ROJ Episode 10 Notes

RETURN OF JETMAN

"Remember The Times"
(Episode 10)
Production Notes
by Christopher Elam
© 2008-2010 Christopher Elam

 

Episode 10 - "Remember The Times" wrapped principal writing on February 21, 2003. It was technically the second story on which any work was done (after Episode 1), but most of that material was considerably rewritten before we arrived at the final draft. This rather convoluted creative process is oddly appropriate for Episode 10, as it is probably the most uncharacteristic installment of the entire series.

The genesis of this story stretches all the way back to 1995-96, which was the same period as the original ROJ's development. However, this tale was not originally connected to ROJ. It began when my creative cohort Lewis Smith took it upon himself to redesign the character of Tackle from KAMEN RIDER STRONGER. He did two different versions (with a third a few years down the line prior to the final form in the main gallery) just for his own amusement, and whimsically labeled them "Tackle RX". The "RX", you see, was a play on KAMEN RIDER BLACK RX, the revamped version of KAMEN RIDER BLACK.

Well, I was completely taken by this "Tackle RX", and decided to write a story about her. I didn't get especially far into the work before I abandoned it, and aside from some general concepts, none of that original story survives in the ROJ version. I was never happy with the results of that early effort, but it did work somewhat better as a comedy than as a straight adventure story.

When I revived ROJ in 2002, I realized that I could probably stand to incorporate a light-hearted romp into the midst of what was going to be some heavy stuff. I made the decision to resurrect the "Tackle RX" story (and retained that "RX" well into the writing process before electing to drop it as superfluous) and integrate it into ROJ as both a comedy and an homage to the 1970s style Japanese superhero series.

This story is meant to be more of a "one-off" than part of the continuing saga of Return of Jetman - a bit of a breather during the main adventure. That's why both the Jetman team and the Chaos Coalition are absent. It focuses on Jet Phoenix because he has been consigned to desk duty for the last three stories, and he also has the strongest link to the "old school" way of doing things.

"Remember The Times" (a title inspired by the opening music of the TV series CHANGERION, of all things) is probably the episode I found most disappointing upon completion. I don't think it is poor by any means, but it felt like it could have been so much more. Conversely, it elicited one of the strongest favorable reactions of any of the ROJ episodes. I chalk that up to people responding to what is in the story, while my disappointment owes more to what isn't in there.

• This story is dedicated to Kyoko Okada and Mitsunobu Kaneko, the performers who played the roles of Yuriko Misaki/Tackle and Daisaku Kusama respectively on television. Both actors passed away far too young, something which I did not know when I first had the idea of utilizing their characters in new stories. Hopefully, I honor their memories.
  
  
  
• The opening scene establishes a slight sense of continuity to the main story by referencing the end of the previous episode. The Jetman team is still on leave after the traumatic events of the prior two stories, which provides the rationale for Jet Phoenix going out on the mission by himself. Well, not quite by himself, but we'll get to that.
  
  
  
• Jet Phoenix and Michiru met again at the end of Ep. 7, and it was implied in Ep. 8 that they had established a friendly relationship. Obviously, it is still a distant one.
  
  
  
• Dr. Komyoji's "brother" Jiro refers to the alter ego of the android Kikaida (Kikaider), the star of the TV series JINZO NINGEN KIKAIDA. As you may recall, Dr. Masaru Komyoji is based on the young son of Kikaida's creator. It's not much of a stretch that they might consider themselves "brothers".
  
  
  
• a graverobbing incident involving the body of a woman named Yuriko Misaki - As mentioned above, Misaki is Tackle, a heroine who fought alongside Kamen Rider Stronger in that character's titular series. She met her demise in its 30th episode.
  
  
  
• With the mention of the names (Akira) Shinmei and Peggy (Matsuyama), the implication is clear that the Skyforce Supreme Council consists of the members of HIMITSU SENTAI GORANGER ("Secret Task Force Goranger"), the very first sentai. A hidden bonus in this is my personal theory that "Eagle" (from GORANGER) and "Skyforce" (from JETMAN) are in fact the same organization under different names.
  
  
  
• The flying car is included because I have always enjoyed the visual of a flying car. I'm being quite serious.
  
  
  
• Though I never come right out and say it in the story, Daisaku Kusama is an adult version of the young boy from the TV series GIANT ROBO (1967-68). In my possibly insane idea of interconnectivity, I thought it might be fun if the agency Unicorn from that series was also tied to Skyforce. Kusama's portrayal is a bit outlandish and over-the-top, but it is done with a great deal of affection. I mean, it's not as if he's required to grow up to be a dashing leading man! And as you can see, he still snaps his fingers - even though it's not a job requirement anymore.
  

  The nickname "Johnny" (which Kusama confesses he picked up while spending time in America) is a reference to JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT, the U.S. title of GIANT ROBO. In the very first ROJ usage of the character, he was referred to as "John Sokko". This was in Lewis' original draft of ROJ Episode 3, in which he was portrayed as an eccentric robotics expert.
  
  
  

• I would imagine the first scene set in Flaming's HQ tips my hand as far as my tongue-in-cheek intent goes. Flaming itself is a parody of those type of secret groups bent on world domination and/or destruction that show up all the time in Japanese superhero shows. Shocker from KAMEN RIDER ("Masked Rider", in case you didn't know) is probably the biggest influence there.
  
  
  
• Dr. Diabolo was originally a character I created to battle my personal superhero Captain Satellite. The unusual spelling "Diabolo" (not a typo for "Diablo", as a gag much later spells out) derives from the time in high school in which one of my classmates was singing the praises of the Lamborghini Diablo and couldn't quite pronounce the name correctly.
  

  As for Dr. Diabolo himself, he fills the role of a character like Dr. Shinigami from KAMEN RIDER, but by way of someone like Dr. Doom. He's also not particularly good at being a super villain, but don't tell him that!
  
  
  

• The reference to "solar-powered energy cells" is one of the remnants of the discarded "Tackle RX" name. Kamen Rider Black RX had been altered due to solar energy, so it seemed only fitting that Tackle should be too if she was going to have the "RX" tag. It still works as a simple yet effective explanation for her resurrection.
  
  
  
• Big Face is inspired by the unseen "Great Leader" types from assorted KAMEN RIDER series that usually only interact with their minions via blinking light and loudspeaker. The affectation of a stone head, a la those found on Easter Island, was the kind of visual I could get behind for such a character.
  
  
  
• Agent Kusama's broken watch is another callback to GIANT ROBO, as he used a watch to control his mechanical pal.
  
  
  
• "Digital music discs" are my stab at creating futuristic technology that is nonetheless outdated by the time period of the story. I'm not sure it's entirely successful, although I seem to recall a company marketing a format with a similar name. My first instinct had been to equip the flying car with an 8-track tape player, but I rejected this as too unlikely. I think that might have been a mistake. The way things are going, I could just as well have assumed that CDs themselves will be obsolete.
  
  
  
• Beau Yatani And His The Last Longhorn Band appeared, unwieldy name and all, in the 1977 Toei film THE LEGEND OF DINOSAURS. This makes the second time I've referenced this film in ROJ, and I don't even like it. But Beau Yatani is a hard guy to forget. He also turns out to be quite real. Don't believe me? Check out www.beauyatani.com. If I had known this at the time of writing, I wouldn't have made him the butt of a joke. I'm sure he's quite talented, and I hope he forgives me if he ever runs across my bit of fun.
  
  
  
• I picked the song "I Walk The Line" specifically because it has been covered by such unlikely "singers" as Leonard Nimoy and Telly Savalas. And also because it allowed me to namecheck Johnny Cash, as I am a big fan.
  
  
  
• I'm not sure why I included the reference to Ako Hayasaka's music career, except maybe to tie in to the original JETMAN a little. Phoenix being a jazz fan is not much of a leap, considering the fact that Gai Yuki did play the saxophone.
  
  
  
• I admit, after going through a lot of potential names, I chose "Flaming" specifically for the opportunity it provided for bad jokes.
  
  
  
• The exchange regarding the definition of the term "kaizo ningen" is a surprisingly elegant little piece of dialogue. I should point out that it isn't quite as cut and dried as being a "cyborg", hence the "after a fashion" reply.
  
  
  
• The "well-worn book" in the backseat is something of a nod to the various and sundry books produced in Japan for their spfx productions.
  
  
  
• 200 centimeters = approx. 6'6", in case you don't feel like doing the math.
  
  
  
• "Wild" Bill Jackson is a fictional pro wrestler that I created during my high school days for (*groans*) fantasy wrestling angles that I wrote. Please, keep your laughter to a minimum. I dusted him off for this special cameo appearance as a lark, and he ended up becoming one of the funniest things in the whole series.
  

  The concept of using a pro wrestler came about because of the long history of that peculiar brand of sport and/or entertainment in Japan. Foreign wrestlers have long been a big attraction, and the "cowboy" is a favorite. Terry Funk is the biggest influence on Wild Bill's presentation in this story, but I also kept in mind such grappling superstars as Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, and Dory Funk Jr. (Terry's brother).
  

  The conceit of having all of Wild Bill's dialogue being in Japanese largely derives from the desire for self-parody. I am very aware of the inherent ridiculousness of a story set in Japan, featuring primarily Japanese characters, being written in a very informal sort of English. The unspoken "rule" that I follow is that ALL of the dialogue is really in Japanese, unless I specify otherwise. Hence the fact that Kusama's brief smattering of English is rendered entirely in italics (as all English will be in this series, whenever it happens to turn up).
  

  It's not out of the question for someone who spends a lot of time in Japan to have picked up the language, but it seems very incongruous coming out of the mouth of a very tall cowboy. And that's before you consider that he's a pro wrestler, too! I can't vouch for the grammatical accuracy of Bill's Japanese - I'm certainly not fluent myself - but I like to think that it would only add to its charm if it's somewhat "off".
  
  
  

• Wild Bill's Japanese dialogue translates (roughly) as follows :
  

  "Oi kimi!" - "Hey there!"
  

  "Hai! Watashi no Mark Oji-san watashi no Nihongo sensei deshita. Anata wa Skyforce kara no futari desu ka?" - "Yes! My Uncle Mark was my Japanese teacher. Are you two from Skyforce?"
  

  "'Wild' Bill Jackson sanjo! Watashi wa puroresu no hoshi. Watashi wa 'Hotshot' Johnny Flash o-mo tsuta All-Asia tag team champion desu." - "'Wild' Bill Jackson is here! I am a pro wrestling star. I am All-Asia tag team champion with 'Hotshot' Johnny Flash."
  

  "Tozan wa tanoshii!" - "Mountain climbing is fun!"
  

  "Orange jumpsuits o-chakuyô shiteiru ningen no yôni?" - "You mean like men in orange jumpsuits?"
  
  
  

• And now, a few words about in-jokes that are incorporated into the Japanese dialogue above. "Uncle Mark", in particular, is a source of pride for me. This implies that Wild Bill's uncle is Mark Jackson, the "Diamond G-Man" played by Robert Dunham in the 1964 Toho film DOGORA. Mark Jackson was a very unusual character, particularly for his time, because he was fluent in colloquial Japanese! "Hotshot" Johnny Flash, on the other hand, is another character from my high school pro wrestling tales. He was the star, in fact, and a frequent partner of Wild Bill. The "All-Asia tag team championship" was at one time an authentic recognized pair of belts, but I am reasonably certain they are currently dormant.
  
  
  
• The "villain headquarters" neon sign gag is something I picked up in an old comic book. It was particularly funny there, because a few panels later, the sign was actually shown!
  
  
  
• 1975 was the year that the episode featuring Tackle's untimely death was aired.
  
  
  
• Super Ningen ("Super Human") was originally what I thought Tackle called herself in STRONGER, rather than the correct Denpa Ningen ("Electric Wave Human"). I liked the sound of it so much that it is the way I denote that she is "powered up" in this incarnation, rather than using "RX".
  
  
  
• "Kotana" (ko = "light" + katana = "sword") is the name that I coined for the light saber Tackle wielded in her redesign pictures. The light saber is yet another allusion to Black RX, who wielded one called Ribolcane.
  
  
  
• Tackle's memory recovery invokes several images from KAMEN RIDER STRONGER. "Black Satan" was the evil organization that gave her her powers. She and Stronger fought their agents side by side. "Dr. Keito" was an agent of the Delzer Army (a later group of bad guys) who was responsible for her death. "Tobei Tachibana" was a normal human who aided Stronger and Tackle (and indeed, many previous Riders). And "Shigeru Jo" was Stronger's human alter ego.
  
  
  
• Buruboi (a name that is the phonetic Japanese equivalent of "Blueboy") is the most out and out goofy monster I could invent for the climactic fight scene. You're welcome.
  
  
  
• "Hi there," - Remarkably, this is a nod to the character of Rokuro (again!) from GODZILLA VS. MEGALON. Those are the first words he utters in the English dub!
  
  
  
• The majority of Tackle's attack moves - Tackle Chop, Tackle Punch, Tackle Kick - are more properly Rider moves that I gave to her. The exception is her "Cho Denpa Nage" ("Super Electric Wave Throw"), an upgraded version of her "Denpa Nage" attack.
  
  
  
• "Tô!" is not exactly a Japanese word, at least to my knowledge. It is, however, a cry often made in Rider programs when a character makes an impressive leap - particularly to deliver a kick to a baddie.
  
  
  
• The true nature of Big Face (complete with its obvious riff from THE WIZARD OF OZ) turns out to be an interesting explanation as to why Flaming is not exactly the cream of the villain crop. I'd like to think it's funny, too.
  
  
  
• "One hell of a hobby for a kid, and I should know!" - At this point, I don't think I even need to explain this quote from Agent Kusama.
  
  
  
• The roll call of former Kamen Riders is : Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider 1), Hayato Ichimonji (Kamen Rider 2), Shiro Kazami (Kamen Rider V3), and Shigeru Jo (Kamen Rider Stronger). It has been pointed out that Tackle never met any other Riders besides Stronger, but my contention is that they all share a telepathic "bond". I mean, they all have antennae, right? That's why they all appear to greet her after she leaves Skywatch. I purposefully didn't list a full "group of outré motorcyclists", because that makes it easier to imagine that your favorite Riders are among their number. Also note the little pause in speaking Shigeru's name, implying...something or other. Her usage of family names for all other Riders save him is a definite deliberate move.
  
  
  
• I have a special love for the Phoenix/Kusama exchange at the end of this story, from the motorcycle comment to the date crack to the "strange childhood" wink. I should single out "Working with you reminded me of a buddy of mine. A couple of them, actually," for additional comment, though. The subtle implication here is that teaming with Phoenix reminded Kusama of working with his old partner Juro Minami ("Jerry Mano" in JOHNNY SOKKO) AND good ol' Robo himself. Does Kusama suspect about Jet Phoenix? Does he know?
  

  I don't know. But it's fun to speculate, isn't it?
  

 

© Christopher Elam.