Hikari Sentai Maskman

Hikari Sentai Maskman is Toei’s eleventh entry in the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987, to February 20, 1988, and ran for 51 episodes. Toei lists its international English title simply as Maskman.

It was the first Super Sentai series to show each member using an individual vehicle that combines to form their robot. It also introduced a non-Japanese martial arts discipline.

Commander Sugata is a scientist and sage who excels in mental reinforcement and has mastered every martial arts discipline. He discovers the Underground Empire Tube, once a peaceful kingdom that has become a malignant force under the mysterious Zeba, who seeks to conquer the surface. To oppose Tube and thwart its plans, Sugata recruits five young people to become the Maskmen.

Each Maskman specializes in a martial arts style, and Sugata teaches them the ways of the mystical energy known as “Aura Power.” A year after Sugata recruits and trains them, the Underground Empire Tube is ready to strike. Princess Ial, of the deposed Igam Royal Family, is sent above ground to spy as Mio. She falls in love with Takeru and hopes that those living underground and above ground can coexist. For her betrayal, she is kidnapped and imprisoned in ice. As Takeru and the Maskmen fight Tube, they discover the relationship between Ial and Igam, as well as a terrible dark secret about Tube’s leader, Zeba.