Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD (1990) - Rick Gianasi, Susan Byun, Bill Weeden, Brick Bronsky

[AlbertV]

1990 saw the release of Troma's "accidental Oriental superhero" as Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD was unleashed onto the world. Detective Harry Griswold (Rick Gianasi), on an assignment to watch a Japanese Kabuki show, finds himself endowed with some newfound powers after the head Kabuki star (and the possessor of the powers) is shot by an evil organization led by Reginald Stuart (Bill Weeden). The lead star's granddaughter Lotus (Susan Byun) warns Harry of a prophecy and helps Harry hone and master his skills as the new hero Kabukiman.

So where did this idea come from?

During production of The Toxic Avenger Part II in Japan, Lloyd Kaufman was excited to work with Tetsu Fujimaru of GAGA Communications and Fujimaru came up with the idea of having a Japanese superhero for the Troma Team. One of the sub-characters in the Toxic sequel was called "Kabuki Boy" so Kaufman came up with the character of Kabukiman and they had received financing from Namco Ltd., known more for a video game company responsible for Tekken and Soul Caliber.

Fujimaru and Namco had wanted the character to appeal to families and begged Kaufman to make the film family-friendly. But, Kaufman couldn't resist but to add some of his trademark Troma-tic chaos in the film. Eventually, all parties came to a compromise and there are actually two versions of the film: the theatrical R-rated version and a cleaner PG-13 version, which takes out nudity and some graphic violence.

In the documentary Greetings from Tromaville, Kaufman admitted he cast Bill Weeden in the central villain role of Reginald Stuart/The Evil One after seeing his resemblance to one of Kaufman's most vocal opponents at the time, the late MPAA chief Jack Valenti. The old man who says in Kabukiman's first fight scene "You need a knife and fork" is Stanley Kaufman, Lloyd Kaufman's father.

Rick Gianasi after his primary full transformation as Kabukiman.

The film would launch both a proposed animated series that didn't happen with only a near three-minute introduction; as well as a sequel, Sgt. Kabukiman, LAPD, which didn't happen either.

Original Troma-tic Trailer

The character would appear again, as played by Paul Kyrmse, in Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV in 2000. Like David Mattey's Toxie/Noxie, Kyrmse played both Sgt. Kabukiman and Evil Kabukiman.