UCHUU KEIJI GAVAN

Uchuu Keiji Gavan (宇宙刑事ギャバン, Uchū Keiji Gyaban?), translated as Space Sheriff Gavan, is the first of the Metal Heroes series which aired on TV Asahi from 5 March 1982 through 27 February 1983.
Plot

Earth is invaded by the Makuu Empire (literally "demon space") led by Don Horror, who had first destroyed a space colony near Earth. Don Horror simply wants to dominate the whole universe and the Earth represents an obstacle that he has to overcome, but not necessarily by destroying it. Don Horror sends spaceships to start panic among Earthlings. While Makuu is imposing its domination on the blue planet, Space Sheriff Gavan, from the Galactic Union Patrol, arrives in his spaceship Dolgiran from Bird Planet, the planet where Space Sheriffs are trained and where they are stationed whilst on call. Gavan is asked to defend the Earth which is his mother's planet of origin. Tamiko Ichijouji had married Voicer, Earth's former Space Sheriff but Tamiko dies of illness and Voicer was betrayed by his fellow Hunter Killer who joined up with the Makuu forces and they disappeared, Gavan is helped by Mimi, the daughter of Commander Qom, and is given the information by Qom, who is assisted by Marin on Bird his base planet. Gavan is now on Earth to defend it against Don Horror and his devilish schemes. He has settled on Earth incognito, working at Avalon Youth Club in Japan where is known as Retsu Ichijouji, his actual Earthling name.

Characters

Protagonist

• Retsu Ichijouji (Ichijōji Retsu) / Gavan: He is the son of Tamiko Ichijouji (Ichijōji Tamiko) and Voicer. Gavan protect the Earth against Makuu Empire. When time gets urgent, he's teleported a silver chrome combat suit thanks the Jouchaku process which consists in fusing Granium particles to Gavan's body in 0.05 seconds. He's an accomplished athlete and he's got various weapons to help him. On Earth, he uses his earthling name (from his mother) Retsu Ichijouji and works in the Avalon Youth Club where he befriends children.
• Mimi (1-31; 42-44): She is the petted daughter of Commander Qom and Gavan assistant. She can transform into a bird, which is very useful to spy Makuu. Of course, she is in love with Gavan and shall support him in any case. She leaves Dolgiran to help her mother on Bird Planet and returns to help in final battles.
• Commander Com: He is the commander of Galactic Union Patrol but he is also the father of Mimi. He lives of Bird Planet and helps Gavan giving him information and sometimes training him to beat Makuu. He can communicate with him through a giant screen on the Dolgiran.
• Marin: The assistant of Commander Qom, she works in his office and she was also ready to save Gavan's life, when he was about to be killed by the poison of Dokuja Monster. She will become Gavan's second assistant.
• Voicer: A former space sheriff of Earth, he was betrayed by his fellow Hunter Killer and was captured by Makuu. He was forced to build the Hoshino Space Cannon, which able to destroy a planet but he kept the formula for himself even after being tortured. He was then imprisoned before being saved by his son: Gavan. He was brought back to Dolgiran but died soon after: he had kept the secret of the formula of the cannon in the palm of his hand.
• Alan (30-31): He has come to Earth to get a princess back on his planet. He is dressed like a cowboy and saves Gavan when San Doruba arrives on Earth.
• Den Iga(Iga Den)/Sharivan (42; 44): Den is a forest patroller. His super fighting technique is not enough to defeat against Buffalo Doubler and he was nearly killed during the fight. He's sent to Bird Planet to be cured and comes back in a final battle becoming Space Sheriff Sharivan to replace Gavan.
• Tsukiko Hoshino: She is the adoptive sister of Gavan and was brought up by Voicer when her parents were killed by Hunter Killer. She is a very sweet girl and she assists Gavan in his missions.
• Kojiro Oyama: This funny moron is a photographer whose obsession is UFOs: he even created a machine able to detect them!! He met Gavan and from them on, the two keep crossing each other's paths. He occasionally works at Avalon Club to replace Retsu and he also befriends Wakaba and Yuuichi.
• Gosuke: The kind grandfather and owner of the Avalon Club whose greatest wish is to get his young body back!! Though he feels sympathy towards Gavan (Retsu actually), he is often angered about his frequent disappearances.
• Wakaba and Yuuichi: Gosuke's grandchildren. They both live in the Avalon Club and they sometimes happen to be in the middle of some Makuu scheme. They have developed a strong friendship with Retsu and Kojiro.

The Space Crime Organization Makuu

• Don Horror: The leader of Makuu. This powerful villain wants to erase the obstacle that represents Earth to the conquest of the universe and is ready to use any means to destroy it. He lives the Makuu castle which files in the Makuu domain/tunnel. He is immobile all throughout but how he had a son by Kiba still remains to be seen. He was inevitably killed by Gavan in a final duel.
• Hunter Killer (1-30; 42): He was partner of Voicer but betrayed him to join the space crime organization Makuu. These one eyed pirate is Don Horror's right hand man but was dimissed where is replaced by San Dolva. He reappears to help Gavan to find his father just before dying to redeem himself.
• San Dolva (30-44): He arrives with his mother and finally takes the place of Hunter Killer who is been considered as a traitor. He is the son of Don Horror and Kiba and wears a crimson armor and holds a scepter which contains his mother's mind. The pitiless chief was finally be killed by Gavan in a final battle.
• Kiba (30-44): This terrible very old witch is the wife of Don Horror and San Dolva's mother and complots the most devilish scheme to exterminate Gavan. Her mind is in San Dolva's scepter and she can materialize at any moment
• BEM Kaiju (1-13): : These are a simple monsters which aid Double Man. They do not have human forms and are destroyed with Gavan's Laser Z Beam.
• Double Man (1-13): They are Makuu generals who can have a human form. They're aided by BEM Kaiju. Unlike BEM monsters, they have only possible form when monsters
• Double Monsters/Doublers (13-42): The combined form of Double Man and BEM Kaiju. Double Monsters have a monster form as well as a human form and work along with Crushers
• Crushers: The soldiers of Makuu. They can certainly not be counted precisely. Actually they are probably unlimited and act only when forming groups.
• Horror Girl: Don Horror's secretary. She never speaks, but hear her laugh all the time. She operates the Makuu Kukan under the order of Don Horror

Attacks and Weapons

• Laser Z Beam: Small blue triangles of laser that Gavan use with the right and middle fingers and able to destroy a monster.
• Silver Beam: Lightning like beam emanating from Gavan's right hand that he uses to strike enemies.
• Laser Blade: Gavan's mighty sword which he first uses a normal one (steel blade). When the end of the combat approches, he transforms it into a light blue blade.
• Gavan Dynamic: His death ritual which he performs to destroy the monster by slicing him in two shouting Gavan Dynamic with his powerful laser blade. He always uses the technique at the end.
• Gavan Punch: A simple but powerful punch.
• Gavan Kick: A powerful right leg kick which he uses when jumping.
• Dimension Bomber: A technique which consists in flying and giving many punchs as possible. It is pretty effective against Crushers.
• Laser Scope: A radar that can detect invisible monsters.
• Electro Sonar: A sonar which enables Gavan to detect any movement and sound around.
• Spiral Kick: He jumps on monsters and henchmen with his feet forward.
• Barrier: A magnetic blue barrier he uses to stop objects and projectiles.
• Jouchaku Process: When Gavan shouts Jouchaku, Dolgiran sends particles of Granium to form Gavan's combat suit in 0.05 seconds.
• Vacuum Evaporation: The process to have his combat suit returning to Dolgiran.

Vehicles

• Dolgiran: Gavan's spaceship by a weaponed saucer and a body which transforms into a dragon. It's Gavan and Mimi's headquarters in which he can look after the Earth and protect it against Makuu schemes. It also contains a giant screen through which can Qom communicate and every vehicle. The Jouchaku Process is also possible thanks to a computer inside its which sends the Granium particles.
• Cyberian: Gavan's personal vehicle to enter Makuu space. When he shouts Cyberian, the red side car comes from Dolgiran to the place where Gavan fights. He occasionally uses it when fighting Makuu on Earth.
• Gyabion: Gavan's private tank. He happens to use it rather at the final batlles instead of Dol. Like Dol, he just stand up on the tank and gives order to it. This heavy vehicle is quit efficient as well thanks to all its raybeams and cannons. It even contains a drill machine inside.
• Scooper: Gavan's drill machine. He uses it to save Professor Kaminaga to find some hidden monsters and of course his father.
• Dol: Which Gavan shouts Denji Seiju Doru, Dol forms from the second part of Dolgiran and becomes a powerful mechanical dragon which supports Gavan. Gavan uses him mostly to destroy Makuu spacecrafts.
• Attacks: Dol Fire, Dol Kick, Dol Laser, Tail Attack

Monster Guide

1. Partridge Monster
2. Toad Monster
3. Condor Monster
4. Scorpion Monster
5. Poisonous snake Monster
6. Octopus Monster
7. Samurai Ant Monster
8. Fire Monkey Monster
9. No monster appeared in this episode
10. Rainbow Butterfly Monster
11. Armadillo Monster
12. Goat Monster
13. Rhino Monster
14. Rhino Doubler
15. Gamecock Doubler
16. Scythe Doubler
17. Panther Doubler
18. Blue Turtle Doubler
19. Dinosaur Doubler
20. Cricket Doubler
21. Honeybee Doubler
22. Jellyfish Doubler
23. Spider Doubler
24. Sabre Doubler
25. Five-colored Doubler
26. Gas Doubler
27. Evil Doubler
28. Bleached-boned Doubler
29. Magic Doubler
30. Defensive Doubler
31. Hypnotic Doubler
32. Sudden Attack Doubler
33. Monster Doubler
34. Doctor Doubler
35. Guts Doubler
36. Malice Doubler
37. Hole-digging Doubler
38. Gang Doubler
39. Capture Doubler
40. Supernatural Creature Doubler
41. Hell Doubler
42. Buffalo Doubler

Episode List

1. "The Strange Fortress Beneath Tokyo" (東京地底の怪要塞 Tōkyō Chitei no Kai Yōsai)
2. "The Stolen Japanese Islands" (盗まれた日本列島 Nusumareta Nihon Rettō)
3. "It's Major! Stop Dr. Kuroboshi's BEM Project" (大変だ! 黒星博士のベム計画を阻止せよ Taihen da! Kuroboshi-Hakase no Bemu Keikaku o Soshi Seyo)
4. "The Majin Helmet That Calls Death" (死を呼ぶ魔人兜 Shi o Yobu Majin Kabuto)
5. "Mimi Cries; The Deadly Poison Cobra Bullet Hits Retsu" (ミミーは泣く 猛毒コブラ弾が烈に命中 Mimī wa Naku Mōdoku Kobura Tama ga Retsu ni Meichū)
6. "The Geniuses of the Makuu School" (魔空塾の天才たち Makū no Tensai-tachi)
7. "A Monster Hides, a Girl Kissed a Petal" (怪物がひそむ花びらに少女は口づけした Kaibutsu ga Hisomu Hanabira ni Shōjo wa Kuchidzuke Shita)
8. "Justice or Devil? The Silver-Masked Great Hero" (正義か悪魔か? 銀マスク大ヒーロー Seigi ka Akuma ka? Gin Masuku Dai Hīrō)
9. "The Beautiful Puppet Spy" (美しい人形スパイ Utsukushii Ningyō Supai)
10. "Crush the Human Crusher Corps!" (人間クラッシャー部隊を撃破せよ! Ningen Kurasshā Butai o Gekiha Seyo!)
11. "Is Father Alive? The Mysterious SOS Signal" (父は生きているのか? 謎のSOS信号 Chichi wa Ikite Iru no ka? Nazo no Esu Ō Esu Shingō)
12. "Express to the Theme Park! UFO Boys' Big Pinch" (遊園地へ急行せよ! UFO少年大ピンチ Yūenchi e Kyūkō Seyo! Yūfō Shōnen Dai Pinchi)
13. "Danger, Retsu! The Great Reversal" (危うし烈! 大逆転 Ayaushi Retsu! Dai Gyakuten)
14. "A Parting of Love And Sadness, The Final Blow" (愛と悲しみの別れ とどめの一撃!! Ai to Kanashimi no Wakare Todome no Ichigeki!!)
15. "Illusion? Shadow? Makuu City" (幻? 影? 魔空都市 Maboroshi? Kage? Makū Toshi)
16. "My First Love is a Jewel's Radiance; Goodbye, Galaxy Express" (初恋は宝石の輝き さようなら銀河特急 Hatsukoi wa Hōseki no Kagayaki Sayōnara Ginga Tokkyū)
17. "The Running Time Bomb! The Assassin Who Rode a Police Bike" (走る時限爆弾! 白バイに乗った暗殺者 Hashiru Jigen Bakudan! Shirobai ni Notta Ansatsusha)
18. "Princess Contest, Nonsense Ryuuguu Castle" (乙姫様コンテスト ハチャメチャ竜宮城 Otohime Kontesuto Hachamecha Ryūgūjō)
19. "Jouchaku at 6:00 AM! Z Beam Charge Complete" (午前6時蒸着! Zビームチャージ完了 Gozen Rokuji Jōchaku! Zetto Bīmu Chāji Kanryō)
20. "The Mysterious? Emergency Hospital! Humanity's Great Collapse Approaches" (なぞ? の救急病院! 人類の大滅亡が迫る Nazo? No Kyūkyū Byōin! Jinrui no Dai Metsubō ga Semaru)
21. "The Dancing, Prickly Great Pinch: Operation Honey!!" (踊ってチクリ大ピンチ ハニー作戦よ! Odotte Chikuri Dai Pinchi Hanī Sakusen yo!)
22. "Golden Mask and Younger Sister: The Yacht Running Toward the Sun" (黄金仮面と妹 太陽に向って走るヨット Ōgon Kamen to Imōto Taiyō ni Mukatte Hashiru Yotto)
23. "The Beauty's Cries That Cut Trough the Night! The Phantom Coach in the Fog" (闇を裂く美女の悲鳴! 霧の中の幽霊馬車 Yami o Saku Bijo no Himei! Kiri no Naka no Yūrei Basha)
24. 24. "Mimi's Nightmare!? The Howling, Cut-Up Demonbeast" (ミミーの悪夢か!? 吠える切り裂き魔獣 Mimī no Akumu ka!? Hoeru Kirisaki Majū)
25. "The Suspiciously Flickering Underwater Flower; Wakaba in Danger" (怪しくゆらめく水中花 わかばが危ない Ayashiku Yurameku Suichūka Wakaba ga Abunai)
26. "I Saw The Doll! The True Identity of the Poison Gas Killer Corps" (人形は見た!! 毒ガス殺人部隊の正体 Ningyō wa Mita!! Dokugasu Satsujin Butai no Shōtai)
27. "The Teachers are Weird! A School Full of Weirdness" (先生たちが変だ! 学校は怪奇がいっぱい Sensei-tachi ga Hen da! Gakkō wa Kaiki ga Ippai)
28. "The Dark Sea of Space, Wandering Witch Monica" (暗黒の宇宙の海 さまよえる魔女モニカ Ankoku no Uchū no Umi Samayoeru Majo Monika)
29. "Blitzkrieg Magic Battle! A Program of Assassination" (電撃マジック合戦! 暗殺のプログラム Dengeki Majikku Kassen! Ansatsu no Puroguramu)
30. "Don Horror's Son Has Returned to Makuu Castle" (ドンホラーの息子が魔空城に帰って来た Don Horā no Musuko ga Makūjō ni Kaettekita)
31. "Listening to the Angel's Song, the Princess Who Became a Doll" (天使の歌が聞こえる 人形にされた王女 Tenshi no Uta ga Kikoeru Ningyō ni Sareta Ōjo)
32. 32. "The Mysterious Underground Maze Target is WX1" (謎の地底迷路 ターゲットはWX-1 Nazo no Chitei Meiro Tāgetto wa Daburu Ekkusu Wan)
33. "A New Monster is Born: The Boy Who Picked up an Alien" (新怪物誕生 エイリアンを拾った少年 Shin Kaubutsu Tanjō Eirian o Hirotta Shōnen)
34. "Memories are Tears of Stars: a Fatherless Child, a Motherless Child" (思い出は星の涙 父のない子 母のない子 Omoide wa Hoshi no Namida Chichi no Nai Ko Haha no Nai Ko)
35. "The Young Lion of Makuu; San Doruba's Opposition" (マクーの若獅子 サンドルバの反抗 Makū no Waka Shishi San Doruba no Hankō)
36. "The Roadshow of Resentment; The Film Studio is Makuu Space" (恨みのロードショー 撮影所は魔空空間 Urami no Rōdoshō Satsueijo wa Makū Kūkan)
37. "The Funny Tomboy Princess' Earth Adventure Trip" (おてんばひょうきん姫の地球冒険旅行 Otenba Hyōkin Hime no Chikyū Bōken Ryokō)
38. "The Surrounded Transport Corps; the Righteous Sun Sword" (包囲された輸送部隊 正義の太陽剣 Hōi Sareta Yusō Butai Seigi no Taiyō Tsurugi)
39. "When I Returned From School, My House was a Makuu Base" (学校から帰ったらぼくの家はマクー基地 Gakkō Kara Kaettara Boku no Uchi wa Makū Kichi)
40. "The Decisive Battle of the Valley of Death; You're a Space Sheriff Too!" (死の谷の大決戦 君も宇宙刑事だ! Shi no Tani no Dai Kessen Kimi mo Uchū Keiji da!)
41. "Makuu City is a Battlefield of Men; The Red Hourglass of Life" (魔空都市は男の戦場 赤い生命の砂時計 Makū Toshi wa Otoko no Senjō Akai Seimei no Sunadokei)
42. "Retsu! Hurry! Dad!" (烈よ急げ! 父よ Retsu yo Isoge! Chichi yo)
43. "Reunion" (再会 Saikai)
44. "The Neck of Don Horror" (ドンホラーの首 Don Horā no Kubi)

Cast

* Retsu Ichijouji/Gavan: Kenji Ohba
* Mimi: Wakiko Kano
* Qom: Toshiaki Nishizawa
* Marin: Kyoko Nashiro
* Voicer: Sonny Chiba
* Tamiko Ichijouji: Tamie Kubata
* Kojiro Oyama Masayuki Suzuki
* Tsukiko Hoshino: Aiko Tachibana
* Makku: Morita Sakamoto
* Gosuke Fuji: Jun Tatara
* Shigeru Touyama: Shin'ichi Kaze
* Alan: Hiroshi Miyauchi
* Den Iga / Sharivan: Hiroshi Watari
* Don Horror: Shozo Iizuka(episode 1~10):Takeshi Watabe(episode 11~)
* Hunter Killer: Michiro Iida
* San Doruba: Ken Nishida
* Kiba: Noboru Mitani

Trivia

• Sonny Chiba and Kenji Ohba develop a close student-teacher relationship. They also worked together in Kill Bill Volume 1.
• A big success of this work influenced Paul Verhoeven's Robocop. (Refer to Robocop#Trivia for those details.)
• In the the Philippines dubbed version, Space Sheriff Gavan is renamed as Sky Ranger Gavan and within the French dub Gavan is known as X-Or (Often mistaken as "X-Sol" or "X-Sor" due to pronunciation).
• In the Uchuu Keiji Crossover, Gavan announces to Sharivan and Shaider that he has married Mimi.
• In Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil, Space Sheriff Gavan is known as Space Cop Gaban or Space Cop Gavan. (In Brazil the title was only "Space Cop")
• The late Machiko Soga guest starred in Episode 21 as the stylish Honey Manda, a Double Girl in disguise.