Review: It seems every time I see a rerun of the damn rainbow-colored Power Rangers, I can’t help but think of where the true roots of this evil manifested itself. The one show that epitomizes the whole genre and also the staple of a cult following in the islands of Hawaii, KIKAIDA and the robotic guitar-toting hippie, Jiro are to blame. I remember the immeasurable and refined martial arts skills he possessed, you know, that one right cross that seemed to pimp slap hordes of idiotic DARK female androids. Then there was the conspiracy that this show placed America on a supreme pedestal. I mean c’mon, the funky “red-and-blue” robotic suit was activated through the English language hence supporting my campaign that Jiro’s suit was made with raw American horsepower.

Well, never mind that, KIKAIDA has finally made the DVD jump and I was fortunate enough to watch Volume 4 of the series. Let me tell you, this is surely the experience you longed for since that time you flung your Professor Gill doll out the window after your make believe KIKAIDA Double Chop.

The DVD leaps right into episodes 16 through 20 where all the action takes place. Alright, that is a bit of a stretch since fight sequences appear in the show like round ta-tas in a wet t-shirt contest, but that’s beside the point. The central storyline of the episodes revolve around Mitsuko and Masaru searching for their father Dr. Komyoji, whose suffering from a case of amnesia after escaping the clutches of DARK. On the road with the two is the comical detective Hattori Hanpei, self proclaimed the direct descendent of the legendary ninja Hattori Hanzo. The three try to follow the tracks of the doctor in their broken down lime green bug all the while getting their butts in some seriously sticky situations. But never fear Jiro the denim warrior with the red guitar is always in their aide. They’re damn lucky, too, because the ugly old man known as Gill always seems to have an android hot on their trail.

Facing five destructoids, Jiro has his work cut out for him. Rouge Jellyfish, Red Hornet, Black Chameleon, King Crab Maroon and Blue Water Scorpion are the obstacles thrown in front of Jiro as he tries to find Dr. Komyoji and save the world. It occurs to me that the underlying theme of KIKAIDA is about keeping the environment clean and destructoid free. Each episode has something to do with Professor Gill commissioning his goons to either pollute the water and kill KIKAIDA or pollute the already polluted water and kill KIKAIDA. With a strum of his guitar, Jiro somersaults into the action and foils the sinister plans of Gill and always leaves unscathed.

I realize now at my mature age why Professor Gill never really joined the fist fights and got himself into the nitty-gritty. He’s freaking suffering from lung cancer. He has bold black lines circling his eyes. His voice isn’t as stern and potent as it should be. He can’t be that old looking; it’s probably the pain and suffering he’s going through. And why the hell doesn’t he just keep playing the flute that seems to woo Jiro to the, I hate to be clichéd, DARK side? He just can’t that’s why. He is just too short of breath to keep playing it. Professor Gill, lay off the cigarettes and the pipes man.

The acting was never the strongest point of the series. Mitsuko was as bad as the guy who was up for the part of DARK female android number 24. Her constant whining and sour faced expressions was topped only by the awful “let’s hope they don’t see the string attached to this flying jellyfish” special effects sequences. The only candidate to even come close to minimal acting standards was the Hattori Hanpei character. His character was the so-called comic relief to a storyline that bore loads of unintentional laughs.