I have long been of the opinion that Astro Boy is over-rated. the twee Anime do-gooder with the rocket up his pants, was always a poor second to the fantastic Marine Boy in my opinion.
Marine Boy was one of the first Japanese cartoons to be dubbed into English and syndicated in the USA back in the late 1960's. It was shown endless on Aussie TV during the 1970s (and is apparently now showing on Saturday mornings on one of the free to air digital channels). So he was totally a pioneer. He was a bit more of a teenager than the pesky Astro, and he wasn't a robot. He was a regular 'could-be-you-or-me' kid who could do remarkable things. He was a kid, but he was a Marine for Ocean Patrol. He could breathe under the water with the help of 'Oxy-Gum', he had a white dolphin and his girlfriend was a topless Mermaid called Neptina, who's nudity was always hidden by an arm or her flowing hair. there were a couple of other older men in his crew, called Bolton and Piper. And his dad (Dr Mariner - hilarious) and the clumsy scientist (Dr Fumble - double hilarious). Originally called Under Water Boy Marine in Japan, they changed it for the Western audiences to the snappier Marine Boy.
Every week marine Boy would face off against pirates and devious types, but mostly it was giant radio active crabs and maniac giant squids and so forth. It was great. MUCH better than Astro Boy. He would totally kick Astro boy sorry robot arse in a fight.
So why isn't there Marine Boy t-shirts, lunch boxes, figurines and bubble gum cards then?
I don't know. But I am not happy about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HqSkY4vtVY
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