5. The Japanese Spider-Man
First appearance: In the Japanese series Spider-Man (1978 to 1979)
Who is the Japanese Spider-Man? In the late ’70s, Marvel made a deal with the Japanese company Toei. This led to the Japanese series Spider-Man. Takuya Yamashiro is a race car driver who witnesses a UFO crash, and the alien Garia gives him superpowers.
Instead of the Green Goblin, he had to fight Professor Monster. Unlike Peter Parker, he does not shy away from using firearms, and the themes in the series are much more adult than one might initially think (via The Culture Crypt).
Overall, the series is heavily inspired by the Super Sentai series, which are most similar to Power Rangers.
What powers does the Japanese Spider-Man have?
- The Japanese Spider-Man has bracelets that give him powers and also provide his costume
- He can call the UFO from Garia and transform into the giant robot Leopardon
