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Can Cyborg 009 Time Travel?

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Last updated on 3 min read

Quick Fact

In the 2016 anime series "Cyborg 009: Call of Justice," Joe Shimamura (009) can actually reverse time by pushing his speed to extremes.

That’s not just some throwaway power—it comes from his built-in "Accelerator" device working with his natural superhuman speed. Picture this: he moves so fast, he literally rewinds the clock on whatever disaster just happened.

Geographic & Narrative Context

Cyborg 009’s world is a global stage, especially in "Call of Justice," where time travel isn’t just a cool trick—it’s a last-ditch effort to save cities from destruction.

Now, the original 2001 series, "Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier," already set the stage for a modern, interconnected world. But the 2016 Netflix release cranks it up, dropping viewers into a post-disaster landscape where skyscraper bombings have left the planet on edge. The stakes feel real because the characters aren’t just fighting villains—they’re working for agencies like the British SIS and U.S. NSA, making their battles feel like a desperate fight for the survival of entire nations. Honestly, that kind of high-stakes storytelling makes the idea of time travel feel almost plausible.

Key Details

AttributeDetail
Main CharacterJoe Shimamura, designated Cyborg 009
CreatorShotaro Ishinomori
Original Manga Debut1964 in Weekly Shonen King
Notable Anime Series (2001)"Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier" (51 episodes)
Time Travel DepictionFeatured in "Cyborg 009: Call of Justice" (2016)
Base Cyborg SpeedCapable of reaching Mach 5 with the Accelerator

Interesting Background

The time-travel twist in Cyborg 009 shows how superhero powers evolve across decades.

Think about it: Shotaro Ishinomori created Joe back in 1964 as a half-Japanese orphan turned cyborg hero. Speed was always his thing, but later versions—like the 2012 film 009 Re:Cyborg and the 2016 Call of Justice series—took that idea and stretched it to the limit. By 2026, Ishinomori would’ve been 88, yet his creation’s still going strong after over 60 years. That longevity means new writers keep finding ways to push Joe’s abilities further, turning raw speed into full-blown time manipulation. It’s one of those rare cases where a classic trope just keeps getting better.

Practical Information for Viewers

If you want to see Joe’s time-bending in action, "Cyborg 009: Call of Justice" is streaming on Netflix right now.

That’s the series where his time-reversal powers take center stage. But don’t stop there—the 2001 anime series gives you the backstory you need to understand the characters and their world, while the 2012 film 009 Re:Cyborg offers a fresh take on the classic tale. You can usually rent or buy both on platforms like Amazon Instant Video. Just remember: streaming availability changes all the time, so check your local services before you dive in. (Pro tip: a quick search for "Cyborg 009 streaming" often turns up the latest options.)

James Cartwright
Author

James Cartwright is a geography writer and former high school geography teacher who has spent 20 years making maps and distances interesting. He can name every capital city from memory and insists that geography is the most underrated subject in school.

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