Lightspeed Esper

• Main
• YMMV
• Wikipedia
• All Subpages
• Create New

Is it hot in that helmet?

Lightspeed Esper is a Japanese Live Action superhero TV series from the 1970's. It is about a boy named Ikaru who is chosen to wear a supersuit so he can battle alien invaders.

Originally created to be Toshiba's mascot, it also had a Manga by Leiji Matsumoto.

Although fairly obscure, the series was broadcast in many countries in the 70s, including in Latin America.

Needs More Love, especially character names and production details.

---

Tropes used in Lightspeed Esper include:

• Clothes Make the Superman: a special spacesuit.
• The Faceless: Ikaru's parents (in their real forms.)
• Get Up Go to School Save The World
• Jet Pack: How Esper flies.
• Kid Hero
• Mascot: For the Toshiba Electronics company.
• Mission Control: The scientists who created the suit monitor it while in action and give advice when needed.
• Monster of the Week
• Ray Gun: Esper has two.
• Robot Buddy: Esper has a talking robot parrot named Shikar.
• Secret Keeper: Ikaru's parents know he's a hero, but he doesn't know they know. He also doesn't know that they're actually aliens in disguise! (They accidentally killed the real ones, and took their place to atone for it.)
• Super Wrist Gadget: Esper wears a communication wrist watch.
• Transformation Sequence: Sort of; tIkaru only needs to say "Space suit, come to me!" and it flies to him and wraps around him.
• Word Salad Title: Esper doesn't have ESP, nor can he fly at the speed of light.