The Evil Brain from Outer Space

Cribbed from nine separate films centered on the Japanese superhero Super Giant, The Evil Brain from Outer Space is a trip to say the least. I recently caught the film as part of Nightmare Cinema‘s line of films. For any fellow MSTies out there, it’s hauntingly similar to Prince of Space and Attack of the Neptune Men… in fact it is so similar that if you have seen one of those movies you have seen all of those movies. In many ways, Super Giant is a precursor to Ultraman and Kamen Rider who both followed.

Super Giant (or Starman, as he is known in the English translation), is an alien from the Emerald Planet sent to Earth to defend us from alien invaders called the ‘Semarians.’ The mutant invaders are capable of assuming any form and have a devious nature. Operating undercover, Super Giant would transform into a suited Japanese man complete with fedora, becoming Super Giant when he was needed. Able to fly and deflect nearly any form of attack, he is also incredibly strong and agile, possessing the power of teleportation.

From what I can gather, the Super Giant films operated as serial-style adventures spread over 9 stories with individual plots, villains and supporting cast members that cropped up from time to time. Stringing portions of the nine movies into one feature film is a maddening experience as the end result is a barrage of unconnected plot points and monsters that fly across the screen with wild abandon.

Veteran actor Ken Utsui dons a costume that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination, as each distinct feature of his body is hugged in his leotard topped with a darling deely-bopper. Apparently the producers stuffed his shorts with cotton to impress any ladies in the audience. To this day, Utsui refuses to discuss the films and is embarrassed by them, but they remain an important series of film that influenced many a young movie maker, I’m sure. The acrobatics exhibited in The Evil Brain from Outer Space is astounding. I decided to study the fighting techniques closely so that the next time I faced insurmountable odds in a nightmare I would simply channel Super Giant and flip them all into the air like so much pizza dough.

A cult film, The Evil Brain from Outer Space is also a gem as far as cutting edge special effects. Fades, super-imposed images, duplications and other digital effects can be found throughout the movie. The creature design is also just bizarre and somewhat iconic, symbolizing a specific style of sci-fi/comic book schlock that evokes the 50’s and 60’s.

Sure, this is not a movie to sit down and watch with a glass of port and some fine cheeses, but if you ever have some mates over to hang out and drink cheap beer, this would be an ideal accompanying piece of entertainment.

Ultraman, monster fighter beyond compare

With all of the monsters constantly attacking Japan, something had to be done. Created in 1966 by Eiji Tsuburaya, the father of Godzilla, the answer to the monster problem finally arrived in the form of Ultraman. A powerful vision in red and silver, Ultraman gave the kaiju of Japan a reason to be afraid.

Ultraman by Alex Ross

The initial TV series if Ultraman underwent several revisions. A sci-fi series similar in some ways to U.N.I.T. from Doctor Who whereby the Earth was protected from the regular attacks of bizarre aliens by an even weirder jump-suited force. Set in the distant future, a well-armed planet-wide defense known as Science Special Search Party utilizes the most advanced arsenal of weapons and vehicles known to mankind. One key member of the global organization called the Space Patrol, Hayata, is abducted by aliens and granted the unlikely ability to grow into fantastic size, thus leveling the playing field against the race of skyscraper-sized monsters.

While Utlraman easily has the most diverse and amazing list of super abilities ranging from super speed to telekinesis to a kind of supreme super soaker ray, he primarily relies on his fighting fists. As Ultraman, Hyata primarily utilizes wrestler-style moves and the occasionally inexplicable blast of energy from a special positioning of his arms. Hyata has a limited but vague amount of time in which to defeat the alien threat, the limit of which is signaled by a flashing light on his chest. However, it’s not fair to really discuss Hyata and Ultraman as if they were one persona as they swap places in much the same way the Captain Marvel and Billy Batson do. While Ultraman is fighting a giant alien monster, Hyata is in some strange limbo.

The program also has some of the trippiest visuals this side of a Doctor Who episode, the least mind-blowing of which is the opening (dubbed in English for this instance).

Syndicated in the US in the late 1960’s on various UHF channels, Ultraman gained a very devoted following in much the same way that Godzilla had before and Starblazers would later on. After 39 episodes, it was thought that Ultraman was gone forever. After sacrificing himself so that his human host Hyata may live, Ultraman disappeared from TV screens. Many a young lad at the time shed a tear for Ultraman who asked for nothing but gave so much. If anyone really thought he was gone forever, boy were they wrong.

Several animated, live action and feature film adaptations followed up to the current day. In fact, Ultraman is the bearer of the Guinness World Record for spin-offs. He also had his imitators, most notably Jet Jaguar from Godzilla vs. Megalon, there is only one Ultraman. A mega star of film, animation, and TV, it should come as no surprise that Ultraman also conquered the video game world.

Sure, each Ultraman adventure is essentially sweaty guys in rubber suits beating each other up over a model city, but it’s also so innocent in its execution that you can’t help but find it charming and somehow… iconic. After seeing cities getting trampled to powder every week and the future of humanity hanging on a thread protected only by Ultraman… you kinda have a spiritual awakening.

Either that or I have to stop drinking Chimay while watching these things.