Kinnikuman G2

Plot Synopsis

All names used are the original Japanese names. When a new character is introduced, his American name is used (in parenthesis) at the beginning of the episode synopsis. For example you would see Blood Killer (Adversarious) or Tel Tel Boy (Dialbolic).

Episodes 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-51 52-60 61-70
Episode No.

 

 Air Date Synopsis:
Episode 31 03/08/03 Scar Face is asking Mantaro if he should go easy on him, but decides to finish him off. He launches for the Swallowtail attack. While in mid-air, the Skull of Mystery that Mantaro wears begins to glow and we hear Jade urging Mantaro to get up. Scar Face lands his move, but to his surprise, Mantaro dodged the move and is standing to the side, leaving Scar Face stuck in the mat by his Swallowtail blades. Mantaro is still in a zombie type state, and Scar Face is shocked at his resilience. Mantaro raises his arms and gives a animal like roar. Meat encourages him to attack now, while Scar Face is still stunned, but Mantaro doesn't hear him. He is confident that Mantaro will win, but Kevin Mask and Brocken Jr. are very doubtful. Then Brocken explains that even Jade wasn't strong enough to defeat Scar Face, but that with the Skull of Mystery that he loaned to Mantaro, after Jades defeat, he should be able to defeat Scar Face. This is because the Skull is linked to Jade, and with the Skull, it is as if Mantaro and Jade have merged their powers. He explains that it was Jades energy that helped Mantaro escape the Swallowtail attack. Mantaro, now conscious, realizes that this must be true, because he is feeling strange and can hear Jade encouraging him. Mantaro whines for a bit, and then wants a snack. He does the cow song, but this time, it's a duet with Meat singing his own versions of the second and last lines. Scar Face is irked and attacks with another Swallowtail.

With his Swallowtail Attack, he slashes at Mantaro's chest and knock him into the ropes, tangling him up in them. Scar Face launches for another Swallowtail Attack, but the Skull starts to glow, and Jade advises Mantaro, who grabs the skull in his hand, breaks free of the ropes, and lays out Scar Face with the Red Rain of Berlin (Red Rain of Pain) just before he lands the Swallowtail. Mantaro then launches into a lengthy rant about Scar Faces deception, and how the integrity of the Seigi Chojins (Muscle League) will help him to prevail. Scar Face isn't impressed, and locks down the Mask of Madness. Mantaro cowers, but the Skull again glows and Jade encourages him to stand his ground and fight!

Jade wants Mantaro to use another of his moves, but Mantaro decides to try the Red Rain of Berlin again, which doesn't work this time. When he hits Scar Face's gut, his hand reflects off and he punches himself instead. He tries for a leg drop, and the same thing happens. Mantaro tackles Scar Face by the mid section, taking him to the canvas, but Scar Face pulls a thigh squeeze, and with Mantaro locked in, he begins a devastating flurry of punches to Mantaro's face. After a few minutes, he knocks the Skull of Mystery loose, and it falls out of the ring. Meat tries to get it, but before he can, it rolls off the edge of one of the fingers of the Hand of Hercules. He continues to beat on Mantaro, until Mantaro lands a vicious head but to the forehead of Scar Face. Now loose, he tries a full leg ankle twist on Scar Face, but Scar Face isn't fazed and kicks Mantaro off easily, sending him head first into the corner post. Mantaro crawls over to Meat for advice, and Meat, Kevin and Brocken Jr. tells him he needs to come up with some new moves, or he will lose, as Scar Face knows all the moves and reversals for every Hercules Factory technique. Mantaro is perplexed, how is he going to come up with new moves so quickly. He has always gotten by with his father's moves, most notably, the Kinniku-Buster. Scar Face begins to wonder how weak the other DMP guy really were, since they were all beaten by a weakling Mantaro. He charges Mantaro.

Scar Face kicks, but Mantaro dodges, grabbing his waist and suplexing him out of the ring. Before he lands though, Scar Face uses the Swallowtail Shovel to scoop a divot out of the rock and then kicks it at Mantaro. Mantaro is slammed by the boulder and falls to the canvas. Outside, Kevin Mask blames himself for Scar Face's success. He wishes he would have taken his fate, instead of allowing Scar Face to save him. Scar Face brings up Harabote's folly by allowing him into the Hercules Factory in the first place. Meat tells Kevin that all he did was tell him ho to defeat the Kinniku-Buster, but if it wasn't Scar Face, someone else would have figured it out, because of it's inherent weakness. He tells him that he really did Mantaro a favor by making him rely less on the Kinniku-Buster. Scar Face grabs Mantaro and from the top rope, suplexes him out of the ring, mashing the back of his neck against the outside edge of the mat. Brocken berates Mantaro for being a sissy, and says he cannot win, because he is stuck in his father's shadow and afraid to step out on his own. Meat still has his confidence though. He explains that Mantaro will find a way to win, as always. Scar Face tosses Mantaro up and launches for an Ultimate Scar Buster. Once locked in he begins his descent. Before he lands, Mantaro manages to squeeze out and does massive damage to the back of Scar Face (the US cartoon states it was a massive wedgie?). Scar Face is in extreme pain, as they both hit the canvas. Mantaro is proud of himself, he created a new move and a counter for the Ultimate Scar Buster. He remembers his dad telling him to be really great he needs his own moves, but Mantaro is still puzzled at what he can come up with next.

 
Episode 32 03/15/03 Scar Face is hurting from the back breaker that Mantaro gave him, mid air. Mantaro starts to get up, urging him to fight. Kevin Mask and Meat discuss Scar Face's back problems, and Kevin says that Mantaro opened an old wound that Scar Face got when he save Kevin Mask on the spike log. The wound heals up quick enough though. Mantaro is conversing with Meat, trying to come up with a reversal for the Swallowtail Attack. He tries charging Scar Faces back, head first, into the small of his back, like a spear, but it's like hitting a brick wall, and Mantaro falls flat. Scar face takes advantage and lands a couple of elbow drops to Mantaro's back, while he is prostrate, and then begins to elbow him furiously. This doesn't seem to bother Mantaro at all, as he ponders how he will pull a reversal against the Swallowtail. Scar Face launches for a Swallowtail and Mantaro launches, deflecting him. He tries spearing Scar Face's back with his head again, and falls flat, one more time. Scar Face grabs Mantaro's tuft of hair, and walks around the ring on the top rope (reminiscent of the Undertaker) and moves quickly to grab Mantaro's head with his thighs and slam him head first into the rock floor. This is called the Franken Steiner. Mantaro is down again, and Scar Face launches for another Swallowtail.

Coming down fast, he lands the Swallowtail Attack against Mantaro, who grimaces in extreme pain. He passes out and has a dream of his dad Kinnikuman Suguru, lecturing him about wrestling moves. We see some flashbacks of Suguru vs. Akuma Shogun, as Mantaro is told that he should utilize the edges of the ring to help himself, such as the ropes and posts. And also to be creative in his moves. Mantaro snaps to as Scar face sets him up for another Ultimate Scar Buster. He launches, but goes nowhere fast, as Mantaro has a firm grip on the corner post. Eventually, the force of Scar Face's launch takes over, and Mantaro is lifted out of the ring, still clutching the ring post. Up in the air, Scar Face places Mantaro in the Scar Buster, and starts to lock his head in with his legs, but as he does this, Mantaro slams him in between the legs with the iron post (OUCH!). This causes Scar Face to lose his grip, and Mantaro swings free while Scar Face is reeling.

Outside the ring, the legality of using the post that way is debated, and it is deemed 100% legal. Still in the air, Scar Face snaps out of his daze, and grabs for Mantaro to put him in the Scar Buster, but Mantaro leverages his way into a Kinniku-Buster. Scar face scoffs, saying that he can easily get out of it, but Mantaro has a surprise. He reverses Scar Face's position, so that he is facing backwards, not to the front, and lands a vicious reverse Kinniku-Buster. On impact, Scar Face's back wound re-opens. Mantaro charges Scar Face, but Scar Face slashes at him with a Swallowtail, sending him to the canvas. Mantaro is down, and starts to lose hope, because of Scar face's resilience. Rinko runs to the side of the ring and encourages Mantaro to fight on, giving the examples on Sieuchin, Terry, Jade and Gazelleman, who fought with everything they had. She also threatens to kick his butt if he doesn't get up. Renewed by the courage of his friends, Mantaro rises and powers up to Ultimate Muscle. He taunts Scar Face, and Scar Face charges him. Mantaro dodges the attack, and uses the leverage to launch Scar Face into the air. He then heaves backwards into the ropes, using them like a slingshot, to launch himself with great force. He spears Scar face in the back with such velocity, that when he hits Scar Face and drives him into the opposite ropes, Scar face is left with deep gouges in his face and thighs, where they hit the ropes. Scar Face falls to the canvas, pummeled.

Meat cheers on Mantaro for his victory, but it appears to be too soon, as Scar Face gets up and walks towards Mantaro. He says that Mantaro taught him something today, not about friendship, but that Mantaro never gives up. Scar Face says that he too will never give up, and will beat Mantaro, if it takes all eternity (in the Japanese version, he says that he learned how fun the good vs. evil fight was, and that it was a shame that he didn't have the strength to continue on). Then he passes out and falls to the canvas. Harabote (Vance McMadd) comes in to declare Mantaro victorious, and raises his hands in victory. On the next shot though, Harabote has a hold of Nakano San's arm. He wonders where Mantaro has taken off to, and they see him across the canvas, interviewing himself. In his self interview, he claims that it was the love of Rinko that kept him going. Rinko comes in and whacks him with a large wooden mallet, claiming tat he is embarrassing her on national TV. The awards ceremony begins, with Buffalo Man, Rikishiman and Jesse Maybia standing in the background as Harabote awards Mantaro. Mantaro talks of a vacation to a tropical island with lots of gorgeous females, and says that Rink and the other two girls can go too. The girls are incensed. But while Mantaro is drooling, Harabote informs him that he has only won the right to stay on Earth and fight for the Hercules Factory. Mantaro is pissed, and throttles Harabote, griping about his prize, but just them, Rinko appears over the balcony, aiming a bazooka at him. She fires and out launches Nakano San like a bullet, straight to the back of a fleeing Mantaro. He is knocked into the ropes, much the same as Scar Face was, and he lands with a serious case of rope burn on his face. Rinko tell Harabote that he better call security, because she is coming down to kick Mantaro's butt for being a jerk. Harabote starts to dial, but Meat tells him to let them go at it......

 
Episode 33 03/23/03 Zooming into Kinniku (Muscle) Planet we get our first glimpse of the Tower of the Seigi Chojin's (Justice League's) High Council. The camera pans to show all the elders sitting in their council chairs. Minch (who looks strikingly like Yoda) introduces himself to Meat and Mantaro (Kid Muscle) as they come out of the elevator. Suguru (King Muscle) rushes to greet his son, and asks if there is anything he can do for him. Minch begins to speak parables about Mantaro, but the gist of them is, that he has too much weight to bear for his young age. Mantaro reiterates that he has won every match thus far, but he is admonished that it is too large a weight for him to bear. Mantaro thinks he will be booted from the Hercules Factory, but Minch affirms that he needs some hardening. Mantaro blabs when Minch instructs the guards to get him. They rush Mantaro and strip off his shirt, displaying numerous scars from his battles, and Minch tells him that he needs to harden his body, so that he can battle for years to come. Minch taps the floor with his cane and up comes a lantern. It is explained that the lantern is a gauge for the Ultimate Muscle power. Minch tells Mantaro to grab the handle and power up. He does and a small flame emits inside the lantern. Mayumi and the others laugh at how small the flame is. Minch tells Mantaro that he need to learn how to harness the power of Ultimate Muscle. He calls on Suguru to give him an example. Suguru grabs the handle, and strains his withered body to power up. The lantern begins to radiate powerfully, and Suguru's body is transformed into a solidly built muscular frame. As the lantern rages, Meat is impressed at the fact that Suguru still has it! Minch tells Mantaro that to teach him how too harness his powers, he will have to fight the three worst criminals in Kinnikuman history. Fork the Giant (Forkolossus), Hanzou and Bone Cold. Also known as No Respect (the Gruesome Threesome). Mantaro declines and starts to walk out, when one of the council members, who visage has been hidden thus far by a cape and hood, tells him to stay where he is. That he is going to take the training whether he likes it or not. Mantaro remarks, "Oh yeah, how are you going to stop me?", and the cloaked figure shows him. He grabs the lantern and sets it ablaze even more so than Suguru did. Meat is in awe, wondering who this could be, until the caped council member lifts the lantern to reveal the face under the mask. Meat kneels on one knee as Ataru removes his cape and hood to reveal himself. He introduces himself as Ataru, Kinnikuman Soldier (Sergeant Muscle), Mantaro's uncle.

Suguru introduces Ataru to Mantaro, and Ataru shows preview of No Respect to him. Mantaro complains because he is scared, and wonders why he has to fight them, when they have already been captured. Minch says that he must learn how to harness the full power of Ultimate Muscle if he is to survive to old age. Three portals appear, and Mantaro is forced to choose one. Mantaro freaks out and grabs his dad to protect him, acing like a little child. Suguru slaps Mantaro across the face, stunning him, as he has never been slapped by his dad before. Suguru tells him to be strong, he believes in him, and hands him the lantern. Mayumi comes up with a baseball bats and knock the hesitant Mantaro into a portal. Meat follows after. They slip and slide, screaming through the portal, until they land on a beach on a remote island somewhere. A young boy approaches, asking Mantaro if he is the hero that was to come?

He introduces himself as Tuporu and tells them that they are on Shogun Isle, a prison island. Mantaro, seeing the ocean, gets hungry and does the seafood song and dance (like the one he did when Sunshine bought his dinner). Meat berates him and he stops. Tuporu explains that he was sent to help them get to the arena. When asked why him, he explains that he volunteered. His father was killed by Fork the Giant (Forkolossus) years ago when the Kinnikuman Guard captured him. Mantaro vows to Tuporu that he will beat Fork and avenge his father. They walk into the prison for the match. Inside, there is a ring, set amidst coliseum seating filled with inmates. Doc introduces Fork, who is brought out in chains by Sieuchin and family. Just before the ring, he grows impatient and fling the walrus family into the seats. He enters the ring, and is hit in the head by a flying 5-yen coin. He turns to see Mantaro's grand entrance. He is dressed as a shogun, riding atop a wood barge, carried by a dozen samurai. Meat is there also, dressed as a Geisha. As he approaches the ring, he leaps, flinging a handful of 5-yen coins at Fork. But Fork just brushes them off and knocks Mantaro to the ground. As Mantaro is getting up the ring is encircled in a steel cage, with the only exit above.

Mantaro is scared and pisses himself. Fork tells him to look up. Up above there is a little pod, suspending two lanterns. The Ultimate Muscle lantern and an icy lantern that belongs to No Respect. He explains that this is a ladder match, and whoever gets their lantern first wins the bout. Mantaro wonders how they got the lantern, but sees Minch at ringside and realizes how they did. Minch says to fight, and the bell is rung. Mantaro charges and gets kicked hard, into the cage. Fork charges, but Mantaro easily dodges. He grabs Forks waist and tries to suplex him backwards, but Fork is too heavy, and Mantaro falls backwards, pulling Fork and all his weight down onto him, smashing himself. Fork gets up and from the top of the corner post does a back flip, landing a big splash on Mantaro. He gets up and heads for the ladder, but Mantaro, like an angry dog, grabs hold of Fork's leg. Fork kicks him off easily, and prepares to charge him.

 
Episode 34 3/29/03 Fork the Giant (Forkolossus) swings at Mantaro and misses, but then converts into a forklift and runs Mantaro over. He goes for another shot, but Mantaro dodges. Fork just keeps on going, right up the side of the cage and launches into the air. Coming down, he has all four posts coming down as if he were going to skewer Mantaro, but when he lands, Mantaro is scrunched in between al four posts and is cubed, as in a trash compactor. Mantaro recovers and Fork questions Mantaro's motive for fighting. Fork the Giant is fighting to get out of prison, but what are Mantaro's motives? He mentions that all fighters fight for prize money, event he DMP baddies that Mantaro defeated. He says that by beating them, Mantaro took money out of their pockets, and subsequently, food off their table. Fork lays the guilt trip on thick, as he mentions how Blood Killer (Adversarious) and the other have suffered because Mantaro beat them. Even Checkmate has had problems feeding his family because of Mantaro. Mantaro begins to feel a wave of guilt and tries to deny it, but Fork says it is true. He tells him to look to the side, where Checkmate is seen entering the venue to watch the match.

Everyone wonders why Checkmate has come to see the fight. Fork says that he is there to see Mantaro get pummeled, since he ruined his livelihood. He lays the mind games on even more so than before, and Mantaro is left distraught. Checkmate walks up to where Minch is seated, closer to the ring, and Sieuchin (Wally Tusket) confronts him, saying that if he wants to try to hurt Mantaro, he has to go through him first. Minch reprimands Sieuchin for assuming what Checkmate's intentions are, and bids Checkmate to sit next to him. Fork calls out to Checkmate, that he will pound Mantaro for his enjoyment, but Checkmate seems unmoved, and even grimaces. Mantaro is slammed against the cage walls numerous times. Meat yells at Mantaro to snap out of it. Fork is a criminal and he should have no sympathy for him. Mantaro livens up and charges Fork, who grabs him by the arms and swings him around, ready to catapult him into the cage again. Mantaro reverses the hold though, and flips him over his back, dunking him on his noggin. Fork gets up and slams Mantaro, knocking him out of the ring, and onto the ground in front of Checkmate. Fork steps out of the cage and pulls off a bar. He swings it to crack Mantaro on the head, but Checkmate puts out his forearm, deflecting the blow. Everyone is shocked.

Checkmate tells Fork that is is illegal to pummel his opponent outside of the ring, and thus, dishonorable. He tells him to have some honor. Mantaro is awed to, and still guilty because of Fork's mind games, grovels at the feet of Checkmate, apologizing profusely for beating him in the match before. He tells Checkmate he will lay down and lose if it will help. Checkmate tells Mantaro to persevere, and he is stunned. Did Checkmate just tell him to hang in there? Fork grabs Mantaro, making a snide comment to Checkmate about pummeling Mantaro for his viewing pleasure. He drags Mantaro back into the ring and commences the punishment, Mantaro is lethargic, and is beaten on heavily, while Checkmate and Minch have a long discussion about why he saved Mantaro from the pipe beating. Checkmate explains that it is because Mantaro taught him honor. In the previous match, his drive and determination was hatred, but when Mantaro fought with honor, defeating him, though he lost, he did it with honor. And that changed his outlook. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Fork the Giant converts once again to a fork lift and attacks Mantaro with his tractor treads, scraping the side of his face.

Mantaro starts to black out, still lethargic from his guilt for defeating the others, but he hears a voice in the distance. It is Checkmate, telling him to hang in there. Checkmate tells Mantaro to discard the guilt. He fought with honor, and for that, there is no shame. He tells Mantaro to draw his strength from his honor. Mantaro, hearing these words, powers up to Ultimate Muscle. Fork laughs, saying the only true strength comes from anger. Mantaro disregards this and tosses Fork up, running at the ropes, and spearing him into the opposite ropes, the Muscle Millennium! Fork is out, and Mantaro lands, but the huge mass that is Fork the Giant, begins to fall, like a felled redwood. Mantaro jumps out of the way in time, before he is smashed by the falling giant. He huddles in the corner, shaking. But Meat yells to get the lantern to win the match. Mantaro grabs the ladder and begins to climb, but as he nears the top, Fork grabs hold of his ankle. He immediately releases it though, as he falls dozens of feet tot he mat below. Mantaro succeeds in grabbing the lantern, but is puzzled that it doesn't light up. Down below, the crowd of angry inmates begin to chant and call for Forks head on a plate. Mantaro seeing this, feels compassion for Fork, and takes the other lantern to him, so they both win. He hands it to him, telling him he can't be completely evil, and Fork tosses it to the ground releasing a vapor. Fork explains that the lantern was full of evil energies. His eyes begin to water because of Mantaro's kindness, and he has a change of heart. Mantaro's lantern begins to glow, and Minch notes that he has passed his first test. He used compassion to reform Fork, instead of only violence. Back at Muscle HQ on KinnikuPlanet. Kinnikuman Soldier (Sergeant Muscle/Kinnikuman) is watching the match wrap up on a big screen, when he is disturbed by a man standing upside down, walking on the ceiling. It is the Ninja!

 
Episode 35 04/05/03 The Ninja (Ninja Ned) is standing upside down on the ceiling, and drops down tot he crowd of council members. There is some fear, as he used to be a devil Chojin (DMP), but Kinnikuman Soldier (Sergeant Kinnikuman) explains that he is a bounty hunter working for him. Greetings are exchanged and the Ninja notices Mantaro on the screen. He notes that last time he saw him, he was an ugly little kid, and makes the remark that it doesn't look as if anything has changed. Meanwhile, Mantaro is famished after the match with Fork the Giant, and tells Meat, Checkmate and the others that it's time to eat. But before he finishes his rant, two portals appear. Mantaro wants to eat first, and one of the portals inhabitants says he will feed Mantaro. Mantaro steps closer and is grabbed and pulled in. Meat and Checkmate follow suit, and dive into the portal. Back at Kinnikuman Tower (Muscle HQ) the Ninja freaks out, after recognizing Hanzou's voice. He tells Kinnikuman Soldier that Hanzou is too dangerous for Mantaro to handle, and that he has made a huge mistake. He explains Hanzou's origins, noting that he was a small child in a small town, until one day a meteor storm hit and destroyed his village. Subsequently, the radiation from the meteors mutated him, giving him powers, but scarring his face badly. He went berserk, dressing in a strange costume, with the mask of Hanya hovering his mutated face. He began attacking villagers, and putting his hand into a sheath on his back, and drawing it out (as it morphs into a sword) he would hit his opponents on the head with the energy that emanated from his sword/hand until it enveloped their head. When the energy was removed, their face was gone, and their soul was captured in Hanzou's blade as their visage would appear in the blade's reflection. The technique is called the Mt. Fuji Facelift.

He continues the tale of how Hanzou went on a killing spree, robbing souls with his Mt. Fuji technique, until one day, he was cornered by the Ninja's men. the Ninja wasn't there yet, and the men were fearful to make the first move, but one brave soul named Kokomo took the initiative and attacked. After Hanzou had face lifted Kokomo, the Ninja arrived, and grieving the loss of his friend, subdued Hanzou. Back to the present, the Ninja tells Ataru (Kinnikuman Soldier) that the mission is too dangerous for Mantaro. He leaves to intervene in the match! Falling through the tunnel, Mantaro, Meat and Checkmate come to land in what appears to be an ancient Japanese feudal town. Gazelleman (Dik Dik van Dik) comes riding up on a steed, in full ceremonial dress, and explains that this is a movie set. They start to argue, and Mantaro is still hungry. Hanzou appears atop a roof levitating, even though he is weighted down with balls and chain.

Mantaro is finishing up the Gyuudon (Cow) song, to the giggles of a couple of cute Japanese girls. They are all seated at a table, eating in a restaurant. One of the ladies saddles up next to Checkmate, and wipes some food pf his chin. He becomes embarrassed and the girls go wild over him. Meanwhile, Mantaro and Gazelleman get into a heated discussion, but they are interrupted by Hanzou, who has come to ferry him to the ring. Just then, the Ninja appears and puts Hanzou in a headlock from behind. The Ninja wants to switch with Mantaro, and of course, Mantaro accepts. Hanzou swings one of the balls and chain at the Ninja, hitting him squarely, and sending him flying. At ringside, we see the preparations. The ring has a traditional Japanese roof atop i, and it situated over a bottomless pit. Hanzou arrives first, and the balls and chain are removed from his arms and feet. Suddenly, the Ninja zooms in and drop kicks Hanzou right in the back, sending him to the opposite end of the ring. He launches of a side rope, but Hanzou catches him and launches. While heading downward, about to give the Ninja a full body Oklahoma slam into the mat, the Ninja goes into stealth mode, and the two disappear. When they reappear, the move is reversed, and it is Hanzou instead, who is power slammed into the canvas. The Ninja goes back to the side rope, and when Hanzou starts to rise, the Ninja launches, taking the rope with him. Rope after rope is stretched over Hanzou, until he is on his knees in the center of the ring, tied down with every rope from the ring. This is called the spider web rope attack, and it looks as if he is tangled in a giant spider web! The Ninja launches for a vicious elbow to Hanzou's head, and there is a close up of Hanzou, eyes all a-glow!

The Ninja lands the elbow to the head, but it turns out to be a statue of Nakano San (Doc Nakano) which cracks down the middle. Hanzou calls from above, and rains down kicks upon the Ninja. His Centipede Kicks knock the Ninja out of the ring. He catches himself with one foot on a rope, and swings himself up on top of the roof. He sucks in great amounts of air (Ninja Balloon Attack) inflating himself like a the Goodyear blimp, and exhales, sending the roof tiles flying vehemently (tile rain) at Hanzou. They strike their mark with a flurry, sending Hanzou over the edge. Hanzou swings back into the ring, and the Ninja uses another Tile Rain against him, but this time, Hanzou catches all the tiles, and fashions them into a Dragon Tile Whip. After being beaten three times with the whip, the Ninja falls to the canvas. Mantaro calls out for the Ninja to quit, and Meat asks why. Mantaro is worried about his safety, and figures if the Ninja defaults, he will be spared his life. Meat is awed that Mantaro is thinking of someone other than himself for a change. The Ninja explains that he will never give up and will sacrifice himself if necessary, as did his friend Kokomo. He does a spinning kick to Hanzou, but on the recoil, Hanzou summons a golem to do his bidding. The face of the golem morphs into Kokomo's, and the golem begins laying the guilt on the Ninja for not being there when Hanzou killed him. Mantaro shouts encouragement to the Ninja, and tells him that it is a trick of Hanzou's. He tells him to give up while he can. Hearing this, the golem face disappears, and Hanzou controls the Tatami Puppet, giving a beating to the Ninja. The golem throws the Ninja to the opposite end of the ring, and Hanzou and the Ninja square off once more. The Ninja knows he is defeated by now, and says that he will go to the next dimension, and will help Mantaro from there. Hanzou give the Ninja the Mt. Fuji Facelift, and the Ninja's lifeless body is tossed over the edge, into the pit.

 
Episode 36 04/12/03 Mantaro is sad, as the Ninja falls into the bottomless pit. The Ninja's scarf blows in the wind and lands on Mantaro, who is standing next to the railing about 20 feet from the ring. Meat explains that it isn't just a scarf but a family heirloom, handed down from generation to generation. He says fate must've blown it to Mantaro. Mantaro wonders why, and Meat think it is to avenge the Ninja. Minch agrees, and uses a confusing analogy to show the same. Meanwhile, at the edge of the ring, Hanzou makes a comment to Mantaro and pull his blade, frightening Mantaro into fleeing. He is holed up inside a small house, cowering. Meat, Checkmate, Gazelleman, Rink and her girlfriends are all outside, trying to goad Mantaro into coming out and fighting. Minch advises them to stop, that Mantaro has to come up with the courage to fight, himself. Inside the house, Mantaro hears the voice of the Ninja. The Ninja apperrates, and Mantaro goes to grasp him, but passes through the ghostly image. Mantaro freaks out, thinking the Ninja is a ghost, but he explains that it is a Ninja technique. He explains to Mantaro that he will have to fight to avenge him, mentions something about this being the final match that will end the 1000 year feud between ninja and samurai, and that he has the legacy of his father Kinnikuman Suguru, to uphold. He will have to give up the cowardice to win though. It's got to be his choice though. He disappears.

Meat is outside, still trying to talk Mantaro out, but Gazelleman has a better idea. He is grilling salmon. The smoke should lure him out. Mantaro comes out, not from the guys attempts, but he emerges with lantern in hand and wearing the scarf. He is ready for battle. Ringside, Hanzou leans patiently against the side post, with his lantern in hand. Mantaro enters the venue, wearing traditional Japanese robes and playing a flute. The swooning geishas from the previous episode are there, front row, and exclaim their affection for Mantaro. Mantaro is lavishing the attention, but Rinko is going berserk with a jealous rage. Mantaro enters the ring, and pushes a button, causing the floor to drop out. A helicopter comes immediately and replaces it with a grass mat. Speculation abounds, and Gazelleman theorizes that it is because you can't walk on fresh grass. The girls tell him he is stupid and that's why he has lost all his match ups so far. Gazelleman thinks it was Nakano San, and begins to knee him in the gut repeatedly. In the ring, Mantaro and Hanzou watch in awe at Gazelleman's idiocy. They start the bout, and Mantaro flings of the robes.

Hanzou charges and disappears, reappearing to pummel Mantaro with solid hits. Mantaro ducks and grasps Hanzou. He walks him around, like you would move large furniture, this is known as the Insect Walker. He then wraps a leg around the back of Hanzou's knee and takes him down. Everyone wonders where Mantaro learned that ninja technique, and Minch explains that the Ninja is guiding Mantaro. Hanzou does a roundhouse sweep and knock Mantaro to the ground. He begins the Tatami Puppet, but it doesn't work. Mantaro explains that the Tatami can only work on inanimate objects, and since the grass is still alive, that it is null. Hanzou jumps and pins Mantaro down. Mantaro tries to reverse with a vise grip, but it doesn't affect Hanzou in the least. Hanzou phases out and Nakano San is replaced in Mantaro's grasp now. Hanzou is standing at the opposite side of the ring. He tosses out a piece of paper, which grows man sized, and Hanzou props himself up against it. He chants and the paper begins to fold around him, like a giant pinwheel. He starts the spin for his pinwheel attack.

Coming at Mantaro, he slices his mask. He tells Mantaro that he could have easily cut his face too, but that he wants it unharmed for his collection. Mantaro cowers and asks if he throws the match, can he keep his face. Hanzou explains that he wants Mantaro's powers that come along with the capture of his face. In the stands, Checkmate praises Mantaro for his cunning, thinking Mantaro is acting to bide time and gain the advantage. Meat says, no he is really cowering. Hanzou attacks with the pinwheel, and Mantaro dodges again, and again, sending Hanzou through the ring ropes, cutting them until only one rope remains intact. Mantaro huddles against a corner post, and Hanzou preps for the charge. Mantaro's scarf glows, and he hears the Ninja. He tells Mantaro to take his advice, and that he was the one helping him all along. Mantaro declines, but when he see Hanzou's ferocity, he accepts. The Ninja advises him to stay there until it is too late to dodge. Mantaro does, and when the Ninja tells him to go, he leaps upward, causing Hanzou to miss, and get wrapped around the post, ruining the pinwheel. He comes down and tosses Hanzou up for the Muscle Millennium, but everyone tells at him not to do it. Mantaro ignores the warnings, launching off the one remaining rope, and spearing Hanzou in the back, until he realizes that there are no ropes on the opposite side of the ring to finish the move. Hanzou uses this to his advantage, and reverses, kicking Mantaro over the edge. Mantaro grabs hold, just in time, and is dangling by one hand, to the edge of the mat.

 
Episode 37 04/19/03 Gazelleman encourages Mantaro to get up from the ledge. Mantaro pulls up till his arms ore over the edge, he is about half way up, when Hanzou does the Tatami Puppet. Mantaro is puzzled, he thought he couldn't use the Tatami on the grass mat, but Hanzou says he was bluffing to catch him off guard. Gazelleman rants about stepping up to Hanzou and showing him the Gazelleman way, but Rinko and the girls wonder if that means losing, since he has lost all his matches so far. Meat notices that Mantaro's lantern is burning down. His powers are draining. Mantaro is still hanging on to the edge when Hanzou begins dropping elbows, causing the puppet to do the same to Mantaro, smashing his knuckles. Hanzou continues the knuckle bashing but then steps back in awe because it feels as if his ankle is being restrained. There is a glowing ring around it. He notices that Mantaro has hold of the puppet's ankle. Meat realizes that Hanzou and the puppet are so linked that anything that happens to the puppet will happen to Hanzou. Hanzou drags backwards, causing the puppet to drag Mantaro up over the edge. The Tatami puppet picks up Mantaro and head butts his face numerous times, then does a Banzai Backbreaker (Tower Bridge). He then puts him in a headlock from behind and does a reverse suplex on him. Mantaro cowers, but the Tatami launches him up into the air.

He lands the Wasabi Wallop on Mantaro (like a side version of the Kinnikubuster). Mantaro falls worn out against the side of the ring with one rope remaining. Hanzou pulls his soul blade and goes for the Fuji Facelift. Successful. But something is wrong. From Mantaro's mask, emits multiple beams of light that converge and travel up Hanzou's energy stream, shattering the soul blade. The crowd is awed that Mantaro survived. Minch explains that Mantaro had used all the remaining Ultimate Muscle power to ward off the attack, and is now totally drained. Hanzou is pissed at his broken soul blade. He does a two story Franken Steiner on Mantaro, sending him crashing to the canvas and over the edge. Mantaro falls into the abyss. Hanzou grabs the ladder and ascends to his lantern, while Meat, Rinko and the others weep for the lost Mantaro. In the abyss, Mantaro is ethereal, floating. The Ninja appears and tells him that he is in transition in the spirit world. His old body is worn out and he will re-emerge renewed. After this, Mantaro appears hanging from one of the supports on the tower frame, and the crown cheers. The scarf caught his hand. Hanzou is puzzled, but nonetheless, continues toward the lantern. Mantaro wonder how he will get up, but the Ninja appears, telling him he is renewed and can do anything. Mantaro launches up as Hanzou is inches from the lantern.

Mantaro launches up, and comes over the edge with a hand plant. Hanzou is almost to his lantern, and the end of the match, but when Mantaro appears over the edge of the ring, his Lantern glows fiercely, frightening Hanzou and causing him to fall to the mat. Hanzou calls his Tatami to attack Mantaro, but Mantaro pounds the Tatami, knowing that this will also pummel Hanzou. Hanzou cuts the strings on the puppet to escape more injury. He rushes Mantaro and grabs his arms, slamming Mantaro to the canvas with a nasty face plant. As Mantaro and Hanzou pause to regain their breath, the sun sets and night falls. The lanterns are lit, sending Hanzou into a fit of pain. Meat wonders what is going on, and Minch explains that Hanzou is afraid of fire, and flashes back to the fiery meteor shower that created the monster. Mantaro insults Hanzou for being afraid, but Hanzou plants a solid drop kick, knocking Mantaro back, and setting up the pinwheel. Mantaro kneels with his head bowed. Hanzou starts to spin.

The pinwheel comes spinning at Mantaro, but he is still bowed, seeing a pool of water. In his mind, a drop hits the surface of the pool, and Mantaro acts. Time seems to be in slow motion, as he moves out of the way of the deadly pinwheel. The pinwheel is out of control, spinning on the mat, digging a hole. Mantaro launches against the ropes for the Muscle Millennium, and grabs Hanzou on the rebound. Still there are no ropes to finish the move, so Mantaro kicks off the mat, and launches up, using the rafter above for leverage, he launches down at the mat, just over the hole that the pinwheel dug. He slams Hanzou down over the hole and Hanzou's armor and mask break. He is down. Mantaro grabs the ladder and goes for his lantern, wary of another attack by Hanzou, but as he nears the top of the ladder, he notices Hanzou's lantern. The ice inside is receding fast. Hanzou's power is doing the same. He grabs the Ultimate Muscle lantern and heads back down. Meat notices that there are two flames, and Minch explains that this is because of the growth that Mantaro has made. He is becoming more powerful and hardened. Hanzou slips through the hole, and Mantaro jumps down, grabbing one arm, just in time. He tries to pull him up to save him, but Hanzou refuses his help, punching him in the face. Mantaro is determined though, and explains to Hanzou that the match is over, and there is no benefit to either anymore if one falls into the abyss. He tells him that he has learned to respect his opponents and Hanzou climbs up. The guards take Hanzou away, but before he leaves, he explains to Mantaro that Bone Cold is more vicious than both him and Fork the Giant combined. Cut to the ocean, where a cloaked figure (Bone Cold) is anticipating his match against Mantaro.

 
Episode 38 04/26/03 Hanzou warns Mantaro about his next opponent. Mantaro freaks out and starts groveling, when the portal opens and Bone Cold grabs him and pulls him in. Meat, Checkmate, Minch and Rinko all grab hold of Mantaro and trail into the portal, as does Rinko's two friends. Gazelleman tries to get there also, but slips on a banana peel and falls. Inside the wormhole (portal tunnel) they guys wonder where the next fight will take place? Will it be a ring surrounded by deadly spikes, or in someplace as frigid as an ice cave? Nope, it a beach, with lots of lovely ladies and...Terry the Kid? The guys are surprised to find Terry with a lady on each arm, and a hand groping, well, the backside of one of the ladies. They figure, while they wait, they will have some fun. Beach Party!!! Sun, sand, ocean, jet-skis! You name, they indulge in it. All except for Meat, who sits alone under the shade of an umbrella, wondering how they can be so light hearted at a time as this. Minch, in full tourist dress, meanders up to Meat, and a conversation ensues. Minch, who keeps calling Meat "son", and then "Meat", asks how things are going. Meat reminisces about Suguru and how he is so much like Mantaro. How disturbingly immature they are, but in the end, they always come through with the win. Minch mentions that he has something important to tell Meat, but just them Bone Cold appears, still cloaked.

Bone Cold tosses off his cloak to reveal himself, and grabs Minch. Meat panics and the group shows up to defend Minch. Bone Cold explains that stealing Minch is part of his plan to eliminate Mantaro. He says that there is a price on Minch's head, and that he will use the leverage of kidnapping Minch, to beat Mantaro, to earn his freedom, in order to deliver his hostage to his employer to gain his bounty. Why Minch? Because Meat is the key, or so the employer thinks, to the success of Suguru, Mantaro and the other Seigi Chojins (Muscle League). They are confused as to how kidnapping Minch will affect Meat (because they don't know the secret that Minch will reveal to Meat next week). Mantaro doesn't want to fight, but Bone Cold says if Mantaro backs out, then Minch becomes "Minch Meat". Terry and Checkmate rush Bone Cold, but he quickly knocks them down with a couple of well placed drop kicks. He then vanishes. Mantaro is on his way out, with his scarf pouched, and hanging on the end of a stick. Meat begs Mantaro to save Minch, and not be a coward and bolt. He wants to know the secret that Minch was going to tell him before Bone Cold arrived. The group all agree to help, as does Mantaro, who sits down and undoes his pouch, to reveal his lantern. He removes the lantern and wonders if the third flame is for courage, which he sorely needs.

As the group walks towards the venue, they notice a set of pads and a hospital gown hanging above the door of the first entrance. It is a sign from Bone Cold, "Fight or end up in the hospital anyway". As they walk into the inner area, they see the crowd and the ring, which is draped with a large cloth. They decide to split up and look for Minch. Meat will take the mezzanine, Terry the upper level, and Checkmate....the "Nacho Stand"? But just then, Meat spies Minch, tied up and laying prone in the jaws of a stone gargoyle. Bone Cold makes his taunts, then undraped the ring, showing a stone monolith in the form of a giant gargoyle head! Mantaro is still frightened. Meat asks why Bone Cold kidnapped Minch, and he starts to tell him, but Minch interrupts. Bone Cold makes a snide remark, and launches an elbow drop to silence Minch.

Bone Cold lands the elbow on the top of the gargoyle head, crushing the jaws on Minch, causing him injury. Bone tosses his lantern to the pod, suspended above the ring. Mantaro begins the ascent up the ladder to the ring, and his lantern begins to glow fiercely. He tosses it up to the pod and enters the ring. Inside, the gong sounds and the match begins with the two going at a test of strength. Bone reverses Mantaro into and arm lock, but Mantaro quickly reverses the reversal, applying the pressure to Bone Cold's arms. Checkmate senses that Bone Cold is feigning to gauge Mantaro's strength. Two more reversals and Mantaro tosses Bone into the air for some punishment. But it is Mantaro who ends up getting the pain. Bone Cold lands a vicious cartwheel kick to Mantaro, booting him into the air. He catches him in the air, slamming him down in a reverse suplex (Sistine Scalpel) onto the stone mat. He slams him a few more times, in various moves (Moaning Lisa, Gray matter). Meat tells Mantaro to use the "Break Fall" technique that he taught him. Bone makes a snide remark as he launches Mantaro into the air, but this time, when Mantaro comes down, he uses the technique to land safely without injury.

 
Episode 39 05/03/03 Mantaro is falling, but lands correctly and breaks the fall by skidding a little. Bone Cold is pissed at Meat's coaching, and shoots his blade at the roof, where Minch is still trapped in the jaws of the Gargoyle statue. He tells Meat to stay out of it, or he'll kill Minch. Up on the roof, he repeatedly elbows Minch in the temple, until Meat gives in and agrees to stop helping Mantaro. Bone Cold then launches at Mantaro, wrapping his scarf around his feet and morphing the lower part of his body into a giant drill bit. As the drill comes at him, Mantaro calls to Meat for help, but Meat is cowering with his arms over his head. Terry the Kid and Checkmate both give advice to Mantaro, but end up bickering over who's advice Mantaro should obey. Meanwhile Bone Cold reaches Mantaro and drills in to him, but Mantaro has a firm grasp of the spinning bit with both hands, trying to contain the onslaught.

Bone Cold's Drill attack, the "Riveter", knocks Mantaro down. Bone Cold morphs back and stands boasting. From the stands, Rinko and the two other girls run down to get Meat to coach Mantaro, but he won't, he can't. Minch tells Meat, not to worry about him, and Bone Cold aims his blade at Minch again, telling him to mind his own business. The subject of secrets is brought up again, but this time Minch drops a bombshell on Bone Cold, explaining that he knows Bone Cold's secret, about his origins. Bone denies this of course. Minch persists, and Bone Cold has some flashbacks of ruthless training by his father, in order to exact revenge on the Kinniku family. The argument goes back and forth for a while, while Mantaro sneaks up on Bone Cold and gets him in a headlock. This is to no avail, as Bone Cold easily escapes, and instead picks up Mantaro and slams him head first into one of the pupil holes in the eye of the gargoyle faced mat. Mantaro is now firmly lodged in the rock, and Bone goes about his business. Pissed now, Bone Cold begins to spill the secret of Meats parents, how they were not dead as he supposed, but had kept an eye on him from a distance all these years, and how they had abandoned him when he was younger. Minch is becoming more and more frustrated at Bone Cold, telling Meat that Bone is lying. Minch, super pissed now, manages to break free of the ropes and Gargoyle jaws, flying at Bone Cold to do some damage. Bone laughs and aims his blade.

Bone Cold shoots his blade and hits Minch squarely. Minch falls injured to the ground, and Meat rushes to his side. Minch admits that he is Meat's father and begins to tell his side of the story. He explains that Meat was born a genius, and the King Kinnikuman (Mayumi at the time) had requested that Meat come to be raised in the castle as a trainer for his son Kinnikuman Suguru. Minch refused, but after constant pleading, he agreed. The scene shows Mayumi whisking off Meat to the castle under the sad gaze of Minch and his wife. Back to the present, Minch abruptly changes the subject and explains that Mantaro has learned tolerance and calm, and now must learn the third lesson of the lantern, in order to survive. A few more words are exchanged, and Minch dies. (Note: in the USA version it is explained that Minch is being whisked away for hip surgery).

Meat is beside himself grieving for Minch. Bone Cold gloats, and Mantaro is still stuck in the pupil, but trying to ease his head out of the hole. Minch is carried off on a stretcher. Back to his original target, Bone Cold launches a double knee attack at the lodge Mantaro, but Mantaro break free in time, grabs Bone's knees, and catapults him onto his face, in a hammer lock. He again puts him in a headlock, but is quickly knocked away, when Bone Cold pulls out his scarf and morph into the drill. Hit by the Riveter, Mantaro is knocked into the mouth of the Gargoyle. He holds on with one hand, pulling himself up. Mantaro pleads for Meat's help, but Meat is out of it with grief. Bone Cold harasses him, and send Meat running away after Minch. Bone swings back against the ropes as if setting up the Muscle Millennium, but he instead rams into the jaw of the gargoyle mat, causing it to bite down on Mantaro, who is still trying to pull himself out. Again he uses the ropes to cause the jaws to bite down on our hero. Meanwhile, in the funeral home, Meat stands next to the body of Minch. A visitor interrupts and berates Meat for abandoning Mantaro in the heat of the battle. He says that Minch would have wanted him to be there to support Mantaro. Meat turns around to see the visitor who is none other then Kinkotsuman (Skullduggery)!

 
Episode 40 05/10/03 Bone Cold launches off the ropes again to kick the Jaw and chomp down on Mantaro! Terry and Checkmate rack their brains to try to help Mantaro. Terry has a flashback about his dad's lessons on friendship and teamwork. Cut to Meat and Kinkotsuman (Skullduggery) in the mortuary. Kinkotsuman urges Meat to go to the aid of Mantaro. Back ringside, Mantaro is depressed. He is going to fail his dad. The lantern flame is growing dim. Rinko climbs the ladder to try to fan the flame, but when Bone Colds ice lantern grows, Rinko falls back off the ladder. Mantaro says he failed his dad, and Bone Cold berates him and tells him some story about his dad being a villain and secretly conspiring to make him lose, etc. Mantaro won't believe it. Bone Cold launches off one set of ropes and ricochets off the opposite ropes, preparing to chomp down on Mantaro.

He kicks the jaw hard this time, causing Mantaro serious pain. Mantaro starts to pass out, but Checkmate and Terry cheer him on. They surmise that Mantaro can get out when the ropes stretch back, because the jaw opens! They continue to cheer on Mantaro, urging him to remember the inner fire. Bone goes back for another kick to the jaw, but this time Mantaro comes out, before the jaw closes on him. Bone charges him, but Mantaro launches off the rope and hits Bone with a vicious flying clothesline, sending him to the hard stone mat. Bone Cold arises and hears his name called out. He turns to see his father Kinkotsuman. He is enraged and takes it out on Mantaro with a flurry of punches. Mantaro starts to block and brings a kick around to the back of Bone Colds knee, buckling him. He does this a few times and then begins to pummel Bone Cold with a flurry of his own punches! Outside the ring, Meat and Kinkotsuman have a long conversation about teamwork, and how Minch has brought the new generation closer, even in death. Meat grieves fro his dead father. Back in the ring, Mantaro goes back into the rope, but Bone Cold is on him, straddling his shoulders, pinning him back and tying him up in the ropes!

Kinkotsuman cheers Mantaro on, much to the chagrin of his son, Bone Cold. Bone Cold uses the occasion to list all his grievances against his father, and then launches for the Riveter. This time, he spins twice as fast and it is called the Whirling Dervish. Mantaro comes free from the ropes, and launches up, spinning himself the opposite direction. Toe to to with Bone Cold, literally, he spins faster and destroys the Bone Cold drill. Bone falls to the ground and Mantaro comes down to land. Bone hails Mantaro with another flurry of punches, but this time, Mantaro catches his fists and begins a tirade about who's got the worst father experience. He talks about Meat, thinking his dad as dead, but then finding out he was alive and gave him up. Then finally forgiving him and reconciling before Minch dies. And he dealt with it, whereas Bone Cold is going ballistic over his dad. He then pummels Bone Cold, but stops suddenly as he realizes that Bone Cold, inches away, have the Bone Blade aimed at his heart. Bone launches the blade, but Mantaro safely dodges it. The blade then chases Mantaro around the ring, but he dodges around the posts, until the blade hits one and gets lodged. As Bone Cold tries to pull it free, Mantaro uses the lull to launch the Muscle Millennium!

Mantaro succeeds in hitting Bone Cold with the Muscle Millennium, more powerful then even the hit to Scar Face a few weeks back! Bone Cold is stuck on the ropes and catatonic. Mantaro goes for the Lantern. Bone starts to move, but passes out again, after pulling his blade fee from the post. Mantaro grabs his lantern and wins the match. He celebrates his victory for a minute, but is perplexed that the 3rd flame has not lit. Just then, the ropes snap and Bone Cold (who is still stuck on the ropes) starts to go over the edge. Seeing this, Mantaro falls off his ladder as Terry and Checkmate rush to the side of the ring to catch Bone Cold before he hits the pavement. They fumble him but he is safely recovered by Kinkotsuman (Skullduggery). Kinkotsuman apologizes and tries to reconcile with Bone Cold, but he won't have it. Seeing this, he pulls a money bag out of his pocket and gives it to Bone Cold. He wants to hire him to beat him up. Bone takes the money. Bone Cold is about to pummel his father, but decides against it. He says he won't forgive him, ever. As Bone Cold is walking away, he motions to Mantaro that he one upped him, with his friends. Mantaro thinks of his friends, as Terry and Checkmate approach with his lantern. The 3rd flame starts to glow, as Mantaro realizes the 3rd lesson was the power of friendship!

 

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