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Black Directive (ブラック指令, Burakku Shirei), also known as Commander Black, is the final antagonist of the TV series, Ultraman Leo. Up to the episode before his introduction, Ultraman Leo lacked any true major antagonist (with the exception of the Alien Magmas), so it is likely that Black Directive was introduced to serve this role. He is the commander of the saucer beasts who hoped to destroy Ultraman Leo and to conquer the Earth, but ultimately failed after the defeat of Black End.

History[]

Ultraman Leo[]

The vile commander and ruler of the flying saucer beasts, Black Directive came to Earth to conquer it for his own evil intentions. After his first flying saucer beast, Silverbloome, took out MAC's base Black Directive then commanded the creature to rampage through the Japanese archipelago to draw out Ultraman Leo. If Leo was dead, Black Directive could easily use the other monsters at his command to conquer Earth in a short period of time. However, thanks to Leo's training with Ultraseven as well as much fighting experienced he gained over the past few months, none of the flying saucer monsters presented a real challenge to him. With the death of every flying saucer beast Black Directive would send another including his renegade monster Nova. After Nova was defeated, Black Directive called in the assistance of Alien Bunyo to help, who nearly killed Leo had Ultraman King not intervene. Completely out of options, Black Directive sent the most powerful flying saucer beast, Black End . With Leo facing what could be considered one of the most powerful monsters to ever fight an Ultra, it seemed as though Black Directive would win until some children that Gen had trained over the past few months distracted Black Directive by fighting him. During the battle with the children, Black Directive was seemingly killed, leaving Black End to fight off Leo. His sentient planet, Black Star was also destroyed by Leo. Terror of the Saucer Race Series - The Life of Leo! The Miracle of King!

Within Ultraman Leo's Heart[]

Manga Black Directive

Black Directive in the manga

In the 2001 manga Within Ultraman Leo's Heart, illustrated by Mamoru Uchiyama, Black Directive - named as Commander Black in the series - has his backstory expanded. It is explained that Black cooperated with Alien Babarue in an attempt to invade Earth, and later took actions into his own hands after Babarue's attack on the Earth was thwarted by Leo, Astra and the Ultra Brothers.

Under orders from Commander Black, Babarue framed Astra by stealing the Ultra Key and putting Leo and the Ultra Brothers into a fight while also setting the Land of Light on a collision course with Earth. Knowing that Earth's forces would be too weak to destroy the planet and with no other Ultras to protect Earth, the invasion would come into success. Eventually, Babarue failed and Black Directive ordered Silverbloome to kill all members of MAC (like the original series) and then used all of his Saucer Beasts to attack Earth, but ultimately, they all were destroyed one-by-one by Leo. Out of Saucer Beasts, he grew into large proportions and challenged Ultraman Leo and the Ultra Brothers to a fight, however, when Astra arrived to aid his brother, Black Directive felt the war's situation was beginning to feel "unfavorable" and he attempts a retreat but Leo manages to catch him and uses Ultraseven's Eye Slugger (a keepsake from the Ultra's last fight with the Giras Brothers) and kills Black Directive with it.

It is also revealed in the manga that Black included the first Alien Magma among his allies, and hired him as a mercenary along with the Giras Brothers shortly before Leo began his time on Earth.

Ultraman Orb[]

"Simple is best. Monsters nowadays are too busy looking; that's no good."

―Black Directive, Ultraman Orb episode 22 "The Unmarked Cafe"
Black Directive

Black Directive in Ultraman Orb

Black Directive reappeared in the 22nd episode of Ultraman Orb where he ran the Black Star café on 0 First Street, Black Star, Shinjuku, which is seemingly impossible for normal people to find, yet they came to his place to drink their coffee and never leave, but if they did and they want to come back, they wouldn't remember where it was.

Black Directive was first seen cleaning the glasses as a bartender and then talked to the members of the SSP while they were enjoying his black coffee, especially about their old Alien Babarue friend, his troubled past, and his dream of invading the Earth, but gave it all up to make a living when he was getting old. After Shin noticed that his little good-luck charm, Nova was giving off life signs, Black Directive decided to close up shop and asked them to get out until Gai Kurenai showed up and kindly served him black coffee and he asked him about Jugglus Juggler's whereabouts and noticed that the two of them were still fighting. After he left, he had a chat with an Alien Pitt who told him that the café used to be lively with aliens who used to come to the café all the time. But now that everyone has fled, he planned on closing the café down and travel to another planet with his partner, Nova. He also heard the news about Dada's ship crashing into some space junk, resulting in losing his last coffee beans. Black Directive told My that they originally came to Earth to invade but they became peaceful yet they face the threat of space trash blocking their path, preventing them from leaving.

As he was about to close the café down, Nova flew off and changed into a kaiju. At first he didn't approve, but afterwards, he completely understood what Nova was trying to do and let him do it, seeing as how he hasn't given up on his dream and Black Directive soon joined in, seeing as this was their last chance to make their dream of invading the Earth a reality. With Nova, they attacked the city but was soon met with opposition from Ultraman Orb Burnmite, who he was waiting for. While he was fighting the Ultra inside of Nova, the SSP begged him to stop but he told him that he wasn't that man anymore.

Unfortunately, Orb ended up destroying Nova, leaving Black Directive depressed that their couldn't be accomplished anymore. As he was sitting down, Gai comforted him. During that time, Black Directive said that Orb let him dream a sweet dream but he cannot accomplish it anymore since the latter destroyed Nova. However, Gai assured him that he still had the people who still loved his coffee, which made him emotional. When Gai turned around, Black Directive wasn't there. It was then revealed that he opened a ramen shop called Ramen Black Star, which was brought up by Ittetsu Shibukawa who visited the SSP while they were bummed out.The Unmarked Cafe

Data[]

Kuro Shirei
Stats
  • Height: 1.89 m
  • Weight: 80 kg
  • Origin: Black Star
  • Weakness: Black Directive's crystal ball appears to serve a secondary purpose in sustaining his life, as when Toru and the children disarmed him of the ball, he began suffering from a bout of extreme pain, and quickly died by dissolving into foam after Leo destroyed it by using it as a weapon to defeat Black End.
Powers and Weapons
  • Crystal Ball: Black Directive carries a magic crystal ball with him which he can use to summon flying saucer monsters to attack.
  • Cane: Not so much of a weapon, but Black Directive had used it to pinpoint his Saucer Beasts with his crystal ball.
  • Sword: Black Directive carries a curved sword which he uses to fight with.
  • Handsaw: In episode 50 of Ultraman Leo, Black Directive used a Japanese-style handsaw to kill Leo and dismember his body after he was frozen solid by Alien Bunyo.
  • Extraordinary Jumper: Black Directive can jump to amazing heights.

Merchandise[]

HG Ultraman Series[]

Black Directive Gashapon

Black Directive as a set.

  • Black Directive (HG Ultraman Series, 2014)
    • Release Date: 2014/7/25
      • Shipping Date: 2014/11 (Estimated)
    • Material: PVC
    • Age recommendation: 15 years and up
    • Size: About 80 mm
    • Made in: China

As part of the "HG Ultraman Series" gashapon toy celebration, three sets of aliens that had fought the Showa Ultras, Yapool Man, Alien Pedan and Black Directive was released. The set can be sold on available gashapon machines at Japan while shipping would be available in November 2014.

NOTE: The picture shown was a prototype as of the actual figure might appear to be different.

Gallery[]

Ultraman Leo[]

Ultraman Orb[]

Miscellaneous[]

Trivia[]

  • Black Directive's skull badge resembles a stylized depiction of the first of his Saucer Beasts, Silverbloome.
  • While not stated in the show, there are several magazines and outside sources listing Aliens Magma and Babarue as Black Directive's minions. The implication there is that all the major events of the show from L77's destruction to the Ultra Key incident were orchestrated by him behind the scenes.
  • Black Directive's distinctive attire would later be used as inspiration for a variety of other aliens with human disguises in the later Ultraman Series such as Charija, Alien Nowar and Yapool.
    • However, to differentiate his appearance from the latter, Yapool had a blue napkin tied on his neck and his tuxedo had no skull logo.
  • Black Directive is also known as Commander Black. This was actually due to the Japanese words for "Directive" (指令, Shirei) and "Commander" (司令, Shirei) have the same pronunciation despite the differences in terms of meaning and kanji.
  • Ultraman Orb includes some of Black Directive's firsts:
    • This is the first time he has been good, as he told Gai the news about Jugglus Juggler, who he also has some sort of rivalry with. He also runs a coffee shop.
    • This is the first time he does not die, instead teleports somewhere else.
    • This is the first time he has met more than one alien, as there are multiple pictures of many species on a billboard.
  • It is currently unknown if Orb's Black Directive is the same alien who attempted to invade Earth in 1974, another individual of the original's race or perhaps an alternate universe version of the original.
Ultraman Leo Kaiju
Giras Brothers | Alien Magma | Alien Tsuruk | Kanedoras | Alien Karly | Kendoros | Vekira | Guiro | Ron | Alien Kettle | Bango | Alien Vibe | Antales | Alien Flip | Alien Atler | Alien Wolf | Bat Girl | Batton | Alien Boze | Bock | Dogyuh | Alien Alpha | Northsatan | Garon | Littre | Alien Coro | Renbolar | Carolyn | Alien Sarin Dodole | Gamerot | Alien Clean | Satan Beetle | Pressure | Oni-on | Planet Apple Chicken | Alien Paradai | King Paradai | Uriy | Uringa | Alien Magma II | Rolan | Alien Virmin | White Flower Spirit | Princess Kaguya | Kirara | Alien Akumania | Ashuran | Sevenger | Taishoh | Alien Atlanta | Alien Mazaras | Specter | Alien Babarue | Black Directive | Black Star | Silverbloome | Black Dome | Absorba | Demos | Black Garon | Blizzard | Mayuko | Hungler | Black Terrina | Satan Mora | Nova | Alien Bunyo | Black End
Ultraman Orb Chronicle Kaiju
'Tree of Life' (Ultraman Orb THE ORIGIN SAGA) Jugglus Juggler | Alien Wraith Psychi | Amate/War Deity | Alien Kanon | Morks | Bezelb | Queen Bezelb | Kugutsu Arstron | Kugutsu King Guesra | Gargorgon | Kugutsu Bemstar | Lidorias | Bolgils | Kugutsu Birdon | Kugutsu Vakishim | Kugutsu Verokron | Psyqueen
'I am the Galaxy's Migrating Bird' Murnau | Jiggle | Dinosaur Tank | Pestar | Gamakugira | Takkong | Gora | Alien Gapiya Sadis | Orlok | Alien Zartana | Alien Nackle Ramon Brothers | Jugglus Juggler
'The Man Who Stole The Black Hole' Jugglus Juggler | Biranki | Gango | Balloonga/Balloonga Bomb
'Fierce Battle! Ishtal Civilization' Jugglus Juggler/Nuru Ra Hotep | Dodongo | Mummy Monsters | Magatanothor
'From Rusalka With Love' Kingsaurus II | Super C.O.V. | Pris-Ma | Maga-Zetton | Jugglus Juggler | Three-meter Aliens | Biranki | Hungler
'The Wandering Sun' (Ultraman Orb) Peguila | Maga-Zetton | Maga-Basser | Jugglus Juggler | Maga-Grand King | Maga-Jappa | Maga-Pandon | Alien Zetton Maddock | Hyper Zetton Deathscythe | Alien Mefilas Nostra | Alien Nackle Nagus | Alien Metron Tarude | Aribunta | Hoe | Ragon Parent | Ragon Child | Gubila | Alien Babarue Babaryu/Imit-Ultraman Orb | Telesdon | Kelbim | Black King | Maga-Orochi | Galactron | Zeppandon | Alien Zelan | Alien Shaplay Katarohi | Bemular (Empowered) | Renki (Crimson Lotus Knight) | Maya | Hyper Zetton Deathscythe (Reserver) | Alien Pitt Myu | Nova | Black Directive | Kamaitadon (Mentioned) | Demaaga | Gomess (S) | Magatano-Orochi
'Space Witch Murnau's Counterattack, Sadis' Return' (Ultraman Orb The Movie: Let Me Borrow the Power of Bonds!) Galactron | Alien Ckalutch | Cicada Woman | Galmess | Hupnath | Jugglus Juggler | Murnau | Alien Gapiya Sadis | Alien Temperor Batista | Alien Hipporit Callisto | Alien Guts Doppel | Alien Serpent | Lecuum | Darebolic | Zeppandon
'Super Sky Great Violent-beast Desastro' Desastro
'Messengers of the Netherworld Mage' (Ultra Fight Orb) Reibatos | Juda Spectre | Demaaga | Mecha Gomora | Vict Lugiel | King Joe | Birdon | Gudon | Twin Tail | Hyper Zetton | Tyrant
'Migrating Birds, Go To The Sky' Biranki | Jugglus Juggler
Ultraman Festival 2016 Alien Baltan | Cyber Mecha Baltan | Zetton Alien Baltan | Zett
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