The Rundown
It's
1971, and the great and prosperous nation of Japan is on a mission to pollute the world. Wanton industrial production and meager government regulations lead to the daily vomiting and belching of sludge and smog into the sea and sky. Against this grim backdrop bursts the
evil Space Apeman Dr. Gori! Late of Planet E, where a failed coup d'etat nearly cost him
his mind and his medical license, Dr. Gori stumbles across a most fascinating jewel… Earth!
Judging Earthlings to be grossly inferior, he sets out to wipe them out in a most devious and fitting manner: by using the their own toxic agents against them! All seems lost for the hapless denizens of Earth. How can they combat a mutant Space Doctor? But then, from the dark recesses of space, comes a savior:
The Space Alliance of the Pleasure Planet Nebula 71! Nebula 71, an artificial planetoid created by the Universal Federation eons ago to protect inferior planets, sends the golden cyborg
Spectreman to stop the evil Dr. Gori! But Dr. Gori and his superior intellect harness the combined powers of the Monster Graveyard and Japan's pollution, summoning some of the greatest pre-historical monsters ever! Gigantic battles ensue!
Human dramas unfold! The powerful giant Satan King destroys a city! Incompetent subordinate
Karas apes karate-chop gestures! Poor Professor Ogaki is turned into a pollution monster! A famous boxer's brain is stolen! Finally, after 63 episodes, Spectreman defeats Dr. Gori with his patented Double-Flash in the
cyborg vs. Space Ape combat to end all cyborg vs. Space Ape combats. Rather than face punishment, a humiliated Dr. Gori jumps from a cliff and explodes! Spectreman returns victorious to Nebula 71, no doubt for some much deserved
pleasure.
The Facts
Original Title: Space Apeman Gori
Title for international release: Spectreman
Broadcast dates: January 2, 1971 to March 25, 1972
Format: 30 minute weekly
television series
Number of episodes: 63
Writers: Masaki Tsuji, Susumu Takaku, Haruya Yamazaki, Keisuke Fujikawa, Shoji Nemoto, Kazuo Koya, Kazuichi Tsumi
Directors: Keinnosuke Tsuchiya, Kouichi Ishiguro,
Higuchi Higuchi, Takeo Sakai, Yasuharu Hasebe, Kanji Otsuka
The Characters
Spectreman
A giant superhero from the cold depths of space, Spectreman is sent to Earth by The Space Alliance of the Pleasure Planet Nebula 71 to stop the evil Dr Gori. Whenever danger rears its rubber head, Spectreman materializes as a cyborg in a golden suit, complete with a
tremendous codpiece and a masked helmet topped with a dorsal fin spike. Our hero defends all of humanity from cosmic enemies with an arsenal of weaponry: a mighty sword, dazzling SpectreFlashes, freeze rays, and of course good old-fashioned pummelings. When not battling gargantuan monsters, Spectreman cleverly hides itself among the humans as the mild mannered Johji 'George' Gamoh.
Johji 'George' Gamoh
George, a
handsome and brilliant employee of the Pollution Research Bureau, is actually space cyborg Spectreman in disguise. He often draws the suspicions of his colleagues by disappearing when monsters appear, only to reappear elsewhere with a thin explanation and no car. While his disguise proves
helpful, especially with the ladies, it sometimes interferes with his orders from Nebula 71 Headquarters, as his proximity to Earthlings gets him emotionally involved with their
silly mortal plights.
Evil Space Apeman Dr. Gori
A mutant
gorilla from far away Planet E, Dr. Gori is equipped with the deadly combination of super-intellect and blond ambition in the form of
Kurt Cobain hair. From the shelter of his powerful spacecraft the simian fiend judges
the numskullery of Earthlings unforgivable, and efforts to wipe them out by creating enormous monsters from humanity’s own pollution. The character of Dr. Gori plays a complex role in the series. First, as chief antagonist/social critic, Dr. Gori opposes the continued existence of human society specifically because of its propensity to
destroy the beauty of nature. This raises the paradoxical question: is Evil Space Apeman Dr. Gori evil? His second role is one of comic relief, as Dr. Gori and his henchman Karas
play the straight man and goofy sidekick, respectively.
The Space Alliance of the Pleasure Planet Nebula 71
Appearing as an artificial planetoid piloted by strange space beings, the even-headed
Overlords of Nebula 71 protect underdeveloped planets like Earth from evil space conquers such as Dr. Gori. With the cold benevolence of an
Elder Race, Nebula 71 exerts its mysterious powers against the probably evil Dr. Gori and his monstrous creatures. Nebula 71 also has the incredible ability to reverse time, which may explain its very
relaxed attitude.
Karas
Henchman Karas is
an ape in full military regalia who does much of Dr. Gori's
dirty work. On several occasions Dr. Gori transforms Karas into a giant in order to directly confront Spectreman; always with ignominious results. Although Karas is a bumbling fool and is obviously a great liability, Dr. Gori repeatedly excuses his errors. Some theorists propose this is due to the fact that Karas was instrumental in helping Dr. Gori escape from
the vengeance of Planet E. This is unlikely, however, as most Evil Doctors find gratitude an altogether alien emotion. I suggest that, perhaps, Dr. Gori, though his tremendous ego would never allow him to admit it, simply likes having a
friend.
The Cast
Tetsuo Narikawa as Joji 'George' Gamou
Toru Ohira as Chief Kurata
Takamitsu Watanabe as Nobuyoshi Kaga
Kazuo Arai as Takashi Ota
Koji Ozaki as Toshio Arito
Takanobu Toya as Dr. Gori
Kyoji Kobayashi as The Voice of Nebula 71
Koji Uenishi as
Spectreman
The Episodes
01.
GORI TARGETS THE EARTH!
Japanese title:
Gori, Chikyu o Nerau!
Monster:
Hedoron
02.
DESTROY THE POLLUTION MONSTER HEDORON!
Japanese title:
Kougai-kaiju Hedoron o Taose!
Monster:
Hedoron
03.
TERROR OF BLUE SCUM
Japanese title:
Ao-midoro no Kyoufu
Monster:
Midoron, Zeron
04.
RAH SEARCHES AMONG THE EARTHLINGS
Japanese title:
Rah, Chikyu-jin o Saguru
Monster:
Zeron
05.
TERROR OF POLLUTED HUMAN
Japanese title:
Kyoufu no Kougai-ningen
Monster:
giant Rah
06.
SAVE THE BEAUTIFUL EARTH!!
Japanese title:
Utsukusii Chikyu no Tameni!!
Monster:
giant Rah #2
07.
THE BLACK TERROR
Japanese title:
Kuro no Kyoufu
Monster:
Gokinosaurus
08.
DUEL!! GOKINOSAURUS
Japanese title:
Ketto!! Gokinozaurusu
Monster:
Gokinosaurus
09.
THE TERRIFYING NEZUBIRDON
Japanese title:
Kyoufu no Nezubahdon
Monster:
Nezubahdon
10.
STOP THE MONSTER TRAIN
Japanese title:
Kaiju-ressha o Soshi Seyo
Monster:
Nezubahdon
11.
THE TITANIC MONSTER DUSTMAN APPEARS
Japanese title:
Kyodai-kaiju Dustman Shutsugen
Monster:
Titanic Monster Dustman
12.
TERROR RISES FROM THE DEAD
Japanese title:
Yomigaeru Kyoufu
Monster:
Titanic Monster Dustman
13.
GREAT HEDORON STRIKES BACK
Japanese title:
Hedoron Dai-gyakushu Zenpen
Monster:
Neo-Hedoron
14.
GREAT HEDORON STRIKES BACK AGAIN
Japanese title:
Hedoron Dai-gyakushu Kouhen
Monster:
Neo-Hedoron
15.
MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE LEVELS TOKYO
Japanese title:
Dai-jishin Tokyo o Osou
Monster:
Mognetudon
16.
THE RETALIATION OF MOGUNETUDON!
Japanese title:
Mogunechudon no Hangeki!
Monster:
Mognetudon
17.
THUNDER-GAI THE FLYING WHALE!
Japanese title:
Sora-tobu Kujira Thunder-gei!
Monster:
Thunder-Gai
18.
INFILTRATE MONSTER ISLAND
Japanese title:
Kaiju-tou ni Sennyu Seyo
Monster:
Thunder-Gai
19.
BLOOD-DRINKING MONSTER BAKULAH APPEARS!!
Japanese title:
Kyuuketsu-kaiju Bakulah Arawaru!!
Monster:
Bakulah
20.
FIND BAKULAH'S NEST!
Japanese title:
Kaiju Bakurah no Su o Tsubuse!
Monster:
Bakulah
21.
THE ENIGMATIC ALIEN ZUNOU VS GILAGIND
Japanese title:
Nazo no Zunou-seijin Tai Giragindo
Monster:
Enigmatic Alien Zunou, Giragindo
22.
VIOLENT CHARGE OF THE DUAL-BLADED MONSTER GILAGIND!!
Japanese title:
Nitou-ryu Kaiju Giragindo oh-abare!!
Monster:
Enigmatic Alien Zunou, Giragindo
23.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MONSTER: KURUMANIKURAS!
Japanese title:
Koutsuu-jiko Kaiju Kurumanikurasu!
Monster:
Kurumanikuras Baaronsaurus
24.
DANGER! KURUMANIKURAS
Japanese title:
Ayaushi! Kurumanikurasu
Monster:
Kurumanikuras Baaronsaurus
25.
GRAND DOUBLE OPERATION: MAGULAH & SATAN-KING!
Japanese title:
Magurah, Satanking Nidai-sakusen!
Monster:
Magurah, Satan-King
26.
TWO GIANT MONSTERS BATTLE IN TOKYO!
Japanese title:
Nidai-kaiju Tokyo Dai-kessen!
Monster:
Magurah, Satan-King
27.
TITANIC BATTLE! SEVEN GIANT MONSTERS
Japanese title:
Dai-gekisen! 7 dai-kaiju
Monster:
Silver Robo, Baronsaurus, Satan-King, Gokinosaurus, Mognitudon, Nezubierdon, Moggus
28.
THE TERRIFYING ATTACK OF SALAMANDAR
Japanese title:
Saramandah Kyoufu no Shuhgeki
Monster:
Salamandar
29.
KILL THE VICIOUS MONSTER SALAMANDAR
Japanese title:
Kyouaku-kaiju Saramandah o Korose
Monster:
Salamandar
30.
TERROR COMES ASHORE: MONSTER TAG-MATCH!!
Japanese title:
Tag Match Kaiju Kyoufu no Jouriku!!
Monster:
Zariganindo Spincobra
31.
PROTECT THE LIGHTHOUSE!
Japanese title:
Ano Toudai o Sukue!
Monster:
Zariganindo Spincobra
32.
THE THREE-HEADED DRAGON RISES AGAIN
Japanese title:
Yomigaeru Mitsu-kubi-ryu
Monster:
Mitsukubi-ryuh
33.
SOS!! THE UNDERSEA OIL FIELD
Japanese title:
SOS!! Kaitei-yuden
Monster:
Mitsukubi-ryuh
34.
THE WRATH OF MOONTHUNDER
Japanese title:
Moonthunder no Ikari
Monster:
Moonthunder
35.
IS SPECTREMAN DEAD!?
Japanese title:
Spectreman ga Shinda!?)
Monster:
Moonthunder
36.
DEATH-MATCH! G-MEN VS MONSTER VEGARON
Japanese title:
Shitou! G-men tai Kaiju Begaron
Monster:
Bagaron, Alien Nebula
37.
OPERATION: DESTROY GORI'S SAUCER BASE
Japanese title:
Gori no Enban-kichi Bakuha Dai-sakusen
Monster:
Bagaron, The Minus Humans
38.
ADVANCE TOWARDS THE SPHINX
Japanese title:
Sphinx Zensin seyo
Monster:
Sphinx, Spider Monster, Egyptan Mutant
39.
OPERATION: BREAK INTO THE MONSTER-ZONE
Japanese title:
Kaiju-chiku Toppa-sakusen
Monster:
Spider Monster
40.
THE GRASS-WHISTLING MONSTER
Japanese title:
Kusa-bue o fuku Kaiju
Monster:
Methanodon Magmasaurus
41.
VAPOR MONSTER DIES AT DAWN
Japanese title:
Gas Kaiju Akatsuki ni Shisu
Monster:
Methanodon Magmasaurus
42.
SOLAR MASK ARRIVES FROM SPACE
Japanese title:
Uchu kara kita Taiyou-mask
Monster:
Tengudon, Kabagon, Solar Mask
43.
APPEARANCE OF THE MONSTER KABAGON!!
Japanese title:
Kaiju Kabagon no Shutsugen!!
Monster:
Kabagon, Solar Mask
44.
ALIEN KYUDORA - COSMIC PLUNDERER
Japanese title:
Uchu no Tohri-ma Kyudorah-seijin
Monster:
Alien Kyudora, Alien Pal
45.
ALIEN PAL FOREVER!!
Japanese title:
Pal-yuusei-jin yo Eien nare
Monster:
Alien Kyudora, Alien Pal
46.
INVITATION FROM THE DEAD
Japanese title:
Shisha kara no Shoutai-jou
Monster:
Alien Gama, Gama Monster
47.
ALIEN GAMA COMMENCE THE ATTACK!!
Japanese title:
Gama-seijin Kougeki Kaishi!!
Monster:
Alien Gama, Gama Monster
48.
BOBBY, DON'T BECOME A MONSTER!
Japanese title:
Bobby yo Kaiju ni Naruna!
Monster:
Dog Monster
49.
TRAGIC GENIUS MONSTER: NOMAN
Japanese title:
Kanashiki Tensai-kaiju Noman
Monster:
Noman
50.
SMASH ALIEN IGORL!
Japanese title:
Igohru-seijin o Taose!
Monster:
Black Dragon, Alien Igohru, Pseudo-Spectreman
51.
RIDDLE OF THE COBALT MONSTER
Japanese title:
Cobalt Kaiju no Nazo
Monster:
Black Dragon, Alien Igohru, Pseudo-Spectreman
52.
OPERATION: CAPTURE MONSTER MOUND-DRAGON!!
Japanese title:
Mount Dragon Yusou Dai-sakusen!!
Monster:
Mound Dragon, Birdman
53.
THE IRON CLAWS OF HORROR
Japanese title:
Kyoufu no Tetsu no Tsume
Monster:
Computer Monster, Grass Monster
54.
PULVERISE! THE COMPUTER-MONSTER!
Japanese title:
Datou-seyo! Computer-kaiju
Monster:
Computer Monster, Grass Monster
55.
ORDER: ASSASSINATE SPECTREMAN!!
Japanese title:
Spectreman Ansatsu-shirei
Monster:
Alien Killer, Meteor Mask
56.
COSMIC HITMAN - METEOR MASK
Japanese title:
Uchu no Korosi-ya Ryusei-kamen
Monster:
Alin Killer, Meteor Mask
57.
RESSURECTION OF GREAT SATAN - THE WITCH
Japanese title:
Majo Great Satan no Fukkatsu
Monster:
Great Satan, Alien Satan, Goruda
58.
GORUDA - THE PHANTOM MONSTER
Japanese title:
Maborosi no Kaiju Goruda
Monster:
Great Satan, Alien Satan, Goruda
59.
ALIEN GENOS - THE MESSENGER OF HELL
Japanese title:
Jigoku no Shisha Genos-seijin
Monster:
Dokuron, Alien Genos
60.
DEADLY DANCE OF THE MONSTER DOKURON
Japanese title:
Kaiju Dokuron Shi no Odori
Monster:
Dokuron, Alien Genos
61.
THE TERRIFYING MONSTER SHOW
Japanese title:
Kyoufu no Kaiju-show
Monster:
Kihtotto, Alien Migeru
62.
THIS IS GORI'S FINAL DEATH-MATCH
Japanese title:
Saigo no Shitou da Enjin Gori
Monster:
Moggus
63.
GOODBYE SPECTREMAN
Japanese title:
Sayounara Spectreman
Monster:
Evil Space Apeman Dr. Gori
BONUS!! Unreleased Episode What Was A Secret!
xx.
DON'T SHOOT THAT BUTTERFLY!
Japanese title:
Sono Cho o Utsuna!
Monster:
Butterfly Monster
translations from 70s Special Effects Graphic:
Superheroes Album