Henshin Men

ANNOUNCEMENT: Subscribe to Henshin Power V3 on Its Own Podcast Feed!

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan clears up some confusion regarding the new podcast, Henshin Power V3, which picks up where The Power Trip and Henshin Men left off. This podcast is on its own feed. Below are links to the most prominent places you can hear it, but subscribe to it wherever you get your podcasts!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/henshin-power-v3/id1755399974

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mLqoHlO7IvTDivem9T1iv

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HenshinPowerV3

Podbean (official website): https://henshinpowerv3.podbean.com/

BONUS - Henshin Power V3, Episode 1: “The Henshin-itiation” (Introduction)

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Listeners! 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 Kamen Rider V3, naturally.

Join us next week for our first discussion episode!

Vote on which series we do after Kamen Rider V3 on Google Forms! You have seven days to do so! Make your voice heard! LINK: https://forms.gle/YeYWFodQ9HBzECE66.

Podcast Socials:

· Twitter/X: @HenshinPowerV3

· The Markalite Lounge (official Facebook group)

· The Markalite Lounger (official Discord server)

· Power Rangers Legacy (Power Trip Facebook group)

· YouTube Channel: @HenshinPowerV3

· Nathan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand

NEW PODCAST - Henshin Power V3 (promo trailer)

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Henshin 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 Discord server)

· Power Rangers Legacy (Power Trip Facebook group)

· YouTube Channel: @HenshinPowerV3

· Nathan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathan_marchand

BONUS – ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Ft. Jeff Gomez of Ultraman Connection (an MIFV livestream)

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In 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 July 10, 2024 (Ultraman Day)!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinPowerV3. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

071 – “The Final Henshin” (Henshin Men and Power Trip Postmortem) | Ft. Christopher Riner and Jake Hambrick

Wed, 01 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

All 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 Train Zord rolling! Listen for more details!

Also, listen for a special postcredit scene!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org, including those by InspectorJ.

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 Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

Power Trip Credits

Our theme song was created by J.P. Gant (follow him on Twitter: @HomebrewedSD). We also used “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always (Epic Trailer Version)” by Alala (L'Orchestra Cinématique). All film and audio clips belong to their respective copyright holders, and no infringement is intended or implied.

The Power Trip has no association with Toei Company, Ltd., Saban Entertainment, or Hasbro. Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and/or Podchaser to spread the word about the show.

BONUS - An Interview with James Santana, Founder of TokUSA Studios, on The World of Nebulon (abridged)

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In 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 book showcasing several of the characters and titles in the works at the studio.

Support his project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1935627238/world-of-nebulon-preview-book?ref=discovery.

Join MIFV MAX on Patreon to see the full video version: https://tinyurl.com/MIFV-MAX-30-Patreon.

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 Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

The World of Nebulon - A Tokusatsu-Inspired Comic Now on Kickstarter!

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

This 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

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

In 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 Henshin Men!

The video version of the stream can be viewed on the Monster Island Film Vault YouTube channel and Omni Viewer’s YouTube channel.

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 Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

070 – “Kamen Man” | Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider | Ft. Soundout12

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000

In 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 far as we know). Yes, this breaks the podcast’s “legally available in the U.S.” rule, but can you blame us? See you next time for some Henshin Men V3 HYPE!

Follow Soundout12 on YouTube, Twitter/X, and Instagram.

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

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 Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“ Tatakau Tame ni Umareta Senshi” by Hironobu Kageyama

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

069 – “The Shocker Chainsaw Massacre” | Kamen Rider: The Next | Ft. Christopher Riner

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

“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’s dour, convoluted, and confusing. But it does do one thing better than The First. What’s that? Let’s just say it made Chris think Koichi Sakamoto was involved with this movie. Listen to hear this and more in the latest Henshin Men!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

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 Nathan’s other podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Fight!! Kamen Rider V3” by Sheja

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

068 – I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Henshin Pose! | Masked Rider: The First | Ft. Jake Hambrick

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Henshin 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 it. What truly makes it stand out, though, is its theme: the power of beauty. Throw in some great practical effects and solid fight scenes, and you have a winner in the remake debate.

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

067 – “Double Cannibalism?! One Star!” | Kamen Rider Black Sun Eps. 4-10 | Ft. Christopher Riner

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Last 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 filmmakers fully understood the cultural weight of the controversies they borrowed from American politics. It doesn’t help that the show has the subtlety of a sledgehammer with its themes and social commentary. But is it a worthy remake of a henshin hero classic? Chris and Nate don’t think so. Listen to find out why!

Listen to coverage of episodes 1-3 on Giant-Sized Violence (Apple) (Spotify).

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner with Nathan Marchand.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider Black Sun OST” (Orchestra Rearranged by Fancheizhar)

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

066 – “This Ain’t No Manga for Kids!” | The Kamen Rider Manga by Shotaro Ishinomori | Ft. Tomi Trembath

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

From 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 influence and inspiration for other retellings of the original Kamen Rider story, such as Masked Rider: The First and Shin Kamen Rider (check out the previous episode for more on the latter). Marvel at Nathan and Tomi covering this 900-page tome in less than two hours! Enjoy!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

065 – I Know What Anno! | Shin Kamen Rider (2023) | Ft. Shane Cochran

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Henshin 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 Anno’s usual standards? This question and more is answered by Shane and Nathan—with special guest appearances by past co-hosts Travis Alexander and Drew Dodgen! Enjoy our longest episode yet!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

BONUS – Tokusatsu 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

BONUS – Henshin 101 (JAFAX 2023 Panel)

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Take 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 this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

BONUS - MIFV MAX #18 - My Trip to All Monsters Attack 2: Chicago S.O.S. (abridged)

Wed, 24 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Greetings, 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 Patreon to watch/hear the full livestream!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

064 – The Last Ride | Ft. Travis Alexander | Kamen Rider Ep. 98 & Afterword

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

After 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 podcast, discussing their favorite episodes and moments of both. Did they have the same ones as you? Listen to find out!

Henshin Men will return…in V3….

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner and Nathan Marchand.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

063 – Takeshi Hongo Cannot Shoot His Cacti Out, Kid! (Kamen Rider Eps. 96-97)

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In 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 himself with irony. Welcome to the penultimate episode of our Kamen Rider coverage! Next time, Travis returns…again!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner and Nathan Marchand.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

062 - Rider's Half-Dozen (Kamen Rider Eps. 94-95)

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

THE 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 Sanshiro, who was also played by Hiroshi Fujioka! Enjoy your latest dose of Henshin Men!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner and Nathan Marchand.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

061 – Will the Real Kamen Rider Please Stand Up? (Kamen Rider Eps. 92-93)

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

The 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 when it turns out there’s not one, not two, but six Shocker Riders! And they all wear different-colored scarfs. It’s like Shotaro Ishinomori used them as the prototype for Super Sentai. All this plus Alvin and the Chipmunks make a cameo. Welcome to Kamen Rider and Henshin Men, baby!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

060 – Children of the Gel-Shockorn (Kamen Rider Eps. 90-91)

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

They 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 give him a “rantmaster” from his other podcast, The Power Trip! Also, Jesus healing Kamen Rider’s blindness. Welcome to the madness that is Henshin Men!

This episode was edited by Christopher Riner.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

059 – Someone Let the Catgecko Out of the Bag! (Kamen Rider Eps. 88-89)

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Ever 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: @HenshinMenPod. Join the official Facebook fan page for this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

-“ Yakety Sax” by Boots Randolph

058 – Does Whatever a Spiderlion Can! | Kamen Rider Eps. 86-87 | Introducing Drew Dodgen!

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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”) who leaves “death notes” for his victims. Once again, Gelshocker, if these humble podcasters ran your organization, you’d have conquered the world in five episodes. OF COURSE!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

BONUS – A Conversation with Andrew Bush, Director of ‘Amano Recon’ (an IndieGoGo Project)

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Looking 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 could be in it! Which ones? Listen to find out!

Check out Amano Recon’s official website (https://www.amanorecon.com/) and IndieGoGo page (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/amano-recon-sci-fi-horror-comedy-short-film#/).

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Galaxy Quest (Instrumental)” by HeavenWraith

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

057 – That is Japan’s @$$! | ‘Masked Rider vs. Shocker’ & ‘Kamen Rider vs. The Ambassador from Hell’ | Ft. Travis Alexander

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Travis 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 our favorite flying squirrel—ambitious stunts, and surprisingly good miniatures (and, as Travis points out, lots of butt grabbing). One even has both Riders fighting a kaijin over a teddy bear. Yep. Nathan and Travis discuss all this and go on tangents about a wild west Kamen Rider and a proverb about swimmers. Enjoy the latest Henshin Men with the original line-up!

Watch both movies on Toei’s YouTube channel:

-Masked Rider vs. Shocker

-Kamen Rider vs. The Ambassador from Hell

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

BONUS – Remembering Jason David Frank: A Charity Livestream (audio version)

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

On 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. He was the face of the brand for years and a hero to his fans. Because he took his own life, your hosts spent this long livestream raising money for To Write Love On Her Arms, “a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.” Their goal is to raise $800, and you can still contribute at the link below.

To view the video version of the livestream on the MIFV YouTube channel.

Donate to TWLOHA here in JDF’s honor.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

056 – Say Ishinomori! | Kamen Rider Eps. 84-85 | Ft. Blunova

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:00:00 +0000

This 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 decapitation powers,” touches on Japan’s pollution problem like much toku did at the time. All this and more in the latest episode of Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Check out Blunova’s YouTube channel and follow him on Twitter (@penpen_iii).

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

055 – Ultra-Mandatory | ‘Shin Ultraman’ | Ft. Robert Monsarrat

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

We 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 and theater experience before giving spoiler-free thoughts on the film. Then they dive in Henshin Men-style with full-tilt spoilers. You’ve been warned!

Check Ultraman Connection to see if and when the film will play near you. Read Nathan’s review of the film for Kaiju Ramen Magazine.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“ウルトラマンの歌cover (Ultraman song cover)” by KAIRI x fusionhazard

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

054 – Back in Kamen Rider Black | Kamen Rider Black Eps. 1-2 | Ft. Tomi Trembath of Giant-Sized Violence

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000

With 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 grit. Listen to these two gush over it, watch those two episodes, and then binge Black Sun this weekend!

Listen to Giant-Sized Violence!

The first two episodes Kamen Rider Black can be viewed on Toei’s official YouTube channel: Episode 1 and Episode 2.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider Black (Masked Rider Black) _ Opening _ Guitar Cover” by AlfarAway Music

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

053 – Peanut Butter and Jellywolf (Kamen Rider Eps. 82-83)

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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. But after this episode, things will get shaken up on Henshin Men, so be sure to listen to the end to hear how!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

052 – Gelshocked! | Kamen Rider Eps. 80-81 | Ft. That Other Toku Podcast

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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 (of course!). We also get a new branch commander with Gen. Black, who seems to have forgotten he’s not German and World War I ended 60 years prior. What else is new for Kamen Rider?

Check out That Other Toku Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow them on Twitter.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

051 – To Ambassador Hell and Back (Kamen Rider Eps. 78-79)

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

It’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 this and The Monster Island Film Vault, The Markalite Lounge.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

BONUS – All Podcasts Attack Special: Days of the Dead: All Monsters Attack Convention

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome, 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 Vault, Henshin Men, and The Power Trip because the guest line-up was relevant to all three shows! Hear about them meeting Gamera’s best girl, Ayako Fujitani, Bin Furuya, the original Ultraman suit actor, and the OG Red Power Ranger himself, Austin St. John.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

050 – Imagine Seadragons (Kamen Rider Eps. 76-77)

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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 latest Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

049 – Every Rosearanga has Its Thorns (Kamen Rider Eps. 74-75)

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 07:15:00 +0000

Nathan 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? Welcome to the latest Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

On the Future of Hernshin Men

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +0000

It’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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

048 – A Beginner’s Guide to Ultraman | Ft. Daniel DiManna

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Yes, 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 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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

047 – Ultraman Day Special | Michael Hamilton and Daniel DiManna

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000

With 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 Superhero crossover comic, Seismic Toys’ newly-announced figures for Ultraman Vinyl Odyssey (“the Tiganator”!), and the premiere episode of the newest Ultra series, Ultraman Decker. Enjoy!

Check out the latest Ultra news stories discussed in this episode on Ultraman Connection!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

046 – Fiddler Crabking on the Roof (Kamen Rider Eps. 72-73)

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 23:00:00 +0000

With 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 is the asymmetrical Fiddler Crabking, who’s tougher than his name suggests. Hayato is great in the first episode—and barely in the second. Oh well.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

045 – Gadfly Me to the Moon, Gomez! (Kamen Rider Eps. 70-71)

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Shoo 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 Gadflygomez (he’s from Mexico, get it?) murder an FBI friend of Taki’s he’s never mentioned before. You know what that means: REVENGE! Just another day for Kamen Rider and friends.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

044 – I Squid You Not! (Kamen Rider Eps. 68-69)

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

No, 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 recycling…plots, that is. Children of the Shockorn Part 97, mind control, killer soundwaves. At least the cricket kaijin takes a knife to the head, though. Enjoy more Henshin Men shenanigans!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

043 – The Walking Dead Kaijin (Kamen Rider Eps. 66-67)

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan 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 of incredibly boring supervillains to learn the true identity of the Shocker Leader. But as a famous Mon Calamari once said, “It’s a trap!” Your intrepid hosts also ask one very important question about these episodes: Where the heck is Fujioka?

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode for us. Thanks!

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

042 – Shocker has a Sound Plan (Kamen Rider Eps. 64-65)

Thu, 19 May 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This 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? As does Shocker indoctrination schools? Come for the toku talk, stay for the crash courses in Japanese culture about rhino beetles and the decibel levels of cicadas. We swear those are relevant to these episodes.

To learn more about cicada sounds, check out https://decibelpro.app/.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

041 – Get to the Point! (Kamen Rider Eps. 62-63)

Wed, 04 May 2022 21:30:00 +0000

Your 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 a trap—because what this show needs is more mind control! Then Nathan annoys Travis by not telling him where he could’ve made a “Hongo and Taki shipping” joke but didn’t. All this and more on Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

040 – Owl’s Well That Ends Well (Kamen Rider Eps. 60-61)

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Music, 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 important question is: Are Hongo and Hayato worthy of wielding Mjolnir? All this and more on your favorite tokusatsu superhero podcast!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

Special Report: ‘Shin Ultraman’ Trailer Discussion

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 04:55:00 +0000

Nathan 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 many comparisons to Shin Godzilla. You betcha if and when this film gets a stateside release, they’ll cover it!

You can watch the trailer here. No English subtitles.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

039 – Imagine Bearded Dragons (Kamen Rider Eps. 58-59)

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:29:00 +0000

NOTE: 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 scientists and have them create an army. Because that makes sense. Next, a “Worm Guy” (only the most hardcore of Godzilla fans will get that reference) sends a pair of the most dapper Shocker goons ever to steal a powerful nuclear fuel only for a salaryman comedy to interrupt their Mission: Impossible! shenanigans. Just another week on Kamen Rider (1971), am I right?

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

038 – Madam Poison Butterfly (Kamen Rider Eps. 56-57)

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

We 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’s continued “shipping” of Taki with whoever is Kamen Rider, and you have a standard Henshin Men episode.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

037 – Ultra Word Salad: The Movie (Mega Monster Battle – Ultra Galaxy: The Movie)

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Travis 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: Endgame of Ultraman—and it was part one of a trilogy! It features the first appearances of both a popular Ultra hero—Ultraman Zero—and villain—Ultraman Belial. It’s an epic movie for a fun episode of both Henshin Men and Kaiju Weekly.

Listen to the uncut Kaiju Weekly episode on the Kaiju Ramen website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy – The Movie is available on blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment and to rent on several streaming platforms.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

036 – Sea Snake Flash (Kamen Rider Eps. 54-55)

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Travis 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 roaches” of Godzilla vs. Gigan—and spreads a deadly hyper-aging bacteria in bowling ball finger holes. (So…many…bad…jokes…!) Just your average episode of Henshin Men, folks!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

035 – Hongo’s Back…and This Time, We Mean It | Kamen Rider Eps. 52-53 | Ft. August Ragone

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

A momentous episode of Henshin Men about a pair of momentous Kamen Rider (1971) episodes requires a momentous guest—Kamen Rider super-fan and tokustasu scholar August Ragone. Yes, Nathan managed to snag the one person in the English-speaking world who loves Kamen Rider more than Travis! After August regales the boys with his long list of credentials, storied life, and copious knowledge, the three of them discuss Hayato’s final episode as the star of the show. It features Dr. Shinigami with a scythe, a crow kaijin (“Nevermore”?), and an insanity gas. Then arguably the most iconic portion of the show begins with Hongo’s true return, and it features a henshin pose, a new villain (Serpentor?), and one of August’s favorite kaijin, Jaguar-Man! Get ready for an epic double-length episode of Henshin Men!

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode. Thanks, man!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

034 - The One-Eyed, One-Horned, Punching Purple Rider Eater (Kamen Rider Eps. 50-51)

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 06:30:00 +0000

Kamen Rider (1971) keeps teasing the audience with Hongo returning, and Nathan and Travis tease a HUGE upcoming episode of Henshin Men! (Listen until the end to find out!) First up, Kamen Rider battles Gamera, er, Turtlestone, er, Kamestone. Who, besides crashing through walls like the Kool-Aide Man, blinds people with Deadly Daylight Disco lighting. Then Shocker unleashes the weirdest unicorn you’ve ever seen in the second episode. He’s made by transfusing powdered blood from a unicorn fossil into an evil man. (Sure, why not?) Also, Kamen Rider becomes Daredevil and Zatoichi, all in one episode! Enjoy this week’s Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

033 – These Monsters Suck! (Kamen Rider Eps. 48-49)

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Travis and Nathan mean that title literally! Shocker’s kaijin-of-the-week are a leech and an anemone with tornado powers. (Ever get the feeling Toei had the same dart board as the infamous film studio The Asylum that has animals and natural disasters on it?) Leecherilla does look horrifying—until he doesn’t. But Anemone is juxtaposed against the most Japanese-looking version of Africa you ever saw. Your intrepid hosts also discuss the missed potential of Shocker mind-controlling Hayato (and not telling him to transform?), the Rider Girls using playing cards as tarot cards (That’s a thing?), and the “Rider Headbutt” (that Henshin Men does not endorse). Enjoy!

Special thanks to J.P. Gant for editing this episode. Thanks, man!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

032 – Bearhug It Out (Kamen Rider Eps. 46-47)

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:55:00 +0000

This week’s episode of Henshin Men is brought to you by…snow and hugs. (At least it’s not mind control, am I right?) Nathan and Travis discuss the coldest episodes of Kamen Rider (1971) yet. In the first, Team Rider goes on (another!?) vacation to a ski lodge that, predictably, gets ruined by Shocker’s kaijin, Bearkonger. Hayato injures his arm and isn’t able to transform—for five seconds. Then he becomes the “Kamen Snowmobiler” for a chase that looks straight out of In Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the next episode, Travis continues to ship Taki and Hayato (“Takiato”) because KR2 has to save him and Goro—with a warm hug. Yep. Welcome to Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Podcast Network.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

031 – There’s a Humongous Fungus Among Us (Kamen Rider Eps. 44-45)

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:53:26 +0000

Nathan and Travis get back into the Kamen Rider (1971) routine. This required they re-watch a pair of episodes they intended to cover a month ago—and it’s a good thing they did. This week’s KR offerings feature one of the scariest kaijin yet—Moldinga/Kabibinga—and one that should’ve gotten Toei sued by Toho—Slugzilla. You’ll hear Travis and Nathan discuss the symbolically corruptive nature of mold/fungus and how to translate crazy kaijin-of-the-week names—and complaints about more mind control! (Seriously, Shocker has maybe three plays in their playbook). In other words, everything you’ve come to expect from Henshin Men.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

030 – It’s Henshin Time! (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Eps. 113-115, ‘A Friend in Need’) | Henshin Men x The Power Trip

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000

It’s a doubly special occasion because Travis is back, and Henshin Men joins forces with The Power Trip! Yes, in a crossover of many firsts, Travis and Nathan are joined by their mutual co-host, Michael, from their fellow Kaiju Ramen Network podcast, The Power Trip: A Journey through the Power Rangers Franchise. What could possibly bring them together? None other than the three-part backdoor pilot on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers that introduced the world to Kamen Rider, er, Masked Rider! But while he’s a “Power guru,” Michael quickly shows he knows nothing about video games, ‘90s action movies, or comic books (“Ratchet Raccoon”?). Get ready for a discussion that touches on everything from Dune to Keita Amemiya to why Kimberly is the most capable Power Ranger—followed by the hosts arguing over which show does the awards better.

This episode can also be heard on The Power Trip’s feed.

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is available on DVD from Shout!Factory and to stream on Netflix and the Power Rangers Official YouTube channel.

Henshin Men and The Power Trip are proud members of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

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 and Michael’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s flagship podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Go, Go, Power Rangers!” by Niall Stenson

-“Galaxy Quest (Instrumental)” by HeavenWraith from the OCRemix album Jet Force Gemini: Mizar Attacks!

029 – Bad to the Chrome (Mechanical Violator Hakaider) | Ft. Elijah Thomas

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000

With Travis away for one last week, the “Littlest Gatekeeper,” Elijah Thomas, of the Kaiju Conversation podcast joins Nathan to go ’90s EDGELORD EXTREME!!! By that we mean discuss the 1995 film Mechanical Violator Hakaider directed by the mad genius Keita Amemiya. This is a gritty reboot done right. It’s a bold reimagining of a character from Toei’s Kikaida TV series from the early 1970s. You’ll hear Nathan and Elijah speak with Epic Trailer Voices™ and constantly compare the film’s villain to their friend Michael because they share a name. But beneath the undiluted bad@$$ery and reversed angel/demon motifs is a story with rich themes and often poetic messages about religion, dystopia, and justice. Welcome to Henshin Men!

Hakaider is available on blu-ray from Media Blasters and to stream on Tubi.

Check out Elijah’s podcast, Kaiju Conversation, and his YouTube channel.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“HAKAIDER - ハカイダー出陣” by Koichi Ota and Shinji Kinoshita

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

028 – WTH: The Movie (Super Inframan) | Ft. Chris Cooke

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000

With Travis still on break, Nathan brings on his friend Chris Cooke of One Cross Radio and Radio Arcade to see, as he puts it, “Power Rangers on Crack”—aka Super Inframan. If you’re thinking, “That’s from Hong Kong, not Japan! It can’t be on Henshin Men!” you’re wrong. It was made to tap into the “Henshin Boom” of the 1970s, and it had Japanese crewmembers who worked on Ultraman and Kamen Rider, among other tokusatsu. In an episode almost as energetic and crazy as the movie, Nathan and Chris muse about what a thrash metal band and album inspired by this movie would sound like, trademark every silly nickname they give to everything in the movie, and Chris goes on the biggest rant of his podcasting career. Welcome to the zany world of Inframan and Henshin Men!

Super Inframan is available on DVD from Image Entertainment and to stream on YouTube.

Check out Chris’s OCR website, YouTube channel, Instagram, and his other podcast, Radio Arcade.

Henshin Men is a proud member of the Kaiju Ramen Media Podcast Network.

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, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Inframan Theme: Original Version” by Frankie Chan

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

027 – Zero Killed the Radio Beatstar (Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar | Ft. Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000

With Travis still on his much-needed “pod-cation,” Nathan brings on Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers from The Drift Space podcast to discuss the second of the “duology” of Ultraman Zero specials. This one, Killer the Beatstar (which would be the best DJ name ever), was released as a tie-in with Ultarman Saga (2012), but for Jack in particular, this special doesn’t live up to the pinnacle of the previous special Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero or the film Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial. While this one has plenty of beloved characters—both human and Ultra—a great villain, and lots of fascinating ideas, it doesn’t do enough with any of them. Then it’s brought down by a weeping robot crying the Matrix code. Get ready for an episode that tangents into a bizarre fusion of Ultraman and Star Trek! (“Toku Trek”? That’s a great podcast title!)

Ultraman Zero Side Story: Killer the Beatstar is available as part of The Ultraman Zero Collection blu-ray set released by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Listen to Jack and J.R.’s previous appearance on Henshin Men.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

Check out Jack and J.R. on The Drift Space.

MUSIC:

-“Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle (Opening Theme) Cover ウルトラマンゼロ” by It Takes 2 to Toku

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

026 – Unto Us an Ultra-Child is Born (The Birth of Ultraman Stage Show) | Feat. Michael Hamilton | Kaiju Weekly

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Travis needed time off for a family emergency, so Nathan brought in their co-host in “kamen” (ba-dum-tsh!), Michael Hamilton, to discuss The Birth of Ultraman Stage Show. Sorta. What you’re about to hear is actually an episode of Kaiju Weekly (Travis’s main podcast, which he co-hosts with Michael) that featured Michael and Nathan discussing this unique beginning for one of the greatest henshin heroes. It features new bookends recorded for you, Heroes of the Internet, where Nathan and his guest give Henshin Men’s trademark awards to the pseudo-pilot episode of Ultraman (1966).

From the Kaiju Weekly episode description: This week we cover the Birth of Ultraman Stage Show from 1966 with returning guest, Nathan Marchand of the Monster Island Film Vault Podcast and Henshin Men Podcast. We also cover a little bit of news and have some ULTRA-FUN along the way!

The Birth of Ultraman is available on blu-ray from Mill Creek on Amazon and Deep Discount. It can also be purchased for streaming on MovieSpree.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis and Michael’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip (which he co-hosts with Michael)

MUSIC:

-“Ultraman Theme Song” by Davin

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

025 – Faux-dan’s Death Tumble (Kamen Rider Eps. 42-43)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:47:14 +0000

After an epic two-parter with the return of Hongo…it’s business as usual on Kamen Rider (1971). Your intrepid hosts Travis and Nathan are almost bored with the first in a long series of overplayed mind-control stories in the post-Hongo world. But at least the kaijin-of-the-week are fun. First, there’s Fly Man (who should’ve been by Vincent Price, for obvious reasons). He’s no Egyptas, but his constant buzzing is almost as entertaining. But nothing compares to “Faux-dan” (what’s his actual name, again?), who can “break wind” and inspire a conversation about sequels to the indie kaiju film Notzilla. Can you tell Nathan and Travis also run giant monster podcasts? All this and more in Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

024 – Double the Rider, Double the Fun (Kamen Rider Eps. 40-41)

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 05:59:00 +0000

FINALLY! Hongo has come back to Japan! And he brought his own pair of kick@$$ Rider Girls! (But what happened to Ruriko?) Nathan and Travis are overjoyed to see the OG Rider return, and in true superhero fashion, team-up (and fight?!) with Hayato in an epic two-parter coming off the heels of the crazy Christmas special. Shocker’s Japanese division has a new commander: Dr. Death/Dr. Reaper/Dr. Shinigami/Dr. Who (one of those is a pop culture reference, but not the one you’re thinking) played by a former member of Toho’s actor stable. Toei’s filmmakers took a bit more care than usual with these episodes to mark such an incredible occasion—but what a tease! Welcome to Henshin Men, heroes of the internet!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

023 – A Non-American Werewolf in Japan (Kamen Rider Eps. 38-39)

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 06:48:41 +0000

There are a few pairs that go hand-in-hand. Peanut butter and jelly. Pen and paper. Bread and butter. Werewolves and Christmas. (Wait, what?!) Yes, Travis returns as Nate celebrates Christmas the Japanese way by eating a KFC dinner and watching Kamen Rider (1971). While the first episode they discuss is a bit typical for the show (despite the kaijin-of-the-week being “Bat-manta”), the second one—what a doozy! Col. Zol unleashes a werewolf virus, steals a little girl’s doll, and holds a costume “murder party”—before revealing that he, too, is a kaijin! A final boss battle ensues! Can KR2 defeat Shocker’s one-eyed super pseudo-Nazi? Listen to find out…after you watch the episode, of course. It’s a Kamen Rider Christmas tradition, after all.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

022 – Girls Really Like a Guy in Spandex (The Special Combat Unit Shinesman) | Feat. The Omni Viewer

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Travis needed some time off, so Nathan is joined by YouTube personality and sci-fi author Ryan “The Omni Viewer” Collins to discuss something a little left-of-center for Henshin Men: an anime. The Super Sentai parody The Special Combat Unit Shinesman (aka Tokuma Sentai Shinesman), to be exact. This hilarious OVA is a tale of corporate warfare with the Good Trading Company’s Shinesmen battling alien invaders disguised as a rival corporation secretly plotting world conquest. (Can you say, “Disney”?) It’s one of those comedies that’s surprisingly deep. Omni and Nathan connect this all-too-short but highly-quotable anime to C.S. Lewis’s famous quotation on fairytales and growing up, Looney Tunes, Mel Brooks, and even Dune, to name a few. What’d else would you expect from them?

Shinesman was released on VHS and DVD by Media Blasters under their Anime Works imprint. Both are long out-of-print, but the dubbed version (which was discussed in this episode) can be viewed here on YouTube.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip. Check out Omni Viewer on YouTube.

MUSIC:

-“Shine/Shinesman – You are the Hero” by Hironobu Kageyama

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

021 – Talk Like an Egyptas (Kamen Rider Eps. 36-37)

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

“Are you my mummy?” That’s the question Nathan is asked by Travis to start this week’s episode of Henshin Men. In today’s Kamen Rider coverage, as is the unwritten law of all popular entertainment, there must be an ancient Egypt episode featuring a mummy monster. In this case, it’s the proto-King Sphinx who can somehow understand Japanese but only speaks in gibberish that may or may not be ancient Egyptian. It’s even more confusing than it sounds. The next episode features another flower kaijin, but this one, Wolfsbane, is freakishly cool. It’s just too bad his poisonous gas is inconsistently deadly. But he ticks off KR2 so bad, he gets not one, but two finishing moves! Now, as for the unceremonious resurrection and second deaths of some defeated kaijin, that’s less impressive.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

TRAILER - The Power Trip: A Journey through the Power Rangers Franchise

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Power Rangers with Michael Hamilton (Kaiju Weekly, The Kaiju Groupie Podcast) and Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men) as they embark on a quest through every season of this morphenomenal franchise. Coming January 4, 2022, to a podcatcher near you! IT’S MORPHIN’ TIME!

Follow The Power Trips on Twitter: @ThePowerTripPod.

Join the podcast’s official Facebook group: Power Rangers Legacy.

020 – Ant-Woman and the Rider (Kamen Rider Eps. 34-35)

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 04:01:30 +0000

Nostril eye holes. That’s one of the many important things discussed in this week’s Henshin Men by Travis and Nathan. Why? Because both of the kaijins-of-the-week, Toadiller and Alkimedes, have their “eyes” on the tops of their heads, but the suit actors are obviously seeing out the masks’ noses. It’s not unlike what Travis brought up last week about the Kamen Rider costume. Besides that, they discuss the first (sorta) on-screen appearance of the Shocker Leader (using a brainwave scanner that projects memories as a movie), the best one-liner in the series so far (hint: it involves a password), and the career of actress/model Linda Yamamoto (who played Rider Girl Mari) and how it parallels the development of Japanese culture. You’re welcome.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Linda Yamamoto's website and Wikipedia page.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

019 - Corpse Flower Power! (Kamen Rider Eps. 32-33)

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Rainbow factories explode (again) and a Brazilian archer girl seeks revenge in this week’s Kamen Rider (1971) episodes! In the first KR2 adventure, Nathan and Travis marvel at the man-eating, multicolored Dokudahlian, a plant kaijin who has the power to turn any room he enters into a disco. He kidnaps women and forces them to manufacture poisonous drugs, because only women have hands delicate enough to do it. (Shocker, you sexist fiends!) Next, your dynamic hosts are entranced by Connie “the yellow jumpsuit wearing, bow and arrow wielding, and vengeance seeking vigilante” as she tracks Shocker’s steel-skinned monster, Armadillong. (Well, Nathan is—Travis is still too busy crushing on Taki). How come she never joined the Rider Girls as a regular cast member? This question and more is answered in Henshin Men, your favorite tokusatsu superhero appreciation podcast!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s podcasts, The Monster Island Film Vault and The Power Trip.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

018 - Trilo-bonanza (Kamen Rider Eps 30-31)

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:59:00 +0000

Travis and Nathan come to another pair of Kamen Rider (1971) episodes that want so very badly to harken back to the “Hongo era”—by featuring a vampire trilobite and a plague-spreading anteater. Yep. Col. Zol performs a bizarre ceremony to resurrect a fossilized trilobite (that may or may not have been found under Godzilla’s foot) while the Rider Girls try ward the monster off with garlic. Because that makes sense. Ironically, the anteater proves to be one of the scariest and most powerful kaijins-of-the-week KR2 has fought! He even infects Goro the “Kamen Kenny,” forcing KR2 to finally learn a new move. In other words…this time, it’s personal! Welcome to Henshin Men, heroes of the internet!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

017 - The Eyes Have It (Kamen Rider Eps 28-29)

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 06:20:00 +0000

What does a mole and a jellyfish have in common? No, this isn’t a joke; it’s actually something Nathan and Travis try to figure out in today’s edition of Henshin Men. Kamen Rider 2 battles a mole kaijin and a jellyfish kaijin in this week’s episodes. Both of them have eyes in weird places—like biological periscopes and at the end of tentacles. Did we mention that the jellyfish looks like Cobra Commander with a Tentacool for a hood? The series also continues its weird obsession with flinging “Kamen Kennys” like sacks of potatoes. These two wacky Kamen Rider adventures inspired multiple episode title ideas, including, “Babydoll Jellydall” and “Rider Jump Cut.” In other words, it’s just another week at Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

EXTRA LIFE 2021 PROMO - Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid Charity Livestream!

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Greetings, heroes of the internet! Join me this Saturday (November 6) for a special charity livestream for Extra Life, an organization that raises money for children's hospitals through marathon gaming sessions. I'll be playing Power Rangers: Battle for The Grid! Click the links below for more information and to contribute to my donation goal! Thanks!

-Extra Life

-Nathan Marchand/Theology Gaming Team Page

-Theology Gaming Twitch Channel

-MIFV YouTube Channel

016 – Children of the Shockorn (Kamen Rider Eps. 26-27)

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 04:55:00 +0000

“Guess who’s back…back again. Trav is back! Tell a friend!” Yes, Travis returns to Henshin Men to talk more Kamen Rider (1971) with Nathan. First up is an episode featuring Antlithunder (which sounds like a pro-wrestler name, so where’s Pirasaurus when you need him?), who’s plotting to destroy Japan’s highways with sandstorms and underground tunnels. So, the spice must flow and we don’t like sand! We also meet the new manager for Shocker’s Japan branch, Col. Zol, who sports a pseudo-Nazi uniform, an eyepatch, and a baton, so he’s totally not evil. But then—oh boy!—comes an episode with a horrifying concept done unintentionally hilarious. The evil Centiperas, who has a long list of weird superpowers, kidnaps children and turns them into hypnotized gun-toting child soldiers—and they make Stormtroopers look like marksmen. It’s the wackiest episode since the one with the flying rage squirrel! Welcome back to Kamen Rider, heroes!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

015 – Ultraman Zero Darklops 30 (Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero) | Feat. Jack “GMan” Hudgens and J.R. Villers

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000

With Travis still taking time off, Nathan is joined by two of the co-hosts of The Drift Space Podcast, Jack and J.R., for Henshin Men’s first ever Ultraman episode! In this, they discuss the surprisingly cinematic 2010 direct-to-video special Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero vs. Darlkops Zero. For a tie-in story to the blockbuster movie Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial (a name your hosts can’t agree on how to pronounce), it has shockingly huge stakes and callbacks all the way back to Ultraseven. Get ready for a discussion of technological hubris, greenscreens as tokusatsu, and “drawing French Ultramen.” Yeah, even in context, that last one is weird.

Ultra Galaxy Legend Side Story: Ultraman Zero vs. Darklops Zero is available as part of The Ultraman Zero Collection blu-ray set released by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Hear Nathan and Michael discuss Mega Monster Battle on episode 85 of Kaiju Weekly.

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

Check out Jack and J.R. on The Drift Space.

MUSIC:

-“Ultraman Zero: The Chronicle (Opening Theme) Cover ウルトラマンゼロ” by It Takes 2 to Toku

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

014 – Aye-Yi-Yi Can’t Believe This Almost Happened! | Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Lost Episode (feat. Michael Hamilton)

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Wait…this isn’t Kamen Rider (1971)! And where’s Travis? Calm down, heroes! Travis needed some time off, so Nathan invited Travis’s Kaiju Weekly co-host, Michael, onto Henshin Men to discuss the unaired pilot for Michael’s favorite tokusatsu show, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. This very rough draft of “Day of the Dumpster” features a different actress for Trini, no Bulk and Skull (sorta), and an interdimensional mentor named Zoltar and not Zordon. Also, the Zords are called “Droids,” and your hosts are amazed George Lucas didn’t sue. Join them as they muse about what could’ve been (but thankfully wasn’t), and stay tuned until the end to hear a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from them!

Episode 0 of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers is available to watch on YouTube (episode only, retrospective special).

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Go, Go, Power Rangers!” by Niall Stenson

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

013 - This Episode is in Spore Taste (Kamen Rider Eps 24-25)

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 06:04:53 +0000

“Death Mushroom!” Not only should that be the name of a Euro metal band, it’s the name of the kaijin-of-the-week featured in today’s episode…sorta. Travis and Nathan discuss a two-parter from Kamen Rider (1971), where Hayato/Kamen Rider 2 battles a convict who is pickled in weird mushroom juices for a week by Shocker to make him into a supervillain only a Matango would love. Yep, you read that right. Along the way, your intrepid hosts discuss the episodes’ impressive action set pieces; Shocker’s surprisingly dark and effective plot that hits differently in the post-COVID world; and Hayato and Tachibana’s needlessly sexist rudeness toward the Rider Girls—who finally aren’t useless ditzes, to boot!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

012 - Five Nights at Squirrelly’s (Kamen Rider Eps. 22-23)

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Nathan and Travis discuss two episodes of Kamen Rider (1971), the first of which has a murderous merman—and that doesn’t matter. You came to hear about Musasabeedle, aka Fly-Squidle—with a “d” and not a “t” to avoid a lawsuit from Nintendo. We guesstimate about 50 percent of this episode is your intrepid hosts laughing at this squirrelly kaijin’s expense. So. Many. Jokes! What else is there to talk about in this week’s episode of Henshin Men besides this giant killer plushie that sounds like a farting Indy car when he flies? Shin Kamen Rider news? Nope. The Ishiro Honda-esque theme of weaponizing something meant for scientific advancement? No. The real answer? Nothing, that’s what! Although, we do share some listener feedback at the end.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

Follow Henshin Men on Twitter: @HenshinMenPod.

Listen to Travis’s main podcast, Kaiju Weekly, and Nathan’s main podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault.

MUSIC:

-“Kamen Rider - Let's Go!! Rider Kick (Cover)” by Eternal Melee

-“Not Your Above-Average Joe [Standing Ovation]” by Ivan Hakštok

BONUS: Shin Kamen Rider 2023 News (10-2-21)

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 01:00:00 +0000

Did you think your intrepid hosts, Travis and Nathan, could not talk about the BIG news that dropped about Shin Kamen Rider (2023)? Not when they’re a quarter of the way through the classic series that inspired it! They discuss the promo video that recreates the original intro as well as the actors playing Takeshi and Ruriko, among other things; make crazy “fan castings” for some of the other characters; and discuss what kind of story they’d like to see in this upcoming film being written and directed by Evangelion creator Hikeaki Anno.

The Shin Kamen Rider Promo Video.

Listen to Kaiju Weekly and The Monster Island Film Vault.

011 - This Isn't Even My Final Form! (Kamen Rider Eps 20 - 21)

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 05:30:49 +0000

Episode 11: This Isn’t Even My Final Form! (Kamen Rider Eps. 20-21)

This week, Kamen Rider II battles Mothra! (Moth Man? Mothra Man?) Well, kinda. Your toku-loving hosts, Travis and Nathan, are just as confused by Shocker’s kaijin-of-the-week because, once again, he has two names: Dokugander and Poison-Mothdar! But if that wasn’t enough, Toei tries to upstage Tsuburaya Productions by crucifying Tachibana and the Rider Girls on electrified crosses—twice! To say newbie Nathan wasn’t prepared for any of this would be an understatement. But all this isn’t even the weirdest thing discussed in this episode. No, much to Nathan’s chagrin…Travis starts “shipping” Kamen Rider characters…specifically Hayato and Taki. So, this is how Henshin Men ends—with a thunderous facepalm.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

010 - Don't Be So Shellfish (Kamen Rider Eps 18-19)

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:34:30 +0000

Last week, you smelled what Nathan and Travis were cooking…and now we’re going to Long John Silver’s. Or maybe Red Lobster? Anyway, Kamen Rider fights Shocker’s monstrous seafood in two episodes featuring Starfish Hitler’s forerunner, Stafinjer, and the ridiculous but deadly Crabubbler. And as usual, both of them have alternate names in the episode listings compared to the subtitles. (Insert Picard facepalm gif here). Team Kamen Rider also keeps going on vacations in pretty locations. And the kaijin seem to have a new catchphrase: “Rider…DIE!” It’s not very original, but it’s something. All this plus Shocker fanny packs, “Rider dummies,” and chipmunks! Welcome to Kamen Rider (1971) and Henshin Men, folks!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

09 - When Rider-Mania Runs Wild On You! (Kamen Rider Eps 16-17)

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 04:58:43 +0000

You don’t have to listen on pay-per-view (“pay-per-listen”?) to hear what the Henshin Men are cookin’! Your tag-team hosts Travis and Nathan discuss two of the most electrifying episodes of Kamen Rider (1971) where Hayato battles Pirasaurus, a champion pro-wrestler-turned-kaijin by Shocker. The least secret of secret organizations disguises the King of Dinosaurs (if you got that reference, you are a nerd among nerds) as the obvious heel, Satan Mask, to attract an arena full of people and murder them with poison gas. Meanwhile, this week’s “Kamen Kenny” is Pirasaurus’s little brother, who keeps trying to save his brother from Shocker, making the audience not want KR2 to kill the kaijin-of-the-week. What? That’s gonna take one heck of an attitude adjustment! Have a nice day listening to the latest episode of Henshin Men—OH YEAH!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

08 - Kamen Rider 2: Electric Boogaloo (Kamen Rider Eps 14-15)

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000

A new phase begins on Kamen Rider (1971)…and the show almost crashes and burns. Nathan and Travis discuss the transitional two-part episode of the series that switches from Hongo to Hayato and from horror lite to “friendly neighborhood Kamen Rider” territory. Sadly, Nathan cringes at the Rider Girls (aka “Tobei’s Angels”), among other things, while Travis explains that the show does get better from here (which is good because they still have 80-plus episodes to go!). Our kaijin-of-the-week is Cactogron (or “Sabategron,” if Shout!FactoryTV and Tubi are to be believed), the prickly leader of the Mexican Shocker branch. In true Mega Man boss style, he has a cactus club and exploding cactus balls that are awkwardly placed on his body (but not where you think they are, you perv!). Welcome to the new Kamen Rider; same as the old Kamen Rider, but with decidedly more cheese.

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

07 - Bend it Like Lizardlon (Kamen Rider Ep 13)

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 04:59:00 +0000

Go, Go, Kamen Rider!

Kamen Rider hits the big screen! Well, sorta. Your intrepid hosts Travis and Nathan spend an entire episode of Henshin Men discussing one episode of Kamen Rider (1971) because it’s a momentous one. At one point, it might’ve been the last episode of the series (and the franchise?), so Toei pulled out all the stops! Shocker resurrects all of their fallen kaijin and creates Tokageron (or Lizardlon…or “Bootleg Godzilla”…or “The Gorn’s Cousin”) as the group’s leader. But in order to fight this “Evil Eleven,” the suspiciously absent and now always costumed Takeshi Hongo must train to defeat them by punching mountains and dodging foam rocks thrown by Tachibana. Is it any wonder this was actually released theatrically as the first ever Kamen Rider movie? It’s one heck of a ride for Nathan and Travis, and this episode of Henshin Men will be that for you, heroes!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

06 - Carrion, My Wayward Son! (Kamen Rider Eps 11-12)

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 04:59:00 +0000

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's definitely not a condor!

Just when Nathan and Travis thought Shocker’s kaijin couldn’t get more ridiculous than Bee Woman—Gebacondor comes in second place. Mostly because he looks more like a Lord of the Rings Orc than a condor. And he can somehow fly despite that costume not looking like it should be able to do so. Oh, and did we mention he’s awakened by the blood of virgins? Again, we would like to remind you that Shocker is evil. Then the next episode of Kamen Rider gives you your nightmare fuel for the day with Geckgeras, a disturbingly ugly kaijin who’s definitely not trying to get Kamen Rider to buy motorcycle insurance from Geico! Let’s just say Nathan hopes Ultraseven shows up and punches the unholy abomination in the face. However, that episode does spark a discussion between him and Travis where they compare that episode to the original 1954 Godzilla (no joke!). All this plus all the puns and silly jokes you’ve come to expect from The Henshin Men!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to stream on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

05 - Don't Hiss Off the Cobra Man (Kamen Rider Eps 9-10)

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 05:47:42 +0000

If this week’s Henshin Men was an episode of Friends, Travis and Nathan would’ve titled it, “The One with Cobra Man.” This Kamen Rider two-parter isn’t for faint-of-heart dog lovers, though. Cobra Man kills a “Kamen Kenny’s” German shepherd named Dummy (off-screen…apparently). But even after KR goes full-tilt John Wick on him, the Shocker fiend is resurrected by a mad dominatrix scientist using—no joke—the blood of puppies. In case you didn’t think the (Yahtzee)-adjacent secret society that abducts people and performs eugenic experiments on them to create brainwashed super-soldiers to conquer the world wasn’t evil…. Hey, this is the sort of highbrow comedy and commentary you’ve come to expect every week on Henshin Men, so don’t look at us in that tone of voice!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to watch on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

04 - Swarm Greetings from the Bee Woman (Kamen Rider Eps 7-8)

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 04:55:00 +0000

Nathan wasn’t prepared for this. With no warning from Travis about what was coming, he finally watched the conclusion to Kamen Rider’s two-part fight with Chameleon-Man over the (Yahtzee) treasure—and it might be the biggest “What the henshin?!” moment of the entire series! It could be described using a line from an old hymn: “Up from the grave he arose!” But then the madness continued in the next episode, which features the gaudiest of Shocker’s generals: Bee Woman, a kaijin with…questionable fashion sense. Seriously, who thinks of blue and purple first when they see a bee? And let’s not even bring up her, well…“spiral bra.” Also, Nathan the author says he should buy a cool mask so he can be the “Kamen Writer” (ba-dum tssh). All joking aside, Nathan and Travis have a surprisingly deep discussion about how Hongo’s secret identity relates to Japan’s shame-based culture and men’s aversion to admitting when they’ve been victimized. Welcome to Henshin Men, where absurdity and profundity hold hands and morph into the podcast equivalent of Kamen Rider W. (You’re welcome, Travis. Signed, Nathan).

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to watch on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi. Watch there to follow along with us!

03 - If I Go Crazy Will You Still Call Me Super-Mantis (Kamen Rider Eps 5-6)

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:55:00 +0000

Just when you thought Shocker couldn’t get more evil, it turns out the secret society bent on world domination has ties to another group that rhymes with Yahtzees! Who’d have thunk it?

Yes, Travis and Nathan continue their journey through classic Kamen Rider in an episode that risks getting banned on YouTube due to the necessary naming of a certain WWII political party in Germany. This time Shocker unleashes the diabolical Mantis-Man and Chameleon-Man—and drives Nathan crazy because episode six ends on a cliffhanger! Also, your intrepid hosts issue a retraction for saying Scorpion-Man and not Mantis-Man turned his victims into beaded necklaces that get sucked away like spaghetti noodles. All this and more in the latest edition of Henshin Men!

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Kamen Rider (1971) is available to watch on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi.

02 - Rock, Paper, Rider Scissor-Kick! (Kamen Rider Eps 3-4)

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Newbie Nathan now ventures into uncharted Kamen Rider territory with super-fan Travis as his guide! The duo marvels at the grotesque murder methods of Scorpion Man and wonder what in the heck is a Sarracenian. Also, who let the “Kenny” onto the Kamen Rider set to do the fakest crying ever? All this and more in the latest episode of the harrowing Henshin Men podcast!

Kamen Rider (1971) can be streamed on Tubi and Shout!Factory TV. Watch there to follow along with us.

00 - (Introduction) How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Kamen Rider

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Time for the “Rider Kickoff”!

Travis Alexander (Kaiju Weekly) and Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault) launch their new spinoff podcast discussing Japan’s transforming, kaiju-fighting superheroes. In this episode, your intrepid hosts introduce themselves and give their history with henshin heroes, starting with the likes of Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad and Saban’s Masked Rider. They define what a “henshin hero” is and even argue that American-created characters like Marvel’s Thor, He-Man, and Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman all qualify. Then they lay out the podcast’s mission statement and wacky awards, which includes “What the Henshin?!” and “Kamen at Ya!” Also, puns. Lots of puns. You’ve been warned.

Welcome to Henshin Men, a tokusatsu superhero appreciation podcast!

01 - Get Your Rider Kicks on Route 66 (Kamen Rider Eps 1-2)

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Travis and Nathan begin their henshin hero journey with one of the most popular: Kamen Rider! Toei’s iconic motorcycle-riding grasshopper-inspired superhero burst onto the scene with a classic manga and TV series in 1971. Nathan the noob is educated by super-fan Travis as they discuss Kamen Rider’s origin story and first battles with the evil organization Shocker—against villains confusingly named “Spider Man” and “Bat Man.” Or is it more accurate to say, “Man-Spider” and “Man-Bat”? Except those are also American comic book characters…. Anyway, speed through the first few miles of this 96-episode (of the show, not the podcast) ride with us!

Kamen Rider (1971) is available to watch on Shout!Factory TV and Tubi.