8 Man: Difference between revisions

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Now empowered beyond ordinary men, Azuma becomes (all by himself) the secret 8th division of the Tokyo Police. His only superior is bureau chief Tanaka (called Chief Fumblethumbs, of all things, in English). Now called 8-Man ("Eighth Man", in English, because according to the dub he was the eighth cyborg attempt -- and the first one to work!), he has the [[Stock Super Powers|usual array]] of powers: [[Super Strength]], [[Super Speed]], plus the unusual ability to [[Helping Hands|detach and remotely control his limbs]]. In a detail that would never get past kid-vid censors today, 8-Man recharged his power supply using "special cigarettes". He spent much of his time fighting an array of goofy enemies ranging from communist spies and robot bats to gangsters with bizarre names right out of ''[[Dick Tracy]].''

It also prompted a [[Darker and Edgier]] [[Revival]] [[OVA]] series in 1993, ''8th Man After'', which was released in English by [[Streamline Pictures]]. This has joined its originator as a [[Cult Classic]] due to its unique blend of dark [[Cyberpunk]] and over-the-top [[Superhero]] themes. It is also remembered for its mock-worthy [[Drugs Are Bad]] themes - [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]] because they are unusable without [[Psycho Serum]]. Eight Man is resurrected to fight them, fueled by [[Super Serum]]. Just Say NO to [[Psycho Serum]] - Use [[Super Serum]]! This could have all been avoided by [[Fridge Logic|simply distributing the "safe" serum.]] Then lots of people could have cybernetics. But [[Reed Richards Is Useless]]. [[MST3K Mantra|It's just an anime, I should really just relax]] and enjoy the ultraviolence.

 

 

 

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* [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]]: Cyborgs routinely run rampant because the cybernetic link to the nervous system along with the massive boost in strength unhinges most people's minds. Eight Man, being a ([[Bishonen]]) [[Phlebotinum Rebel]] with "good cybernetics" is able to escape these effects and battle the evil [[Mega Corp]] producing them.

* [[Drugs Are Bad]]: Used by the OVA in place of [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]]: it's not the cybernetics per se that drives the users crazy, but the massive quantities of [[Psycho Serum]] they have to take to use the implants effectively. Eight Man makes do with good-old [[Super Serum]].

* [[Expository Theme Tune]]: The theme to the English dub combines this trope and [[Never Trust a Trailer]], as the theme and ([[Importation Expansion|American animated]]) opening sequence described Eight Man fighting aliens (which he never does) and flying (which he can't do).

* [[Runs On Nonsensoleum]]: 8 Man recharges his super-batteries or whatever by smoking radium-laced cigarettes.

* [[Super Serum]]: Used in the OVA.

* [[Weaksauce Weakness]]: Eight Man has to smoke (or eat) what appear to be cigarettes to keep his powers running. Great when he's facing a firing squad, but ''what if kids see him smoking and he sets a bad example?''

 

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[[Category:Anime]]

[[Category:Manga]]