Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot

Giant Robo was a comic which was first featured in a weekly comic magazine "Shonen Sunday" in the late '60s by comic artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama, then turned into a TV series. Yokoyama drew another comic featuring a giant robot under a boy's control; the "Gigantor" (Tetsujin Nijyuhachi-go) which also became a TV series (four times). Giant Robo was supposed to be a weapon for the bad guys, but because U7 (Disuke Kusama) first spoke into the wrist watch remote control, it only obeyed his command. Like Gigantor, its first incarnation to TV was acted by a real live actors, then the second series was animated. I have memories of this series like many people who wrote here including having a crush on U5. I don't know what it is about these classic Japanese TV sci-fi but there's something that leaves a lasting impression on people. Yokoyama has another comic with giant robot obeying master's commands (Babyl II or Babyl Nisei) which also became a TV series. He is considered along the likes of Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy), Ishinomori Shotaro (Kamen Ryder, Kikaida, Go Rangers, Cyborg 009), and Fujiko Fujio (Obake no Q-taro, Doraemon) as a founding father of genre we now call "Manga", and has legion of fans around the world. Just a great show from a great comic artist.

When I was in Kindergarten and First Grade I remember watching these episodes. I think Johnny Sokko was my first crush. I loved all the monsters and that good always won over evil. I also agree that this instilled my love for monsters. I remember going out to a brick pile behind our house with one of my best friends and we tried to build our own Robot out of bricks and wire. I was sooo upset that it didn't come to life. Anyway, I wish they would show these again so I can see how really cheesy they were.

If you like Godzilla, Giant Robo, Ultraman or any other big monsters that fight and save the world then this is the best best. Sure it's old and campy...but it's a lot of fun. I have old tapes that I pull out every once in a while. Still enjoy the show. Sure they didn't have the greatest special effects but who did back then? Everyone complaining about how the monsters or explosions look shouldn't compare the show to present day shows but others from the same period. This is good.

Aah, childhood, those halcyon days, all those memories associated with them are indelible. I was five years old, and our neighbors had just got a new television. In India, we had only one TV channel then and the programs were more related to news based items or were culture oriented. Watching a Egyptian mummy faced robot fighting monsters was a dream for me as well as for every other kid I knew. I remember how hard I cried when the giant robot lost his eyes and also during the episode where he was beaten badly, I envied Johnny so much. Today I know the special effects are much much better and there are a plethora of new sci- fi based programs but they cant even hold a torch to good ol' Johnny and his robot.

For the people of my generation this is as good as gold. C'mon Johnny quit playing games, come back. I miss you.

I loved this show when I was a kid. The robot was incredible (keep in mind that there was very little stuff like that for kids back then, you kids today are very lucky...now get off my lawn!) especially with the finger rockets, the pharaoh's headdress, and the pre-flight cheerleader moves.

I recently sought and found a VHS copy (albeit poorly recorded) of the show and realized that you did have to be a kid, uninhibited with today's inundation of CGI and advanced cartooned robots, to enjoy it. But it was a wonderful trip back down memory lane. Now, too find a collection of the old (rubber suited and flashing chest light) Ultra-Man series.