Kamen Rider Kabuto: A Nod To B-Fighter Kabuto And Toei's Official Word About The Metal Hero Franchise?

I remembered some time ago when I wrote an entry about how Metal Hero's discontinuation may have something to do with Kamen Rider's revival. You may have observed how the Kamen Rider suits during the Heisei era up to the most recent one are obviously more metallic than the Showa era counterparts. Most of them may resemble Metal Heroes. It's safe to say that Metal Hero is discontinued but never forgotten by Toei as other later series (after Robotack) still gave tribute to the series. You may notice at how Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive may have the elements of the Rescue Police Trilogy (Winspector up to Exceedraft) or how Tokosou Sentai Dekaranger contains elements of the Space Sheriff Trilogy (Gavan up to Shaider). The Kamen Rider franchise is no different. In fact, it seems that Kamen Rider is the new Metal Hero and Kamen Rider Kabuto takes place in 2006 - 10 years after B-Fighter Kabuto came to existence as a less successful sequel to B-Fighter. Yup, after B-Fighter Kabuto came the lackluster Kabutack, and the whole franchise ended after Robotack. 

One could argue a case for Kamen Rider Stronger where the hero's design was based on a beetle. Stronger was based on a Rhinocerous Beetle or a Kabuto. Stronger was aired in 1975 and the Kamen Rider series in 2005 was Kamen Rider Hibiki. So, I don't think Toei had Stronger in mind when Kabuto was produced. Instead, it had "Kabuto" and it took place in the year when B-Fighter Kabuto would be on its 20th anniversary. Though Kabuto aired in late January and B-Fighter Kabuto aired in early March of their respective years. Yet, we can't deny the whole thing couldn't just be a mere coincidence. I think it was intentional that Toei Ltd. really called Kamen Rider Kabuto his name. 

Is it me or does Toei Ltd. seldom visit old ideas that failed at first? Think about how Kamen Rider Black RX is regarded as a bomb. However, Black RX had several ideas that made it into the Heisei era Riders such as multiple forms (I heard Shigenori Takatera was part of that crew) and friends who actively participate in the hero's struggle. Kamen Rider Kuuga seemed to have taken notes on where Black RX went wrong and made it right. It seems that the same could be true for Kabuto though I meet people who either likes or it hates it - there seems to be no middle ground. In my case, I do take a middle ground with Kabuto even with all the criticisms that Souji Tendo gets in his characterization. The show took the metallic suits and gave more vibrant designs than what B-Fighter Kabuto could do. 

I'm wondering was there really a demand for Metal Hero to return back then? Maybe yes, no and I can't be sure. If there really was then seems that Toei Ltd. was really telling its fans that they didn't intend to revive Metal Hero as Metal Hero. Instead, Metal Hero may still continue to live on in the form of Kamen Rider. In short, both franchises were fused into one as Metal Hero elements continue to dwell in the Heisei Riders to the Reiwa Riders. I even feel like Kamen Rider Saber may be trying to copy Sekai Ninja Jiraiya in some way or how Kamen Rider Drive has a car similar to that of the Rescue Police series.