Henshin Men

Travis and Nathan have a few other things on their minds discussing Kamen Rider (1971) this week. Namely Star Trek and ‘70s Godzilla films. In an episode that opens reminiscent of Godzilla vs. Megalon, Hongo battles a Gorn-like Shocker kaijin that must’ve inspired the mad mind of Keita Amemiya when he directed Zeiram. (Learn more about him in the latest issue of Kaiju Ramen Magazine—out now!) In the second episode, a snake oil salesman is transformed into a kaijin that wants to be the “space roaches” of Godzilla vs. Gigan—and spreads a deadly hyper-aging bacteria in bowling ball finger holes. (So…many…bad…jokes…!) Just your average episode of Henshin Men, folks!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:                                                                                         

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

A momentous episode of Henshin Men about a pair of momentous Kamen Rider (1971) episodes requires a momentous guest—Kamen Rider super-fan and tokustasu scholar August Ragone. Yes, Nathan managed to snag the one person in the English-speaking world who loves Kamen Rider more than Travis! After August regales the boys with his long list of credentials, storied life, and copious knowledge, the three of them discuss Hayato’s final episode as the star of the show. It features Dr. Shinigami with a scythe, a crow kaijin (“Nevermore”?), and an insanity gas. Then arguably the most iconic portion of the show begins with Hongo’s true return, and it features a henshin pose, a new villain (Serpentor?), and one of August’s favorite kaijin, Jaguar-Man! Get ready for an epic double-length episode of Henshin Men!

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode. Thanks, man!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

Kamen Rider (1971) keeps teasing the audience with Hongo returning, and Nathan and Travis tease a HUGE upcoming episode of Henshin Men! (Listen until the end to find out!) First up, Kamen Rider battles Gamera, er, Turtlestone, er, Kamestone. Who, besides crashing through walls like the Kool-Aide Man, blinds people with Deadly Daylight Disco lighting. Then Shocker unleashes the weirdest unicorn you’ve ever seen in the second episode. He’s made by transfusing powdered blood from a unicorn fossil into an evil man. (Sure, why not?) Also, Kamen Rider becomes Daredevil and Zatoichi, all in one episode! Enjoy this week’s Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

Travis and Nathan mean that title literally! Shocker’s kaijin-of-the-week are a leech and an anemone with tornado powers. (Ever get the feeling Toei had the same dart board as the infamous film studio The Asylum that has animals and natural disasters on it?) Leecherilla does look horrifying—until he doesn’t. But Anemone is juxtaposed against the most Japanese-looking version of Africa you ever saw. Your intrepid hosts also discuss the missed potential of Shocker mind-controlling Hayato (and not telling him to transform?), the Rider Girls using playing cards as tarot cards (That’s a thing?), and the “Rider Headbutt” (that Henshin Men does not endorse). Enjoy!

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode. Thanks, man!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

This week’s episode of Henshin Men is brought to you by…snow and hugs. (At least it’s not mind control, am I right?) Nathan and Travis discuss the coldest episodes of Kamen Rider (1971) yet. In the first, Team Rider goes on (another!?) vacation to a ski lodge that, predictably, gets ruined by Shocker’s kaijin, Bearkonger. Hayato injures his arm and isn’t able to transform—for five seconds. Then he becomes the “Kamen Snowmobiler” for a chase that looks straight out of In Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the next episode, Travis continues to ship Taki and Hayato (“Takiato”) because KR2 has to save him and Goro—with a warm hug. Yep. Welcome to Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

Nathan and Travis get back into the Kamen Rider (1971) routine. This required they re-watch a pair of episodes they intended to cover a month ago—and it’s a good thing they did. This week’s KR offerings feature one of the scariest kaijin yet—Moldinga/Kabibinga—and one that should’ve gotten Toei sued by Toho—Slugzilla. You’ll hear Travis and Nathan discuss the symbolically corruptive nature of mold/fungus and how to translate crazy kaijin-of-the-week names—and complaints about more mind control! (Seriously, Shocker has maybe three plays in their playbook). In other words, everything you’ve come to expect from Henshin Men.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

It’s a doubly special occasion because Travis is back, and Henshin Men joins forces with The Power Trip! Yes, in a crossover of many firsts, Travis and Nathan are joined by their mutual co-host, Michael, from their fellow Kaiju Ramen Network podcast, The Power Trip: A Journey through the Power Rangers Franchise. What could possibly bring them together? None other than the three-part backdoor pilot on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers that introduced the world to Kamen Rider, er, Masked Rider! But while he’s a “Power guru,” Michael quickly shows he knows nothing about video games, ‘90s action movies, or comic books (“Ratchet Raccoon”?). Get ready for a discussion that touches on everything from Dune to Keita Amemiya to why Kimberly is the most capable Power Ranger—followed by the hosts arguing over which show does the awards better.

This episode can also be heard on The Power Trip’s feed.

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is available on DVD from Shout!Factory and to stream on Netflix and the Power Rangers Official YouTube channel.

Henshin Men and The Power Trip are proud members of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis and Michael’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s flagship podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Go, Go, Power Rangers!” by Niall Stenson

-“Galaxy Quest (Instrumental)” by HeavenWraith from the OCRemix album Jet Force Gemini: Mizar Attacks!

With Travis away for one last week, the “Littlest Gatekeeper,” Elijah Thomas, of the Kaiju Conversation podcast joins Nathan to go ’90s EDGELORD EXTREME!!! By that we mean discuss the 1995 film Mechanical Violator Hakaider directed by the mad genius Keita Amemiya. This is a gritty reboot done right. It’s a bold reimagining of a character from Toei’s Kikaida TV series from the early 1970s. You’ll hear Nathan and Elijah speak with Epic Trailer Voices™ and constantly compare the film’s villain to their friend Michael because they share a name. But beneath the undiluted bad@$$ery and reversed angel/demon motifs is a story with rich themes and often poetic messages about religion, dystopia, and justice. Welcome to Henshin Men!

Hakaider is available on blu-ray from Media Blasters and to stream on Tubi.

Check out Elijah’s podcast, Kaiju Conversation, and his YouTube channel.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“HAKAIDER - ハカイダー出陣” by Koichi Ota and Shinji Kinoshita

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

With Travis still on break, Nathan brings on his friend Chris Cooke of One Cross Radio and Radio Arcade to see, as he puts it, “Power Rangers on Crack”—aka Super Inframan. If you’re thinking, “That’s from Hong Kong, not Japan! It can’t be on Henshin Men!” you’re wrong. It was made to tap into the “Henshin Boom” of the 1970s, and it had Japanese crewmembers who worked on Ultraman and Kamen Rider, among other tokusatsu. In an episode almost as energetic and crazy as the movie, Nathan and Chris muse about what a thrash metal band and album inspired by this movie would sound like, trademark every silly nickname they give to everything in the movie, and Chris goes on the biggest rant of his podcasting career. Welcome to the zany world of Inframan and Henshin Men!

Super Inframan is available on DVD from Image Entertainment and to stream on YouTube.

Check out Chris’s OCR website, YouTube channel, Instagram, and his other podcast, Radio Arcade.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Inframan Theme: Original Version” by Frankie Chan

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

With Travis still on his much-needed “pod-cation,” Nathan brings on Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers from The Drift Space podcast to discuss the second of the “duology” of Ultraman Zero specials. This one, Killer the Beatstar (which would be the best DJ name ever), was released as a tie-in with Ultarman Saga (2012), but for Jack in particular, this special doesn’t live up to the pinnacle of the previous special Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero or the film Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial. While this one has plenty of beloved characters—both human and Ultra—a great villain, and lots of fascinating ideas, it doesn’t do enough with any of them. Then it’s brought down by a weeping robot crying the Matrix code. Get ready for an episode that tangents into a bizarre fusion of Ultraman and Star Trek! (“Toku Trek”? That’s a great podcast title!)

Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar is available as part of The Ultraman Zero Collection blu-ray set released by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Listen to Jack and J.R.’s previous appearance on Henshin Men.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Check out Jack and J.R. on The Drift Space.

MUSIC:

-“Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle (Opening Theme) Cover ウルトラマンゼロ” by It Takes 2 to Toku

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok