Super Giant

**Super Giant** (スーパージャイアンツ, *Sūpā Jaiantsu*, literally translated as "Super Giants") is a fictional Japanese superhero featured in a successful series of serial-like tokusatsu short feature films produced between 1957 and 1959 by Shintoho (the non-union branch of Toho). He is also known in Japan as Giant of Steel (鋼鉄の巨人, Kōtetsu no Kyojin), is known in America as **Starman**, and known in France and Italy as **Spaceman**.

## Japan's first onscreen superhero

Whereas Takeo Nagamatsu's 1930 kamishibai *The Golden Bat* (*Ōgon Batto*) was Japan's first modern superhero (and had many manga, anime and film adaptations), Shintoho's Super Giant was the first celluloid superhero (theatrically released in 1957), and the role model for many Japanese superheroes to come, especially Ultraman and Kamen Rider.

Named "Super Giants" (plural), although the main character was only one person and obviously human-sized, the series' title was no doubt inspired by the American *Adventures of Superman* (which was then being broadcast in Japan) and the famous Japanese baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants (who were extremely popular at the time).

Moonlight Mask (Gekkō Kamen) became Japan's first made-for-television superhero when his TV show debuted in 1958, but Super Giant was Japan's first theatrical superhero series.

## Character background

Super Giant is a human-like being created from the strongest steel by the Peace Council of the Emerald Planet. He is created to destroy evil and restore peace in the universe. Resembling a Japanese man in white tights/cowl (fitted with an antenna) and capes under his arms, he is virtually indestructible. He wears on his wrist a "Globe-Meter" device, which enables him to:

* Fly through space
* Detect radiation
* Speak and understand any language

He can also use it to disguise himself as an Earthling to walk among them. When sent to Earth to fight evildoers, he disguises himself as a Japanese man wearing an ordinary suit and fedora hat (looking almost like a police detective), but still uses his "Super Giant" name. His secret identity is not that secret, as he works with the Japanese authorities to help them fight evildoers. He is just as powerful in his civilian form. He also gets along with Earth children, and saves them from danger, as he knows that children represent the Earth's future. After accomplishing his mission, Super Giant always flies back to the Emerald Planet.

Super Giant was played in all nine films by respected film/TV actor Ken Utsui. However, Utsui hated playing Super Giant and, right up to his death, always played down the role. This was partially on account of the somewhat embarrassing costume, especially the overstuffed crotch area (he said the producers thought that female viewers were attracted to well-endowed men, so they stuffed the crotch area of Utsui's costume with cotton). Whatever Utsui's feelings about the role, his earnest and heroic interpretation of the character made lasting impact on a generation's children all over the world.

## Films

* ***Super Giant*** (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 鋼鉄の巨人, *Sūpā Jaiantsu*) a.k.a. *The Steel Giant* (1957) Part 1
* ***Super Giant Continues*** (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 続鋼鉄の巨人, *Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu*) (1957) Part 2
* ***Super Giant - The Mysterious Spacemen's Demonic Castle*** (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 怪星人の魔城 - *Sūpā Jaiantsu - Kaiseijin no Majō*) (1957)
* ***Super Giant - Earth on the Verge of Destruction*** (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 地球滅亡寸前 - *Sūpā Jaiantsu - Chikyū Metsubō Sunzen*) (1957)
* ***Super Giant - The Artificial Satellite and the Destruction of Humanity*** (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 人工衛星と人類の破滅 - *Sūpā Jaiantsu - Jinkō Eisei to Jinrui no Hametsu*) (1957)
* ***Super Giant - The Spaceship and the Clash of the Artificial Satellite*** (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 宇宙艇と人工衛星の激突 - *Sūpā Jaiantsu - Uchūtei to Jinkō Eisei no Gekitotsu*) (1958)
* *Super Giant - The Space Mutant Appears* (スーパー・ジャイアンツ 宇宙怪人出現 - *Sūpā Jaiantsu - Uchū Kaijin Shutsugen*) (1958)
* *Super Giant Continues - The Devil's Incarnation* (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 悪魔の化身 - *Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu - Akuma no Keshin*) (1959)
* ***Super Giant Continues - Kingdom of the Poison Moth*** (続スーパー・ジャイアンツ 毒蛾王国 - *Zoku Sūpā Jaiantsu - Dokuga Ōkoku*) (1959)

## Manga adaptations

Towards the end of the film series' run, there were manga adaptations of the Super Giant adventures. Artists included Tatsuo Yoshida and Jiro Kuwata.

## American adaptations

The American company Walter Manley Enterprises  purchased the international rights to *Starman* and with Medallion Films, repackaged the nine *Starman* films into four films for U.S. television in 1964.

The first six installments were re-edited into three films -- *Atomic Rulers of the World*, *Invaders from Space*, and *Attack from Space*. The final three Japanese films were all re-edited into *Evil Brain from Outer Space*.  The English dubbing was handled by Titra Studios of New York, using many of the voices common in dubbed films of the time, including Peter Fernandez. The original music soundtrack was largely replaced by library tracks.