Cyborg 009

Japanese cover of Cyborg 009 volume 1

Cyborg 009 (, Saibgu Zero-Zero-Nain?) is a manga created by Shotaro Ishinomori. It was serialized in many different magazines, including Monthly Shnen King, Weekly Shnen Magazine, Shnen Big Comic, COM, Shjo Comic, Weekly Shnen Sunday, Monthly Shnen Jump and Monthly Comic Nora in Japan. The first two arcs of the manga were published in English by Tokyopop with all the sound effects left out untranslated; as of 2006 it is out of print. However, in 2012, comiXology acquired the digital distribution rights to Shotaro Ishinomori's catalogue.[1]

Nine regular humans are kidnapped by the evil Black Ghost organization to undergo human experiments which resulted in nine cyborgs with each one having super human powers. The nine cyborgs band together to fight for their freedom and to stop Black Ghost. The evil organization's goal is to start the next world war by supplying rich buyers with countless weapons of mass destruction.

After the destruction of Black Ghost, the nine cyborgs also fought a variety of threats, from mad scientists, to supernatural beings and ancient civilizations.

The first Arc was serialized in Weekly Shnen King (Shnen Gahosha). It depicts the 009 origin story, the escape from Black Ghost, and running from cyborg assassins. It was briefly ended with the battle with the Mythos Cyborgs story.

The second Arc called The Underground Empire Yomi Arc. Appeared in Weekly Shnen Magazine (Kodansha) alongside the release of the film version. The story is highly influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs' Earth's Core series, including an expedition to the center of the Earth with a drill tank and a reptile race who can use telepathy and grow wings. The story ends with the final battle against Black Ghost. The final scene has 009 and 002 falling into the Earth's atmosphere and being seen as a shooting star by two small children, one who wishes for a toy gun the other for world peace (a scene reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's Kaleidoscope). This point was the intended finish for the series and many fans consider it the true end; however popular demand necessitated the two heroes be rescued. As such, 001 was able at the last minute of using his telekinetic power to retrieve 002 and 009 from their plummet before death.

Thus began third Arc Serialized in Monthly Bouken-oh(Adventure King) (Akita Shoten). It contained 6 story arcs, including the Monster Island Arc, the Middle East Arc, and the Angels Arc. The series abruptly ended during the Angels Arc.

The Fourth Arc called The Battle of the Gods Arc was serialized in COM (Mushi Production). Ishinomori resumed and retold the interrupted Angels Arc with a new plot, but the series once again ended abruptly. Ishinomori would not resume the series for a few years after this.

The fifth Arc was serialized in Shjo Comic (Shogakukan). Included the Wind City Arc, the Snow Carnival Arc, and the Edda Arc. The story deals with legendary and mythical like characters challenging the 00 Number Cyborgs.

The sixth Arc connected to the 5th work. Arcs such as the Deinonychus Arc (appeared in Monthly Shnen Jump (Shueisha)) and Green Hole Arc (appeared in Play Comic (Akita Shoten)) were depicted, then after a long time the Underwater Pyramid Arc was serialized in Monthly Manga Shnen (Asahi Sonorama).

The seventh Arc was serialized in Weekly Shnen Sunday (Shogakukan) to go with the revival anime. A long arc consisting of many short arcs, this series dealt with the battle against Neo Black Ghost as well as the emotional trauma of the 00 Number Cyborgs. The story is set approximately 20 years after the Yomi Arc, and the personalities and conduct of the cyborgs are depicted as more adult.

The eighth Arc was serialized in Monthly Comic Nora (Gakken). A long arc called People Drifting Through Time and Space Arc. A sequel to the Immigration Arc. The Count of St. Germain from the Underwater Pyramid Arc appears, but his design is different.

Ishinomori's death made this the last work of the series, although it is not the final chapter.

Written and illustrated by Shotaro Ishinomori; serialized in Monthly Shnen King; published in Japan by Akita Shoten and other companies through its history; published in North America by Tokyopop.

The Tokyopop release took multiple liberties with the dialogue and translation, and was sourced from the Media Factory "MF Comics" release that had been published in 2003. The MF Comics release had comprised 36 volumes, of which Tokyopop had only covered 10. The most speculated reason among American fans for the discontinuation of Cyborg 009 in America at volume 10 was due to Ishinomori's initial intent to have the Yomi arc be the end of the series, but he wound up continuing due to the fan letters that urged him to resurrect 009 and 002.

Digital comics distributor comiXology licensed the entire catalogue from Ishimori Productions in 2012[1] and has since made the first 10 volumes of Cyborg 009 available. It is not known if comiXology intends to translate the entire series, as the volumes available had recycled the original Tokyopop adaptation by Mike Wellman and Bryan Matsumoto.

In April 2012, Shogakukan announced that the Cyborg 009 manga would be given a proper conclusion in Weekly Shnen Sunday.[2] Entitled Cyborg 009 Conclusion: God's War, the manga is to be illustrated by Masato Hayase and based on Ishinomori's original concept notes, sketches, and a novel draft, all of which had been gathered by his son, Jo Onodera. Conclusion is scheduled to debut on April 13, 2012.[3]

A full-color graphic novel based off the franchise was released at San Diego Comic-Con International on July 21, 2013 to align with the anniversary of Ishinomori's original manga. The book is a condensed retelling of the 00 Cyborgs' battle against Black Ghost, led by Sekar (Skull). The book also cites Foundation X, the recurring evil organization from the Kamen Rider Series since Kamen Rider W, as being the financial backers of Black Ghost, as they are for the various Evil Organizations in the recent Kamen Rider series.[4] The full release date is scheduled for September 11, 2013.[5] The graphic novel is written by F. J. DeSanto and Bradley Cramp, penciled and inked by Marcus To and published by Archaia Comics.[6]

The first Cyborg 009 film was released on July 21, 1966. It was produced by: Hiroshi kawa (uncredited) and directed by Yugo Serikawa

Cyborg 009: Monster Wars (009 , Saiboogu Zero-Zero-Nain Kaijuu Sensou?) was the second film for Cyborg 009 and released on March 19, 1967. It was produced by Hiroshi kawa and Directed by Yugo Serikawa

The theme Song for the films was Song of Cyborg 009 (009, Saibgu Zero Zero Nain no Uta?) (Lyrics: Masahisa Urushibara, Composer, Arrangement: Taichir Kosugi, Singer: Tokyo Meister Singer)

An anime film for the second anime TV series was released on December 20, 1980 called Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Vortex (009 , Saibgu Zero Zero Nain: Chou Ginga Densetsu?) It should be noted that this title is frequently mistranslated by fans who opt for the first definition in a Japanese-English dictionary; the word ginga can mean 'galaxy' but is usually used for 'vortex', which is the purpose of the word in the film (there's a weapon called the Super Vortex, but no weapon dealing with a Super Galaxy).

The theme song was Love of 1 Billion Lightyears (10, Juu-oku Kounen no Ai?) (Lyrics: Michio Yamagami, Composer: Kichi Morita, Arrangement: Reijir Koroku, Singer: Yoshito Machida).

A 3DCG movie produced by Production I.G., Sanzigen and Ishimori Productions, was released on October 27, 2012. Kenji Kamiyama is the director and writer. Kenji Kawai, who has worked before with Kamiyama on Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit and Eden of the East, is composing the music. The film was released in Japan on October 27, 2012. It will also open simultaneously in more than five Asian regions, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.[7] A manga adaptation by Gatou Asou, character designer for Moribito and Occult Academy, is currently being serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan.[8] The UK anime distributor Anime Limited has announced that they have acquired the movie and will produce an English dub at NYAV Post.[9]Madman Entertainment also has rights to release the film in Australia and New Zealand.[10] At Anime Expo 2013, Funimation had announced that they acquired the film for North America.[11] The English voice cast was announced on April 16, 2015.[12]

An Anime adaptation was released on April 5, 1968 on NET and ended on September 27, 1968 with a total of 26 episodes. Directed by Yugo Serikawa, Takeshi Tamiya, Tomoharu Katsumata, Toshio Katsuda, Taiji Yabushita, Ryz Tanaka, Yoshikata Nitta, Kazuya Miyazaki, Fusahiro Nagaki, Minoru Okazaki, Yoshio Takami

The opening theme song for the anime series was (Lyrics: Masahisa Urushibara, Composer, Arrangement: Taichir Kosugi, Vocals: Tokyo Meister Singer. the ending theme was End the Battle (, Tatakai Owatte?) (Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori, Composer, Arrangement: Taichir Kosugi, Singer: Vocal Shop)

The "009 DVD BOX" was released on January 2006 from Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The low-priced edition "009 1968 DVD-COLLECTION" was released in July 2009 from TOEI COMPANY,LTD.

Another anime for Cyborg 009 was released on March 6, 1979 on TV Asahi and ended on March 25, 1980 with a total of 50 episodes.

The opening theme song for the anime was For Whose Sake (, Taga tame ni?). The lyrics were by Shotaro Ishinomori, the composer was Masaaki Harao, the arrangement was done by Koichi Sugiyama and vocals were provided by Ken Narita and Koorogi '73); the ending theme was Someday (, Itsu no Hi ka?). The lyrics were by Sabur Yatsude while the composer was Masaaki Harao, the arrangement was done by Koichi Sugiyama and vocals were provided by Koorogi '73.

A third Television series, entitled Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 14, 2001 to October 13, 2002 on Sundays at 18:30. It spanned a total of fifty-one episodes.

The Opening theme song for the third anime TV series was "What's the Justice?" by Globe. The First ending theme was "Genesis of Next" by Globe followed by "Starting from Here" by Globe and later was replaced with "I Do" by Fayray.

Due to the non-union status of the English dub, most actors were left uncredited or under aliases.

A three-part original video animation crossover with Go Nagai's Devilman series, titled Cyborg 009 Vs. Devilman, will receive a two-week theatrical release in October 2015. The OVA will be directed by Jun Kawagoe.[13][14]

A radio drama was produced for NBS's Kirin Radio Theater from January 29 to February 23, 1979.

A second radio drama, entitled Cyborg 009: Birth, was aired in two parts on September 21 and 28, 2009.

Three video games based on the series were released only in Japan. One of them was an action platformer released for the Super Famicom by BEC in 1994, in which each level one of the eight adult cyborgs (001 is not playable) is selected as the leader of a strike force for a particular mission and the player is allowed to choose two others to accompany them. The other game (released by Telenet Japan's subsidiary Riot) in 1993 was for the Mega CD and is also a side scroller. In 2002, Simple Characters 2000 Series Vol. 15: Cyborg 009: The Block Kuzushi was released for the PlayStation by Bandai.

The 1979 version aired in Italy and became popular with Italian viewers.

The 2001 version aired on MBC 3 several times starting from 2005 and became extremely popular with Arab viewers.

The 1967 movie was aired in Mexico, and years later, the 2001 Television series aired on Toonami in 2003, and was later replayed on Cadena Tres in 2007, and was quite popular with Mexican viewers.

The 1979 series was broadcast with English subtitles on Japanese-language television in Hawaii, California, and the New York City area. The English subtitles were produced by San Francisco-based, Fuji Television, which did not broadcast the series as part of its Japanese programming on KEMO-TV.

The 1980 film was released stateside in 1988 by Celebrity Home Entertainment as Defenders of the Vortex with an edited version of a poorly received English dub that was commissioned through the Tokyo, Japan-based Frontier Enterprises. It later received an unedited direct-to-video English release in 1995 by Best Film and Video Corporation with the full version of the same dub.

The 2001 TV series was licensed by Avex Inc. (the North American branch of Avex Mode, the 2001 series' original distributor in Japan) and dubbed into English by Animaze and ZRO Limit Productions. The entire series was dubbed, with the first 26 episodes shown on the Toonami programming block on Cartoon Network, while episodes 27 to 47 were shown in a late-night block before the show was dropped from the lineup. The first 8 episodes are currently available on DVD from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment in both an uncut bilingual and a dub-only "cut" broadcast version, though as of 2015, none of the other episodes have become available on home video. Japanese and Hong Kong releases remain the only way to see the entire series on DVD, while Madman Entertainment released the first 26 dubbed episodes to DVD in Australia.

The 2012 movie is licensed by FUNimation Entertainment (North America), Anime Limited (UK), and Madman Entertainment (Australia/New Zealand), with an English dub produced by NYAV Post, and a theatrical release in all three territories.[17]

In the 1990s manga The Skull Man, Joe/009 makes an appearance in Chapter 36 in a chance meeting with Ryuusei Chisato, the Skull Man. Both discuss the nature of evil and humanity over coffee, and meet (again by chance) when the Skull Man stops a dirty deal by politicians going on at the docks. In the 2007 anime, The Skull Man was set up as a pseudo prequel of Cyborg 009. With many of the events in the series finale setting up Cyborg 009. In the 1997 anime King of Braves GaoGaiGar, the character Soldato J is a tribute to Jet Link/002, sharing his love of flight, acceleration mode, and characteristic nose. J's number in the Corps to which he belongs is 002, further reinforcing this link.

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