Character Profile: Lance Hyatt

Originally Kouji appeared in the 92 episode long series Mazinger Z until the last episode when Great Mazinger showed that Mazinger Z was no longer strong enough to protect the planet (or Japan) hence the new series Great Mazinger. Kouji then goes to America to work with the Science Institute and we see him in the first episode of UFO Robo Grendizer showing a small flashback of Mount Fuji and his days as Mazinger Z 's pilot.

Over time Kouji becomes friends with Duke Freed (or Orion Quest depending on the version your watching). Kouji learns the identity of Duke Freed and as the episodes continue and with the continuous destruction of his TFO eventually the Double Spazer is created as a support craft for Grendizer (the original Spazer is Grendizer's original housing craft). The Double Spazer attaches to Grendizer in the same fasion as Mazinger's Jet Scrander. In the Japanese episodes they also create other support craft but in the English episodes they are never seen.

If we were looking at the timeline of Kouji Kabuto he would then after UFO Robo Grendizer he would then become the pilot of the 3rd incarnation in the Mazin Saga, Mazinkaiser in the seven episode series of the same name.