Figure 1.--.

Starman (USA versions late 1960's) aka SuperGiant (Japan, circa late 1950's). The series starred Ken Utsui as Satman (Super-Giant, the man of steel). Japan's first cinematic super-hero influenced by the American television show, "The Adventures of Superman," and created by the Toho Studio's rival Shintoho Studios. Imported to the US by Walter Manly Enterprises, re-edited and re-titled into four Starman features which aired on American television from late 1960's through the 1970's. Staman was the creation of The High Council of the Emerald Planet from the Marpet Galaxy, being a lone agent for the High Council to intervene in the affairs of Earthmen when disaster threatened Earth and the universe. Little is known about Starman, the character, except that he was literally a "man of steel" created by the High Council, but being a robot, android of some organic sper-creature is unknown. Starman is an excellent fighter with the strength of a thousand mortal men, and is equipped with The Globe Meter. The Globe Meter is worn on the wrist and has three functions: to fly through space, to detect radiation, and to translate all Earthly languages. Starman wears a simple costume of white tights and boots, an open-faced cowl equipped with a single antennea, and a rounded cape which is attached to his sleeves fluttering like wings when he flies; he also has a black waist belt with a large crystal as a buckle. Like the gigantic flying turtle called Gamera, Starman is the friend to all earth children.

TV-ology

Starman (USA versions late 1960's) aka SuperGiant (Japan, circa late 1950's). This was Japan's first cinematic super-hero influenced by the American television show, "The Adventures of Superman," and created by the Toho Studio's rival Shintoho Studios. Imported to the US by Walter Manly Enterprises, re-edited and re-titled into four Starman features which aired on American television from late 1960's through the 1970's.

Premise

Starman was the creation of The High Council of the Emerald Planet from the Marpet Galaxy, being a lone agent for the High Council to intervene in the affairs of Earthmen when disaster threatened Earth and the universe. Little is known about Starman, the character, except that he was literally a "man of steel" created by the High Council, but being a robot, android of some organic sper-creature is unknown. Starman is an excellent fighter with the strength of a thousand mortal men, and is equipped with The Globe Meter. The Globe Meter is worn on the wrist and has three functions: to fly through space, to detect radiation, and to translate all Earthly languages. Starman wears a simple costume of white tights and boots, an open-faced cowl equipped with a single antennea, and a rounded cape which is attached to his sleeves fluttering like wings when he flies; he also has a black waist belt with a large crystal as a buckle. Like the gigantic flying turtle called Gamera, Starman is the friend to all earth children.

Cast

The series starred Ken Utsui as Satman (Super-Giant, the man of steel).

Plots

Starman's adventures are as follows( all, except The Evil Brain from Outer Space were originally two part serials, edited together for the USA Audience, dubbed by the same studio/team as the children's cartoon Speed Racer, and released solely on American televison).

Attack from Space

A warrior race from the Sapphire Planet in the Marpet Galaxy attack Earth. Only Dr. Yamanaka, his son and daughter, and Starman stand in their way! Act 1 clothing discription: boy (12 years old): black long pants, white gym shoes, white knitted turtleneck sweater with horizontal stripes across chest and sleeve cuffs. Sister wears a sailor suit style black dress and long stockings. Act 2: boy: black baseball (school) cap with emblem, black dress pants hemmed just at the ankle, black leather oxfords and black socks, black military style jacket with closed tab collar and two pips on left collar at throat (white shirt hardly noticable beneath jacket), large bronze buttons. Bother he ans siter wear bomber-style coats. Act 3: space suits for everyone.

Invaders from Space

The Salamander Men from the Planet Kulamon invade Earth and threaten sudden death to anyone who opposes them. Act 1: 2 brothers wear matching outfits of belted and pressed khaki shorts, white and "red" checkerboard long sleeve shirts buttoned at collar, and white ankle socks with ascending multi-colored stripes. Act 2: children are evacuated. 2 brothers wear black short shorts with black military style jackets with bronze buttons, but with regular collars; off-white baseball style school caps with logo/crest/letter and black bill. Act 3: brothers: belted black long shorts, white ankle socks, off-white school cap with black bills, long sleeve button down shirts with cargo style pockets on both breasts; one white, one khaki.

Atomic Rulers

Leaders of the Meropal Nation plan to take control of Earth by planting nuclear devices around the world. The seek the surrender of all the nations unless Starman can stop them. But a lone boy had inadvertantly intercepted one of the nuclear devices, and it's a race against time to save the world and one kidnapped orphan. Orphans: some of the orphan boys wore Americanized clothes of long and short jeans, ankle socks and gym shoes, black shorts and button down shirts or striped T shirts. Hiroshi, the kidnapped boy wears long jeans rolled up to ankles, dark ankle socks, and a long sleeve dark plaid shirt with collar.

The Evil Brain from Outer Space

Originally 3 separate 55 minute movies entitled: Space Mutant Appears; The Devil Incarnate; and Kingdom of the Poison Moth, re-edited into one 78 minute film for the USA. The Brain of Balazar of the Marpet Galaxy leads an invasion force against earth from hidden based at the Earth's core, using an army of aliens and evil mutants like the deadly ghost witch whose very touch burns with atomic waste, or the moth demon whose razor claws are deadly even to our man of steel! Act 1: scientist's two daughters, both wear simple skirts and long sleeve sweaters; son wears black short shorts, a knitted turtle neck sweater with horizontal snoflake pattern across chest, and white ankle socks. Act 2 concerns a brother and sister who are caught in the Alien invaders trap. The sister wears a skirt and sweater top, and cat-like black rimmed eyeglasses. The young boy, Harada, wears very short black shorts and black tights, Converse high top sneakers, and a gray checkered suit jacket, white polo like shirt with yelow stars on the soft collar.

Children

Children play integral parts in most, if not all, of these episodic films, although the main protagonist is an adult alien, the children usually uncover the plot to invade Earth. Not serious films, but unlike American adventure shows of the past which offer a hero to look up to, but doesn't include characters the kids can identify with, Starman utilizes both; Starman also only entrusts the children with a way to signal him if danger threatens, a glass sphere that when tossed on the ground, alerts the hero of to their needs, like Jimmy Olsen's signal watch from Superman comic books.

Costuming

The children sport everyday outfits for the time period depicted, the 1950s and 1960s.

Assesment

A truly horrific children series, Starman frightened me as a child. I could still recall the faces of the evil witch, the moth demon, and the eerie Salamander men. A bizarre mixture of super-heroics, science fiction space opera, nuculear holocaust angst, and horror, blended with a children's adventure series, Satman is unique, both in it's Japanese original versions (never seen, even on DVD, to this day in America), or the bastardized US edited versions. The Starman series spawned countless children's sci-fi adventure serials and television imitators, such as the Super-Giants (robot protectors of earth, one able to assume the shape of an Earth boy), and even the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Jeffrey A. Stadt

Created: March 30, 2003
Last updated: March 30, 2003