Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー, Kamen Raidā^?, Masked Rider), is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV (now TV Asahi). A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine around the same period. The series has spawned many sequels and evolved into a franchise. The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in Akimasa Nakamura naming two minor planets in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka, known for his portrayal of Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider #1,^[1][2] and 12796 Kamenrider, after the series itself.^[1][3]

Story [link]

The story took place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious terrorist organization. To further its plans for world domination, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escaped just before the final brainwashing. With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Hongo battled Shocker's minions as the grasshopper-themed altered human (改造人間, kaizō ningen^?) superhero Kamen Rider. Another of Shocker's victims, freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji, had also been given cyborg implants, but was saved by Kamen Rider from the brainwashing process to become Kamen Rider 2. Assisted by motorcycle race team manager Tobei Tachibana and FBI agent Kazuya Taki, the Kamen Riders fought in both solo and partnered missions against both Shocker and its successor organization Gel-Shocker.

Manga [link]

Many manga based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only one was penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself. Ishinomori also was the author of one chapter for Kamen Rider Amazon and the entire Kamen Rider Black manga, but those manga weren't based on the original Kamen Rider series, but its follow ups.

The original manga published in 1971 initially follows a path resembling the first few episodes of the TV series, from basic plot to creature designs. However, when Hongo leaves the TV show and manga's story, each series diverges greatly. In the TV show, Hongo travels abroad to fight Shocker in other countries, but leaves Japan's protection in the hands of another man, Hayato Ichimonji. He was a freelance cameraman who was experimented by Shocker, but was saved by Hongo, becoming the second Kamen Rider. In the manga, Hongo never left Japan. He was confronted with twelve Shocker Riders and was subsequently mortally wounded during his battle against them. Hayato Ichimonji, one of the twelve Shocker Riders, receives a head injury during the fight and regains his conscience as a result. He then turns against Shocker and succeeds Hongo's role as Kamen Rider. In spite of the damage to his body, Hongo's brain survives and guides Hayato, with both fighting as one.

Hongo eventually returns as a Rider in both stories, but, starting with Hayato's debut, villains and even basic story development greatly diverge between the two versions. The manga portrays a seemingly hopeless battle against Shocker, an organization much bigger than either of the two Riders with ties to governmental conspiracies. The live action TV shows portray the Riders as heroes strong enough to bring down Shocker... only to see it replaced by similar organizations led by Shocker's mysterious leader. The Shocker Riders eventually appear in the TV series too, but in a story unrelated to the manga one, aside from a couple of homages, like Hayato's attire during the story, their appearance and abilities also were different from the manga version. There were also only 6 Shocker Riders, rather than 12 like in the manga.

Main characters [link]

Riders

• Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 (本郷 猛/仮面ライダー1号, Hongō Takeshi/Kamen Raidā Ichigō^?) - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98. He is a biochemist at Jounan University, who also races motorcycles as part of the Tachibana Racing team.
• Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 (一文字 隼人/仮面ライダー2号, Ichimonji Hayato/Kamen Raidā Nigō^?) - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98

Allies

• Tōbei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbee^?) - Hongo's racing mentor and confidant. He is often called "Sensei" by other members of his racing club.
• Kazuya Taki (滝 和也, Taki Kazuya^?) (episodes 11, 13-98) - An FBI agent assigned to investigate Shocker activities in Japan. While not himself a cyborg, Taki was skilled in martial arts, and often used them alongside both Kamen Riders to battle the foot-soldiers who invariably accompanied a Shocker agent.
• Professor Hiroshi Midorikawa (緑川博士, Midorikawa Hakase^?, 1) - A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Shocker agent Spider Man.
• Ruriko Midorikawa (緑川 ルリ子, Midorikawa Ruriko^?) (episodes 1-13) - The daughter of Prof. Midorikawa, she initially blames Hongo for her father's death, but eventually learns the truth and becomes his ally. In episode 14, it is revealed that she accompanied Hongo on a quest to defeat Shocker activities in Europe.
• Hiromi Nohara (野原 ひろみ, Nohara Hiromi^?) (episodes 1-25): Ruriko's friend, who works as a waitress at Snack Amigo.
• Kishimori (episodes 2, etc.) - Hongo's fellow biochemist at Jounan University.
• Snack Amigo - a small café where Hongo and other members of Tachibana's racing club gather, in early episodes. Its employees include Hiromi and the bartender Shiro, who occasionally assist Hongo in countering Shocker's plans.
• Mari (episodes 14- ), Yuri (episodes 14- ), and Michi (episodes 14-25) - Female members of the Tachibana Racing Club, who join after Hongo's departure. Michi is a small-displacement rider, Yuri is a martial artist, and Mari has experience in fencing.
• Goro (episodes 14- ) - Yuri's kid brother, and a junior member of the racing club.

Shocker [link]

Shocker (ショッカー, Shokkā^?) is a terrorist organization, its name an acronym for the Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm as revealed in the movie reboot. Shocker's goal is to turn humans into superhuman beings through their scientists surgically altering people with animal DNA to produce cyborgs as part of their plan to conquer the world (in the original manga is showed that Shocker had some influences over the governments of the world), with virtually all of its members modified in some way. The founders had mostly Nazi ties, with the Kamen Rider Spirits manga making references to the group's support by the Badan Empire.

Ruthless and merciless, Shocker would often kidnap prominent scientists and force them to work for the organization, then kill them when their usefulness was at an end (or if they attempted to escape). However, on one occasion, the decision to kidnap and modify the young college prodigy Takeshi Hongo proved to be their undoing. Modifying him into a grasshopper-human hybrid, he was intended to be another of Shocker's powerful cyborg warriors, but escaped and opposed them as Kamen Rider #1. A later attempt to create a second, more powerful Kamen Rider backfired when the intended victim, Hayato Ichimonji, was rescued by the original Rider before he was brainwashed and became known as Kamen Rider #2. The pair became known as the Double Riders who managed to put an end to Shocker with what remained of the group forming into Gel-Shocker.

In OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders, Shocker, although with a membership and leadership covering Gel-Shocker members from the original TV series, obtained a Core Medal and modified it into the Shocker Medal. Though they were originally unable to use it, the appearance of the Greeed Ankh in their time enabled the organization to obtain one of his Cell Medals and create the Shocker Greeed. This altered time so that Shocker defeated the Double Riders and managed to conquer of Japan and eventually the world, setting up a union with many of the other organizations that originally emerged after Shocker's destruction.

• Great Leader of Shocker (ショッカー首領, Shokkā Shuryō^?): The high ruler of the organisation and main antagonist of the series. He appears for the first time in a short video footage shown in episode 34, although his appearance there is mostly hidden by shadows. He talks with his followers through speakers on Shocker's emblems in the multiple outposts. The Great Leader is a cruel being who does not have qualms in sacrificing his minions during moments of crisis or failure.^[4] He takes various forms at different points in the series, his first being a Cyclopean medusa in crimson robes, but his true form is known as the Great Leader Rock (岩石大首領, Ganseki Daishuryō^?).
• Colonel Zol/Werewolf (ゾル大佐/狼男, Zoru Taisa/Ōkami Otoko^?, 26-39, Rider vs Shocker, V3 27-28) (a.k.a. Gold Werewolf (黄金狼男, Ōgon Ōkami Otoko^?)): From Shocker's Middle East branch, his true form was a wolf monster. He was also a disguise specialist, able to mimic Taki's appearance almost perfectly using only make up during his debut. His personal mark, worn by the soldiers of his own Shocker outpost and used in his official correspondence, was the Shocker emblem, but with the bird's head replaced by a wolf's.^[5] He confronted Kamen Rider #2 himself in episode 39 and after a lengthy fight was toppled off a cliff by Kamen Rider #2's Rider Punch, destroying him. Gold Werewolf briefly appeared in Kamen Rider vs Shocker among the members of the resurrected monster army. In Kamen Rider V3, episode 27, Colonel Zol is resurrected alongside the other 3 great Shocker and Gel-Shocker commanders from the original TV series by Destron. He aims to become a Destron commander, replacing Doctor G. However, in episode 28, after Kamen Rider V3 escaped from Destron's base, a self destruction sequence was activated, and Colonel Zol was unable to escape, dying again with it.
• Doctor Shinigami/Ikadevil (死神博士/イカデビル, Shinigami Hakase/Ikadebiru^?, 40-52, Rider vs Shocker, 61, 63, 68, V3 27-28, Decade: All Riders vs Great-Shocker, Let's Go Kamen Riders): From Shocker's branch in Switzerland, he took over Japan's command after Zol's death until Ambassador Hell appeared. However, he returned to Japan in episode 61, working together with Ambassador Hell and also attempting his own plans. He had a cold and calculating behavior. In episode 68, he captured Tobei Tachibana to help training him for his battle with Kamen Rider #1, but that only resulted in Tachibana learning about his weakness. Discarding his cape when he faced Hongo for the last time, Shinigami assumed the form of Ikadevil to fight Rider #1 with his tentacle whip, while Ichimonji was held off by the Shocker Combatmen. With Tobei's guidance, Rider #1 managed to overpower Ikadevil and weaken him with a Rider Chop before sending Ikadevil falling to his death with his Rider Tailspin Shoot. Ikadevil tried to rise once more, only to fall down and explode. Doctor Shinigami was resurrected by Destron in Kamen Rider V3, episode 27, and speculated about how he had been brought back to replace Doctor G, only to learn that he was there just for a new operation. Shortly afterwards, in episode 28, he died when Destron's base accidentally self destructed.
• Ambassador Hell/Garagaranda (地獄大使/ガラガランダ, Jigoku Taishi/Garagaranda^?, 53-79, Rider vs Ambassador Hell, V3 27-28, Decade: All Riders vs Great-Shocker, Let's Go Kamen Riders): Summoned from Shocker's branch in West Coast USA, he took command of the organization in Japan. His true name was Damon according to Kamen Rider Spirits. He used a whip as his weapon. In episode 79, after capturing the Riders' friends, he called Hongo out as he assumed his monster form, able to burrow underground and use his whip arm as a weapon. Rider #1 battled Garagaranda while Taki freed Tachibana and the others, managing to use his Rider Kick on the monster. Reverting to his normal mode, Hell cursed the Riders and screamed to Shocker's perseverance before he died, exploding. Afterwards, the Great Leader destroyed the original Shocker. In spite of his failure, Ambassador Hell was resurrected by Destron in Kamen Rider V3 episode 27. In episode 28, his sneaky behavior ended up leading to the prisoner V3 capturing him and escaping from the Destron base. Soon afterwards, Ambassador Hell returned to the base, only to die in its self destruction. In Kamen Rider ZX, Ambassador Darkness, Ambassador Hell's brother, appeared as a Badan Empire leader.
• Shocker Combatmen (ショッカー戦闘員, Shokkā Sentōin^?): Black uniformed soldiers, some which have skeleton markings on their torsos. They are normally easily defeated by the Riders, often without even needing to transform. Their trademark is a high pitched battle-cry. They also appear in the Kamen Rider Decade series and movies, along with the upcoming Let's Go Kamen Riders movie. Episodes 27 and 28 of Kamen Rider OOO (which were incidentally the 999th and 1,000th Kamen Rider episodes) featured a former Shocker soldier, whose desire to beat the Kamen Riders was used by Kazari to create the Ika-Jaguar Yummy. The soldier's desire for strength in numbers allowed the Yummy to duplicate itself into a small army of various Showa-era combat men, but he became disillusioned upon discovering that these were merely made of medals.
• Big Machine (ビッグマシン, Biggu Mashin^?): A character who only appears in Ishinomori's original Kamen Rider manga. Big Machine is Shocker's highest commander and main antagonist in the manga. He also seems to be the one called "Great Leader" by some of the lower ranking Shocker members. He has a fully mechanized body and is behind Shocker's "October Project", which involves using a super computer to brainwash the population of Japan. He's able to match up the Riders in combat and launch attacks that disrupt electronic equipment, including Rider 1's and 2's own bodies. The design of his body was the base of Ambassador Hell's design in the TV show, although it was altered to allow a human face, and, unlike Big Machine, Ambassador Hell was kept a separate character from the Leader of Shocker. In Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen, Big Machine is used as the name for the combination of the Crisis Fortress and the Gigant Horse.

Gel-Shocker [link]

Gel-Shocker (ゲルショッカー, Geru Shokkā^?) was formed after the destruction of Shocker, with the remnants of the organization absorbing another organization called Geldam. After Ambassador Hell's defeat, The Great Leader reorganized the organization from the ground up, destroying all remaining secret bases and even liquidating the remaining troop contingent in a bloody forest massacre witnessed by unfortunate campers. Gel-Shocker troopers wore bright purple and yellow costumes, were capable of traveling from one to place to another by transforming into sheets that would drop down onto unsuspecting victims, and were capable of taking more blunt violent abuse than their predecessors

Gel-Shocker was led by the Great Leader of Gel-Shocker (ゲルショッカー首領, Geru-Shokkā Shuryō^?) and General Black (ブラック将軍, Burakku Shōgun^?), a commander originally from Geldam's Africa branch who had a monstrous leech/chameleon hybrid form called Hiruchameleon (ヒルカメレオン, Hirukamereon^?).

Episode list [link]

1. The Mysterious Spider Man (怪奇蜘蛛男, Kaiki Kumo Otoko^?)
2. The Terrifying Bat Man (恐怖蝙蝠男, Kyōfu Kōmori Otoko^?)
3. Monster, Scorpion Man (怪人さそり男, Kaijin Sasori Otoko^?)
4. Cannibalism, Sarracenian (人喰いサラセニアン, Hitokui Sarasenian^?)
5. Monster, Mantis Man (怪人かまきり男, Kaijin Kamakiri Otoko^?)
6. Grim Reaper, Chameleon (死神カメレオン, Shinigami Kamereon^?)
7. Duel With Grim Reaper Chameleon! World Fair Impression (死神カメレオン決闘！万博跡, Shinigami Kamereon Kettō! Banpaku Ato^?)
8. Strangeness! Bee Woman (怪異！蜂女, Kaii! Hachi Onna^?)
9. The Terrifying Cobra Man (恐怖コブラ男, Kyōfu Kobura Otoko^?)
10. The Revived Cobra Man (よみがえるコブラ男, Yomigaeru Kobura Otoko^?)
11. Bloodsucking Monster, Gebacondor (吸血怪人ゲバコンドル, Kyūketsu Kaijin Gebakondoru^?)
12. Murder, Yamogelas (殺人ヤモゲラス, Satsujin Yamogerasu^?)
13. Tokageron and the Big Monster Army (トカゲロンと怪人大軍団, Tokageron to Kaijin Dai Gundan^?)
14. Raid of the Demon Sabotegron (魔人サボテグロンの襲来, Majin Saboteguron no Shūrai^?)
15. Counterattack, Sabotegron (逆襲サボテグロン, Gyakushū Saboteguron^?)
16. Wrestler of the Devil, Pirasaurus (悪魔のレスラーピラザウルス, Akuma no Resurā Pirazaurusu^?)
17. Death Match in the Ring: Defeat! Pirasaurus (リングの死闘倒せ！ピラザウルス, Ringu No Shitō Taose! Pirazaurusu^?)
18. Fossil Man: Hitodanger (化石男ヒトデンジャー, Kaseki-Otoko Hitodenjā^?)
19. Monster Kanibubbler Appears in Hokkaido (怪人カニバブラー北海道に現る, Kaijin Kanibaburā Hokkaidō ni Arawaru^?)
20. Fire-Breathing Caterpillar Monster: Dokugander (火を吹く毛虫怪人ドクガンダー, Hi o Fuku Kemushi Kaijin Dokugandā^?)
21. Dokugander, Confrontation at Osaka Castle (ドクガンダー　大阪城の対決！, Dokugandā Ōsaka-jō no Taiketsu!^?)
22. Suspicious Merman Amazonia (怪魚人アマゾニア, Kai Kyojin Amazonia^?)
23. Sky-Flying Monster Musasabedol (空飛ぶ怪人ムササビードル, Soratobu Kaijin Musasabīdoru^?)
24. Deadly Poison Monster Kinokomolg's Sortie! (猛毒怪人キノコモルグの出撃！, Mōdoku Kaijin Kinokomorugu no Shutsugeki!^?)
25. Defeat Kinokomolg! (キノコモルグを倒せ！, Kinokomorugu o Taose!^?)
26. The Terrifying Antlion (恐怖のあり地獄, Kyōfu no Arijigoku^?)
27. Mukadelas Monster Classroom (ムカデラス怪人教室, Mukaderasu Kaijin Shōshitsu^?)
28. Underground Monster Mogurang (地底怪人モグラング, Chitei Kaijin Mogurangu^?)
29. Electric Monster Kuragedall (電気怪人クラゲダール, Denki Kaijin Kuragedāru^?)
30. Revived Fossil, Bloodsucking Trilobite (よみがえる化石吸血三葉虫, Yomegaeru Kaseki Kyūketsu San'yōchū^?)
31. Deathmatch! Anteater Demon Arigabari (死斗！ありくい魔人アリガバリ, Shitō! Arikui Majin Arigabari^?)
32. Cannibalism Flower, Dokudalian (人喰い花ドクダリアン, Hitokui Hana Dokudarian^?)
33. Steel Monster, Armadillong (鋼鉄怪人アルマジロング, Kōtetsu Kaijin Arumajirongu^?)
34. Japan in Danger! Gamagiller's Invasion (日本危うし！ガマギラーの侵入, Nihon Ayaushi! Gamagirā no Shinnyū^?)
35. Murderous Ant Queen, Archimedes (殺人女王蟻アリキメデス, Satsujin Joōari Arikimedesu^?)
36. Resurrected Mummy Monster, Egyptus (いきかえったミイラ怪人エジプタス, Ikikaetta Miira Kaijin Ejiputasu^?)
37. Poisonous Gas Monster Trickabuto's G-Plan (毒ガス怪人トリカブトのＧ作戦, Dokugasu Kaijin Torikabuto no Jī Sakusen^?)
38. Lightning Monster Eiking's World Darkness Plan (稲妻怪人エイキングの世界暗黒作戦, Inazuma Kaijin Eikingu no Sekai Ankoku Sakusen^?)
39. Werwolf monster's Huge Murder Party (怪人狼男の殺人大パーティー, Kaijin Ōkami Otoko no Satsujin Dai Pātī^?)
40. Deathmatch! Monster Snowman vs. Two Riders (死斗！怪人スノーマン対二人のライダー, Shitō! Kaijin Sunōman Tai Futari no Raidā^?)
41. Magma Monster Ghoster, Decisive Battle at Sakurajima (マグマ怪人ゴースター 桜島大決戦, Maguma Kaijin Gōsutā Sakurajima Dai Kessen^?)
42. The Devil's Messenger, Mysterious Fly Man (悪魔の使者　怪奇ハエ男, Akuma no Shisha Kaiki Hae Otoko^?)
43. Mysterious Birdman Pranodon's Attack (怪鳥人プラノドンの襲撃, Kai Chōjin Puranodon no Shūgeki^?)
44. Graveyard Monster, Kabibinga (墓場の怪人カビビンガ, Hakaba no Kaijin Kabibinga^?)
45. Monster Namewhale's Gas Explosion Plan (怪人ナメクジラのガス爆発作戦, Kaijin Namekujira no Gasu Bakuhatsu Sakusen^?)
46. Showdown!! Snow Mountain Monster Bearconger (対決！！雪山怪人ベアーコンガー, Taiketsu!! Yukiyama Kaijin Beākongā^?)
47. The Death-Calling Ice Devil Todogiller (死を呼ぶ氷魔人トドギラー, Shi o Yobu Kōri Majin Todogirā^?)
48. Bloodsucking Marshes of Hiruguerilla (吸血沼のヒルゲリラ, Kyūketsu Numa no Hirugerira^?)
49. Cannibalistic Monster, Isoginchack (人喰い怪人イソギンチャック, Hitokui Kaijin Isoginchakku^?)
50. Monster Kamestone's Murderous Aurora Program (怪人カメストーンの殺人オーロラ計画, Kaijin Kamesutōn no Satsujin Ōrora Keikaku^?)
51. Stone Monster Unicornos vs. Double Rider Kick (石怪人ユニコルノス対ダブルライダーキック, Ishi Kaijin Yunikorunosu Tai Daburu Raidā Kikku^?)
52. My Name is Mysterious Birdman Gilgalass (おれの名は　怪鳥人ギルガラスだ！, Ore no Na wa Kai Chōjin Girugarasu^?)
53. Monster Jaguarman's Ready-to-Die Motorbike War (怪人ジャガーマン決死のオートバイ戦, Kaijin Jagāman Kesshi Ōtobai Ikusa^?)
54. Sea Serpent Man of the Phantom Village (ユウレイ村の海蛇男, Yūrei Mura no Umihebi Otoko^?)
55. Cockroach Man!! The Terrifying Bacterial Ad-Balloon (ゴキブリ男！恐怖の細菌アドバルーン, Gokiburi Otoko!! Kyōfu no Saikin Adobarūn^?)
56. Amazon's Poison Butterfly Gireera (アマゾンの毒蝶ギリーラ, Amazon no Doku Chō Girīra^?)
57. Tsuchigumo Man Poisonmondo (土ぐも男ドクモンド, Tsuchigumo Otoko Dokumondo^?)
58. Monster Poison Lizard, Duel in Fear Valley!! (怪人毒トカゲ　おそれ谷の決闘！！, Kaijin Doku Tokage Osore Tani no Kettō!!^?)
59. The Bottomless Swamp Monster, Earthworm Man! (底なし沼の怪人ミミズ男！, Sokonashi Numa no Kaijin Mimizu Otoko!^?)
60. Mysterious Owl Man's Murderous X-Rays (怪奇フクロウ男の殺人レントゲン, Kaiki Fukurō Otoko no Satsujin Rentogen^?)
61. Monster Catfishgiller's Electric Hell (怪人ナマズギラーの電気地獄, Kaijin Namazugirā no Denki Jigoku^?)
62. Monster Hedgehoras' Murder Skull Plan (怪人ハリネズラス　殺人どくろ作戦, Kaijin Harinezurasu Satsujin Dokuro Sakusen^?)
63. Monster Rhinogang's Autorace of Death (怪人サイギャング　死のオートレース, Kaijin Saigyangu Shi no Ōtorēsu^?)
64. Monster Cicadaminga's Song to Kill Everyone (怪人セミミンガ　みな殺しのうた！, Kaijin Semiminga Mina Koroshi no Uta^?)
65. Monster Dr. Insect and the Shocker School (怪人昆虫博士とショッカースクール, Kaijin Konchū-hakase to Shokkā Sukūru^?)
66. Shocker Graveyard, Revived Monsters (ショッカー墓場よみがえる怪人たち, Shokkā Hakaba Yomigaeru Kaijin-tachi^?)
67. The Shocker Leader Appears! Riders in Danger (ショッカー首領出現！！ライダー危うし, Shokkā Shuryō Shutsugen!! Raidā Ayaushi^?)
68. Doctor Shinigami, the True Meaning of Terror? (死神博士恐怖の正体？, Shinigami Hakase Kyōfu no Shōtai?^?)
69. Monster Gillercricket's Claws of Impending Death (怪人ギラーコオロギせまる死のツメ, Kaijin Girākōrogi Semaru Shi no Tsume^?)
70. Monster Electric-Guitarbotal's Fireball Attack (怪人エレキボタル火の玉攻撃！！, Kaijin Erekibotaru Hi no Tama Kōgeki!!^?)
71. Monster Horseflygomes' Rokkoudai Mountain Pursuit (怪人アブゴメス六甲山大ついせき！, Kaijin Abugomesu Rokkōsan DaiTsuiseki!^?)
72. Vampiric Mosquilas vs. Two Riders (吸血モスキラス対二人ライダー, Kyūketsu Mosukirasu Tai Futari Raidā^?)
73. Double Riders' Defeat! Shiomaneking (ダブルライダー　倒せ！シオマネキング, Daburu Raidā Taose! Shiomanekingu^?)
74. Deadly Bloodsucking Fiends!! Good Luck, Rider Boys' Squad (死の吸血魔　がんばれ！！ライダー少年隊, Shi no Kyūketsu Ma Ganbare!! Raidā Shōnen Tai^?)
75. Poison Flower Monster Roseranga - The Secret of the House of Terror (毒花怪人バラランガ 恐怖の家の秘密, Doku Hana Kaijin Bararanga Kyōfu no Uchi no Himitsu^?)
76. Three Head of Generator Monster Seadragons!! (三匹の発電怪人シードラゴン！！, Sanbiki no Hatsuden Kaijin Shīdoragon!!^?)
77. Monster Newtgeth, Duel at the Farm of Hell!! (怪人イモリゲスじごく牧場の決闘！！, Kaijin Imorigesu Jigoku Bokujō no Kettō!!^?)
78. The Dreadful Urchindogma + The Phantom Monster (恐怖のウニドグマ＋ゆうれい怪人, Kyōfu no Unidoguma + Yūrei Kaijin^?)
79. Hell Ambassador!! The True Meaning of Fear? (地獄大使！！恐怖の正体？, Jigoku Taishi!! Kyōfu no Shōtai?^?)
80. Gel-Shocker Appears! Kamen Rider's Last Day! (ゲルショッカー出現！仮面ライダー最後の日!!, Gerushokkā Shutsugen! Kamen Raidā Saigo no Hi!!^?)
81. Kamen Rider Dies Twice! (仮面ライダーは二度死ぬ！, Kamen Raidā wa Nido Shinu!^?)
82. Monster Jellyfish Wolf, Dreadful Rush Hour (怪人クラゲウルフ　恐怖のラッシュアワー, Kaijin Kurage Urufu Kyōfu no Rasshuawā^?)
83. Monster Inokabuton, Defeat the Rider With Crazy Gas (怪人イノカブトン　発狂ガスでライダーを倒せ, Kaijin Inokabuton Hakkyō Gasu de Raidā o Taose^?)
84. Watch Out, Rider! Isoginjaguar's Hell Trap (危うしライダー！イソギンジャガーの地獄罠, Ayaushi Raidā! Isoginjagā no Jigoku Wana^?)
85. Sludge Monster, Dreadful Murder Smog (ヘドロ怪人恐怖の殺人スモッグ, Hedoro Kaijin Kyōfu no Satsujin Sumoggu^?)
86. Monster Eaglemantis' Human Hunt (怪人ワシカマギリの人間狩り, Kaijin Washikamagiri no Ningen Kari^?)
87. Gel-Shocker's Delivery Man of Death (ゲルショッカー　死の配達人, Gerushokkā Shi no Haitatsunin^?)
88. Bizarre! The Picture of the Black Cat That Calls for Blood (怪奇！血をよぶ黒猫の絵, Kaiki! Chi o Yobu Kuroneko no E^?)
89. Fear's Pet Strategy, Drop Rider into Hell! (恐怖のペット作戦　ライダーを地獄へ落とせ！, Kyōfu no Petto Sakusen Raidā o Jigoku e Otose!^?)
90. Fear's Pet Strategy, Rider SOS (恐怖のペット作戦　ライダーＳＯＳ, Kyōfu no Petto Sakusen Raidā Esu Ō Esu^?)
91. Gel-Shocker, Enroll in Terror School (ゲルショッカー恐怖学校に入学せよ, Gerushokkā Kyōfu Gakkō ni Nyūgaku Seyo^?)
92. Atrocity! Fake Kamen Riders!! (凶悪！にせ仮面ライダー！！, Kyōaku! Nise Kamen Raidā!!^?)
93. 8 Kamen Riders (８人の仮面ライダー, Hachinin no Kamen Raidā^?)
94. The True Identity of the Gel-Shocker Leader (ゲルショッカー首領の正体, Gerushokkā Shuryō no Shōtai^?)
95. Monster Garaox's Sky-Flying Car (怪人ガラオックスの空飛ぶ自動車, Kaijin Garaokkusu no Sora Tobu Jidōsha^?)
96. Takeshi Hongo, Cactus Monster Exposed!? (本郷猛　サボテン怪人にされる！？, Hongō Takeshi Saboten Kaijin ni Sareru!?^?)
97. Takeshi Hongo, Transformation Impossible (本郷猛変身不可能, Hongō Takeshi Henshin Funō^?)
98. Gel-Shocker Annihilated! The End of the Leader!! (ゲルショッカー全滅！首領の最後！！, Gerushokkā Zenmetsu! Shuryō no Saigo!!^?)

Films [link]

• 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider (ゴーゴー仮面ライダー, Gō Gō Kamen Raidā^?) - movie version of Episode 13

The Shocker Organization sends two of its Inhumanoids to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into Tokageron, a lizard Inhumanoid capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant.

• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Shocker (仮面ライダーVSショッカー, Kamen Raidā tai Shokkā^?)

Professor Daidōji (大道寺博士, Daidōji Hakase^?) has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidōji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidōji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans.

• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell (仮面ライダーVS地獄大使, Kamen Raidā tai Jigoku Taishi^?)

Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Hell tells Kamen Rider #1 and Taki that Shocker is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions.

• 1975: Five Riders vs. King Dark (五人ライダー対キングダーク, Gonin Raidā Tai Kingu Dāku^?)

During a motocross practice, Keisuke Jin is ambushed by two Myth Cyborgs created by a secret organization that's attempting to control Japan, G.O.D. He transforms into Kamen Rider X, but little does he know that his battle is recorded and analyzed by King Dark, G.O.D.'s commander, to create a super cyborg. Other G.O.D. cyborgs are attacking all over Tokyo and, in the middle of the crisis, the original four Riders return to Japan from different countries around the world. The five Riders unite to lead a counter attack against G.O.D. Hiroshi Fujioka and Takeshi Sasaki reprised their roles as Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in this movie, before going on to be absent from the films of the franchise until Let's Go Kamen Riders, almost 36 years later. This movie also marks, even today, the last film appearance of the original Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji in their human forms, although it was done by reusing footage from earlier features.

• 2005: Kamen Rider The First

Premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider #1 and Kamen Rider #2 in a 21st-century setting.

• 2007: Kamen Rider The Next

Premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.

• 2011: OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders (オーズ・電王・オールライダー レッツゴー仮面ライダー, Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā: Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā^?)^[6]

Released on April 1, 2011, commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series, featuring the cast and characters of the original Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider OOO and other characters from past iterations of the franchise.^[7]

S.I.C. Hero Saga [link]

Published in Monthly Hobby Japan, the S.I.C. Hero Saga stories illustrated by S.I.C. figure dioramas portray stories featuring the characters from Shotaro Ishinomori series. Kamen Rider has had three different stories: Missing Link, Special Episode: Escape (SPECIAL EPISODE -脱出-, SPECIAL EPISODE: Dasshutsu^?), and From Here to Eternity (ここより永遠に, Koko yori Towa ni^?). Missing Link ran in the July to October 2002 issues, From Here to Eternity was featured in the special issue HOBBY JAPAN MOOK S.I.C. OFFICIAL DIORAMA STORY S.I.C. HERO SAGA vol.1 Kakioroshi, and Special Episode: Escape was featured in the October 2006 issue of Hobby Japan.

New characters introduced during the Missing Link story are the twelve Shocker Riders (ショッカーライダー, Shokkā Raidā^?, each with different colored scarves) and the Shocker Tank (ショッカータンク, Shokkā Tanku^?).

Missing Link chapter titles

1. Infiltration (潜入, Sennyū^?)
2. Disappearance (失踪, Shissō^?)
3. Awakening (覚醒, Kakusei^?)
4. Puppet (傀儡, Kairai^?)

Cast [link]

• Takeshi Hongo (本郷 猛, Hongō Takeshi^?): Hiroshi Fujioka (藤岡 弘, Fujioka Hiroshi^?)
• Hayato Ichimonji (一文字 隼人, Ichimonji Hayato^?): Takeshi Sasaki (佐々木 剛, Sasaki Takeshi^?)
• Tōbei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbei^?): Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji^?)
• Kazuya Taki (滝 和也, Taki Kazuya^?): Jirō Chiba (千葉 治郎, Chiba Jirō^?)
• Colonel Zol (ゾル大佐, Zoru Taisa^?): Jirō Miyaguchi (宮口 二郎, Miyaguchi Jirō^?)
• Dr. Shinigami (死神博士, Shinigami Hakase^?): Hideyo Amamoto (天本 英世, Amamoto Hideyo^?) (Played as Eisei Amamoto)
• Ambassador Hell (地獄大使, Jigoku Taishi^?): Kenji Ushio (潮 健児, Ushio Kenji^?)
• General Black (ブラック将軍, Burakku Shōgun^?): Matasaburō Niwa (丹羽 又三郎, Niwa Matasaburō^?)
• Ruriko Midorikawa (緑川 ルリ子, Midorikawa Ruriko^?): Chieko Morigawa (森川 千恵子, Morigawa Chieko^?) (Played as Chieko Maki (真樹 千恵子, Maki Chieko^?))
• Hiromi Nohara (野原 ひろみ, Nohara Hiromi^?): Yōko Shimada (島田 陽子, Shimada Yōko^?)
• Mari (マリ, Mari^?): Linda Yamamoto (山本 リンダ, Yamamoto Rinda^?)
• Yuri (ユリ, Yuri^?): Wakako Oki (沖 わか子, Oki Wakako^?)
• Michi (ミチ, Michi^?): Katsumi Nakajima (中島 かつみ, Nakajima Katsumi^?)
• Emi (エミ, Emi^?): Emily Takami (高見 エミリー, Takami Emirī^?)
• Mika (ミカ, Mika^?): Yōko Sugibayashi (杉林 陽子, Sugibayashi Yōko^?)
• Tokko (トッコ, Tokko^?): Machiko Nakajima (中島 マチ子, Nakajima Machiko^?) (Played as Machiko Nakajima (中島 真智子, Nakajima Machiko^?))
• Yokko (ヨッコ, Yokko^?): Yoshiko Nakada (中田 喜子, Nakada Yoshiko^?)
• Choko (チョコ, Choko^?): Mimi Hagiwara (ミミ 萩原, Mimi Hagiwara^?) (Played as Mimy (ミミー, Mimī^?))
• Gorō (五郎, Gorō^?): Yasuharu Miura (三浦 康晴, Miura Yasuharu^?)
• Naoki (ナオキ, Naoki^?): Tomonori Yazaki (矢崎 知紀, Yazaki Tomonori^?)
• Mitsuru (ミツル, Mitsuru^?): Hōichi Yamada (山田 芳一, Yamada Hōichi^?)
• Shirō (史郎, Shirō^?): Jō Honda (本田 じょう, Honda Jō^?)
• The Great Leader of Shocker/Gel-Shocker (ショッカー/ゲルショッカー首領, Shokkā/Geru Shokkā Shuryō^?, Voice): Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗, Naya Gorō^?)
• Narrator (ナレーター, Narētā^?): Shinji Nakae (中江 真司, Nakae Shinji^?)

Crew [link]

• Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
• Scriptwriters: Masaru Igami, Shin'ichi Ichikawa, Masayuki Shimada, Mari Takizawa, Hisashi Yamazaki, Takao Ikuo, Masashi Tsukada, Takeo Oono, Shiro Ishimori, Seirou Suzuki, Takayuki Hasegawa, Kimio Hirayama, Minoru Yamada, Gorou Okeya, Shotaro Ishinomori
• Directors: Hirokazu Takemoto, Itaru Orita, Hidetoshi Kitamura, Minoru Yamada, Kazukuri Uchida, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Masashi Tsukada, Shotaro Ishinomori, Atsuo Kumanaka
• Photographer: Osamigi Yamamoto
• Illumination: Kouosamu Oota
• Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
• Artist: Mokuo Mikami
• Editing: Ayaki Sugeno (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
• Recording: Mari Fujinami
• Assistant Director: Masashi Tsukada
• Costume Designer: Tokyo Designs
• Action Choreographer: Kazutoshi Takahashi
• Line Chief: Teruo Itou
• Production Manager: Okusouhei Matono
• Sound Recording: Katsushi Ota (Eiko-Onkyo Ltd.)
• Development: Toei Laboratories
• Cooperation: Muromachi Racing Group

Songs [link]

Opening themes

• "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック, Rettsu Gō!! Raidā Kikku^?)
  • Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Hiroshi Fujioka with Male Harmony (メール・ハーモニー, Mēru Hāmonī^?)
  • Episodes: 1-13
• "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック, Rettsu Gō!! Raidā Kikku^?)
  • Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
  • Episodes: 14-88
• "Rider Action" (ライダーアクション, Raidā Akushon^?)
  • Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Masato Shimon
  • Episodes: 89–98

Ending themes

• "Kamen Rider no Uta" (仮面ライダーの歌, Kamen Raidā no Uta^?, "The Song of Kamen Rider")
  • Lyrics: Saburō Yatsude
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Masato Shimon (as Kōichi Fuji) with Male Harmony
  • Episodes: 1–71
• "Rider Action" (ライダーアクション, Raidā Akushon^?)
  • Lyrics: Shōtarō Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Masato Shimon
  • Episodes: 72–88
• "Lonely Kamen Rider" (ロンリー仮面ライダー, Ronrī Kamen Raidā^?)
  • Lyrics: Mamoru Tanaka
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Masato Shimon
  • Episodes: 89–98

Legacy [link]

The Kamen Rider original series produced a great number of spin-offs which remain in production today. Several Kamen Rider series were aired in Japan after the first Kamen Rider finished. After Kamen Rider Black RX ended production in 1989, the series was put on hold.

There were three movie released as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J. After original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death, the Kamen Rider franchise was continued in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga. Since then Kamen Rider has become popular again and has a strong fanbase across Asia in countries such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.^{[verification needed]} As of 2011, twenty-two Kamen Rider series have been made, the current series being Kamen Rider Fourze (which premiered on September 4, 2011).

As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First.

References [link]

External links [link]

• Ishimori@Style - Shotaro Ishinomori on Ishimori Productions official website
• Kamen Rider series on Region 2 DVD - A complete list of all official releases to date.
• Toei Kyoto Studio Park - A theme park with official events, exhibitions and shops related to the Kamen Rider.
• Kamen Rider at the Open Directory Project