Kamen Rider Densetsu (Legend of Masked Rider)

Let's now look upon the history and discover the wonderful world of Kamen Rider!!!!

Kamen Rider was created by Shotaro Ishimori (A protege of Ozamu Tezuka-the god of Japanese Manga) for Toei studios. Kamen Rider is the infusion of Man, Machine and Insect; what the Japanese call "Kaizo Ningen"-modified humans. The basic formula (Plot/storyline) for the various Kamen Rider shows goes something like this: An evil organization bent on world domination (Aren't they all??) creates an army of super soliders to carry out their devious plans. Of course, they need a guniea pig to conduct their experiments on. And so, a helpless human is kidnapped and turned over to the reluctant (Not always) scientist, who will perform the painful process that shall produce what will be known to the world as Kamen Rider. Only humanity and will to live will keep the young person from becoming evil. This half human, half grasshopper wonder is Earth's only hope in defeating the forces of darkness.Thus the legend of Kamen Rider is born.....

Let me give you a rundown of the various Kamen Rider TV shows, movies,and specials........

Kamen Rider (1971): Takeshi Hongo (played by Hiroshi Fujioka), a motocycle racer is kidnapped by Shocker (very bad dudes) and is transfromed into Kamen Rider, courtesy of Dr. Midorigawa. However, Midorigawa-sensei is not proud of what he's done; and so, he and Takeshi decide to escape. Unfortunately, the good doctor is killed on the way to freedom and Takeshi vows revenge. He henshins (transform) for the first time and dispsoes of the Shocker cronies. Takeshi decides to ultilize his newfound powers for good and wages a one man war against those who would threaten human life.

"With great power, comes great responsibility".....Kamen Rider used his increased intelligence, along with his awesome power and strength...together with his Hissatsu Waza (Finishing technique), the powerful "Rider Kick" to destroy whatever Shocker threw at him.

Later in the series, another Kamen Rider was created in hopes of defeating the first. However, he did a 360 and joined Takeshi...and that created double trouble for Shocker. The war lasted for 98 in your face,action packed episodes; and in the end, Kamen Rider 1 and 2 were victorious. But this was only the beginning in a long line of cybernetic superheroes sworn to protect the innocent and carry on the fight for justice.

Kamen Rider V-3 (1972):Filling the void left behind by the Kamen Riders, a new hero stepped up to the plate in the form of Kamen rider V-3. In the wake of Gel Shocker, comes the Destron Army, a secret organization spread all over the world.From Africa, comes, the ferocious Kiba[fang] clan. In Europe, we have the flying monsters of the Tsubasa[wing] clan. And finally in Asia,comes the Yoroi [Armour] clan; the most powerful of them all. These Kaizo Ningen are a combination of beasts and deadly weapons.

The story begins as a young Shiro Kazami is forced to watch the death of his parents and sister at the hands of Destron. Left for dead, his body is recovered by the Kamen Riders; and thus, he is reborn into a Kaizo Ningen and given the name -Kamen Rider V-3. The Double Typhoon Energy within his henshin belt, makes him three times as powerful as his predecessors. And when V-3's not screaming down the highway with the turbo charged Hurricane, he's knocking out monsters with his enen kick

Later in the series (eps.43 to 51), He was joined by Riderman, an ex-destron scientist who defected to the side of good.Joji Yuki, unlike V-3, was a partial cyborg; and armed with his casette arm, he gave the Destron a hell of a battle. After countless battles with the forces of Destron, V-3 set his sights on the evil mastermind. Apparently before he became Destron Shuryo, he was just a lowly henchman trained by Dr.Shinigami (Death God) and Gel Shocker Leader General Black. In a epic battle, Desrton Shuryo sought vengence against our bug eyed hero. However in the end, it was Kamen Rider V-3 who stood victorious.

Kamen Rider X (1973) : From the dark corners of the world, comes another fanatical Let's-take-over-the-world group known as the Government Of Darkness (or G.O.D.). Is there no one who can stop them??

Yes, with help from his father, Daisuke Jin is transformed into a next generation kaizo ningen-the kaizorg!!! Hellbent on dismantling this evil threat, he is given the name- Kamen Rider X!! King Dark, Leader of G.O.D., didn't count on KRX coming to ruin his plans of pilaging, rape and destruction of Earth. Armed with ridle stick and ridle whip, KRX beat the living daylights out of anyone who stood in his way. He also travels the road between heaven and hell on his sleek motobike, Cruiser.

Every kaizo ningen from Neptune to Cronos, fell before the might of X. But his toughest opponent was fearsome Apollogeist. Their battle began in eps 9 through 14; However, he rose from the dead to fight anew in eps 15 to 21. But this time, X made sure he wouldn't be coming back.

Seeing how useless and unworhty his deity kaizo ningen were, against Daisuke/KRX, King Dark began to creating new soliders-combining animals: Kabutomushilupin [Kabutomushi=Rhinoceros Beetle], Kumonapoleon [Kumo=spider] and Hitdoehitler [Hitode=Starfish]. etc. But not even they could stand up to this one man army. Now, the only thing left to do was to defeat King Dark.

In the last episode, Daisuke discovers that King Dark (actually a giant cyborg) was created by Dr. Jinau, a friend of his father; but now his brain resides within the G.O.D. leader. Within both honor and sadness, he sends King Dark to the next dimension and frees Dr. Jinau from his living hell.

Kamen Rider Amazon (1974) :Amazon is the fiercest of the Kamen Rider TV series because 1) Amazon is the first organically correct Kamen Rider-his powers are derieved from a jungle lizard a la Spider Man. 2) Instead of throwing punches and kicks, he claws, gouges and bites the enemy kaizo ningen. 3) The monsters of Gedon feed upon human blood to repelnish their energy.

Daisuke Yamamoto's life began in the Amazon jungle, the only survivor of a plane crash. Raised by Bagoh, a Incan Shamen, Daisuke is given the ancient Gigi bracelet. He is infused with the super energy within the bracelet and thus, becomes Kamen Rider Amazon. However, Jumenki (Ten Faced Demon), the leader of Gedon (short for Armageddon) posseses the gaga bracelet, which he uses to empower his kaizo ningen. But his true purpose is to join 2 bracelets and become invincible.

Meanwhile, Daisuke returned to the concrete jungle of modern Japan, with Gedon in close pursuit. Riding the road to vengence on his ancient motorcycle junglar, Amamzon sent the Gedon army packing, with their tails between their legs and slaughters Jumenki in the name of Justice.

Daisuke believed the fight to be over. Hearing of the demise of gedon, Emperor Zero of Galandar Empire, took it upon himself to continue Jumenki's quest for ultimate power. But Emperor Zero and his cronies were no match for Amazon. Score one more for the good guys.

Kamen Rider Stronger (1975): Revenge is a dish, best served cold. And this time, it's the secret society of Black Satan that discovers, karma has a a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it.

Angered by the death of his best friend at the hands of Black Satan, Shigeru Jo convinces Dr. Masaki (an ex-Black Satan scientist ) to transform him into a kaizo ningen. Given the super electromagnetic dynamo implant, Shigeru is reborn as Kamen Rider Stronger!! However, this power comes with a price; the Denki energy that now powers his body, has turned his hands silver. So even while as Shigeru, he must wear hands to protect his dual identity. But of course, no Kamen Rider is complete without cool techniques and a sleek motorcycle. Stronger thrashes the forces of Black Satan with his Denki [Lightning] punch and Denki kick, and zooms into action on Kabutron.

Aided by the first female kaizo ningen, Yuriko Misaki became Tackle, and fought just as hard as Stronger did. Together, they fought such villians as Cyclops Titan and General Shadow. Unfortunately, she was killed off in ep.#30, which left Stronger alone to his pursuit of justice.

Towards the end of the series, a showdown began between him, the Delzer Gundan [army] (Considered to be the elite warriors of Black Satan) and Daishuryo. Daishuryo (a floating brain like creature) reveals to Stronger that he's (it) an alien who has been pulling the strings of every organization forn Shocker to Delzer. Shigeru/Stronger finds himself outnumbered and on the edge of defeat, until help arrives in the form of Team Kamen Rider!! Everyone from Kamen Rider 1&2 to Amazon came to help even the odds, which led to a big free-for-all, that ended in abig explsoin. All 7 riders survived without a scratch, but it was not known whether or not, Daishuryo perished.

This is just a overview of the Kamen Rider Legend. But ,I shall make sure to fill in the blanks as soon as I can. So please be patient.

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