Kamen Rider Black (S.H. Figuarts)

I have a lot of S.H. Figuarts figures and I've been reluctant to blog about them because of all the accessories and extreme articulation seemed like it would take a long time and more creativity than I could muster when I started this journey.

But now I'm going to take the plunge, starting with the first Kamen Rider figure I acquired: Kamen Rider Black. Kohtaro Minami was turned into a cyborg by the evil Gorgom but like the original Kamen Rider he rebelled and fought against them. Kamen Rider Black was a back-to-basics approach to the series after a few years off the air and was the first Showa Kamen Rider series I watched.  The design is sleek and classic but definitely rooted in the eighties (though not as much as Kotaro's civvies). This is the first version released by Bandai Tamashii Nations and the proportions are a little wonky, the paint is very glossy, but he has sweet die cast metal feet and the compound eyes look great.

Gorgeous eyes

Armour so shiny

The King Stone of the Sun

The racing stripes make him faster

"Rider Punch!"

Articulated shoulder pads

Possibly the most motorcycle helmet-ish design since Riderman

"HEN..."

"...SHIN!"

Video Clip

"Rider Kick!"

"Peace Out"

Heavy Foot

Meditative

"Hmm..."

"Grrrr"

Kumai