Shotaro Ishinomori (1938–1998)

Shotaro Ishinomori’s Super Sentai: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger retells the events of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, a series that originally aired between April 1975–March 1977 in Japan. Battle Fever J originated the term “Super Sentai” in 1979, which was retroactively applied to this franchise, effectively making it the first Super Sentai franchise.

Unlike some of the later Super Sentai stories, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger has more elements of a spy story. It follows members of the Earth Guard League, or “EAGLE,” who work to combat the Black Cross Army, a group that works to steal government secrets for sale to the highest bidder and sow chaos à la SPECTRE in the James Bond franchise. The Gorengers are five teenagers who wear suits with advanced robotics that grant them enhanced abilities to fight the Black Cross Army on behalf of EAGLE. Their ages differentiate the manga from the television series, in which the characters were older, with some appearing to be in their late 20s. Further, Ishinomori’s manga changes the Tsyyoshi Kaijō’s origin so that his father grants Kaijō the Akarenger (Red Gorenger) suit before agents of Black Cross Army murder him. This helps to inform Kaijō’s motive as he seeks to avenge his father’s death. Later, Akira Shinmei, the Aorenger, mustface a traitor and the possibility of his own death. Ishinomori’s story has great character moments and a real sense of the stakes his characters face in fighting the Black Cross Army. Further, his art is stunning, with lavish splash pages.

This edition collects both the original manga and the serialized version that appeared in Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine. They have slightly different introductions for the characters and EAGLE, but EAGLE and the Gorengers missions vary from there as they battle the Black Cross Army. Haim Saban later got the idea to adapt elements of the Super Sentai franchises when he made Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Though this particular series has not been adapted in the west, this book will interest Power Rangers fans looking to see where it all began.… (meer)