TV-Series
Description
Prince Heinel, alias Prince Zardoz in adaptations, serves as the secondary antagonist from the Boazanian Empire. He is the son of the disgraced crown prince La Gohl (or Baron Hrothgar) and Rosalia, making him nephew to Emperor Zu Zambajil. His hornless father, born into a society enslaving those without horns, was exposed as an impostor at his coronation, imprisoned, and escaped to Earth. Heinel's mother died in childbirth, leaving him orphaned.
Raised first by maternal grandparents, Heinel endured relentless bullying and societal scorn as "the traitor’s son," suffering physical attacks and public humiliation throughout his childhood. This forged deep-seated shame and a fierce drive to prove his loyalty to Boazania. Katherine Rii (Zandra) befriended him during this bleak period, forming a lifelong bond. Later, the Rii family took him in after his grandparents died. Despite his royal blood, Emperor Zambajil secretly despised Heinel as the true heir and groomed him as a pawn, assigning him to lead the Earth invasion while harboring the hidden hope he would perish.
Heinel's personality is a volatile blend of ruthlessness and concealed vulnerability. Initially crude, violent, and sadistic—ordering mass killings and harshly punishing subordinates—he gradually reveals honorable traits. He values loyalty, commends deserving soldiers, and showed mercy to General Bergan after an assassination attempt. Yet he despises traitors, orchestrating Zuhl’s execution for betrayal. His fierce pride stems from Boazanian nationalism and military prowess; he graduated top cadet from the Boazanian Institute of Military Sciences and Warfare. Superstitious elements surface through rituals like bird sacrifices and prayers to Boazanian deities.
Leading the Earth invasion with aides Katherine/Zandra, Jangal/Draco, and Zuhl, Heinel deployed biomechanical "Beast Fighters" (or "Beast Knights") to conquer humanity. His strategies evolved from brute force to cunning plots, including infiltrating Camp Big Falcon under the alias "Manuel Nobaz." During this mission, he befriended the Armstrong/Goh siblings, gathering intelligence before betraying and killing accompanying personnel. His dynamic with Kenichi/Steve Armstrong shifted from arch-enemy to worthy opponent, marked by recurring sword duels showcasing Heinel's combat skill.
A pivotal revelation redefined his arc: Heinel discovered Kenichi, Daijiro, and Hiyoshi were his half-brothers, sons of his father and an Earth woman. This forced him to confront the injustice of Boazania’s caste system and his father’s true motive—liberating the hornless. In the anime climax, he saved Kenichi from a grenade blast, shielding him with his body. Refusing rescue as Boazania collapsed, he chose to die in the flames, tearfully acknowledging Kentaro Goh as his father with his final word: "Dad…!" The live-action adaptation *Voltes V: Legacy* alters his death; Zardoz is fatally struck by debris and begs Ned Armstrong for forgiveness.
His design features shoulder-length ginger or blonde hair, pale skin (darker in adaptations), brown eyes, and two prominent horns. He wears a dark blue mink coat with white cuffs, a red bodysuit adorned with a star emblem, red pants, boots, and a white belt. The live-action version recreates his iconic sword, emphasizing its significance in duels.
Raised first by maternal grandparents, Heinel endured relentless bullying and societal scorn as "the traitor’s son," suffering physical attacks and public humiliation throughout his childhood. This forged deep-seated shame and a fierce drive to prove his loyalty to Boazania. Katherine Rii (Zandra) befriended him during this bleak period, forming a lifelong bond. Later, the Rii family took him in after his grandparents died. Despite his royal blood, Emperor Zambajil secretly despised Heinel as the true heir and groomed him as a pawn, assigning him to lead the Earth invasion while harboring the hidden hope he would perish.
Heinel's personality is a volatile blend of ruthlessness and concealed vulnerability. Initially crude, violent, and sadistic—ordering mass killings and harshly punishing subordinates—he gradually reveals honorable traits. He values loyalty, commends deserving soldiers, and showed mercy to General Bergan after an assassination attempt. Yet he despises traitors, orchestrating Zuhl’s execution for betrayal. His fierce pride stems from Boazanian nationalism and military prowess; he graduated top cadet from the Boazanian Institute of Military Sciences and Warfare. Superstitious elements surface through rituals like bird sacrifices and prayers to Boazanian deities.
Leading the Earth invasion with aides Katherine/Zandra, Jangal/Draco, and Zuhl, Heinel deployed biomechanical "Beast Fighters" (or "Beast Knights") to conquer humanity. His strategies evolved from brute force to cunning plots, including infiltrating Camp Big Falcon under the alias "Manuel Nobaz." During this mission, he befriended the Armstrong/Goh siblings, gathering intelligence before betraying and killing accompanying personnel. His dynamic with Kenichi/Steve Armstrong shifted from arch-enemy to worthy opponent, marked by recurring sword duels showcasing Heinel's combat skill.
A pivotal revelation redefined his arc: Heinel discovered Kenichi, Daijiro, and Hiyoshi were his half-brothers, sons of his father and an Earth woman. This forced him to confront the injustice of Boazania’s caste system and his father’s true motive—liberating the hornless. In the anime climax, he saved Kenichi from a grenade blast, shielding him with his body. Refusing rescue as Boazania collapsed, he chose to die in the flames, tearfully acknowledging Kentaro Goh as his father with his final word: "Dad…!" The live-action adaptation *Voltes V: Legacy* alters his death; Zardoz is fatally struck by debris and begs Ned Armstrong for forgiveness.
His design features shoulder-length ginger or blonde hair, pale skin (darker in adaptations), brown eyes, and two prominent horns. He wears a dark blue mink coat with white cuffs, a red bodysuit adorned with a star emblem, red pants, boots, and a white belt. The live-action version recreates his iconic sword, emphasizing its significance in duels.