Today at Otakon, Discotek Media announced during their panel that they acquired the license for the fourth Metal Hero series, Space Wolf Juspion. For those unaware, the Metal Hero series are tokusatsu programs produced by Toei. In addition, a handful of these series were adapted in America by Saban Brand as VR Troopers and the Big Bad Beetleborgs. However, Juspion was one of the many to not be adapted, but managed to become an internationally known series.
Space Wolf Juspion’s summary via Wikipedia:
While reading the Galaxy Bible, Ejin learns of a shocking prophecy: When the dark god Satan Gorth awakens, the universe will be ravaged by giant monsters filled with rage. After Satan Gorth appears and the prophecy is set in motion, Ejin orders Juspion, who Ejin has been tutoring, to stop him and combat the corrupted Megabeasts. He travels with his friends in the Daileon.
Space Wolf Juspion is heading to SDBD! For those that have never heard of it, prepare yourself for the intro. pic.twitter.com/VW5qtNvZrz
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) August 12, 2018
Now, with Discotek Media acquiring the series, they intend to release the entire 46-episode series on Blu-Ray in the first quarter of 2019. Furthermore, during the announcement Discotek Media teased that there will be extras included with the Blu-Ray release! Never the less, more Metal Heroes may appear in North America’s future thanks to Discotek Media.
However as the title states, Discotek Media also acquired the license for Shotaro Ishinomori’s Message from Space spin-off, Message from Space: Galactic Wars. Not much is known of this 27-episode television series in North America except for the film it is based on, and that it stars a young, Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine). The original Message from Space is a late 1970’s space opera which stars Vic Morrow and Sonny Chiba. Several people claim it was Toei’s attempt to cash in on Star Wars’ immediate success due to the various parallels found in both films. Previously the film was available on Netflix for streaming, but has been down within the past few years. For those interested in owning the entire saga, Message in Space is currently available on home video via Shout! Factory.
Source: Discotek Media’s Official Twitter
[…] Juspion. For those who not aware, the company initially announced that they licensed the series at Otakon 2018. The series aired in Japan as apart of Toei’s Metal Hero series under the name Kyojuu Tokusou […]