“Hands of Steel” / 「片腕サイボーグ」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1986, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) I367

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the Japanese release of Hands of Steel / 「片腕サイボーグ」, Sergio Martino’s 1986 Italian science-fiction action film starring Daniel Greene, Janet Ågren, and John Saxon.

Also released internationally as Atomic Cyborg and originally titled Vendetta dal futuro, the film combines cybernetic body horror, desert action, corporate conspiracy, and the muscular visual language of 1980s exploitation cinema.

Film background

The story follows Paco Queruak, a man transformed by a powerful industrial organisation into a cybernetic assassin.

With approximately 70 percent of his body replaced by advanced mechanical components, Paco is programmed to eliminate an influential environmentalist opposing the corporation’s activities. His remaining human conscience prevents him from completing the assassination, however, and he escapes into the Arizona desert.

Paco takes refuge at an isolated roadside establishment operated by Linda, where he attempts to conceal his identity and recover some sense of humanity. His extraordinary strength soon attracts attention, particularly through a series of arm-wrestling contests.

The corporation eventually dispatches mercenaries and other enhanced killers to retrieve or destroy him, forcing Paco to turn his mechanical power against the organisation that created him.

The film was directed by Sergio Martino, credited internationally under the pseudonym Martin Dolman.

The principal cast includes:

Daniel Greene
Janet Ågren
John Saxon
George Eastman
Claudio Cassinelli

The electronic score was composed by Claudio Simonetti, the celebrated Italian musician associated with Goblin and numerous films by Dario Argento.

Poster design

This spectacular Japanese poster uses a fully illustrated composition dominated by Daniel Greene as Paco, presented as an exaggerated fusion of human muscle and advanced machinery.

Paco fills the upper two-thirds of the poster, gripping an oversized firearm while extending his cybernetic arm towards the viewer. The mechanical limb is rendered in intricate detail, with visible circuitry, metallic plates, vents, wiring, and illuminated controls.

His enormous human hand remains attached to the technological forearm, expressing the film’s central conflict between his surviving humanity and the machine constructed around it.

The background erupts in brilliant orange, red, yellow, and white, giving the character the appearance of emerging directly from an explosion.

At upper left appears the circular campaign emblem:

“HERALD BEST ACTION”

The large blue headline reads:

「史上最強の暗殺者に仕上げられたサイボーグ
今、その全貌が明らかになる！」

Translated:

“A cyborg engineered to become the most powerful assassin in history—now his full form is revealed!”

The smaller white text explains:

「悪徳科学者に体の70％をサイボーグにされた男が
30パーセントの人間性に目ざめ
シンジケートと戦うアクション大作！」

Translated:

“A man whose body was made 70 percent cybernetic by corrupt scientists awakens to his remaining 30 percent humanity and battles the syndicate in this major action spectacle!”

The enormous Japanese title:

「片腕サイボーグ」

appears across the lower centre in metallic red-and-black lettering.

The title translates literally as:

“One-Armed Cyborg.”

Below it appears the English title:

“HANDS OF STEEL”

A row of photographic scenes along the bottom presents the film’s helicopters, gun battles, vehicle pursuits, explosions, and desert action.

The result is a quintessential piece of 1980s Japanese science-fiction advertising, combining bodybuilding imagery, cyberpunk machinery, weaponry, and explosive colour into an exceptionally forceful composition.

Condition

Very Good+ condition. The poster retains vivid orange, red, white, and metallic tones, strong illustrated detail, clear typography, and very good overall display impact.

Reference: I367.

Please review both photographs carefully, including the reverse, as they show the exact poster and its condition.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1986 Japanese release campaign, not a reproduction or reprint.

It is approximately 40 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.