Ryoma Nagare (流竜馬 Nagare Ryōma?) is the protagonist and main pilot in the Getter Robo franchise.
Story[]
At the beginning of the manga, Ryoma Nagare is a hotblooded but immensely skilled young martial artist out to avenge his father's sabotaged reputation by proving his fighting style the strongest. While enacting this revenge by crashing a national karate tournament and defeating everyone there, he attracts the attention of the Saotome Laboratory, who are looking for physically and mentally superior candidates to pilot their new Getter Robo. After demonstrating his worth by killing three assassins sent after him, Ryoma is recruited into the team and pilots Getter-1 in defence of humanity against both the Dinosaur Empire and the Hundred Demons Empire over the course of Getter Robo and Getter Robo G.
In Shin Getter Robo, however, after the development of the titular robot and the onset of attacks from mysterious enemies specifically targeting the Getter, Ryoma begins having visions of the future of humanity and what use of the Getter could lead to. This alongside the destruction of Saotome Laboratory causes him to quit piloting Getter for sixteen years. Eventually, however, the situation becomes dire enough that the only way to save humanity is for him to pilot Shin Getter once more for the climax of Getter Robo Go.
Though he does not appear in person in the Arc manga due to getting absorbed into the Getter at the end of Go, his legacy continues with his son, Takuma Nagare, piloting the Getter-1... as well as the future beckoned by the Getter Rays looming ever closer.
Abilities[]
Ryoma is a highly skilled pilot and fighter able to fight against multiple enemies with relative ease, even with serious injuries. He is also a highly valuable strategist able to find the weaknesses of an entire group of enemies. His skills in engineering are also great shown when he modified the original wrecked Getter Robo into the Black Getter as well as use its power source as a last ditch weapon. Ryoma has been shown to pilot almost any and all Getter Machines showing a diverse skill set in the different systems and mechanics.
Personality[]
Ryoma has a righteous heart believing in justice, yet maintains a fierce and aggressive disposition, seen best as he enthusiastically shouts his way into combat, which serves to level Ryoma closer to an ambiguous anti-hero than a noble one. Unfortunately, this tendency of letting his emotions get the better of him occasionally blinds Ryoma from seeing the greater goal; this also serves to contrast him with the methodical and stoic Hayato.
In Armageddon, immediately following his release from prison, Ryoma could think only of seeking revenge against Dr. Saotome and Hayato for deceiving and betraying him. This blinds him to such a great degree that he almost immediately holds Hayato at gun point following their strained reunion, and would've shot him in cold blood if not for the awakening of Saotome's experiments Gore and Burai.
Seemingly greater than his thirst for vengeance is his hate for the Invaders. After these alien parasites caused so much chaos that consumed his friends and allies, Ryoma was determined to exterminate every last one of them. His murder of the Arctic Invader and relentless attempts at assault towards the Invaders in New York perfectly illustrate the level of contempt for them; not even the wailing humans trapped within the Arctic Invader stop his brutal slaughter of them, and only the yelling of Go snaps him out of the latter.
Yet even when the situation gets tense, Ryoma can be counted on to do the right thing and stand with his allies, and his discovery of the truth surrounding Saotome rekindles his bonds with the Getter Team, solidifying him once more as an important ally.