Drm note: From now on, all pics are linked to the pixiv account of the artist.

In 1979, Ishinori Shotaro was spinning off ideas to improve live action TV shows. Some of them were insanely weird, like AZTECKAISER, and most of them probably didn’t even make it to script, let alone filming, but there was one idea that not only made it, but would enthrall and wow audiences 30+ years from then.

That show was… … …

KAMEN RIDER.

Currently, Kamen Rider (Or Masked Rider, as it prefers to be known in English) is paired up with a sentai show to form what is known in Japan as THE SUPER HERO POWER HOUR.

The first half of the SUPER HERO POWER HOUR is always a sentai show. You know, like Power Rangers, only with a lot more Japanese and feminine-looking men. Currently, the show in this slot is TENSOU SENTAI GOSEIGER. To summarize the plot, 5 aliens from another world have come to Earth to protect it. Catch is, they’re only trainees. And I’m not too sure what happens next. A lot of people are more familiar with SAMURAI SENTAI SHINKENGEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR (5 samurai in funny color-coded suits protect the world. FROM YAKUMO YUKARIIIIIIIIIIIII), which was the show before this. Sadly I’m not that into sentai and am currently not interested enough to find out more. But it’s interesting, to say the least.5 people in suits and dubiously advanced technology, coupled with cheesy plots and glorious effects. And all the West gets is Saban’s knockoffs. :3c

And now we come to the other half of THE SUPER HERO POWER HOUR. Hilariously enough, it’s also the half hour of live-action programming most otaku are interested in.

Totally gonna drop a PROVIDENCE DROOOOOOOOOOOOP

KAMEN RIDER.

Currently in the block is Kamen Rider OOO. A world traveler (or more accurately, A BUM) returns to his homeland (always Japan), to scrape up more cash to travel the world more. While working, he discovers a mysterious coin. And then he is accosted by a floating hand who hands him a Driver (that’s what the Riders use to become sueprheroes) and tells him to bugger all the bad things. The hand also likes ice cream, but that’s irrelevant to the show.

And then we are introduced to the aloof and partially emo sidekick badass normal and the organization he works for. Turns out the bad guys are actually monsters. Monsters that are birthed from peoples’ DESIRES! Which are made of coins. Coins that could solve the energy crisis. Oh, and these coins are also responsible for the EVIL DUDES of the show to be revived (along with said disembodied hand who accosts our BUM HERO) and causing loads of trouble for the city at large. Uh oh.

Who knew giving in to your desires was that destructive?

Anyway, the show preceding it, Kamen Rider W, was about a small detective agency in an ecologically-conscious city. It’s detectives specialize in crimes that involve people who empower themselves by inserting in dubiously-powered USB flashdrives into themselves. The Masked Rider is made of 2 people: One, a wannabe hardboiled noir-style detective who is really not cut out for his role. The other, a girly-looking chap who HAS ALL THE KNOWLEDGE EVER stored in HIS HEAD. And they form one superhero. No I am not making this up.

Oh, and you’re gonna love the show before that. Kamen Rider Decade. Made to commemorate a decade of the revival of the Kamen Rider metaseries, it’s about this mysterious, mildly emo young man. Said young man appeared suddenly out of seemingly nowhere. And he takes horrible photographs. It also turns out that he would trigger a war so horrible it would kill all the Riders. By his own hand. And the rest of the Riders do not like being headless. Or getting chewed up like that one character. Or something. (Oh lawks a part of me died inside when I made that joke.)

ANYWAYS.

That wraps up this week’s Friday recommendation. Hope to see you all next week!

BONUS:

I AM TRYING TO WORK THROUGH MY DEPRESSION OKAY HAVE A MOEMOE QB THAT LAST MAMI JOKE TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME T_T

I find it weird that I talk about Kamen Rider and not include a picture of the latest one or W. Also, Amagami is now about Mezool t- I mean Nanasaki Ai trying to woo Junichi. DO NOT DOUBT ME.