Kamen Rider (1971 TV series)

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Kamen Rider
Genre	Tokusatsu Superhero Horror Science fiction
Created by	Shotaro Ishinomori
Developed by	Masaru Igami
Directed by	Koichi Takemoto
Starring	Hiroshi Fujioka Takeshi Sasaki Jirō Chiba Akiji Kobayashi Wakako Oki
Voices of	Gorō Naya
Narrated by	Shinji Nakae
Opening theme	"Let's Go!! Rider Kick!" by Hiroshi Fujioka (#1–13) and Masato Shimon (#14–88) "Rider Action" by Masato Shimon (#89–98)
Ending theme	"Kamen Rider no Uta" by Masato Shimon (#1–71) "Rider Action" by Masato Shimon (#72–88) "Lonely Kamen Rider" by Masato Shimon (#89–98)
Composer	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Country of origin	Japan
No. of episodes	98
Production
Running time	24 minutes
Production companies	Mainichi Broadcasting System Toei Company
Original release
Network	ANN (MBS, NET)
Release	April 3, 1971 (1971-04-03) – February 10, 1973 (1973-02-10)
Related
Kamen Rider V3
Manga
Written by	Shotaro Ishinomori
Published by	Kodansha
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	1971 – 1973
Volumes	4

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダー, Kamen Raidā) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series and weekly science fiction manga created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The original airing consisted of a total of 98 episodes and were broadcast from April 3, 1971, to February 10, 1973, on Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET (now TV Asahi). The manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine around the same period. The series has evolved into a franchise with many subsequent annual iterations.

The series spawned a second boom in tokusatsu shows, and was Toei's first commercialised series.^[1] During its run the brand sold 620 million bags of popcorn (branded Kamen Rider Snack),^[2] 3.8 million transformation belts^[3] and 300,000 bikes.^[4]

The series takes place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious worldwide terrorist organization formed mostly by remaining members of the Nazis. To further its plans for world domination, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant cyborgs (改造人間, kaizō ningen, lit. 'transhuman') and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escaped just before the final brainwashing. With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Takeshi wages a one-man war against Shocker's minions as the grasshopper-themed cyborg superhero Kamen Rider. Another victim of the cyborg process, freelance photographer Hayato Ichimonji, became Kamen Rider 2 after Kamen Rider, who eventually renamed himself "Kamen Rider 1", saved him from Shocker's brainwashing. Assisted by motorcycle race team manager Tobei Tachibana and FBI agent Kazuya Taki, the Kamen Riders fought in both solo and partnered missions against Shocker while later getting help from Tobei and Kazuya's Kamen Rider Kid Corps. Later, after many battles with Shocker the organization was wiped out and its leader created Gel-Shocker to fulfill his goals. After many battles with Gel-Shocker the Kamen Riders defeated the organization's leader and stopped Gel-Shocker. With Kazuya returning to America peace was restored, or so it seems.

Many manga based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only one was penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself. Ishinomori was also the author of one chapter of the Kamen Rider Amazon manga and the entire Kamen Rider Black manga. However, those manga were based on sequels to Kamen Rider, rather than the original series.

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 Takeshi leaves the story, the series diverge greatly. In the TV show, Takeshi travels abroad to fight Shocker in other countries, leaving Japan's protection to Hayato Ichimonji, a freelance cameraman who was experimented on by Shocker but saved by Takeshi, becoming the second Kamen Rider. In the manga, Takeshi never left Japan. He was confronted by 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 takes Takeshi's role as Kamen Rider. In spite of the damage to his body, Takeshi's brain survives and guides Hayato, the two fighting as one.

Takeshi 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 with ties to governmental conspiracies that seems much bigger than either of the two Riders. 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 they looked different and had different abilities. There were also only six Shocker Riders, rather than the manga's 12.

In February 2021, Seven Seas Entertainment announced they licensed the original manga for publication in one omnibus edition.^[5]

• Takeshi Hongo/Kamen Rider 1 (本郷 猛/仮面ライダー1号, Hongō Takeshi/Kamen Raidā Ichigō): The first main protagonist. A biochemistry lab student at Jonan University who also races motorcycles as part of the Tachibana Racing Club.
• Hayato Ichimonji/Kamen Rider 2 (一文字 隼人/仮面ライダー2号, Ichimonji Hayato/Kamen Raidā Nigō): The other main protagonist. A freelance photographer who becomes the second Kamen Rider after Takeshi saves him from Shocker.

• Tobei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbee): Takeshi's racing mentor and confidant. He is often called "Boss" by other members of his racing club. He runs a small café named Snack Amigo where Hongo and other members of Tachibana's racing club gather in early episodes, and its employees occasionally assist Hongo in countering Shocker's plans. At the same time as Takeshi's departure, he opens a motorcycle goods shop named Tachibana Auto Corner and sets up the Tachibana Racing Club. He is often seen smoking a pipe.
• Kazuya Taki (滝 和也, Taki Kazuya, 11, 13-19, 21-82 & 84-98): An FBI agent assigned to investigate Shocker activities in Japan. While not himself a cyborg, Kazuya was skilled in martial arts and often used them alongside both Kamen Riders to battle the combatants who invariably accompanied a Shocker commander.
• Hiroshi Midorikawa (緑川 弘, Midorikawa Hiroshi, 1): Takeshi's teacher at university and an authority on biochemistry. He is a Shocker scientist, but freed Takeshi and was killed by Man Spider, an agent of Shocker.
• Ruriko Midorikawa (緑川 ルリ子, Midorikawa Ruriko, 1-13): The daughter of Doctor Midorikawa, she initially blames Takeshi for her father's death, but eventually learns the truth and becomes his ally. In episode 14, it is revealed that she accompanied Takeshi on his quest to defeat Shocker activities in Europe.
• Hiromi Nohara (野原 ひろみ, Nohara Hiromi, 1-25 & 34): Ruriko's fellow student, who works as a waitress at Snack Amigo.
• Shiro (史郎, Shirō, 2-15): A bartender at Snack Amigo.
• Rider Girls (ライダーガールズ, Raidā Gāruzu): Female members of the Tachibana Racing Club who assist both Kamen Riders.
  • Yuri (ユリ, 14-98): Hiromi's friend who is a first-degree black belt in karate.
  • Mari (マリ, 14-25 & 29-38): Hiromi's friend who has experience in fencing.
  • Michi (ミチ, 14-25): Hiromi's friend who has experience in aikido and is a small-displacement rider.
  • Emi (エミ, 40-68): Takeshi's assistant from Switzerland who has experience in aikido.
  • Mika (ミカ, 40-52): Takeshi's assistant from Switzerland who is good at fortune-telling by playing cards.
  • Tokko (トッコ, 53-69): She is in charge of cooking in the Tachibana Racing Club.
  • Yokko (ヨッコ, 70-98): After the Kamen Rider Kid Corps was set up, she was in charge of communication and administration.
  • Choko (チョコ, 70-98): She likes food.
• Goro Ishikura (石倉 五郎, Ishikura Gorō, 14-65): A bright boy who frequents the Tachibana Racing Club.
• Kamen Rider Kid Corps (少年仮面ライダー隊, Shōnen Kamen Raidā-tai): A nationwide organization, with Tobei as the president and Kazuya as the captain, that is composed of boys and girls in episode 74.
  • Naoki & Mitsuru (ナオキ&ミツル, 62-98): Boys who serve as leading members.

Shocker (ショッカー, Shokkā) is a terrorist organization formed by former Nazis. Shocker's goal is to conquer the world. To this end, their scientists turn humans into superhuman cyborgs by surgically altering them with animal and insect DNA with robotic cybernetics. Virtually all of its members are modified the same way. Even a Shocker Combatant is tougher, faster, and stronger than an ordinary human civilian. The original manga showed that Shocker had influence over the governments of the world. Its founders had ties to the Nazis, Illuminati and the Kamen Rider Spirits manga makes 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. The decision to kidnap and modify college student Takeshi Hongo proved to be their undoing. He was intended to be another of Shocker's powerful cyborg warriors, a grasshopper-human hybrid, but he 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. Hayato joined Takeshi as Kamen Rider 2. The pair, known as the Double Riders, put an end to Shocker, and later its remnants, who formed Gelshocker after their disbandment.

In OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders, Shocker, although with a membership and leadership covering Gelshocker 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 Greed Ankh in their time enabled the organization to obtain one of his Cell Medals and create the Shocker Greed. This altered time so that Shocker defeated the Double Riders and managed to conquer all of Japan and eventually the world, setting up a union with many of the other organizations that originally emerged after Shocker's destruction. The group is ultimately defeated by the Kamen Riders.

But as revealed in Kamen Rider OOO onwards, there are some surviving members of the Shocker organization, even from Badan Empire who went into hiding to gather data of the Kamen Riders' battles against some of their respective monsters many years ago. But during the events of Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3, Shocker's remaining scientists created a History Modification Machine that they use to send a time displaced cyborg called Kamen Rider Three back in time to destroy the Double Riders in the aftermath of Gelshocker's defeat, creating a new timeline where Shocker rules the world with some Kamen Riders in their service. Luckily, the apparent destruction of the History Modification Machine restores the timeline (with the exception of Go Shijima/Kamen Rider Mach who was killed by Cheetahkatatsumuri), only to be found out during the events of D-Video Special: Kamen Rider Four that Shocker secretly uses it to create time loops and alters the timeline once more, allowing to create Kamen Rider Four, as well as the revelation that they have been targeting Takumi Inui, due to his sacrifice-less wish to ensure that no one dies like what happened to one of his old allies to create a loop. As Takumi is about to destroy the machine, the Shocker Leader appears with an appearance identical to Takumi's. In the end, Takumi destroys the machine and disappears alongside the modified timeline, restored back to its original timeline once more. Though most of his allies who do not originate from the Kamen Rider 555 TV series like from Kamen Rider Drive, and even Kamen Rider Den-O's Kamen Rider Zeronos don't remember if they had encountered Takumi, only some of Takumi's old friends from the Kamen Rider 555 TV series, including Naoya Kaido still remember Takumi.

In the movie Kamen Rider 1, there is a civil war between the original Shocker and a newly formed organization called Nova Shocker in an attempt to kidnap Mayu, Tobei Tachibana's granddaughter, and release the Alexander Gamma Eyecon from her body, in order to obtain its power. As all of the revived Ambassador Hell's Shocker faction had been annihilated completely, leaving only himself, and also after he witnessed how dangerous the Alexander Gamma Eyecon is, he makes an uneasy alliance with Kamen Riders Ghost, Specter and a newly improved Kamen Rider 1.

• Shocker Leader (ショッカー首領, Shokkā Shuryō): The high ruler of the organization and main antagonist of the series. He appears for the first time in 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 Shocker Leader is a cruel being who does not have qualms in sacrificing his minions during moments of crisis or failure.^[6] The Shocker Leader would later become the Gel-Shocker Leader (ゲルショッカー首領, Gerushokkā Shuryō) when Shocker merges with Geldam to form Gel-Shocker. He takes various forms, his first being a cyclopean gorgon in crimson robes in the original series, his second being a skeletal creature in Kamen Rider V3, following a skull-faced insect who leads a mini-restoration of Shocker known as Black Satan, and his true form is known as the Great Leader Rock (岩石大首領, Ganseki Daishuryō) in Kamen Rider Stronger where he is a giant humanoid rock man controlled by a large one-eyed cybernetic brain.
• Colonel Zol/Wolf-Man (ゾル大佐/狼男, Zoru-taisa/Ōkami Otoko, 26-39, Kamen Rider vs. Shocker & V3 27 & 28) (a.k.a. Golden Wolf-Man (黄金狼男, Ōgon Ōkami Otoko)): From Shocker's Near and Middle East Branch, his true form was a wolf-like monster. He was also a disguise specialist, able to mimic Taki's appearance almost perfectly using only makeup during his debut. His personal mark, worn by the Combatants 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.^[7] 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 Wolf-Man 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 three great Shocker and Gelshocker 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. In the Kamen Rider Spirits manga, he is revived with other Shocker commanders as a soulless pawn of the Badan Empire.
• Doctor Death/Ikadevil (死神博士/イカデビル, Shinigami-hakase/Ikadebiru, 40-52, Kamen 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 cold and calculating behavior. In episode 68, he captured Tobei to help train him for his battle with Kamen Rider 1, but that only resulted in Tobei learning about his weak point, his head. Discarding his cape when he faced Takeshi for the last time, Death assumed his squid-like monster form to fight Rider 1 with his tentacle whip, while Taki was held off by the Shocker Combatants. With Tobei's guidance, Kamen Rider 1 managed to overpower Ikadevil and weaken him with a Rider Chop before sending Squiddevil falling to his death with his Rider Drill Shoot. Ikadevil tried to rise once more, only to fall down and explode. Doctor Death 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. He is revived as a soulless pawn of the Badan Empire alongside Colonel Zol and Ambassador Hell in the Kamen Rider Spirits manga.
• Ambassador Hell/Garagaranda (地獄大使/ガラガランダ, Jigoku-taishi/Garagaranda, 53-62, 64-67, Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell & 69-79, V3 27 & 28, Decade: All Riders vs Great-Shocker & Let's Go Kamen Riders): Summoned from Shocker's branch in Southeast Asia, he took command of the organisation in Japan. His true name was Damon (ダモン) according to Kamen Rider Spirits. He used an electromagnetic whip and an iron claw as his weapons. In episode 79, after capturing the Riders' friends, he called Hongo out as he assumed his rattlesnake-like monster form, able to burrow underground and use his whip arm as a weapon. Kamen Rider 1 battled Garagaranda while Kazuya freed Tobei and the others, managing to use his Rider Kick on the monster. Reverting to his normal form, Hell cursed the Riders and screamed to Shocker's perseverance before he died, exploding. Afterwards, the Shocker 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. Ambassador Hell returns in the Kamen Rider Spirits manga, working for the Badan Empire. But his difference among the other revived members is that he had his own consciousness, and it is revealed that the Silver Skull used to revive him is capable of bringing back the dead person's memories. In Kamen Rider ZX, the Ambassador of Darkness, Ambassador Hell's younger cousin, appeared as a Badan Empire leader.
• Shocker Combatants (ショッカー戦闘員, Shokkā Sentōin): Black uniformed soldiers, some of the later versions having 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.
• 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 "Shocker 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 supercomputer 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 Shocker Leader. In Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Superhero Taisen, Big Machine is reimagined as a project of the Shocker/Zangyack Alliance to create a giant robot from the Crisis Fortress and the Gigant Horse.

The Shocker Kaijin are monsters used by Shocker who are formerly humans who were enhanced with animal DNA and cybernetics.

• Man Spider (蜘蛛男, Kumo Otoko, 1, 13, Rider vs Shocker) – A spider kaijin with heightened strength and agility. Spider Man was responsible for the capture of Takeshi Hongo, who would later become the first Kamen Rider. Not to be confused with the Marvel Comics character with a similar name.
• Man Bat (蝙蝠男, Kōmori Otoko, 2, 13, Rider vs Shocker) (a.k.a. Human Bat (人間蝙蝠, Ningen Kōmori)) - A bat monster. Not to be confused with the similarly named DC Comics character.
• Scorpion Man (さそり男, Sasori Otoko, 3, 13, Rider vs Shocker) (a.k.a. Scorpion Human (さそり人間, Sasori Ningen)) - A scorpion monster.
• Sarracenian (サラセニアン, Sarasenian, 4, 13, 27, Rider vs Shocker) (a.k.a. Sarracenia Human (サラセニア人間, Sarasenia Ningen)) - A sarracenia monster.
• Mantis Man (かまきり男, Kamakiri Otoko, 5, 13) - A mantis monster.
• Grimreaper Chameleon (死神カメレオン, Shinigami Kamereon, 6-7, 13, Rider vs Shocker) (a.k.a. Chameleon Man (カメレオン男, Kamereon Otoko)) - A chameleon monster.
• Wasp Woman (蜂女, Hachi Onna, 8, 13, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - A female bee monster armed with a rapier as her weapon.
• Cobra Man (コブラ男, Kobura Otoko, 9) - A cobra monster.
• Gebacondor (ゲバコンドル, Gebakondoru, 11, 13, 27, Rider vs Shocker) - A condor monster.ider vs Shocker movie, but did not actually have an active participation there.
• Yamogeras (ヤモゲラス, Yamogerasu, 12, 13, Rider vs Shocker) - A gecko monster.
• Tokageron (トカゲロン, Tokageron, 13) - Originally an arrogant soccer player named Ken Nomoto (野本健, Nomoto Ken), he fell into Shocker's sights due to his leg strength. Though he escapes Grimreaper Chameleon, Nomoto is captured by Spider Man as he was then converted into a lizard cyborg. Retaining his arrogance, Togakeron is used in Shocker's scheme down the Tokyo Atomic Energy lab's barrier with Shocker's "Barrier Destruction Ball" bomb for the Revived Kaijin Corps (再生怪人軍団, Saisei Kaijin Gundan, 13) to storm in and get the materials within. Though he defeats Kamen Rider #1's Rider Kick, Hongo musters the new Lightning Rider Kick and uses it to kick the Barrier Destruction Ball back to Tokageron and the defeated Revived Kaijin Corps, destroying them all as the bomb detonates.
• Saboteguron (サボテグロン, Saboteguron, 14-15, Rider vs Shocker) - A cactus monster.
• Phirasaurus (ピラザウルス, Pirazaurusu, 16-17) (a.k.a. Phirasaurus Human (人間ピラザウルス, Ningen Pirazaurusu)) – A piranha/dinosaur monster.
• Hitodanger (ヒトデンジャー, Hitodenjā, 18) - A giant starfish monster.
• Kanibubbler (カニバブラー, Kanibaburā, 19, 37, Rider vs Shocker) - A crab monster.
• Dokugandar's Caterpillar Form (ドクガンダー, Dokugandā, 20, Rider vs Shocker) – A caterpillar monster.
  • Dokugandar's Imago Form (21, Rider vs Shocker) - Dokugandar's moth monster form. The form Dokugandar took after breaking from its white cocoon.
• Amazonia (アマゾニア, Amazonia, 22) - A piranha monster.
• Musasabeedle (ムササビードル, Musasabīdoru, 23, Rider vs Shocker, Rider vs Ambassador Hell) - A Japanese giant flying squirrel monster.
• Kinokomorgu (キノコモルグ, Kinokomorugu, 24-25, Rider vs Shocker, Rider vs Ambassador Hell) – A mushroom monster.
• Colonel Zol's Kaijin - These are the Kaijin used by Colonel Zol.
  • Antlion Thunder (地獄サンダー, Jigoku Sandā, 26, Rider vs Shocker) - An antlion monster.
  • Mukaderas (ムカデラス, Mukaderasu, 27, 37, Rider vs Shocker) - A centipede monster.
  • Mogurang (モグラング, Mogurangu, 28, 37, 41, Rider vs Shocker) – A mole monster.
  • Kuragedarl (クラゲダール, Kuragedāru, 29) - A jellyfish monster.
  • Zanburonzo (ザンブロンゾ, Zanburonzo, 30, Rider vs Shocker, Rider vs Ambassador Hell) - A trilobite monster.
  • Arigabari (アリガバリ, Arigabari, 31) - A giant anteater monster.
  • Dokudahlian (ドクダリアン, Dokudarian, 32, Rider vs Shocker, V3 27-28) – A flower monster.
  • Armadillong (アルマジロング, Arumajirongu, 33, 37, 41, Rider vs Shocker) – An armadillo monster.
  • Gamagirah (ガマギラー, Gamagirā, 34, Rider vs Shocker) – A toad monster.
  • Arikimedes (アリキメデス, Arikimedesu, 35, Rider vs Shocker) - A queen ant monster.
  • Egyptas (エジプタス, Ejiputasu, 36) – An Egyptian mummy altered into a mummy monster by Shocker Japan under Colonel Zol's orders.
  • Torikabuto (トリカブト, Torikabuto, 37, Rider vs Shocker) – An aconitum monster.
  • Eiking (エイキング, Eikingu, 38, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu, Rider vs Shocker, Rider vs Ambassador Hell) - A stingray monster.
  • Wolf Man (狼男, Ōkami Otoko, 39) (a.k.a. Experimental Wolf Man (実験用狼男, Jikkenyō Ōkami Otoko)) - An experimental wolf monster created by the wolf virus.
• Doctor Death's Kaijin - These are the Kaijin used by Doctor Shinigami.
  • Snowman (スノーマン, Sunōman, 40) - A yeti monster.
  • Ghoster (ゴースター, Gōsutā, 41) - A magma monster.
  • Fly Man (ハエ男, Hae Otoko, 42) - A fly monster.
  • Pranodon (プラノドン, Puranodon, 43) - A pteranodon monster.
  • Kabibinga (カビビンガ, Kabibinga, 44) - A mold monster
  • Namekujira (ナメクジラ, Namekujira, 45) - A slug monster.
  • Bearkonger (ベアーコンガー, Beākongā, 46) - A brown bear/cougar monster.
  • Todogirah (トドギラー, Todogirā, 47) - A steller sea lion monster.
  • Hiruguerrilla (ヒルゲリラ, Hirugerira, 48) - A leech monster.
  • Isoginchak (イソギンチャック, Isoginchakku, 49) - A sea anemone monster.
  • Kamestone (カメストーン, Kamesutōn, 50,Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - A turtle monster.
  • Unicornos (ユニコルノス, Yunikorunosu, 51) - A unicorn monster.
  • Gilgalass (ギルガラス, Girugarasu, 52, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - A jungle crow monster.
  • Namazugiller (ナマズギラー, Namazugirā, 61, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - An electric catfish monster.
  • Saigang (サイギャング, Saigyangu, 63, 66) - A rhinoceros monster.
• Ambassador Hell's Kaijin - These are the Kaijin used by Ambassador Hell.
  • Jaguarman (ジャガーマン, Jagāman, 53, 66) - A jaguar monster.
  • Sea Snake Man (海蛇男, Umihebi Otoko, 54) - A sea snake monster.
  • Cockroach Man (ごきぶり男, Gokiburi Otoko, 55) - A cockroach monster.
  • Dokumondo (ドクモンド, Dokumondo, 57) - A ground spider monster.
  • Poison Lizard Man (毒トカゲ男, Dokutokage Otoko, 58, 66) - A frilled lizard monster.
  • Earthworm Man (ミミズ男, Mimizu Otoko, 59) - An earthworm monster.
  • Owl Man (フクロウ男, Fukurō Otoko, 60) - An owl monster.
  • Harinezuras (ハリネズラス, Harinezurasu, 62, 66) - A hedgehog monster.
  • Semiminga (セミミンガ, Semiminga, 64, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - A cicada monster.
  • Kabutorong (カブトロング, Kabutorongu, 65) - A Japanese rhinoceros beetle monster.
  • Kamikirikid (カミキリキッド, Kamikirikiddo, 66, Kamen Rider: Seigi No keifu) - A longhorn beetle monster.
  • Girizames (ギリザメス, Girizamesu, 67) - A sawshark monster.
  • Gillerkorogi (ギラーコオロギ, Girākōrogi, 69) - A cricket monster.
  • Elekibotaru (エレキボタル, Erekibotaru, 70) - A firefly monster.
  • Abugomens (アブゴメス, Abugomesu, 71) - A horse-fly monster.
  • Mosquiras (モスキラス, Mosukirasu, 72) - A mosquito monster.
  • Shiomaneking (シオマネキング, Shiomanekingu, 72-73, V3 27-28) - A fiddler crab monster.
  • Shiracuras (シラキュラス, Shirakyurasu, 74) - A crab louse monster.
  • Bararanga (バラランガ, Bararanga, 75) - A rose monster.
  • Seadragon I (シードラゴンⅠ世, Shīdoragon Issei, 76) - A seahorse monster.
  • Seadragon II (シードラゴンⅡ世, Shīdoragon Nisei, 76) - A seahorse monster.
  • Seadragon III (シードラゴンⅢ世, Shīdoragon Sansei, 76) - A seahorse monster.
  • Imoriges (イモリゲス, Imorigesu, 77, V3 27-28) - A newt monster.
  • Unidogma (ウニドグマ, Unidoguma, 78, V3 27-28) - A sea urchin monster.

Gel-Shocker (ゲルショッカー, Gerushokkā) was formed after the disbandment of Shocker, with the remnants of the organization absorbing another organization Geldam (ゲルダム団, Gerudamu-dan) trained in the deserts of Africa. After Ambassador Hell's defeat, the Shocker Leader reorganized the organization from the ground up, destroying all remaining secret bases and even killing the remaining troop contingent in a bloody forest massacre witnessed by unfortunate campers.

• General Black (ブラック将軍, Burakku-shōgun): The leader of Gel-Shocker. General Black is a commander originally from Geldam who had a monstrous leech/chameleon hybrid form called Hilchameleon (ヒルカメレオン, Hirukamereon) who had the ability to suck blood by hugging humans, which was later used to revive Gel-Shocker monsters after already being defeated by the Double Riders, throwing leeches which cause the target to follow his orders and turn himself invisible. Later, he fought the Double Riders on a roller coaster and was defeated by their Rider Double Chop while turning invisible. Weakened, he reverted to his human form and cursed the Double Riders before exploding. Eventually, General Black was resurrected and worked for Destron in an important operation but ended up dying in the self-destruction of a Destron base. Black returned as a soulless pawn of the Badan Empire in the Kamen Rider Spirits manga, but he was defeated by a Rider Double Kick performed by Kamen Riders 2 and ZX.
• Gel-Shocker Combatants (ゲルショッカー戦闘員, Geru Shokkā Sentōin): Gel-Shocker Combatants wore bright purple and yellow costumes, were capable of traveling from one place to another by transforming into sheets that would drop down onto unsuspecting victims, and were capable of taking more blunt abuse than their predecessors.
• Shocker Riders (ショッカーライダー, Shokkā Raidā): There were 12 of them instead of the 6 created by Gel-Shocker that later appeared in the TV series. Hayato Ichimonji was one of them. In episode 15, Hayato had a brief flashback about his capture by Shocker. A Shocker surgeon told him that he'd become a cyborg to fight against the Kamen Rider. Afterwards, Hayato mentioned that he was saved by Kamen Rider #1, but the specific circumstances of that event are not clear.

The Gel-Shocker Kaijin are the Kaijin of Gel-Shocker who are hybrids of two different animals or an animal and a plant.

• Ganikoumoru (ガニコウモル, Ganikōmoru, 78-80, 97): A crab/bat monster who is the only monster of Geldam before it combined with the remnants of Shocker. Destroyed by Kamen Rider 1. He was later revived in a new appearance called Revived Ganikoumoru (再生ガニコウモル, Saisei Ganikōmoru, 97)
• Sasori Tokagues (サソリトカゲス, Sasori Tokagesu, 81): A scorpion/lizard monster.
• Kurage Wolf (クラゲウルフ, Kurage Urufu, 82): A jellyfish/wolf monster.
• Ino Kabuton (イノカブトン, [83] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 2) (help)): A wild boar/Japanese rhinoceros beetle monster.
• Isoguin Jaguar (イソギンジャガー, Isogin Jagā, 84): A sea anemone/jaguar monster created from a man named Yosuke Katsurojou.
• Utsubo Games (ウツボガメス, Utsubo Gamesu, 85): A moray eel/turtle monster.
• Washi Kamaguilli (ワシカマギリ, Washi Kamagiri, 86): An eagle/mantis monster.
• Kumo Lion (クモライオン, Kumo Raion, 87): A golden silk spider/lion monster.
• Neko Yamori (ネコヤモリ, [88] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 2) (help)): A cat/gecko monster.
• Nezcondor (ネズコンドル, Nezukondoru, 89, 90): A house mouse/condor monster. He was later enhanced into Remodeled Nezcondor (改造ネズコンドル, Kaizō Nezukondoru, 90).
• Mukade Tiger (ムカデタイガー, Mukade Taigā, 91): A centipede/tiger monster.
• Haetori Bachi (ハエトリバチ, [92, 93] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 6) (help)): A Venus flytrap/bee monster.
• Ei Dokugar (エイドクガー, Ei Dokugā, 93, 94): A ray/moth monster.
• Namekuji Kinoka (ナメクジキノコ, [93, 94] Error: {{nihongo}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 6) (help)): A slug/mushroom monster.
• Garaox (ガラオックス, Garaokkusu, 95): A jungle crow/ox monster.
• Saboten Bat (サボテンバット, Saboten Bat, 96): A cactus/bat monster.

• 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider (ゴーゴー仮面ライダー, Gō Gō Kamen Raidā) - A movie version of episode 13.
• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Shocker (仮面ライダー対ショッカー, Kamen Raidā Tai Shokkā)
• 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell (仮面ライダー対じごく大使, Kamen Raidā Tai Jigoku-taishi)
• 2005: Kamen Rider: The First
• 2007: Kamen Rider: The Next
• 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)^[8]
• 2014: Heisei Rider vs. Shōwa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai (平成ライダー対昭和ライダー 仮面ライダー大戦 feat.スーパー戦隊, Heisei Raidā Tai Shōwa Raidā Kamen Raidā Taisen Fīcharingu Sūpā Sentai)
• 2016: Kamen Rider 1 (仮面ライダー1号, Kamen Raidā Ichigō)
• 2021: Saber + Zenkaiger: Super Hero Senki (セイバー＋ゼンカイジャー スーパーヒーロー戦記, Seibā Zenkaijā Sūpā Hīrō Senki)
• 2021: Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations (仮面ライダー ビヨンド・ジェネレーションズ, Kamen Raidā Biyondo Jenerēshonzu)
• 2023: Shin Kamen Rider

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 the Shotaro Ishinomori series. Kamen Rider has had three different stories: Missing Link, Special Episode: Escape (SPECIAL EPISODE -脱出-, Supesharu Episōdo 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, Sen'nyū)
2. Disappearance (失踪, Shissō)
3. Awakening (覚醒, Kakusei)
4. Puppet (傀儡, Kairai)

• Takeshi Hongo: Hiroshi Fujioka (藤岡 弘, Fujioka Hiroshi)
• Hayato Ichimonji: Takeshi Sasaki (佐々木 剛, Sasaki Takeshi)
• Kazuya Taki: Jirō Chiba (千葉 治郎, Chiba Jirō)
• Tōbei Tachibana: Akiji Kobayashi (小林 昭二, Kobayashi Akiji)
• Ruriko Midorikawa: Chieko Maki (真樹 千恵子, Maki Chieko)
• Hiromi Nohara: Yoko Shimada (島田 陽子, Shimada Yōko)
• Shiro: Jō Honda (本田 じょう, Honda Jō)
• Yuri: Wakako Oki (沖 わか子, Oki Wakako)
• Mari: Linda Yamamoto (山本 リンダ, Yamamoto Rinda)
• Michi: Katsumi Nakajima (中島 かつみ, Nakajima Katsumi)
• Goro Ishikura: Yasuharu Miura (三浦 康晴, Miura Yasuharu)
• Emi: Emily Takami (高見 エミリー, Takami Emirī)
• Mika: Yōko Sugibayashi (杉林 陽子, Sugibayashi Yōko)
• Tokko: Machiko Nakajima (中島 真智子, Nakajima Machiko)
• Naoki: Tomonori Yazaki (矢崎 知紀, Tomonori Yazaki)
• Mitsuru: Yoshikazu Yamada (山田 芳一, Yamada Yoshikazu)
• Yokko: Yoshiko Nakada (中田 喜子, Nakada Yoshiko)
• Choko: Mimi Hagiwara (ミミ萩原, Hagiwara Mimi)
• Colonel Zol: Jirō Miyaguchi (宮口 二朗, Miyaguchi Jirō)
• Doctor Death: Hideyo Amamoto (天本 英世, Amamoto Hideyo)
• Ambassador Hell: Kenji Ushio (潮 健児, Ushio Kenji)
• General Black: Matasaburō Niwa (丹羽 又三郎, Niwa Matasaburō)
• Shocker/Gelshocker Leader (Voice): Gorō Naya (納谷 悟朗, Naya Gorō)
• Narration: Shinji Nakae (中江 真司, Nakae Shinji)

• In the Philippines, it was aired on RPN-9 as Masked Rider from 1975 to 1977 with an English dub.

• Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
• Scriptwriters: Masaru Igami, Shinichi Ichikawa, Masayuki Shimada, Mari Takizawa, Hisashi Yamazaki, Takao Nagaishi, Masahiro Tsukada, Ikurō Suzuki, Takeo Ōno, Fumio Ishimori, Kimiyuki Hasegawa, Kimio Hirayama, Minoru Yamada, Gorō Oketani, Shotaro Ishinomori
• Directors: Kōichi Takemoto, Itaru Orita, Hidetoshi Kitamura, Minoru Yamada, Issaku Uchida, Katsuhiko Taguchi, Masahiro Tsukada, Shotaro Ishinomori, Atsuo Okunaka
• Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi

Opening themes

• "Let's Go!! Rider Kick" (レッツゴー!!ライダーキック, Rettsu Gō!! Raidā Kikku)
  • Lyrics: Shotaro Ishinomori
  • Composition & Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Artist: Hiroshi Fujioka / Masato Shimon (as Koichi Fuji) & Male Harmony (メール・ハーモニー, Mēru Hāmonī)
  • Episodes: 1–13 (Fujioka), 14–88 (Fuji)
• "Rider Action" (ライダーアクション, Raidā Akushon)
  • Lyrics: Shotaro 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: Koichi Fuji, Male Harmony
  • Episodes: 1–71
• "Rider Action"
  • Lyrics: Shotaro 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

The Kamen Rider original series famously spearheaded launched the "Second Kaiju Boom" or "Henshin Boom" on Japanese television in the early 1970s, greatly impacting the superhero and action-adventure genre in Japan.^[9] The famous "henshin sequence", in which the title hero performs ritualistic poses and shouting a keyword to transform into his superhero form has since become a staple in Japanese pop-culture, inspiring superheroes, and magical girl genres. Kamen Rider went later produce 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 movies released as the 1990s "Movie Riders", which were Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue, Kamen Rider ZO and Kamen Rider J. After the original creator Shōtarō Ishinomori's death in 1998, the Kamen Rider franchise continued in 2000 with Kamen Rider Kuuga. As of 2023, thirty-four Kamen Rider series have been made, with the newest being Kamen Rider Gotchard which premiered in September 2023.

As of 2005, a remake of the Kamen Rider series in the Heisei era was made and reimagined with Kamen Rider The First and continued with Kamen Rider The Next released in 2007.

The cultural impact of the series in Japan resulted in astronomer 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,^[10][11] and 12796 Kamenrider, after the series itself.^[10][12]

As of 2021, starting from Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations, Hiroshi Fujioka's son, Maito portrays Takeshi Hongo's younger self.^[13]

As of 2023, another remake of the Kamen Rider series in the Reiwa era was made and reimagined with Shin Kamen Rider.

• 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.