The Triumphant Return of Japanese Spider-Man
By C.T. Smith
It’s true folks, the Spider-Man of Nippon has made his return to the forefront. Spider-Man was a television show produced by the Toei Company, of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider fame, that ran for 41 episodes plus a movie. It’s original run aired from May 17, 1978 to March 14, 1979, and featured an original Spider-Man (wearing a costume we’re all familiar with) named Takuya Yamashiro, a motocross racer.
Marvel has done us all a favor and released, er… re-released 2 episodes on their website for the world to watch. Takuya and his undeniably awesome giant robot Leopardon bring the fight to the Inheritors in The Amazing Spider-Man #12, so this is a perfect time to show people what he’s all about.
Spider-Man writer Dan Slott had this to say on the matter: “If you’ve never seen an episode of the Japanese, live action Spider-Man show from the ’70s, then you are in for a treat! He is like no Spidey you’ve ever seen before! Sure, he’s got spider-sense, can climb walls, and swing on a web … but he’s also got the Spider-Machine GP7, a flying, missile-launching race car– and a leopard-headed spaceship, Marveller, that transforms into his giant robot, LEOPARDON! And no, it’s not a Power Ranger-style robot. Leopardon came FIRST. So all those Power Ranger/Sentai shows? THEY had a Leopardon-style robot. Deal with it.”
So take some time to check out the episodes I’ll link below to see Spider-Man battle Professor Monster and the evil Iron Cross Army!
Japanese Spider-Man: Episode 01
Japanese Spider-Man: Episode 07
And don’t worry, Spider-Man won’t stop you, because if he did that…
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