"I wanted my plan to be as cost-effective as possible. So, I've used what I could obtain in this planet, including Zarab. By having them fight you...I made humans feel physically powerless. Revealing the Beta System made them intellectually powerless. I wanted them to learn first hand their dependence on the mighty. You have been instrumental in instilling humanity, my idealistic notion of unconditional obedience to extraterrestrial life. I am very grateful to you.You are the first successful example of human fusion. It was also demonstrated in my experiment. Thanks to that, we now know that humanity is an effective biological resource and can be converted into a powerful and formidable weapon. I want to have absolute dominion over this abundant and precious biological resource before it is ravaged by other intelligent life. That's my only interest, Ultraman. "
— Alien Mefilas, to Ultraman, Shin Ultraman
The Ultra Series is one of the most famous media to codify the Henshin Hero genre, with the Giants of Light battling against extraterrestrial beings since 1966. However, some of the beings they encountered not only use their strength, but also combine it with intellect and charisma.
Entries are chronological by first appearance.
All spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
open/close all folders
Live Action TV
- Ultraman: Alien Mefilas is an alien invader who plots to conquer Earth by having a human willingly give up the planet to him as he dislikes violence. Installing his spaceship in a secret location to avoid detection, Mefilas tries to convince a boy named Satoru into "trading" Earth for another world, using choice words to try and make him agree to his deal while also showing an understanding of human emotions and their unwillingness to instantly surrender their world. In addition to illusions, he also makes sure to capture Hayata and Fuji to use as hostages to keep SSSP busy while preventing Hayata from transforming into Ultraman. When SSSP finally finds his base, he retaliates with his ship's weapons effectively before SSSP breaks into his base and rescue his hostages. With his ship down he proceeds to fight Ultraman to a standstill, proving to be the hero's equal in a fight, however Mefilas calmly admits defeat and ends the fight there and then, leaving Earth unscathed while swearing to return one day to realize his goal.
- Ultraman Mebius:
- Ultraman Hikari/Hunter Knight Tsurugi is an Ultra Warrior and genius scientist who was driven to a path of revenge when the people he vowed to protect were wiped out by the monstrous Bogal. Pursing his quarry to Earth, Hikari stole the body of GUYS Captain Serizawa and proved ruthlessly persistent in his hunt for Bogal, showing no care for collateral damage. Hikari is prepared to kill Mebius if the hero tries to stop him, and is even willing to allow the destruction of Japan to achieve his goal. Gradually warming to humanity despite his cynical outlook, Hikari comes to see the error of his ways and becomes an ally of Mebius. Now employing his strategic mind and swordsmanship prowess for the good of mankind, Hikari exposes and kills an alien impostor and assists Mebius and the GUYS crew against the genocidal Alien Empera, saving the life of Mebius’ best friend Ryu at one point. Never truly losing the heart of an Ultra Warrior, Hikari atones for his misdeeds and eventually returns to the Land of Light to rejoin his brethren.
- Alien Mefilas III is the last of the Four Heavenly Kings serving Alien Empera and Ultraman Mebius' most cunning foe, learning from the mistakes of his fallen teammates, he takes a more intelligent approach to defeating Mebius by brainwashing all of humanity to see him as the heroic protector of Earth and Mebius as the evil invader, including GUYS who he sends out to personally destroy Mebius themselves all while making sure the original Ultraman does not interfere by clarifying that he won't harm any humans. Nearly succeeding at breaking Mebius and winning, Mefilas manages to retaliate effectively when Mebius uncovers his deceptions, even with GUYS and the original Ultraman's backup, up until the latter calls him out on breaking his own terms by fighting, which Mefilas recognizes signifies his defeat, he then leaves Earth without further trouble while swearing to return, before quietly apologizing when executed for his failure.
- Ultraman Z: Jugglus Juggler, debuting in Ultraman Orb, returns in this series as Captain of STORAGE, "Shota Hebikura" once his identity is revealed to the audience in episode 5. While spending most of the show going back and forth helping his team and antagonizing Haruki and the titular Ultraman in his alien form while keeping a low profile, Juggler finds himself competing with an alien parasite named Celebro, who starts planning for his game of death and destruction on Earth—which finally culminates in the endgame arc as Juggler plans to hijack Ultroid Zero to get even with the people who wronged him back in Planet Kanon before Celebro does. However, despite not being able to get Ultroid Zero, Juggler rallies all of STORAGE's members and reclaimed their base from the SAAG, setting up the stage for the final battle. Once all is said and done, Juggler stops Celebro from escaping, leaving the parasitic lifeform to a Fate Worse than Death.
- Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga: Ignis is an alien treasure hunter who crosses paths with Ultraman Trigger and GUTS Select in their mission to stop the Dark Giants, starting as a Wild Card that messes with them albeit having a honorable and kindhearted streak, later on he instead cooperates with them so as to stop Hudram, the Dark Giant who destroyed his homeworld. In the latter half of the series he obtains the power of Trigger Dark and though initially unable to control it, manages to rectify that with help from Akito's repairs to his GUTS Sparklens. Even when he's temporarily arrested he is easily able to set up his endgame plan: to use the Eternity Core to restore his homeworld all while giving the heroes a chance to stop him, before abandoning the plan after learning of the consequences that could come of it, he then befriends the heroes for real before defeating Hudram for good. In the finale he assists in defeating Megalothor by sharing his power of darkness with Trigger. Once all is over he peacefully leaves for space, still intending to restore his homeworld.
Other Media
- Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars: Wadatuzin is an ancient alien who arrived during Japan's Yayoi period with her kaiju Nagira, only to be stranded on earth. Smitten by earth's beauty, Wadatuzin spends entire millennia guiding then-primitive humans to great leaps and bounds in technology, establishing the Cult of Wadatuzin and having herself worshiped as a literal God. Forgotten by future generations, Wadatuzin remains among mankind while assuming a human form, only to be disgusted by humanity's destruction towards the environment. To preserve the world she helped built, Wadatuzin stealthily assassinates multiple CEO responsible for land development with water-bullets that leaves no traces, cunningly staying ahead of the human reporters trying to investigate her without harming them, and unleashes Nagira to destroy construction sites and tourist resorts. Successful in delivering a warning to humans in preservation of the environment, Wadatuzin then takes her leave with Nagira, intending to return to earth decades later to ensure mother nature is well-preserved.
- Ultraman manga:
- Edo is a liaison for the Star Cluster Alliance, seemingly serving as an ally for Ultraman and SSSP. In truth, Edo plots to destroy the Ultramen and their reputation out of a genuine belief that they can conquer or destroy Earth in minutes if they chose to. To his ends, Edo has his allies in the Star Cluster Alliance commit crimes and frame the Ultramen for them while harnessing the power of the Giant of Light from the four Ultramen to resurrect Zetton. Unleashing Zetton onto the Ultramen, Edo joins the fight when they defeat Zetton, reviving the monster to full strength while he battles Shinjiro Hayata. Seemingly killing Shinjiro, Edo only loses when Shinjiro gets a Heroic Second Wind and is joined by his allies to defeat Edo. Edo dies with dignity, commenting that he’ll be watching Shinjiro’s progress from beyond.
- Agent Adad works for Star Cluster Alliance's Immigration Administration Bureau, taking extreme measures in handling crimes occurring in the alien district. Investigating a series of murders committed by Rena Sayama’s Loony Fans, Adad lures then out of hiding by claiming he’ll be attacking a concert performed by Rena Sayama while deploying fake bombs and endangering the audience as he enacts his role as the villain. Defeating the two Ultramen with ease and killing Alien Igaru when the latter tries to protect Rena, Adad reveals his charade to the audience before exposing and arresting the masterminds behind the murders while becoming Bemular’s informant within the Star Cluster Alliance. Adad later meets up with past foes of Ultraman to form a team to take down the hero, believing him to be a threat to the world.
- Shin Ultraman:
- Extraterrestrial #2 Zarab is a cunning, calculating and fearsome foe of Ultraman. Plotting to conquer Earth, Zarab arrives pretending to be a diplomat out to establish relationships between Earth and other planets using his natural charm to manipulate the governments and the masses into trusting him. In order to keep Shinji Kaminaga/Ultraman from interfering when he grows suspicious of his true intentions, he kidnaps him, deprives him of the Beta Capsule and uses his powers to copy Ultraman's appearance perfectly to attack cities and vindicate humanity's existing fears of the hero, causing Ultraman and his host to become wanted criminals. Even after Ultraman manages to break free with help of Asami and eventually defeat him, Zarab's plans to discredit Ultraman is unable to be thwarted, screwing over the hero for the rest of the film.
- Extraterrestrial #0 Mefilas is peaceful in his methods yet the most manipulative and calculating foe in the film. Immediately acting as a benevolent ambassador to humanity upon arriving, he presents the world's governments with size-changing technology that he claims will let them fight against the increasing kaiju attacks better, while actually planning to enslave and turn them into bioweapons for his race with the technology's DNA alteration properties though harboring no hatred for them. Mefilas uses Asami as a guinea pig by turning her into a giantess as a show and also attempts to reach a compromise with Ultraman that will benefit both and doesn't makes much of a fuss when the alien hero rejects it. Upon being discovered and cornered by Ultraman and SSSP when they take his technology, he showcases his battle cred as he fights and overwhelms Ultraman, almost defeating him and only retreating when Ultraman's far stronger superior, Zoffy, shows up to destroy Earth. Before leaving he makes sure to remove all the recorded footage of Asami's transformation as one last act of goodwill.
