Kamen Rider BLACK RX

, shortened by some to Kamen Rider RX, is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series produced as part of the Kamen Rider. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 23, 1988 to September 24, 1989 with a total of 47 episodes. The series was a direct sequel to Kamen Rider.

The series was adapted by Saban in North America as Masked Rider (TV series). The Americanization featured a heavily altered story and all new characters, in a failed attempt to fit the series in as a spin-off of Power Rangers.

Plot
It has been 5 years since Gorgom was defeated. Minami Kotaro has gotten a job of a helicopter pilot in a business owned by the Sahara family. Minami Kotaro is later captured by the Crisis Empire and forced to serve them. When Kotaro refused, his Kingstone was destroyed and he was thrown into space where the sun's radiation mutated his Kingstone and he mutated into Kamen Rider BLACK RX. With his new powers, he battles the Crisis Empire and thwarts their plans to take over Earth.

Characters

 * : A few years after the events in Kamen Rider, Kotaro was captured by the Crisis Empire when the Skull Devils were sent to bring him to them. Refusing to side with the Crisis Empire, they shattered his Kingstone into two piece, thus rendering him unable to transform into Kamen Rider BLACK. He was then thrown into outer space, where the sun's radiation mutated his Kingstone and allowing him to turn into a new cyborg, Kamen Rider BLACK RX (Child of the Sun). Rather than Rider Kicks, Kamen Rider BLACK RX and his different forms had different finishing moves. Although BLACK RX and each of his forms were able to execute Rider Kicks, they were not finishing moves. In battle, he wields the Revolcane, a Light saber that he uses to impale the monster which ends up slowly sawed in half and then destroyed. Later, he discovers two new cyborg forms, Robo Rider (Prince of Sadness) and Bio Rider (Prince of Anger). The "RX" in BLACK RX's name represents "RX sunlight", a part of energy in photosynthesis, which his belt is now powered by. In the Brazilian dub of the show, Kotaro was renamed Isamu Minami.


 * : Photographer. Kotaro's girlfriend. Appeared in Episodes 1-3, 5-12, 14-19, 21, 23-26, 28-30 & 32-47.


 * : A family who owns a helicopter business. They took in Kotaro as one of their own. and  are the parents who are always arguing with each other,  is their son, and  is their daughter. The parents are murdered by Jaaku Murder in episode 46.


 * : A cyborg initially under the control of the Crisis Empire who became friends of Kotaro. He was the first to know that Kotaro is BLACK RX. He ended up injured by Bosgan during Kamen Rider BLACK RX's fight with Gingamu. He soon recovered and came back to help Kotaro. Appeared in Episodes 15-18, 20-26 & 37-47.


 * : An ESP girl who is skilled with a bow and can manipulate ground water. Her parents were murdered by the Crisis Empire monster Munde-gande. She first appears in Episode 29 and helps Kamen Rider BLACK RX fight the Crisis Empire in Episodes 30, 38-41 & 43-47.


 * : A chef who works at Sahara Airlines. Appeared in Episodes 6, 14, 20, 26, 35, 37, 40 & 45-47.


 * : an inspector who pursues Kotaro in episodes 2, 6, 7 & 12.


 * : Kamen Rider 1 to Kamen Rider ZX. They help BLACK RX in defeating the Crisis Empire. The appearance of the previous 10 Kamen Riders in the end of the series was their last in the franchise history, not counting the remake versions of Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider in recent movies Kamen Rider and Kamen Rider.

RX's other forms
Kamen Rider BLACK RX was the first Kamen Rider to have multiple forms: Robo Rider and Bio Rider. The concept of "multiple form changing" Riders would be repeated with Kamen Rider (2000), who has many different armor types, Kamen Rider (2001), Kamen Rider (2006), Kamen Rider (2007) and Kamen Rider (2008).

Kamen Rider's Survive Form, Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider's Jack Form, and Kamen Rider Kurenai, and the Kamen Rider Kabuto series' Hyper Cast-Off are seen as initial upgrades rather than form changing. Form changing is best describe as alternating back and forth between forms to adjust to different situations.


 * : He gained this form in Episode 15. RX 's armor becomes bulky and more robotic-like, with black and yellow coloring and his belt resembles a gearbox. During his duration as the "Prince of Sadness", both his strength and defense are enhanced. He is also unharmed by explosions or projectile weapons. The only downside is that he moves slower than BLACK RX, as well as possessing semi-robotic movement, slowing his reaction time. His weapon is the Vortech Shooter, an energy firing pistol.


 * : He gained this form in Episode 17. BLACK RX's armor becomes much sleeker, blue and silver all over and his belt resembles a single Kingstone belt. During his duration as the "Prince of Anger", his speed is enhanced. He can also transform into water for escaping traps or attacking enemies while not getting hurt in the process. His weapon is the unbreakable sword Bio Blade.

Rider Machines
BLACK RX's motorcycles were made by Suzuki, makers of almost every Kamen Rider motorcycle from 1971 to 1994.
 * : This is the revived version of BLACK's old motorcycle, the Battle Hopper. It is now capable of speaking coherent Japanese, and often has conversations with Kotaro. Whenever BLACK RX transforms into any of his two other forms, it does the same.
 * : Acrobatter transforms into Roborizer when RX becomes Robo Rider. This form of Acrobattar has two blasters mounted at its rear.
 * : Acrobatter transforms into Mach Jabber when RX becomes Bio Rider.
 * : A high-speed car created by Kotaro shortly after becoming BLACK RX. It is highly intelligent, similar to Acrobatter. It has two mandibles that can extend from the front to do break-ins or ramming enemies. Ridron was built by Mazda, an automobile company in Japan. Kamen Rider BLACK RX is the only Showa Kamen Rider to have a car, a theme that has been repeated only in Kamen Rider, although the cars used in Hibiki were just ordinary vehicles, not a "superhero car" like Ridron.

Others

 * Kotaro's step-brother and rival/archenemy from Kamen Rider. He mysteriously came back to seek revenge against Minami Kotaro. He now uses the twin Shadow Sabers similar to the Satan Saber. He was finally defeated by BLACK RX when BLACK RX thrust his light saber through his Kingstone. He turned good shortly before he died and finally turn back to Nobuhiko. However, Shadow Moon would return once again as a villain in the somewhat non-canon 8-minute movie Kamen Rider for some reason. This time, he was giant and he was defeated by a giant Kamen Rider. Some fans count Shadow Moon as a Kamen Rider despite his antagonistic ways.

Short Film

 * : Kotaro Minami has been thrusted through an alternate universe/dimension somewhere after fighting the Skull Devils. It is also where he reverts to BLACK. Fortunately, BLACK RX shows up to save him from the Gorgom High Priests. With the help of Robo Rider and Bio Rider, all four incarnations battle the revived Crisis Empire monsters.

Cast

 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * Princess Garonia (Teenager Hitomi): Maho Maruyama
 * - and
 * - and
 * - and

Suit actors

 * Kamen Rider BLACK RX/Robo Rider/Bio Rider -
 * Robo Rider/Bio Rider/Shadow Moon -
 * Robo Rider -
 * General Jaaku - Toshimichi Takahashi
 * Bosgan -
 * Gatezone -
 * Gedorian -

Songs

 * Opening theme
 * Lyrics: Chinfa Kan
 * Composition & Arrangement: Eiji Kawamura
 * Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi
 * Ending theme
 * Lyrics: Chinfa Kan
 * Composition: Tetsuji Hayashi
 * Arrangement: Eiji Kawamura
 * Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi
 * Arrangement: Eiji Kawamura
 * Artist: Takayuki Miyauchi