Job #13: New Mecha-Genre Fighter - Mazinger Z
- Series: Mazinger
- Original Publisher: Shueisha & Kodansha
- Fighter Theme: Mazinger Z (Infinity Version; likely a instrumental version, but people just can't unhear Ichiro Mizuki's legendary vocals - may he rest in peace)
- Debuts:
Mazinger Z is the eponymous mech, who appeared in the
titular 1972 manga created by
Go Nagai (known for
Devilman,
Cutie Honey and
Getter Robo) and several subsequent sequels (especially a 2018 film,
Mazinger Z: Infinity which took place ten years after the original series and
Great Mazinger) from the long-running
Mazinger series, where it is primary piloted by
Koji Kabuto, who's grandfather
Juzo built the robot after discovering
Japanium and creating
Super Alloy Z from it, as he uses the mech to fight against mechanical monsters and
Doctor Hell's sinister henchmen.
Since it's debut in both the manga and an anime adaptation released the same year, Mazinger Z has helped to
create the mecha genre back in the 1970's, even introducing multiple features for the super robot genre like mecha robots being piloted by a user from within their cockpits, and inspiring/pioneering multiple huge manga/anime franchises such as
Mobile Suit Gundam,
Beast King GoLion/Voltron,
Neon Genesis Evangelion,
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar and many others.
Guillermo del Toro himself also claimed the show (which was popular back at Mexico in 1980's) as an important influence on his
Pacific Rim film made in 2013. The franchise has been
referenced in pop culture and made
multiple crossovers alongside those like Devilman & Transformers themselves, even appearing as the
regular staple/character in Banpresto's
Super Robot Wars video game series.
In Anime FighterZ (coincidential name, right?), Mazinger Z may likely appear as the first giant character in this game's roster, being quite escalated to match the screen's size almost like our first boss Pluto, similarly to
Sentinel from the Marvel vs. Capcom series, and
Gold Lightan &
PTX-40A in
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Koji can make use of it's
various abilities and
attacks/techniques such as signature
Rocket Punch (where it fires it's forearm/fist as a rocket projectile at the opponent; akin to Mega Man's Hard Knuckle), Iron Cutter (a forearm blade), Hammer Punch, Mazin Kick (a flying kick; likely a unique/command move alongside two previous attacks),
Koshiryoku Beam (photon laser beams from it's eyes),
Rust Hurricane (exhaling a powerful air tornado from the mouth grill), Missile Punch (firing a missile from the launch bay on it's belly), Drill Missile (a barrage of small, needle-like missiles fired from ports in upper arms), Reito Beam (freezing blast), Finger Missile (fires the last joint of it's fingers as miniature missiles; a short-ranged spread attack) and
Breast Fire (releases out a intense heat blast from the chestplate, which can also be used as a projectile with Mazinger Boomerang; likely one of the Level 1 Super attacks).
It can also perform a flying blade technique/attack past the opponent with
the Jet Scrander on it's back for a rushing special move (Scrander Cutter), summon
an anti-wave barrier around itself to protect against attacks (a potential blocking animation while crossing it's arms), amplify itself to become much stronger by increasing it's overall attack strength with
Mazin Power (a Special Skill that causes self-cooldown stun to prevent overloading after the time period ends) and for it's Level 3 Super/finisher attack, it will be powered up
with God Scrander and perform a very powerful
Big Bang Punch (as it transforms into a huge golden fist akin to Zeus' own; written
this way) that does massive damage.