Robot Detective!

Tonight Japan's channel BS2 aired a golden oldie from the vault: Robotto Keiji (Robot Detective), a short-lived 1973 tokusatsu series based on the manga by Shotaro Ishinomori about a robot crime-fighter. It predated Robocop by more than a decade.

Protagonist K is a quite a dandy for a humanoid, sporting a beret, yellow shoes and a red jacket. He drives a flying car and packs a gun mounted in his chest, handy when tussling with the Badou crime syndicate.

K fights ridiculous evil robots like Lockerman, a walking locker, and Springman...um, a giant spring. There's a great rundown of the rogue's gallery this fansite.

The funny thing about tough guy K, though, is that in times of distress he calls out "Mazaa!" (mother) and runs off to a giant mobile fortress in the shape of a goddess for repairs. His creator is a female scientist, Dr. Kirishima, who fixes him up in the fortress.

Mother complexes, human-machine relations, bargain-basement tokusatsu special effects: Robotto Keiji is great fodder for Japanologists of every stripe.