Ghost Mazinger Appears

Ghost Mazinger Appears is the 5th episode of Mazinger Z. This episode was first aired in Japan on December 31, 1972.

Summary
Dr. Hell explains to Baron Ashura his new plan. They will use KingDan X10's illusions to finally destroy Mazinger Z.

Koji and Shiro are ambushed by Iron Masks after leaving the Photon Power Laboratory late at night. Koji manages to capture one of them who ends up killing himself after telling them to watch the skies the next day.

In the next morning, a copy of Mazinger Z shows up and start wrecking havoc. Baron Ashura calls the Photon Lab to tell Koji and the others the Mazinger Z they are seeing is a copy made by Dr. Hell.

On the news, a TV anchor warns the people that Mazinger Z is out of control. Baron Ashura tries to sway public opinion against Koji by falsely accusing him of betraying Japan by selling information on Mazinger Z to Dr. Hell and using the existance of the copy as proof of the deed. After learning this, Koji storms off to face the doppelgangar. Shiro and Sayaka follow him separately.

Boss, Nuke and Mucha decide to skip school to go after Koji and cofront him about his the accusation.

During the fight, Baron Ashura uses illusions to confuse Koji while KingDan X10 stays hidden. Before the fight started, the Iron Masks planted landmines nearby hoping to lure Mazinger Z to them. Shiro, Boss, Nuke and Mucha end up fiding about the plan, but are captured.

As Koji phases through the copy when he hits it, Sayaka deduces the copy isn't actually there and it's appearence is just a trick to waste Mazinger's energy. She suggests going back to the lab for a recharge. Before they can leave, Baron Ashura reveals that Shiro and the others are being held hostage and tries to lure Koji into the minefield.

Without knowing about Ashura's plan, Sayaka offers to rescue their friends while Koji tries to figure out how the illusion works. Boss manages to free himself from his gag and warns her about the trap before Aphrodite A goes too deep into the minefield. The robot still ends up losing one of her legs to the mines before Koji destroy the rest of them with Mazinger Z's koushiryuku beam.

KingDan X10 comes out of his hidding stop and fights using several illusions of itself to confuse Koji. Mazinger Z almost runs out of energy and barely manages to win by using the Breast Fire.

After realizing what happened, Boss apologizes to Koji for thinking he had betrayed Japan.

Meanwhile, Ashura asks Dr. Hell to kill him for failing once again. Hell refuses and orders him to keep on thinking in ways to defeat Mazinger Z.

Recurring

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

Machines

 * Mazinger Z
 * Hover Pilders
 * KingDan X10
 * Saluud
 * Aphrodite A

Weapons

 * Koushiryoku Beam
 * Breast Fire (Debut)

Trivia

 * The way KingDan X10 shoots eletricity to the sky through its horns only to redirect it as lightning with its sword is identical to Great Mazinger's Thunder Break technique.
 * In this episode, Koji calls out Mazinger Z's attack out loud for the first time. He only does so for the Breast Fire.
 * Unlike it's prior appearance, in this episode the Koushiryoku Beam is yellow.