Great Mazinger is the name of a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series. It was aired on Japan in 1974, immediately following the end of the first Mazinger series. It lasted for 56 episodes.
The story centers on Tetsuya Tsurugi, an orphan raised by none other than Kenzo Kabuto, the once thought dead father of Mazinger Z pilot Kouji Kabuto. Kenzo Kabuto is the creator of the new, improved version of Mazinger, made by refining his father's Chogokin Z (Super Alloy Z) into a new, stronger form, designed to fight against humanity's new enemy, the Mikenese Empire, led by the Great General of Darkness and his army of Warrior Beasts. Kenzo gives the Great Mazinger to Tetsuya to pilot, who is accompanied by a new token girl, Jun Hono (an orphaned half Japanese, half black girl), in her female robot Venus A. With the original Mazinger destroyed, Kouji went to America to study space travel and left Japan's defense in the hands of Tetsuya and the Fortress of Science. Both Great Mazinger's and Tetsuya's training are completed just in time to come to Kouji's aid as the Mycene Battle Beasts overwhelm Mazinger Z. Tetsuya battles the Mycene Battle Beasts and even their mighty generals, cumulating in a bitter final battle with the Mycene's military leader, Ankoku Daishogun (Great General of Darkness). After the Great General of Darkness' defeat, the Mycene forces are led by Dr. Hell, the villain from Mazinger Z, back under the guise of the Great Marshall of Hell.
The series also includes some cast members the original Mazinger Z show, like Shiro Kabuto (Koji's little brother), and comic-relief robot Boss Borot. The series was not as successful in Japan as the original, and it was never shown in the States (however, it was shown unedited and in its entirety, like Mazinger Z, in Mexico and some other Latin American countries with great success, and occasionally footage from Great Mazinger's sole appearance in the final episode of Mazinger Z would be shown in Tranzor Z). Actually, the Great Mazinger became famous in the U.S. when it was the first of the late '70s line of Mattel's Shogun Warriors toy series.
Great Mazinger was also the star of the short theatrical "team-up movies" features released in Japan like Great Mazinger vs Grendizer, Great Mazinger vs Getter Robo G, etc., based on anime crossovers of the manga creations of Go Nagai.
Tetsuya and the Great Mazinger are featured, along with Jun in the new Mazinkaiser OVA and movie Mazinkaiser: Deathmatch! Ankoku Daishogun. The characters have been also a mainstay in Banpresto's Super Robot Wars, a popular battle-simulation/RPG series of video games based on many anime mecha shows, including the original Mazinger Z and many others like Getter Robo, the Gundam series, and Neon Genesis Evangelion among others.
Power Source: Photonic Energy
Armor Materials: Chogokin New Z (New Super-Alloy Z)
Dimensions
Height: 25 meters
Weight: 32 tons
Neck Circumference: 6.2 meters
Chest Circumference: 18.5 meters
Arm Circumference: 6.5 meters
Leg Circumference: 7 meters
Arm Length: 9.8 meters
Leg Length: 13 meters
Foot Length: 4 meters (approximate)
Performance
Walking Speed: 70 km/h
Running Speed: 450 km/h
Swimming Speed: 25 knots
Flight Speed: Mach 4
Flight Speed (docked with Great Booster): Mach 5
Ceiling: 50 km
Maximum Jump Height: 30 meters
Maximum Dive Depth: 8 km
Output: 90,000 horsepower
The story centers on Tetsuya Tsurugi, an orphan raised by none other than Kenzo Kabuto, the once thought dead father of Mazinger Z pilot Kouji Kabuto. Kenzo Kabuto is the creator of the new, improved version of Mazinger, made by refining his father's Chogokin Z (Super Alloy Z) into a new, stronger form, designed to fight against humanity's new enemy, the Mikenese Empire, led by the Great General of Darkness and his army of Warrior Beasts. Kenzo gives the Great Mazinger to Tetsuya to pilot, who is accompanied by a new token girl, Jun Hono (an orphaned half Japanese, half black girl), in her female robot Venus A. With the original Mazinger destroyed, Kouji went to America to study space travel and left Japan's defense in the hands of Tetsuya and the Fortress of Science. Both Great Mazinger's and Tetsuya's training are completed just in time to come to Kouji's aid as the Mycene Battle Beasts overwhelm Mazinger Z. Tetsuya battles the Mycene Battle Beasts and even their mighty generals, cumulating in a bitter final battle with the Mycene's military leader, Ankoku Daishogun (Great General of Darkness). After the Great General of Darkness' defeat, the Mycene forces are led by Dr. Hell, the villain from Mazinger Z, back under the guise of the Great Marshall of Hell.
The series also includes some cast members the original Mazinger Z show, like Shiro Kabuto (Koji's little brother), and comic-relief robot Boss Borot. The series was not as successful in Japan as the original, and it was never shown in the States (however, it was shown unedited and in its entirety, like Mazinger Z, in Mexico and some other Latin American countries with great success, and occasionally footage from Great Mazinger's sole appearance in the final episode of Mazinger Z would be shown in Tranzor Z). Actually, the Great Mazinger became famous in the U.S. when it was the first of the late '70s line of Mattel's Shogun Warriors toy series.
Great Mazinger was also the star of the short theatrical "team-up movies" features released in Japan like Great Mazinger vs Grendizer, Great Mazinger vs Getter Robo G, etc., based on anime crossovers of the manga creations of Go Nagai.
Tetsuya and the Great Mazinger are featured, along with Jun in the new Mazinkaiser OVA and movie Mazinkaiser: Deathmatch! Ankoku Daishogun. The characters have been also a mainstay in Banpresto's Super Robot Wars, a popular battle-simulation/RPG series of video games based on many anime mecha shows, including the original Mazinger Z and many others like Getter Robo, the Gundam series, and Neon Genesis Evangelion among others.
Power Source: Photonic Energy
Armor Materials: Chogokin New Z (New Super-Alloy Z)
Dimensions
Height: 25 meters
Weight: 32 tons
Neck Circumference: 6.2 meters
Chest Circumference: 18.5 meters
Arm Circumference: 6.5 meters
Leg Circumference: 7 meters
Arm Length: 9.8 meters
Leg Length: 13 meters
Foot Length: 4 meters (approximate)
Performance
Walking Speed: 70 km/h
Running Speed: 450 km/h
Swimming Speed: 25 knots
Flight Speed: Mach 4
Flight Speed (docked with Great Booster): Mach 5
Ceiling: 50 km
Maximum Jump Height: 30 meters
Maximum Dive Depth: 8 km
Output: 90,000 horsepower
