Phantom Agents used guns as last resort

by Chris Riley If you grew up up the 1960s then you'll remember The Samurai TV series. Chances are you'll also also know what I am ...

by Chris Riley

If you grew up up the 1960s then you'll remember The Samurai TV series.

Chances are you'll also also know what I am talking about when I mention Phantom Agents.

The concept was the same but it had a more contemporary setting, with characters dressed in military style uniforms, with a sword on the their back.

There's a few episodes kicking around YouTube but as far as I know they have never released the series with English audio.

There was also a bloke selling some English episodes on eBay a few years back and I couldn't help myself.

Funny thing is I've never got around to watching them.

Phantom Agents first screened in Australia on January 31, 1966.

Each episode started with Margo shooting someone, only to be chided by their leader Phantar.

"Margo! You shouldn't have shot him. A gun is a last resort. Always remember, we're Phantom Agents!"

Capitalising on the success of the Samurai series, 130 episodes were produced in black and white.

Phantom Agents (Japanese: Ninja butai gekkô) ran from 1964-1966.

The series was created by Tatsuo Yoshida and starred  Jo Mizuki, Akira Yamaguchi, Franz Gruber.

In the original Japanese version, the agents were all named after phases of the moon, which also appeared on their helmets: Gekkō (‘Moonlight’), Tsukikage (‘Moon Shadow’), Tsukinowa (‘Moon Ring’), Meietsu (‘Shining Moon’), Natsuki (‘harvest moon’), Mikazuki (‘Crescent Moon’) and Getsumei (‘Moon Light’).

 

The Phantom Agents were modern day ninjas whose enemies were an organisation called "Black Flag".

They wore old style motorcycle helmets and ran everywhere in single file, but later graduated to a Toyota Crown Saloon.

The Phantom Agents were armed with ninja weapons such as star knives and used guns "only as a last resort".

Like ninjas they could jump great distances, usually backwards because that's what happened when you ran the cameras in reverse.

But the thing I remember most was their ability to blend into the architecture, holding a sheet of cloth that allowed them to blend into a wall.

The Phantom Agents leader was Phantar played by Joh Mizuki.

The rest of the unit included Andar, Cordo, Zemo, and a female agent named Margo who was later replaced by Gina.

She's the one who gets the lecture in the opening credits after shooting someone.

There was also a small boy agent, Tomba.

The Phantom Agents main rivals were:

• Black Flag of Smigzee: black-clad ninjas and also uniformed guards at their island base. Smigzee means Secret Military Intelligence Group Zee.
• Mocula looked much like Yakuza or Mafia hoods, but with added ninja abilities.
• The Ghost Group, who were the main adversary in later episodes, had a mysterious magical aspect and included magicians with highly specialised skills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_tMhgisd8

 

CHECKOUT: The Stranger: It’s an alien Reg Livermore

CHECKOUT: The Queen’s Gambit: All the right moves