Summary
Explore the origins of the Power Rangers phenomenon with Ishinomori's classic superhero manga. Ishinomori's work laid the foundation for the iconic Power Rangers franchise we know today. Explore the thrilling and educational elements of the Super Sentai series that continue to captivate fans.
The world loves it Superman, and that love has existed for a long time. Whether it's the heroic Mighty Morphin version, the evil Loser Ranger type or the cute and adorable Miniforce X version, the super-powered quintet have become a common sight in superhero comics and cartoons across Global. None of this would have been possible without the creative genius of Shotaro Ishinomori – the man who brought the first Power Rangers team into existence. For fans interested in the origins of the Power Ranger phenomenon, Ishinomori's complete collection of the original series is a must.
While Shotaro Ishinomori may not be a familiar name to manga and anime fans, he certainly should be. Entering the manga industry in the 1950s as an assistant to the legendary Osamu Tezuka, he was not only present in the creation of the contemporary manga – and anime – scene but was also one of the people who helped Do that through your work. , among other projects, Astro Boy. After nearly six years under Tezuka's patronage, Ishinomori decided to open his own branch with Tezuka Cyborg 009, one of the first superhero-themed manga published in Japan.
The success of the series led Ishinomori, a few years later, to release the iconic Kamen Rider series, which combined elements of the superhero story Cyborg 009 with popular tokusatsu monster stories. at that moment. The success of Kamen Rider introduced Ishinomori to an alternative tokusatsu genre based on the idea of a group of ordinary individuals who can transform into super-powered heroes through hand signals, physical actions or special pose. So his symbol Himitsu Sentai Gorenja or Secret Squadron Gorenger was born – the predecessor of today's Power Rangers.
Tokusatsu refers to a genre of live television and film entertainment originating from Japan featuring giant monsters, robots, or superheroes made more thrilling with special effects, costumes, and costumes. complex and intense battle scenes.
The secret team Gorenger is the source of all Power Ranger lore
Ishinomori's manga is the ancestor of the franchise
The original Secret Squadron Gorenger manga was published in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday as a companion piece to Toei Company's television series of the same name, which ran from 1975 to 1977. At the same time, Ishinomori also published a separate Secret Squadron Gorenger. Shogaku Gonensei series. While the first season essentially retold the story of the television series in manga form, the second season focuses on the team's espionage, intelligence, and covert abilities.
Taken together, this series offers an interesting origin story that thoroughly explains the purpose, meaning, and goals of the Gorenger, while also providing a ready-made basis for future iterations of the Power Ranger character. In 2021, US-based manga publisher Seven Seas Entertainment published SUPER SENTAI: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger – The Classic Manga Collection. It compiles Ishinomori's original Secret Squadron Gorenger series under one cover. It serves as an essential key to understanding Power Ranger mythology and mythology.
Ishinomori's Gorenger's is the epitome of the ultimate superhero story
The Power Ranger character was not something Ishinomori came up with spontaneously. Rather, it was a reaction to the popularity of monster shows like Godzilla and his shows like Kamen Rider, which combined smaller-scale monsters with superhero action. Ishinomori wants to give fans a third option, which is a group of masked superheroes tasked with keeping the world safe from powerful evil forces plotting global conquest. The idea touches Ishinomori's initial interest was in superhero stories but expanded the scope of his ambitions by making it a team-up..
Additionally, it allows the plot flexibility in incorporating monsters, robots, typical human supervillains, team conflicts, and any other story ideas that might pique the public's interest. They are all seen through the lens of a superhero group. This is best illustrated by the differences between the two original manga series. The Weekly Shōnen Sunday series – like the television series – focuses more on the group fighting the evil Black Cross Army together. Accordingly, the focus is on what fans have come to expect from the Power Rangers series – specifically combat and the use of specialized high-tech weapons.
However, in the Shogaku Gonensei series, fans is considered a faction of Powers Rangers rarely seen in today's versions. Instead of fighting, the series sees the team working mostly without uniforms and high-tech equipment as they figure out how to infiltrate evil organizations to gather valuable intelligence and Carry out reconnaissance on suspected villains or suspicious activities. It's the quieter – but no less important – aspect of their activity, but it's still very exciting. It also conveys the storytelling flexibility that Ishinomori's Gorenger model affords creators.
Ishinomori's Super Sentai is both thrilling and educational
Naturally, this volume also includes all the then-famous Power Ranger properties that have become iconic elements of the Power Ranger phenomenon, such as the various battle suits available to members. in the group, as it was revealed in the episode that Ishinomori wanted to keep it as simple as possible while emphasizing the wearer's personality. In the manga, this is done using different visor designs and shapes, while in the TV show, color coding was added. This helps fans easily identify their favorite members.
There's also a reason why the Red Ranger is usually the captain of the team, because the first one recruited to the team, Tsuyoshi Kaijou, wears a red uniform. He was chosen by his father, who was the director of the local Earth Guard League (EAGLE) – an organization organized to stop the Black Cross Army. His father was killed shortly after he informed his son of his acceptance into EAGLE, which meant that Tsuyoshi – the Red Ranger took over his father's leadership aura. Outside of the story, the booklet is filled with other tidbits of information and images that will help deepen understanding and enjoyment of any incarnation of the character. Superman they enjoy.
SUPER SENTAI: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger – Classic Manga Collection is available now from Seven Seas Entertainment.