It is pretty well established that Nagai Go's Mazinger series is a monolith to the development of Japan's modern day robot fiction. First published as a manga in 1972, it paved the way by introducing all sorts of super robot concepts that are consider standard tropes today. Among these are a flood of fantastic mechanical designs with unique attributes and abilities. With that in mind, it shouldn't be all too surprising if I told you that among the 80+ boss characters of Rockman, there would be some that would pay homage and/or take inspiration from the mechanical giants found in Mazinger Series. Allow me to explain the "like peas in a pod" Boss Characters and their Mazinger Series origins.
Mazinger-Z and Hardman
For many, Hardman is a perplexing robot. How does being "hard" and durable have anything to do with firing your fist? Well folks, this is your answer. While definitely not looking the part, Hardman is basically an attempt towards a boss character version of super robot icon Mazinger-Z. Mazinger-Z is constructed out of "Super Alloy Z", a fictional material stronger than diamond, thus giving Mazinger-Z a superior defensive strength against foes. So much so that Mazinger-Z is commonly called "The Iron Castle". Mazinger-Z also the first robot to wield the highly effective Rocket Punch. Since it's inception and popularization via Mazinger-Z, it has become fairly standard among fictional robot weaponry, and one that Hardman's Hard Knuckle emulates.
Garada-K7 and Cutman
Mazinger-Z dodging Garada-K7's
Boomerang Sickle From
Mazinger-Z Anime (1972)
Boomerang Sickle From
Mazinger-Z Anime (1972)
Garada-K7 is perhaps the most iconic of all the Mechanical Beast (aka Mazinger-Z vilian monster robot) and the one that Cutman owes the most for his design. Visually, you can see the head mounted blades and the "basic body" construction which fairs somewhat similar to their opposing hero. Cutman's Rolling Cutter is also an artifact from Garada-K7 as well, as those Sickles on K7's head can dismount and be used as boomeranging blades. And lastly, Cutman designation as "the first boss character" in the Rockman Series with serial number DRN.003 could be said originates from Garada-K7 as well. Along with fellow Mechanical Beast Doublas-M2, Garada-K7 has the distinction of being "The first Mechanical Beast" Mazinger-Z encounters.
Stronger-T4 and Airman
Stronger-T4 from
Super Robot Wars Z2
Super Robot Wars Z2
While Airman may be the forerunner of robots with the Air-type body in the Rockman robot continuum, he is certainly not the first turbine body robot out there. That title goes to Mechanical Beast Stronger-T4, who makes use of the turbine in much the same fashion as his future generation did, producing gales and typhoons to knock down it's foes. As a side note, you can blame the animation studio for T4's horrible color scheme on the first picture. Evident in later official works under Nagai Go,T4 actually sports a primarily blue color scheme.
Are there more out there? Maybe! Admittedly I'm no all knowing authority to the Mazinger-Z series. Though with the Monolithic impact I stated in the introduction, I do know of many other things that Rockman gets from the Mazinger Series. I'll be sure to cover them in articles to come.
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