Kamen Rider Den-O

Earlier, I said that Kamen Rider Kabuto is the best rider series so far, and I still mean that. However, Den-O is not far behind. It's very entertaining, especially the "imagins" who bonded with Ryotato, the main protagonist of the series.

This is Den-O's SWORD form, which he transforms into when Ryotaro combines with the hot-headed imagin Momotaros.

This is Den-O's ROD form. He transforms into this version by combining with the smooth-talking Urataros.

This is Den-O's AX form, which he transforms into after he combines with the super-strong Kintaros.

This is Den-O's GUN form, which he transforms into after combining with the break-dancing Ryutaros.

Things were fine and dandy with me collecting Souchaku Henshin figures of the Den-O characters, but there is one problem, they have no bikes. What is a Kamen Rider without a bike? Shaider? But he has a bike. So, anyway, I had to get the appropriate bike for Den-O. Bandai, the corporate leech that it is made another action figure set for the Den-O series, and this time, they included the bikes. What is irritating is that, to get the bikes, one has to purchase figures of the riders from Den-O which are so much like the Souchaku henshin figures, except, they do not have removable diecast armor.

This bike and action figure set of Den-O is great in its own right. The bike is compatible with the Souchaku Henshin Den-O figure. But, since Bandai included a posable Den-O figure with the bike, there is no need to open a Souchaku Den-O to pose it with. One can just get this set, and he can have a Den-O toy, complete with bike, to play with.

Bandai then released the three other Den-O versions in one 3-pack set. This set is very affordable, only 2500yen, which is roughly around $26. For 3 very posable figure, not bad.

Here is Kamen Rider Zeronos. I do not know his deal yet, because I haven't reached the episode where he was introduced. All i know is, he transforms into Zeronos when he combines with the imagin Deneb.

If you check out the picture, the Souchaku Henshin and the ordinary action figure by Bandai, are compatible with each other. Roughly the same size, and with almost the same number of articulation. It's hard to gauge which version to get. Although one single Souchaku Henshin is roughly the same price as the 3-pack Den-O figures, or the bike-sets. So, your mileage may vary, but if you are looking at it solely on monetary concern, then the bike sets and the 3-pack set are the better buys over the Souchaku figures. However, the Souchakus are heavy with diecast, and are more limited, so it's not at all a bad move to invest in them.

Ideally, I will open one Souchaku figure, and display it on the shelf with the bike from the bike-set. The figure from the bike-set, I can play with.

Here are the 3 other forms of Den-O in both Souchaku henshin figures and the mass release 3-pack action figure set.

As you can see, both series blends well together.

"Ore futatabi sanjou!"