Skull/Black Ghost - called Black Ghost in certain versions and also known as Skarle or Sekar, is the tyrannical leader of an evil organization called Black Ghost, who manipulate world events from the shadows in order to profit off selling weapons and cyborgs in endless wars. His true identity is not known because he wears a skull-shaped mask and full-body suit that resembles a skeleton. A possible origin for him exists in the 2007 anime adaptation of The
Skull Man in which main character Hayato is revived and takes up an appearance almost exactly like that of Skull. Hayato is also implied to be Joe Shimamura's father, though this is never confirmed. Skull is seemingly defeated when the 00 cyborgs enter a Black Ghost base they originally believe is Black Ghost's HQ and set explosives, leaving 009 and Skull to fight one-on-one. It is revealed that Skull is also a cyborg with far greater abilities to the 00 cyborgs, soundly defeating 009 using his superior Acceleration Mode. Only a last-ditch effort managed to save the nine cyborgs as Skull plummeted to his apparent death. Skull later returns, though is not known how he survived the explosion. In a battle with 009, it is shown that the only remaining organic part of Skull's body is his brain, which is implanted in his chest cavity. Soon after, it is revealed that he is not the true leader of Black Ghost, but is subordinate to three brains who are the apparent true leaders. Although the brains were destroyed in the end, they claim to be only one "cell" of the Black Ghost organization and that Black Ghost will exist as long there is evil in men's hearts.
Van Vogt Alternately known as Claus van Bogoot in the English dub of the 2001 series, Van Vogt is a top executive of Black Ghost who uses the organization's power to enslave the Pu'Awak people in the underground Yomi Kingdom. He is a powerful cyborg with many advanced abilities, including Acceleration Mode, the ability to absorb and channel energy, extendable limbs, and an invisibility suit. He is a sadistic man who delights in suffering, seeing human lives as disposable assets. He kidnaps and converts 009's childhood friends into cyborg assassins, implanting a bomb in each one that he quickly detonates the moment they hesitate in trying to kill 009.
Cyborg Assassins •
Cyborg 0010 +/- ~ Twin brothers transformed into cyborgs. They are the first assassin cyborgs sent after the heroes. They both possess the ability to channel lightning and are equipped with Acceleration Mode modules that rival 009's own. Their weakness lies in their opposite polarities: one brother being positive (0010+), the other negative (0010-): should they come into contact, they would annihilate each other. It is this which leads to their eventual downfall, an event caused by 001 and 009. Their ability to channel electricity shorts out if they are doused in water. However, they may still use their electrical attacks as long as they work in tandem and one remains dry. •
Cyborg 0011 - A cyborg in the form of an enormous black, spider-like machine. The machine contains the brain of an ordinary man who was kidnapped by Black Ghost and was promised that he would be returned to his human body and reunited with his family if he can defeat the 00-Number Cyborgs. After learning this, 004 tries to convince him to change sides and almost succeeds, but after 0011 falls into the sea and attempts to rebel against Black Ghost, his machine body's programming takes over and focuses only on defeating the cyborgs. He fires lasers and sticky goop from holes in his sides and he can release a toxic rain cloud that poisons even cyborgs. He is defeated by 004, who manages to shoot him in his weak spot reluctantly. •
Cyborg 0012 - A beautiful woman who is actually a cyborg mansion. She was once a rich, noble-born foreigner who lived, and eventually died, waiting for her husband, who died in World War I. Eventually, she is found by Black Ghost and her abandoned mansion is converted into a cyborg deathtrap with her original body and brain linked to the mansion's systems via a cryogenic pod. She controls everything in the house and can use a hologram of her original body to communicate with her victims. 007 is at first smitten with her and even after learning she is a killer cyborg, still holds sympathy for her and tries to help her, only to be shunned. She is defeated by 004, 007, and 009. •
Cyborg 0013 - A normally gentle and kind-hearted cyborg in the shape of a pudgy boy in his mid-to-late teens. Even though he works for Black Ghost, he kills many of the assassins who are supposed to assist him, refuses to kill an old friend of Dr. Gilmore who has been taken hostage, and even helps 009 to save a little girl caught in the crossfire. His cyborg abilities include telepathy and an Acceleration Mode module that is more advanced than 009's. His primary ability, however, is his psychic link to a giant robot that can become invisible. After he is defeated by 009, 0013 decides to kill himself by destroying the robot, believing that was the only way to escape from Black Ghost's control. Before he dies, he asks what 009's real name is; 009 answers and asks the same to 0013, but 0013 dies before he can answer. 009 keeps the wooden rabbit figurine 0013 gives him as a memento. •
Cyborg -004 - Appearing exclusively in the 2001 series, -004 is a completely robotic duplicate of 004 presumably built by Black Ghost and equipped with the same weaponry as 004 as well as a predictive program that can anticipate 004's moves. -004 is defeated when it launches a missile that nearly strikes a bird's nest. The robot's program anticipates that 004 would simply dodge the missile, but he instead moves to save the bird's nest, confusing -004 and leaving it open to attack and ultimately defeat. •
Fake Gilmore - A robotic duplicate of Dr. Gilmore that periodically harasses 004 during the battle with his robotic duplicate. The fake Gilmore tries to make 004 doubt himself by claiming he is nothing more than a machine and living weapon, but 004 easily deduces it isn't the real Gilmore by insisting he would never say those things. •
Shinichi, Masaru, and Mary - Joe's childhood friends from his days at the orphanage, they reunite with him as the 00 Cyborgs are investigating Black Ghost returning. In truth, Van Vogt has forcefully turned them into cyborg assassins meant to defeat 009, also having bombs implanted in their bodies to force their obedience. Shinichi's chest and arms are lined with holes containing machine guns. Masaru has several large tusks jutting from his shoulders and torso that can grab and crush. Mary's body has been converted into a quadrupedal, catlike form and she can call upon cyborg beasts with her howls.
Humans • - 001's father, an ex-brain surgeon who went mad after not being able to nurse his seriously ill child back to health, and gave him up to Black Ghost. When the Psychic Assassins came, he was retired, old, and very, very wrinkled; he pretended to sympathize with their plea, but erases their memories and makes them Black Ghost's puppets, determined to get 001 back and settle his old scores with his former rival, Isaac Gilmore. he is ultimately killed by Phil, who uses his powers to give him a heart attack; still, he manages to make peace with Ivan just before dying. He was renamed
Dr. Gamo Asimov in the Sony Pictures English dub. • - He is the man who created the Greek God Cyborgs and a former Black Ghost scientist. In the manga, he works with Dr. Uranus, another black Ghost scientist, and is far more interested in destroying the rebels and Gilmore. While Uranus tries to peacefully sort things out with Gilmore, hoping that he will simply give up his cyborgs or, later on, make peace with the Greek god cyborgs, Dr. Gaia planned to use sneaky maneuvers and tactics to attack Gilmore and the 00-team when they were not expecting it. In the anime, he is about the same, minus his rivalry with Uranus and seems to have a grudge against Gilmore, as they thought differently and contested over whether a cyborg's memory should be wiped of the human memories or not. Later on, he killed Artemis for helping 009 and is killed by Apollo when he finds out, shortly after going mad with the power of his overloading machine.
Cyborg Men A group of mass-produced cyborg men who help try to spark a war in 008's home country. They wear black suits, which also cover their face with red goggles and an air tube which they appear to need for survival. They usually ride in black tanks. Their leader is Number 1, who is 008's old friend, Mamado. He rides a black saucer with laser shooting tentacles which can detach as robotic snakes. He appears to have lost his good heart after the brainwashing he was put through, so he is defeated by a very reluctant 008 after he fails to convince him. More advanced Cyborg Men are later seen as Van Vogt's footsoldiers.
Mythos Cyborgs Beings claiming to be Greek gods who have come to Earth to destroy it, so they may end war and create a more peaceful world. In actuality, they are highly advanced cyborgs created by Dr. Gaia who are unaware of their true nature because of extensive memory alteration. Most of them dress in white Greek clothes with capes and live on a far away island just off the coast of Greece. • - The arrogant and destructive leader of the group, modeled after the Greek god of the sun. He is the younger brother to Artemis and prefers destruction, but is often swayed to a different course of action by his more compassionate sister, whom he dearly loves. He has flaming red hair, his body glows in battle and he rides in a chariot led by two
Pegasi. He has the power to create powerful fire attacks, has the power of acceleration, can throw piercing sun-shaped discs from his belt that create blinding light and cause earthquakes and can fire lasers from his fingers. He dies during the island's destruction, but not before killing Gaia out of revenge for his sister's death. • - A powerful fighter who serves as Apollo's left hand man and is completely devoted to him. He has a bull's head, blue eyes, a strange mark on his forehead and horns that can fire powerful lightning bolts. He is killed in the destruction of the island. • - Another powerful fighter who serves as Apollo's right-hand man. He is a humanoid panther with yellow eyes who carries a long sword and a shield capable of firing powerful energy blasts. He also has an acceleration mode which is activated by the balancers on his shoes. He is defeated by 009 with some help from Pan. • - A giant cyborg based on the god of the sea who will destroy anyone in his underwater domain. He is always seen in water and resembles a massive
merman with a white beard and fins behind his ears. He appears to be able to stay underwater indefinitely and even control it. He is killed in the destruction of the island. • - A cyborg modeled after the queen of the gods and goddess of women who distrusts Artemis's change of heart and views it as a weakness. She has long golden hair in an enormous bun, wears a black tiara, has purple skin, and her eyes glow when she uses her powers. She is a psychic like 001. She is killed in the early stages of the destruction, after a psychic duel with 001. • - Apollo's beautiful older sister modeled after the goddess of the hunt. She appears to have doubts about killing off the world, although she will do what her duty requires. She is often the voice of reason and dislikes unnecessary violence. Her two companions are Atlas and Pan. She has long, dark blue flowing hair of which a single large lock always covers one of her eyes, with a gold band around her head. She carries a bow which can create powerful energy arrows. She is mortally wounded by Dr. Gaia for helping 009 and being compassionate, but lives long enough to stop Apollo from killing 009 and dies in his arms after warning him about Gaia's treachery. • - A constant companion of Artemis, he is a large, green robot with red eyes who towers over all and possesses amazing strength. He is always fighting with Pan over the affection of Artemis. Aside from his strength, he can fire missiles from his chest, shoulders and abdomen. After his mistress's death, he is killed in the destruction of the island. • - A small childlike being who is another constant companion of Artemis, for whom he shares great affection. He can not speak but often whimpers and moans. He later grows an affection for 003 when she bandages him up, even helping save her from Achilles. He looks like a young
satyr with orange hair and a single horn on his head. He has no special abilities. He is killed in the destruction of the island. • - A strange, anthropomorphic hippo in a red ruff and tutu who is unable to speak and appears to serve no purpose. He seems to lack special abilities of any kind and is cowardly.
The Mutant Warriors In the 2001 anime, there is an alternate universe where Black Ghost has won the war against the cyborgs, and the world is in perpetual war. Humans have developed psychic powers of a different variety for self-defense, and even then they live in constant fear. A young man named Nichol, his girlfriend Rina, Rina's younger brother Phil and their friends Cain and Mii learn that there was peace, and decide to time-travel to search for help. But during their time-jump, they lose sight of Nicholas and arrive, with their life energy completely drained, to the doorstep of Gamo Whisky, Ivan/001's estranged father. Hiding his connections with Black Ghost, he erases the kids' memories and pits them against the cyborgs to retrieve his child, prove his theories about psychic powers right, and defeat his old rival Gilmore's team. After the Warriors turn against a non-brainwashed Nichol and one of them kills him, they fight the cyborgs. Slowly after each regains their memory, they join the Cyborgs after they rescue 009 and Rina from the future, to fight against Gamo and a treacherous Cain. Gamo is fatally wounded and 001 forgives his father before he dies, since he remembers that Gamo's madness started after he failed to cure Ivan's old birth disease. They each have telepathic abilities, telekinesis, psychic barriers and can teleport at will. •
Nichol (
Nicholas in English dub) - Was the only psychic to escape Gamo's brainwashing; during the time-jump the others lost sight of him, so he escaped the treatment. He was Rina's boyfriend. He arrives wounded, to warn the Cyborgs, but is killed by the Psychic Assassins; using their telekinetic powers, one of them lifts him up in the air and snaps his neck in front of the horrified Gilmore, 003, 006, 007 and 009. He has black hair and wears normal clothes, and though he is not seen in action he is assumed to have the same powers as the other Assassins without the de-aging process. •
Rina (
Lena in English dub) - She is truly kind at heart and is the first to regain her memory, but then she is sent back with 009 to the future. Her boyfriend is Nichol, and Phil is her younger brother. She has long thick white hair which she lets flow out. She is the first to regain her memory, which is latent in her subconscious mind for a long time, and the recovery is triggered by seeing Nichol's pendant in Joe's hands. This causes her mind to be in sync with 009 which causes her to time-jump with him and fully reject the brainwashing. She disappears in time with Cain during their duel. •
Cain - The only Psychic Assassin who appears to be evil before Gamo's brainwashing, he loves to fight because he enjoys the thrill of possible death, and says that the Cyborgs do not have to worry about him due to his human body. He has the ability to use his psychic powers to speed himself up to keep up with 009's acceleration mode. He has black hair with red tips and a monocle that covers one of his eyes. He is the only one not to in the end join the Cyborgs, and then he tries to destroy the other Assassins. He disappears in time with Rina during their duel, and following his own words he also was the one who killed Nichol. •
Mii (
Mai in English dub) - She along with Phil later regains her memory and joins the Cyborgs to go to the future and find Rina and 009. She has purple hair with a very thick fringe. She has the ability Synchro-Warp which allows her to send a group through time as long as their minds are in sync. She is the last Assassin left in the end and she simply fades away since her background has changed. She and Rina also have Telepathic Mimicry in which they can falsely communicate telepathically with another person's voice. •
Phil - He along with Mii later regains her memory and joins the Cyborgs to go to the future and find Rina and 009. He is Rina's little brother and the youngest of the group, because of this he hates being treated as weak and always tries to show his strength. He has green hair and wears a yellowish suit. Being the youngest he also appears to be the most vulnerable to the ageing process that affects the Assassins due to the time-jump. He dies after using his powers to fatally injure Gamo, calling out to his sister.
The Yomi Kingdom Deep buried in the Earth's grounds, the Yomi kingdom and its inhabitants, the Pu'Awak, have been enslaved by the dinosaur race known as the Zattan, who treat them as slaves and use their natural fertility to keep them as living food supplies. Black Ghost, or more specifically Skull and his underling Van Vogt (renamed
Claus Van Bogoot in the Sony Pictures English dub), suddenly appear to trick the Pu'Awaks into following them to fight for freedom, and they choose 5 Pu'Awak noble-born sisters as their subordinates. The girls (Biina, Helen, Daphne, Aphro and Dinah) are soon disenchanted, and decide to join the Cyborgs instead to reach for true freedom. •
Helen - The first to be seen of the Pu'Awak sisters and the eldest one (but youngest in Sony Pictures' English dub), her tiara had red jewels and she also wears a short blue dress. She had her memories partially erased by Black Ghost and was sent towards the Cyborgs as an unwilling spy, with Biina monitoring her through their psychic link. Sweet-tempered and frail due to her lack of memories, she does not recover until almost the end of the arc, after a brief brainwashing courtesy of the Zattan; overcoming her own fears and shock, Helen guides 009, 001, 002, 003 and 005 to the Yomi Kingdom, saving Biina and 004 from being executed, but later she and her sister die at the hands of Van Vogt and the kingdom collapses in the upcoming fight. 004 treated her harshly in the first episodes since 008 was seriously injured by the dinosaurs released by Black Ghost and Helen's loyalties still were not fully revealed. She grew rather fond of 009; 003 was distraught for this, but tried to not hold it up against Helen herself, and was the one who mourned her the most after she died. •
Biina (
Venus in
Tokyopop version,
Vena in Sony Pictures' English dub) - The second-eldest of the sisters (changed to eldest in the Sony Pictures English dub), she has a tiara with blue jewels and wears a modern outfit with blue pants and shirt, and the leader of the quintet. Through the other girls' eyes, she can see everything that they see serving as a psychic link to relay information to Van Vogt. When Helen is caught in the crossfire and Van Vogt refuses to rescue her, Biina defects and guides the Cyborg team to Yomi. At first, she and 004 dislike each other intensely, but as the story progresses, they learn to understand each other, despite Biina's increasing pessimism about the whole matter. She is later shot to death along with her sisters by Van Vogt and dies in Albert's arms, just like Hilda. •
Dinah (
Diana in
Tokyopop version) - Third Pu'Awak sister, her tiara has pink jewels. Very quiet and gentle, she manages to make Daphne explain why she betrayed their plan. She also dies after being shot by Van Vogt. Some moments of the English dub refer to her as
Deena, due to difficulty with pronouncing her name. •
Aphro - The fourth sister, she wears a white gown and a tiara with green jewels. She rarely speaks, but is very assertive and opinionated. She discovers Daphne's treachery and harshly lectures her, but ends up forgiving her due to Dinah's pleas. She also dies after being shot by Van Vogt. •
Daphne - Fifth and youngest Pu'Awak sister, she has a tiara with purple beads and is the most insecure of the group. She is so distraught about the high failure possibility of her sisters' plans that she betrays them to Van Vogt, leaking info about their alliance with the Cyborgs. After Dinah and Aphro unmask her, she has a change of heart and joins them fully, freeing Gilmore and some of the cyborgs when they are captured by Black Ghost, only to be killed by Van Vogt along with her sisters. ==Others==