A surviving fragment of Sosai X mutates into Sosai Z and recruits megalomaniac Count Egobossler to create an army to conquer the world. To combat this new threat, the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman once again return with newer weapons and a new ship - the Gatchaspartan. But with the new weapons comes a heavy price: the more Ken the Eagle uses his weapon Gatchafencer as part of the Gatchaspartan's ultimate weapon, the weaker he gets as the weapon mysteriously and slowly drains his life force.
Episode 1
New Dark Clouds
Oct 7, 1979
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.
Episode 2
Debut! Gatcha Spartan
Oct 14, 1979
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.
Episode 3
A Tainted Oasis
Oct 21, 1979
Episode 4
The Challenge of the Iron Commandos
Oct 28, 1979
Episode 5
Charge! The Terrible Soldiers
Nov 4, 1979
Episode 6
Burn! Gatchaman Fencer
Nov 11, 1979
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.
Episode 7
Steal the Giant Iron Beast
Nov 18, 1979
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.
Episode 8
The Desperate Outlaw Squad
Nov 25, 1979
Episode 9
Fear of the Extinction Ray Gun
Dec 2, 1979
Episode 10
Danger! Gatchaman Base
Dec 9, 1979
Episode 11
The Saturn Limited Express Z-Press
Dec 16, 1979
Episode 12
The Order to Destroy the Mantle Base
Dec 23, 1979
Episode 13
Violence?! The Decisive Battle of Agrika
Dec 30, 1980
Episode 14
Destruction by Fire! Egobossler's Palace
Jan 6, 1980
Episode 15
Hell's Burning Ambition
Jan 13, 1980
Episode 16
A Deadly Butterfly Dances in the Dark
Jan 20, 1980
Episode 17
Horror of the Evil Smoke City
Jan 27, 1980
Episode 18
The Spectacular Crash of G-1
Feb 3, 1980
Episode 19
Don't Touch the Super Stuff!
Feb 10, 1980
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.
Episode 20
Appearance! Terror of the Triple Iron Beast
Feb 17, 1980
Episode 21
Angry Joe! Fright of the Flaming Bird
Feb 24, 1980
Episode 22
Order to Blast the Satellite
Mar 2, 1980
Episode 23
The Evil of Mechaland
Mar 9, 1980
Episode 24
A Warrior's Pride
Jul 16, 1980
Episode 25
Sky Riders from Hell
Mar 23, 1980
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.
Episode 26
G-1 Enraged! A New Way to Kill
Mar 30, 1980
Episode 27
The Mystery of Egobossler's Birth
Apr 6, 1980
Episode 28
Desperate Fight! Valley of Betrayal
Apr 13, 1980
Episode 29
Cruelty! The Separation of Brother and Sister
Apr 20, 1980
Episode 30
The Creeping Alien
Apr 27, 1980
Episode 31
Runaway! The Great Train Chase
May 4, 1980
Episode 32
Mystery of the Space Pulse
May 11, 1980
Episode 33
A Promise Kept
May 18, 1980
Episode 34
Egobossler's Strategy
May 25, 1980
Episode 35
The Shadow of Death Approaches G-1
Jun 1, 1980
Episode 36
Hypershoot Crisis
Jun 8, 1980
Episode 37
Revive Gatchaman
Jun 15, 1980
Episode 38
Bracelet of Friendship
Jun 22, 1980
Episode 39
Downfall! Count Egobossler
Jun 29, 1980
Episode 40
Surprise Attack of the Mecha Waterspout
Jul 5, 1980
Episode 41
Collapse! Gatchaman Base
Jul 12, 1980
Episode 42
The Death of Chief Nambu
Jul 19, 1980
Episode 43
The Destruction of Gallatown
Jul 26, 1980
Episode 44
The Space Devil Draws Near
Aug 3, 1980
Episode 45
Threat of the Antimatter Planet
Aug 10, 1980
Episode 46
G-1 Desperate for High Power
Aug 17, 1980
Episode 47
Earth Extinction! 3 2 1
Aug 24, 1980
Episode 48
Gatchaman Eternal
Aug 31, 1980
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.