Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBLACKKamen Raidā Burakku?), translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System
from October 4, 1987 to October 9, 1988, with a total of 51 episodes.
With its very dramatic storyline and its twist of the Kamen Rider having
a tragic relationship with his arch-nemesis, the installment not only
became very popular in Japan, but also in many countries where it was
aired. The series is often regarded as a TV classic and is considered by
many as the most popular Kamen Rider show of the late 80s, as well as
the most famous of all Kamen Riders in the Showa Period. Kamen Rider Black RX was a direct sequel to this series. A manga adaptation of the series is entitled Kamen Rider Black (仮面ライダーBlackKamen Raidā Burakku?)
Tetsuo Kurata As Kotaro Minami Kotaro Minami (南 光太郎, Minami Kōtarō) is the main character of Kamen Rider BLACK and Kamen Rider BLACK RX. He has appeared as the title character in both series. In Kamen Rider Decade, there are two Kotaro Minamis that are independently BLACK and RX.
Kotaro was born on the day of a solar eclipse along with his stepbrother Nobuhiko Akizuki. The Gorgom
noticed this, both brothers were heirs to their leader's throne. Once
the two were of age, they were captured by the Gorgom and were infused
with Kingstones,
Kotaro was infused with the Stone of the Sun to become Century King
Black Sun. However before the final brainwashing, Kotaro's legal
guardian and Nobuhiko's father, Soichiro Akizuki interrupted the final
stage with Kotaro barely escaping.
Soichiro reveals to Kotaro that his real parents were killed by
the Gorgom when he was a baby, before he himself was killed by five of
Gorgom's Spider Mutants. Kotaro transformed and after defeating the
mutants took the identity Kamen Rider BLACK to fight Gorgom. As BLACK,
Kotaro gains friends from Nobuhiko's family as well as a friendly Gorgom
mutant. Eventually Kotaro reunites with Nobuhiko; however, Nobuhiko was
converted into the perfected Century King, Shadow Moon.
In their fight, BLACK was killed and his family had to evacuate from
Gorgom's reign over Japan. Eventually BLACK was resurrected and fought
his way through hoards of monsters until fighting Shadow Moon and
presumably killing him. Using the Satan Sabre used by Shadow Moon, BLACK
fought against the Creation King of Gorgom and destroys him. With the
Gorgom defeated, Kotaro visits the Capitola bar before leaving for unknown parts.
Rider Punch and Rider Kick:
The primary killer moves in the entire series were the Rider Punch and
Rider Kick which is charged with Kingstone Energy at the right fist and
the right foot. After delivering either one or both moves to any
monsters, they would be engulfed in flames before finally destroyed.
Kamen Rider BLACK discovered his weakness when he was fighting a Crab
monster. His Rider Punch had no effect on the monster due to its strong
shell. To increase his capabilities, Kamen Rider BLACK trained himself
to find a new killer move to destroy the monster. While training, he
discovered a new Rider Punch which was more effective and more deadly.
These stronger variations of Rider Punch & Rider Kick gave out
stronger force of light and were more blinding. The difference between
the new and the old moves were that the new ones required Kamen Rider
BLACK to touch his knees before hitting his enemies.
Rider Chop: This move was very rarely executed and did not have enough power to destroy a monster.
Multi-Eye: His eyes would glow and the functions were to see monsters' movements in the dark and to detect their weaknesses.
Sensoring Ears: The triangular structures on both sides
of his head would glow purple and the function was to hear voices and
sounds from far away.
Rider Sensor: Kamen Rider BLACK's antennaes would move to detect monsters which were moving too fast to be seen.
Power Stripes: His Yellow-Red-Yellow bands on his neck and wrists would glow to repel any monsters' sticky fluids or goo on his body.
Dragon Shoot: A move only seen in episode 16. The Dragon
Shoot was taught by the Interpol Agent, Ryusuke Taki. Ryusuke threw the
Ultra Quartz (a wanted object in the episode) towards Kamen Rider BLACK
where he quickly jumped and kicked it with one foot.
Kingstone Flash: Perhaps the most powerful technique. By
shouting out "Kingstone Flash", Kamen Rider BLACK could fire a burst of
energy from his belt. It worked every time to fend off the villains;
whether it's the High Priests or even the powerful Shadow Moon.
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Kotaro Minami (南 光太郎, Minami Kōtarō) is the main character of Kamen Rider BLACK and Kamen Rider BLACK RX. He has appeared as the title character in both series. In Kamen Rider Decade, there are two Kotaro Minamis that are independently BLACK and RX.
