J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (ジャッカー電撃隊, Jakkā Dengekitai, J.A.K.Q. Blitzkrieg Squad)[a], known in the Philippines as Lucky Aces, is a Japanese tokusatsu television show and the second installment in the Super Sentaimetaseries.[1] It aired from 8 April to 23 December 1977, replacing Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and itself being replaced by Battle Fever J. It was created by Shotaro Ishinomori and featured 35 episodes.[1] It marks the first appearance of a White Ranger in the franchise. Toei distributes the series internationally under the title The Jackers.[2]
Synopsis
Iron Claw is the leader of a global criminal empire known as "Crime". Crime has a network of wealthy, influential sympathizers and employs an army of faceless, leather-masked thugs and cyborg assassins. It seeks to become the most powerful mafia organization in the world.
To combat the threat of Crime, the International Science Special Investigation Squad (国際科学特捜隊, Kokusai Kagaku Tokusō Tai, ISSIS) is formed. The focus of the series is ISSIS' battles against Crime in Tokyo and Japan.
Tokyo's ISSIS branch commander, Daisuke Kujirai, proposes a radical experiment. Taking the code name "Joker", he recruits four young test subjects to undergo his cyborg enhancement project: Goro Sakurai, a multi-talented athlete and Olympic Gold medalist; Ryu Higashi, a disgraced boxing champion; Karen Mizuki, a policewoman who has been critically injured; and Bunta Daichi, an oceanographer who is clinically dead and is being cryogenically sustained. All four are surgically altered and given various bionic enhancements as well as energy manipulation powers. They are given the code name J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, or J.A.K.Q (pronounced "Jacker"), and the mission to destroy Crime. Later in the series Joker leaves to head ISSIS' advanced engineering branch, and Sokichi Banba, a master of disguise and a cyborg, becomes their new boss, known as Big One.
Characters
J.A.K.Q.
Goro Sakurai
Goro Sakurai (桜井 五郎, Sakurai Gorō) was a Japanese pentathlon athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist, a champion in karate, archery, and judo, a skilled equestrian, and a top all-around athlete. He initially turned down Joker's offer to join J.A.K.Q. but changed his heart when he saved Karen Mizuki (later Heart Queen). Goro and Karen become romantically involved towards the end of the series.
Goro's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate atomic energy in various ways. He can see through walls and other barriers using X-ray vision (his Chu Seishi [Neutron] Scope), move at super speed (using his Kosouku [Acceleration] Switch), and hear distant sounds (using his Enkaku Shuon Souchi [Ultra Sound Device]). As the red-colored Spade Ace (スペードエース, Supēdo Ēsu), he wields several specially designed weapons, particularly his Spade Arts (スペードアーツ, Supēdo Atsu) bow. With this bow, Goro is able to shoot "atomic charged" arrows that puncture and bore through most substances. The Spade Arts bow could also be converted into a whip for binding an opponent. Goro is also a powerful fighter.
Goro is a born leader and uses his abilities to seek out his enemies' weak points.
Goro appeared in the movie Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, a movie made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Super Sentai metaseries, leading 24 Red Rangers to help inspire the Gaoranger team.
Karen Mizuki
Karen Mizuki (水木カレン, Mizuki Karen) is a Japanese-American female police detective who was assigned to investigate the routes used to traffic illegal narcotics into Japan. During one of her investigations, she uncovered the fact that Crime controlled a majority of these routes, and decided to assist ISSIS in destroying them. Crime attempted to kill Karen by arranging a fatal car accident. Karen survived the accident but lost her right arm. Her father, a fellow police officer, was killed in the crash. Enraged and seeking revenge, Karen willingly accepted Joker's offer to undergo the bionic process and join J.A.K.Q.
Karen's bionic enhancements allow her to control magnetism. She named her magnetism-based powers "Heart Cute Jiryoku [Magnet] Power". As the pink-colored Heart Queen (ハートクイン, Hāto Kuin), her powers allow her to attract and repel metallic objects at will, literally stopping bullets in mid-air. Her powers are further augmented by using her Q-shaped Heart Cute (ハートキュート, Hāto Kyūto) weapon. Using the Heart Cute, Karen can send out waves of magnetic energy that can bowl over opponents or force them into erratic behaviors. She takes pleasure in this, asking afterward "Do you want another?" (もう一つ、いかが?, "Mō hitotsu, ikaga?")). The Heart Cute can also be used as a blunt instrument to strike opponents. Her right index finger carries her "Magnetic Counter". This sends out a magnetic detection pulse, which she can then use to pinpoint and identify objects (both metal and organic) in a way similar to radar.
Karen is a skilled martial artist and is proficient in a number of fighting methods. She was temporarily part of the Kono Karate School where she befriended Natsuko Kono (Etsuko Shihomi), also a skilled martial artist. She has a flair for fashion and often sports tight red leather hotpants and long red boots. She falls in love with Goro towards the end of the series.
Ryu Higashi
Ryu Higashi (東 竜, Higashi Ryū) was the former WBCwelterweight boxing champion. He was falsely accused of murder by boxing promoters in Las Vegas when he refused to rig a championship fight. Joker intercepted him when he was being extradited to Japan for prosecution, and asked him to choose between working for ISSIS as part of J.A.K.Q. or serving his prison sentence. Ryu reluctantly accepted Joker's offer.
Ryu's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate electric currents. His right index finger carries a powerful cutter (Eleki [Electric] Cutter), which he uses to cut through dense objects. His left ring finger carries a laser beam (Dia Laser) that shears through most materials. As the blue-colored Dia Jack (ダイヤジャック, Daiya Jakku), Ryu wields the powerful Dia Sword (ダイヤソード, Daiya Sōdo), which he can imbue with his electrical powers to strike the enemy with deadly effect. The sword can slash and cut through solid steel and other dense metals. It can also be used to focus and fire electrical bolts of energy.
Ryu is a rough and gruff individual who is at times very headstrong and tends to prefer working alone. He continues to keep in touch with his former boxing partners, and loves jazz and fast cars.
Bunta Daichi
Bunta Daichi (大地 文太, Daichi Bunta) is an oceanographer who died of oxygen deprivation in a freak submarine accident. He lost his beloved younger sister Nami years earlier in an airplane crash. Bunta's body was cryogenically sustained in a medical facility for research until Joker found him. Using bionic technology, Joker revived Bunta as a cyborg.
Bunta's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate gravitational forces. He can gain superhuman strength by increasing his body weight and density. When his power is cycling in the range of 700 horsepower, he can use his "Juroku [Superpower] Energy" to punch and kick opponents with devastating effect. As the green-colored Clover King (クローバーキング, Kurōbā Kingu), Bunta can throw opponents across great distances with his Juroku Nage (Power Throw) and can take down dozens of opponents with his King Power Press (キングパワープレス, Kingu Pawā Puresu) (a flying jump attack). His left hand can be converted into the Club Megaton (クラブメガトン, Kurabu Megaton), a ball and chain that can be used to strike and hit enemies or to bind them.
Sokichi Banba
Sokichi Banba (番場 壮吉, Banba Sōkichi) is a cyborg, a flamboyant playboy, and a master of disguise. He helped Joker implement the J.A.K.Q. project and was called in to take over operations in Tokyo when Joker left. As the white-colored Big One (ビッグワン, Biggu Wan), he is the ultimate "super cyborg" because his bionic implants allow him to harness and manipulate all four powers (atomic, magnetic, electric, and gravity). His nickname is the "White Flying Ace" (白い鳥人, Shiroi Chojin).
Sokichi can use his powers to fly and has superhuman strength and super speed. He also wields the Big Baton (ビッグバトン, Biggu Baton), which he uses to strike opponents with great force and impact. Sokichi is a cool-headed leader and masterful tactician who can come up with brilliant battle plans. He can transform into his cyborg persona at will without the use of the Kyouka Capsules: he takes a sniff of a magic red rose, then leaps up and transforms in mid-air.
Daisuke Kujirai (鯨井 大助, Kujirai Daisuke), codenamed Joker (ジョーカー, Jōkā), is the recruiter of the J.A.K.Q team and their manager for most of the series. He is married and has a young daughter.
Crime
The global Criminal Organization Crime (犯罪組織クライム, Hanzai Soshiki Kuraimu) is headed by the mysterious Iron Claw. It seeks to become the world's premier crime organization. In each episode of the series, Crime launches spectacular and elaborate schemes to loot, kill, plunder and obtain absolute power. It is later revealed that Crime is a cover organization for an alien entity called Shine, who sought to conquer the world.
Boss Iron Claw
Boss Iron Claw (首領アイアンクロー, Shuryō Aian Kurō) is the godfather of the Crime organization. He is oddly dressed and nothing is known about him including his nationality. He appears human but was later revealed to be a cyborg like the members of J.A.K.Q.. His right hand is a powerful "Iron Claw", which fires talon-like missiles and can detach from Iron Claw's body to attack enemies independently. Iron Claw is a master of disguise, often masquerading as a female. He is a longtime rival of Big One, and the two of them have clashed at various times in the past.
Shine
Shine (シャイン, Shain) is revealed to be the real mastermind behind Crime towards the end of the series. A mysterious entity who is said to have come from the 2nd star of the "Shine" Galaxy, he attempted to use Crime to take over the Earth. He created the super cyborg Great King Icarus (イカルス大王, Ikarusu Daiō) to take control of Crime from Iron Claw and to battle J.A.K.Q. In the final battle between the J.A.K.Q. and Crime, he was revealed to be an artificial intelligence and was driven out to space after Spade Ace and Heart Queen exposed his true identity.
Crimers
Crimers (クライマー, Kuraimā) are minions of the Crime organization. Their objective is to commit as many crimes as possible to advance Crime's goal of turning Japan into a crime-ridden nation. They wear dark purple masks and gray clothing and wield Sten Mark II submachine guns. Their distinct sound is "kwee".
Crime Big Four
The Crime Big Four (クライム四天王, Kuraimu Shiten'ō) are a quartet of ruthless mercenaries and despots who joined forces with Iron Claw to wreak havoc across the globe. Their headquarters is a gigantic UFO that can fly around the world undetected. They have battled with other heroes across the globe including Kikaider, Kamen Rider V3, and Kamen Rider Amazon.
Baron Iron Mask
Baron Iron Mask (鉄面男爵, Tetsu Men Danshaku) is a despot who terrorized the European continent. He leads the "Tetsu Men Gundan" (Iron Mask Battalion), his own specialized troopers. He carries a heavy iron shield and battle spear, which he can hurl with devastating skill, and also carries a blowgun, which he uses to fire poison darts.
General Sahara
General Sahara (サハラ将軍, Sahara Shōgun) is an African conqueror who once battled the Gorengers in Africa with his Sahara Battalion. He is a master swordsman and strategist, and both ruthless and cruel in battle.
Captain UFO
Captain UFO (UFO船長, Yūfō Senchō) is a brilliant criminal mastermind who commands the UFO command ship that the Big Four use to travel the world.
Hell Boxer
Hell Boxer (地獄拳士, Jigoku Kenshi) is a tyrant from Mongolia who uses his hideous skull-adorned armor to strike fear in his foes. He wields an iron ball and chain to crush and kill his opponents.
Episodes
Episodes aired on Saturdays at 7:30 PM JST.
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original airdate
Rating
1
"4 Cards!! The Trump is J.A.K.Q." Transliteration: "Fō Kādo!! Kirifuda wa Jakkā" (Japanese: 4カード!! 切り札はJAKQ)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
9 April 1977 (1977-04-09)
13.6
2
"2 Ten-Jacks!! Destroy the Secret Factory" Transliteration: "Tsū Ten Jakku!! Himitsu Kōjō o Hakai Seyo" (Japanese: 2テンジャック!! 秘密工場を電撃せよ)
"Black Demonic Possession!! Ghost Story – Hell House" Transliteration: "Kuroi Akuma Tsuki!! Kaidan – Jigoku no Ie" (Japanese: 黒い悪魔つき!! 怪談・地獄の家)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
6 August 1977 (1977-08-06)
7.5
18
"Blue Whirling Tides!! The Face of the Secret Spy" Transliteration: "Aoi Uzushio!! Himitsu Supai no Kao" (Japanese: 青いうず潮!! 秘密スパイの顔)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
13 August 1977 (1977-08-13)
7.9
19
"Great Crimson Adventure!! Demon Extermination of Bottomless Haunts" Transliteration: "Makka na Daibōken!! Sokonashi Makyō no Oni Taiji" (Japanese: 真赤な大冒険!! 底なし魔境の鬼退治)
Kimio Hirayama
Shōzō Uehara
20 August 1977 (1977-08-20)
8.8
20
"Messenger of Darkness!! The Transparent Monster Runs the Darkness" Transliteration: "Ankoku no Shisha!! Tōmei Kaibutsu ga Yami o Hashiru" (Japanese: 暗黒の使者!! 透明怪物が闇を走る)
Kimio Hirayama
Kuniaki Oshikawa
27 August 1977 (1977-08-27)
7.6
21
"The Rose-Colored Baseball Era!! CRIME's Slugger" Transliteration: "Bara-iro no Yakyū Jidai!! Kuraimu no Kyōdasha" (Japanese: バラ色の野球時代!! クライムの強打者)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
3 September 1977 (1977-09-03)
10.7
22
"Big Red Counterattack!! Attack the Suicide Bomber Army" Transliteration: "Akai Dai Gyakuten!! Jibaku Gundan o Kōgeki Seyo" (Japanese: 赤い大逆転! 自爆軍団を攻撃せよ)
"Demon? Angel?! The Marvelous Flute-Playing Man" Transliteration: "Akuma ka? Tenshi ka?! Fushigi na Fuefuki Otoko" (Japanese: 悪魔か? 天使か?! 不思議な笛吹き男)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
8 October 1977 (1977-10-08)
11.5
25
"Victory? Death?! Demon Shogun and the Mechanization Army" Transliteration: "Shōri ka? Shi ka?! Oni Shōgun to Kikaika Gundan" (Japanese: 勝利か? 死か?! 鬼将軍と機械化軍団)
Katsuhiko Taguchi
Shōzō Uehara
15 October 1977 (1977-10-15)
8.3
26
"Invaders!? The Mysterious Space Pirate Ship" Transliteration: "Inbēdā ka!? Nazo no Uchū Kaizokusen" (Japanese: インベーダーか!? 謎の宇宙海賊船)
Katsuhiko Taguchi
Shōzō Uehara
22 October 1977 (1977-10-22)
9.5
27
"The Despot's Ambition!! Break it! The Death Camp" Transliteration: "Dokusaisha no Yabō!! Kudake! Shi no Shūyōjo" (Japanese: 独裁者の野望!! 砕け! 死の収容所)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
29 October 1977 (1977-10-29)
12.3
28
"My Secret! A Space Monster in My Pocket" Transliteration: "Boku no Himitsu! Poketto no Naka no Uchū Kaibutsu" (Japanese: ぼくの秘密! ポケットの中の宇宙怪物)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
5 November 1977 (1977-11-05)
11.2
29
"Go, Seven Changes! Iron Claw vs. Big One" Transliteration: "Yuku zo Shichi Henge! Aian Kurō Tai Biggu Wan" (Japanese: 行くぞ七変化! 鉄の爪対ビッグワン)
Minoru Yamada
Shōzō Uehara
12 November 1977 (1977-11-12)
10.8
30
"The Code That Calls Death! Deadly Poison, Cobra Twist" Transliteration: "Shi o Yobu Angō! Mōdoku Kobura Tsuisuto" (Japanese: 死を呼ぶ暗号! 猛毒コブラツイスト)
Minoru Yamada
Shōzō Uehara
19 November 1977 (1977-11-19)
10.2
31
"Red Impact! The Spy Is a Fourth-Grader" Transliteration: "Akai Shōgeki! Supai wa Shōgaku Yonensei" (Japanese: 赤い衝撃! スパイは小学四年生)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shōzō Uehara
26 November 1977 (1977-11-26)
7.8
32
"Which is the Real One?! Danger, Big One" Transliteration: "Dotchi ga Honmono?! Ayaushi Biggu Wan" (Japanese: どっちが本もの?! 危うしビッグワン)
Kōichi Takemoto
Shūkei Nagasaka
3 December 1977 (1977-12-03)
8.9
33
"The Blitzkrieg Squad Annihilated?! CRIME's Cooking Class" Transliteration: "Dengekitai Zenmetsu ka?! Kuraimu no Oryōri Kyōshitsu" (Japanese: 電撃隊全滅か?! クライムのお料理教室)
J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (movie version of episode 7) (Release date 26 January 1979)[3]
J.A.K.Q. vs. Gorenger
The movie J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger (ジャッカー電撃隊VSゴレンジャー, Jakkā Dengekitai tai Gorenjā) was released after the conclusion of the J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai series and featured a crossover between J.A.K.Q. and the Gorengers.
While investigating a UFO in the Sky Ace, J.A.K.Q. is caught off guard by the return of Iron Claw, with the Big Four now leading the remnants of Crime and the Black Cross Army. The next day, while arriving on the scene of a washed-up corpse, Heart Queen and Spade Ace encounter Peggy Matsuyama (Momo Ranger from the Gorengers), who has pursued the Sahara Army to Japan. After Matsuyama reveals markings on the murdered man's back, J.A.K.Q. learns of Crime's "Citybuster" project and the location of the syndicate's island base.
After infiltrating Crime's base, Spade Ace and Heart Queen learn of Iron Claw's plan to use the "Citybuster" bombs on the United States, the Soviet Union, China, France, the United Kingdom, West Germany and Japan, wiping out humanity while he and his forces retreat into space via a UFO before returning to Earth and conquering it. After saving Matsuyama, Spade Ace and Heart Queen escape the base but are surrounded by the Big Four and their armies. Clover King, Dia Jack and the rest of the Gorengers appear and save them. Together, the teams go on to defeat the Crime and Black Cross armies.
The Big Four combine to form the super cyborg "Big Four Robo", who overwhelms both teams until Big One arrives and J.A.K.Q. and the Gorengers combine their attacks to destroy it. Iron Claw then retreats to his UFO and begins to activate the "Citybuster" bombs until his UFO self-destructs, finishing him off for good. It turns out that Big One switched Iron Claw's hand with a remote controlled one that Spade Ace used to detonate the "Citybuster" bombs, destroying the craft and Iron Claw with it.
"Itsuka, Hana wa Saku Darō" (いつか、花は咲くだろう, "Someday, Flowers Will Bloom")
Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
Composition and arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
Artist: Isao Sasaki
International broadcast and home video
In its home country of Japan, Toei Video released the series on VHS in a masterpiece selection. From 21 September 2003 to 21 October 2003, Toei Video released the series on DVD and was the first time that the full series was published on home video. It was released throughout six volumes, with the first volume containing five episodes, while the others contain six episodes. Volumes 1-3 and 4-6 were released simultaneously. The first episode is also included in the "Shotaro Ishinomori 70th Anniversary DVD-BOX" released on 21 July 2008. Four episodes were included on a Blu-Ray release for the "Super Sentai Ichimi Blu-ray 1975-1981" set released on 14 April 2021.
In 1980, the series aired in the Philippines with an English dub and aired under Lucky Aces on RPN-9. This was actually the very first Super Sentai series to air in the region, previously by airing the first series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger as Star Rangers in 1978.
The series aired in Hong Kong from 16 August 1981 to 17 January 1982 with a Cantonese Chinese dub on Asia Television.
