J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai
Four cyborgs battle the global criminal empire Crime.
J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (also known as the J.A.K.Q. Electric Shock Team, and in the Philippines as Lucky Aces) is a Japanese tokusatsu series and the second entry in the Super Sentai franchise. It ran for 35 episodes from April 8 to December 23, 1977, following Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and preceding Battle Fever J. The show was created by Shotaro Ishinomori and introduced the franchise's first White Ranger. Internationally, Toei distributes it under the title The Jackers.
The story centers on Iron Claw, the head of a worldwide criminal syndicate called "Crime," which uses an army of masked thugs and cyborg assassins, backed by wealthy sympathizers, to become the most powerful mafia organization. In response, the International Science Special Investigation Squad (ISSIS) is formed, with its Tokyo branch commander, Daisuke Kujirai (code name "Joker"), leading a radical experiment. He recruits four young people to undergo cyborg enhancement: Goro Sakurai, an Olympic gold medalist and multi-sport athlete; Ryu Higashi, a disgraced boxing champion; Karen Mizuki, a critically injured policewoman; and Bunta Daichi, a clinically dead oceanographer kept in cryogenic suspension. They are surgically altered with bionic enhancements and energy manipulation powers, becoming the J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (or "Jackers") to destroy Crime. Later, Joker leaves to head ISSIS's advanced engineering division, and Sokichi Banba, a master of disguise and cyborg, takes over as their new leader, Big One.
Goro Sakurai, a pentathlon champion in karate, archery, judo, and equestrianism, initially refuses Joker's offer but changes his mind after saving Karen Mizuki. He and Karen develop a romantic relationship by the series' end. His bionic abilities include X-ray vision (Chu Seishi Scope), super speed (Kosouku Switch), and enhanced hearing (Enkaku Shuon Souchi). As the red Spade Ace, he wields the Spade Arts bow, which fires atomic-charged arrows and can convert into a whip. Goro is a natural leader, using his powers to find enemy weaknesses. He later appears in the 25th-anniversary film Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, leading 24 Red Rangers.
Karen Mizuki is a Japanese-American police detective who, after uncovering Crime's drug trafficking routes, is targeted in a car crash that kills her father and costs her an arm. Seeking revenge, she volunteers for the bionic process. Her powers
- field
- Tokusatsu television series
- nationality
- Japanese
- creator
- Shotaro Ishinomori
- episodes
- 35
- air_dates
- 8 April 1977 – 23 December 1977
- known_for
- Second Super Sentai series; first White Ranger; cyborg heroes
Lore & Background
The series follows the International Science Special Investigation Squad (ISSIS) as it combats the criminal organization Crime, led by Iron Claw. ISSIS commander Daisuke Kujirai (code name Joker) recruits four young test subjects—Goro Sakurai, Ryu Higashi, Karen Mizuki, and Bunta Daichi—to undergo cyborg enhancement. Each gains unique bionic powers: Goro manipulates atomic energy, Karen controls magnetism, Ryu wields electric currents, and Bunta manipulates gravity. They are designated J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (pronounced 'Jacker'). Later, Joker leaves and Sokichi Banba, a master of disguise and cyborg, becomes their new boss as Big One, the white-colored 'super cyborg' who can harness all four powers.
Reader's Guide
J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai is significant as the second Super Sentai series, bridging the gap between the original Gorenger and the later Battle Fever J. It introduced the first White Ranger (Big One) and established the cyborg-hero motif that influenced later entries. The series also featured a romantic subplot between Goro Sakurai and Karen Mizuki. Decades later, Goro and Sokichi Banba appeared in the 25th-anniversary film Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, with Goro leading 24 Red Rangers and Sokichi leading the 'Dream Sentai' team. Toei distributes the series internationally under the title The Jackers.
Did You Know?
- J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai marks the first appearance of a White Ranger in the Super Sentai franchise.
- The series aired only 35 episodes, from 8 April to 23 December 1977.
- Bunta Daichi was clinically dead and cryogenically sustained before being revived as a cyborg.
- Sokichi Banba (Big One) can transform by sniffing a magic red rose and leaping into the air.
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