Kamen Rider X (Adventure King)

Kamen Rider X, serialized in Adventure King during the mid-1970s, was part of a robust wave of manga adaptations accompanying the popular tokusatsu television series. Mitsuru Sugaya, a frequent collaborator with Toei and Shotaro Ishinomori, was tasked with translating the high-octane, gadget-heavy action of the television show into a monthly print format, capturing the dramatic flair that defined the Showa-era Rider franchise.

The design of this manga adaptation leaned into the bold, cinematic storytelling prevalent in Shonen magazines of the era. Sugaya’s approach focused on the mechanical complexity of Keisuke Jin’s transformation and his signature weapon, the Ridol, grounding the fantastic elements in the clear, kinetic lines characteristic of his work. The series remains a significant piece of manga history for its role in expanding the Kamen Rider mythos beyond the screen and into the hands of a younger generation of readers.