Henshin Men
90 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★ - 38 ratingsHenshin Men is a weekly podcast that explores the fascinating world of Japanese superheroes and all their high flying (and high kicking) adventures.
Hosts Travis and Nathan will dive into series like Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and Power Rangers episode by episode to look at the exciting, the silly, and the "WTH" moments from across the many decades these shows have been running.
Allow us to be the guides up the mountain of tokusatsu (Japanese special effects) content, and let us transform the way you see transforming heroes.
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Episodes
BONUS - Henshin Power V3, Episode 1: “The Henshin-itiation” (Introduction)
July 10, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBListeners! Lend us your…henshin power! Nathan Marchand (aka “The TsuBro”) returns to tokusatsu TV podcasting in this fused sequel to Henshin Men and The Power Trip. He’s joined by his friends Christopher Riner (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake Hambrick (aka “The Metal Don”) for this journey. In this episode, they introduce themselves, how they got into tokusatsu, and why they wanted to podcast about it. Then they outline the show’s format and reveal what three series they’ll cover first—after Kame...
NEW PODCAST - Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer)
July 03, 2024 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MBHenshin Power V3: Where three friends have three minutes to talk about tokusatsu! Nathan (aka “The TsuBro”) has finished both Henshin Men and The Power Trip, but his friends Chris (aka “Sentai Guy”) and Jake (aka “The Metal Don”) won’t let him stop discussing henshin heroes just yet! A new tokusatsu journey begins July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)! Podcast Socials: · Twitter/X: @HenshinPowerV3 · The Markalite Lounge (official Facebook group) · The Markalite Lounger (official Di...
BONUS – ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection (an MIFV livestream)
June 24, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 82.7 MBIn this livestream for Nathan’s other podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault, he is joined by the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez, an “ultra-fan” who presides over the website Ultraman Connection, to discuss Netflix’s new animated Ultraman movie. Is it truly one of the best animated films of the year? We get into that and more! Watch the video version here: https://youtube.com/live/B_pBsvH7CeE. Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcast, The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming J...
071 – “The Final Henshin” (Henshin Men and Power Trip Postmortem) | Ft. Christopher Riner and Jake Hambrick
May 01, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 86.7 MBAll good things must come to an end, and today that is Henshin Men (and to a lesser extent, The Power Trip). Nathan’s friends/fans/past guests Christopher Riner and Jake Hambrick return to discuss their favorite episodes and moments from both podcasts—for three minutes! Why’s that? Well, the end is not the end, Heroes of the Internet and Listeners with Attitude! This is all being done because both podcasts will do a fusion dance to merge into a new show—Henshin Power V3! Time to get the Hype...
BONUS - An Interview with James Santana, Founder of TokUSA Studios, on The World of Nebulon (abridged)
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBIn this excerpt from a Patreon-exclusive livestream for his other podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault, Nathan interviews James Santana, a comic nerd and tokusatsu fan who combined his passions by starting his own comic book label, TokUSA Studios. His goal is to bridge the gap between tokusatsu/manga fans and comic readers by offering them books inspired by the likes of Super Sentai and Ultraman, among others. He's currently spearheading a Kickstarter for The World of Nebulon, a preview bo...
The World of Nebulon - A Tokusatsu-Inspired Comic Now on Kickstarter!
April 12, 2024 07:00 - 59 seconds - 930 KBThis Preview Book will allow you to take a look into, "The Nebuverse," a world of Tokusatsu heroes & villains. Behind the scenes, Hunter van Lierop & James Santana have been working with their amazing team of Gaspar Flores & CJ Billotto to create a universe inspired by some of their favorite franchises and genres. Go to Kickstarter to support this new indie comic from TokUSA!
BONUS – MIFV x Omni Viewer x Henshin Men: Special Report on Ultraman Blazar
February 02, 2024 08:00 - 2 hours - 128 MBIn this YouTube livestream, Nathan is joined by Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins (and Ryan’s sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau) to discuss the latest Ultra series, Ultraman Blazar. The show is so different from the rest of New Generation Heroes that it could arguably mark the start of a new era for the franchise. The “toyetic” elements are kept to a minimum; the tone is darker; and it bucks some of the typical Ultra tropes. These subjects and more are unpacked in this special crossover episode of Hensh...
070 – “Kamen Man” | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ft. Soundout12
December 12, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBIn the final film/TV episode of this iteration of Henshin Men, Nathan invites YouTuber Soundout12 on to discuss the first (and only) official crossover between Japan’s biggest superheroes: Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider. This 1993 special, which is 80 minutes of retrospective documentary and ten minutes of glorious tokusatsu, has Shin Hayata and Takeshi Hongo joining forces to stop a combined kaijin/kaiju monster. It’s the one and only time the mad genius Keita Amemiya ever directed Ultraman (so f...
69 – “The Shocker Chainsaw Massacre” | Kamen Rider: The Next | Ft. Christopher Riner
November 02, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 108 MB“Sixty-nine, dudes!” And now that the obvious joke is out of the way: Christopher Riner returns as a second-time guest because Jake Hambrick was busy with family (good for him!). But Mr. Riner can’t help but ask, “Why me?” The film he discusses with Nathan, Kamen Rider: The Next, is a secret J-horror movie complete with a Sadako knockoff. (Making it accidentally perfect for Halloween season). To say it’s a far cry from its predecessor, Masked Rider: The First, would be an understatement. It’...
068 – I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Henshin Pose! | Masked Rider: The First | Ft. Jake Hambrick
October 05, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 80.7 MBHenshin Men goes from a reimagining of the original Kamen Rider (1971) to a reimagining of Kamen Rider Black and now back to what Nathan says is the superior reimagining of the 1971 series and manga: Masked Rider: The First (2005). He’s joined by aspiring podcaster Jake Hambrick to dive into this unique Japanese superhero film. It borrows more from Shotaro Ishinomori’s manga than the TV series, so it lacks tropes like the iconic henshin pose, and has an almost Sam Raimi Spider-Man flair to i...
067 – “Double Cannibalism?! One Star!” | Kamen Rider Black Sun Eps. 4-10 | Ft. Christopher Riner
September 19, 2023 17:00 - 2 hours - 145 MBLast fall, Nathan guest hosted on Tomi Trembath’s podcast, Giant-Sized Violence, as part of a crossover discussing Kamen Rider Black and its new remake, Kamen Rider Black Sun. Sadly, plans to discuss episodes 4-10 of Black Sun with Tomi fell through, so Nathan invited Christopher Riner, a hardcore listener of all his podcasts, to join him to suffer through, er, complete the coverage. This is by far the most violent and political tokusatsu Nathan has ever seen, and he’s not sure the Japanese ...
066 – “This Ain’t No Manga for Kids!” | The Kamen Rider Manga by Shotaro Ishinomori | Ft. Tomi Trembath
July 28, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 108 MBFrom TV to comics…or is it the other way around? That’s one question discussed by Nathan and his guest, Tomi Trembath the host of Giant-Sized Violence, as Henshin Men pivots to the Kamen Rider manga by the legendary Shotaro Ishinomori. This comic was created in tandem with the 1971 television series and published shortly before it premiered. However, the manga diverges drastically at points despite following a similar story. (Hongo becomes a brain in an android body?!) It would become a key ...
065 – I Know What Anno! | Shin Kamen Rider (2023) | Ft. Shane Cochran
June 23, 2023 07:00 - 2 hours - 131 MBHenshin Men returns! How could we not when a big-budget Kamen Rider movie was released in the United States? Nathan is joined by his cast-mate from Scyther Inc.’s audiodramas, Shane Cochran, who runs his own show called Masked Rider: The Audiodrama (and yes, it’s based on that “Masked Rider”). They both had the privilege of seeing Hideaki Anno’s Shin Kamen Rider in theaters during its recent Fathom Event screening. The film is full of style and thematic meat, but does the story live up to An...
BONUS – Tokusatsu 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)
June 14, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBNathan Marchand gives you a crash course on the tokusatsu medium! This was recorded at JAFAX (Japanese Animation, Film, and Art Expo) June 9-11, 2023. This is also premiering on The Monster Island Film Vault YouTube channel, and the audio will be shared on the MIFV podcast feed. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/zvh09FrXqLM. Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge. List...
BONUS – Henshin 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)
June 14, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBTake a crash course in henshin heroes with Nathan Marchand! This panel was recored at JAFAX (Japanese Film, Animation, and Art eXpo) June 10, 2023. Check out more from Nathan about henshin heroes on The Power Trip, which is also a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network. Check out www.KaijuRamenMedia.com. Watch the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Da9lKSpiZWw?feature=share. Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for thi...
BONUS - MIFV MAX #18 - My Trip to All Monsters Attack 2: Chicago S.O.S. (abridged)
May 24, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBGreetings, Heroes of the Internet! In this excerpt from a Patreon-exclusive livestream for MIFV MAX members, Nathan shares many stories from his weekend tabling at All Monsters Attack 2. He represented Kaiju Ramen Media and promoted MIFV, Henshin Men, and The Power Trip along with several content creator friends, including Travis A;exander, Michael Hamilton, and Elijah Thomas. You'll hear everything from his pre-con Viennese waltz to meeting a Power Ranger and two Ultramen! Join MIFV MAX on...
064 – The Last Ride | Ft. Travis Alexander | Kamen Rider Ep. 98 & Afterword
March 17, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBAfter a year-and-a-half of podcasting and numerous obstacles, Travis returns once again so he and Nathan can conclude their coverage of Kamen Rider (1971) on the day Hideaki Anno’s Shin Kamen Rider is released in Japan. Suspense and revelations abound! Double Rider action! Emotional farewells! It has everything—including the true identity of the Shocker Leader…who would give Lovecraft a nightmare. After analyzing the finale, your hosts reflect back on the entire series and the Henshin Men po...
063 – Takeshi Hongo Cannot Shoot His Cacti Out, Kid! (Kamen Rider Eps. 96-97)
March 06, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 73.1 MBIn Drew’s final episode as temporary co-host, he and Nathan discuss the last filler episode of Kamen Rider (1971)—which has crazy-face Cactusbat—and part one of the two-part finale. If Nathan knew it’d be a two-parter, he might’ve reconsidered having Drew on because the cliffhanger is intense. But the villains brilliantly decide to interrupt Hongo’s henshin! Regardless, strap in for lots of nutty fan theories and a long discussion of how Cactusbat is the one (Gel-)Shocker kaijin to destroy h...
062 - Rider's Half-Dozen (Kamen Rider Eps. 94-95)
February 16, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 81.2 MBTHE SAGA CONCLUDES—and is interrupted by filler! Nathan and Drew were having such a great time with Kamen Rider (1971). The last few episodes were building momentum going into the final episodes, and then Hongo and Hayato destroy the Shocker Riders…by running really fast?! And then a Muppet-y monster named Crowox with ridiculous powers (like goring) shows up to finally give us flying cars. But hey, at least you get to hear your hosts talk about the semi-obscure Sega Saturn spokesman, Segata ...
061 – Will the Real Kamen Rider Please Stand Up? (Kamen Rider Eps. 92-93)
February 03, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 69.7 MBThe saga continues! Nathan and Drew dive into two more episodes in what feels like the final story arc of Kamen Rider (1971)—except (SPOILER WARNING!) it isn’t! With Hongo supposedly dead, the Kamen Kenny Force meets new allies who for whatever reason never talked to them until now: the Anti-Shocker Alliance. That’s all well and good, but the show actually hears your hosts yelling at the screen because Hayato returns! And he’s wearing a snazzy cowboy hat. But things really get out of hand wh...
060 – Children of the Gel-Shockorn (Kamen Rider Eps. 90-91)
January 20, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBThey did it again! For the third time in Kamen Rider (1971), the villains have created a school for brainwashing and indoctrinating children. Nathan and Drew catch themselves to avoid making topical jokes about this. That episode also features a remarkably competent kaijin with Centigerpede, who puts Hongo in one of the worst predicaments he’s gotten into on this show. The same can’t be said for Ratcondor in the first episode covered this week. The ending drove Drew so crazy, Nathan had to g...
059 – Someone Let the Catgecko Out of the Bag! (Kamen Rider Eps. 88-89)
January 13, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 73.7 MBEver heard of a Japanese horror film called House? It’s evidence that LSD was popular in 1970s Japan…kinda like this week’s episodes of Kamen Rider (1971). Nathan and Drew continue to dismantle Gelshocker’s plans and question the logic and family-friendliness of their kaijin. Catgecko recalls the aforementioned film, and Canarycobra leads to a discussion of Ouroboros. (Look it up). Only on Henshin Men can you get content this wild and thought-provoking! Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @Hensh...
058 – Does Whatever a Spiderlion Can! | Kamen Rider Eps. 86-87 | Introducing Drew Dodgen!
January 06, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 85.9 MBNathan can’t finish Kamen Rider (1971) alone, so he hired a new co-host! Meet Drew Dodgen, the co-host of The Cel Cast, who will be joining us until the final episode of Kamen Rider. And boy, did he pick a great pair of episodes to jump onboard this careening motorcycle! Gelshocker’s latest “combo kaijin” are two with crazy gimmicks that should’ve been swapped. One is a murder-foam-spraying eagle/mantis and the other is a spider/lion (aka “the midnight assassin what assassinates at midnight”...
BONUS – A Conversation with Andrew Bush, Director of ‘Amano Recon’ (an IndieGoGo Project)
December 15, 2022 08:00 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBLooking for an independent R-rated horror-comedy tokusatsu series about a metal band fighting the men in black? If that outrageously unique premise strikes your fancy, Amano Recon is for you! Nathan sits down with Andrew Bush, the director of this upcoming series, and discusses the characters and many influences that went into this crowdfunded project—including Kamen Rider Black, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and The X-Files. There’s even a possibility that a pair of Power Ranger alumni cou...
057 – That is Japan’s @$$! | ‘Masked Rider vs. Shocker’ & ‘Kamen Rider vs. The Ambassador from Hell’ | Ft. Travis Alexander
December 02, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 76.4 MBTravis returns! Yes, he comes out of semi-retirement to fill in a gap in our Kamen Rider (1971) coverage: the series’ two mini-movies, Masked Rider vs. Shocker and Kamen Rider vs. The Ambassador from Hell. Toei has generously made the films available on their YouTube channel—with hilarious wonky subtitles—until December 28, 2022, to celebrate the channel reaching 400,000 subscribers. While both movies are essentially slightly extended TV episodes, both feature dozens of past kaijin—including...
BONUS – Remembering Jason David Frank: A Charity Livestream (audio version)
December 01, 2022 08:00 - 4 hours - 264 MBOn November 28, 2022, a multitude of podcasters and YouTubers—Nathan Marchand, Michael Hamilton, Travis Alexander, Jack “GMan” Hudgens (The Drift Space), J.R. Villers (The Drift Space), Rebecca Hudgens (The Drift Space), Kaiju Kim, Chris Cooke, and Jimmy from Zeo 2 Hero—came together to celebrate the life and work of Jason David Frank. From acting to martial arts to teaching to motivational speaking, he did it all. But he’ll always be remembered as Tommy Oliver, the most popular Power Ranger...
056 – Say Ishinomori! | Kamen Rider Eps. 84-85 | Ft. Blunova
November 22, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBThis week Henshin Men covers an episode of Kamen Rider (1971) directed by its series creator, the manga legend Shotaro Ishinomori! Such a momentous occasion requires a momentous guest, and in this case its tokusatsu YouTuber Blunova. He and Nathan discuss how Ishinomori brings a unique visual style that harkens back to the first 13 episodes of the series and channels Yoshimitsu Banno’s Godzilla vs. Hedorah. In fact, the second episode, which features a turtle/eel hybrid kaijin with “casual d...
055 – Ultra-Mandatory | ‘Shin Ultraman’ | Ft. Robert Monsarrat
November 03, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBWe did it all for Ultraman! In this case, Nathan drove three hours to see the big screen epic Shin Ultraman at the Chicago International Film Festival. His guest host, Robert Monsarrat, flew into the city from Ohio to see it. Not only are they Ultra-fans, but Nathan in particular couldn’t resist the opportunity to have Henshin Men be one of the first English-language podcasts to have an in-depth discussion of the film. Was it worth it? Heck yes, it was! Nathan and Robert discuss their trip a...
054 – Back in Kamen Rider Black | Kamen Rider Black Eps. 1-2 | Ft. Tomi Trembath of Giant-Sized Violence
October 27, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 82.8 MBWith Kamen Rider Black Sun set to premiere worldwide on Amazon Prime this week, Nathan invited his friend Tomi Trembath from the Giant-Sized Violence podcast to discuss the new series’ inspiration: Kamen Rider Black (1987). It’s a favorite of theirs despite not having watched all of it. (And serendipitously, Discotek Media just announced they’re releasing it on blu-ray!) Black is considered a tokusatsu classic for many reasons, not the least of which are its music, suit designs, and ‘80s gri...
053 – Peanut Butter and Jellywolf (Kamen Rider Eps. 82-83)
October 20, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBNathan flies solo again as Kamen Rider (1971) settles into its new status quo. Despite the supposed “reboot” of Shocker as Gelshocker, it’s more of the same, just with combo Kaijin now. The first of this week’s pair of episodes was definitely the better one, as the awards will show. That Kaijin-of-the-week was a werewolf jellyfish with lightning powers. Yep. The second one had a boar/beetle combo who stabs Hongo in the thigh. Even those descriptions should tell you which is more interesting....
052 – Gelshocked! | Kamen Rider Eps. 80-81 | Ft. That Other Toku Podcast
October 13, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 81.2 MBNathan kicks off the final arc of Kamen Rider (1971)—and invites a pair of friends to celebrate! CrownlessKing_OP and Proto_Sonic from That Other Toku Podcast are in the house to talk about Crabbat, Scorpiolizard, and condolence bombs. (There’s a punk band name for you!) The Shocker Leader has merged his evil organization with Geldam (who are they?) to form Gelshocker (is it pronounced like a “G” or a “J”?), an even more ruthless and incompetent not-so-secret society bent on world domination...
051 – To Ambassador Hell and Back (Kamen Rider Eps. 78-79)
September 19, 2022 07:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBIt’s the end of Kamen Rider (1971)’s penultimate arc and an era! Nathan witnesses the destruction of Shocker as we know it! Ambassador Hell truly becomes Serpentor from G.I. Joe and gets replaced with a half crab/bat kaijin named…Crabbat. (This decision is highly questionable). Regardless, these episodes are fun and break from the show’s norm with lots of intrigue. Enjoy the latest episode of Henshin Men! Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for...
BONUS – All Podcasts Attack Special: Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack Convention
September 12, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBWelcome, kaiju lovers, heroes of the internet, and listeners with attitude! This past weekend, Nathan and his Power Trip co-host, Michael Hamilton, met each other in real life for the first time (and the world somehow didn’t explode). They attended a small upstart “spin-off” convention called Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack, which was held in Indianapolis. This bonus episode is a late-night postmortem chat they had afterward, and it’s being shared on the feeds for Monster Island Film V...
050 – Imagine Seadragons (Kamen Rider Eps. 76-77)
September 08, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBNathan has gotten to the point where Kamen Rider (1971) is recycling old tropes—mind control, crucifixions, child endangerment, etc.—but putting new spins on them. Instead of fighting one kaijin three times, Hongo fights three of the same kaijin! In fact, both of this week’s kaijin, Seadragon and Newtgeth, are well-designed and have pretty cool suits. Although, Nathan wasn’t prepared to see one travel via Blob blood or to see Taki cosplay Raiden from Mortal Kombat. All this and more on the l...
049 – Every Rosearanga has Its Thorns (Kamen Rider Eps. 74-75)
August 29, 2022 07:15 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBNathan takes the plunge by turning Henshin Men into a solo show so he can finish the original Kamen Rider (1971) coverage! In this week’s pair of episodes, we’re introduced to the Rider Kid Corps—aka “Kamen Kenny Force.” They might let Hongo know about kaijin attacks via homing pigeons, but they also tend to get themselves captured and/or mind-controlled by Shocker. Oh, yeah, more “Children of the Shockorn.” And bloodsucking. How was this a kids’ show? Not-Matango and Proto-Biollante, anyone...
On the Future of Hernshin Men
August 29, 2022 07:00 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBIt’s been a while, hasn’t it? What happened to our Kamen Rider (1971) coverage? Nathan discusses the behind-the-scenes talks he’s had with Travis that are leading to a change to the podcast going forward. It’s bittersweet. We hope you understand. Watch Travis discuss his semi-retirement on Chill with Kaiju Kim. 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...
048 – A Beginner’s Guide to Ultraman | Ft. Daniel DiManna
July 27, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 98.3 MBYes, we’re still taking a break from Kamen Rider (1971) coverage because Travis has been busy, but Nathan’s friend Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project returns to talk more Ultraman! In this discussion, they expand on Danny’s article in the most recent issue of Kaiju Ramen Magazine, wherein he gave a primer on the IMMENSE Ultraman franchise. Not sure where to start with Ultra? Let these two be your guide! And while you’re at it, go buy the issue with Danny’s article! Follow H...
047 – Ultraman Day Special | Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna
July 13, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 76.7 MBWith Travis once again dealing with illness and some personal issues, Nathan’s co-host of Henshin Men’s sister podcast, The Power Trip, suggested they do an episode on Ultraman Day. To liven things up, they brought on their friend, kaiju/tokusatsu super-nerd Daniel DiManna. This year, Ultraman Day was more like “Ultraman Semi-Fortnite,” what with the website Ultraman Connection holding the “10 Days of Ultraman.” Among other things, Nathan and his guests discuss the upcoming Ultraman/Marvel S...
046 – Fiddler Crabking on the Roof (Kamen Rider Eps. 72-73)
June 23, 2022 23:00 - 55 minutes - 51 MBWith an episode title like that, you’d think this would be a musical, but alas, all you get are music references. (But a Kamen Rider musical would be amazing!) This week, it’s one of Travis and Nathan’s favorite things: Double Riders! Yes, in a two-part episode, Hayato returns to help Hongo fight a pair of Shocker kaijin at a hot spring (because Team Rider went on vacation…again). First is the ridiculously freaky Mosquillas, who sucks your blood and reduces you to a crucified skeleton. Next ...
045 – Gadfly Me to the Moon, Gomez! (Kamen Rider Eps. 70-71)
June 23, 2022 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBShoo fly, don’t bother Kamen Rider! Nathan and Travis get to a pair of Kamen Rider (1971) episodes featuring fly kaijin. The first one begins like The Blob (1958) with a young couple discovering a meteor that crashes to Earth. But that’s just Shocker’s plot-of-the-week, not the birthplace of Electreifly. But he does have an awesome “Dance of Hell.” This inspires your intrepid hosts to discuss weaponized meteors and Japanese dance. For the second episode, they discuss a little girl witnessing...
044 – I Squid You Not! (Kamen Rider Eps. 68-69)
June 09, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBNo, Travis and Nathan did not make the obvious joke they, well, joked they would when they reached a particular episode number of Kamen Rider (1971). Get used to disappointment because they felt a bit let down by these episodes. The first one features the final appearance—in this series—of Dr. Shinigami/Death/Reaper. It turns out—SPOILER WARNING!—he’s a kaijin! Yes, he transforms into a squid with a cape trick. But…his final fight with KR is a bit underwhelming. The next episode is all about...
043 – The Walking Dead Kaijin (Kamen Rider Eps. 66-67)
June 04, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBNathan and Travis come to another pair of momentous episodes of Kamen Rider (1971). In the first, they learn that, just like Ultraman and Power Rangers, Kamen Rider has a monster graveyard—except in this one, Shocker performs demonic rituals with crosses made of skulls to resurrect dead kaijin. They never raise the dead the same way twice, do they? As epic as this is, in the next episode, the villains hold the Shocker World Conference (aka “Shocker-Con”). Hongo/Kamen Rider crashes this party...
042 – Shocker has a Sound Plan (Kamen Rider Eps. 64-65)
May 19, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBThis episode is all about the answer to life, the universe, and everything—which is apparently Kamen Rider (1971). Travis and Nathan discuss a pair of standout episodes of the classic tokusatsu series. One has an ambitious action scene usually reserved for films like Raiders of the Lost Ark or Jackie Chan’s Police Story. The other has children who nearly murder another child because he’s a Kamen Rider fanboy. Did we mention our favorite overused trope of brainwashing returns in that episode?...
041 – Get to the Point! (Kamen Rider Eps. 62-63)
May 04, 2022 21:30 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBYour dynamic duo of hosts, Nathan and Travis, latch onto a couple of themes in the Kamen Rider (1971) episodes they cover, including “tell, don’t show,” pointy weapons, and old habits. First up, “Sonic the Hedgehozuras” turns hapless young couples into Halloween store skeletons and tries to steal a flesh-eating virus from a clueless Kamen Kenny. Then in a simple “kill Hongo” plot, the horny Rhinogang blinds Hongo, and Dr. Shinigami hypnotizes one of Hongo’s racing friends to lead Hongo into ...
040 – Owl’s Well That Ends Well (Kamen Rider Eps. 60-61)
April 27, 2022 07:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBMusic, comics, and other tangential references abound as Travis and Nathan continue their trek through Kamen Rider (1971). That’s no surprise given that one kaijin shares a name with a DC Comics character who’s an evil alternate universe Batman. Then your hosts discover that electric catfish are real—but they’re nowhere near Japan! There’s also a supervillain team-up with the return of Dr. Shinigami…who suddenly leaves after the commercial break. What a tease, am I right? But the most import...
Special Report: ‘Shin Ultraman’ Trailer Discussion
April 20, 2022 04:55 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBNathan and Travis have been really busy this week and unable to record a regular episode, but they did carve out some time for a special report on the new Shin Ultraman trailer! This film from director Shinji Higuchi and producer/co-screenwriter Hideaki Anno releases May 13 in Japan, and your intrepid hosts “pull a YouTuber” and break down the trailer in meticulous and nerdy detail. They theorize what the story may involve—aliens manipulating world governments against Ultraman?!—and make man...
039 – Imagine Bearded Dragons (Kamen Rider Eps. 58-59)
April 14, 2022 05:29 - 1 hour - 57 MBNOTE: Travis' mic cut out right before recording so his audio is a little more rough than normal. Shocker makes a kaijin using a bearded dragon—and gives him a frill?! This is just one of a few fact checks Travis and Nathan make in this week’s Henshin Men. First up, you bet “Jiras” Toei borrowed a bit from Ultraman (1966) with Bearded Dragon Man, who holds a woman hostage to force her scientist boss to give Shocker an ointment that resurrects the dead—so they can revive two deceased scienti...
038 – Madam Poison Butterfly (Kamen Rider Eps. 56-57)
April 06, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBWe get some repeats (repeats) this week on Kamen Rider (“Rider! Rider!”). Nathan and Travis discuss a pair of episodes that feature kaijin strikingly similar to ones we’ve seen before, albeit with slight variations (a butterfly instead of a moth, a purseweb spider instead of a…normal spider?) We also see Goro accidentally figure out how to save the day in both episodes. Throw in some humorously misheard song lyrics (the Japanese pronunciation of “screw”), several music references, and Travis...
037 – Ultra Word Salad: The Movie (Mega Monster Battle – Ultra Galaxy: The Movie)
March 31, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBTravis needed the week off to finish final preparations for the publication of the physical copies of Kaiju Ramen issue #5, so Nathan brought on their co-host in common (no pun intended), Michael Hamilton to talk some Ultraman…sorta. What you’re about to hear is an abridged version of Kaiju Weekly episode 85 (not 87, like Nathan says), which featured Nathan as a guest with Michael to discuss Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy - The Movie. It’s easily the Avengers: Infinity War / Avengers: End...
036 – Sea Snake Flash (Kamen Rider Eps. 54-55)
March 23, 2022 07:00 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBTravis 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...