Medicom RAH-DX 1/6 Kamen Rider Riderman (ライダーマン)

 

Jōji Yūki/Riderman (結城 丈二／ライダーマン, Yūki Jōji/Raidāman): A Destron scientist who is betrayed by Marshal Yoroi. His right arm is burnt off and replaced by a special mechanical one, which gives him special powers. Initially, he distrusts V3, but eventually becomes an ally. V3 declares him to be "Kamen Rider Number Four" (仮面ライダー4号, Kamen Raidā Yongō) in tribute, after sacrificing his life to protect Tokyo from destruction. Riderman appears in some of the sequels. How he survived is not fully explained in the TV show, but it is explained in detail in the Kamen Rider Spirits manga.

"Farewell, V3. I leave the rest up to you. I'll detonate the Pluton Warhead somewhere safe."
―Joji's last words to V3 while in the Pluton Rocket.

 

 

 

A total of 3 Riderman 1/6 scale RAHDX version were released since the turn of the millenium. The first one in 2004, 2nd in 2009, which is in this blog entry, and a final one in 2016 apparently a 45th Anniversary commemorative pack. I don't have any info on what sets them apart from each other but I'd like to think that they are probably all the same.

 

Again the Riderman is very dear to me cos I am Riderman! Ahem... in my childhood that is. Me, my bro and 2 cousins each took up one persona of a Kamen Rider each. The cousins both took No.1 & 2. My bro took Rider X and Riderman for me. Not that I chose it but since I'm the youngest, they just find the weakest one and made me own it. And from then onwards, I have an affiliation with Riderman. Has always been a special one for me.

When I started collecting this series of Kamen Riders, V3 and Riderman were already released and the secondary market prices were really out of this world. If I remember correctly, one of this can cost upwards of S$1000.. I remember seeing a Medicom V3 RAHDX for about HK5,000 at a shop in Hong Kong. Riderman was virtually non-existence in the secondary market.
Ver 2.0 release allow me to own this pair and I'm so happy. Even so it cost a whopping S$350/- for the Riderman alone. It is consider top dollar figure at that time. Still got to have it and broke the bank.

Once again, posing these old Medicom figures can be very stressful. I don't want anything to be broken but it is very possible it could happen. No crazy pose, slow twitching of the limps etc and I achieved a 3rd time lucky scenario.
The results are boring predictable poses. Oh well, better this than a broken figure.

Now fiddling with the figure when taking these pictures, it is really low quality even with 2009 standards. The belt I would expect a better material like leather belt strap and white pouches. Boots are hard vinyl that restrict all sorts of feet articulations. Various arm weapons are slot in to snug fit over the forearm rather than having a locking mechanism to hold it in place.
Rope to the swinging weapons can be more firmly braided rather than using just common white strings. The string end is merely sloted into the gourd-like arm without any securing hold for it to be in place, and not slide out, inside the hole. Very very poor figure... but that is the best representation in an articulated 1/6 figure as it can get even until today.

 

I honestly look forward for some other company to remake the Showa Riders in good quality, well thought out engineering figure. Pretty sure that day will come.