Ultraman Episode Summaries

1. Ultra Operation #1
URUTORA SAKUSEN DAI-ICHI-GOH
Airdate: 7/17/1966

While patrolling in the Mini-VTOL, Science Patrol member Hayata intercepts a blue globe of light from outer space over Ryuh-ga-Mori. His Mini-VTOL collides with a red ball of light, and Hayata dies. His body rises from the wreckage and is sucked into the red ball.

Ultraman, a giant red and silver alien, stands before Hayata. Ultraman explains that monster Bemular escaped while being escorted to the Monster Graveyard... the ensuing chase brought them to Earth, where Ultraman inadvertently crashed into poor Hayata. Feeling remorse for the tragedy, Ultraman decides to merge with Hayata, and vows to fight for peace on Earth. He gives Hayata the Beta Capsule.

The Science Patrol is shocked to find out that Hayata miraculously survived. They go after Bemular, who has decided to take residence in a Ryuh-ga-Mori lake. Hayata uses the Beta Capsule to transform into Ultraman and defeats Bemular with his Specium Beam.

Space Monster BEMULAR
UCHUH KAIJUH BEMURAH
50 meters / 50,000 tons
Beam from mouth. Transforms into a blue ball of light to fly at mach 1.8. Bemular's name is recycled from the original concept of Ultraman. Bemular's suit itself is later recycled to become monster Gyango in episode 11. (Source(s): [UK500], p. 238).

2. Shoot the Invader
SHINRYAKUSHA O UTE
Airdate: 7/24/1966

An unidentified flying object emitting strong pulse waves disappears over the Science Center.

Arashi goes to investigate, but encounters an alien and is rendered inanimate by a beam from its claws.

Captain Muramatsu convinces the upper brass that they should try to negotiate with the aliens before attacking them.

The calm Hayata and skittish Ide go to the Science Center and attempt to make contact. However, since the aliens are unable to understand Ide's attempt at speaking space-speak, they posess Arashi and send him as an interpreter. Through Arashi, they explain that the 2.23 billion hibernating microscopic Baltans have come to Earth in their damaged invisible spaceship. They scoped the place out and decided to stay. The Baltans rebuff Hayata's offer to co-habit with humans on Earth peacefully, since they've decided to invade the planet as a replacement for their own, which was annihilated by scientific nuclear experients while they were traveling in space. Only one Baltan can grow to macroscopic size, and of course it does.

This episode was actually the first to be produced, and is a classic. The Baltan special effects are most impressive, especially for 1966.

Space Ninja ALIEN BALTAN
UCHUH NINJA BARUTAN-SEIJIN
micro~50 meters / 15,000 tons
Explosive white beam, or paralyzing red beam from claws; can project illusions of his body to confuse prey, can hypnotize humans and use them as translators, revives from direct hits by shedding outer skin. Baltan-seijin is one of the all-time classic Ultra villains. Note: The name "Baltan" should probably be spelled "Vultan," because it is derived from "Vulcan," but it seems like "Baltan" is the accepted standardization. (Back when the Japanese didn't have a commonly-used character to pronounce the English letter "V," the closest they could come to it was the "B" sound.)  Baltan-seijin (a.k. Alien Baltan or Baltanian), is Ultraman's arch nemesis. Beginning with episode 2 of the original 'Ultraman' series, this race of so-called space ninjas return to invade Earth throughout many of the subsequent Ultra series due to a lasting popularity with Ultra fans. The Baltans are an icon of the TOKUSATSU (live-action special effects shows) genre. In addition to a vast array of "ninja" weapons, the Baltans have a trademark laugh, ominous and creepy as can be (phoneticized in Japanese as FWO FWO FWO...).