Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets fans unite!

[palitoy]

I've said it before but I met my wife thanks to Battle of the Planets. So thank you Sandy Frank....

[ctc]

>In Gatchaman, Berg Katse (Zoltar) was a mutant created through the genetic fusion of twins...

Yeah; that's why there seemed to be two different ones.

I loved the show as a kid, and when I was at the U I finally got to see the original Japanese version, and loved it more. It's kinda fun to watch the different versions and compare. The Japanese one was WAY more serious. Best example: the episode with the robot centipede. The team runs into the daughter of one of the scientists killed when it attacked the lab, and end up taking her on the final attack. When the beast shows itself, Ken/Mark tells her she can avenge her father by pushing the button to launch a missile. She can't do it. In the BOTP version he tells her the revenge doesn't solve anything, and fires the missile himself. In the Gatchaman version, he smacks her, calls her weak and fires the missile himself.

The BOTP comic that came out a few years back was pretty good too; it's a hybrid of the two versions.

Don C.

[emeraldknight47]

That moment always stayed with me too, ever since I first saw the episode as a kid. Too bad the westernized version never dealt with it further.

In Gatchaman, Berg Katse (Zoltar) was a mutant created through the genetic fusion of twins... he had both male and female genetic components and often switched gender completely. He had difficulty controlling the sex shifts, until he/she eventually learned to master it.

Interesting tidbit of info on Zoltar. Makes the character make a lot more sense now. Thanks for that, BB!

[Bruce Banner]

I do have a question though... In the Battle of the Planets incarnation they always left the gender question up in the air. Since BOTP was essentially spliced from Gatchaman, did that version actually answer the question? Japanese animation sometimes has a unisex quality to it when the guys are wearing long hair. You don't really know. I remember Emeraldknight and myself watching that faithfully every day until the series was over. And the only reveal we ever got was when Jason got a flash of Zoltar as the mask came off buried in a flow of hair. We were aggravated that the show never really answered that question. So what was Zoltar?

That moment always stayed with me too, ever since I first saw the episode as a kid. Too bad the westernized version never dealt with it further.

In Gatchaman, Berg Katse (Zoltar) was a mutant created through the genetic fusion of twins... he had both male and female genetic components and often switched gender completely. He had difficulty controlling the sex shifts, until he/she eventually learned to master it.

[GaryPlaysWithDolls]

I don't know much about the cartoon, but the designs are AWESOME. I have the guy in the brown 12 inch. Pretty slick!

[johnmiic]

...I do have a question though... In the Battle of the Planets incarnation they always left the gender question up in the air. Since BOTP was essentially spliced from Gatchaman, did that version actually answer the question?...So what was Zoltar?

In the American vrsion Zoltar's gender was never revealed. I recall the episode you referred to. If the American Producers had used a little imagination they could've milked that blonde-hair reveal for quite a lot in the series.

I have nearly all the figures. I just wish they were more posable. Also have the die-cast Phoenix and a few anime` books plus the Alex Ross comics. I used to draw these guys and Star Blazers for hours at time when I was young. Can anyone tell me which was the episode where the Phoenix crashed and burned in the desert? They had to build a new one in that episode and they revealed the underlying skeleton/structure in the art.

[palitoy]

Seems crazy that they are at all scarce, in 2003 Diamond was practically giving them away. I know Eric from Udon had piles in his garage.

[MIB41]

I hadn't realized Jason, Tiny and Zoltar had gotten so scarce for modern figures!
Battle of the Planets Ultimate DVD Box Set with Figure | eBay

Battle of the Planets JASON * GATCHAMAN Joe Series 2 Action Figure MOC 2002 | eBay

Battle of the Planets Tiny * GATCHAMAN Ryu Series 2 Action Figure 2002 PHOENIX | eBay

G-FORCE BATTLE OF THE PLANETS ACTION FIGURES SERIES 2 ZOLTAR MOSC DIAMOND SELECT | eBay

Battle of the Planets ZOLTAR +2 heads figure GATCHAMAN | eBay

I didn't realize that either. Wow. Those are the ones I was referring to. I still have all of those carded. I like the Zoltar figure the most. I always thought he/she was a cool character. I do have a question though... In the Battle of the Planets incarnation they always left the gender question up in the air. Since BOTP was essentially spliced from Gatchaman, did that version actually answer the question? Japanese animation sometimes has a unisex quality to it when the guys are wearing long hair. You don't really know. I remember Emeraldknight and myself watching that faithfully every day until the series was over. And the only reveal we ever got was when Jason got a flash of Zoltar as the mask came off buried in a flow of hair. We were aggravated that the show never really answered that question. So what was Zoltar?

[Bruce Banner]

One of my all time favourite animated shows.
The only vintage items I still have are my BOTP View-Master reels and a few of the Whitman/Gold Key comics. But back in the day I had stuff like BOTP colouring books, a plastic pinball game, etc.

[rche]

Looks like Ceji made 3 figures in the cloth goods style. Marc, Princesse, and Kipo.

I remember a Kipo auction going by this past year and that was where I found out they were on space academy type bodies. I would wonder about the Kipo and Princesse, tho since neither of them are the standard size male SuperJoe type.

Here is a cool page chock full of BoP goodness.
France Toys

[samurainoir]

I hadn't realized Jason, Tiny and Zoltar had gotten so scarce for modern figures!
Battle of the Planets Ultimate DVD Box Set with Figure | eBay

Battle of the Planets JASON * GATCHAMAN Joe Series 2 Action Figure MOC 2002 | eBay

Battle of the Planets Tiny * GATCHAMAN Ryu Series 2 Action Figure 2002 PHOENIX | eBay

G-FORCE BATTLE OF THE PLANETS ACTION FIGURES SERIES 2 ZOLTAR MOSC DIAMOND SELECT | eBay

Battle of the Planets ZOLTAR +2 heads figure GATCHAMAN | eBay

[cjefferys]

Yeah, the Space Academy figures were like the Super Joes. I have one of those guys in pieces. It's a damn shame if that beautiful Ceji figure above is like that too.

[rche]

were the Space Academy toys on the Super Joe platform? I am pretty sure the Ceji figures are the same as Space Academy, and if so then they are probably in pieces under those coolio uniforms.

[cjefferys]

I'm a vintage toy guy, so I'm absolutely loving that Ceji figure. But do Ceji figures have the same problem of falling apart like Super Joes do? I thought I heard somewhere that they were on the same type of body?

[MIB41]

I have the two Medicom BOTP Mark and Jason figures. I also have the six inch figures they put out about 10 years ago. I also picked up the score to the series about 15 years ago. A must have for any fan. But my prize possession is a detailed, die cast replica of the Phoenix. Complete with all the vehicles that load into it just like in the show.