Volume 16 of this mook (a book-like magazine) series focuses on the TV show Zone Fighter (1973). Given that this subject is rarely discussed compared to the films, I was curious about the quality, especially in terms of the imagery, in this volume. I'm pleased to report that the coverage is excellent, offering a thorough look at how the show came to be, highlighting the characters, featuring new interviews, and including some rare photos from the show.
The publication begins with a two-page essay that details the events leading up to Zone Fighter. This is a well-written piece that covers Toho’s early attempts at TV, including the unmade Monster Island series from the early 1960s, and explores how Toho divided into different divisions in the early 1970s to navigate the challenges faced by theatrical companies at the time. It also covers the unmade “Red Alone series” and its transformation into Zone Fighter. While the essay is informative, I was disappointed that it didn’t discuss why the show was intended to be so short compared to other Japanese TV shows of the 1970s.
Next, the book dedicates considerable space to character bios, including the Zone family, Godzilla, the Terror-Beasts, and the Garoga aliens. There are also bios of the machines featured in the show. Due to the sheer amount of material to cover, the publication wisely skips the human cast unlike other volumes, focusing instead on the science fiction elements. While the trivia and facts are mostly not new, it’s still nice to see such depth, especially given that there aren't many books about the series. For instance, facts like Zone Fighter running at 800 kilometers per hour are mentioned, which, though familiar, are nice to see included here.
Following this, there’s an interview with suit actor Tatsumi Nikamoto, who portrayed Zone Fighter and various Garoga aliens in the show and would later play Titanosaurus in Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). The interview gives a good overview of his role in these parts, though it’s light on trivia.
The mook then offers brief episode synopses before diving into a career highlight of director Jun Fukuda. This highlight section feels like an odd inclusion. While Fukuda directed episodes of Zone Fighter and it’s nice to see him recognized, he was known to be critical of his kaiju work later in life, especially his involvement with the show, making it a strange choice to highlight him here.
The publication wraps up with an interview with Keiichi Sakurai, the cinematographer for the show. As an early experience in cinematography and a lifelong fan of special effects cinema, he provides great insight, and it’s a pleasure to hear from someone so passionate about the genre. For example, he reflects on the short schedule for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) and the hectic pace that prevented him from “meeting” Anguirus during filming.
Now, let's discuss the photos. Sadly, there are numerous substandard screen grabs from the show, which is understandable given the amount of bios and the lack of readily available production stills. That said, I’m impressed that the book is almost entirely in color, with only seven black-and-white images, three of which are behind-the-scenes shots. While yes screen grabs are used, the book also includes many rare production stills. Although some of these images could have been larger on the page, it’s a real treat to browse through and see many of these photos for the first time.
Overall, I consider this one of the best entries in this series. It covers a topic rarely explored in such depth, offers new content through interviews, and showcases nice images from the program. If you’re a fan of the TV show, I highly recommend this publication. |
