Episode 9, "Initiate! Operation: Invade Japan!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kouji becomes increasingly irritable as he adjusts to the Mazinger, frustrated by the Robot Corps holding him back from gaining his revenge on Baron Ashura. While Akokuji and Shiro relax at the Kurogane House, Tsubasa gives Kouji a seemingly simple test, which proves impossibly difficult for him. Meanwhile, eager to prove his/herself, Ashura takes the subfortress Saluud and releases Mechanical Beasts all over Japan.
Episode 8, "Be Born! Baron Ashura!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kouji teams up with Tsubasa and her crew to take on Baron Ashura, who is holding Sayaka and Aphrodai A captive in a giant Mechanical Beast. Dr. Hell recounts’ Tsubasa’s hand in creating Ashura. Viscount Pygman, one of Dr. Hell’s other subordinates appears to rescue Ashura. Tsubasa tells her subordinates to take Kouji and his brother into the Kurogane House.
Comments:
Tsubasa and her group continue to be the most (see: only) interesting characters in the series. New ones keep popping out of the woodwork, but they’re always colorful. This time we got introduced to the guy who made Boss and his two friends shut up in the previous episode (or was it the episode before?), the man with the crack shot. We even got a little background on Tsubasa. I’d be more inclined to enjoy the program if were simply about this group, but unfortunately, it’s about Kouji Kabuto.
Episode 7, "Legendary! The Mechanical Beasts of Bardos Island!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Shiro realizes something is wrong when he wakes up in the police office and the officers are all dead. The Inspector Ankokuji that has been keeping Kouji in custody is actually Baron Ashura in disguise, with the real one recovering at the Kurogane House with the protection of Tsubasa Nishikiori. Tsubasa attacks Ashura at the police station, while Dr. Hell recalls his past involving Tsubasa and Dr. Kabuto. Kouji interrupts Tsubasa’s attack to get revenge for his grandfather’s death, but it allows Ashura to break free and summon a Mechanical Beast.
Episode 6, "Fire! Photon Beam!!"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kouji finds himself in jail due to his overexhuberant actions in Mazinger. Inspector Ankokuji investigates the deceased Dr. Kabuto and looks for the Pilder, which went missing. Sayaka and the other members of the Robot Corps, meanwhile, meet Tsubasa Nishikiori, a mysterious woman who was able to instruct Kouji in firing the Mazinger’s Photon Beam, which destroyed Count Brocken’s bomber mecha. Ankokuji sends officers to look for the Pilder at Kurogane House, while Dr. Hell realizes who the woman is.
Episode 4, "Clash! Mechanical Beasts vs Mazinger"
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Kouji in the Mazinger and Sayaka in the Aphrodai A are attacked by the Mechanical Beasts, the blade wielding Garada K7 and two-headed Doublas M2, while Baron Ashura attempts to bring Dr. Kabuto into the fold by choice or by force. Kouji finally gets used to the controls of Mazinger, but hesitates when he sees the innocent casualties of the battle. While the Robot Corps appears to assist, Dr. Kabuto controls Mazinger’s rocket punch hand and uses it to bring him to Mazinger to instruct Kouji in person.
