The Blackbirds (ブラックバード) are a Galactor special forces group that act and function similar to the Science Ninja Team, acting as assassins and spies for Galactor.
They are exclusive to the first series and the OVA remake, having not been re-used for either of the TV sequels.
Appearance[]
All of the Blackbirds are adorned in dark costumes with red accents, with black being the main color and descriptive of their name. Unlike the Bird Styles of the Science Ninja Team, the Blackbirds' helmets lack transparent visors and completely shield their eyes from being seen.
Other points to set them apart from the Science Ninjas include them having a red Galactor-themed emblem on their chests, and no visible gloves or boots (with shoes seemingly built into the suit, although episode 24 has some cel painting instances where they appear to have red shoes or toe tips). Their capes are divided into three "wing" points and are usually black, with a lighter interior. Some Blackbirds tend to have long hair hanging out the backs of their helmets, which can be seen to appear in contrasting colors like white or red, though some would have no visible hair sticking out.
The exact color schemes of the Blackbirds' costumes change over the course of the series, whether due to oversight or an attempt to differentiate the troops:
- The initial group in episode 24 had deep blue bodysuits with brown belts, and deep green helmets with red and yellow eye markings. The suits also have a pattern of red, triangular markings down the legs. Their leader could be differentiated by the presence of a yellow star symbol on his helmet.
- Upon the second sighting of Blackbirds in episode 56, the motorcycle group that accosted Jun were shown to have deep blue helmets to match their bodysuits, and darker brown belts, while the interior of their capes were no longer gray but teal. The markings on their legs were also changed to be yellow.
- By episode 77, the group of Blackbirds seen in the plot were depicted with navy bodysuits and black belts, the teal interior of their capes kept from the previous iteration. Their helmets were now black to match their capes, and their leg markings changed back to be red.
- The final troops of Blackbirds seen in the original series in episodes 85 and 88 had black bodysuits with red markings, black helmets, and brown belts. Their capes were now colored a deep navy blue, with a pale blue interior.
In the Mad Cave comics, the Blackbirds debuting in issue #3 seem to have a cross between the first and third color schemes; blue bodysuits with brown belts, but black helmets and capes. They also have the long, white hair sticking out from the helmets. In contrast, the artistic differences in Galactor #2 result in the Blackbirds there being colored with a scheme primarily like the one in episode 77 (gray bodysuit, black belt, black helmet and cape) and no exposed hair/wigs are to be seen.
OVA[]
The Blackbird troops in the OVA were given an updated, darker and edgier appearance to fit the modern and more mature story. These Blackbirds were seen to be men with uniformly pale skin and blue lipstick. They wore black bodysuits with navy capes, which had purple interior lining. Their helmet shape was streamlined, but remained black with red "eyes".
As with their counterparts before, their suits had markings running down the legs, which were back to being yellow. Unlike the original series' Blackbirds, these men had sharp, talon-like fingers in their gloves that they used as weapons, along with glowing daggers that they would throw.
Members[]
All members seen in the series are men and have gone unnamed, except for Jun's childhood friend Koji who wound up becoming part of the group (although not wearing the uniform, but instead a specialized motorcycle outfit).
No women appear, as the Devil Stars are essentially the Blackbirds' feminine counterparts.
Weapons and Arsenal[]
Transforming Motorcycles[]
The Blackbirds have specialized motorcycles that can connect together horizontally or vertically, allowing them to be transformed into powerful Iron Beast mecha through an armoring sequence. This is seen especially in episode 56, along with them forming a horse-head chess piece-themed mecha in episode 85.
These motorcycles are also shown to fire missiles out of their back, along with unleashing a heavy smog.
Alterations in English Adaptations[]
The Blackbirds are not officially named in Battle of the Planets, but did retain a presence in the episodes that were adapted featuring them.
When adapted into G-Force: Guardians of Space, they were renamed the Hawk Squad in their debut, though they were also later referred to as Black Hawks. Their captains tend to be referred to as Hawk Leaders through the appearances.
Voice Actors[]
Shozo Iizuka voiced the captain in episode 24, while the motorcycle group in 56 went uncredited. The leader in episode 77 was voiced by Tessho Genda (under his birth name of Mitsuo Yokoi).
The acrobat rider trio present in episode 85 were voiced by Hiroshi Serikawa, Tessho Genda, and Naohiro Hito, while the two members in 88 were voiced by Genda and Kohei Miyauchi.
English Adaptations[]
- Battle of the Planets: ?
- G-Force: Guardians of Space: ?
- ADV dub: Vic Mignogna (Leader in episode 24), Ken Webster (Leader in episode 77)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- It is unknown why the Blackbirds did not receive much usage in the series, though it is sometimes speculated that sponsors or producers didn't care much for the characters or that writers didn't want to overuse what was considered an "evil version of the Ninja Team" (which was made more evident in the scenario title for the Neon Giant episode, describing them as "Galactor's Ninja Team").
- In early drafts for their debut, their names are given as Black Birds, with a separator in the middle of the katakana (ブラック・バード), before it was decided to make it one word in the notation.
Apocryphal Remake Plans[]
Battle of the Planets (Top Cow)[]
- The Blackbirds were to appear in a heavily reimagined form in this comic series , and were foreshadowed in a nightmare that Mark had as well as them being seen gestating at the end of issue #12. These incarnations of the characters would instead be clones of G-Force taken from stolen DNA samples, and would be used to fight them in what was the rest of the intended story-arc (which became an abortive G-Force mini-series, and was then retooled as the scrapped double-shot Endgame). Since these samples included DNA from Princess, many female Blackbirds could also be seen growing in the Spectran laboratory pods. As the series was never resumed and Top Cow's license to produce comics expired, this plot thread was left hanging.
Gatchaman (Imagi film adaptation)[]
- The Blackbirds were depicted in some concept art by Charlie Wen, showing them to be much more extraterrestrial and monstrous-looking men in black bodysuits, with sharp, deadly-looking helmets that had no eyes or visors. Their suits were augmented with metallic body armor in some concepts, and they had black capes. The Blackbirds' significance can be seen in a script sample by Kevin Munroe, where he had them depicted as Edo-era Galactor footsoldiers that were sent to devastate Japan alongside an incarnation of Katse. They were then seen in the attack on the ISO base, but it is unknown if they had any more significance in the rest of the plot, especially as it changed due to being unable to have the script and creative team locked down.