different in color it still retains the same savagery as before. In addition, Dorogon can now change its size at will. Realizing that the Okutama reservoir is nearby, Azuma fears that that will be Big Fire's intended target for the poison.  He orders U7, U3, and U5 to the reservoir vicinity.  When the trio approach the monastery, only U5 is allowed to enter since men were forbidden. When greeted by the Mother Superior, U5 is taken into a room where she finds the mummified figures of the real convent sisters. The Mother Superior was actually Meeler Man in disguise. Now a prisoner, the lovely Mitsuko is used as bait to trap the others. Big Fire did manage to snare both U7 and U3 as well. Deprived of his wristwatch U7 is unable to contact Robo. Worse yet, Big Fire has manage to jammed the airways, thus preventing any radio contact. Unable to reach the trio, Azuma launches a search team. However they were unsuccessful in locating their missing team.  U6 suggests to Azuma that she could transmit the same radio wave cycle like that of U7's control device in reverse and detect U7's whereabouts. But in order to do this Robo must be activated and that's something only Daisaku alone can do. U6 then appeals to Robo to turn itself on. Like a miracle, Robo responds to Mari's plead by way of his luminous eyes. By activating Robo's electronic brain, Unicorn is given the opportunity to employ U6's idea and pinpoint the enemy's location. It was quite successful. Later led by Azuma, Unicorn invades the convent compounds. Meeler Man then unleashes Dorogon II, and in gigantic form, the monster attacks Unicorn. Meanwhile, Meeler Man has created more of the poison fluid which he plans to throw into the reservoir. But first he plans to execute the trio. However U6 manages to infiltrate the base, recover Robo's control device, and save the trio from certain death within a hair's breath. During a struggle with U3, Meeler Man loses one of his arms and escapes. U7 then contacts Robo. During the battle, Dorogon II avoids Robo's megaton punches by changing his size at will. He then grows to where he dominates over Robo, but GR fires a super jet line from his chest entwining Dorogon II's body.  Activating a high current of electricity, Robo causes Dorogon II to burn and soon explode. From the church tower Meeler Man fires upon Unicorn. Using his laser eye beams, Robo zaps Meeler Man. His body shatters as he falls to his death. Soon the children and the convent sisters are then reverted back to their original state.

Commentary:  In the Americanized version the ninja beast underwent two name changes. During its first encounter with Robo (Episode #6) Dorogon was renamed Dragon.  In this its second encounter it was called Staaker.



In the republic nation of Melka, its president watches intently on film the many exploits of Giant Robo in its battles against Big Fire's monsters. After the viewing he feels that his nation should have a robot of their own. One constructed to rival that of Giant Robo. The president then requests permission from the Japanese government to copy Robo's electronic brain. The matter is brought before Commander Azuma in the administration building. Azuma is in protest to Melka's request for fear it would start a world-wide robot race. However the administration is in favor of the president's idea and so Melka's request is consented to, much to Azuma's disappointment.  At the Unicorn hangar, U7, U3, U6, and other Unicorn members are having a party celebrating the one year anniversary when U7 and Robo first met. Because of Daisaku, Robo was liberated from the clutches of Emperor Guillotine and Big Fire. Unicorn's high spirits are suddenly halted when Azuma tells everyone the bad news.  Robo's electronic brain is examined and construction on the new robot begins. Little did the technicians know that evil eyes are watching. Observing from a distance, Big Fire's leader, Mister Gold, has other plans for the robot. Soon Melka Republic's national robot is completed. Given the name CALAMITY, he (or she, depends on how you look at the name) is patterned the same as Robo right down to the wristwatch control. In addition it is equipped with small size neutron missiles and rigged with an automatic reflect action. If its ever attack by an enemy it automatically returns the attack back at the enemy. Calamity is perfect, except it will not respond to the wristwatch control. None of the technicians can establish the cause of this trouble. Suddenly black clouds appear from above and the resurrected electrical monster Sparky emerges. It steals Calamity from the training grounds and departs mysteriously as it came.  Mister Gold's intentions are to have Calamity clash with Giant Robo with hopes that the former will triumph, thus clearing the path for Guillotine's conquest of Earth.  Calamity's disappearance becomes wide-spread news as both the military defense and Unicorn are place in a state of national emergency. U3 leads a squadron of Jet-helis to search endlessly. While U7 and Robo search for Calamity by themselves. The renegade robot is spotted in the Hakone Mountains. Aware of Calamity's potential, U7 instructs Robo to face its counter-part nevertheless. Robo begins the duel by firing its rocket missiles. But Calamity's auto-reflex action causes the rocket bullets to rebound back at Robo. Undaunted, Robo next fires its laser beams. But like the missiles, the laser beam fire returns severely damaging Robo's eyes. As U7 joins his fallen robot, he is suddenly pinned down by gunfire from Mister Gold and his Big Fire minions. The evil golden knight then calls for Sparky to finish Robo. Suddenly a reconnaissance air unit, including Azuma, U3, and U6, appear from above, fighting , outmatching and finally overpowering the entire Big Fire unit, including Mister Gold. U7 in the meantime resumes operating Robo. In acts of desperation the sightless Robo fights on. Grabbing the electrical jellyfish, Robo throws Sparky headlong into Calamity. Tumbling into a ravine Sparky, together with Calamity are destroyed in a fiery explosion. Conversing with Robo, Daisaku assures him that his damaged eyes can be repaired. With Mister Gold apprehended, Unicorn and Robo have prevented another world wide chaos.

Commentary: This story opens with stock footage of Robo's bouts with monsters Lygon, Satan Rose, Dorogon, Dakoler, and Ikageras. This sort of opening was utilized weeks prior in an episode of MAGUMA TAISHI (The Space Giants).  Just like the situation with Dr. Guardia, Mr. A. Apanai (or A. Arupai) was dubbed with a Japanese voice actor in the Toei version. This gent is also seen in Daiei's DAI KAIJU GAMERA (Giant Monster Gamera) of 1965. He's seen as the American ambassador in both the Daiei and the Americanized "'Sandy Frank" versions. In the cast credits he is listed as M. Apanai.  In both, the Toei and A.I.P. versions, different music was heard during Robo's birthday-celebration. But who's playing the ?precessions The only musical instruments present was a trumpet and guitar.  The kanji signs during the exterior shot of the National Defense Office building were neither 'cropped,' erased, nor replaced with a English card note. Emperor Guillotine is not seen in this or the next 2 episodes.  

Daffy Dubbing: A line spoken by Goldenok (Mister Gold) as he prepares the renegade robot, Cleopat, to battle Robo.
GOLDENOK: "You scientist, if Cleopat is not ready for action in one hour I will feed you all to Tentaclon."
(The Tentaclon\Sparky monster is not known to eat people. Perhaps it feeds on coal like a certain other space jelly-fish monster from Toho studios.)



To exploit his latest plot Emperor Guillotine calls forth space ghost Doctor Gelma from the 4th Dimension nebula. Under Guillotine's service, Doctor Gelma promises to deliver Giant Robo into the sinister emperor's hands.  U7 is given a furlough from Unicorn in honor of his birthday. At his home Daisaku celebrates in the company of Azuma, Juro, Mari, and other Unicorn people, during which a delivery man arrives with a present for Daisaku. It was sent by his father, who's away on business in Hokkaido. Daisaku opens it to find a disassembled model kit inside. He isn't aware that this 'present' is in fact a trap devise by Doctor Gelma.  Back at Unicorn headquarters, Daisaku takes such delight in building the model. Commander Azuma however becomes quite concerned and suspicious. He can't locate the store or the maker of the model. Soon Daisaku completes the life-size model, which somewhat resembles U7 himself. When he activates it, it transforms into a U7 duplicate and steals Robo's wristwatch control. Before U7, Azuma and the others can retrieve the wristwatch, Doctor Gelma appears and takes the android U7. To prevent Big Fire's misuse of Robo, Azuma had Robo's electronic brain removed. When, Gelma can't deliver Robo before Guillotine, the evil genius takes cowardice action, kidnapping a bus containing pre-school children.  He demands that Robo's electronic brain be restored in exchange for the kidnapped children. Doctor Gelma gives Unicorn two hours to respond or else the children will die.  At the chemical research Commander Azuma has the glue used in the model's construction analyzed. It is hoped that they may find a solvent for the glue, which is  identified as space substance RV.  However the research team needs more than two hours time to create the solvent. At the designated hour Azuma is forced to submit to Gelma and has Robo's electronic brain reinstalled. Upon hearing android U7's command voice, Giant Robo takes off. Satisfied, Gelma returns the school bus unharmed. Now Earth's champion has become Big Fire's destructive weapon. Under android U7's orders, Giant Robo begins destroying buildings and expressways. The national defense unit launches a general missile attack, alongside the Unicorn team, but no Earth weapon can destroy Robo's peerless might. Android U7 then commands Robo to make a surprise attack on a petroleum industrial complex thus annihilating Tokyo.  As Giant Robo advances towards the oil field, U7 hurries and stands before him. Just as Robo is about to throw a truck, Daisaku tearfully yells at Robo to stop the attack. Like a miracle, Robo halts momentarily. U7's shouts are being transmitted into Robo's electronic brain. Caught in the line of commands from both Daisaku and the android U7, GR responds. He turns and throws the truck at the murderous BF horde.  Soon the chemical scientists arrive with a glue solvent gun. The chemical gunpowder is fired and the android U7 quickly disintegrates. All that is left is Robo's control wrist-watch. U7 retrieves it and orders Robo to attack Gelma. Before Doctor Gelma can vanish, Robo fires a barrage of rocket missiles and destroys the evil scientist.  In the end it seems Robo has never really forgot its true master. The Robo/Daisaku friendship still remains unsevered.

Commentary: Child actor of that time, Mitsunobu Keneko plays the dual roles of both Daisaku and Android U-7, fitted with phony eyebrows for the latter character. This is the only episode where Giant Robo doesn't engage in battle with an enemy monster or machine.  Does Daisaku have a mother?



A strange reddish bloblike substance emerges from the sewers. It chews the column supports of a huge Tokyo expressway. The collapse causes massive vehicle destruction. Later, a policeman is shot by Big Fire. The bullet is extracted from the dead body and turned over to Unicorn. This bullet, like the one back in episode #17, carries a recorded message for all of Unicorn to hear. Their latest challenge comes in the form of Big Fire's great leader from space, Professor. He threatens to destroy the new atomic powered tanker, the Oriental, on its maiden voyage.  The Unicorn Japan branch appear at the Oriental's inaugural launch, to prevent an attack. U7 and Robo guard from the air: U3 patrols on foot: U5 and U6 patrol via vehicle. Azuma is stationed with the world leaders and directors of the Oriental. A military band commences playing at the tanker's opening. All seems at ease as the Oriental makes its maiden voyage. Aboard the Oriental, a Unicorn man is killed by the strange dissolving substance, while patrolling. Soon all eyes stare as the red substance emerges through the flying tanker's hull. The Oriental becomes a fireball and crashes into a industrial complex.  That red dissolving substance was created and being used by Professor. He refers to it as a bacteria bug, Hydrazone. The band then  proceeds playing a funeral march. They are in reality, Big Fire. As Azuma and the Unicorn unit pursue the false band, Big Fire turns, fires at the team and disappears. When the smoke clears all that is found is the musical instruments that were utilized as weapons. Professor's recorded voice comes from the base drum. He announces to Unicorn that he will use Hydrazone to destroy Giant Robo next. The drum explodes afterward.  All around the clock the Unicorn Japan HQ is well guarded, especially Robo's hangar. A couple of Unicorn guards hear a strange sound in the sewers. As they move to investigate the matter, they are killed by Hydrazone. Looking for the guard's whereabouts, U3 and U7 follow that same path into the drainage sewers. They spot one of the guard's gun before it is suddenly eaten away by the red bacteria. A group of Big Fire men then open fire on the pair. Fortunately the murderous bunch are cut down by a Unicorn backup team. While all of this is going on, Hydrazone manages to ooze its way into the Unicorn hangar. On the outside, U7, Azuma, U3, U5, and U6 watch with disbelief as Robo, along with their headquarters, dissolve before their eyes.  Feeling so triumphant, Professor now unleashes Hydrazone on the entire city of Tokyo. At this time, U7 contacts Robo, and strangely enough the mechanized wonder nosedives from the sky. The one destroyed by Hydrazone was a tin model decoy. Robo then showers and incinerates the evil bacteria with its light bullets curtain.  Suddenly emerging from the wings comes the resurrected monster, Iceler.  In their first encounter, Iceler's refrigerate spray was release through the feelers. This time its emitted from its mouth. Soon Giant Robo is covered in white frost. With the help of his twin boosters, Robo takes off and spins wildly like a motorize fan. The white snow spray is blown in reverse and Iceler is frozen. Robo then lifts the frozen beast and throws it towards Big Fire. In its final moments, Iceler releases a blast of its refrigerate spray and kills Professor by freezing him completely. Afterwards Iceler is destroyed by Robo's laser beams.

Commentary: Stock footage of G R-2 II' S destruction was utilize in Iceler II's termination. In the U.S. version Iceler's (or rather Igganog's) original roar was dubbed over with Lygon's roar. Another of those title cards were inserted to substitute for the one written in kanji. (NOTICE: 'Congratulations, On Inaugural Of Oriental').  Different funeral marches following the Oriental's destruction were heard in both versions. In fact, the 'Taps' death fugue is heard in the Toei version.  This was to be U-5's last appearance in the series.



Yoshikawa, Unicorn member U13, patrols on the road one evening. Suddenly a frightened girl rushes out in front of the car. Her trembling voice tells U13 of dead people in the village. Yoshikawa then accompanies the girl to the populace town. The girl's story appears accurate. For the streets are littered with dead corpses. As the brave Yoshikawa advances further he is soon confronted with Big Fire's newest agent, space  wandering vampire, Draculan. U13's evasive actions prove futile, as the girl in actually a vampire in disguise. She quickly attacks and kills U13.  Yoshikawa's body is discovered in his vehicle the next morning and turned over to Unicorn. During the autopsy; it is discovered that U13's body was drained of all blood. Having difficulty in accepting a vampire's existence, Azuma assigns U3 and U7, in plain clothes, to the area. When the pair arrived in the now thriving village, they are greeted by the very same girl. She cooperates by escorting the pair to her father. Her father, of course, is Draculan. As the pair escape his clutches, they realize that the entire town residents have been transformed into vampires.  The pair escaped the mob and take refuge in one of the empty houses. U7 then makes contact with U6 at headquarters. As she listens Mari is suddenly assaulted by the dead U13, now transformed into a vampire. During their recent escape, U7 had accidentally lost his wristwatch control. Upon discovering this, U3 rushes outside and acts as a decoys for the vampire mob. This gives U7 the chance of finding his wristwatch, but soon after he and U3 are trapped by Draculan, his vampire daughter, and their bloodthirsty followers. Yoshikawa suddenly appears with U6 as hostage, and in order to save Mari's life, U7 is forced to do Draculan's bidding. The space vampire coerces U7 into ordering Giant Robo to destroy the Unicorn base.  Daisaku responds by shouting strange words ("ireime nakuki") into the wristwatch, followed by the orders to destroy Unicorn Japan. The Unicorn three are then bound and placed in coffin crates before the vampire horde. Just as Draculan is about to put the bite on U7, Giant Robo appears. Those strange words that U7 spoke were actually a code. When Robo's electronic brain replays the command in reverse rotation the message reads, "ineffective order." Robo then took off and followed the voice source. U3 frees himself and the others. Once outside U7, U6, and U3 are met by Azuma and his Unicorn unit. Angered by the turn of events, Draculan transforms himself into a giant. Armed with a saber and shield, the vampire leader challenges Robo, and Draculan's shield fends off Robo's Megaton punches. Meanwhile, the vampire girl, Yoshikawa, and the other vampires advance towards the Unicorn team. Robo then releases the full brunt of sunlight on the vampire horde. Aware of Draculan's weakness, U7 orders Robo to commence the "cross fire" attack. Crossing his arms, Robo sends forth a series of blazing crosses towards Draculan. To which the space vampire is utterly destroyed.

Commentary: This most unusual story treads on the supernatural, and is more like a story one would see from a Toho or Daiei movie or TV show, such as ULTRA Q, AKUMA KUN, or even our own BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series. This episode alone was minus the Big Fire corp. It is never explained how Giant Robot creates blazing crosses out of thin air by merely crossing its arms. Giant Robo is a creation of science, not the supernatural. Similar to the "chest" situation of episode #16.  In addition a question of "what happened to the vampire horde?" comes up, as there wasn't enough emphasis or detail on their demise. As they are about to prey upon Unicorn, Robo steps away from the intense sunlight.  On the final shot of Unicorn, there are no signs of the vampires' existence. No clothing, no bones, not even dust. Not even Count Dracula comes out spotless when he's been terminated. In the U.S. version, Daisaku's "ireime nakuki" code was replaced with "redro yebo ton od", backwards for "Do Not Obey Order."   Fibnally, when U-13 and the vampire horde pressed closer towards Azuma's team, U-13's gun is suddenly shot out of his hand by the backup team, yet no gunshot was heard. Its as if he merely tosses the gun aside. Just one more of the technical flaws occurring at American International.



Tensions rise throughout the Unicorn Japan branch. Commander Azuma feels that Emperor Guillotine is about to commence his ultimate attack on Unicorn.  His fears seem confirmed when U6 picks up a Big Fire wavelength signal on her instruments. U3 and U7 are dispatched to trace and locate the signal source. It originates from an old deserted building, and as they enter, all they find is a tape recorder playing Emperor Guillotine's recorded maniacal voice and laughter.  Feeling that it was all a false alarm, the pair return to their car, but as they do so, U7 is suddenly shot by an unknown assailant. Badly injured, U7 is taken to the Hayasaki Hospital, while the sniper, known as Terroman, makes his report to the evil emperor. Unconvinced of U7's death, Guillotine orders Terroman to go to the hospital and finish off Daisaku.  Disguised as a doctor, Terroman infiltrates the hospital and proceeds towards U7's room. Using a silencer gun Terroman succeeds in shooting U7, who was asleep in bed. Terroman then exits and escapes in his vehicle. Unknown to him, U7 was hiding in the front compartment of the car. He was neither wounded nor in the hospital bed. U7 was spared from Terroman's earlier shooting thanks to a special iron jacket he wore underneath.  As he makes contact with Unicorn HQ, Guillotine overhears the conversation from afar. Suddenly appearing before the vehicle comes the resurrected robot monster, Gammons II.  It is sent to kill U7 and punish Terroman for his failure. Slowly the car rises as Gammons's suction light draws the vehicle towards the eye center. Unable to get out, U7 summons Giant Robo.  The mechanical marvel arrives in time to snatch the hapless car, from Gammons's beam. Terroman falls and plummets to his death. With U7 safe, Robo fights one-eye Gammons. The fierce battle i quickly won by Robo.  Later while airborne, Giant Robo is attacked by Guillotine's space saucer. From the sky, U7 locates the Big Fire hideout.  The base resembles a mountainous ant mound. U7 reports it to Unicorn HQ. Soon Azuma, U3, U6, and several other Unicorn men advance towards the designated site. When they arrived they are met by two more resurrected monsters, Iceler III, and Ikageras II. Fortunately Giant Robo arrives and succeeds in downing the two creatures. Now a major gun battle ensues between Unicorn and Big Fire. When given the choice to either surrender or face death by Robo's rocket missiles, the BF minions choose the former. As Unicorn rounds up the murderous group the entire ground suddenly quakes. The Big Fire hive shatters and emerging from it comes Guillotine's space saucer perched on a launching pad. Before the saucer can launch however, Robo destroys it with his rocket missiles.  At first it seems as if the battle is over. But suddenly rising from the smoke comes Emperor Guillotine in gargantuan size. When U7 commands Robo to attack, the giant robot's brilliant eyes fade and his functions cease. In fighting the three monsters, GR's nuclear energies have depleted. Even Unicorn is helpless to act. For Guillotine's body is a mass of explosive atomic energies.  If he is harmed his body will explode like a nuclear bomb and destroy the Earth. Unexpected to everyone, including Guillotine, Robo goes into action again, courtesy of his auxiliary energy source.  He then charges towards Guillotine. U7 commands Robo to stop his attack on Guillotine, but he disregards Daisaku's orders. For the first time Robo operates on its own liberty. Seizing the evil emperor, Giant Robo ignites his twin booster rockets and ascends.  Soon both of them are out of Earth's atmosphere. U7 shouts vainly for Robo in his wristwatch but to no avail.  Robo does not respond. Out from nowhere a huge crimson meteor appears. As his last act, Giant Robo, along with Emperor Guillotine, zooms and collides headlong into the fiery rock. A cataclysmic explosion stretches across the darkness of space. Guillotine was no longer a menace to Earth or the universe. But unfortunately Giant Robo also is no more. For a moment back on Earth, everyone of Unicorn Japan looks to the sky in great silence. A tearful U7, along with Azuma, U3, U6 and all the other members of Unicorn give their 'final farewell' salute to their most active member of Unicorn. Peace has been restore to the Earth. In the end, Robo sacrificed himself so that Earth may live.

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My acknowledgments and gratitude to Mike Temple for supplying me with the material necessary for this research, to Ms. Nola Kiely, for additional input, and, of course to Lenell "Ultra" Bridges, Gertrude Smith, Annand Vaquer and Mark Nagata for helping me get this project off the ground.  And a very special thanks to Carol and John Roberto, for always being friends.