Kamen Rider V3 (仮面ライダーV3, Kamen Raidā Bui Surī) is a Japanese tokusatsutelevision series. It is the second installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series, and the direct sequel to the original Kamen Rider. It was a production of Toei, and was shown on Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET from February 17, 1973, to February 9, 1974.
Every episode of Kamen Rider V3 begins with the following opening narration: "Kamen Rider V3, Shiro Kazami, is an altered human. Mortally wounded by Destron, he is rebuilt by Kamen Riders 1 and 2, reborn as Kamen Rider V3."
Starting after the events of the original series, Shiro Kazami witnesses a murder by Destron, a new organization created from Gel-Shocker by its previously thought deceased leader. They attempt to kill Shiro and later kill his family. With this, Shiro begs Takeshi Hongo and Hayato Ichimonji to turn him into a Kamen Rider. After turning Shiro into Kamen Rider V3, the Double Riders sacrifice themselves to save Tokyo. Shiro then must fight Destron in Japan with the help of Tobei Tachibana, the Kamen Rider Kid Corps, and later the Double Riders, revealed to have survived and left to fight Destron in other countries. Towards the end of his war, Shiro is joined by ex-Destron scientist Joji Yuki a.k.a. the Riderman. Eventually, Joji sacrificed himself to save Japan and thus Shiro named him Kamen Rider #4. During the final battle, Shiro stopped Destron's leader and the organization as a whole, saving the world from its reign of terror, but their leader still survived, meaning someday more of his forces could appear to enact his will.
Shiro Kazami (風見 志郎, Kazami Shirō): A young college student and sole survivor of his family who fights Destron as the cyborg Kamen Rider V3 ("V3" or "Rider V3", for short). When he encounters a Destron cyborg, he intones, Henshin... V3!, and transforms into Kamen Rider V3. He is host to 26 special powers that he uses to fight Destron; V3 doesn't know what all of his special powers are, but most of them are revealed during the course of the series. Among his powers are Bulletproof Muscles, the V3 Hopper (a device that allows him to track enemies) and the V3 Reverse Kick. Others, including the V3 Thunder (one of his most powerful), were revealed in stage shows, manga and magazines of the time. His nuclear-powered motorcycle is named "Hurricane" (ハリケーン, Harikēn); it also has a variety of special abilities.
Jōji Yūki (結城 丈二, Yūki Jōji): A Destron scientist who is betrayed by Marshal Yoroi. His right arm is burnt off and replaced by a special mechanical one, which gives him special powers to fight Marshal Yoroi as Riderman (ライダーマン, Raidāman). Initially, he distrusts V3, but eventually becomes an ally. V3 declares him to be "Kamen Rider Number Four" in tribute, after sacrificing his life to protect Tokyo from destruction. Riderman appears alive in some of the sequels. How he survived is not fully explained in the TV show, but it is explained in detail in the Kamen Rider Spirits manga.
Tobei Tachibana (立花 藤兵衛, Tachibana Tōbei): Shiro's mentor and advisor. This character appeared in the original Kamen Rider and also appeared in the followingthreeseries.
Junko Tama (珠 純子, Tama Junko): A young woman who has a crush on Shiro. Shiro is aware of her crush, but refuses to let her get close to him, to protect her, because he lives such a dangerous life. Despite this, she assists Shiro, often watching the communications station, and eventually becomes a close friend to Shiro. She often gets into dangerous situations, requiring V3 to rescue her.
Shigeru Tama (珠 シゲル, Tama Shigeru): Junko's kid brother and a member of the Boys' Kamen Rider Squad. He sometimes acts as Shiro's liaison with the Boys' Kamen Rider members.
The Boys' Kamen Rider members (少年仮面ライダー隊, Shōnen Kamen Raidā Tai): Also known as The Kamen Rider Scouts. They are young boys who assist Kamen Rider V3. They have members throughout Japan. They wear medallions which are shaped like the head of Kamen Rider V3. The medallions contain radios which allow them to report suspicious activity to Kamen Rider headquarters.
Ken Sakuma (佐久間 ケン, Sakuma Ken): A Destron Hunter, from Interpol, who helps V3 for a few episodes. He is Destron Hunter no. 5 and is the last surviving Destron hunter.
Destron (デストロン, Desutoron) is an international organization bent on conquering the world with terrorist acts, Destron was formed under the lead of the mysterious Great Leader by surviving members of Gelshocker. Although Destron had branches in every country and sought to dominate the entire planet, its main headquarters was in Japan which Destron focused its attention on. Initially the monster of the Mechanical Army followed the orders of the unseen Destron Leader without any direct supervision, but after repeated failures of the monsters the Destron Leader summoned Doctor G from Destron's German Division to take charge of the day-to-day operations of Destron's Japanese Division. Destron used the scorpion as its symbol but had no scorpion-like monsters. Destron is the only Showa villainous organization in the franchise to appear in the movie OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders although several of its monsters make appearances; this is most likely due to the organization being formed from Shocker remnants, therefore making its construction unnecessary. Their name is also reused as the Japanese name of the Decepticon faction from the Transformers franchise.
Destron Leader (デストロン首領, Desutoron Shuryō) - Another form of the Shocker Leader from the original series, originally thought to have died in a failed kamikaze attack against Kamen Riders One and Two. In the earliest episodes he led directly; later he let one of his generals lead for him. His cyborgs are patterned after a combination of a manmade object and an animal (such as Camera MosquitoorBazooka Turtle). In the last few episodes, he appeared in person for brief periods of time, but he wore a robe with a hood which hid all of his features. When his robe was pulled, a man with his head covered by white bandages and a smiling mask was revealed, but he quickly escaped. In the final episode, he was revealed to be a monstrous skeleton with a living heart, calling himself God of Death. V3 destroyed the monster's heart, apparently killing him, just to hear his voice again, from a tape player inside the skeleton's head. He congratulates V3 for finding his true form but reveals that V3 would die alongside himself. Immediately afterwards, the Destron headquarters self-destructed, but V3 escaped.
Doctor G (ドクトルG, Dokutoru Gē, 13-30) / Kani Laser (カニレーザー, Kani Rēzā, 30) - Destron's first general in knight armor from Germany in charge of Japan. He wields a battle axe, a short sword, and a knife. In the comics, his scorpion-shaped helmet could transform into a deadly scorpion, but this did not happen on TV. Most of his Destron Inhumanoids are cyborgs that are the same type as Destron Leader's cyborgs. He tends to pronounce his enemy's name as "Kamen Riiiiider V3!". After numerous failures, Doctor G summoned the spirits of his dead evil warriors to transform him into Kani Laser for his final battle with Kamen Rider V3. Despite putting up a heroic battle, he was destroyed by V3's V3 Tailspin Return Kick.
Baron Kiba (キバ男爵, Kiba Danshaku, 31-35) / Vampiric Mammoth (吸血マンモス, Kyūketsu Manmosu, 35) - The leopard-skin wearing witch doctor from Africa, second general of Destron, and leader of the Kiba Clan. He wields a spear which could fire explosive charges. His powers are magical in origin. The Destron Inhumanoids in his Kiba Clan are mutated forms of wild animals with fangs or tusks that are empowered through blood sacrifices of innocent victims by Baron Kiba. After his Kiba Clan was wiped out by Kamen Rider V3, Baron Kiba later called on the spirits of Doovoo to give him the power to transform into the Vampiric Mammoth so that he could take revenge on V3 in his final battle. He was destroyed by V3's V3 Revolving Triple Kick.
Archbishop Tsubasa (ツバサ大僧正, Tsubasa Dai Sōjō, 36-40) / Shibito Bat (死人コウモリ, Shibito Kōmori, 40 &52) - The robe-wearing general from Tibet. The Destron Inhumanoids in his Wing Unit are all mutated versions of flying animals with the exception of one plant-like monster. He wields a bird-headed spiked staff. Archbishop Tsubasa later takes on his true form called Zombie Bat in his final battle with Kamen Rider V3. He was destroyed by V3's V3 Mach Kick. Marshal Yoroi later revived Archbishop Tsubasa's Zombie Bat form in order to ambush Kamen Rider V3. He was defeated by V3 with several punches.
Marshal Yoroi (ヨロイ元帥, Yoroi Gensui, 41-52) / Zariganna (ザリガーナ, Zarigāna, 51 &52) - Destron's final general in plated armor who comes from Mongolia. Most of his Destron Inhumanoids in his Armored Division are mutated versions of armored animals. He wields an oversized spiked mace in one hand and practices dark magic. Pronounces Destron as "Deeestron". He frames scientist Joji Yuki for treason, fearing his position in Destron is in jeopardy, creating a rival in Riderman. Marshal Yoroi became the crayfish monster Zariganna in his final battle against Kamen Rider V3. After being defeated by Kamen Rider V3 and despite surviving the encounter, Zariganna was destroyed by the Destron Leader for failing. In Kamen Rider Spirits, he is restored in a new Crab Inhumanoid body and seeks to eliminate his former rival Riderman. He was ultimately destroyed by Riderman's Machine Gun Arm.
Destron Combatmen (デストロン戦闘員, Desutoron Sentōin) - Destron has an apparently limitless supply of soldiers. They wear identical black, masked uniforms with a white scorpion design. They serve whoever is in charge. Doktor G's Soldiers wield knives, Baron Fang's Soldiers wield fang-shaped weapons, and Archbishop Wing's Soldiers wear robes similar to his unless they're in combat.
Destron Racer Hell Corps (レーサー地獄部隊, Rēsā Jigoku Butai) - Motorcycle riders that were turned into Destron servants by Lens Ant. They were assigned to kill Shiro Kazami.
Destron Ranger Corps (レインジャー部隊, Reinjā Butai) - Destron Legionnaires that received special training from Mantis Boomerang. After Mantis Boomerang was destroyed, they worked with Heater Cicada.
Destron Autobike Corps (オートバイ部隊, Ōtobai Butai) - They appeared only in episode 27.
Destron Combatwomen (女戦闘員, On'na Sentōin): The female counterparts of the Destron Combatmen who appeared only in episode 41.
Destron Scientists (科学者戦闘員, Kagakusha Sentōin) - The scientists who are loyal to Destron. They appear similar to Destron soldiers, but their masks and uniforms are white, with red print, instead of black with white print. They wear white lab coats over their uniforms. They are rarely found outside of a Destron base. Jōji Yūki was a former Destron Scientist.
Great Leader of Destron's Bodyguards (首領親衛隊, Shuryō Shineitai) - They look like normal Destron soldiers, but they wear a brown military uniform over their Destron uniform that makes them resemble Nazi stormtroopers. Elite troops, they were able to give V3 a hard fight as he made his way to confront the Great Leader.
Destron's Kaijins are sorted into different groups:
The Mechanical Army (機械合成怪人, Kikai Gōsei Kaijin) are a group of Destron Kaijins that were first used by the Great Leader and later led by Doctor G. Doctor G creates the monsters under his command using black magic and technological science. They are cyborgs that resemble a fusion between an animal and an item.
Scissors Jaguar (ハサミジャガー, Hasami Jagā, 1-2): A jaguar monster who uses his scissors-bladed hands.
Turtle Bazooka (カメバズーカ, Kame Bazūka, 1-2, Let's Go Kamen Riders): A turtle monster with a bazooka on its shell.
Squid Fire (イカファイア, Ika Faia, 3-4) - A squid monster with two propane tanks on its back. Destroyed by V3's V3 Centrifugal Kick.
TV Fly (テレビバエ, Terebi Bae, 3-4) - A fly monster with 2 televisions for eyes.
Machine Gun Snake (マシンガンスネーク, Mashingan Sunēku, 5) - A cobra monster with a snake-headed machine gun for a lower right arm.
Hammer Jellyfish (ハンマークラゲ, Hanmā Kurage, 5-6) - A jellyfish monster with a hammer for a right hand.
Knife Armadillo (ナイフアルマジロ, Naifu Arumajiro, 7-8) - An armadillo monster with a knife for a right hand.
Chainsaw Lizard (ノコギロトカゲ, Nokogiri Tokage, 7-8) - A lizard monster with a chainsaw for a right hand. Destroyed by V3's V3 Double Attack.
Lens Ant (レンズアリ, Renzu Ari, 9-10) - An ant monster with glasses lens for eyes. Destroyed by V3's V3 Tailspin Kick.
Razor Sea Star (カミソリヒトデ, Kamisori Hitode, 9-10) - A starfish with a sword blade for a left hand. Destroyed by V3's V3 Tailspin Kick.
Pickel Shark (ピッケルシャーク, Pikkeru Shāku, 11-12) - A shark monster with an ice pick for a right hand. Destroyed by V3's V3 Return Kick.
Drill Mole (ドリルモグラ, Doriru Mogura, 11-12) - A mole monster with a drill for a nose.
Magnet Boar (ジシャクイノシシ, Jishaku Inoshishi, 13) - A wild boar monster with a magnet for a left hand.
Toad Boiler (ガマボイラー, Gama Boirā, 14) - A toad monster with a boiler for a torso.
Burner Bat (バーナーコウモリ, Bānā Kōmori, 15) - A burnt-winged bat monster with a gas burner tube in its mouth.
Missile Gecko (ミサイルヤモリ, Misairu Yamori, 16) - A gecko monster with a missile on its back.
Spray Mouse (スプレーネズミ, Supurē Nezumi, 17-18) - A mouse monster with a spray gun on its right arm.
Chain-Sickle Coccinellidae (クサリガマテントウ, Kusarigama Tentō, 17-18) - A ladybug monster with a chain-sickle for a left hand.
Cannon Buffalo (タイホウバッファロー, Taihō Baffarō, movie) - A buffalo monster with cannons on its shoulders. Destroyed by Kamen Rider #1 and #2's Rider Double Kick and V3's V3 Kick.
Porcupinefish Apache (ハリフグアパッチ, Harifugu Apatchi, 19) - A porcupinefish monster with a torpedo launcher on its left shoulder.
Guillotine Dinosaur (ギロチンザウルス, Girochin Zaurusu, 20-21) - A dinosaur monster of indeterminate species with a small guillotine for a right hand.
Syringe Spider (ドクバリグモ, Dokubari Gumo, 20-21) - A spider monster with a syringe for a right hand.
Speargun Sea Lion (ウォーターガントド, Wōtāgan Todo, 22) - A sea lion monster with a speargun for a left hand.
Propeller Rhinoceros Beetle (プロペラカブト, Puropera Kabuto, 23) - A rhinoceros beetle monster with a propeller for a right hand.
Cockroach Spike (ゴキブリスパイク, Gokiburi Supaiku, 24) - A cockroach monster with a spikey device for a right hand.
Mantis Boomerang (カマキリメラン, Kamakiri Meran, 25) - A mantis monster.
Heater Cicada (ヒーターゼミ, Hītā Zemi, 26) - A cicada monster with electric heaters for eyes.
Quoit Stag Beetle (ワナゲクワガタ, Wanage Kuwagata, 27-28) - A stag beetle monster that throws rings.
The Fang Tribe (キバ一族, Kiba Ichizoku) is the Destron Kaijin group led by Baron Fang that is composed of tusked or fanged animals. Its members were cultists practicing an evil magic called Doovoo (not to be confused with Voodoo magic).
Skull Warthog (ドクロイノシシ, Dokuro Inoshishi, 31) - A warthog monster.
Snow Wolf (ユキオオカミ, Yuki Ōkami, 33) - A cryokinetic wolf monster.
Primordial Tiger (原始タイガー, Genshi Taigā, 34) - A smilodon monster.
The Wing Unit (ツバサ一族, Tsubasa Ichizoku) is the Destron Kaijin group led by Archbishop Wing that is composed of winged animals except for one plant-like monster. The Wing Unit is an ancient cult of vampires.
Flame Condor (火炎コンドル, Kaen Kondoru, 36) - A condor monster.
The Armored Division (ヨロイ一族, Yoroi Ichizoku) is the Destron Kaijin group led by Marshal Armor that is composed of armored animals. They are the most powerful monsters used by Destron.
Garumazillon (ガルマジロン, Garumajiron, 41) - An armadillo monster.
Katatsublar (カタツブラー, Katatsuburā, 42) - A snail monster.
Sickle-Neck Turtle (カマクビガメ, Kamakubi Game, 43-44) - A turtle monster that can extend his neck.
Rhinoceros Tank (サイタンク, Sai Tanku, 45-46) - A rhinoceros monster.
Coelacanth Kid (シーラカンスキッド, Shīrakansu Kiddo, 47) - A coelacanth monster.
Thorned Starfish (オニヒトデ, Oni Hitode, 48) - A starfish monster.
Chameleon (カメレオン, Kamereon, 49) - A chameleon monster.
Vampire Chameleon (吸血カメレオン, Kyūketsu Kamereon, 50) - A chameleon monster with blood-sucking ability.
Mysterious!! The Destron Ranger Corps (怪奇！！デストロン、レインジャー部隊, Kaiki!! Desutoron, Reinjā Butai) (Original Airdate: August 4, 1973)
Inhumanoid Heater-Cicada's Mummy Operation!! (怪人ヒーターゼミのミイラ作戦, Kaijin Hītā Zemi no Miira Sakusen) (Original Airdate: August 11, 1973)
Zol, Death, Hell & Black Rise from the Grave (生きかえったゾル・死神・地獄・ブラック, Ikikaetta Zoru - Shinigami - Jigoku - Burakku) (Original Airdate: August 18, 1973)
The Five Commandants' All-Out Attack!! (五大幹部の総攻撃！, Go Daikanbu no Sōkōgeki!) (Original Airdate: August 25, 1973)
Doktor G's Final Challenge! (ドクトル・ゲー最後の挑戦！, Dokutoru Gē Saigo no Chōsen!) (Original Airdate: September 1, 1973)
Doktor G! The True Form of Evil is...? (ドクトル・ゲー！悪魔の正体は？, Dokutoru Gē! Akuma no Shōtai wa?) (Original Airdate: September 8, 1973)
Enter, Baron Tusk: Commandant of Curses!! (呪いの大幹部キバ男爵出現！！, Noroi no Daikanbu Kiba-danshaku Shutsugen!!) (Original Airdate: September 15, 1973)
Spectre of Onibi Swamp: Rider Scouts Annihilated!? (鬼火沼の怪 ライダー隊全滅！？, Onibi Numa no Kai Raidā Tai Zenmetsu!?) (Original Airdate: September 22, 1973)
V3 in Danger! Riders 1 and 2 Return!! (V3危うし！帰ってきたライダー1号、2号！！, Bui Surī Ayaushi! Kaetekita Raidā Ichigō, Nigō!!) (Original Airdate: September 29, 1973)
Critical Moment! Baron Tusk vs. The Three Riders!! (危機一髪！キバ男爵対三人ライダー！！, Kikiippatsu! Kiba-danshaku Tai Sannin Raidā!!) (Original Airdate: October 6, 1973)
Baron Tusk's Final Transformation (キバ男爵最後の変身, Kiba-danshaku Saigo no Henshin) (Original Airdate: October 13, 1973)
The Winged Corps: Demons of the Sky (空の魔神 ツバサ軍団, Sora no Majin Tsubasa Gundan) (Original Airdate: October 20, 1973)
Mysterious Temple: Curse of the Musasabi Clan! (怪しの寺 ムササビ族の呪い！, Ayashi no Tera Musasabi Zoku no Noroi!) (Original Airdate: October 27, 1973)
Lone V3 and Cub: Deadly Skydiving! (子連れV3 死のスカイダイビング, Kotsure Bui Surī Shi no Sukaidaibingu) (Original Airdate: November 3, 1973)
Terror of the Carnivorous Fauna!! (人喰い植物 バショウガンの恐怖！！, Hitokui Shokubutsu Bashōgan no Kyōfu!!) (Original Airdate: November 10, 1973)
1973: Kamen Rider V3: A movie version of episode 2.
During a battle against Destron's forces, Shiro Kazami helps a priest who has been attacked by the evil organization's monster Hasami-Jaguar. Little does he know that the church where the priest resides is a front for a Destron hideout. After finding out the organization's latest motive, Kamen Rider V3, along with the Double Riders, must stop Destron from detonating a nuclear bomb in Tokyo.
1973: Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron
A physicist named Tetsuo Okita discovers a new mineral called "satanum", which is more powerful than uranium and emits destructive effects to anyone exposed to it. However, Destron abducts Okita in hopes of finding the source of satanum and collecting more of it to expedite their run for global domination. Kamen Rider V3 must act fast in rescuing Professor Okita and preventing Destron from collecting more of the deadly mineral.
Published in Monthly Hobby Japan magazine from May to August 2003, the S.I.C. Hero Saga story Masked Rider V3 & Riderman: Riderman Another After featured an alternate history of Riderman's creation. It featured the new character called the Destron Rider (デストロンライダー, Desutoron Raidā).
As of 2007, a reimagined Kamen Rider V3 appears in Kamen Rider The Next, a movie loosely based on the TV series, following the reboot of the franchise started with the 2005 movie Kamen Rider The First.
