It was a veritable who’s who of Marvel superheroes: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor… but some fans from a country with its own rich history of superhero characters have been asking, couldn’t there have been a Captain Japan in The Avengers?
Join us as we delve into a parallel universe, asking, “If The Avengers had a Japanese superhero, which one would it be?”
In a thread on online message board 2channel last week, Japanese netizens put forward their suggestions for a superhero to represent their country in The Avengers.
10. Anpanman
Beloved children’s character and bread-headed hero for the masses, Anpanman would be a great addition to the Avengers team. And in a pinch, they could use him for emergency rations.
9. Goku
Dragon Ball protagonist and all-round mighty warrior Goku could do martial arts alongside Black Widow.
8. Miyamoto Musashi
Because who says superheroes need to be fictional? Seventeenth-century swordsman, rōnin and general badass.
7. Pretty Cure
Magical girl anime series Pretty Cure (プリキュア Purikyua) seems like a solid female superhero choice. We’re not sure which particular heroine the commenter means, though. Maybe all of them?
6. Koji Murofushi
World champion hammer thrower. Although, the Avengers team already has Thor, so there might be some in-fighting over hammers going on.
5. Ryu
Because his striking, simple appearance in Street Fighter (white karate gi, with red and black details) would make a good addition to any superhero movie lineup.
4. Astro Boy
Hero of Japan’s first popular TV anime and brainchild of ‘father of manga’ Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy could help the Avengers fight for peace, as well as justice.
3. Ultraman
At 40m tall, Utraman would make the Hulk look like his little green man-child.
2. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Because then it could have been called The Abe-ngers.
1. Japanese Spider-Man
Top of the list though has to be the Toei Spider-Man. Concerned about the character’s marketability in Japan, Toei gave their 1978 Spider-Man an extraterrestrial back-story and a spaceship that could transform into a giant robot. We think he’d be ideally placed to represent the country as a Marvel Japanese Avenger.
Sources: chomanga, 2channel
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59 Comments
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SauloJpn
Why isn't Godzilla in this list?
jcapan
Easy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rapeman
jojo_in_japan
Ichiro! And obviously, his weapon of choice ... a baseball bat.
Nessie
Surgical Mask Man, with the power of convincing himself against all evidence that he's invulnerable to colds and flu.
SenseNotSoCommon
Salaryman: he's invulnerable to everything but Abenomics.
Dennis Bauer
What no Kamen Rider or Doraemon? List Fail!
TakahiroDomingo
cutey honey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iKpEYyTZlo
turbotsat
Tora-san!
tabana
My favorite is Hentai Kamen, but I doubt he would fit in.
Ken Kitsune
hahaha i LoL'd at the Abe-ngers so hard!!! gagaga
MyJT2014
Astro Boy ! Yeah
shirokuma
Funasshii! Yeah
MeanRingo
My favourite - Chi-batman. Though, there would probably be some sort of infringement.
citizen2000
SUNFIRE => proper in line with the current political views.....
Gaijin Desi
Hello Kitty !!!
blackrock
Kekkou Kamen !!!!!
Sorry, let my fantasy go wild a lil bit ~
Serrano
Mr. Sato of RocketNews24.
Daniel Neagari
@JWithers First this is not about the Japan Slef Defense Force and its actions but about super heroes. Second, the reason for the mild to none activities in relation of military from Japan is because what the US did and impose to Japan after the war...so if you want to blame someone for the action of Japan, blame the US government and occupation forces after the surrendering of Japan
Christopher Glen
I'm sure Shinzo Abe would like it to be himself. He probably has a cape in his office that he poses with every morning
turbotsat
I take back Tora-san, his powers are substantial but out of place for this particular team, it would have to be Uzamaki Naruto!
Nessie
It's my understanding that they were ordered to stay away from active combat to avoid abrogating the Japanese Constitution. So not only is this not an example of cowardice, it's an example of respecting the rule of law, which some other militaries might learn a thing or two from.
kaynide
Guyver. Pretty standard issue super hero stuff there, and pretty similar to what we see in marvel.
bjohnson23
Definitely can't be Godzilla as he is in a whole class by himself. Other than Superman, Godzilla rocks the Avengers have nothing on him. With this said, a Japanese super hero would be Narito, now that guy would fit nicely.
smithinjapan
JWithers: "During the Iraq war Japanese soldiers decided to stay far far away from the combat lines. Plus they stopped offering naval support to the U.S."
Their presence in Iraq was controversial to begin with, given that the Japanese Constitution technically can't even allow an army (they skirted around that with making it a 'self-defense force') to begin with and that 'self-defense' is not extended to Iraq, and they were certainly not there in any offensive capability. They were there to provide support for restructuring, more or less.
As for there not really being any Japanese superheroes with any bravado or that are selfless, that's a little more truthful, although if we're talking about the Avengers you can't say the majority of the members are exactly 'selfless', can you? (ex. Tony Stark). As for names like Anpanman or Astro Boy in the Avengers, I couldn't help laughing my head off at the live-action character costumes I pictured for them, or for just how lame and predictable said choices were. I AM surprised that Kitty Chan didn't make the list, given that the only qualifications for a 'hero' to win an award or be elected a leader are an affection for the character, or the fact that there is a tendency towards feelings of entitlement here.
There ARE, I think, some superheroes produced here that would be suitable, but none that I see in the above list.
KamiShikkaku
Really scraping the bottom of the article barrel, aren't we Fran?
Justin R. Famarato
Yu Ominae Golgo 13 Captain Harlock should all have been on this list
nath
Candidates could be Sendai Rangers, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Space Sheriff, etc. Each has multiple option/characters.
Plenty of options
turbotsat
Why not report the vote tallies?
Are you sure you transcribed correctly, because I don't see Cutey Honey on the list.
sangetsu03
How about Matsuko Deluxe?
bruinfan
Sunfire I believe who was an X-man for a short time. If a Japanese creation, maybe Ultraman...
Nessie
Must stop....falling.....yen....
warispeace
Abe could never be an Avenger. He is more in the mold of Warau Salesman 笑ゥせぇるすまん (Laughing Salesman). He seems to be taking cues from this 2D guy, playing on people's desires, fears, desperation and fragilities.
nath
the PM Mr. Abe for sure But then the story is not ending yet...
nikkeiboy
If it is a super hero, my first choice is Ultraman.
Speed Racer would be a cool addition, but not sure if he is classified as a "super hero".
Yubaru
Kitty Chan....she would kill them all with her cuteness.
timtak
Company Warrior Yamazaki (企業戦士YAMAZAKI) a super robo-salaryman that used his business cards as ninja throwing stars.
nath
Forgot Kikaider, Hakaider, JOJo, Hokuto no Ken.
Micheal Rhian Driscoll
I vote Musashi, because he knew how to win without fighting sometimes.
toshiko
Not Abe. Can not use living people. Lawsuits. It is super hero show, not super failure show, My choice is Musashi. Ot os wasy for American to pronounce. His Nitenryu Double Swords to fight villains and help fellow avengers. Young Musaashi. Maybe one more female. One Kuboichi character, Fictious name is OK.
JoiceRojo
I was thinking of Kamen Rider, but maybe he's more suitable in the DC universe rather than Marvel
wtfjapan
Why isn't Godzilla in this list? unfortunaltey Godzilla would probably just step on everybody and destroy all the buildings while helping out.
itazuke1
GREAT MAGINGA
maglev101
How about Captain Nationalism?
Fadamor
Space Dandy. Hey baby!
JoeBigs
Koroshiya Ichi would be a perfect fit. Sure he is a bit of a psychopath, but he would make a mean addition to their crew.
Yubaru
Dead super-heroes dont do much of any good anyway right?
Micheal Rhian Driscoll
The Otaku!
Commodore Shmidlap (Retired)
Either Rola or AKB en masse.
ViscoRobo
I think.....Gyaban is preferable. He would stand well side by side with Iron Man haha
Eduardo J Martinez
SAILOR MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
masri
JIBANYAN!!!
Scnadal.Lova
wheres Naruto? Theres so many Anime Characters to choose from.
Sparky Santos
Gigantic, Marine Boy, but I choose Arale-chan.
Cricky
Chin Pokemon with super cameras on his shoes?
turbotsat
@Cricky
http://www.japanprobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Japan-back-then.jpg
Japan Back Then / Japan Today
Tateman
Charisma Man!
toshiko
How about Dragon Lady? Sound more Chinese? But I thought an Asian woman can be an Avenger.
nath
Samanoske from Onimusha would fit in great, I think!