Blood type: O

Birth place: Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Go Nagai is a prolific Japanese manga artist who's made his mark across science fiction, fantasy, horror, and erotica. He kicked off his professional career in 1967 with Meakashi Polikichi, but most people know him for three major titles: Cutie Honey, Devilman, and Mazinger Z.

Beyond those hits, Nagai basically created the Super Robot genre as we know it. With Mazinger Z, he's credited for designing the first mecha that a pilot could actually sit inside and control from a cockpit—a concept that became foundational for everything that followed. He also pioneered the ecchi genre with Harenchi Gakuen, which says something about his range.

In recent decades, he's moved into teaching and cultural work. He became a Character Design professor at Osaka University of Arts in 2005, and since 2009 he's served on the nominating committee for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.