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Shogun Warriors #1: "Raydeen"
On my final day at the Phoenix Comicon this past May, a minty fresh copy of Shogun Warriors #1 found its way into the pile of bronze age beauties for which I paid one buck per book. [Colgate™ smile]

Published by Marvel Comics between February of 1978 and September of 1980, Shogun Warriors boasted the enormous exploits of a triumvirate of giant robots whose names and likenesses were licensed from Mattel Toys for use in comics by Marvel. The series ran for 20 issues and featured stories by writer Doug Moench and illustrations by artist Herb Trimpe.

As this first issue opens, the giant robot Raydeen, a "servant of good," is locked in an epic tussle with the equally enormous and polar opposite servant of evil, Rok-Korr. After having been stored away for unknown eons under a secret base in a remote part of the far east, it is Raydeen's first time on the battlefield and it is showing. Fortunately, this clash of titans takes place on the outskirts of the been-there-done-that-wearing-the-I-survived-t-shirt side of Tokyo.

Riding in the catbird seats of Raydeen's on-board control center are his three newly recruited handlers: Japanese aircraft pilot, Genji Odasu, African marine biologist, Ilongo Savage, and American stunt car test driver, Richard Carson. Before being abducted by aliens and tossed into the fray with Rok-Korr, the three were given a roughly 20-minute crash course on the art of robot rope-a-dope.

Despite landing a few well-placed blows and nearly putting the big bad guy down, team Raydeen is in over their heads. They have managed to lead the destructive Rok-Korr away from the city, though, and choose to try loosing him in the nearby mountains. After doing so, and seeing this as small triumph in an overall failure, Savage suggests a tactical retreat: He who fights and runs away lives long enough to sign up self-defense classes.

How and why were Genji Odasu, Ilongo Savage, and Richard Carson chosen for team Raydeen? Who are the Followers of Light and from what strange world do they originate? Whose big orange silhouettes are those flanking Raydeen on the cover? Who is Lord Maur-Kon and why does he wanna wreak havoc on our peaceful planet Earth? The answers to those questions and many more are to be found inside the pages of the first exciting issue of Shogun Warriors !

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Meanwhile...

 Shogun Warriors #2: "Warriors Three"

On the final page of issue #1 of Shogun Warriors, readers are introduced to two more ginormous pilot-driven robots. Like Raydeen, they too were created by the Followers of Light to assist in the never-ending struggle against the forces of evil, and child boredom. These robots are Combatra and Danguard Ace.

When the Shogun Warriors comic book was originally released, it was almost universally assumed that these additional bots were created by Marvel Comics. Why? Because in comparison to Raydeen and others from Mattel's Shogun Warriors toy line, like Mazinger, Dragun and Gaiking, Danguard Ace and Combatra seemed, boxy, clunky and not as super fly looking.

Nonetheless, Raydeen's Marvel Comics compadres were indeed genuine (pronounced "gin-you-wine") imports from Japan's giant robot genre. In fact, during the 1970s, Chōdenji Robo Combattler V and Planet Robo Danguard Ace even had animated TV shows of their own, as well as complementary die-cast metal toys...which seemed boxy, clunky and not as super fly looking.

And so, in this, the second issue of Shogun Warriors, readers are officially introduced to these two additional robots. We also get a look at their special powers in a training exercize–like the flying rocket fist of Danguard Ace. But readers also get to learn which of the giant robots will be piloted by which of the three new recruits!

In spite of the overall tempo of issue #1 and also a pulse-pounding page which really made it look as if Ilongo Savage was going to lead the team and pilot Raydeen (see above), the powers-that-be must've sensed a serious disturbance in the force. So an "editorial decision" was made to put the dark side back in check. The way that this plays out in the story is lame, even for a comic book.

Back at Shogun Sanctuary, psychological profiles are conducted by computer in order to determine which "individual human temperament" is best suited to link with which each specific robot. Stunt driver Richard Carson (big #%&* surprise there, right?) assumes the pilot seat of Raydeen, Genji Odasu links with Combatra, and Ilongo Savage links with Danguard Ace.

With that predictable bit of typecasting out of the way, the team, after somehow also having time to get more training under their belts, heads out for a rematch with Rok-Korr. The mammoth menace has found his way back to town and has his empty head set on knocking down more bridges and buildings.

How does the team fare in their next baptism of fire? What evil simmers beneath a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean? Who are the eternal foes of the Followers of Light? In addition to Odasu, why is there only one other woman at Shogun Sanctuary? The answers to those questions and many more are to be found within the pages of the second exciting issue of Shogun Warriors!

 

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