In the pantheon of Japan's fictional action heroes, it would be hard to find one better known or loved than Ultraman.
Now showing on a small screen near you in "Ultraman Cosmos," the 12th series since he first strode onto the scene in 1966, this 40-meter extraterrestrial is still wowing new generations with what he does best: battling ghastly monsters wreaking havoc on Earth.
Ultraman has had vast appeal ever since he first arrived from Nebula M-78, courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions Co. Ltd. Even by the 37th episode, aired March 26, 1967, the show was already registering an astonishing 42.8 percent audience rating.