Before we begin this review, I would like to mention that my Ko-Fi Page will be featuring a Kamen Rider-themed illustration soon, due to an Illustration Challenge Poll Result. Please be sure to be on the lookout, and enjoy the review.
For years, we have been captivated by the adventures of this fearless hero, a masked hero known only as Kamen Rider. Riding on his motorcycle, defeating evil cyborgs that were part of a villainous organization called SHOCKER, the rest would be history. The adventures of Kamen Rider would lead to a vast universe of other riders having their adventures on television screens, in films, video games, and in Manga. Speaking of manga, a couple of years ago Seven Seas Entertainment got the license for Shotaro Ishinomori’s Kamen Rider (Classic Manga) for a North American release and the publisher released all four volumes in one collectible hardcover omnibus. The story focuses on a brilliant student named Takeshi Hongo, one day Hongo was kidnapped and experimented on by an evil organization called SHOCKER. Hongo Takeshi manages to escape their clutches and use his newfound strength to fight against their schemes.
One important thing to remember about this manga is that the Manga came out before the television series. The original manga followed a similar path of the first five episodes of the television series but eventually diverged later on. It set up the groundwork of what Hongo stood for and what story Ishimomori wanted to tell, in this case, it looked to be campy, but had its moments when it could be extremely violent at times (for that era of time.) Some came across as a compressed retelling of a Kamen Rider TV Episode, but it also offered more of a vibrant approach to the masked hero’s fight against evil, in terms of action and drama.
Keep in mind that one of the biggest differences between the manga and the TV series was how Hayato Ichimonji took over the mantle of Kamen Rider. In this variation, Hongo was severely injured after the battle with the twelve SHOCKER Riders. Ichimonji was one of the twelve riders at that time, who received a head injury during the fight and regained his conscience as a result. He then turns against Shocker with Hongo’s help and guidance, they take the fight to SHOCKER. In the television series, the actor portraying Hongo shattered his leg in a motorcycle stunt gone wrong. The injury forced him to take a long-term hiatus from acting, and Takeshi Sasaki was brought on to replace Fujioka as Hayato Ichimonji until he could make his eventual return. Other than that, Shotaro Ishinomori’s main story and the surprise Kindergarten stories that were also included in this collected omnibus gave readers a sense of how much the hero meant to not only Ishinomori but also the kids who both read the manga and watched the Television Series, the stories weren’t complicated and easy for new fans to understand. Ishinomori’s stories also had themes, each was ahead of its time, for example, it tackled environmental issues and the abuse of technology. These two issues were some of the things that were on the minds of the younger generation during the 70s and Shotaro channeled this in his work, including in Kamen Rider.
Finally, the artwork featured in this omnibus was one of the best things about it, speaking as a first-time reader of Shotaro Ishinomori’s work. The beginning offered a beautiful color spread illustration, and a mix of realism mixed with a charm of cartoon hijinx in certain situations. I enjoyed that each cyborg he designed was unique and didn’t tone down their personalities, evil tone, or horror they brought in their presence, my favorite cyborg designs from these stories were Cobra Man and his girlfriend Snake Woman Medusa. Medusa’s design blends both Greek Mythology with a touch of science fiction. Given that this was targeted at a younger audience, the action sequences were drawn wonderfully, dedicating an entire double-page panel to a single moment. It was presented in an action-heavy, imaginatively energetic story with some great splash pages and linework.
Kamen Rider: The Classic Manga Collection is available now where books are sold in print and e-retailers. For more reviews, click here to check out the previous reviews.
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