#I have NO idea if TBS will ever become a tv show and I don't know how it will tell the story if it does

[thelaurenshippen]

Hello ! I just listened to The Bright Sessions and I loved it ! It was my first podcast ever and I want to thank you for creating this world and thoses characters (although I do NOT thank you for the angst). I'm currently reading "The Infinite Noise" and I was wondering would you ever consider writing a book on Owen and Joan past ? He is my favorite character and I need more of him ! (and them !) And I think that you kind of owe it to us after what you did in The AM Archives (as compensation for the emotional damage ). Thank you again for one of my new favorite things !

hello!!!! oh my gosh, I'm so glad you found TBS (and that it was your first podcast!) and that you're reading TIN!!!

so, yes, I HAVE considered this actually! several times - the original concept for writing TBS books was writing a joan prequel but then I wanted to write a lurrrvvvv story (with a happy ending). and you're right, I do owe you for what I did in TAMA - owen is one of my fave characters too tbh.

that said, I don't think this book will ever come to be. part of why I abandoned it in favor of TIN is that....I don't know how to explain it, the story didn't really work that well as a book! that's not to say I'll never write it or I'll never tell the joan/owen story in some other medium but....for now, I'm finished with the TBS universe and don't see myself returning to it in the near future. I've told the stories there I feel really strongly about telling. but I highly encourage folks to write fic about it, and there is probably some joan/owen stuff on ao3 already!

[chernobog13]

National Kid was a Japanese TV superhero series commissioned in 1960 by NET (now TV Asahi) to compete against the mega-popular Moonlight Mask (Gekko Kamen) on KRTV (now TBS).

Produced in black-and-white by Toei, the show was sponsored by Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic) to promote their National brand of products. National Kid was Japanese TV's first flying superhero, and was expensive to produce, but Matsushita was willing to spend whatever money was necessary.

National Kid was able to fly and had super-strength, and carried an "Eroruya Ray Gun." The gun was identical to a flashlight sold by National that had a pistol-type grip. The hero was summoned in times of need on a "magic radio," which was merely a National radio transmitter.

The problem with the series being shot in black-and-white is that no one seemed to have a clear idea on the colors of National Kid's costume, leading to numerous coloring variations (see the two pictures above).

The show soon faded to relative obscurity in Japan, but gained cult status in Brazil when it was broadcast there in 1964. The series was revived in Brazil in the 1990s to even more acclaim, and the hero remains extremely popular there.

Since then, a new color scheme (see above) seems to have become settled upon as the "official" colors of National Kid. Whether this is from contact with the Toei production offices, or just someone deciding these are the colors they like, I don't know. I do know that officially licensed National Kid adult and childrens' costumes have been released in the same colors. Good to know if I ever decide to cosplay this guy.

BTW, episodes of the series are now available on the Toei Tokusatsu Youtube channel.