Blue Skies Forever by Lewis Smith (2015)

If anyone is still following ROJ at this late date, you are probably stunned. Yes, this is a new update! No, this is not a sign of a grand revival. We are instead here to celebrate a milestone with an anniversary picture by series creator Lewis Smith.

2015 is the 20th anniversary of the creation of Return of Jetman. This had totally escaped my notice until Lewis posted this piece. It's a symbolic meeting of Jet Phoenix and the Gai Yuki incarnation of Black Condor. Amazingly, this is the first time Lewis has ever drawn Yuki!

Thank you, Lewis, for not only this picture and launching ROJ in the summer of 1995, but for entrusting your story and characters to me. As I have said, ROJ helped me find my own voice as a storyteller and gave me the confidence and ability to go out and explore my own worlds. I owe you a tremendous debt.

And thank you all for the memories.

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Originally posted July 9, 2015.

Jet Phoenix © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency). Black Condor © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency.

Hyperion Icarus by Lewis Smith (2012)

Hyperion Icarus by Lewis Smith (2012)
Hyperion Icarus is a combination of four of the Jetfighters that make up Jet Icarus, plus the standalone mech Victory Icarus. They weren't meant to combine, but I decided to see if I could make it work.--Lewis Smith

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Originally posted December 15, 2012.

Burai Legend by Lewis Smith (2006)

Burai
Burai-X
Tiger Burai
Cobra Burai
Burai Eclipse
Turbo Burai

Burai Legend by Lewis Smith (2006)

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Originally posted May-August 2006.

Tiger Burai, Burai, Burai-X, Cobra Burai, Burai Eclipse, Turbo Burai & related characters © Lewis Smith.

OWARI 10th Anniversary by Lewis Smith (2005)

OWARI 10th Anniversary by Lewis Smith (2005)

(left-right) : Green Wyvern, Captain Satellite, Phil Moskowitz, El Beardo. On the table : Jet Icarus, OWARI logo, Devo energy dome.

Bonus! OWARI #12 cover!

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Originally created June 2005.

OWARI, the OWARI logo (designed by Rob Perchauluk), Captain Satellite, El Beardo © Christopher Elam. Green Wyvern © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. "Phil Moskowitz" (What's Up, Tiger Lily?) © Benedict Pictures Corporation or its successor in interest. Jet Icarus © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency. Devo energy dome © DEVO Inc.

Silver Raven by Lewis Smith (2009)

Silver Raven by Lewis Smith (2009)

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Originally posted June 30, 2009; added to the site Aug. 25, 2009.

Silver Raven © Christopher Elam. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Guardian Icarus

Guardian Icarus / ガーディアンイカロス

DESIGNATION : Guardian Icarus

FORMATION : Jet Icarus + Jet Cruiser 2 - Jet Carrier = Keibi Gattai

Guardian Icarus artwork © Lewis Smith.

Guardian Icarus © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

ROJ Jam : Lewis Smith (2005)

ROJ Jam : Lewis Smith (2005)

Jet Icarus
Victory Icarus
Jet Phoenix

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Created in 2005 for "A Place Under The Shining Star".

Jet Phoenix & Victory Icarus © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency). Jet Icarus © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency.

A Place Under The Shining Star by Lewis Smith & Kabuki Katze (2005)

A Place Under The Shining Star by Lewis Smith & Kabuki Katze (2005)

(Return of Jetman Jam 2005)

Front row (left-right) : Green Wyvern (Kei Mizuno), Black Condor (Ken Tendo), White Swan (Etsuko Oishi), Yellow Owl (Gohan Oishi), Blue Swallow (Reiko Hayasaka)
Background : Victory Icarus, Jet Icarus, Jet Phoenix

Artwork © Lewis Smith & Kabuki Katze. Originally posted Aug. 25, 2005; added to the site Oct. 13, 2005.

Ken Tendo, Etsuko Oishi, Gohan Oishi, Reiko Hayasaka, Kei Mizuno/Green Wyvern, Jet Phoenix, and Victory Icarus © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency). Black Condor, White Swan, Yellow Owl, Blue Swallow, and Jet Icarus © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency.

Gunmetal Black/Return of Jetman by Lewis Smith & Christopher Elam (2004)

This announcement for the GUNMETAL BLACK/RETURN OF JETMAN project was posted on May 31, 2004 on the OWARI Message Board (current link - http://owari.yuku.com/topic/370) and on June 1, 2004 on the LiveJournal communities for GUNMETAL BLACK and RETURN OF JETMAN (now deleted). The following promo alludes to material that would have been included in the abandoned GMB/ROJ, but which is not part of NEW RETURN OF JETMAN (which incorporates elements of GMB/ROJ).

 

Announcement

One man, haunted by a woman he can't remember.

One woman, haunted by a man she can't forget.

One menace, which threatens both of them. . .and all of creation.

Coming in 2005

GUNMETAL BLACK/RETURN OF JETMAN

by Lewis Smith & Christopher Elam

Art © Lewis Smith.

Green Wyvern © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency). Nemesis, Kienan Ademetria, and GUNMETAL BLACK © Lewis Smith. All rights reserved.

Apocrypha IV : "Jetman 2" Synopsis/Outline by Lewis Smith (1995)

These images reproduce Lewis Smith's original "Jetman 2" synopsis/outline - the very first "Return of Jetman" material ever written! As Lewis himself added as a note at the end, "Who knew it'd all be different?"

"Jetman 2" Synopsis/Outline by Lewis Smith (1995)
(Click the image to see a much larger, more legible version of each page.)





"Jetman 2" Synopsis/Outline © Lewis Smith, based on "Chojin Sentai Jetman" (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Nemesis

Nemesis / ネメシス

Nemesis claims that the only thing that stands between him and the fulfillment of his quest to find purpose in his existence is Jetman. He has formed the Paradox Army in an effort to seek out and destroy Jetman. But is there more to his grand plan than Nemesis is revealing?

Nemesis artwork © Lewis Smith.

Nemesis © Lewis Smith.

Super God Icarus

Super God Icarus / スーパーゴッドイカロス

DESIGNATION : Super God Icarus

FORMATION : Jet Icarus + God Wyvern = Chojin Gattai

Super God Icarus artwork © Lewis Smith.

Super God Icarus © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Victory Icarus

Victory Icarus / ビクトリーイカロス

DESIGNATION : Victory Icarus

FORMATION : Victory Fighter [Robo Mode Conversion] = Victory Transform

Victory Icarus artwork © Lewis Smith.

Victory Icarus © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Grey Shrike Lineart by Lewis Smith (2004)

Grey Shrike Lineart by Lewis Smith (2004)

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Original lineart for this profile picture, created in August 2004.

Grey Shrike © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Apocrypha III : Tackle & Tiger Burai by Lewis Smith (1995-1998)

Neither "Tackle RX" (the original name for the revamped and revived Tackle) nor Tiger Burai were originally conceived by Lewis Smith as part of "Return of Jetman", but they were folded into the series when the new version launched in 2002. The following pieces depict early concepts for the characters.

"Tackle RX" by Lewis Smith (1995-1998)

• Tackle RX - Version 1 (1995)
  
• Tackle RX - Version 2 (1995)
  
• Tackle RX - Version 3 (1998)
  

Tiger Burai by Lewis Smith (1997-1998)

• Tiger Burai (1997)
  
• Tiger Burai (1998)
  

Artwork © Lewis Smith.

Tiger Burai, Tigerseven, & Valcus © Lewis Smith. "Tackle RX" based on "Denpa Ningen Tackle" from KAMEN RIDER STRONGER (© Ishimori Pro./Toei). Tackle © Ishimori Pro./Toei.

Grey Shrike

Grey Shrike / グレイシュライク

Grey Shrike is a renegade wielding Jetman powers. Her true identity will shock Jetman. Her motives will shock everyone.

Grey Shrike artwork © Lewis Smith.

Grey Shrike © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Tackle (Yuriko Misaki)

Tackle (Yuriko Misaki) / タックル (岬 ユリ子)

Years ago, Yuriko Misaki fought alongside a brave hero as the masked champion Tackle. Tragically, she lost her life in the service of her cause. So what uncanny force has revived Yuriko Misaki from the dead? And why?

Tackle artwork © Lewis Smith.

Based on "Denpa Ningen Tackle" from KAMEN RIDER STRONGER (© Ishimori Pro./Toei). Tackle © Ishimori Pro./Toei.

Red Hawk Lineart by Lewis Smith (2002)

Red Hawk Lineart by Lewis Smith (2002)

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Original lineart for this profile picture, created in July-Aug. 2002.

Based on "Red Hawk" from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Veronika

Veronika / ベロニカ

DESIGNATION : Veronika

FORMATION : UNKNOWN

Veronika artwork © Lewis Smith.

Based on "Veronika" from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency).

Apocrypha II : Frontpieces by Lewis Smith (1995-1999)

These frontpieces were done by "Return of Jetman" creator Lewis Smith from 1995-1999, and were intended to serve as either story introductions or fanzine covers. Some pieces depict aspects of the series that have been revised as it has evolved, and do not reflect the current version of "Return of Jetman."

Frontpieces by Lewis Smith (1995-1999)

• Return of Jetman Part 1 Frontpiece (1995)
  Published in OWARI #2 (May 1996)
  
• Return of Jetman Part 2 Frontpiece (1995)
  Published in OWARI #3 (November 1996)
  
• Return of Jetman Part 3 Frontpiece (1995)
  Intended for OWARI #4
  
• Return of Jetman Part 4 Frontpiece (1996)
  Intended for OWARI #5
  
• Return of Jetman Part 4 Frontpiece (1996)
  Alternate Version
  
• Return of Jetman Part 5 Frontpiece (1996)
  Version A
  
• Return of Jetman Part 5 Frontpiece (1996)
  Version B
  
• Return of Jetman Part 5 Frontpiece (1996)
  Version C
  
• Return of Jetman Part 6 Frontpiece (1996)
  The (unintended) finale!
  
• ROJ Book One : Jet Phoenix (1999)
  (unpublished)
  
• ROJ Book Two : Green Wyvern (1999)
  Used as cover for OWARI #11 (August 2002)
  

Artwork © Lewis Smith. Jet Phoenix, Kei Mizuno/Green Wyvern, "Thanatos" (Lord Xenotos), "Jet Wyvern" (Dragon Wyvern), Phoenix Fighter, Red Kestrel, Jet Daedalus, "Mira" (Miira), Ken Tendo, Etsuko Oishi, Gohan Oishi, & Reiko Hayasaka, © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith. Based on characters from CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN (© TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency). Red Hawk, Black Condor, Yellow Owl, White Swan, Blue Swallow, Gai Tendo, Toranza, & Aya Odagiri © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency.