Tokumu Sentai Shinesman, also known as Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman began as a manga series in Pocke's January 1992 issue. As Pocke came out only once every two months for much of Shinesman's run, the last episode, 45, appeared in the April 1998 edition. It is compiled into a set of 9 tankouban (books) published both by Gakken Pichi Comics' Pocke Series and Nora Comics.
The story revolves around 5 heros of justice as they protect earth from the invading aliens from Planet Voice. Although clad in their protess (power suits) in the vivid shades of Red, Moss Green, Grey, Sepia, and Salmon Pink to fight monsters that show up, when the day begins they dress up in suits and skirts and head off to work at a large corporation - even heros need a day job! Moreover, their rivals also hold human jobs at a rival company, as coporate domination is one way to conquer earth while leaving its precious resources intact. If this sounds silly and over the top, it is. Shinesman is first and foremost a parody of the myriad Super-Hero series known as Sentai - think Power Rangers and you get the drift - as well as why it's so easy to parody them! However, as the manga progresses, we see the other sides of many of the characters. We find out their loves and hopes, their frustration and despair, their successes and failures, and as the two sides continue to battle as Shinesman vs. Voice, they also become good friends and working partners through their mundane everyday lives. In the end it is a story that is quite touching and heartfelt, as even the villains have deeper motives for their actions and command quite a fair amount of screentime on their own.
In February 1996, the first episode in a 2 part OAV series was released. The OAV series, being only 2 half-hour episodes, did not really delve into the deeper story of Shinesman and contains more slapstick parody. Many plot threads that were introduced were not resolved, such as the curious brainwashing of Lafuure's brother, Sekito. Still, since the manga was by no means finished, the OAV is quite good, and can stand alone from the manga, although the manga definately adds a lot of extra luster to the story.
Although the OAV has been released on dubbed/subbed VHS and bilingual DVD in the United States by AnimeWorks, the manga has not, and it is unlikely that a release will be forthcoming. There are Chinese-translated editions of the manga available, however, released by (IIRC) Daran Comics.
A summary is in progress.
RELEASE INFORMATION (Manga):
Volume 1 . Cover: Shinesman Red, episodes 1-5, ISBN: (Nora) 4-05-600290-8
Volume 2 . Cover: Shinesman Moss Green, episodes 6-10 + Sasaki Omake, ISBN: (Pocke) 4-05-600606-7
Volume 3 . Cover: Shinesman Grey, episodes 11-15, ISBN: (Pocke) 4-05-600976-7
Volume 4 . Cover: Shinesman Sepia, episodes 16-19 + 2 omake, ISBN: (Nora) 4-05-601079-X
Volume 5 . Cover: Shinesman Salmon Pink, episodes 20-25, ISBN: (Nora) 4-05-601297-0
Volume 6 . Cover: Prince Hope, episodes 26-31 + omake, ISBN: (Nora) 4-05-601501-5
Volume 7 . Cover: Princes Favor and Alen, episodes 32-37, ISBN: (Pocke) 4-05-601716-6
Volume 8 . Cover: Sekito and Lafuure, episodes 38-43 + 2 omake, ISBN: (Pocke) 4-05-601840-5
Volume 9 . Cover: Shinesmen, episodes 44-45 + 2 Shinesman omake + Crimson Sand, ISBN: (Pocke) 4-05-601963-0
RELEASE INFORMATION (Anime):
Bilingual DVD . Episodes 1 and 2, distributed by AnimeWorks/Media Blasters. Suggested rating 13 and up, region 1, Item: AWSDVD-0087, ISBN: 1-58655-048-9
Subtitled VHS . Episodes 1 and 2, distributed by AnimeWorks/Media Blasters. Item: AWVS-9842
Dubbed VHS . Episodes 1 and 2, distributed by AnimeWorks/Media Blasters. Item: AWVD-9843
RELEASE INFORMATION (Soundtracks):
These soundtracks have only been released in Japan, and so far my searches for them have not proven very fruitful.
Original Soundtrack . Music from the OAV series. The cover has an illustration by Tachibana of Matsumoto/Shinesman Red.
Drama Album . Drama story from various parts of the manga. The cover has an illustration by Tachibana of all the Shinesman.
Shinesman created by Tachibana Kaim and is (c) its respective owners.
These pages and its contents created and (c) 2001-2002 Ming-Ling.