http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Metal_Hero_Series_1982-1987_3331.JPG
[[caption-width:250:The first six Metal Heroes: Gavan, Shaider, Sharivan (L-R, top), Spielban, Juspion and Metalder (L-R, bottom).]]

'''Metal Heroes''' is a franchise of Japanese live-action Action/Adventure programs produced by Toei.

The series aired from 1982 (with ''SpaceSheriffGavan'') to 1998 (with ''TetsuwanTanteiRobotack''), but was revived in 2012 for a crossover with ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' and the popularity of the film resulted in a stand alone movie. They are {{toku}}satsu-based shows, in the same vein as ''KamenRider'' and ''SuperSentai''.

In the US, footage from these series was adapted by Saban during the late-1990's in the same way they did with ''Super Sentai'' for ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', producing two shows, ''Series/VRTroopers'' (1994-1995) and ''[[Series/{{Beetleborgs}} Big Bad Beetleborgs]]'' (1996-1997). The programs are popular in Japan, France, Brazil and Southeast Asia. It also gave us the wonderful acid trip Uchuu Keiji Shaider. Compared to even KamenRider, it was perhaps the darkest franchise of all {{toku}}satsu shows in general and more adults liked it than the kids.

The NES game ''VideoGame/{{Shatterhand}}'' was produced by Japanese company Natsume and released for both the NES and Famicom. Unlike in most instances, the American version ''Shatterhand'' was actually the original version of the game (although it was released later). Angel (a subsidiary of Bandai) agreed to publish the game in Japan for Natsume under the condition that they could modify it into a licensed game promoting one of their properties. Thus the game was re-worked to function as a ''TokkyuuShireiSolbrain'' video game.

The following shows were produced in the Metal Heroes franchise:

[[index]]
* ''SpaceSheriffGavan'' (1982-1983)
* ''SpaceSheriffSharivan'' (1983-1984)
* ''SpaceSheriffShaider'' (1984-1985)
* ''KyojuuTokusouJuspion'' (1985-1986)
* ''JikuuSenshiSpielban'' (1986-1987)
* ''ChoujinkiMetalder'' (1987-1988)
* ''SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya'' (1988-1989)
* ''KidouKeijiJiban'' (1989-1990)
* ''TokkeiWinspector'' (1990-1991)
* ''TokkyuuShireiSolbrain'' (1991-1992)
* ''TokusouExceedraft'' (1992-1993)
* ''TokusouRoboJanperson'' (1993-1994)
* ''BlueSWAT'' (1994-1995)
* ''{{Juukou B-Fighter}}'' (1995-1996)
* ''Series/{{B-Fighter Kabuto}}'' (1996-1997)
* ''{{B-Robo Kabutack}}'' (1997-1998)
* ''TetsuwanTanteiRobotack'' (1998-1999)
* Space Sheriff Revival (2012-)
** ''[[Film/KaizokuSentaiGokaigerVsSpaceSheriffGavanTheMovie Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie]]'' (January 2012)
** ''[[Film/SpaceSheriffGavanTheMovie Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie]]'' (October 2012)
** ''[[Film/KamenRiderXSuperSentaiXSpaceSheriffSuperHeroTaisenZ Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z]]'' (Spring 2013)
[[/index]]

It should be noted that there are three distinct trilogies within the franchise:
* The first three shows (''Gavan'', ''Sharivan'', and ''Shaider'') form the Space Sheriff Trilogy (''Uchuu Keiji'' in Japanese).
* ''Winspector'', ''Solbrain'', and ''Exceedraft'' form the Rescue Mission Trilogy.

Other continuations include:
* ''{{Juukou B-Fighter}}'' and ''Series/{{B-Fighter Kabuto}}'' are a continuation from one another as the Beetle Fighter Series.
* ''{{B-Robo Kabutack}}'' and ''TetsuwanTanteiRobotack'' are also considered sharing the same universe, having a crossover of the two while having similar themes.
* A crossover episode also denotes that ''Jiban'' and ''Jiraya'' also share the same universe, despite having distinct themes.

!!Tropes commonly associated with MetalHeroes
* {{Badass}}: As a prerequisite for all tokus.
* CoolBike: Yep!
* CoolCar: If they don't have a bike, they will have an awesome car. [[ChoujinkiMetalder Some]][[KidouKeijiJiban times]] both, actually.
* HenshinHero: With the exception of Blue Swat who put on their armor manually and Janperson who is a robot without a human form.
* PoweredArmor: If they're not HollywoodCyborg or RidiculouslyHumanRobot, they're human beings wearing a special suit of armor.
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