Supaidaman: The Wonderfully Weird Japanese Spider-Man Series of the Late ’70s

Written by Clara Mbithi.
Edited by Kris Kamweru, Brian Whitney.

Alright, folks, remember when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse blew our minds with a whole gang of Spidey variations? We had the moody Spider-Noir, the hilarious Spider-Pig straight out of Looney Tunes, and more. It was a wild ride exploring different versions of our favorite web-slinger, Peter Parker.

Well, get ready because Across the Spider-Verse is gearing up to dive even deeper into the Multiverse. The teasers have given us a sneak peek at cool cats like Spider-Punk (aka Hobart Brown), Spider-Man India’s very own Pavitr Prabhakar, and futuristic Miguel O’Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099.

But amidst all these web-slinging heroes, there’s one funky Spidey version we’re hoping to see swinging into action—none other than the legendary Supaidaman!

Who is Supaidaman?

Alright, hold onto your hats because we’re diving into a seriously outlandish superhero series that emerged from Japan back in the late ’70s. Supaidaman was born out of a wild collaboration between Marvel Comics and the Japanese production company Toei. They cooked up a recipe that combined the zany elements of Japanese pop culture, mind-blowing special effects, and good old Spider-Man mythology. Picture this: Spider-Man gets a Power Ranger makeover and starts battling giant monsters in a massive Mech suit. Why? Well, because Japan, my friends!

Supaidaman was all about bringing a fresh take on Spider-Man to the Japanese audience. Our main man was Takuya Yamashiro, played by the talented Shinji Todo, and he became the one and only Supaidaman.

What’s the Deal?

Now, get ready for a twist that would make even Spidey’s head spin. In the Supaidaman series, we follow the journey of Takuya Yamashiro, a hotshot motorcycle racer who stumbles upon a crashed alien spaceship. Lo and behold, he crosses paths with Garia, the last surviving warrior from Planet Spider. Garia decides to pass on his Spider-Man powers to Takuya, equipping him with a nifty “Spider Bracelet” and a spaceship that transforms into the “Spider-Machine GP-7.” Takuya takes on the mantle of Earth’s defender against the evil Iron Cross Army. Talk about a cosmic superhero makeover!

Embracing the ’70s Quirkiness

Ah, the ’70s in Japan—what a time to be alive, especially for tokusatsu fans! We’re talking Godzilla, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and a whole lot of other crazy shows dominating screens big and small. Supaidaman hopped right on that bandwagon, blending live-action performances with mind-boggling (yet utterly delightful) special effects. The action was fast, the visuals were dynamic, and we got to witness Supaidaman’s acrobatic skills and signature moves in all their glory.

But wait, there’s more! Supaidaman didn’t settle for ordinary web-shooters. Oh no, this dude had something way cooler up his spandex sleeve. Brace yourselves, because he piloted Leopardon—a ginormous robot! Yep, you heard that right, a massive robot. Supaidaman climbed aboard Leopardon to take down those monstrous threats, and let me tell you, those robot battles were the cherry on top of this nostalgic ’70s cake.

Despite its short run, the series won over the hearts of viewers and became a cultural phenomenon. It introduced a new generation of fans to Spider-Man and set the stage for more Japanese adaptations down the line. Supaidaman left an indelible mark on the tokusatsu genre, blending American superhero vibes with Japanese storytelling and aesthetics.

Supaidaman is an absolute legend in Japanese television history and Spider-Man lore. That’s why we can’t help but keep our fingers crossed that we’ll finally witness Supaidaman swinging onto the big screen when Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters. Here’s hoping our quirky hero gets a chance to shine!

Further Reading: