I gotta say, looking through old Kamen Rider episodes is like looking at a documentary on the history of tokusatsu. They didn't have the more sophisticated effects of the modern day. Disclaimer: I don't own Kamen Rider or The Rising of the Shield Hero.
*Kamen Rider is seen driving along a reservoir walkway with another figure in a grasshopper-themed outfit on an identical motorcycle. We now introduce Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2. The music begins with a close up on Kamen Rider 1's face as the title appears.*
Rising of the Kamen Riders
Here they come! Shocker! The evil army of Hell!
*The two Riders race along a large field.*
Targeted by its dark and scary shadow
*They lap around each other.*
Protecting the peace and justice of the world
*A close up of 2 is seen, highlighting the differences in his outfit and helmet, including a white strip along the middle of the helmet, and a black undersuit not seen with 1.*
Go! (Go!) Go! (Go!) Let's Go! The spectacular machine!
*The two Riders drive up a nearby hill, making a spectacular leap.*
Rider Jump! Rider Kick!
*They continue to race across the hill, and a grassy field.*
Kamen Rider! Kamen Rider!
*They drive down a dirt road, 1 in front.*
Rider! Rider!
*They leap past each other in a daring stunt.*
Rider Jump! Rider Kick!
*They start driving down an empty highway.*
Kamen Rider! Kamen Rider!
*They start swerving through a construction sight.*
Rider! Rider!
*They somehow drive up a skyscraper before making a leap across the rooftops.*
Naofumi has now been joined by fellow cyborg Ren Amaki.
*A scene of Ren's forced remodeling by Shocker is shown, before cutting to the twin Riders.*
Remolded by Shocker and saved by his girlfriend from the FBI, Ren becomes Kamen Rider 2.
*Shots of Spider Man, Gebacondor, Geckgeras, Cactogron, and Lizardlon are featured.*
Together with Naofumi, re-titled as Kamen Rider 1, they fight for humanity's freedom!
*The two Riders pose, ready to do battle.*
Chapter 24: Why I Hate Mushrooms
Tokyo Prison held many criminals, but one particular criminal was an atrocious man sent there for innumerable crimes, including robbery and murder. A guard was approaching his cell and opened the small window. "Hey, get up Number 13! It's six am!" The man grumble, but got up. "Everyday at six. You guys have already locked me in this cell, can't you at least let me sleep in? Not much else to do. Plus I've been here for five years. Just how much longer is my sentence?" "That depends on a lot of factors," the guard said, "It was a life sentence after all."
The man howled at the guard as he left, but his rantings got cut short as several Combatmen busted up through the floor of his cell. "Who the hell are you!?" One of the grunts smirked. "Let's just say we're here to cut your life sentence short. Our leader would like a word with you." They grabbed him and hauled him off to a Shocker hideout, where Great Leader addressed him. 'Welcome. We've been searching for a villainous, cold-blooded man like you. One who can help us plunge the world into chaos and rule its people.'
"Is that so?," the criminal said with a smirk, "Well, your foot soldiers were so kind as to spring me from a life sentence, so I do you owe you for the favor. Beyond that, spreading a little chaos certainly sounds right up my alley. What's the catch?" 'Your body will be remodeled for a special project,' Great Leader explained, 'The first step is submerging you in poisonous mushroom extract for a week. Not to worry, we've designed the process so you will not die from it.' The man nodded. "Very well. Let's get this over with."
The process was extremely uncomfortable, but he was able to power through it, emerging after a week to become a mushroom-human hybrid. He looked at his new form in the mirror. "A bit bizarre looking, but my body has never felt stronger." 'I'm glad you approve,' Great Leader said, 'From now on you'll be named Mushroomorg! Use your new power on that tree next to you, and you'll understand why.' Mushroomorg nodded and took a deep breath, his mouth launching a fine white powder that covered the tree.
In an instant he understood, though two Combatmen were curious. "Don't touch it," he warned, "These are poisonous mushroom spores. The process you used to remodel me gave me the ability to produce them at will and spread them over anything I choose." 'He speaks the truth,' Great Leader said, 'When those spores cling to a human's body…' He didn't finish his sentence, but merely laughed at the idea, Mushroomorg laughing with him at the thought of the chaos he could spread.
Meanwhile, the girls of the racing club were watching a tennis match between two students, Kimiko and Hiroshi. A shot from Hiroshi went wide, prompting the two students go looking for the ball. Kimiko eventually found the ball, only to run into Mushroomorg at the same time. He immediately spread his spores onto her, causing her to pass out. Two Combatmen joined the mushroom monster. "Take her with us," he ordered. Hiroshi spotted them as they loaded her into a truck. "Hey! Give her back!"
His attempt was stopped by Mushroomorg. Hiroshi tried to run, but Mushroomorg simply sprayed him as well. Rishia and Malty spotted them, but didn't try to confront the Shocker agents. "Looks like Shocker's made a new cyborg," Rishia said, "And it's got Hiroshi and Kimiko." They carefully followed the truck to a set of power lines. "That's dead-end," Malty noted, "Unless their hideout is in the area." The truck immediately vanished from sight, with no clue as to where it could have gone, the tire tracks simply ending at one point. As the girl's searched around, Mushroomorg chuckled from inside the truck. "Thanks to this special light beam barrier, they can't see us."
"And the truck just vanished into thin air," Raphtalia said back at the racing club. "I think we should check out that transmission tower," Motoyasu said, "And find those children." Meanwhile at the Shocker hideout, it turned out Mushroomorg had kidnapped more than just two children. 'Anyway caught by these spores is instantly unable to move,' Great Leader elaborated, 'Then they can be brought here for remodeling.'
Mushroomorg nodded. "I must admit it's a bit strange taking orders, but I am grateful for everything Shocker's done for me so far." 'This is process is slow,' Great Leader admitted, 'But it can done silently, and even those that notice will be unable to find us. Now Mushroomorg, continue to use your new powers to create more allies for us!' "Absolutely," Mushroomorg replied, "I just love tormenting these humans! The thought of what will happen to them brings me ever more excitement! I'll be sure to bring you the maximum results we need, Great Leader!"
His next plan was actually ingenious. He had his men go out in plain sight under the guise of a "monster festival", inviting children to join them. Goro was curious and joined the procession, only for Mushroomorg to lead the children to a secluded field, where he sprayed some of them with his spores. Goro quickly got some of the children away as they ran for it. They didn't get far before the Combatmen caught up to them, but luckily Naofumi and Ren had also seen the procession and followed them.
They hopped on their Cyclones and raced after the truck. "Henshin!' Using the speed from the Cyclones, their Typhoons transformed them into Kamen Riders 1 and 2. Mushroomorg spotted them and had several Combatmen trip them up. Literally, since they were using ropes. One got a lucky shot and managed to get 2, leaping onto the truck to leave 2 flailing behind it. However, 1 helped his partner up, letting 2 leap onto the truck to flatten the Combatman.
Mushroomorg stopped the truck and got out with the rest of his grunts, having to battle 1 who rode up to confront them. Mushroomorg launched his spores, but 1 was able to pull a Combatman in the way as he dodged aside. Meanwhile, the racing girls ran up to the truck, taking out a few more Combatmen inside the truck bed. 2 leapt in as more grunts arrived, letting the girls get to the children. Mushroomorg roared as he saw them getting away. "Your victory is a hollow one, Riders!"
The children were brought to a hospital. They were still alive and in no danger of dying, but the poison prevented them from moving at all. The doctor hired to look after them confirmed they were afflicted with a botanical poison. "I'm still studying the poison," Doctor Koike said, "But until I can fully analyze it, I'm afraid they won't be waking up." Naofumi smacked his fists together. "We have to make sure this can't spread any further."
'It seems the spores are not contagious enough,' Great Leader said, 'Until the experiment is complete, no one must know the secret from those comatose humans. Mushroomorg, go and retrieve the children!' Mushroomorg nodded and headed off with his grunts. That night, Ren and Naofumi looked over the children. Ren fists were clenched. "To think Shocker would be so cruel as to target children… Just what is their goal this time?" They heard the door open and quickly hid.
Several Combatmen entered, intent on taking back the children, only for the two Riders to emerge and battle them. Ren tried to get one to talk, only for Mushroomorg to interrupt with a spore spray that froze the Combatman. However, he was no match for two Riders in a confined space, even without them being transformed, forcing him to flee out an open window. Eclair ran in at that moment. "What's going on?" "For some reason Shocker wanted to get these children back," Naofumi explained, "Even though they already can't move. There's something they don't want us to know."
The next morning, Koike found out what that was. "What we're seeing is a never-before-seen poisonous mushroom spore. From my research, it's clear that if they become strong enough, they could multiply. I'll see if I can get to work on an antidote." Meanwhile, Shocker was doing its own work, applying new spores to the captured children. 'The children will fall ill again in twenty-four hours,' Great Leader explained, 'Then when they come in contact with people, they will be infected in an hour, and collapse in succession.'
Later, the racing club found a mushroom in one of their planters. They quickly realized it was actually a mechanical listening device. Moreover, it was a two-way communicator. On the other end was Mushroomorg, offering to return the children. Even though it was clearly a trap, the Riders agreed to the release. Once the reached the location, Mushroomorg appeared at the top of an abandoned building. "So, Riders. Why not join Shocker? I promise I'll let these children go."
"You must be joking," Ren said, "We'd never join such a cruel organization." Naofumi turned to Ren. "He's trying to bait us. This way." Ren nodded, and they headed out of sight to ready their assault. "Henshin!" They leapt into the air, transforming into 1 and 2 to confront the Shocker agents directly. As they fought, the rest of the racing club arrived, fighting through the Combatmen as they went for the children. The succeeded, but Mushroomorg managed to use his spores to capture Naofumi. Taken to a Shocker base and set into a death trap involving a circular saw, it seemed like Mushroomorg was set to deliver Shocker a win.
To be continued…
I never did like mushrooms. Well, we'll see how our heroes get out of this one next chapter. Read and review.