English Dub Review: Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider “Let Me Be V3 Too”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Mitsuba’s girlfriend, Yukarisu, is a member of Shocker.  What will he do to protect her from his brother, Ichiyo?

Our Take:

Tojima and the others once again find themselves in hot water as they confront more of Shocker’s combatants.  However, it turns out that these low-level minions are the least of their problems, as they also encounter the return of a familiar yet monstrous face from two episodes ago.  This Shocker monster not only identified himself as Yukarisu’s superior, but he also called himself “Spider Man”.  I’m surprised Marvel didn’t file a lawsuit for copyright infringement over that name.  Following Spider Man’s first appearance in the third episode, “Let Me Be V3 Too” further showcased how much of a threat this Shocker monster really is regarding his immense strength and abilities, putting the team’s own strengths to the test.  Additionally, we see Mitsuba joining the action with gear similar to Riderman’s from Kamen Rider V3.

However, the episode’s real selling point is the relationship between Mitsuba and Ichiyo, whose brotherhood is driven by Mitsuba’s eagerness to prove himself worthy of Ichiyo’s V3 identity.  Fortunately, Mitsuba has proved to be as helpful as Ichiyo through his own identity as Riderman.  This expanded look at Mitsuba and Ichiyo’s brotherhood also fits well with Mitsuba’s own relationship with Yukarisu.  The “Kamen Rider” franchise is usually known for its straightforward hero-villain dynamic between a Kamen Rider and their Shocker adversary.  But it looks like this series is flipping the tables on this dynamic, with Mitsuba’s love for Yukarisu remaining unchanged regardless of her identity. Unfortunately, Ichiyo’s hatred of Shocker monsters could be one of the few obstacles standing in the way of their unusual relationship, along with Spider Man’s formidable, monstrous presence.