TV-Series
Description
Joe Shimamura, designated Cyborg 009, is a half-Japanese orphan abandoned as an infant on the steps of a Catholic church by his mother, who died soon after. He was raised by the church's priest but endured a lonely childhood marked by bullying over his mixed heritage and status. He befriended other orphans, though many vanished after entering foster care—disappearances later linked to the Black Ghost organization. The priest who raised him was secretly a part of this group, complicit in trafficking children for its experiments. When the priest tried to expose the organization, he was murdered and the church burned down. Joe was falsely accused of the crime and arrested. An accident during his transport allowed him to escape, leading to a police chase that ended with him leaping from a cliff into the sea. He was then captured by Black Ghost and subjected to cybernetic experimentation, becoming the final model in their 00 Cyborg line.
Awakened telepathically by Cyborg 001, Ivan Whisky, he was initially misled during his escape before joining the rebellion of the other eight cyborgs against Black Ghost, organized by the defecting scientist Dr. Gilmore. This group became his new family, and he assumed a leadership role. His adventures brought him face to face with his past, including the death of the priest and the mystery of his biological mother, allowing him to find closure.
He appears as an attractive young man of average height and slender build, chronologically about 18 years old, with dark brown, windswept hair and red eyes, one of which is often covered by his bangs. His standard outfit is a red, double-breasted military uniform with a black belt, holster, and knee-high boots. In some alternate timelines, such as the "Conclusion: GOD'S WAR" OVA, his uniform is dark blue and includes a red scarf.
His personality is heroic, compassionate, and idealistic. As the youngest and newest of the 00 cyborgs, he believes in the potential for redemption in his enemies and feels deep sympathy for fellow cyborgs, often appealing to their morality. He has a self-sacrificing nature, frequently taking on burdens alone to protect others—a trait possibly rooted in the loss of his childhood loved ones. This can lead to conflict when he neglects his teammates' emotional needs while focused on helping outsiders. He is dedicated to defeating Black Ghost, whom he blames for the tragedies in his life, but remains rational and willing to fight when necessary to protect the innocent or his friends.
His cyborg body is the most advanced of the 00 Cyborgs, incorporating and enhancing elements from previous models. He possesses the enhanced strength and durability of Cyborg 005, Geronimo Jr., including iron skin that grants significant damage resistance. He can breathe underwater, an ability from Cyborg 008, Pyunma. His signature power is Acceleration Mode, activated by a switch in his back molar, which allows him to move at superhuman speeds up to Mach 5, making the world around him appear nearly stationary. A major limitation prevents him from touching normal humans or living creatures in this state, as the air friction and speed would cause severe harm or death. In the "Conclusion: GOD'S WAR" OVA, his abilities were enhanced by Ivan Whisky, granting him faster-than-light movement and the power to accelerate the molecules of objects on contact, causing them to explode. He is also skilled with a multi-mode weapon called the Supergun, featuring settings such as a blue ray gun, gold blaster, magnum shot, freeze ray, sleep ray, and needle gun.
His relationships with the other cyborgs are significant. He shares a strong, friendly bond with Cyborg 004, Albert Heinrich, who often offers him comfort and understanding. His interactions with Cyborg 002, Jet Link, are less detailed but generally positive within the team. His relationship with Cyborg 003, Françoise Arnoul, includes romantic elements in some adaptations, though the 2001 anime series only implies these feelings due to narrative constraints.
Across various media, his core story follows his evolution from a reluctant cyborg into a determined leader who battles global threats like Black Ghost and others, often operating outside the law despite his heroic actions. He remains an iconic figure within the franchise, appearing in numerous adaptations.
Awakened telepathically by Cyborg 001, Ivan Whisky, he was initially misled during his escape before joining the rebellion of the other eight cyborgs against Black Ghost, organized by the defecting scientist Dr. Gilmore. This group became his new family, and he assumed a leadership role. His adventures brought him face to face with his past, including the death of the priest and the mystery of his biological mother, allowing him to find closure.
He appears as an attractive young man of average height and slender build, chronologically about 18 years old, with dark brown, windswept hair and red eyes, one of which is often covered by his bangs. His standard outfit is a red, double-breasted military uniform with a black belt, holster, and knee-high boots. In some alternate timelines, such as the "Conclusion: GOD'S WAR" OVA, his uniform is dark blue and includes a red scarf.
His personality is heroic, compassionate, and idealistic. As the youngest and newest of the 00 cyborgs, he believes in the potential for redemption in his enemies and feels deep sympathy for fellow cyborgs, often appealing to their morality. He has a self-sacrificing nature, frequently taking on burdens alone to protect others—a trait possibly rooted in the loss of his childhood loved ones. This can lead to conflict when he neglects his teammates' emotional needs while focused on helping outsiders. He is dedicated to defeating Black Ghost, whom he blames for the tragedies in his life, but remains rational and willing to fight when necessary to protect the innocent or his friends.
His cyborg body is the most advanced of the 00 Cyborgs, incorporating and enhancing elements from previous models. He possesses the enhanced strength and durability of Cyborg 005, Geronimo Jr., including iron skin that grants significant damage resistance. He can breathe underwater, an ability from Cyborg 008, Pyunma. His signature power is Acceleration Mode, activated by a switch in his back molar, which allows him to move at superhuman speeds up to Mach 5, making the world around him appear nearly stationary. A major limitation prevents him from touching normal humans or living creatures in this state, as the air friction and speed would cause severe harm or death. In the "Conclusion: GOD'S WAR" OVA, his abilities were enhanced by Ivan Whisky, granting him faster-than-light movement and the power to accelerate the molecules of objects on contact, causing them to explode. He is also skilled with a multi-mode weapon called the Supergun, featuring settings such as a blue ray gun, gold blaster, magnum shot, freeze ray, sleep ray, and needle gun.
His relationships with the other cyborgs are significant. He shares a strong, friendly bond with Cyborg 004, Albert Heinrich, who often offers him comfort and understanding. His interactions with Cyborg 002, Jet Link, are less detailed but generally positive within the team. His relationship with Cyborg 003, Françoise Arnoul, includes romantic elements in some adaptations, though the 2001 anime series only implies these feelings due to narrative constraints.
Across various media, his core story follows his evolution from a reluctant cyborg into a determined leader who battles global threats like Black Ghost and others, often operating outside the law despite his heroic actions. He remains an iconic figure within the franchise, appearing in numerous adaptations.