Previous 'east-meets-west' crossovers:
"Iron Man/Bubblegum Crisis"
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/flixmentallo21-presents-iron-man/bubblegum-crisis-a161630
"Harley and Ivy Meet the Dirty Pair"
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/fan_fic/flixmentallo21-presents-harley-and-ivy-meet-the-dirty-pair-a163422
On April 11, 2019, the world lost one of the greatest manga creators in the history of the comics medium: Kazuhiko Katō, better known by his nom-de-plume Monkey Punch.
Influenced by MAD magazine veterans Mort Drucker and Sergio Aragonés, the 1981 Inkpot Award-winning manga-ka's career stretched all the way back to 1962 and is best known for his most famous comic creation--the title character of Lupin III, who made his debut in the pages of Weekly Manga Action's first issue on August 10th, 1967.
Based in part on Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin novels (with a hint of James Bond thrown into the mix), the series is as described (courtesy of the Wiki):
"Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of the fictional gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin, is considered the world's greatest thief, known for announcing his intentions to steal valuable objects by sending a calling card to the owners of his desired items. His right-hand man and closest ally is Daisuke Jigen, an expert marksman who can accurately shoot a target in 0.3 seconds. Although Lupin and Jigen frequently work as a two-man team, they are often joined by Goemon Ishikawa XIII, a master swordsman whose sword can cut anything, or Fujiko Mine, a femme fatale and Lupin's love interest. [Oftentimes, both join him.] Although Fujiko usually works together with the others, she occasionally exploits Lupin's interest in her to steal the treasure for herself. Lupin and his gang are constantly chased by Inspector Koichi Zenigata of Interpol, who has made it his life's work to arrest them, pursuing Lupin across the globe."
The Lupin III franchise has since spawned two animated pilots, six anime TV series, eight animated theatrical films (and two live-action ones), six OVAs, 25 animated TV specials, 2 musicals, a number of music CD's, and several video games. At the same time, the English-language distribution rights have traded many hands over the decades, and has endured a dogged copyright history based around the use of the Arsène Lupin name over the objections of the Leblanc estate, an issue not resolved until 2012, 70 years after the author's 1941 death. (Until then, most English dubs tended to call the title character either 'Rupan' or 'Wolf'.)
One particularly famous Japanese animator and director is associated with the franchise, and you wouldn't believe it at first. Said director? Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, who in addition to directing the 145th and 155th episodes of the second Lupin TV series, also helmed his theatrical feature debut with the 1979 Lupin film The Castle of Cagliostro.
Having seen the film (courtesy of Netflix) and having been watching the second TV series for the better part of a week has made me a new fan of the franchise, and one that immediately came to mind when planning out my next 'east-meets-west' crossover. Lupin III is no stranger to crossovers, as evidenced by the 2009 and 2013 specials that crossed over it and another fan-favorite manga/anime franchise, Case Closed (aka Detective Conan). This time, however, under my imaginative pen, Lupin will be crossing paths with another famous fictional master thief, and one of Marvel Comics' most popular X-Men characters. Who else, but Gambit? (Plus, it'd be fun to see the Marvel Universe done up in the style of Monkey Punch.)
Which thief will one-up the other? Who'll get the score first? And who among their respective circles of friends can endure this battle of wits and wills? We'll find out in my fancast of:
Plot:
Gambit, the X-Men's resident master thief, is hired by veteran SHIELD agent Lee Christopher to obtain the valuable and powerful Delphi microchip, able to grant the user complete control over global computer networks without a hitch. Christopher emphasizes that it must be retrieved so as to not fall into the wrong hands, in spite of the measures taken to prevent its removal from its location; he also entices Gambit with the prospect of being handsomely paid for his efforts. Informed that the chip is securely guarded at a nondescript Stark Enterprises facility, Gambit puts together a small crew made up of mercenary Paladin and fellow thief Black Cat to break in and retrieve the chip; uninvited aid tags along in the form of Gambit's fellow X-Man Psylocke, asked by Remy's lady love and their fellow teammate Rogue to keep an eye on him. At the same time, a separate heist is in the works at the hands of Arsène Lupin III and his gang, who (at the behest of an unknown benefactor) plan to abscond with some experimental devices from the same site set to be developed as consumer products; ever-suspicious, Interpol chief inspector Zenigata pursues them to the site of the caper. Both sides bump into one another on the night of the jobs, each assuming the other's after their respective score and leading to a small clash. In the midst of the fracas, underlings of Christopher's make off with the chip, with all combatants not noticing till it's too late. Just as they all put aside their scuffles and go after the underlings, Zenigata catches them in the act, only to have his authority overriden by an incoming SHIELD team led by agent Maria Hill. Hill reveals to all parties that Christopher had been playing both groups from the start, and that further intel revealed him to be in reality Number One, the head of the clandestine organization known as the Secret Empire (a group once fought by Captain America and the Falcon). Hill, much to Zenigata's chagrin, tasks both groups with breaking into the Secret Empire's mountain-based HQ to retrieve the stolen items and bring Christopher to them for arrest.
Voice cast:
Gambit/Remy LeBeau - Jared Padalecki
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0655585/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
Ringleader for the Delphi chip heist, Remy meets his match when facing off with Lupin, who's reputation is well-known even among the Thieves Guild; he also finds that not even his unique charm can faze the equally-skilled Fujiko Mine.
For a time a popular fancasting choice for a live-action take on the character, Padalecki would probably do well with voicing him as an 'audition' for taking on the role some day.
Arsène Lupin III - Simon Helberg
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0374865/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
"The grandson of Arsène Lupin, he is the world's most wanted thief and a genius mastermind. He is an expert in concocting schemes and plots to steal precious objects that are heavily guarded and seemingly impossible to be stolen. He sometimes appears incompetent, but mostly as a charade to catch his opponents off guard. While he has been arrested and thrown in jail on a number of occasions, he has always managed to break out. He also has a fondness for fancy gadgets from time to time. His infatuation with women, and Fujiko Mine in particular, is perhaps his biggest weakness, as it often lands him in undesirable situations."
Lupin finds a worthy rival in Gambit, despite his being seemingly outmatched by Remy's mutant powers and thieving prowess. At one point Gambit reveals that Lupin was even considered for induction into the Thieves Guild, an invitation Lupin himself turned down. His reason? Lupin paraphrases Groucho Marx: "I wouldn't want to be part of any club that'd have me as a member."
With The Big Bang Theory done and over with, I imagine Helberg would want to try a character that's quite different from Howard Wolowitz, and there's nothing more different than a sly and skilled master thief like Lupin. I think Helberg would be quite witty and funny in the role.
Paladin/Paul Denning - Grant George
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Grant-George/
A highly-skilled mercenary, marksman, and investigator who's lent his services to the likes of the Defenders, Heroes for Hire, the Thunderbolts, and even Silver Sable's Wild Pack. Denning is brought in by Gambit for initial recon on the site of their heist before going into action, with Denning posing as a worker at the facility. During the fight that breaks out between Gambit and Lupin's groups, Paladin winds up in a shooting match with Daisuke Jigen, both of whom are shown to be evenly matched. He does manage to get a jab in when he suggests Jigen ought to try his luck next against fellow merc Domino. (Jigen: "Neena Thurman? You friggin' kidding? Nothing doing--she cheats.")
Daisuke Jigen - Steve Blum
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Steve-Blum/
"Lupin's marksman. He can perform a 0.3-second quick-draw and shoots with amazing accuracy. He is often seen having a used cigarette clenched in between his teeth. His weapons of choice are revolvers and pistols, but he is also proficient in the use of other firearms, such as machine guns, sniper rifles, and anti-tank rifles. He can even assemble his handgun from composite parts and fire a shot through a door with 100% accuracy before an enemy can finish turning the doorknob. Despite Jigen's gruff facade, he has an ironic sense of humor and genuinely enjoys participating in each caper with his partners. He is, by far, the more pragmatic of the group, with a cynical streak founded in failed romances (his luck with women runs from bad to worse, with love interests often betraying him or dying). He is always distrustful of Fujiko Mine and becomes irritated when Lupin goes along with one of her plans. Among Lupin's group, Jigen is the least apprehensive at taking human life."
Jigen is the most skeptical of Lupin's group when they plan their heist of the Stark Enterprises facility, pointing out the possibility of Iron Man-styled intervention throwing a wrench into the works. His skepticism proves to be well-founded when they find themselves up against Gambit and his group, since powers seem to complicate things quickly. He proves to be the match of Paladin in terms of marksmanship.
Black Cat/Felicia Hardy - Erica Lindbeck
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Erica-Lindbeck/
Mostly known for trading barbs (and sometimes more) with Spider-Man, Felicia's brought in by Gambit at the prospect of getting a good cut of the pay offered by Agent Christopher. During the ruckus that erupts between both rival groups of thieves, she immediately goes after Fujiko over a sapphire statue she cheated her out of, despite having cased the place it was in for weeks.
Lindbeck reprises the role she originally voiced for the 2018 Spider-Man video game.
Fujiko Mine - Tara Sands
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tara-Jayne-Sands/
"An intelligent and crafty thief who will use her feminine charms to get what she wants from any man. She is also an expert when it comes to firearms and even rivals Lupin when it comes to her burglary and disguise skills. Fujiko is sometimes an associate in his schemes, sometimes a rival, knowing full well that his infatuation with her will mean that he will forgive her for double-crossing him at times. She will also routinely make deals with Zenigata or Lupin's current enemy in an attempt to gain her freedom or to hopefully gain a piece of the loot he is after."
Fujiko mentions at one point that she once tried to both seduce and rob Tony Stark, only to be found out quickly by his security chief Bethany Cabe. During the fight between the two groups, it's revealed that she beat Black Cat to a score some time before and Felicia's borne a grudge ever since. During the fight, she throws some shade her way by asking "Does Julie Newmar know you're biting her style?".
Psylocke/Betsy Braddock - Caitlin Glass
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Caitlin-Glass/
Psylocke shows up at Gambit's planning session unannounced, much to his surprise. She informs him she's here on behalf of Rogue, who asked her to make sure he doesn't get in over his head, whatever it is he's doing. During the fight between his group and Lupin's gang, she faces off with Goemon Ishikawa XIII, matching her psi-blade with his sword in a bout of ninja-versus-samurai. (Though she does point out to him she's British.)
Goemon Ishikawa XIII - Greg Chun
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Greg-Chun/
"A thirteenth generation descendant of the renegade samurai Ishikawa Goemon. He has a sword called Ryusei, also known in as Zantetsuken, which can cut through almost anything. The Zantetsuken is usually used to cut inanimate objects, which Goemon considers unworthy of his blade. Objects cut by Zantetsuken will fall apart a couple of seconds after he sweeps through them with his blade. He is usually quiet and participates in Lupin's exploits less frequently than Jigen."
Goemon also shows skepticism during the planning of Lupin's heist at the Stark facility, with his suspicions proven when they encounter Gambit and crew. Goemon matches blades with Psylocke, noting her resemblance to a swordswoman he once sparred with by the name of Kwannon. (Psylocke, thinking to herself: "Oh, this is going to be an awkward conversation....")
SHIELD Commander Maria Hill - Lauren Landa
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Lauren-Landa/
SHIELD's sub-commander who apphrehends both groups before Inspector Zenigata can slap his cuffs on Lupin. She briefs them (along with Zenigata) on the real story at the heart of these two heists--that they were both played by the same man in Lee Christopher, a former SHIELD agent who was ousted from the organization when it was found out he was secretly acting as a mole for his own covert group, the Secret Empire. She offers them the opportunity to get the charges dropped against them by breaking into Secret Empire HQ, retrieving the stolen tech, and bringing Christopher in for them to deal with--with the bonus of a sizable reward.
Chief Inspector Koichi Zenigata - Daran Norris
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Daran-Norris/
"Zenigata has made it his life's mission to arrest Lupin. The other members of Lupin's gang are targeted for apprehension as well, but Zenigata usually ignores them when Lupin himself is present. Lupin and Zenigata appear to be the worst of enemies, but in the anime they are, in a manner of speaking, friends; something Lupin shows openly (often by greeting Zenigata with mock affection), but it is an idea Zenigata is extremely reluctant to entertain. Similarly, he is often awed by Lupin's genius. Zenigata has an attachment to Lupin with the belief that no one should kill him or worse, capture him, besides Zenigata himself. Lupin's opinion of Zenigata is a little less caring, but still filled with respect. He often seems amazed that Zenigata can keep up with him. At times he's overwhelmed by how much thought Zenigata has put into his traps for Lupin. In instances where Zenigata has been injured in the field or believed dead, Lupin avenges the Inspector by hunting down his attacker." Long story short, Zenigata is Lupin's own answer to Inspector Clouseau.
Tracking Lupin and co. to New York, he nearly captures them before a superpowered fracas in the middle of downtown causes enough of a distraction for them to get away, much to his frustration. He manages to glean some info on the heist at the Stark facility, and tails them to where he catches them (and Gambit's group) in the act. He's just about to cuff Lupin when Maria Hill's SHIELD contingent arrives, at which point he reluctantly goes along with the plan to use both groups to get back at the Secret Empire.
Daran Norris is a casting choice I'm surprised no one's thought of for a Lupin dub as Zenigata. Combine some Clouseau with a bit of his J. Jonah Jameson from The Spectacular Spider-Man, and he'd be hilarious as Zenigata.
Number One/Lee Christopher - Michael McConnohie
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Michael-McConnohie/
A disgruntled former high-ranking SHIELD agent who was booted out for embezzlement and espionage, he escaped imprisonment and returned to the Secret Empire, where he began planning to obtain the Delphi chip and certain other electronic components from Stark Enterprises. When Gambit and Lupin's teams break into Secret Empire HQ, he sends his team of meta-operatives to keep them busy while he sets his plan in motion.
Number One's real name is a portmanteau of the two comic pros who created Gambit, Chris Claremont and Jim Lee. McConnohie's had prior involvement with the Lupin franchise, having voiced the main villain in the original U.S. dub of The Castle of Cagliostro.
Number One's Operatives
1. Mad Dog/Robert "Buzz" Baxter - Matt Mercer
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Matthew-Mercer/
Ex-husband of the superhero Hellcat, former USAF colonel and former security chief for Roxxon subsidiary the Brand Corporation, Mad Dog leads a group of mutant operatives for Number One in their efforts to keep Gambit and Lupin's forces from stopping his plan.
2. Paralyzer/Randall Darby - Ray Chase
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Ray-Chase/
Mutant with the power to fire electric bursts from his cyborg crab claw-like hands.
3. Burner/Byron Calley - Kaiji Tang
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kaiji-Tang/
Mutant with pyrokinetic abilities.
4. Mist-tress/*Real Name Unknown* - Brina Palencia
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Brina-Palencia/
Mutant who can control/create various types of mists and gases.
5. Slither/Aaron Salomon - Todd Haberkorn
https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Todd-Haberkorn/
Mutant with a snake-like body, allowing him to constrict opponents with great force; minor superhuman strength.
Rest in Peace, Monkey Punch.
Thanks for all the decades of laughter and excitement from the printed page to the silver screen.