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THIS WEEK: We introduce our coverage of the Kamen Rider franchise; we have to talk about Japanese regnal eras; Sven shows off his voice acting chops; being an X-Men fan is suffering; Mr. John Toei won't let grandpa back in the suit; Paul Marketing appears nonetheless; Hongo is the dumbest supergenius we've ever seen; no one at Shocker has a medical degree; Rider has been a hero for outcasts since the beginning; the Homestar Runner jokes will continue until morale improves; you should trust no one in academia; future Sven isn't to be trusted; we mention Persona: trinity soul for some reason, and you should always kick a Nazi in the face.

TOPICS:

* Kamen Rider (1971) 1-8

* Kamen Rider Series introduction and general overview of Showa and Heisei eras of the franchise

* Shotaro Ishinomori, Toru Hirayama, and sociopolitical commentary in a show for six year olds

* Dramatis personae

* Takeshi Hongo, aka Segata Sanshiro, the actual coolest and strongest and God-King of Castle Superbeast with an IQ of SIX HUNDRED

* Spoderm'n, Batm'n, Scorpionm'n, Sarracenian, Mantism'n, Chameleonm'n, Bee Woman

* Budgeting props and effects with two 200 yen coins and a piece of string

* Surreality and psychedelia with Shocker

* The Great Leader's questionable choices and Shocker's terrible plans

* The heady days where safety protocols didn't exist

* Hongo's alter-ego, Cy B. Orgman, with the bombproof butt

* Invisible Nazis are the worst

* Shocker's Nazi roots and why Rider is an anti-fascist icon

* Hitler's Secret Treasure

* These fight scenes actually rule

* Hongo can hear as well as dogs

* What we've learned this episode

* Why toku and Rider's themes keep pulling us in

MUSIC:

* "Fight! Seven Riders! Showa Rider Taisen"- Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Megamax

* Masato Shimon - "Let's Go! Rider Kick" and "Kamen Rider no Uta"

Visual Companion.

JUST WHAT IS SHOCKER?: An analysis by a gibbering Showa fan by @cannibal-sarracenian on tumblr.

NEXT WEEK: We wrap up the Assassins arc of Cyborg 009! The suffering is real.

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