Science Ninja Team Gatchaman

S3 · E1 · Oct 7, 1979

New Dark Clouds Episode 1

Weeks after the dust settles from Sosai X's destruction, a tiny fragment of the alien revives and begins to rebuild itself into Sosai Zed. Using the remains of an old shipyard, Zed builds a vast mechanical pyramid fortress and levitates it over the ocean. Meanwhile, the rest of the world quits rebuilding from the wreckage of the thwarted Solar Shift Plan and go back to what they do best: waging war. We meet Count Egobossler, successful ruler of a growing number of territories, and an aspiring megalomaniac. Egobossler meets Sosai Zed, who decides to use Egobossler's brilliant military tactics to his own advantage, and the two strike a deal. In the wake of Chief Anderson's death in Gatchaman II, Nambu is promoted to Chief Administrator of the ISO. The Kagaku Ninjatai cope with the unusual peace. Feeling useless during peacetime, Joe wallows in boredom and self pity while Nambu tries to find a way to recharge him after his near-destruction in G-II.

S3 · E2 · Oct 14, 1979

Debut! Gatcha Spartan Episode 2

Egobossler's first attack, backed up by one of Zed's giant mechs, completely startles out heroes. Ken, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu rush to the scene of the battle (leaving Joe behind to quietly expire). The mech is too powerful, and the New Godphoenix is completely trashed in the first skirmish with Egobossler. Fortunately, Chief Engineer Saburo Kamo is waiting in the wings with brand new mechs. With only one problem: the new vehicles need five operators to combine. It's up to Joe, who upon hearing the phrase, "Gallactor has returned," will crawl on his final strength to rejoin the team. TheGatchaspartan saves the day.

S3 · E3 · Oct 21, 1979

A Tainted Oasis Episode 3

S3 · E4 · Oct 28, 1979

The Challenge of the Iron Commandos Episode 4

S3 · E5 · Nov 4, 1979

Charge! The Terrible Soldiers Episode 5

S3 · E6 · Nov 11, 1979

Burn! Gatchaman Fencer Episode 6

Ken asks the same question viewers have probably been asking since the beginning: "Enough battling the little guys--why can't we meet Egobossler head on?" The Team does, but fails miserably. This episode ends in a very disturbing role reversal scene with Ken--now beyond reason--raging at a laughing Egobossler, and Joe finally having to bring all his strength into play to drag Ken back into the Gatchaspartan.

S3 · E7 · Nov 18, 1979

Steal the Giant Iron Beast Episode 7

The Kagaku Ninjatai continue their tries at direct confrontation by stealing aboard Zed's tower and facing him directly. This doesn't work either (can we say "outnumbered"?), though they do get in a few good punches.

S3 · E8 · Nov 25, 1979

The Desperate Outlaw Squad Episode 8

S3 · E9 · Dec 2, 1979

Fear of the Extinction Ray Gun Episode 9

S3 · E10 · Dec 9, 1979

Danger! Gatchaman Base Episode 10

S3 · E11 · Dec 16, 1979

The Saturn Limited Express Z-Press Episode 11

S3 · E12 · Dec 23, 1979

The Order to Destroy the Mantle Base Episode 12

S3 · E13 · Dec 30, 1980

Violence?! The Decisive Battle of Agrika Episode 13

S3 · E14 · Jan 6, 1980

Destruction by Fire! Egobossler's Palace Episode 14

S3 · E15 · Jan 13, 1980

Hell's Burning Ambition Episode 15

S3 · E16 · Jan 20, 1980

A Deadly Butterfly Dances in the Dark Episode 16

S3 · E17 · Jan 27, 1980

Horror of the Evil Smoke City Episode 17

S3 · E18 · Feb 3, 1980

The Spectacular Crash of G-1 Episode 18

S3 · E19 · Feb 10, 1980

Don't Touch the Super Stuff! Episode 19

Mercenary scientist Professor Gordon develops an indestructible material called Neophryte and decides to sell it to the highest bidder. So he summons agents from both Gallactor (Egobossler's first officer, Kempler) and the ISO (the Gatchaman, naturally) to meet alone on a spot he specifies. Of course Kempler doesn't come alone, but much to both his and Ken's surprise, neither does Ken. While the Gallactors and the rest of the Kagaku Ninjatai take part in a snarling standoff outside, Gordon, Kempler and Ken negotiate. Kempler offers money, while Ken refuses to haggle, stating honor and decency as his reasons (and knowing as Gordon does that once he withdraws his protection, Gallactor will simply take what they want by force). Worried about his father, Gordon's son finally ends the standoff and uncovers the compound for both sides to fight over. Joe uses a bazooka loaded with Neophryte to blow a hole in the monstermech that appears at the end.

S3 · E20 · Feb 17, 1980

Appearance! Terror of the Triple Iron Beast Episode 20

S3 · E21 · Feb 24, 1980

Angry Joe! Fright of the Flaming Bird Episode 21

S3 · E22 · Mar 2, 1980

Order to Blast the Satellite Episode 22

S3 · E23 · Mar 9, 1980

The Evil of Mechaland Episode 23

S3 · E24 · Jul 16, 1980

A Warrior's Pride Episode 24

S3 · E25 · Mar 23, 1980

Sky Riders from Hell Episode 25

One of Egobossler's old friends and colleagues Oncain, is also the last man on Earth who knows Count Egobossler's deep, dark secrets. The Kagaku Ninjatai get to Oncain first and try to convince him to stay away from Egobossler, but the man will have nothing of it. He invites the Team to go fox-hunting and with his two children, Michael and Mary, and as they're distracted, arranges to meet with Egobossler. The inevitable showdown with Egobossler and his special Skyrider command is spectacular, but even Ken and Joe at their best can't prevent Ego from gunning down his man. Joe comes round the corner just in time as Ego shoots Oncain right before Michael and Mary's eyes (triggering a flashback where you almost see the faces of Joe's parents). In the final scene, Joe kneels down and has a little heart-to-heart talk with Michael. You don't hear what he says, only Michael's reactions.

S3 · E26 · Mar 30, 1980

G-1 Enraged! A New Way to Kill Episode 26

S3 · E27 · Apr 6, 1980

The Mystery of Egobossler's Birth Episode 27

S3 · E28 · Apr 13, 1980

Desperate Fight! Valley of Betrayal Episode 28

S3 · E29 · Apr 20, 1980

Cruelty! The Separation of Brother and Sister Episode 29

S3 · E30 · Apr 27, 1980

The Creeping Alien Episode 30

S3 · E31 · May 4, 1980

Runaway! The Great Train Chase Episode 31

S3 · E32 · May 11, 1980

Mystery of the Space Pulse Episode 32

S3 · E33 · May 18, 1980

A Promise Kept Episode 33

S3 · E34 · May 25, 1980

Egobossler's Strategy Episode 34

S3 · E35 · Jun 1, 1980

The Shadow of Death Approaches G-1 Episode 35

S3 · E36 · Jun 8, 1980

Hypershoot Crisis Episode 36

S3 · E37 · Jun 15, 1980

Revive Gatchaman Episode 37

S3 · E38 · Jun 22, 1980

Bracelet of Friendship Episode 38

S3 · E39 · Jun 29, 1980

Downfall! Count Egobossler Episode 39

S3 · E40 · Jul 5, 1980

Surprise Attack of the Mecha Waterspout Episode 40

S3 · E41 · Jul 12, 1980

Collapse! Gatchaman Base Episode 41

S3 · E42 · Jul 19, 1980

The Death of Chief Nambu Episode 42

S3 · E43 · Jul 26, 1980

The Destruction of Gallatown Episode 43

S3 · E44 · Aug 3, 1980

The Space Devil Draws Near Episode 44

S3 · E45 · Aug 10, 1980

Threat of the Antimatter Planet Episode 45

S3 · E46 · Aug 17, 1980

G-1 Desperate for High Power Episode 46

S3 · E47 · Aug 24, 1980

Earth Extinction! 3 2 1 Episode 47

S3 · E48 · Aug 31, 1980

Gatchaman Eternal Episode 48

The Team searches for Zed in his tower, and are thrown around like playthings. When they finally meet up, they discover what happened to Egobossler: his corpse is pinned against a wall in Zed's main chamber, run through by his own sword. At this point, Joe picks up on Zed's vital signs (as Rafael had designed him to) and tracks the alien to his last refuge, where the Kagaku Ninjatai battle to destroy him... and fall. Chief Nambu's mysterious pendant (an unanalyzed device he'd instructed Kamo to give to the Team before the last battle) comes into play then, activating the Gatchaspartan and swallowing the fallen ninjas with light... The final scene is of an enormous firebird breaking free of Zed's exploding tower and flying around the Earth, leaving us to analyze the wide open ending. (Chances are high, though, that they aren't dead--they're still under contract, after all.