Nebula Mask Machineman

is a Japanese tokusatsu television series created by Shotaro Ishinomori and produced by Toei Company. It aired from January 13 until September 28, 1984. It revolves around the adventures of Nick (Nikku), a college student from the Ivy planet (located at the Pleiades) and his arrival on Earth to study the earthlings' behavior. Upon arrival, he is called in for the activities of the evil organization called "Tentacle", whose don, Professor K, wishes to eliminate all children in the world.

The series is rumored to have been inspired by the American DC Comics superhero, Superman, although this was never confirmed by either Ishinomori or Toei.

Plot

Traveling in the spaceship "Space Colony", Nick, with the help of his ball-shaped robot "Ball Boy", arrive on Earth to study the behavior and manners of human beings for his doctoral degree thesis. Under the human identity of a young man named Ken Takase, he meets Maki Hayama, a photographer at Shukan Hit newspaper, and later saves her from a building fall. Maki was taking pictures for a scoop about a building which had been mysteriously demolished. Later, she and Ken find that the evil organization "Tentacle" is behind the demolitions and other evil deeds around the world. Nick then decides to extend his stay on Earth and uses his advanced technology and superior powers to protect Maki and the children of Earth under the alter-ego of Machineman, a red- and yellow-suited superhero. Armed with an advanced technology weapons, he begins fighting Tentacle's cyborgs and protect humankind.

A few episodes later, Machineman succeeds in dismantling Tentacle; however, Professor K flees to Spain and his niece, Lady M, appears. With her aide Tonchinkan, they establish a new organization called "Octopus". Like her uncle, she is allergic to children (whenever she is near one, her nose turns red). In the beginning, she calls up various thieves and legendary criminals from around the world, but later robotic drones are assembled to combat Machineman. By the end of the series, the missing Professor K returns, bringing with him the biggest threat the hero had ever faced: Golden Monsu, a fortified version of Tetsujin Monsu.

Main characters

• : the series' protagonist and main hero, Ken was born at the Ivy Planet and eventually graduated with a degree in Sociology. Upon arriving on Earth, his primary objective is studying human behavior and mannerisms in order to obtain his doctoral degree. However, upon meeting Maki and learn about Tentacle, he decides to stay longer in order to protect her and the children from Professor K's plans.
• : a baseball-shaped robot who is Nick's companion. Smart and clever, it usually serves as his friend, advisor and sidekick, to a certain point. It is also used as a throwing projectile by Machineman in battles, under the name "Fighting Ball". Ironically, Ball Boy says it does not have any information about baseball.
• : a photographer and journalist at Shukan Hit newspaper. She is involved in a traffic accident with Ken and they eventually become friends. She instantly falls for Machineman after being saved by him, but begins to fall in love with Ken a few episodes later.
• : Maki's 10-year-old brother. Usually serves as victim of Tentacle's inventions and is saved by Ken/Machineman.
• : The editor-in-chief of Shukan Hit, and Maki's boss.
• : A member of Shukan Hit's junior editorial staff.
• : The greengrocer for the Hayama family.
• , , & : Masaru's classmates, that were involved with the incidents of Tentacle and Octopus.

Criminal Groups

Tentacle

is the organization led by Professor K.

• : The leader of the Tentacle criminal organization.
• : A humanoid robot that serves as Tentacle's chief executive. In episode 17, Monsu was defeated by Machineman.
• : A robotic parrot created by Professor K, and can speak fluently.

Octopus

is the succeeding organization led by Lady M, after taking over Tentacle.

• : The niece of Professor K, who made her appearance in Episode 20 after her trip from Spain. She renovated Tentacle's headquarters to form Octopus.
• : Lady M's boyfriend.

Episodes

1. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
2. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
3. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
4. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
5. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
6. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
7. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Michio Konishi
8. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Michio Konishi
9. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
10. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
11. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
12. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
13. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
14. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
15. : written by Atsuko Osoya, directed by Shohei Tojo
16. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
17. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
18. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
19. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
20. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
21. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
22. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
23. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
24. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Shohei Tojo
25. : written by Isao Matsumoto, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
26. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
27. : written by Susumu Takaku and Tatsuro Nagai, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
28. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
29. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
30. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
31. : written by Noboru Sugimura, directed by Shohei Tojo
32. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Atsuo Okunaka
33. : written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Shohei Tojo
34. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
35. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Shohei Tojo
36. : written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Saburo Yatsude

Cast

• Ken Takase (Nick)/Machineman (close-ups):
• Professor K: Hideyo Amamoto
• Maki Hayama: Kiyomi Tsukada
• Masaru Hayama: Kazuhiko Ohara
• Kameda: Joe Onodera
• Arata: Kansai Eto
• Rumiko Matsumoto: Yuko Murakoshi
• Lady M/Meiko: Chiaki Kojo
• Ball Boy (voice): Machiko Soga
• Tetsujin Monsu (voice): Toku Nishio
• Golden Monsu (voice): Shōzō Iizuka
• Machineman (suit actor):
• Narrator: Osamu Kobayashi

Songs

Opening theme

• • Lyrics:
  • Composition:
  • Arrangement:
  • Artist: MoJo, Columbia Yurikago Kai

Ending theme

• • Lyrics: Saburo Yatsude
  • Composition: Yuji Ohno
  • Arrangement: Yuji Ohno
  • Artist: MoJo

International Broadcasts

• In Thailand, the series received a Thai dub on Channel 7 on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in 1984. It was re-aired on Channel 9 on Sundays in 1993.
• In the Philippines, The series was locally aired on IBC-13 in 1992.
• The series was also broadcast in Brazil: first on Rede Bandeirantes, where it had a VHS release from its video label VideoBAN, in 1990; later on the Record network in 1993, first in the morning hours, later shown at 8pm. In 1994, the series was also broadcast by TV Guaíba, at the time an independent station; the station had local rights to some series aired by Record, which had no affiliate in the state at the time. United Kids also released VHS tapes under the title "Força Total Machine Man".