Medarot 1 (manga)

Medarot (メダロット) is the manga adaptation written and drawn by Rin Horuma. The manga was originally serialized on Kodansha's Comic BomBom from June 1997 to February 1999, and compiled into three volumes afterwards. It is the first-ever Medarot installment to be released, its serialization beginning a few months before the release of the game.

The manga received a new release in an unique volume called "Medarot Revised Edition: Hikaru's Chapters" (メダロット新装版ヒカル編) on June 21, 2013.

Synopsis

In the near-future of 2010, a young Hikaru Agata found a medal in the park and becomes a Medarotter. With Metabee, his Medarot, he faces many challenges including fighting against the Roborobo Gang, a strange group of criminals who use Medarots for evil porpoises.

Chapters

The chapters are called "Memory Disc", in line with the thematic of digitization and robotics in the late 1990s. The initial chapters are episodic, serving to introduces the game's concept (e.g. what is Medarots, Tinpets, how the battle system works), even though sometimes diverge from the source material (as when Cyandog and Metabee replace their parts during the Robottle ongoing, something impossible in the games).

Medarot Volume 01

Memory Disc	Original Title	Translated Title	Original Release Date
1	トモダチはロボット!! (Tomodachi wa Robotto!!)	My Friend is a Robot!!	June 1997
	When Hikaru Agata goes out for a walk with his dog Bonaparte, they find a medal. His dad, who had lined up three days prior to buying a brand new Medarot, gives it to Hikaru as a gift. Hikaru tries to put it together, but gets bored halfway through and goes outside to play. While he's there, he find his friend Kirara, who has been bullied by Yanma and Kubota and challenged by a Robottle. Claiming a 2 x 1 battle is unfair, a still-on-assembling Metabee shows up riding Bonaparte, entering the battle against Cyandog and Yellowturtle. Eventually, Metabee defeats the duo and come back with Hikaru to be fully assembled.
2	テキは宇宙人!? (Teki wa Uchūjin!?)	The Enemy is an Alien!?	Jully 1997
	While revisitng the basics of Medarot world, Hikaru and Kirara runs to the school. Later, he is called into the Director's room, since he brought Metabee to school, which is forbiden. While they are talking, the Roborobo Gang introduce themselve as a group of aliens who are there to rob the kids' lunch. The children try to defend themselves calling their Medarots, but the school is out of range by transport the parts. Hopefully, Metabee and Samurai, the director's Medarot, are already there to save the day.
3	ナマエはメタビー!! (Namae wa Metabī!!)	The Name is Metabee!!	August 1997
	Hikaru and Kirara are invited by Yanma and Kubota for a rematch, but now with her boss, Iseki, and her Medarot, Magentacat. A fierce battle then begins!
4	ショウブはきびし～!! (Shoubu wa Kibishi~!!)	The Battle is Harsh~!!	September 1997
	Hikaru and Metabee face their first fight in the sea against the Roborobo Gang. Struggling to defeat, they are helped by the Select Corps.
5	ロボトルに賭けろ!!! (Robotoru ni Kake-ro!!!)	Bet on the Robattle!!!	October 1997
	Hikaru and Kirara participate to the city Robottle Tournament and meet Yuki and Paddy, and their Medarots, Hoppinstar and Betty Bear.
6	ジッケンは大乱闘!! (Jikken wa Dairantō!!)	The Experiment is a Great Brawl!!	November 1997
	During the Halloween, Hikaru's father takes him to Medarot Lab. There, they are invited to fight Rokusho, a fierce KWG Medarot from Dr. Medarot, who realise Metabee's medal is a rare one. Later, he asks Hikaru to stay with Metabee for a few days for tests, while Hikaru can take Rokusho with him.

Medarot Volume 02

Memory Disc	Original Title	Translated Title	Original Release Date
7	ロクショウはお侍 (Rokusho wa o Samurai!!)	Rokusho the Samurai!!	December 1997
	While Metabee faces all type of tests in Medarot Lab, Rokusho spends his days as regular Medarot in Hikaru's house and both Medarots went through different challenges during this time.
8	パパのお仕事♥ (Transliteration: Papa no Oshigoto ♥)	Dad's Job ♥	January 1998
	Back to their regular routine, Hikaru and Metabee have a mission to deliver a parcel to Hikaru's father in his job. But what should be a father-son day at work, becomes a battle against the Roborobo Gang and a murder of Crow Tengus.
9	ハックツで大発見!! (Hakkutsu de Daihakken!!)	Great Discovery through Excavation!!	February 1998
	A large number of Medals have been excavated from the city ruins. In order to find something valuable for himself, Hikaru went to the place, where he finds Dr. Medarot looking for a Kabuto Medal. Trying to steal the Medals already got by him, the Roborobo Gang sent A-Burage and A-Gedama to attack them and Metabee. Rokusho joins the fight, helping them to hold the gang. Later, something odd happens when Metabee contacts a fossilized entity in the ruins, making his Medal to evolve.
10	オンセンで大激闘!! (Onsen de Daigekitō!!)	Fierce Battle at the Hot Springs!!	March 1998
	While everyone enjoys the Hot Spring time, Rokusho is tormented by lost memories. Helped by a kid during this difficult time, he decides help the kid back, fighting the Roborobo Gang, who took his family business. Later, a speaking parrot finds Rokusho claiming for help.
11	ロクショウの過去 (Rokusho no Kako)	Rokusho's Past	April 1998
	Barton, the bird from last chapter, reminds Rokusho about his past, when he was called Yohaku and lived together with Dr. Fushihara. In a dramatic battle against Roborobo Gang's Red Matador, Rokusho evolves his Medal, defeating the enemy and finding closure about his past.
12	ウチュウは遠かった! (Uchuu wa Tookatta!)	Space was Far Away!	May 1998
	The kids spend the day in the Shinobi Park, when a new Robottle Watch Satellite will be launched. Trying to protect the mission from another attack from the Roborobo Gang, Metabee goes to space.

Medarot Volume 03

Memory Disc	Original Title	Translated Title	Original Release Date
13	メタビー反乱? (Metabī Hanran?)	Metabee's Rebellion?	June 1998
	colspan="4"	An impostor Metabee attacks another Medarots in the town while looking for Rokusho. It is in fact another plot from Roborobo Gang, using a Magical Pierrot to tricky everyone.
14	アッというまに本大会! (Atto iu ma ni Hontai-kai!)	The Main Tournament is here!	July 1998
	Hikaru receives a new Medarotch as a prize for winning the city tournament months earlier and an invitation to be Japan's representative in the World Robottle Cup. With Metabee, Rokusho, and Alumi, he arrives at the stadium and is drawn to fight against Harvest, the UK representative, in his first Robottle. Hikaru is able to win and go to the next phase. At the same time, the US representative, Joe Suihan, also wins his first match against the Spain team.
15	ニカイ戦は大激セン!! (Nikaisen wa Daigeki Sen!!)	The Second Match is a Fierce Battle!!	August 1998
	The battle between Team Japan and Team US begins. With his trio of Teepees, a Medarot built by his family's company, Joe starts the battle with all he has, severely damaging Metabee's Revolver. The fight proceeds with Alumi and one of the Teepee being knocked down. Being pushed by Hikaru, Joe hits Metabee's legs, making impossible to him to walk. Even so, he is able to knock down the second Teepee with his missiles, leaving the last one for Rokusho. The clash ends after a fierce battle between the last standing Medarots, with Rokusho's victory. Joe then shakes hands with Hikaru, as a sign of good game. Meanwhile, Tawarama, the Egypt representative, is knocked out by a mysterious figure, who is with two Roborobo Gang members.
16	ケッショウは大激乱!? (Kesshou wa Daigekiran!?)	Chaos in the Finals !?	September 1998
	Tawarama is hospitalized due to the attack she received another day, making her unable to compete in the World Cup. That accelerates the battles and put Hikaru in the finals against the current World Champion, Taiyo, from the Select Corps. Before the fight begins, a wrapped in bandages Tawarama shows up in the arena, accusing Taiyo be his aggressor and be involved with the Roborobo Gang. Confirming her accusations, Taiyo shows his real intentions and send an army of Tank Soldiers and CoffinBats to attack people in the stadium. A rampage battle begins between his Medarots and the representative ones, who are aimed to defend people from the villains. While the fight proceeds, a military vehicle invaded the place, letting out the Beast Master. Taiyo explains this Medarot contains Rokusho's Slough System and a Kabuto Medal with all data from previous Metabee's Robottles, turning him the ultimate weapon. Taiyo then orders Beast Master to destroy the place, and seeing the Medarot is aiming to blast Hikaru, Metabee runs to save his friend, being obliterated as consequence.
17	メダルのなおし方 (Medaru no Naoshikata)	How to Fix Medals	October 1998
	The chapter begins with a flashback from Roswell, US, in 1947, when a boy contacts aliens from space. In the present time, three months after the rampage in the World Cup, the Roborobo Gang took the Select Corp building in an Island, spreading chaos through the city. For many months, they sold artificial Medals to the people, that are now being controlled by signals coming from the building's antenna. Natural Medals found in the ruins are not affected though. Among the non-affected Medarots are Samurai and Rokusho, who keep fighting the mind-controlled Medarots without rest. Meanwhile, Hikaru wokes up from a coma since the World Cup and runs into direction to Medarot Corp. to look for Metabee. There, he meets Nae, Dr. Medarot grand-daughter, and Dr. Medarot himself. They spoke to him saying that Metabee's body is possible to recover, but his shattered Medal no, as far as he know. However, it seems the kids in the town are tirelessly trying to find a way to bring Metabee back. The doctor then says that playing with the death is something maybe too far for kids to deal with. Later though, a sleepless Yuuki Nimousaku called them saying they may find a way to bring Metabee back, based on an old legend involving the ruins where the first Medals were found.
18	イセキのナゾ!! (Iseki no Nazo!!)	The Mystery of the Ruins!!	November 1998
	Following Yuuki's research, Hikaru brings all his friend's natural Medal Medarots to the ruins, placing Metabee's broken Medal at the center. All the Medals then starts to resonate with each other and a huge spaceship appears. A duo of Aliens then start to talk to Metabee's soul, asking him if he wants to live again, to which he responds yes. Rollstar and Hikaru however are terrified by the aliens, and the Medarot attacks then, but one of them is able to copy his form and counter-attack with the same attack. The other alien takes Hikaru's form, but noticing a communication will not be possible, they decided to erase their memories (with a device similar to the ones used in Men in Black movies). Hikaru then wakes up in the Medarot Corp with Nae and Dr. Medarot, and Metabee's medal fully restored.
19	ギャクショウのメタビー (Gyakushou no Metabī)	Metabee's Counter-Attack	December 1998
	Rokusho and the other Medarots are finally able to eliminate the school invaders. He decided to go to Dr. Medarot to be repaired, arriving at the moment when Metabee is brought back. After a touching moment between him and Hikaru, Dr. Medarot says to all kids that it is time to stop Roborobo Gang. He plans to attack the Island where they are, with new Medarot models able to change - Landmotor, LadyJet and Blue Submarine - covering the gang by land, air and sea. Hikaru and Kirara manage to enter the Island by land, being confronted by the gang. A full of rage Rokusho then says that he will take care of the Roborobos and the kids must moving forward to the building direction. The gang try to stop them, but Rokusho launches a violent attack against the villains, calling them 'weak' and destroying them one by one. Damaged due the battle, he eventually is taking down by a endless army of vicious Medarots. Hikaru and Kirara are able to reach the building, but Dr. Medarot sees in the news that the government decided to blast a laser from the satellites in the sky to stop the signal. Incapable to communicate with them because of the strange radio signals, he can only waits that Hikaru breaks the signal and leave before the laser destroys the building.
20	キョウイの兵器!! (Kyōi no Heiki!!)	The Fearsome Weapon!!	January 1999
	Hikaru and Kirara reachs the top of the building and start a fight against Taiyo and his army of Medarots. Meanwhile, the troop of Nin-Ninjas equipped with the blasters are aiming into the building and when they are close to shot, a huge blast coming from the building destroys all of them. It is Beast Master, followed by Blackmail and Heal Angel. The battle is difficult, since every damage Blackmail suffers, it is immediately healed by Heal Angel. Hikaru notices Beast Master is in pain and somehow is now connected to the building infrastructure. During the battle, Blackmail hits the antenna, breaking it and somehow inflicting pain Beast Master, who counter-attacks "eating" Blackmail, by Taiyo's despair.
21	ファイナルロボトル!! (Fainaru Robotoru!!)	The Final Robottle!!	February 1999
	Beast Master is out of control, destroying Heal Angel and other Roborobo Medarots, also taking down Landmotor and Alumi. Hikaru freezes, affraid to lose Metabee again, but he is decided to fight anyway. After a tough battle, Metabee is severely damaged and cornered by Beast Master. Everything seems lost, until Rokusho appears in a surprise attack, cutting Beast Master's connection to the building, making him unable to move. A self-destruction device is activated and the whole building will explode. A powerless Beast Master crawls into Taiyo's direction asking for help, being actually kicked by his master, who demands him to keep fighting. He blasts a new beam into Metabee's direction but it was useless, since hits no damage at all. Desperate, Taiyo takes a gun himself and start to shot the kids and their Medarots, missing all the shoots. With the imminent collapse of the building, all kids run away with their Medarots to escape. Taiyo tries to run as well, but it is almost hit by a piece of concrete, being saved by Beast Master at the final moment. The building collapses and a beam of light from the skies is see by the people outside. Later, we see that the Roborobo Gang was arrested by the Chick Seller, who is in fact a special agent working for the Japanese government. Nor Hikaru or Kirara can remember how they leave the building, since they were in fact saved by the aliens from the previous chapters. In a epilogue, we see the news saying that all the kids and Medarots were rescued from the island, but Beast Master was never found. The story ends with Hikaru and Metabee playing around together in the park, coming back for their old and innocent routine.

Influence on the anime

The manga was never adapted into anime. However, Hikaru's story still have influence on the first series.

The anime's initial episodes are very similar to the first chapter of this manga, regarding the themes and the challenges faced.

• The scene of Metabee shooting Ikki at the end of Episode 1 also happens between Metabee and Hikaru in Memory Disc 1 in the manga
• The Roborobo Gang being introduced as aliens in Memory Disc 2 is part of the plot of episode 6
• The main plot of Memory Disc 3, with Metabee fighting against the school trio with a CAT, DOG and TOT model is also reproduced in episode 2
• The battle between Metabee and Megaphant in the begin of Memory Disc 3 is part of the main plot of episode 3
• The beach thematic, Metabee struggles fighting in the water against Yuchitang in Memory Disc 4 is part of the main plot of episode 5
• The city tournment plot presented in Memory Disc 5 are similar to the main plot of episodes 10 and 11 of the anime
• Part of Rokusho's past presented in Memory Disc 11 is very similar to the one presented in episode 12
• The scene of a Roborobo Gang hiting Mr. Uruchi and being penalized by the satellite in Memory Disc 2 and the visit to the Shinobi park in Memory Disc 12 are part of the plot in episode 14

At the same time, the anime's final episodes have some influence from the original manga as well, since relies on Hikaru's past, never focused on the anime

• Team Japan being formed by Metabee, a fighting-type Medarot (Rokusho in the manga and Smilododan in the anime) and a support Medarot (always Sailor-Multi in the manga) happen in both media.
• Roborobo Gang being infiltrated and manipulating the World Robottle Cup is also present in both media, while in the manga they are part of the Select Corps and in the anime, part of the World Medarot Association.
• Joe Shihaw and Patra Tawarama are both finalists in the World Cup in both media, even though in different ages.

The whole plot of Medarots being descendants of an alien race seems inspired by Metabee contact with Mother entity.

Also, Ikki's Metabee in the anime seems a mix of Hikaru's Metabee, who is more short-tempered, and Manga's Ikki's Metabee, who is more over-confidence and sometimes even naive.

Western Release

The manga was published on France between January and April 2003 by Pika Edition in 3 volumes, as the Japanese release.

Image gallery

Japanese Release:

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  Medarot Revised Edition: Hikaru's Chapters #1 (2013)

Mangas View - Edit
Manga by Rin Horuma	Medarot 1 - Medarot 2 - Medarot 3 - Medarot 4 Medarot 5 - Medarot G - Meda 2043 - Medarot DS - Medarot 8 - Medarot Tepid
Mangas by Kenki Fujioka	Medarotter Rintarou! - Medarotter Rintarou! Medarot R - Medarot Navi
Others	Medacard Fighters - Fox Kids Annual 2004 - Medarot 7 - Medarot Girl's Mission - Medarot Reloaded