027 – Zero Killed the Radio Beatstar (Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar | Ft. Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers

With Travis still on his much-needed “pod-cation,” Nathan brings on Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers from The Drift Space podcast to discuss the second of the “duology” of Ultraman Zero specials. This one, Killer the Beatstar (which would be the best DJ name ever), was released as a tie-in with Ultarman Saga (2012), but for Jack in particular, this special doesn’t live up to the pinnacle of the previous special Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero or the film Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial. While this one has plenty of beloved characters—both human and Ultra—a great villain, and lots of fascinating ideas, it doesn’t do enough with any of them. Then it’s brought down by a weeping robot crying the Matrix code. Get ready for an episode that tangents into a bizarre fusion of Ultraman and Star Trek! (“Toku Trek”? That’s a great podcast title!) Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar is available as part of The Ultraman Zero Collection blu-ray set released by Mill Creek Entertainment. Listen to Jack and J.R.’s previous appearance on Henshin Men.Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.Check out Jack and J.R. on The Drift Space.MUSIC: -“Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle (Opening Theme) Cover ウルトラマンゼロ” by It Takes 2 to Toku -“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok