 This article is about a villain who originated in Kamen Rider Stronger.
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- "You are only back because Great Leader pitied you"
- ―General Shadow mocking Titan[src]
General Shadow (ジェネラルシャドウ, Jeneraru Shadō) is a high-ranking officer of Black Satan who was rivals with Titan. After abandoning Black Satan, General Shadow reveals himself to be a member of the Delzer Army, acting as its unofficial leader. He is later usurped of his position by Marshal Machine, before being defeated by Stronger's Super Electro Lightning Kick.
History[]
Origin[]
According to Hirayama Toru's book "My Beloved Characters", General Shadow was one of the denizens of the Demon Kingdom to travel up to the surface. The other creatures to have made this journey eventually became the basis of the legendary supernatural beasts, such as werewolves, that have been feared by humans for centuries.
Shadow settled in Europe, specifically Rome. Due to being a "demon", he was persecuted and almost killed, undergoing a reconstruction procedure for the first time while still young, returning to the Demon Kingdom afterwards.
However, Shadow eventually fell in love with conflict and battle as he grew older, participating in both World War I and II, as well as provoking both Axis and Allies into annihilating each other on the battlefield.
His passion for battles greatly wounding him, General Shadow underwent through several remodeling procedures to fix his damaged body, one of which included his blood vessels. These alterations left his skin with a pale tone, and soon General Shadow had to cover his skin from contact with air.
Impressed by Stronger's fighting ability, General Shadow would go on to join Black Satan, while secretly being a member of the Delzer Army.
Kamen Rider Stronger[]
General Shadow makes his appearance at the end of episode 13, replacing Titan, who had previously been killed by Stronger. Despite being personally selected by Great Leader to serve Black Satan, he brazenly admits to Stronger he doesn't care for the organization at all, and voices contempt at how they use children as hostages. He states his true goal for following the organization is simply to fight with Stronger. As an example of his conviction on this matter, after Shigeru pulls the Joker card from Shadow's deck, he allows the children to be set free.
Shadow mocks Titan
After Titan's resurrection, an intense rivalry erupted between the two, with Shadow often mocking Titan as incompetent. Though the two never came to blows, Shadow would continue to thwart many of Titan's schemes, actually warning or outright rescuing Stronger and Tackle from danger, much to Titan's continued frustration.
Shadow shuffling his cards
One of Shadow's most powerful tools was his deck of playing cards, both in battle and for the purposes of plotting. In battle, Shadow could summon giant cards to spew fire on an entrapped enemy, or could be thrown to inflict cut or stab foes. On numerous occasions he consulted them to divine what events would transpire in the near future, often these would involve Stronger's continued victories and escapes from certain death.
Eventually however, Shadow fell out of favor with Great Leader, and was due to be replaced by Dead Lion, who was second in command to Great Leader himself. Shadow went rogue from Black Satan at this point, slashing Dead Lion across the chest and hastily escaping, waiting for Stronger to finish off Black Satan before gathering other members of the Delzer Army to Japan
Proposing to his allies that whoever successfully defeats Stronger would become their leader, General Shadow schemed to sacrifice any unruly members, while also hoping to defeat Stronger at his most vulnerable. Upon the arrival of Marshal Machine's forces though, General Shadow found himself in a disadvantageous position, thus attempting to betray his allies mid-point in their operation. Completely failing, General Shadow was ordered by Marshal Machine to face Stronger in battle, so as to pay for his attempted betrayal. [Riders Captured! Long Live Delzer!!]
- "Long live Delzer Army!"
- ―General Shadow's last words[src]
Marshal Machine, along with Commander Jishaku and Armored Knight, oversaw Shadow's final battle against Stronger. Proving to be one of the most formidable foes Stronger ever faced, General Shadow nearly defeated him in battle, before ultimately succumbing to his own wounds. In his dying breath, General Shadow utters Delzer's perseverance before exploding. Seeing as how Stronger is too weak to continue fighting, Marshal Machine's group captures him, with Armored Knight swearing vengeance for General Shadow. [Appearance! Riders 1, 2!!]
OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders[]
- "What can four Riders do?"
- ―General Shadow mocking the Kamen Riders[src]
General Shadow fighting against Kamen Rider OOO. (OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders)
In the 40th anniversary movie of the Kamen Rider Series, General Shadow and the Delzer Army appears as part of Shocker in an altered timeline. He first fought Kamen Rider OOO and defeated him. After the riders defeat the Shocker forces and assembled, General Shadow attempted to escape, only to be halted by four other "allies of justice": Kikaider, Kikaider 01, Inazuman and Zubat; who used the Denji End, Zero One Driver, Inazuma Vacuum Chest, and Zetto Zetto Zetto attacks respectively to destroy him.
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen[]
In this, the first crossover movie between the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider Series, General Shadow appears as a member of Dai-Shocker, referring to himself and Shadow Moon as "Shadows". After the joint operation of Dai-Shocker and Dai-Zangyack to create the Big Machine was revealed, General Shadow fought the combined forces of the Gokaigers and Kamen Rider Decade who defeated him.
Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai[]
General Shadow was resurrected as part of the revived Badan Empire. [Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai]
Super Hero Taisen GP[]
The Shocker army.
Through an alteration to history rewritten by Shocker's History Modifying Machine, General Shadow is among the many monsters that serve the evil organization that rules the world in this alternate timeline created by Kamen Rider 3's assassination of the Double Riders in 1973. During the final battle against the Kamen Riders, General Shadow is destroyed by Stronger's Stronger Electro Kick. [Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3]
Appearances in other media[]
Kamen Rider Spirits[]
General Shadow with the revived Delzer Army.
General Shadow and his fellow Delzer Army were revived by the Badan Empire to fight against the Kamen Riders. They are the only group of revived antagonists to retain their original memories as they are demons born from Judo.
11 Kamen Riders Senk[]
General Shadow in the manga
General Shadow was revived and appeared in 11 Kamen Riders Senki. He led the Geist Riders and gained the ability to transform into the rider-like G Shadow (Ｇシャドウ, Ji Shyadō).
Internet spin-off films[]
General Shadow plays cards with Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Garren and Kamen Rider Chalice.
General Shadow also appears in OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders: ~Let's Look! Only Your 48 Riders~ (ネット版 オーズ・電王・オールライダー レッツゴー仮面ライダー ～ガチで探せ！君だけのライダー48～, Nettoban Ōzu Den'ō Ōru Raidā: Rettsu Gō Kamen Raidā ~Gachi de Sagase! Kimi dake no Raidā Fōtī Eito~), a group of net movies based on the movie.
He appears in the segments, "Bride!" (花嫁！, Hanayome!), where he is the father of Hina Izumi, who Eiji wants to marry, and "Game" (勝負, Shōbu), where he plays a game of poker with Kamen Rider Garren, Kamen Rider Chalice, and the featured card-based Kamen Riders as they all share a card motif.
Video Games[]
All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation[]
General Shadow in All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation.
General Shadow appears as a boss in the video game All Kamen Rider: Rider Generation.
Anime[]
Kamen Rider SD[]
- Main article: General Shadow (SD)
General Shadow: A member of Grand Shocker. He was among the meeting with the Great Leader. This version wears a black top hat.
Personality[]
A highly manipulative individual, General Shadow often plotted against his allies and enemies alike, hoping to gain power with each move he made. While not above cooperating in cowardly tactics, General Shadow himself did not personally enjoy committing such acts, expressing disgust at the notion of using children as hostages. Believing strongly in divination, General Shadow often consulted his deck of cards before making any significant acts, occasionally helping Stronger after doing so.
Coming to respect Shigeru Jo/Kamen Rider Stronger as his "arch-enemy", General Shadow relishes the opportunity to defeat him in battle, occasionally sabotaging his allies' plans if needed to ensure this goal. Given their amazing feats, General Shadow also aknowledges Shigeru's predecessors as "worthy foes", proclaiming this to Shiro Kazami/Kamen Rider V3.
Though uncaring toward other members of Black Satan, General Shadow apparently did at least understand the notion of loyalty, shown through his interaction with Snake Woman, whom he treated in an affectionate manner. Likewise, despite his scheming ways, General Shadow was also loyal to the Delzer Army in some manner, his last words for the organization to continue flourishing.
In spite of enjoying conflict, with a penchant for arrogance, General Shadow is also aware of his limits, recognizing Marshal Machine to be far more powerful than himself. However, if pushed, General Shadow proved himself capable of surpassing said limits, matching Stronger in Charge Up form before narrowly losing.
Forms[]
- Statistics[1]
- Height: 198cm
- Weight: 96kg
General Shadow's default form. He is armed with the Shadow Sword and Trump Cards that can be used as cutters, bombs, or teleporters called the Trump Cutter, Trump Shooter, and Trump Fade, respectively as well as become giant to form a hover vehicle.
Appearances:Stronger 13-38, Let's Go Kamen Riders, Super Hero Taisen, Kamen Rider Taisen, Super Hero Taisen GP
G Shadow
- Statistics
- Height:
- Weight:
General Shadow's mutanted form.
This form is exclusive in 11 Kamen Riders Senki.
- "Final Form Ride: Gen-Gen-General Shadow!"
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
Decade's Final Form Ride Card transformed General Shadow into an empty fishbowl.
This form is exclusive in Type16. - The Destroyer Destroys the Match!.
Behind the scenes[]
Portrayal[]
In Kamen Rider Stronger. General Shadow was voiced by Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝, Shibata Hidekatsu), who reprised his role in both OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders and Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen. In Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai, he was voiced by Hideo Ishikawa (石川 英郎, Ishikawa Hideo). Interestingly, both of General Shadow's voice actors have previously appeared in mecha anime works (Baron Ashura (male half) in Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser for Hidekatsu Shibata and Ryoma Nagare in Getter Robo OVA series for Hideo Ishikawa).
In his appearances in Let's Go Kamen Riders and Super Hero Taisen, his suit actor was Kazutoshi Yokoyama (横山 一敏, Yokoyama Kazutoshi).
Appearances[]
Kamen Rider Stronger
- Episode 13: Hitotsume Titan! The Final Counter Attack!!
- Episode 14: The Appearance of Enigmatic Chief Executive Shadow!
- Episode 15: Shadow's Trump That Calls Death!!
- Episode 16: The Bloodsucking Bubunger's Demonic Present!
- Episode 17: Ghost Story: The Demonic Easter
- Episode 18: Ghost Story: The Bottomless Swamp
- Episode 19: Ghost Story: The Cursed Old Castle!
- Episode 20: The Great Scary Desert! Two Tobees?!
- Episode 21: Samegashima, Decisive Battle in the Sea!
- Episode 22: Rider Execution at 12:00!?
- Episode 23: The Devil of the Underground Kingdom!!
- Episode 24: Bizarre! The Unmanned Train Runs!!
- Episode 25: Don't Die!! Shigeru Jo in the Electric Chair
- Episode 26: Seen!! The Great Leader's True Identity!!
- Episode 27: Remodelled Majin! The Delzer Army Appears!!
- Episode 28: Oh! Stronger...into Small Pieces?!
- Episode 29:The Curse of Majin Kate's Blood!
- Episode 30: Goodbye, Tackle! Her Last Activity!!
- Episode 31: Stronger's Great Remodelling!!
- Episode 32: Deadly! Super Electro Three-step Kick!!
- Episode 33: Stronger Dies in the Full Moon!?
- Episode 34: The Snake Woman's Bloodsucking Hell!
- Episode 35: The Man Who Returned! The Name is V3!!
- Episode 36: Three Riders Vs. The Powerful Delzer Army!
- Episode 37: Riders Captured! Long Live Delzer!!
- Episode 38: Appearance! Riders 1, 2!!
- Kamen Rider 1 Through RX: Big Gathering (archive footage only)
- OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
- Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen
- Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai
- Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
- D-Video Special: Kamen Rider 4 (Flashback)
- Episode 1: Deathmatch! The Kamen Rider Died Three Times!!
- Episode 2: Fighting!! The Airstrike of Sky Cyclone
- D-Video Special: Kamen Rider 4 (Flashback)
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See also[]
- Delzer Greeed, the Greeed embodiment of the Delzer Army made in the image of General Shadow among other Delzer Majin.