Minerva X, The Mysterious Robot

"Minerva X, The Mysterious Robot!!" it's the 38th episode of Mazinger Z. This episode first aired in Japan on August 19, 1973.

Summary
Baron Ashura watches as Dr. Hell tests the power of his new robot in two Mechanical Beasts. Seeing her capabilties first hands, Baron Ashura gets excited and asks to be allowed to take her to attack Mazinger Z. As the prospect of having Minerva X destroy Mazinger Z amuses him, Hell orders Ashuro to follow through his plan.

Aphrodite A arrives to stop Minerva X's rampage as Koji is still in his way. However, before Sayaka attacks, Dr. Yumi asks her to wait and allow Koji to deal with Minerva instead. As soon as she sees Mazinger Z, Minerva's partner circuit and eyes changue from yellow to blue. Baron Ashura notes he is no longer able to control her.

Noticing the Mechanical Beast's strange behaviour, Koji tries to goat Minerva in to attacking him. Instead, she appears to begin to cry and runs away from the battle. Mazinger Z follows suit. Minerva continues to cry as Koji tries to start a fight with her until she finally malfunctions and collapses.

Later, Dr. Yumi explains Minerva X's true origin to Koji and Sayaka. Accordingly to him, she was robot designed by Juzo Kabuto to act as Mazinger Z's partner, but was never built as the doctor was killed before being able to start working on her. After Juzo's death, Dr. Yumi went to Dr. Kabuto's caban in the woods to investigate and found out that Minerva X's blueprints went missing.

Gennosuke reveals Minerva X's tears were actually an oil leak provoked by her proximity to Mazinger Z. Instead of Photonic Energy and Super Alloy Z, she was built using th

e resources at Hell's disposal. As a result, she is unable to withstand the signal Mazinger Z sends to her partner circuit without overheating and leaking oil.

Dr. Hell realizes he may have given the Photon Power Laboratory a powerful ally. To correct his mistake, he orders Ashura to destroy Minerva X before she can be upgraded with Photonic Energy and Super Alloy Z. Baron Ashura takes Archerian J5 with him and attacks the city.

After learning Koji left and took Minerva X with him, Sayaka to look for them. She's dumbfolded after realizing they are on a date. After enjoying their time together, Koji takes Minerva X back to the Photon Power Laboratory and tells her to rest inside Aphrodite A's hangar. When Sayaka questions his decision, Koji suggest her to leave Aphrodite A next to Mt. Fuji instead.

Dr. Yumi alerts Koji about a new Mechanical Beast, Archerian J5, approaching the city. Mazinger Z leaves prompting Minerva X to follow soon after.

Together, they are able to destroy Archerian, but not before it manages to destroy Minerva's exposed partner circuit with one of its arrows. Without the circuit protecting her, Ashura is able to gain back control over Minerva. Dr. Yumi calls Koji back to the Photon Power Lab to give him the a new partner circuit to replace the old one.



Aphrodite A and Mazinger Z reach Minerva X just before she attacks a nuclear plant. Although they try to reason with her, their efforts end up not being able to stop her. As she is about to unleashe the Breast Fire into the plant, Sayaka has no choice but to attack her with Aphrodite A's Oppai Missile fatally wounding her.

Koji installs the new partner circuit allowing Minerva X to be back to her old self in her last moments. After she 'dies', Koji takes her body to the ocean vowing to one day bring her back when all the fighting is over.

Recurring

 * Koji Kabuto
 * Sayaka Yumi
 * Shiro Kabuto
 * Gennosuke Yumi
 * Dr. Hell
 * Baron Ashura

Machines

 * Mazinger Z
 * Hover Pilder
 * Minerva X
 * Archerian J5
 * Aphrodite A
 * Jet Scrander

Weapons

 * Mazinger Z
 * Koushiryoku Beam
 * Rust Hurricane
 * Aphrodite A
 * Oppai Missile
 * Minerva X
 * Rocket Punch
 * Rust Hurricane
 * Koushiryoku Beam
 * Breast Fire

Trivia

 * Minerva X is the first of the four Mechanical Beasts destroyed by Sayaka. The others are: Gumbina M5, Yubrin T9 and Gilania β5