SOUCHAKU-HENSHIN KAMEN RIDER SERIES

SH Masked Rider Ryuki Series GD-81 Masked Rider Imperer (3/2005)

  

MASKED RIDER

KUUGA

 

MASKED RIDER

AGITO

 

CLASSIC

MASKED RIDERS

 

MASKED RIDER

RYUKI

 

MASKED RIDER

FAIZ

 

MASKED RIDER

BLADE

 

MASKED RIDER

HIBIKI

 

IMPERER

Bandai released GD-81 Masked Rider Imperer in March of 2005 as part of the Chogokin Souchaku Henshin Kamen Rider Ryuki series. GD-81 is released along with GD-80 Kamen Rider Zolda, which is also from Masked Rider Ryuki series. Masked Rider Imperer get his name from the combination of the words "impala" and "emperor". As the name might suggest, his contract monster and armor design are based on impala (African antelope) and gazelle type animals. Imperer has three contract monsters - Gigazelle, Megazelle and Omegazelle since gazelle are herd type of animals. All three are humanoid shape gazelle-like monsters.

SH Kamen Rider Imperer uses the same core body as the others SH figures from Ryuki series. The body is standard 5" figure with decent articulations. The chest armor, wrists and belts are die-cast (zinc metal) while the shoulders are plastic that snap on to the shoulder of the body. SH Imperer has very nice sculpt but the paint job is a little sloppy in places. The figure come with his gauntlet (Spin Vent) weapon (horns from his Gigazelle monster) and his Advent Visor. On Imperer, the Visor (card reader) is a knee armor pad in the shape of gazelle head which snap on to his knee right knee joint, the lower section of the Visor is molded on his shin.

Masked Rider Imperer was never released as part of the original R&M line, so it is nice to see him finally makes an appearance in 5" format as part of the SH figures. (Bandai has since released all 13 Riders from Masked Rider Ryuki in Souchaku Henshin format even the one off movie characters like Verde and Femme). Bandai also release his main contract monsters - Gigazelle as part of the new Souchaku Henshin SH Mirror Monster line. Gigazelle is included with EX-01 set along with reissued (with new paint job) versions of R&M Evildiver and Metalgelas.

 

GD-81 Souchaku Henshin Series Kamen Rider Ryuki - Masked Rider Imperer

Bandai released GD-81 Imperer in March of 2005. The retail price was 2000 Yen.

 

Unmasked Mode

Like other SH Riders figures, the human body underneath can look out of proportion and is solely intended for display with the "cloth" (Rider Armor) on. The core body is similar in style as the body used since the original Saint Seiya Cloth line, however for the 2004 SH line, Bandai have retooled the body to make it more modern. While the head still appears too small due to having to accommodate the mask, this removable "armor suit" however, is one of the aspect that drawn me to this line. The ability to "henshin" into the Rider form make these SH figures a lot like small version of Henshin Cyborg or the RAH costume hero.

Accessories

 

Unlike most other SH Ryuki series figures, Imperer only comes with two mini Advent cards. The third card is actually a mini business card that he often handed out on the TV show to other Riders. Imperer also come with his Spin Vent weapon.