Getter Robo

Chronologically the first installment in the franchise, Getter Robo was published fifteen years prior to the subsequent manga series and is credited with pioneering the concept of the transforming and combining robot. Millions of years ago, the sudden arrival of "Getter Rays" on Earth drove the dinosaurs deep underground. After evolving into sentient beings, they grew bitter and vengeful toward the humans who replaced them on the surface, eventually plotting an attack on humanity. Standing against this threat is Getter Robo, a machine constructed by Professor Saotome and powered by the same mysterious Getter Rays. The mecha is piloted by three strong-willed young men: the violent martial artist Nagare Ryoma, the highly intelligent yet psychopathic revolutionary Jin Hayato, and the hot-blooded judo master Tomoe Musashi. Each pilot controls a specially designed combat jet that can combine with the others in different configurations to form three distinct giant robots: the airborne, axe-wielding Getter-1; the quick, drill-equipped Getter-2; and the tough, tank-like Getter-3.