Ultraman Taro
Monsters begin to appear out of thin air, threatening the Earth. ZAT (Zariba of
All Territory ... although the word "Zariba" was never explained, it seems to
come from an Arabic word referring to a fence-enclosed camp, implying that ZAT
was a fence to ward off monsters from "all territory"), the Space Science
Guard, was formed to protect the world. As always, they needed help. Meanwhile,
Kotaro Higashi, a young boxer "striving for maturity," is stopped by a young
woman who gives him a "good luck charm." A short time later, he joins ZAT, and
is killed by the monster Astromons. (Some good-luck charm.) Amazingly, Kotaro
is transported to the Land of Light, where Ultra
Mother and the other Ultra-heroes hover over him. She has created a
new Ultraman, whom she merges with Kotaro. Kotaro is told that he can use the
charm, called the Ultra Badge, to change from his human form to his Ultra form
at will. Kotaro then is returned to Earth only a moment after he left, but
reborn as Ultraman Taro. Taro's task is to prove his maturity and his
worthiness to become a true Ultraman.
Ultraman Taro had at least one energy-beam attack, the Streium Beam. This beam
was projected from his vertical arm, after his other arm is placed perpendicular,
with hands together. (On one occasion, though, Taro fires this beam with crossed
hands, much like Ultraman's Specium Beam pose.) Taro also had an "Arrow Beam" and
a "Re-Live Beam," the latter of which could resurrect monsters. During the
series, Taro receives from Ultra Mother the "King Bracelet," a device similar to
Ultraman Jack's Ultra Bracelet, in that it responds
to Taro's mental commands, create a blue energy shield that can deflect energy
attacks, fire a twin boomerang-style bolt that can amputate, and can turn into
the Bracelet Lancer. Taro also had the ability to create an energy tornado, which
resembled Ultraman's spinning energy rings, which could draw a monster into it to
be destroyed. Taro also was able to put out fires using an unknown liquid from
his hands (similar to what Ultraman did on at
least 2 occasions). Another of Taro's one-time-only attacks was the ability to
change into a fireball and obliterate his foe. Taro also could shoot beams of
intense heat or cold. Finally, Taro could emit an energy beam from between his
two horns.
In one situation, Taro was injured. Unlike Ultraman
Tiga, who "bled" light when he was cut, Taro bled red blood.
Ultraman Taro was the only Ultra-hero actually "born" of Ultra Mother. According
to the movie, The Ultraman Story, Taro actually was born before he was merged
with Kotaro (Taro appears as an "Ultraboy" in the movie).