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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.