J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai

J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (ジャッカー電撃隊), also known in the Philippines known as Lucky Aces, is a Japanese tokusatsu television show and the second installment in the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired from April 8 to December 23, 1977, replacing Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and itself being replaced by Battle Fever J. It was created by Shotaro Ishinomori and featured 35 episodes. It marks the first appearance of a White Ranger in the franchise. Toei distributes the series internationally under the title The Jackers.

Plot
Iron Claw is the leader of a global criminal empire known as "Crime". Crime has a network of wealthy, influential sympathizers and employs an army of faceless, leather-masked thugs and cyborg assassins. It seeks to become the most powerful mafia organization in the world.

To combat the threat of Crime, the International Science Special Investigation Squad (国際科学特捜隊) is formed. The focus of the series is ISSIS' battles against Crime in Tokyo and Japan.

Tokyo's ISSIS branch commander, Daisuke Kujirai, proposes a radical experiment. Taking the code name "Joker", he recruits four young test subjects to undergo his cyborg enhancement project: Goro Sakurai, a multi-talented athlete and Olympic Gold medalist; Ryu Higashi, a disgraced boxing champion; Karen Mizuki, a policewoman who has been critically injured; and Bunta Daichi, an oceanographer who is clinically dead and is being cryogenically sustained. All four are surgically altered and given various bionic enhancements as well as energy manipulation powers. They are given the code name J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai, or J.A.K.Q (pronounced "Jacker"), and the mission to destroy Crime. Later in the series Joker leaves to head ISSIS' advanced engineering branch, and Sokichi Banba, a master of disguise and a cyborg, becomes their new boss, known as Big One.

Goro Sakurai
Goro Sakurai (桜井 五郎) was a Japanese pentathlon athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist, a champion in karate, archery, and judo, a skilled equestrian, and a top all-around athlete. He initially turned down Joker's offer to join J.A.K.Q. but had a change of heart when he saved Karen Mizuki (later Heart Queen). Goro and Karen become romantically involved towards the end of the series.

Goro's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate atomic energy in various ways. He can see through walls and other barriers using X-ray vision (his Chu Seishi [Neutron] Scope), move at super speed (using his Kosouku [Acceleration] Switch), and hear distant sounds (using his Enkaku Shuon Souchi [Ultra Sound Device]). As Spade Ace (スペードエース), colored red, he wields a number of specially designed weapons, particularly his Spade Arts (スペードアーツ) bow. With this bow, Goro is able to shoot "atomic charged" arrows that puncture and bore through most substances. The Spade Arts bow could also be converted into a whip for binding an opponent. Goro is also a powerful fighter.

Goro is a born leader and uses his abilities to seek out his enemies' weak points.

Goro appeared in the movie Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai, a movie made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Super Sentai metaseries, leading 24 Red Rangers to help inspire the Gaoranger team.

Karen Mizuki
Karen Mizuki (水木カレン) is a Japanese-American female police detective who was assigned to investigate the routes used to traffic illegal narcotics into Japan. During one of her investigations, she uncovered the fact that Crime controlled a majority of these routes, and decided to assist ISSIS in destroying them. Crime attempted to kill Karen by arranging a fatal car accident. Karen survived the accident but lost her right arm. Her father, a fellow police officer, was killed in the crash. Enraged and seeking revenge, Karen willingly accepted Joker's offer to undergo the bionic process and join J.A.K.Q.

Karen's bionic enhancements allow her to control magnetism. She named her magnetism-based powers "Heart Cute Jiryoku [Magnet] Power", and she is known as Heart Queen (ハートクイン), colored pink. These powers allow her to attract and repel metallic objects at will, literally stopping bullets in mid-air. Her powers are further augmented by using her Q-shaped Heart Cute (ハートキュート) weapon. Using the Heart Cute, Karen can send out waves of magnetic energy that can bowl over opponents or force them into erratic behaviors. She takes pleasure in this, asking afterward "Do you want another?" (もう一つ、いかが？)). The Heart Cute can also be used as a blunt instrument to strike opponents. Her right index finger carries her "Magnetic Counter". This sends out a magnetic detection pulse, which she can then use to pinpoint and identify objects (both metal and organic) in a way similar to radar.

Karen is a skilled martial artist and is proficient in a number of fighting methods. She was temporarily part of the Kono Karate School where she befriended Natsuko Kono (Etsuko Shihomi), also a skilled martial artist. She has a flair for fashion and often sports tight red leather hotpants and long red boots. She falls in love with Goro towards the end of the series.

Ryu Higashi
Ryu Higashi (東 竜) was the former WBC welterweight boxing champion. He was falsely accused of murder by boxing promoters in Las Vegas when he refused to rig a championship fight. Joker intercepted him when he was being extradited to Japan for prosecution, and asked him to choose between working for ISSIS as part of J.A.K.Q. or serving his prison sentence. Ryu reluctantly accepted Joker's offer.

Ryu's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate electric currents. His right index finger carries a powerful cutter (Eleki [Electric] Cutter), which he uses to cut through dense objects. His left ring finger carries a laser beam (Dia Laser) that shears through most materials. As Dia Jack (ダイヤジャック), colored blue, Ryu wields the powerful Dia Sword (ダイヤソード), which he can imbue with his electrical powers to strike the enemy with deadly effect. The sword can slash and cut through solid steel and other dense metals. It can also be used to focus and fire electrical bolts of energy.

Ryu is a rough and gruff individual who is at times very headstrong and tends to prefer working alone. He continues to keep in touch with his former boxing partners, and loves jazz and fast cars.

Bunta Daichi
Bunta Daichi (大地 文太) is an oceanographer who died of oxygen deprivation in a freak submarine accident. He lost his beloved younger sister Nami years earlier in an airplane crash. Bunta's body was cryogenically sustained in a medical facility for research until Joker found him. Using bionic technology, Joker revived Bunta as a cyborg. His cyborg name is Clover King (クローバーキング), colored green.

Bunta's bionic enhancements allow him to manipulate gravitational forces. Bunta can gain superhuman strength by increasing his body weight and density. When his power is cycling in the range of 700 horsepower, he can use his "Juroku [Superpower] Energy" to punch and kick opponents with devastating effect. Bunta can throw opponents across great distances with his Juroku Nage (Power Throw) and can take down dozens of opponents with his King Power Press (キングパワープレス) (a flying jump attack). His left hand can be converted into the Club Megaton (クラブメガトン), a ball and chain that can be used to strike and hit enemies or to bind them.

Sokichi Banba
Sokichi Banba (番場 壮吉) is a cyborg, a flamboyant playboy, and a master of disguise. He helped Joker implement the J.A.K.Q. project and was called in to take over operations in Tokyo when Joker left. As Big One (ビッグワン), colored white, he is the ultimate "super cyborg" because his bionic implants allow him to harness and manipulate all four powers (atomic, magnetic, electric, and gravity). His nickname is the "White Flying Ace" (白い鳥人).

Sokichi can use his powers to fly and has superhuman strength and super speed. He also wields the Big Baton (ビッグバトン), which he uses to strike opponents with great force and impact. Sokichi is a cool-headed leader and masterful tactician who can come up with brilliant battle plans. He can transform into his cyborg persona at will without the use of the Kyouka Capsules: he takes a sniff of a magic red rose, then leaps up and transforms in mid-air.

Twenty-four years after the fall of Crime, Sokichi returned in Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai as the leader of the "Dream Sentai" team.

Commander Daisuke Kujirai
Daisuke Kujirai (鯨井 大助), codenamed Joker (ジョーカー), is the recruiter of the J.A.K.Q team and their manager for most of the series. He is married and has a young daughter.

Crime
The global Criminal Organization Crime (犯罪組織クライム) is headed by the mysterious Iron Claw. It seeks to become the world's premier crime organization. In each episode of the series, Crime launches spectacular and elaborate schemes to loot, kill, plunder and obtain absolute power. It is later revealed that Crime is a cover organization for an alien entity called Shine, who sought to conquer the world.

Boss Iron Claw
Boss Iron Claw (首領アイアンクロー) is the godfather of the Crime organization. He is oddly dressed and nothing is known about him including his nationality. He appears human but was later revealed to be a cyborg like the members of J.A.K.Q.. His right hand is a powerful "Iron Claw", which fires talon-like missiles and can detach from Iron Claw's body to attack enemies independently. Iron Claw is a master of disguise, often masquerading as a female. He is a longtime rival of Big One, and the two of them have clashed at various times in the past.

Shine
Shine (シャイン) is revealed to be the real mastermind behind Crime towards the end of the series. A mysterious entity who is said to have come from the 2nd star of the "Shine" Galaxy, he attempted to use Crime to take over the Earth. He created the super cyborg Great King Icarus (イカルス大王) to take control of Crime from Iron Claw and to battle J.A.K.Q. In the final battle between the J.A.K.Q. and Crime, he was revealed to be an artificial intelligence and was driven out to space after Spade Ace and Heart Queen exposed his true identity.

Crimers
Crimers (クライマー) are minions of the Crime organization. Their objective is to commit as many crimes as possible to advance Crime's goal of turning Japan into a crime-ridden nation. They wear dark purple masks and gray clothing and are armed with Sten Mark II submachine guns. Their distinct sound is "kwee".

Crime Big Four
The Crime Big Four (クライム四天王) are a quartet of ruthless mercenaries and despots who joined forces with Iron Claw to wreak havoc across the globe. Their headquarters is a gigantic UFO that can fly around the world undetected. They have battled with other heroes across the globe including Kikaider, Kamen Rider V3, and Kamen Rider Amazon.

Baron Iron Mask
Baron Iron Mask (鉄面男爵) is a despot who terrorized the European continent. He leads the "Tetsu Men Gundan" (Iron Mask Battalion), his own specialized troopers. He carries a heavy iron shield and battle spear, which he can hurl with devastating skill, and also carries a blowgun, which he uses to fire poison darts.

General Sahara
General Sahara (サハラ将軍) is an African conqueror who once battled the Gorengers in Africa with his Sahara Battalion. He is a master swordsman and strategist, and both ruthless and cruel in battle.

Captain UFO
Captain UFO (ＵＦＯ船長) is a brilliant criminal mastermind who commands the UFO command ship that the Big Four use to travel the world.

Hell Boxer
Hell Boxer (地獄拳士) is a tyrant from Mongolia who uses his hideous skull-adorned armor to strike fear in his foes. He wields an iron ball and chain to crush and kill his opponents.

Episodes
Episodes aired on Saturdays at 7:30 PM JST.

Movie

 * J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (movie version of episode 7) (Release date January 26, 1979)

J.A.K.Q. vs. Gorenger
The movie J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai vs. Gorenger (ジャッカー電撃隊VSゴレンジャー) was released after the conclusion of the J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai series and featured a crossover between J.A.K.Q. and the Gorengers.

While investigating a UFO in the Sky Ace, J.A.K.Q. is caught off guard by the return of Iron Claw, with the Big Four now leading the remnants of Crime and the Black Cross Army. The next day, while arriving on the scene of a washed-up corpse, Heart Queen and Spade Ace encounter Peggy Matsuyama (Momo Ranger from the Gorengers), who has pursued the Sahara Army to Japan. After Matsuyama reveals markings on the murdered man's back, J.A.K.Q. learns of Crime's "Citybuster" project and the location of the syndicate's island base.

After infiltrating Crime's base, Spade Ace and Heart Queen learn of Iron Claw's plan to use the "Citybuster" bombs on the United States, the Soviet Union, China, France, the United Kingdom, West Germany and Japan, wiping out humanity while he and his forces retreat into space via a UFO before returning to Earth and conquering it. After saving Matsuyama, Spade Ace and Heart Queen escape the base but are surrounded by the Big Four and their armies. Clover King, Dia Jack and the rest of the Gorengers appear and save them. Together, the teams go on to defeat the Crime and Black Cross armies.

The Big Four combine to form the super cyborg "Big Four Robo", who overwhelms both teams until Big One arrives and J.A.K.Q. and the Gorengers combine their attacks to destroy it. Iron Claw then retreats to his UFO and begins to activate the "Citybuster" bombs until his UFO self-destructs, finishing him off for good. It turns out that Big One switched Iron Claw's hand with a remote controlled one that Spade Ace used to detonate the "Citybuster" bombs, destroying the craft and Iron Claw with it.

Cast

 * Goro Sakurai / Spade Ace: Yoshitaka Tamba
 * Karen Mizuki / Heart Queen: Mitchi Love
 * Ryu Higashi / Diamond Jack: Shichiro Gou
 * Bunta Daichi / Clover King: Yuusuke Kazato
 * Sokichi Banba / The Big One / Joker II: Hiroshi Miyauchi
 * Commander Daisuke Kujirai / Joker I: Daisuke Kujirai
 * Iron Claw: Masashi Ishibashi
 * Narrator: Toru Ohira

Guest stars

 * Keiji Mizuki (Karen's father) (1): Jun Todo
 * Captain Robert (1): Ousmane Yusef
 * ISSIS soldiers (1): Jyunichi Haruta, Yutaro Osugi
 * Keiji (1)/Katsuya's brother (9): Toshimichi Takahashi
 * Police officer (at airport) (1): Nenji Kobayashi
 * Crime Boss' Tokyo (1 & 2): Junji Masuda
 * Yamauchi (Ryu's boxing master) (2): Takeshi Omaeda
 * Sam (2): Jim Max Baden
 * Crime Boss' Yokohama (3 & 4): Yoshikazu Sugi
 * Hayato Kono (3): Kenji Ohba (credit as Kenji Takahashi)
 * Natsuki Kono (3): Etsuko Shihomi
 * Nami Daichi (Bunta's sister) (4): Terumi Sato
 * Emi Nishizaki (4): Takako Ishikawa
 * Emi's Father (4): Tsuyoshi Shintaku
 * Emi's Mother (4): Mari Nakamura
 * Crime Boss #3 (5): Kenji Ushio
 * Junko Koyama (5): Yōko Natsuki
 * Dr. Koyama (Junko's Father and Kujirai's teacher) (5): Hiroshi Katayama
 * Crime Boss Tomioka (6): Makoto Takagiri
 * Devil Amazon's Human Form (6): Rena Natsuki
 * Himself (7 & 14): Toru Kirikae
 * Herself (7): Masako Kirikae
 * Crime Boss #5 (8): Fumitake Omura
 * Kumiko (Karen's closest friend) (8): Kyoko Okada
 * Kanako Mizuki (Butique's owner and Karen's mother) (8): Mieko Muramatsu
 * Katsuya Nakayama (9): Hiroyuki Sanada
 * Big Saturn (9): Willie Dorsey
 * Crime Boss #6 (9): Shinji Takano
 * Miki Ota (10): Megumi Shimizu
 * Henry Ota (10): Shuntaro Emi
 * Akao (10): Tomokazu Hokuto
 * Crime Boss #7 (10): Koji Miemachi
 * Wakamiya (11): Koki Tanioka
 * Crime Boss #8 (Dr. Fujita) (11): Takashi Toyama
 * Crime Boss #9 (12): Susumu Kurobe
 * Crime Boss #10 (Jan Muto) (13): Kazuo Arai
 * Ryuichi Iwasaki (13): Kenichi Mochizuki
 * Tamiko Hayashida (13): Eriko Hama
 * Reika (13): Keiko Shimizu
 * Bourne (14): David Friedman
 * Himself (14): Makoto Kaneko
 * Maya (14): Ritsuko Fujiyama
 * Crime Boss (008) (14): Eiichi Kikuchi
 * Crime Boss #11 (15): Chikako Susumu
 * Megumi (15): Yumi Tamai
 * Kenta (15): Fumihiko Ogawa
 * Sachiko Suzuki (15): Fumiyo Shigeno
 * Female Member nº 7 (15): Rumi Kudo
 * Crime Boss #12 (16): Nobuo Yana
 * Jiro Kanai (16): Hisashi Kubota
 * Misako Akizuki (17): Yuriko Izuka
 * Crime Boss #13 (Misako's Uncle) (17): Koji Kawamura
 * Ryoji Sada (18): Mutsumi Okabe
 * Ryochi Sada (Ryoji's Brother and Crime's Spy) (18): Koichi Okabe
 * Crime Boss #14 (18): Keisuke Nakai
 * Coronel Gamudi (20): Kentaro Kaji
 * Princess Cindy (20): Mayo Suzuki
 * Crime Boss #15 (20): Kin Oomae
 * Mr. Shin (22): Shin Misuta
 * Director Hosoda (Atomic Witch's human form) (23): Akiko Mori
 * Hiker (25): Eisuke Yoda
 * Fujita (27): Ken Sudo
 * Isamu Nishikawa (28): Kazuto Ando
 * Yukie Hamato (30): Sumiko Kakizaki
 * Director Hamato (30): Yoshio Yoshida
 * Shinta Yamamoto (31): Seiichi Ando
 * Shinta's father (31): Tsuyoshi Soma
 * Shinta's mother (31): Michiko Hoshi
 * Suikan (31): Akira Oizumi
 * Cooks (Admiral Buffalo's human form) (33): Tadashi Nakamura
 * Kujirai's wife (35): Isuzu Igarashi
 * Mari Kujirai (Kujirai's daughter) (35): Kumi Shimizu

Songs

 * Opening theme
 * "J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai" (ジャッカー電撃隊)
 * Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
 * Composition and arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
 * Artist: Isao Sasaki with Koorogi '73


 * Ending theme
 * "Itsuka, Hana wa Saku Darō" (いつか、花は咲くだろう)
 * Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
 * Composition and arrangement: Michiaki Watanabe
 * Artist: Isao Sasaki

International broadcast and home video

 * In its home country of Japan, Toei Video released the series on VHS in a masterpiece selection. From September 21, 2003 to October 21, 2003, Toei Video released the series on DVD and was the first time that the full series was published on home video. It was released throughout six volumes, with the first volume containing five episodes, while the others contain six episodes. Volumes 1-3 and 4-6 were released simultaneously. The first episode is also included in the "Shotaro Ishinomori 70th Anniversary DVD-BOX" released on July 21, 2008. Four episodes were included on a Blu-Ray release for the "Super Sentai Ichimi Blu-ray 1975-1981" set released on April 14, 2021.
 * In 1980, the series aired in the Philippines with an English dub and aired under Lucky Aces on RPN-9. This was actually the very first Super Sentai series to air in the region, previously by airing the first series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger as Star Rangers in 1978.
 * The series aired in Hong Kong from August 16, 1981 to January 17, 1982 with a Cantonese Chinese dub on Asia Television.