Brave Raideen (Shogun Warriors) Giant Robot Manga Art by Hiruta Mitsuru

I haven't seen the manga version of Brave Raideen, but this character still holds a special place in my childhood. Raideen was one of three Japanese giant robot characters that Marvel Comics pooled together to form the Shogun Warriors. (Combatra & Dangard Ace, AKA Grendizer & Mazinger, were the other two.) In fact, Raideen was the badass robot that Marvel featured on the very first issue's cover.

Brave Raideen started out as an animated series (勇者ライディーン, Yūsha Raidīn) and was noted as being the first giant robot with quasi-mystical powers who fought demonic entities out to destroy the earth. (I'm told there was an English version but that they changed the demons into aliens, but I've never seen it.) Raideen, who was sentient, is assisted by Akira Hibiki, a descendant of the ancient people who created the robot.

The page you see here features Raideen and Akira, and was created as an advertisement that probably ran in the manga version by (according to the blurb at the bottom left) artist Hiruta Mitsuru, a one-time assistant to the legendary Go Nagai, and writer, Suzuki Yoshitake.

The short copy at the top right reads "Final Episode" and probably dates this art to around 1976 which is when the original run of the show ended (I think – if anyone knows better, please let me know). The copy to the left reads something like "Raideen Vs. Barao in Their Final Battle!" *

This was a Christmas present from my wife and was purchased from Mandarake. Anyone visiting Japan should visit the Mandarake stores. The sheer amount of comics, anime cels, costumes, movie posters, statues, original art and other collectibles will blow your little "gaijin" minds. Seriously, you have no idea!