Snake-Themed Kamen Riders: Two Are Evil Riders, One's A Good Secondary Rider

It's the Year of the Snake. Japan also celebrates the Lunar New Year, which lasts 15 days in China (and Taiwan). It's back to work today. Let's take a look back at memory lane for snake-themed Kamen Riders. Evil Kamen Riders have become a staple -- sometimes even being the final villains such as N-Daguva-Zeba, Evolt, and Kamen Rider Ark One (who keeps reminding me of Venjix from Power Rangers RPM).

Snakes have been a common theme for the MOTW in Kamen Rider. However, Kamen Rider these days have the more serialized storytelling akin to a telenovela. That's why I write about Kamen Rider here but only from Kamen Rider Kuuga up to the present. However, I decided not to do episode reviews and just do random drops of newer stuff and older stuff. Now, for the time when a snake-themed Kamen Rider was created.

Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja is a truly terrifying cobra

The Cobra is often a popular theme for villains. Who can remember G.I. Joe's main villain organization is called COBRA? Jafar in Disney's Aladdin carries a cobra staff -- a clear giveaway that he's the main villain. Toei probably wanted to give homage to popular culture and created Kamen Rider Ouja. Kamen Rider Ryuki brought in several evil Kamen Riders. I consider N Daguva Zeba to be an evil Kamen Rider. Ryuki took the concept Up to Eleven -- something that was later repeated in Kamen Rider Gaim. 

Takeshi Asakura is an obviously dangerous character. Before that, Takeshi was a snake in the grass type. This is a dangerous criminal and a murderous man. What I love about this character is he's willfully evil. Sure, Shadow Moon from Kamen Rider BLACK created the concept of the evil Kamen Rider. However, Shadow Moon was Brainwashed and Crazy. Plus, Shadow Moon's redemption in the failed (but Vindicated by History for some reason) sequel Kamen Rider BLACK RX wasn't done well (but I still enjoy the series). Ouja was willfully evil through and through!

Ouja's pretty much what Saint Sword Bilgenia of BLACK could've been -- with the Kingstone! Ouja's pretty cunning and murderous one way or another. Ouja raised up the standard that Shadow Moon was. Shadow Moon was an interesting concept and he's still popular with the fans. However, it's Ouja that truly stands out as a WILLFULLY EVIL, evil Kamen Rider. Sorry for the redunancy!

Evolto/Kamen Rider Evolto

After N-Daguva Zeba (who the Kamen Rider Wiki considers as only Kamen Rider-like) -- we have Evolto who can become Kamen Rider Evolto. Evolto is the main antagonist of Kamen Rider Build. This guy probably has pop culture references to horror movies such as Hellraiser and Doom. Evolto is practically that dangerous venomous cobra. I even feel this guy could be worse than Ouja in terms of moral bankruptcy! 

What makes Evolt a dangerous cobra? He's a member of the Blood Tribe that caused Mars' annihilation in the first place! This guy has destroyed countless civilizations like a snake devours its prey. Evolt has also possessed several people during the series. Evolt also double-crossed several people like Juzaburo Namba (whom he pretended to serve) and Masakuni Mido of the Seito region. This guy may have taken Ouja's villainy Up to Eleven.

Kamen Rider Build was a nice throwback to the nightmarish first seven Heisei-era Kamen Rider entries. This guy may also be too horrifying for the children. It was fun to see this genocidal maniac get his a** handed over to him too. 

Sakura Igarashi/Kamen Rider Jeanne

The snake isn't always meant to be evil. The OG Jungle Book wrote Kaa as a BENEVOLENT CHARACTER -- unlike the Disney version! Female Kamen Riders are actually not as common as female supporting characters. It's probably because Kamen Rider is mainly a boy's show compared to Sailor Moon. Fortunately, Jeanne's able to show that the snake theme isn't exclusively for villains. 

The "drawback" was that Lovekov had to look cartoony compared to the other Inner Demons like Vice. Vice was more or less typical like the good Imagins in Kamen Rider Den-O. Lovekov looks too much like a stuffed animal than a power-up. Sure, Kamen Rider Jeanne isn't to be underestimated. I still find Lovekov looking like a stuffed animal -- just strange! 

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Anyway, here's more cheers for the Year of the Snake!