The Monster Mantis Man

, is the fifth episode of the original Kamen Rider series.
==Synopsis==
A series of strange earthquakes occur and Takeshi Hongo recieves a phone call from an old friend, earthquake analyst Chikako Ameyama. Chikako is abducted by the Shocker organization saying that they are planning to produce a "major earthquake".
==Plot==
Seismologist Chikako Ameyama is working at the Earthquake Research Society when she receives a mysterious phone call checking if she’s in the office. As soon as the anonymous caller hangs up, the lights cut out and Chikako is kidnapped by Mantis Man.
Later, Takeshi Hongo, thrown from his motorbike during an earthquake, and learning of the disappearance of his childhood friend Chikako, becomes suspicious of the spate of recent earthquakes. Investigating Chikako’s lab, he finds two clues: a cell from the body of a man-sized insect and a map of earthquakes in the suburbs around Tokyo.
Considering the position of these quakes and noticing the map to be radioactive, he determines the ‘earthquakes’ are in fact underground nuclear detonations perpetrated by Shocker with the ultimate intention of destroying Tokyo.
Takeshi receives a call from a distressed Chikako, claiming to have found the base of the villains and begging Takeshi to come to her. But the meetup goes awry when Chikako, hypnotised by Mantis Man, pushes Takeshi into a deep pit.
Mantis Man, gloating from above, lowers a timed bomb into the hole. Takeshi, unable to transform into Kamen Rider, can’t quite jump high enough to escape. But the pressure blast from the bomb, rather than killing him, spins the pinwheel on his belt, completing his transformation into Kamen Rider and launching him to freedom—and towards Mantis Man.
In the ensuing struggle Takeshi evades Mantis Man’s goons and rescues the unconscious Chikako from the monster. He takes her back to his apartment, where she mutters about a “major earthquake”, at “four in the afternoon”, and a “preying mantis egg” before waking and denying all knowledge.
Suddenly Mantis Man arrives to recapture Chikako—whose earthquake expertise happens to be vital to Shocker’s plans. At first Takeshi and the monster seem to be evenly matched until Chikako, still entranced, attacks Takeshi from behind and knocks him unconscious.
Awakening to find both monster and seismologist gone, Takeshi pursues them by bike, following a tracking device he placed on Chikako while she was unconscious, but the hero is attacked by Mantis Man en-route. Takeshi fights off the monster and then transforms into Kamen Rider to follow him back to his underground base.
Takeshi battles Mantis Man’s goons inside the base, interrogating one to discover the location of the nuclear detonator—hidden inside a giant praying mantis egg. Mantis Man manages to shatter the egg, revealing the detonator. But just before the monster can activate it and destroy Tokyo, Takeshi defeats Mantis Man with a well-timed Rider Kick, causing his hypnotized goons to dissipate.
With the threat gone and Tokyo rescued, Kamen Rider hauls his unconscious childhood friend from the base, hoping he can get Chikako somewhere safe before she awakens and sees his new cyborg form.
==Cast==
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==Errors==
*to be added
==Notes==
*This episode introduces the first opening narration of the series - "Takeshi Hongo is the cyborg, Kamen Rider. He was remodeled by Shocker, an evil organization bent on ruling the world. Kamen Rider stands against them for the sake of all humanity.", Replacing the initial practice of a series of clips featuring the episode's monster immediately following the opening sequence, the opening narration accompanies a shot of Kamen Rider doing a 360 turn and emerging as Hongo, the clawed hand of Shocker turning a globe (which appeared in the first episode) followed by, most notably, a gallery of monsters facing off against Kamen Rider as he does his pose. The opening narration and monster gallery would remain a constant throughout the series, receiving several changes and updates as the series moved on.
**The initial monster gallery consists of, in order, Bat Man, Mantis Man, Scorpion Man, and Sarracenian. This first line-up would last until episode 13, it would be changed the following episode as the second Kamen Rider debuted.
*Mantis Man would later appear as part of the revived monster army seen in episode 13.
*Footage from this episode, featuring Mantis Man, is featured as part of Tobee Tachibana's retrospective in episode 27 of Kamen Rider X.
==Digital Releases==
*Kamen Rider DVD Volume 1 features episodes 1-7.http://www.toei-video.co.jp/DVD/riderguide.html#l2-3
*Kamen Rider Blu-ray Volume 1 features episodes 1-26.https://www.toei-video.co.jp/special/riderbox/
*Kamen Rider 4K Remaster Box 1 features episodes 1-26.
S1.jpg|Kamen Rider DVD Volume 1
Series 1 Volume 1.jpg|Kamen Rider Blu-ray Volume 1
File:Kamen Rider 4K Remaster Box 1.png|Kamen Rider 4K Remaster Box 1
==References==