The boom had ended, and many studios had already stopped producing live-action series about costumed superheroes.
Although
productions inspired by artwork from a toy designer
(who would later oversee overall design for the show) depicted a lone metallic, sword-wielding hero. The plan was straightforward: create a hero capable of surpassing even Kamen Rider. Led by tokusatsu veteran
as well as a longtime Toei stunt performer in his first starring role, the final outcome was the
franchise.
The series ran for a total of 44 episodes between 1982 and 1983, introducing Japanese audiences to a brand-new type of hero.
After a space colony near Earth is destroyed by the criminal organization Makuu, the Galactic Patrol Union fears Earth may be the next target in the leader Don Horror’s plan for universal domination. To protect the planet, they call upon Gavan – a Space Sheriff from Planet Bird. Arriving on his mother’s homeworld with his partner Mimi, Gavan adopts the name Retsu Ichijoji and starts a new life among its people.
Equipped with a shining silver combat suit, the mighty Laser Blade sword, and the Super Dimensional High-speed Ship Dolgiran (which can separate into the weapon-equipped Giran Saucer and the Electronic Starbeast Dol), Gavan defends Earth from Makuu’s evil schemes. In doing so, he edges closer to finding his father Voicer — Earth’s previous Space Sheriff who was kidnapped by Makuu and has been missing ever since.
Right from its beginning, Space Sheriff Gavan was designed as a unique kind of superhero show, evident in its episode structure. Although it is primarily episodic with minimal ongoing plot, what sets Gavan apart is its strong emphasis on stunt work and fight scenes rather than plot. Most shows save their costume battles for the episode’s end, but Gavan uses simple storylines to resolve key points early and dedicate as much time as possible—sometimes up to half the episode—to action. The show is very much about spectacle, brilliantly showcasing the technical craftsmanship behind tokusatsu filmmaking. The downside is that this focus sometimes makes it feel like a deeper story could have enriched the experience, as the few ongoing plot threads are compelling and make those episodes stand out. By its conclusion, Gavan surprisingly embraces wider continuity, setting the stage for the sequel series Sharivan in a satisfying way.
That said, Gavan doesn’t really suffer from having a simpler story since it delivers thrilling action sequences consistently. Beyond outstanding tokusatsu stunt work, it employed revolutionary technology for Toei at the time such as suit-making techniques and video compositing to enhance visuals. Only part of the action is performed in the suit; often, Retsu engages in battles untransformed before shouting “Jouchaku” (“Electroplate”) to summon his silver suit. Impressively, many stunts are performed by Kenji Ohba himself, a former stuntman with the Japan Action Club. Frequently, these untransformed fights surpass the transformed ones in excitement, as the latter follow a stricter formula with stock footage, while the former are more varied and unpredictable. At times, it feels like Ohba is competing with the Gavan suit actors, pushing his abilities to make the show as action-packed as possible.
One major challenge Toei faced during Gavan’s production was the limited number of locations suitable for filming key action scenes. Fortunately, they devised a clever solution that became central to Gavan’s identity: the concept of Makuu Space. Using his powers, Don Horror can manipulate Earth’s axis to trap Gavan in an alternate dimension that amplifies the villains’ powers. This concept not only smooths transitions to the iconic quarry locations but also enables the series to creatively utilize them. Makuu Space incorporates video compositing to add elaborate painted backdrops, transforming it into a realm where anything seems possible. One moment Gavan could be fighting amid an ancient temple set against a fiery nebula; the next, he’s in a cave, hopping between planets, or even atop giant handcuffs. Despite the formulaic nature of fight scenes, the unpredictable and often psychedelic visuals keep these sequences visually captivating.
Besides superb stunt work and visuals, technological innovation plays a vital role in Gavan’s design and production, making the Metal Heroes franchise stand out. The suit itself is relatively simple but instantly striking with a sleek futuristic look, glowing eyes, and blinking chest panel lights. While a matte standard suit is worn for most action scenes, a special chrome version was made for key (recyclable) shots to emphasize the “electroplate” process when Gavan dons his armor. Gavan’s Laser Blade is equally simple and elegant, featuring a glowing blade. More impressive is the Space Sheriff’s arsenal of vehicles, which showcase the effects team’s expertise. The Cyberian motorcycle is a stunning piece of retro-futuristic design, its smooth curves unlike any other in Toei’s large motorcycle collection. When the Dolgiran arrives through a fog curtain, the detailed model impresses immediately, boasting an undeniably cool entrance. It only gets better as the bottom half detaches, revealing a robotic dragon that shoots flamethrower breath and lasers, with Gavan riding its head. The Giran Saucer can deploy the heavily armored Gavion Tank equipped with twin-drill Scooper machinery. Though less frequently featured than the Starbeast Dol, these vehicles further reinforce Gavan’s mechanical and futuristic aesthetic.
Kenji Ohba’s exceptional stunt abilities undoubtedly affirm his role as the show’s lead, but it’s also his acting skills that make Gavan/Retsu Ichijoji one of tokusatsu’s all-time great protagonists. Ohba’s charisma shines through as he effortlessly shifts between a friendly, cheerful figure beloved by children (and surprisingly, many puppies saved on the show) and a fierce champion of justice. Furthermore, he portrays a more vulnerable, tormented side, expressing longing for his missing father. The penultimate episode focuses heavily on this aspect, standing out as one of the few mostly story-driven installments with minimal action. Episodes like these allow Ohba to display his full acting range, making it a shame such moments are rare. Beyond everything, though, he is undeniably cool, donning a stylish brown leather jacket and bright white pants throughout. While Space Sheriff Gavan is loaded with action and technical wizardry, it’s clear that its legacy owes much to Ohba in the starring role; the series truly belongs to him.
Although Retsu often dominates the spotlight, Gavan also offers a rich supporting cast spanning both his Space Sheriff duties and Earth life. His constant companion is assistant Mimi, who can project illusions with her pendant and transform into a parakeet for reconnaissance. Mimi is the daughter of Galactic Patrol Union Commander Qom, who also has an assistant named Marine. Though Marine lacks Mimi’s combat skills, she supports the team wherever possible, sometimes getting physically involved. Some episodes hint at a romantic subplot between Retsu and Mimi, enhancing their strong chemistry. Toward the series’ later part, Mimi briefly leaves and is replaced by Marine, who, while serviceable, doesn’t share Mimi’s beloved dynamic with Gavan. Also helping him in his Space Sheriff role is Tsukiko, revealed as his adopted sister taken in by Voicer after her parents’ death. Her recurring appearances add ongoing continuity, but like Voicer’s disappearance mystery, she seems underused. On Earth, Retsu befriends UFO-sitter Kojiro, Avalon Riding Club owner Gosuke Fuji, and his grandchildren Wakaba and Yoichi. Unaware of Retsu’s true identity, they often become involved in Makuu plots. Though Kojiro serves as comic relief, Gosuke’s grumbling about not paying Retsu, who often runs off instead of working, consistently provides the biggest laughs. Cameos appear from Galactic Patrol Union members such as Hiroshi Miyauchi as Space Sheriff Alan and famed actor/martial artist and Kenji Ohba’s mentor Sonny Chiba as Voicer.
The Makuu organization represents some of Toei’s finest villainous creations and as one of their earliest notable alien crime syndicates, they have significantly influenced later series (such as Dekaranger). However, as individual characters, they are somewhat uneven. Don Horror, though a giant and mostly immobile figure, serves well symbolically as an altar-like entity idolized by Makuu forces. Personality-wise, he is an effective ruthless leader, deeply involved in plotting their schemes. His right-hand man during the first half of the series is the aptly named Hunter Killer, Voicer’s ex-partner who betrayed him to join Makuu. While this setup hints at an interesting dynamic with Gavan involving his father’s disappearance, Hunter Killer is largely sidelined, mostly serving as a cackling general overseeing plots. Hunter Killer is later replaced by Don Horror’s son San Dorva and his mother Witch Kiba, who are far more active villains with a compelling relationship to Don Horror. San Dorva repeatedly vies for his father’s approval but endures constant disappointment, creating a rift explored toward the series’ end. The rest of Makuu are various aliens performing episodic missions, including shape-shifting Doublemen and BEM monsters. Later, these merge into Double Monsters with combined abilities. Among Makuu’s aliens, the eeriest is Horror Girl — a bird-headed secretary who does little but flit about cackling in Don Horror’s castle. Her vacant giant bird mask adds to the unsettling aura.
Special praise is due for Chumei Watanabe’s phenomenal soundtrack. Its electronic and synth beats perfectly capture the style and era of the show. Gavan also features several insert songs played during fight sequences, mostly sung by Akira Kushida (who would famously contribute to all three Space Sheriff series), with lyrics that embody the fierce spirit and pursuit of justice typical of Showa era heroes. While songs like “Super Hero Bokura no Gavan” and “Chase! Gavan!” are catchy, they pale compared to the show’s iconic opening theme. With its soaring bassline and powerful lyrics, the theme is a classic and widely considered one of the greatest tokusatsu openings, setting the perfect tone for viewers.
Space Sheriff Gavan may not be the most profound superhero show, but that’s irrelevant when it excels as pure entertainment from start to finish. Its story might be simple, but it compensates with breathtaking spectacle, outstanding stunt work, and top-tier visual effects of its time. At its heart is the unstoppable presence of Gavan himself, whose energy solidifies Kenji Ohba’s status as tokusatsu royalty globally. Though other shows might offer more complexity or thought-provoking themes, few leave you as exhilarated as Gavan. Toei’s gamble on this series clearly paid off — it’s not just the start of a franchise, it’s the birth of a legend.
