Mazinger Army

Million Alpha, Baion Beta, and Daion Gamma are fictional mecha associated with the anime/manga universe of Mazinger Z by Go Nagai. Within the story, they are mass-produced versions of the original Mazinger Z and are intended to go into battle when Mazinger itself was unavailable.

They are collectively known as the Mazinger Army (Majinga Gundan マジンガー軍団).

History

They appear in the first chapter of the Great Mazinger manga (which also could be considered the final chapter of the Mazinger Z manga), where they fought against Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts and were destroyed.

They also appear in the Mazinkaiser VS the Great General of Darkness OVA, and attempt to battle against the invasion of the Mikene Empire. Despite managing to hold the Warrior Beasts back for a short time, all three of the mecha and their pilots are destroyed at the hands of the Mikene Empire's Seven Generals.

They also appear in the manga version of Mazinkaiser, with slightly modified body structures (e.g. Million Alpha's thrusters are designed differently and Daion Gamma having legs as opposed to the legless, hovering OVA version) and seem to be relatively more resistant to attacks compared to the OVA versions.

The Mazinger Army makes another appearance in Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen, where they are working alongside Aphrodite A and help Mazinger Z in battle. They are shown being destroyed in the non-standard first episode, scenes which are repeated in the opening of the series. In Episode 21 however, they are shown in newly-upgraded robots.

Description

• Million Alpha is piloted by Lori and Loru. Despite being part of the Mazinger Army, it does not even have a passing resemblance to Mazinger Z. It has the ability to fly at high speeds and fire beams from a special device located behind its face. The Million Alpha can also use its spike-like arms in melee combat. The cockpits for the twin sisters were placed in the chest of the robot, in a similar way to Marquis Yanus's robot.

In the Mazinkiser vs The Dark General OVA, both Lori and Loru die piloting the mecha when they are crushed to death by General Birdler in their cockpits, but they also destroy the flying fortress Mikeros when they ram the general into the vessel and self-destruct.

• Baion Beta is a skinny-looking mecha whose primary attack is Rust Hurricane, an attack from the original Mazinger that used gale force winds to reduce an enemy to dust. Unlike Mazinger Z's version, Baion Beta's Rust Hurricane came from a grate in its stomach, which resembled Mazinger's mouthplate. It appeared to be far more agile than the original Mazinger, but was also far less durable.

It is destroyed by General Julius Caesar in Egypt when it was beheaded along with its pilot.

• Daion Gamma was a heavily built mecha with a Mazinger-style face and no legs (instead having powerful hovering thrusters). Its primary attack was Breast Fire, the original Mazinger's most powerful attack. Unlike the original version (which came from the heat sinks on Mazinger Z's chest), Daion Gamma opened its chest armour to reveal four heat sinks shaped like Mazinger's. Though this suggested its firepower is greater than even Mazinger, it did not seem very maneuverable.

Destroyed by General Draydou in China with his fire breath.

Destructions

In what could be seen as poetic justice, Baion Beta and Daion Gamma were avenged by far more powerful versions of their own attacks. General Julius Caesar was disintegrated by Mazinkaiser's Rust Tornado and General Draydou was so badly wounded by Fire Blaster he was unable to get out of the Demonika's way and was crushed to death.

Meanwhile in Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z Hen, all three mecha in the Mazinger Army are destroyed by more powerful versions of their own attacks at the hands of Dr. Hell's King of Hell. Their pilots survive.