"Ultraman...a thread of his own" Topic

…or their own, in the end there is a group of them :)

Ultraman has the distinction, at least for me, of a being a bit dimorphic because the hero(s) is a clean design and the monsters, well they run the range of cool to just simply goofy.

That said I am still a fan.

Some of the monsters are spectacularly intriguing and others, in my eyes, are way too far over the wonky fence…but still are fun.

So does Ultraman further define our giant monster hobby/interest by drawing a line in the sand?

Clearly we all have a type…be it more organic, preferring mechanical, kaijin/daikaiju, Crusaders, etc. I think Ultraman was pivotal in offering up many of the more zany and whimsical aspects of the kaiju genre.

Thoughts?

And so many many more…do you have a favorite Ultraman and related monster?

The original Ultraman is my favorite, I'm the right age to have seen them as a kid when they were released here in the states. Used to hide behind the couch… (and now I notice the slippers the monsters are wearing).

I really can't remember the monsters from the show all that well, the Johny Socko and Giant Robots ones get stuck in my head instead.

Like Dynaman8789, I remember watching the show, but not really any details. Other than Ultraman's power was always running out during battles (or am I getting confused?!?).

I agree that Ultraman has some of the coolest and goofiest monsters, but not quite as goofy as the monsters from Power Rangers. I still like both series, but for different reasons. Ultraman has the cooler monsters, Power Rangers have the cooler tech (Zords, vehicles).

I have seen a few different Ultraman movies and series. Of the ones I have seen I think I like Ultraman Tiga the best.

-Ken
Radioactive Press

Ultraman has issues with our atmosphere that drains his power so he only has 3-5 minutes when in crusader form…then he needs to change back or recharge up closer to the sun…I suspect something about polution affecting his purity or some such lol.

I always liked the Baltans, a race of lobster clawed villains on the old (original?) Ultraman show:

They'd show up in both small and monstrous sizes… and I think they could also duplicate themselves, or something. I can't recall what they were after but they'd hang out on city streets at night, surely up to no good.
It would be nice to find a 28mm version of their human-sized form for skirmish games against the Science Patrol (and what minis to use for Hiata and his friends?).

That giant snow ape/yeti was also a standout for young me.

This guy gets high points for zany and weird!

Giga Chimera

"Hiata and his friends"

Not to forget their kid brother mascot, who shows classic ADHD behavior. I just thought it was the usual goofy sidekick thing when I saw these as a kid, but on a recent re-watch (I picked up the DVD set) that kid is painful to watch.

Oh yeah! I forgot about the kid… kind of pudgy? always putting himself in danger? Obsessed Ultraman fanboy?
One of the Science Patrol guys is already comic relief so the kid must just be there for the pathos.

I was an Ultraman fanatic as a kid, judo-choping my way through anywhere my overactive hyper-imagination took me (while in reality being tugged along to Alpha Beta with my Mom or whatever…)

Looking back now, by the time I was exposed to it, the series was already dated and waning in popularity as morning kid-fare.

My sister recently bought me the whole DVD set for Christmas and I rewatched a few of them.

Boy was I easy to please!!

Hey now, we have to realize how many monster fights they had to produce on a tiny budget! As I've stated in other threads, the fact that the Ultraman monsters were NOT bound by our ideas of 'realistic' gives them their appeal. They're all weird, colorful and distinct!

Was also rewatching the original series and got a kick out of Zarab, the shapeshifting alien:

He would barge into Science Patrol hq and make grand pronouncements such as "I am here in peace to help all mankind. BWA-HA-HA-HA-HAA!" For some reason, they didn't quite trust him. . .

Tsuburaya, the production company, have their own YouTube channel;
YouTube link

This guy has my attention from the Ultraman series

Boooo… Ultraman hase no chance against the Infrasuperman… Originals are forever.
link

YouTube link

Indeed :D

As I tend to lump all the crusader types together, is there any love out there for Jet Jaguar?

Any decent 3"-4" figures out there?

Surely everyone loves Jet Jaguar.

I have made a 1/600 little Jet Jaguar to go with my 3" gashapon so he can get bigger or smaller during games.

"He must have programmed himself to get bigger…"

Yes, Ultraman has a kind of vague smirk, but Jet Jag does him one better with a full-blown grin!

I have that same figure, a Bandai 3", very nice, as is the tiny version!

New series announced.
link
Should mean new toys.
"All of the Ultramen and monsters have been turned into figures known as Spark Dolls and became scattered throughout the universe."

I can't get a link with Japanese characters to work so you have to click this one twice
blog.m-78.jp/2013/04/12

Also, I see Ultraseven is now on DVD in The U.S.

youtu.be/0dHOzxbqWXs

Ultraman Ginga Episode 1. Tsuburaya usually leave each episode on their Youtube channel only for a few days.

New series does mean new toys.

These have been released in Japan. Ultra Hero 500 and Ultra Monster 500 figures, they cost 500 yen. Wave 2 in August with wave 3 to follow. They are five inches high.

I do not need to get a new scale of monster.
I do not need to get a new scale of monster.
I do not need to get a new scale of monster.
I do not need to get a new scale of monster.

It's not working.

Tsuburaya have released Ultraman Ginga episode 2,
YouTube link
and Over-Time have written english subtitles for episode 1.