KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE #1, from Titan Comics on November 23rd, 2022, begins the next chapter in Aruto Hiden’s career as the young CEO of his grandfather’s tech company and the armored hero known as Kamen Rider Zero-One.
The Details
- Written by: Brandon Easton
- Art by: Hendry Prasetya
- Colors by: Bryan Valenza
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: InHyuk Lee (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 23, 2022
Is It Good?
If you’re new to the Kamen Rider franchise, first airing as a live-action TV show in 1971, KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE #1 is a respectable jumping-on-point to get acclimated to the world, its rules, and the main character, Aruto Hiden. This issue isn’t without a few bumpy spots, but on the whole, it’ll get you grounded quickly and headed into the arc with a minimum of fuss.
Brandon Easton’s script accomplishes a lot in a very limited space. That could be a blessing or a flaw depending on your willingness to invest in the franchise.
Easton’s plot centers around young Aruto Hiden, struggling to accept a higher calling as the newly-minted CEO of the tech company he inherited from his grandfather and the Kamen Rider tech that comes with it. Aruto is a failed comedian and nowhere near his grandfather as a scientific powerhouse, so Aruto is constantly assailed with self-doubt about his abilities in the boardroom and heroics in public. Easton does an excellent job establishing Aruto as a flawed underdog who wants to do the right thing but lacks the sure confidence he will eventually need. You instantly want to root for Aruto and are invested in his journey.
Understanding Aruto as a character is simple enough, but the rules and setup of Aruto’s world come at you fast and furiously. To get into the setup, you have to absorb and align all the players, the history of Aruto’s journey so far, and the rules of how Kamen Riders work to follow along. To Easton’s credit, you get a lot of story and information in a tight space, but it may be too much too, fast for some readers.
Easton’s script shines brightest once a new threat explodes (literally) on the scene. When the action starts, you can see how the Kamen Riders work, and the showing is much more effective than telling.
Prasetya and Valenza jam-pack the issue with energetic art, bold coloring, fast-paced action, and exciting composition. Thankfully, the majority of the issue is taken up with action, so the art team gets a chance to flex hard to make a good first impression, and flex they do. This issue is chock full of fun action.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Aruto Hiden and his assistant Izu sitting through an A.I.M.S. interrogation after recent Kamen Rider battles resulted in significant damage to public buildings. The interview is routine evidence gathering in the event someone should file a lawsuit, but the interview tests Aruto’s resolve.
Later, Aruto and Izu discuss how he became the new CEO of his grandfather’s company and the bearer of the Kamen Rider Zero-One suit. All developments feel like happenstance to Aruto, but Izu reminds him that Fate may have a higher calling for him in mind. Suddenly, an explosion rocks the nearby park, and Aruto instinctively runs toward the sounds of chaos.
We conclude the issue with a demonstration of Kamen Rider Zero-One’s powers, a not-so-casual observer, and Ragnarok.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE #1 is an excellent jumping-on-point for readers interested in the decades-old franchise. Brandon Easton packs in all the background information and rules the pages can handle, but the information is seamlessly integrated with fun, exciting, wall-to-wall action.
Related Information
What is the most popular Kamen Rider?
According to a recent NHK poll conducted in Japan, Den-O Kamen Rider is the most popular of the Kamen Riders in the court of public opinion.
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