Hikari Sentai Maskman (光戦隊マスクマン) is a Japanese Tokusatsu television show and Toei's eleventh entry of the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987, to February 20, 1988, replacing Choushinsei Flashman and was replaced by Choujyu Sentai Liveman with a total of 51 episodes. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Maskman. It was the first Super Sentai series that showcased each members having their own individual vehicles that forms their robot (previous shows had robots, but any ranger could pilot any robot), and the first in which five robots combined to form a larger robot (previous series had only 2 or 3 robots combining to form a larger robot). It also introduced non-Japanese martial arts discipline.

Plot

Commander Sugata is a scientist and sage who excels in mental reinforcements and is a master of every martial arts discipline. He discovered the existence of the Underground Empire Tube, a once peaceful kingdom that has turned into a malignant force under the mysterious Zeba, who desires to conquer the surface. In order to stand against them and thwart their plans, Sugata recruits five young people to become the Maskmen. Each becomes specialized in a style of martial arts, and Sugata teaches them the ways of the mystical Aura Power (オーラパワー). A year after Sugata recruits and trains the Maskmen, the Underground Empire Tube is ready to strike. Princess Ial of the deposed Igam Royal Family, sent to spy above ground as Mio, falls in love with Takeru, and wishes for those underground and above ground to coexist. She is kidnapped and imprisoned in ice for her betrayal. As Takeru and the Maskmen battle Tube, they learn about Ial and Igam's relationship, and a terrible dark secret about Zeba, the Tube leader.

Characters

Maskmen

The eponymous Maskman is the top secret fighting force formed by Sanjuro Sugata. Before Tube surfaced, the group posed as the pit crew of the Sugata Racing Team.

Arsenal

Vehicles

Mecha

Great Five (グレートファイブ): A giant robot formed from five components when the command "Combine! Five Cross!" is given. Its primary weapon is the Photo Electron Riser (光電子ライザー) sword, and it destroys monsters with its finisher, the Final Aura Burst (ファイナルオーラバースト). Its other weapons are the Five Shield (ファイブシールド), Gyro Cutter (ジャイロカッター), and Great Gun (グレートガン). When the Great Five was taken from the Maskmen, it was briefly controlled by Kimen Doggler until the Galaxy Robo forced the parasite off. The five components of it are: Land Galaxy (ランドギャラクシー): A large tractor trailer for the Maskmen, piloted by the entire group. The Land Galaxy was built as part of a competition to determine the mecha to be used by the Maskmen but was considered too unstable to control when it seemingly killed its creator. It was only when the Great Five was captured by Tube that the Maskmen found the Land Galaxy and added it to their arsenal. Galaxy Robo (ギャラクシーロボ): The second robot formed from the Land Galaxy when the command "Galaxy Change!" is given. Its main weapons are the Galaxy Drill (ギャラクシードリル), Galaxy Anchor (ギャラクシーアンカー) and the Galaxy Bazooka (ギャラクシーバズーカ). Its finisher is the Iron Fist Aura Galaxy (鉄拳オーラギャラクシー); it resumes its Land Galaxy mode to build speed and then resumes its robot mode and executes a karate chop. It can be transported by the Turbo Ranger in lieu of the Great Five components.

Allies

Underground Empire Tube

The Underground Empire Tube (地底帝国チューブ) is a peaceful underground empire that came into being five millennia ago under the rule of the Igam family. Once it comes under the rule of the usurper Zeba, Tube begins preparing for war on the surface. They are based at the Underground Castle (地帝城) until Zeba has it destroyed.

Kiros

Others

Episodes

Film

A film version of Hikari Sentai Maskman premiered on July 18, 1987, at the "Toei Manga Matsuri" film festival, where it was shown as part of a quadruple feature alongside Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle, Saint Seiya: The Movie and the film version of Choujinki Metalder.

Cast

Voice Actors

Songs

International broadcast and home video