Tag: Tokusatsu

Gonna Need ‘Em All. In Search For Gatchaman – Ken: Deathmatch

Just what gets set up in Gatchaman Ken: Deathmatch hints that Galactor is looking for heavy hitters to take the Space Ninja Team down!

Gatchaman - Ken Deathmatch CoverMad Cave Studios

I feel author Tommy Lee Edwards had Enter the Dragon in mind when writing Gatchaman Ken: Deathmatch. And I’ll get confirmation of that feeling is true when issue number two is released. Here, this seminal leader of the Science Ninja Team gets kidnapped while undercover, investigating a fight club of sorts.

The costumes these fighters wear are as wacky as those WWE costumes and the memories this comic book brings are why I’m paying attention! Other than offering a sharper design to the series, what’s shown is as wonderful as those classic moments from the Gatchaman series. For the tale at hand, the story is familiar. Artist Mindy Lee and colorist Giada Marchisio really nail the dynamics that I fondly recall from the cartoon.

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Between Duty and Obligation, Ultraman Rising Delivers DreamWorks Style Quality To This Japanese IP

The beauty that’s found in Ultraman Rising is that it’ll appeal to anyone who doesn’t know a thing about this franchise.

Ultraman Rising PosterComing to Netflix Nov 14, 2024

Just how many Ultramen exist depends on who you ask. With Netflix hosting its own series simply titled after this hero (which feels like a rehash of Iron Man Armoured Adventures) and also Ultraman Rising, the count has unofficially increased by two. Back in 2013, Tsuburaya Productions acknowledged thirty-six heroes existed since Ultra Q’s debut in 1966. As for how many more have existed since then, I believe at least eight have been added

Here, Ken Sato (Yuki Yamada) is an all American baseball star by day, and a Japanese hero by night. The only reason he’s pulling double duty is that his father, who was the previous incarnation, suffered an injury. Someone said it’s best for him to come home.

Even though everybody in Japan loves Ultraman, not everyone agrees. There are other folks who see him as a vigilante. Dr. Onda (Fumihiko Tachiki) is kind of like Harvey Bullock in the Batman universe; he’s a staunch opponent, although both protect Japan from monsters. This scientist leads the Kaiju Defence Force whereas the sports personality is solo. And that attitude won’t get him far in a sport dependent on teamwork.

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Kamen Rider Geats is Ready and Primed for International Distribution!

Fans of Kamen Rider will be excited to hear @shout_studios will soon be releasing the latest chapter, Kamen Rider Geats! #bluray #blurayreleasenews #tokusatsu

Kamen Rider Geats The Complete Series Blu-Ray Cover
For a list of related toy products, please visit Amazon USA

Shout! Studios in collaboration with Toei Company Ltd. proudly presents a spectacular Kamen Rider collection, Kamen Rider Geats: The Complete Series, as it becomes available for the first time in national home entertainment shelves on April 23, 2024. Fans of the much-loved superhero franchise can add to their tokusatsu collection by pre-ordering their 8-disc set on ShoutFactory.com. Customers purchasing this Blu-ray™ collection directly from the online store will receive an exclusive poster while supplies last.

A newer entry in the Kamen Rider franchise, Kamen Rider Geats completed airing in August 2023, making this release the shortest wait for all tokusatsu fans eager to take home all 49 action-packed and game-filled episodes.

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Shin Kamen Rider or Masked, He’s still A Ronin At Heart

Instead of turning the franchise into a cinematic blockbuster Shin Kamen Rider is still very much a 70s superhero film about a lonely soldier boy.

Shin Kamen Rider Movie PosterFantasia Film Festival 2023 and Available to Stream on Amazon Prime as Shin Masked Rider
Spoiler Alert

Hidiki Anno’s Shin Kamen Rider is his latest entry to a self-contained universe, and it doesn’t change the story of Takeshi Hongo (Sôsuke Ikematsu) becoming the bug-like superhero by much. Although he isn’t ready to identify himself as Kamen, what he discloses is that he’s a Masked Rider.

By tacking the word “Shin” on front, this filmmaker isn’t making this film to bring in new fans. Instead, what he adds is a Frankenstein element to appease those in the know. The internal conflict this hero must be feeling has been explored before, and when Anno is involved, it’s sure to be good! This change to an kids television show to an adult one is a tonal shift I’m liking. Continue reading “Shin Kamen Rider or Masked, He’s still A Ronin At Heart”

Shout! Factory Dialed up the Tokusatsu ♡ with 2 Complete Series this Month!

This month brings Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger and Kamen Rider Ryuki to home video, courtesy of Shout! Factory.

Tokusatsu Series Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger on home video!
Available to order on Amazon USA

Shout! Factory

Before Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, there was Super Sentai! This original presentation consists of many series only a superfan of the Tokusatsu genre can make sense of. Not only do we have the (fill in this blank) type ranger titles, but also there’s Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009. They’re all part of the megaverse, a term I’d rather use than meta.

What’s offered started hitting Japanese airwaves in the mid-70s, and to know where everything crosses over means really remembering all that’s been broadcasted since. Thanks to Shout! Factory for providing me with the releases lately, and they’re definitely shows I’m proud to play for my young nieces and nephews in hopes they’ll become fellow otakus.

First, I’ll look at what’s released this week and work backwards:

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Kamen Rider Kuuga. The Glory, The Hope. There’s No Escaping the Past!

Kamen Rider Kuuga is an excellent place to get invested into this franchise. Not only is it the first from this era to get involved in but also there’s higher production value to notice.

Kamen Rider KuugaShout! Factory
Available to purchase on Amazon USA and Stream

Kamen Rider Kuuga is all revved up and ready to soar! With this 10th instalment of the franchise, fans can now watch how different the Heisei era ups the ante. There’s a darker element to this work and I like it! Some say it takes even more cues from American cinema with the villain design, but I feel it keeps some key aspects of what makes tokusatsu special.

That’s because half the threats are familiar. One is an angry man-spider of sorts, and another, a Predator. But for the hero, Yusuke Godai, he’s not feeling too in over his head when he dons the belt to make him the next Kamen Rider! He’s curious about the appearances of two strange emblems (they’re a different kind of logo that reminds me of the Decepticons and Autobots from Transformers) appearing on various artefacts, and to figure out what’s going on means digging around.

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