I love Shotaro Ishinomori’s Kamen Rider, from the 1971 manga created as a companion piece to the TV show he helped make with Toei Company.
The Captivating Tragedy of Kamen Rider
What makes Kamen Rider so captivating is its tragic beauty. The heroic Kamen Rider isn’t a trained vigilante or a person who gained powers; he’s a victim of an evil organization, SHOCKER. They gave him a powerful cyborg body, intending to make him their weapon. But he rebelled, vowing to stop SHOCKER from hurting others.
The Cost of Heroism
This rebellion, however, comes at a great personal cost. An innocent man becomes a monster, distanced from humanity. Yet he risks his life to save humans, working out his redemption through action. He stands between innocents and monsters, using his monstrous power to protect. There is another layer to this tragedy: the other monsters are also victims of SHOCKER, and Kamen Rider cannot save them. He must destroy them to save the innocents he can, a heartbreaking choice that underscores his ongoing struggle for redemption.
The Message of Redemption
Ishinomori’s Kamen Rider seems to say, “monster is as monster does.” If you do the right thing, you’re no longer a monster even if you still look like one, even if the scars are still there. This message of redemption offers strength and hope. If your tragedy can bring others happiness, then maybe that is enough. Fight on Kamen Rider!
MJ Muñoz 