TV-Series
Description
Joe Raibaru is an eighteen-year-old former soldier known by the nickname Ace Joe. Standing 178 centimeters tall and weighing 65 kilograms with a November 4th birthday, he is a lone wolf who operates independently from any organization. A distinctive scar marks his right cheek, a permanent reminder of his life as a mercenary.
A master of both shooting and robot piloting, Joe was an ace pilot in the regular army's elite robot unit before deserting. His decision to leave the military was driven by a personal tragedy. As a child, he watched his father, Dr. Eiji Shishido, a scientist, be used and ultimately killed by malicious forces. This event shattered any belief he might have had in abstract concepts like justice. His worldview hardened into a simple, brutal creed: the only thing one can truly trust is one's own strength. He views those who champion justice as naive or foolish, and he pursues power above all else to ensure he is never victimized again.
True to his lone wolf nature, Joe Raibaru has a powerful ego and deeply resents taking orders from anyone. He is fiercely proud of his abilities as a warrior and lives by a strict personal code that values a fair, one-on-one fight above all. He will not hesitate to attack anyone who interferes with his duels, regardless of whether they are an enemy or an ally. While he appears cold and taciturn, he is not without a sense of honor or even compassion. He avoids cowardly tactics such as taking hostages or harming innocent civilians, and on several occasions he has shown a kinder side, such as saving a falling girl or feeding milk to a stray cat.
His primary role in the story is as the first and most significant rival to the protagonist, Maito Senpuji. Joe constantly challenges Maito, aiming to prove that his own power-based philosophy is superior to Maito's ideal of justice. For a significant portion of the narrative, he pilots a powerful robot named Flying Dragon, and later Goryu, to challenge Maito and the Brave Express team. His skills are such that he is the one who hands Maito his first complete and utter defeat.
The central relationship in his life is his rivalry with Maito Senpuji. This rivalry is intense and all-consuming for Joe, as defeating Maito represents the validation of his entire worldview. However, this relationship evolves significantly over the course of the story. Initially bitter enemies who clash on sight, they gradually develop a grudging respect for each other. This respect is cemented when Joe learns that the true mastermind behind his father's murder is Exev, a figure who is also Maito's greatest enemy. Realizing he was manipulated by Exev, Joe breaks away and ultimately joins forces with Maito and the Brave Express team. In the final battle, their relationship transforms from bitter rivals to trusted comrades fighting for a common goal, with Joe even sacrificing himself in a desperate attack to avenge his father. After being presumed dead, he is revealed to have survived, signaling a new, more peaceful chapter in his life.
His notable abilities include being recognized as the best pilot in the world of the series, with exceptional skill in both marksmanship and robot control. He is also a capable hand-to-hand combatant, a skill from his military days. He pilots powerful machines, first the Flying Dragon and later the Goryu, which he uses with lethal efficiency. His most defining ability, however, might be his relentless will and survivability, earning him the ironic nickname of an immortal man after he walks away from a seemingly certain suicidal attack.
A master of both shooting and robot piloting, Joe was an ace pilot in the regular army's elite robot unit before deserting. His decision to leave the military was driven by a personal tragedy. As a child, he watched his father, Dr. Eiji Shishido, a scientist, be used and ultimately killed by malicious forces. This event shattered any belief he might have had in abstract concepts like justice. His worldview hardened into a simple, brutal creed: the only thing one can truly trust is one's own strength. He views those who champion justice as naive or foolish, and he pursues power above all else to ensure he is never victimized again.
True to his lone wolf nature, Joe Raibaru has a powerful ego and deeply resents taking orders from anyone. He is fiercely proud of his abilities as a warrior and lives by a strict personal code that values a fair, one-on-one fight above all. He will not hesitate to attack anyone who interferes with his duels, regardless of whether they are an enemy or an ally. While he appears cold and taciturn, he is not without a sense of honor or even compassion. He avoids cowardly tactics such as taking hostages or harming innocent civilians, and on several occasions he has shown a kinder side, such as saving a falling girl or feeding milk to a stray cat.
His primary role in the story is as the first and most significant rival to the protagonist, Maito Senpuji. Joe constantly challenges Maito, aiming to prove that his own power-based philosophy is superior to Maito's ideal of justice. For a significant portion of the narrative, he pilots a powerful robot named Flying Dragon, and later Goryu, to challenge Maito and the Brave Express team. His skills are such that he is the one who hands Maito his first complete and utter defeat.
The central relationship in his life is his rivalry with Maito Senpuji. This rivalry is intense and all-consuming for Joe, as defeating Maito represents the validation of his entire worldview. However, this relationship evolves significantly over the course of the story. Initially bitter enemies who clash on sight, they gradually develop a grudging respect for each other. This respect is cemented when Joe learns that the true mastermind behind his father's murder is Exev, a figure who is also Maito's greatest enemy. Realizing he was manipulated by Exev, Joe breaks away and ultimately joins forces with Maito and the Brave Express team. In the final battle, their relationship transforms from bitter rivals to trusted comrades fighting for a common goal, with Joe even sacrificing himself in a desperate attack to avenge his father. After being presumed dead, he is revealed to have survived, signaling a new, more peaceful chapter in his life.
His notable abilities include being recognized as the best pilot in the world of the series, with exceptional skill in both marksmanship and robot control. He is also a capable hand-to-hand combatant, a skill from his military days. He pilots powerful machines, first the Flying Dragon and later the Goryu, which he uses with lethal efficiency. His most defining ability, however, might be his relentless will and survivability, earning him the ironic nickname of an immortal man after he walks away from a seemingly certain suicidal attack.