Tokusatsu in Review 01 - Kamen Rider Black (1987 - 1988)

Kamen Rider Black is the eighth Kamen Rider series and the eleventh rider. It was made and broadcast in the late 80s. At one typical evening when I was in Standard 5, my brother and I accidentally stumble across this remarkable series. I remember still the episode that I first watched wad the one with the Cactus Mutant as the monster-of-the-week, and it is the eleventh episode. From then one, I developed an ongoing interest with this tokusatsu series.

Kamen Rider Black, non-geek-fans in Malaysia will know him as Baja Hitam.

The seven series prior to Black, I can't find their respective DVDs now, but I do able to get their feature movies that somehow shed some light on how their series will looks like. The DVDs for riders after Black are easier to get. Therefore, although limited, but still I can make some comparisons and comments.

Black is the first rider that does not wears a scarf. Probably scarf is no longer fashionable in the 80s, or somehow the producer realize it is not practical at all for a fighter. The series was made three years after the TV special or pilot highlighting the birth of Kamen Rider ZX, that for certain reason failed to developed into a series.

Although the series still retain a few typical Showa riders' convention, but in a lot of ways it is very different. The first being the rider's design. There is absolutely no trace of fabric in the costume, all is either latex, foam or plastic, unlike the 10 riders before him, where their costumes are combinations of sports attire as based with armour and gloves and boots. Black is a pure cyborg design, with neatness like a ninja, suggesting efficiency and not at all campy. Black also has two batter motorcycle where he use interchangeably, depending on the nature of the battle he is in.

Black, and his riders, Road Sector and Battle Hopper.

And like a typical rider story, there is also an evil rider, but not an exact evil twin of the main rider, but a totally different one. He is Shadowmoon, who ultimately becomes the leader of the evil cult Gorgom. So, Shadowmoon is not just a plot device of only one or two episodes as in the other series, but he is also the central of the story. Reason being he is the adopted brother of Black.

This twist, where the ultimate villain is the hero's brother may not be a special plot in any adventure story, but it is the breakthrough for rider series. The rider we have here no longer launch a personal crusade to save the world and being a boy scout, but his main motivation is to save his brother from the dark side. This conflict give the titular character more depth, and the series thus becomes more grim and dark in nature.

The villain Shadowmoon is also one of the best design rider / villain. In fact I found him look as cool as Darth Vader, and to a great extend, cooler than a metal hero made by Hollywood in the 80s - Robocop. Where Black is sleek, flexible and hyper kinetic, Shadowmoon is majestic, elegant and calm. Yet, being a brainwash supervillain, he is badass and has no mercy.

Shadowmoon, you will cherish every scene he is in.

The evil organization behind all the chaos this time is not a typical organization, but an ancient evil cult, run by three priest, where their ultimate vision is to dominate the world and serve the Creation King a post that supposedly being held by either Black or Shadowmoon after they duel to death. But just like typical Showa rider, Black escaped before he managed to be brainwashed, and thus, the priests have no choice but to let Shadowmoon to be the sole candidate to assume the role. In this cult there is also a character named Birugenia, and ancient warrior that has eyed for the role of Creation King but was not favored. He will sometimes be the allied, but for most of the time the rival for the priests, in his agenda to destroy Black.

Three High Priest - Bishium, Darom and Baraom with Lizard Mutant and Birugenia. Three round pictures below is the Priests' Grand Mutant Form.

Although this Gorgom cult still employ the typical monster-of-the-week plan but unlike the previous evil organization, Gorgom has no campy gimmick. There is no Dr Death or Baron Blood or Captain Chaos, but just three high priest, a rouge warrior and a capable candidate for Creation King. The monsters they have, are based on the theme of animals, insects and plants.

Although the series is filled with quite a number of plot holes, typical to tokusatsu series, but its overall more adult themed, the effective music score, the atmosphere, special effect, fight choreography, production design and the absence of prominent annoying kid in the main cast made it one of the best Kamen Rider series.

But too bad, its popularity gave it a direct sequel, where Black is upgraded into the first multiform Kamen Rider - Kamen Rider Black RX. Black RX series has back step into a campy series, and the main character has become almost moronic. Where Black ends in an almost apocalypse Japan and Shadowmoon ended up presumed dead, Black RX pick up with the main character being a carefree and bland character. There is no inner conflict, and he is but a typical do good fella.

Another blow is, the existence of Black RX means the design of Black will not be used anymore. If can, really hope there will be a feature where Black RX has to be modified back into Black permanently...