Seven Legendary Riders

Revision as of 02:32, 26 July 2013

This article is about a set of riders in the Kamen Rider Series.

The Seven Legendary Riders (七伝説のライダー, Nana Densetsu no Raidā) are the first seven Kamen Riders: Takeshi Hongo (Kamen Rider #1), Hayato Ichimonji (Kamen Rider #2), Shiro Kazami (Kamen Rider V3), Joji Yuki (Riderman), Keisuke Jin (Kamen Rider X), Daisuke Yamamoto (Kamen Rider Amazon), and Shigeru Jo (Kamen Rider Stronger). The series these Riders originated from (Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider V3, Kamen Rider X, Kamen Rider Amazon, and Kamen Rider Stronger) were the first five series, a continuous run lasting from April 1971 to January 1976. An interesting point to notice is that all seven of these Showa-era Riders had their mechanic be Tobei Tachibana.

The seven Riders were first united during Kamen Rider Stronger. They also appeared as a group a few times in Kamen Rider (Skyrider), often shown operating separately from the Eighth Rider, Skyrider. It was only in Movie War Mega Max, however, a crossover movie between Kamen Rider Fourze and Kamen Rider OOO, that the group reappeared, separate from later Riders, and was referenced with a proper name by other characters.

The Seven Legendary Riders later appear again as a group in Super Hero Taisen where they take on Captain Marvelous (Gokai Red), although by the time of the final battle against Dai-Shocker and Dai-Zangyack, they're mixed with the various other Riders and Super Sentai heroes.

History

Stronger

New members of the Delza Army went to Japan from various points of the world to defeat Stronger and take over the country, but alongside them come various Riders who had been fighting against them in other points of the world. The first one was Shiro Kazami, Kamen Rider V3, who quickly joined Stronger in his battle.^{[The Man Who Returned! The Name is V3!!]}

Afterwards, Stronger met Joji Yuki, Riderman, initially as a foe, but quickly becoming allies. However, V3 and Riderman soon fall during the battle against the Delza Army.^{[Three Riders Vs. The Powerful Delza Army!]}

Stronger wouldn't be alone for long though, as Daisuke Yamamoto, Kamen Rider Amazon, and Keisuke Jin arrive and join the battle. ^{[Riders Captured! Long Live Delza!!]}

During the battle, Stronger ends up losing contact with all other Riders, and is taken to his limits by the Delza Army's Marshal Machine. However, Rider 1 and 2, by then thought to be just urban legends, reappear to rescue Stronger and challenge the Delza Army. With the tides turning, Stronger has his final duel with General Shadow. ^{[Appearance! Riders 1, 2!!]}

Amazon and X return, revealing that they had disappeared to rescue V3 and Riderman. With all 7 Riders together, they defeat Marshal Machine and other remaining Delza army members and march against the Great Leader of the Delza Army. During the battle, they learn that he was the same villain as Shocker's and Destron's mysterious leader, and he was also behind GOD and Geddon. united against the same foe, the 7 Riders unite their powers and defeat him. Afterwards, they all leave together, but would fight again when a new evil appeared. ^{[Goodbye! The Glorious Seven Riders!]}

Skyrider

Several years after the defeat of the Delza Army, the organization Neo-Shocker moves ahead with terrorist attacks in various points of the world to push ahead their world domination plans. The seven Riders spread around the world to fight against the new threat. Eventually, Stronger returns to Japan, following reinforcements sent by Neo-Shocker to take over the country. Arriving there, Stronger meets and observes a new Rider there with interest, Hiroshi Tsukuba, who had been using the name "Kamen Rider", but was called "Skyrider" by Stronger. Stronger rescues Skyrider when he gets to his limit, and tells him about the Seven Riders fighting around the world. Stronger trains Skyrider and, together, they fight and stop Neo-Shocker's operation. Afterwards, Stronger leaves Japan again to join up with the other Riders, while Skyrider remains there protecting it from Neo-Shocker's future plans. ^{[Two Kamen Riders, Who is Another?]}^{[Enter Stronger; Two Riders vs. Two Formidable Monsters]}

Neo-Shocker gathered an army of Second Generation Cyborgs in Japan, led by Gurand Bazarmy, known as the Strongest Cyborg on Earth, and also planned to launch a direct offensive with an experimental tank, the Varithium Cannon, led by Hirubiran. To save Japan, the seven Riders returned to Japan together and, alongside Skyrider, destroyed the experimental Varithium Cannon. However, they were soon challenged by Gurand Bazarmy and his troops. ^{[Tank and Kaijin the Second Generation Corps, Full Force of Eight Riders]}

The 7 Riders spread around Japan to fight against various attacks from Neo-Shocker. However, Gurand Bazarmy stood in their way, moving with great speed between locations and making them unable to stop Neo-Shocker's plans. However, V3 and Stronger together managed to fight Bazarmy to a standstill and rescue an unconscious Skyrider. While he recovered, the Riders decided to give Skyrider a special training to defeat Gurand Bazarmy. V3 makes the proposal to Tsukuba Hiroshi, who accepts to put his life on the line to become stronger.

After Skyrider's training was finished and he powered up, all Riders left to face Neo-Shocker again. Skyrider faced Gurand Bazarmy, while the Legendary Seven fought against Neo-Shocker's Second Generation Cyborgs troops and crushed them. After the battle was over, the Seven Riders left Japan again, to fight Neo-Shocker all over the world, while Skyrider remained protecting Japan. ^{[Eight Riders' Great Training of Friendship]}

Attending the call of Stronger and Rider 2, who had located Neo-Shocker's main base, in Japan, Rider 1, V3, Riderman and Amazon return from various countries around the world joining up as the Seven Legendary Riders again. Rider 1 takes leadership of the group, and they head to Neo-Shocker's underwater base, only to be faced with a giant dragon, the Great Leader of Neo-Shocker himself. The attacks of all Riders prove to be infective against the Great Leader, however, Stronger and Rider 2 motivate the others to continue fighting and they hold on long enough for Skyrider to arrive. Skyrider stuns the Great Leader by shooting his foot with a bowgun he stole from a Neo-Shocker member, and, using the opportunity, all Seven Legendary Riders hit the Great Leader with their Rider Kicks, knocking down the giant. However, he was still alive, and decides to explode alongside a giant bomb, taking out not only himself, but the entire city. The eight Riders combine their powers and use Skyrider's Sailing Jump together, grabbing the Great Leader and taking him to the distant sky, where they all explode, all eight Riders seemingly perishing alongside it. ^{[Farewell, Hiroshi Tsukuba! Eight Heroes Forever....]}

After that battle, all 8 Riders would reappear fighting against the Dogma Kingdom a few months later, with Skyrider becoming part of their group. Later, Super-1 and ZX also joined them. So, for years, that final battle against Neo-Shocker marked the last time the Legendary Seven Riders fought as a group separately from later Riders.