Now Viewing: space_adventure_cobraTag type: Copyright A space opera action adventure series created by Terasawa_Buichi. It is his most successful work as well as his major breakthrough as a mangaka. The manga sold 30 million copies within Japan and is one of Weekly Shonen Jump's best selling manga. It is also notable for being very popular in France. The original manga ran from November 6, 1978 to November 12, 1984. It was preceded by a one-shot in 1977. It has been adapted into anime multiple times as well as several video games. Terasawa himself also wrote and directed one anime adaptation: Cobra The Animation Psychogun. The manga also spawned multiple sequels. Johnson is a salaryman thoroughly bored and dissatisfied with his life. He's stuck in a job that he finds unsatisfying and does not pay particularly well. He has a robot servant named Ben, but Ben is large clunky robot that doesn't speak properly as opposed to an attractive young woman which is what Johnson would prefer. Ben suggests that Johnson go to the Trip Movie Corporation, which gives their customers the opportunity to experience their wildest dreams. The customers are put into a sleep like state and the company creates a highly realistic and life-like scenario based off of the customers' wishes. Johnson visits Trip to liven up his boring life. He tells the employees that he'd like to be the king of a harem and to command a battlestar spaceship. Johnson gets his dream, but he also gets much more than he asked for. He dreams that he is a legendary noble space pirate named Cobra who works with his female android partner Lady Armaroid. The two of them go on many adventures throughout space and battle against the ruthless Pirate Guild. Cobra is unusual in that he has a special arm laser gun called the Psychogun. Johnson dreams that he as Cobra spares one pirate named Captain Vaiken. Johnson drives home satisfied with, and at the same time curious about, his dream. On the way home he learns that his 'dream' was not really a dream when he coincidentally bumps into Vaiken. Johnson recognizes Vaiken and makes the mistake of addressing the man by name causing Vaiken to suspect that Johnson knows something about Cobra whom Vaiken is looking for. In the ensuing confrontation, Johnson kills Vaiken by instinctively using his Psychogun. Johnson realizes that he is, in fact, the legendary space pirate Cobra who had altered his physical appearance and memories to go into hiding because he was tired of constantly fighting. He soon learns that 'Ben' is also his partner Lady Armaroid in disguise. Now that Cobra's identity has been exposed, Cobra once again returns to his space adventures, battling against the Pirate Guild, bounty hunters who seek to collect the massive bounty Cobra has on his head, and all sorts of space villains. The series was heavily influenced by films from all over the world. The basic concept of the series was inspired by both westerns and Japanese wandering swordsman stories and the series is intended to be a mixture of these two types of narratives. Terasawa came up with the Psychogun first as he wanted a hero who would use a weapon that can be easily concealed. The French actor Jean Paul Belmondo was Terasawa's main inspiration for Cobra himself. Terasawa was also inspired by the James Bond films. This series, like said films, involves Cobra having adventures in all sorts of exotic locations and interacting with sexy women. The movie Barbarella was also a large influence on the female character designs of this series, particularly the character Jane Royal who is named after the lead actress of said film, Jane Fonda. Besides movies, Terasawa was also influenced by his mentor Tezuka Osamu. The series is filled with laser gun fights with Cobra using his Psychogun, physical skills, and wits to get out of the life or death situations he frequently finds himself in. The series also has a lot of fanservice with many females wearing skimpy outfits and, in the manga, female characters' nipples are shown. Clips from the anime film adaptation were used in the music video for Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend. The series, particularly protagonist Cobra, was also an influence on the video game Devil May Cry. Cast: Main Characters: Cobra Lady_Armaroid Supporting: Crystal_Boy Jane_Royal Catherine_Royal Dominique_Royal Sandra_(Space_Adventure_Cobra) Lord_Salamander Captain_Vaiken Other Wiki Information Last updated: 04/27/14 1:51 AM by jojosstand This entry is not locked and you can edit it as you see fit. |
     
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