Kamen Rider X

After Kamen Rider V3 defeated Destron, it looked as though the
world was safe at last. But the forces of evil didn't die, they just took
a proverbial coffee break. And now they’re back, this time in the
form of GOD, or the Government Of Darkness, which I think pretty
much wins the "Best Acronym Ever Award" as far as evil
organizations go.

Jin Keisuke was your average every-day oceanography student. His
father, Jin Keitarô, was a brilliant, if somewhat nutty, robotics
scientist. They have an interesting father-son relationship that mainly
consists of arguing and ambushing each other with their Judo skills.
Unfortunately, both soon get caught up in GOD's campaign of terror,
and both are beaten up, stabbed and/or shot to death by GOD
henchmen (quote me on this one– THE most evil henchmen in any
Rider series ever.) The senior Jin even gets run through by GOD
Kaijin Neptune's trident. Man, if that doesn't hurt, I don't know what
does. Anyway, with his last ounces of strength, he's forced to turn his
son into the experimental "Kaizorg" he had been designing (originally
for deep-sea exploration.) "Kaizorg" is of course a combination of
the Japanese word Kaizô-Ningen and the English word "Cyborg".

The good doctor dies of his wounds, but Jin is reborn as the Kaizorg
Soldier: Kamen Rider X! He embarks on a one-man crusade
against the forces of GOD for revenge & of course, great justice!

Name: Kamen Rider X
(Ekkusu)

*Also known as
"X-Rider"

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 70 kg

Human Identity: Jin
Keisuke

Rider Machine:
Cruiser

Henshin Belt: Ridol
(During transformation,
he uses the "Redeyezer"
and "Perfecter", stored
on the sides of the belt,
to form his mask.)

Henshin Phrase: "Set
Up!" (episodes #1~27),
"Dai Henshin!"
(episodes #28~)

Enemy: GOD
(Government Of
Darkness)

Combat Techniques:

-X Kick
-X Punch
-X Chop
-X Ni-Dan (Two-Step)
Kick
-Kaiten (Revolving)
Kick
-X Hissatsu (Certain
Kill) Kick
-Rider Hammer Shoot
-Ridol Nôten Wari
(essentially "Smash on
the Head")
-Shinkuu Jigoku
Guruma (Vacuum Hell
Wheel)
-Kuuchuu Jigoku
Guruma (Sky Hell
Wheel)
-Rider Kick, etc.

Combination attacks
with V3 & Riderman:

-Kaiten Kick (3-Rider
version)

Combination attacks
with the previous 4
Riders:

-X-Rider Super Five
Kick

See More Details

Special
Equipment/Weapons
& Powers:

-Ridol, an extendable
stick stored in
X-Rider's Henshin Belt
of the same name, that
can become a variety of
weapons, including:

-Ridol Stick
-Ridol Hoippu (Whip,
but it's actually a sword)
-Ridol Rope
-Long Pole

-Ridol Stick can also
generate the "Ridol
Barrier".

-Superior aquatic
fighting abilities.

Kamen Rider X is often called "X-Rider” in the same way Kamen Rider 1 and 2 were known affectionately by their respective
numbers or simply as “Rider”, and Kamen Rider V3 was just “V3", etc. X-Rider was the first Rider to use a weapon on a regular
basis, the all-purpose Ridol. Following suit with Riderman (and early-series Rider 1), he did not say "Henshin" when he
transformed, but rather "Set Up!", in which his mask would assemble piece-by-piece: one half of his face, then the other, ending
with the mouthpiece. Later on, he is given more power thanks to additional surgery by Kazami Shirô/Kamen Rider V3 and says
"Dai Henshin" ("Great Transformation") to change. This has been kept consistent in all later X-Rider appearances.

Along the course of his odyssey, our main man meets up with some familiar faces like Tachibana Tôbei and learns about the other
Kamen Riders, who will eventually come to his aid. He also has to deal (for the first 8 episodes) with the mysterious twin sisters
and Interpol agents Kiriko and Ryôko (one good, one not so good) who keep him (and us) guessing as to what side they're really
on. Later in the series he gets some requisite female sidekicks, Chiko and Mako, who just kind of get sucked into the story when
they accidentally misplace the package with their lunch with one containing secret Government Of Darkness orders. In general
though, Kamen Rider X probably has the fewest number of main heroic characters at any given time after Kamen Rider
Stronger, rarely exceeding three or four. In fact, for a whole stretch of episodes, Jin & Tachibana are the only regular good guy
characters listed in the credits!

Having been made by one near-death scientist as opposed to a crack team of evil organization experts or other Kamen Riders, Jin
is one of the most notably "cybernetic" Riders, and often doesn't realize his own strength. He can take a knife to the hand or punch
to the face and shrug it off like it was nothing, and he can bend metal flutes like they were flexible rubber prop flutes (well, they
were, but you know what I mean.) Otherwise, he still looks and acts human, but I say the dude could probably have an entire
cement truck fall on top of him and he'd just get a little dirty.

X-Rider's got style. He likes to use the Ridol Hoippu (Ridol Whip) to slice and dice nasty GOD thugs like Zorro (except making
an "X" as opposed to a "Z".) As mentioned on the sidebar, he's also got an attack that involves slamming people on the head,
which is always good in my book. And no, that's no typo– X-Rider really does have both an "X Kick" and a "Rider Kick".

His motorcycle, Cruiser, may be one of the more outlandish Rider Machine designs, but don't judge a book by its cover: this thing
can kick some serious butt! In addition to being able to traverse land, sea and air, it can perform deadly attacks ("Cruiser Great
Revolution" and "Cruiser Attack".) It also sports propellers on the sides to move through the water like a speedboat and gain
extra hang time during jumps. You can bet that when all the Riders get together, they make sure to leave plenty of room between
their bikes and X-Rider's! Yikes!

Kamen Rider X can be divided into two parts: From episodes #1~21, X-Rider fights
monsters based on characters from Greek & Roman Mythology. Starting in episode
#8, he has to contend with GOD's Chief of Internal Secret Police, Major Officer and
all-around bad dude Apollo Geist. X-Rider defeats Apollo Geist in episode #14, but
by #16 the big red one is back on his feet, new & improved. So our hero and the
newly-reconstructed Apollo Geist have their final battle in episode #21, and then it's
halftime. For the remainder of the series, X-Rider battles King Dark, GOD’s
apparent leader. Monsters under King Dark's reign are combinations of animals &
famous fictional or historical characters. The final battle comes in episode #35,
between X-Rider & King Dark. King Dark turns out to be a giant robot, controlled
by Doctor Noroi, a former friend and associate of the late senior Jin. Needless to say,
X-Rider defeats him too, and a happy enough ending ensues with Jin Keisuke riding
off into the sunset. Of course he'll be back in Kamen Rider Stronger and beyond.

It's worth noting that later in his series, X-Rider gets some help from V3 (episodes
#27~28, #33~34) & Rider 2 (episodes #33~34) as well as both them, Rider 1 &
Riderman in the 5 Riders vs. King Dark movie. Actually, they all show up in episode
#27, but aside from V3, they just appear in some kind of dream sequence/concoction
of Tachibana's, who relates the tale to us as well as an in-show audience.

As mentioned earlier, the original idea behind Kamen Rider X (both in the
show itself, and in real-life development) was that he was designed
specifically for underwater combat. This is a concept that never really seems
to get capitalized on in the series, but expanded materials (such as Kamen
Rider Spirits) establish the X-Man as unquestioned king of the seas.

Also, X-Rider has two unique combo attacks, one with the previous 4 Riders
and one with just V3 & Riderman (where Riderman does a Rider Kick!)

Kamen Rider X is probably one of the most underrated Rider series, along
with New Kamen Rider (both, consequently, are in my Top 5 Rider series.)
Falling between the powerhouse that was Kamen Rider V3 and the exotically
different Kamen Rider Amazon, and being further sandwiched between the
first (Kamen Rider) and last (Kamen Rider Stronger) of the classic Rider
series, it becomes the sort of overlooked middle child.

Don't be fooled though; the hectic pacing and the many wacky plot twists of the show make it closer to the feel of many of the
newer Rider series than one would think, and coupled with some memorable characters and situations make it one to check out.
Throw in some crazy Kaijin designs (Kumo-Napoleon comes to mind) and other wackiness (the why-did-they-even-make-it Jin
Station, for one) and you have one wild, highly entertaining ride. In fact, I'd call Kamen Rider X my second favorite Rider series
to date, and I'll vouch for X-Rider's coolness any day. I mean he took on King Dark alone, and still totals the guy.

One final thing I must mention is the scene in episode #2 where Jin pulls this poison dart launcher out of nowhere, and uses it to
take down some GOD thugs. Where and how he got it is never explained, and it's never seen again in this or any other series, but
it seriously ranks as one of my favorite Rider moments of all time, ever.

Movies/Specials & Guest Appearances/Cameos

~TV Series~

Kamen Rider Stronger (1975~1976)

Episode 36: Kamen Rider X and Kamen Rider Amazon return to Japan to help Stronger fight the Delzer Army.
Episode 39: X-Rider joins the other 6 Riders in defeating the Delzer Army and the Great Leader of the Delzer Army, and at one
point nearly winds up as a Rider pancake.

*Hayami Ryô appears in all above episodes.

New Kamen Rider (1979~1980)

Episode 26: Shows up along with Riderman out of nowhere to help Skyrider defeat Dokuganba!
Episode 27: The 7 previous Riders launch a surprise attack on Neoshocker, their evil tank, and the audiences' expectations!
Episde 28: X-Rider & the other 6 Riders help Skyrider fight Neoshocker, but first beat up on him to power him up.
Episode 31: Jin Keisuke drops by to help Skyrider fight Torigabutron & Golden Jaguar. See X-Rider meet Skyrider, who's
actually based on an early, unused design for himself. See Jin chuck logs at Tsukuba, as a way to announce his arrival. Hayami
Ryô appears!
Episode 32: Fights Neoshocker alongside Skyrider, and lays the smack down on Torigabutron. Attention evil plant dudes: Better
not hit kids with sticks, or X-Rider will come and play soccer with your head. *Hayami Ryô appears!
Episode 54: Joins the other 7 Riders in defeating Neoshocker and its Leader.

Kamen Rider BLACK RX (1988~1989)

Episode 41: Rider 1 calls X-Rider and fellow Riders to Arizona for some training.
Episode 42: The Riders are still chillin' in Arizona, and training for the big battles to come.
Episode 43: Yet more training in the desert. I wonder what they do in between training sessions?
Episode 44: The gang heads back to Japan to save RX from getting hammered into the ground by Granzairus.
Episode 45: Sure enough X-Rider is there, Ridol in hand, helping RX kick some late 80's villainous butt!
Episode 46: X-Rider & Amazon help out while V3 & Riderman contend with Jaaku-Midora.
Episode 47: X-Rider & his 9 fellow Riders leave the last battle for RX, but they're around for the ending.

~Movies/Specials/Other~

Kamen Rider X (1974): A big-screen, cropped version of episode #3, featuring some of the best X-Rider moments, including
proof that the GOD Legionnaires are THE most evil henchmen ever! *Hayami Ryô appears!

5 Riders vs. King Dark (1974): The X-Man's own movie! X-Rider is helped out by Kamen Rider 1, Kamen Rider 2, Kamen
Rider V3, & Riderman against a GOD mutant army, Kômori-Franken, & of course, King Dark. *Hayami Ryô appears!

Back Together Again! 7 Kamen Riders!! (1976): Kamen Rider X & the other 6 Riders talk about the good old days, then
fight a new enemy. *Hayami Ryô appears!

8 Riders vs. Milky Way King (1980): X-Rider & the other 6 Riders help out Skyrider, defeat the evil Ginga-Ô, bring the
curtain down on Neoshocker's legion of rehashed monsters, and survive disco renditions of all their theme songs.

Kamen Rider Super-1 (1981): In the closing moments of his big-screen debut, Supes runs into a little trouble, but X-Rider and
the crew show up to bail him out and take on a revived Kaijin army.

Number Ten's Birth! Kamen Riders Back Together Again!! (1984): X-Rider helps the others celebrate ZX's arrival by
trouncing the Badan Empire.

Kamen Rider SD (1993): V3, X-Rider and Super-1 hang out together in this hilarious cartoon special, and nearly miss out on
the big final battle!