Story
The story took place in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious terrorist organization. To assist its plan in world domination, Shocker recruited its agents through kidnapping, turning them into mutant cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one of the victims was rescued just before the final step, and his name was Takeshi Hongo. With his sanity and moral conscience remaining intact, Hongo assumed the identity of the grasshopper-looking altered human superhero Kamen Rider and battled Shocker with his newly acquired powers. However, another of Shocker's victim is the free-lancer photographer Hayato Ichimonji, who was submitted to become a cyborg, only to be saved by Kamen Rider from being brainwashed and becomes Kamen Rider 2. Together, they teamed up to bring an end to Shocker's reign of terror and later Gel-Shocker.
Manga
Many manga based on the original Kamen Rider series have been published, but only the following few were penned and drawn by Ishinomori himself:
- 1971: Kamen Rider
- 1971: Kamen Rider - a remake
- 1979: Kamen Rider (Storyboard)
Main characters
Riders
- Takeshi Hongo / Kamen Rider 1 - protagonist in episodes 1-13, 53-98
- Hayato Ichimonji / Kamen Rider 2 - protagonist in episodes 14-52, partner 53-98
Allies
- Tobei Tachibana - Hongo's racing mentor
- Kazuya Taki - FBI agent
- Professor Midorikawa: A former Shocker who freed Hongo and was killed by Spider Man.
- Ruriko Midorikawa: The daughter of Proff. Midorikawa, blaming Hongo for his death.
- Hiromi Nohara: Ruriko's friend.
Episode list
- 1. The Mysterious Spider Man
- 2. The Terrifying Bat Man
- 3. Monster, Scorpion Man
- 4. Cannibalism, Sarracenian
- 5. Monster, Mantis Man
- 6. Grim Reaper, Chameleon
- 7. Duel With Grim Reaper Chameleon! World Fair Impression
- 8. Strangeness! Bee Woman
- 9. The Terrifying Cobra Man
- 10. The Revived Cobra Man
- 11. Bloodsucking Monster, Gebacondor
- 12. Murder, Yamogelas
- 13. Lizardron and the Big Monster Army
- 14. Raid of the Demon Sabotegron
- 15. Counterattack, Sabotegron
- 16. Wrestler of the Devil, Pirasaurus
- 17. Death Match in the Ring: Defeat! Pirasaurus
- 18. Fossil Man: Mandanger
- 19. Monster Crabbubbler Appears in Hokkaido
- 20. Fire-Breathing Caterpillar Monster: Dokugander
- 21. Dokugander, Confrontation at Osaka Castle
- 22. Suspicious Merman Amazonia
- 23. Sky-Flying Monster Musasabedol
- 24. Deadly Poison Monster Mushroommolg's Sortie!
- 25. Defeat Mushroommolg!
- 26. The Terrifying Antlion
- 27. Mukadelas Monster Classroom
- 28. Underground Monster Molerang
- 29. Electric Monster Jellyfishdall
- 30. Revived Fossil, Bloodsucking Trilobite
- 31. Deathmatch! Anteater Demon Arigabari
- 32. Cannibalism Flower, Dokudalian
- 33. Steel Monster, Armadillong
- 34. Japan in Danger! Toadgiller's Invasion
- 35. Murderous Ant Queen, Archimedes
- 36. Resurrected Mummy Monster, Egyptus
- 37. Poisonous Gas Monster Trickabuto's G-Plan
- 38. Lightning Monster Rayking's World Darkness Plan
- 39. Monster Wolf Man's Huge Murder Party
- 40. Deathmatch! Monster Snowman vs. Two Riders
- 41. Magma Monster Ghoster, Decisive Battle at Sakurajima
- 42. The Devil's Messenger, Mysterious Fly Man
- 43. Mysterious Birdman Pranodon's Attack
- 44. Graveyard Monster, Moldbinga
- 45. Monster Namewhale's Gas Explosion Plan
- 46. Showdown!! Snow Mountain Monster Bearconger
- 47. The Death-Calling Ice Devil Todogiller
- 48. Bloodsucking Marshes of Leechguerilla
- 49. Cannibalistic Monster, Sea Anemone
- 50. Monster Turtlestone's Murderous Aurora Program
- 51. Stone Monster Unicornos vs. Double Rider Kick
- 52. My Name is Mysterious Birdman Gilgalass
- 53. Monster Jaguarman's Ready-to-Die Motorbike War
- 54. Sea Serpent Man of the Phantom Village
- 55. Cockroach Man!! The Terrifying Bacterial Ad-Balloon
- 56. Amazon's Poison Butterfly Gireera
- 57. Tsuchigumo Man Poisonmondo
- 58. Monster Poison Lizard, Duel in Fear Valley!!
- 59. The Bottomless Swamp Monster, Earthworm Man!
- 60. Mysterious Owl Man's Murderous X-Rays
- 61. Monster Catfishgiller's Electric Hell
- 62. Monster Hedgehoras' Murder Skull Plan
- 63. Monster Rhinogang's Autorace of Death
- 64. Monster Cicadaminga's Song to Kill Everyone
- 65. Monster Dr. Insect and the Shocker School
- 66. Shocker Graveyard, Revived Monsters
- 67. The Shocker Leader Appears! Riders in Danger
- 68. Doctor Shinigami, the True Meaning of Terror?
- 69. Monster Gillercricket's Claws of Impending Death
- 70. Monster Electric-Guitarbotal's Fireball Attack
- 71. Monster Horseflygomes' Rokkoudai Mountain Pursuit
- 72. Vampiric Mosquilas vs. Two Riders
- 73. Double Riders' Defeat! Shiomaneking
- 74. Deadly Bloodsucking Fiends!! Good Luck, Rider Boys' Squad
- 75. Poison Flower Monster Roseranga - The Secret of the House of Terror
- 76. Three Head of Generator Monster Seadragons!!
- 77. Monster Newtgeth, Duel at the Farm of Hell!!
- 78. The Dreadful Urchindogma + The Phantom Monster
- 79. Hell Ambassador!! The True Meaning of Fear?
- 80. Gel-Shocker Appears! Kamen Rider's Last Day!
- 81. Kamen Rider Dies Twice!
- 82. Monster Jellyfish Wolf, Dreadful Rush Hour
- 83. Monster Inokabuton, Defeat the Rider With Crazy Gas
- 84. Watch Out, Rider! Isoginjaguar's Hell Trap
- 85. Sludge Monster, Dreadful Murder Smog
- 86. Monster Eaglemantis' Human Hunt
- 87. Gel-Shocker's Delivery Man of Death
- 88. Bizarre! The Picture of the Black Cat That Calls for Blood
- 89. Fear's Pet Strategy, Drop Rider into Hell!
- 90. Fear's Pet Strategy, Rider SOS
- 91. Gel-Shocker, Enroll in Terror School
- 92. Atrocity! Fake Kamen Riders!!
- 93. 8 Kamen Riders
- 94. The True Identity of the Gel-Shocker Leader
- 95. Monster Garaox's Sky-Flying Car
- 96. Takeshi Hongo, Cactus Monster Exposed!?
- 97. Takeshi Hongo, Transformation Impossible
- 98. Gel-Shocker Annihilated! The End of the Leader!!
Films
Riders
- 1971: Go Go Kamen Rider - movie version of Episode 13
The Shocker Organization sends two of its Inhumanoids to destroy an atomic plant, but their plan is foiled by an invisible barrier that surrounds the complex. Because of this, they abduct a top soccer player and convert him into Tokageron, a lizard Inhumanoid capable of kicking a 5 kg bomb to destroy the plant's barrier. Kamen Rider must once again combat the Shocker and prevent them from destroying the atomic plant. - 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Shocker
Professor Daidoji has developed a gravity machine called the GX Device. Unfortunately, Shocker wants it; so they attack the professor and destroy his laboratory, but come home empty-handed. Shocker's agents find out that the plans for the GX Device are with Daidoji's daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Now the Kamen Riders, along with FBI agent Kazuya Taki, must protect Daidoji's daughter and prevent Shocker from obtaining the plans. - 1972: Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell
Takeshi Hongo and FBI agent Kazuya Taki fake their deaths when they are attacked by Shocker soldiers during a motocross race. They disguise themselves as Shocker soldiers and infiltrate the main headquarters, but it doesn't take too long for Ambassador Hell to find their whereabouts and trap them. Before he detonates a bomb within the base, Ambassador Hell tells Kamen Rider 1 and Taki that Shocker is preparing a giant laser capable of destroying cities. Our two heroes must escape from the base's self-destruction and stop Shocker from arming their latest weapon. Not only that, they must rescue Tachibana and the racing club, who have been abducted by Shocker's minions. - 2005: Kamen Rider The First - premiered in November 2005, this movie retells the origin of Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2 in a 21st-century setting.
- 2007: Kamen Rider The Next - premiered in October 2007, this sequel to Kamen Rider The First retells the origin of Kamen Rider V3, who teams up with Kamen Riders 1 & 2 to fight Shocker.
Cast
Riders
- Takeshi Hongo : Hiroshi Fujioka
- Hayato Ichimonji : Takeshi Sasaki
- Tobei Tachibana : Akiji Kobayashi
- Kazuya Taki : Jiro Chiba
- Colonel Zol : Jiro Miyaguchi
- Dr. Shinigami : Hideyo Amamoto
- Ambassador Hell : Kenji Ushio
- General Black : Matasaburo Niwa
- Ruriko Midorikawa : Chieko Morigawa
- Hiromi Nohara : Yoko Shimada
- Mari : Linda Yamamoto
- Yuri : Wakako Oki
- Michi : Katsumi Nakajima
- Emi : Emily Takami
- Mika : Yoko Sugibayashi
- Tokko : Machiko Nakajima
- Yokko : Yoshiko Nakada
- Choko : Mimi Hagiwara
- Goro : Yasuharu Miura
- Naoki : Tomonori Yazaki
- Mitsuru : Hoichi Yamada
- Shiro : Jo Honda
- The Great Leader of Shocker/The Great Leader of Gel-Shocker
- Narrator: Shinji Nakae