History Manga / GekikouKamen

** Other than the main heroes, there's Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the non-tokusatsu Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]'', but also resembles karateka [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama Mas Oyama]]'s alleged anti-GHQ postwar vigilantism shown in ''[[Creator/IkkiKajiwara Karate Baka Ichidai]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku / Agō (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] / [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Agito]]''[[note]]"Zeku" seems to be a reference to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra Heart Sūtra]]'s ''yojijukugo'' "shikisoku'''zekū'''", i. e. "''form is emptiness''"[[/note]]), [=TraiZion=] (''Series/{{Kikaider}}'' / ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''), Uchū Seigi Renpō K (''[[Series/MetalHeroes Uchū Keiji]]'' series / ''Series/RobotDetective K''), Buddhi Zero (''Franchise/UltramanZero''), the Yaobikuneez (nineties ''Franchise/SuperSentai''), or Shōjo Kabuto Hachikazuki oo (''[[Manga/SukebanDeka Sukeban Deka II]]'' / ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikazuki Princess Hachikazuki]]'').

Gekikou Kamen [[note]]literally "Stagelight Mask"[[/note]] is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The manga is essentiallly a love letter to the history of Tokusatsu, both from the main characters' devoted geekness to the genre, as well as the author's in-depth overview of its history, from its earliest days through Creator/EijiTsuburaya[='=]s overlooked origins in wartime special effects to the genre's enduring popularity with modern blockbusters like the ''Franchise/ShinJapanHeroesUniverse''.

* CoolBike: Averted with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer, who rides a fairly utilitarian scooter for his delivery job. Not that it does stop him from listening the ''Fukumen Viper'' theme while riding it... [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji inherits it after Yuhito's mysterious explosion, but doesn't last much longer.]]

* DefeatEqualsExplosion: Discussed by Otoya in a fight, who [[spoiler: thinks that dealing a killing blow will only remove any solid evidence of a real monster. Instead, his idea is to call a bomb defusal squad.]]

* HenshinHero: Otoya pulls a real one, covering his flesh in slush powder gel and burning a bulky mountain climbing gear layer to reveal a fireproof ''Mikado Waechter Shikkoku'' costume.

* HumanWeapon: [[spoiler: Some humanoid weapons seemingly created by UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan are revealed, like [[WhyAmITicking human bombs]], [[{{Transhuman}} supermen]] with UncannyValley disguises, or (allegedly) air raid-resistant helmets.]]

* MagnetismManipulation: Yu Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' "Magneyuuri" sword which, despite being katana-shaped, is a powerful magnet purely used to attract steel weapons. Since most ''Tokubiken'' suits use electronics, the wearer has to learn how to use it as far as possible from them including his own, averting the SelectiveMagnetism trope.

* MillionToOneChance: Deconstructed. In a fight, Otoya hopes that his [[TakingYouWithMe kamikaze-like tactic]] goes well, remembering the odds of the actual wartime suicide attacks... [[spoiler: His opponent, having actually lived during Imperial Japan, calls him out on what was manipulative wartime propaganda made by people who were never at risk of being deployed to combat, telling Otoya that most of his companions died in vain [[TheUnchosenOne hoping to be the one]]. In other words, by every one out of 100.000 who gets it right, ''99.999 don't''.]]
* NerfArm: Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'' carries a paint-firing toy firearm shaped like a Nambu Type 14 gun. [[spoiler: In a real combat, Otoya fills it with [[DeadlyGas chlorine gas chemicals]].]]

* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Discussed by the ''Tokubiken'' members, who notice that Akira Sayama, a seventies ''kaijin'' designer, might have lied about his creations' original violent nature to mantain a safe audience, merely talking about their educational and creative value.
** Manji Ichinoya (an Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the ''Tokubiken'' members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how good the Japanese military's private tactical simulation abilities ''could be''... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography. [[spoiler:At least a modified human seems to have a grudge against Ichinoya for making top-secret propaganda that probably made him want to be experimented with, which could potentially mean that he wasn't ''just'' involved in special effects.]]

** The ''Tokubiken'''s idols are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Postwar superhero Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), robot Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], alien Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, villain Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, ninja Ayamiyuri seems to be a mix between ''Series/{{Inazuman}}'' and ''Series/NinjaCaptor''[[note]]Although he shares the "Butterfly Ninja" title with Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya''[[/note]], and the police Kiriko Asami/Beeasader seems to based on ''Anime/CuteyHoney'' and Denpa Ningen Tackle from ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' with a scissor motif based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]].

* VillainsActHeroesReact: Discussed by the ''Tokubiken'' members, who talk about how they need to compare real-life incidents to tokusatsu villains to prove they're the heroes. Policeman Nakano compares it to desiring to be a high-ranking officer or in riot control to [[SuperCop tackle the most interesting cases]] as seen on fictional media, instead of doing more realistic mundane tasks.

* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Averted with Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'', who always uses his gun as the first weapon. [[spoiler: Its lethality is proportional to [[SetSwordsToStun the opponent's threat level]].]]

* YourDaysAreNumbered: Kiridoshi suffered from some unspecified illness that gave him a life expectancy of 20 years at most. It's one of the reasons of why he prefers ''kaijin'' to heroes (the original ''Fukumen Viper'' being an exception), since, despite their very short-lived appearances, some are [[SmallRoleBigImpact as fondly remembered as the other characters]].

Gekikou Kamen [[note]]literally "Stagelight Mask"[[/note]] is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The manga is essentiallly a love letter to the history of Tokusatsu, both from the main characters' devoted geekness to the genre, as well as the author's in-depth overview of its history, from its earliest days through Creator/EijiTsuburaya[='=]s overlooked origins in wartime special effects to the genre's enduring popularity with modern blockbusters like the ''ShinJapanHeroesUniverse''.

* AscendedFanboy: Mari Rima is the only one of the ''Tokubiken'' who indirectly works in the Tokusatsu industry, at a toymaker sponsor overseeing budget and designs. In contrast to the overtly idealistic Otoya, she clearly sees the MerchandiseDriven nature of the works. [[spoiler: This seems to slowly change in the series, as she fears that the odd events that make her return to the ''Gekikou Kamen'' activities are too weird for regular people like his boyfriend.]]
** To a lesser extent, everybody else seems to have jobs influenced by their love of Tokusatsu: toy fan Otoya Jissoji is both an art model himself and a model kit/prop seller, Ichiru Narita fights against real-life [[NuclearMutant atomic threats]] as a nuclear decommissioner, Takafumi Nakano became a [[StockSuperheroDayJobs policeman]], and Yō Serizawa is a scientist much like his ''Film/Godzilla1954'' namesake.

* GrapplingHookPistol: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a rope-firing gun, [[spoiler: which is used to stop a fight between two cosplayers]].

Otoya Jissoji, an awkward adult who works in odd part-time jobs like art modelling and selling customized model kits, used to be a member of the ''[[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]]'', a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji hasn't quite left behind his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as a new generation of Tokusatsu fans and increasingly mysterious incidents, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times, as well as return to their [[SuperLoser minor]] vigilante activities.

Gekikou Kamen [[note]]literally "Stagelight Mask"[[/note]] is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The manga is essentiallly a love letter to the history of Tokusatsu, both from the main characters' devoted geekness to the genre, as well as the author's in-depth overview of its history, from its earliest days through Creator/EijiTsuburaya[='=]s overlooked origins in wartime special effects to the genre's enduring popularity with modern blockbusters like ''Film/ShinGodzilla''.

->In ancient times, where beasts were still stronger than men, our ancestors stared up at the sky from their caves... And, connecting the stars, made the forms of gods and [[Main/{{Kaiju}} fantastic beasts]] all [[SharedMassHallucination with one another]]. {{Tokusatsu}} art modelling is the sucessor to such acts.

Otoya Jissoji, an awkward adult who works in odd part-time jobs like art modelling and selling customized model kits, used to be a member of the ''[[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]]'', a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji hasn't quite left behind his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as their fans and copycats, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times.

* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Zig-zagged with Yuhito Aiba, a ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer who has [[PowerIncontinence way too much strength]], but couldn't get into combat sports since he often injured himself more than anybody else. However, [[spoiler: when he discovers the Tokusatsu character to its eventual idealization, and later comes across rude cosplayers, he finally has an excuse to vent his violence on others.]]

* CoolBike: Averted with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer, who rides a fairly utilitarian scooter for his delivery job. Not that it does stop him from listening the ''Fukumen Viper'' theme while riding it... [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji inherits it after Yuhito's mysterious explosion, but doesn't last much longer..]]

* {{Cyborg}}: Actor Shin Iwakura, much like his character Fukumen Viper, is mentioned to have had cutting-edge surgery first used in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar to repair his body. This is a ''very'' slightly modified homage to ''Kamen Rider'' actor Hiroshi Fujioka's surgery, who had an innovative hip surgery after having a severe accident filming the series which would make him a Tokusatsu star.

* GrapplingHookPistol: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a rope-firing gun, [[spoiler: and is used to stop a fight between two cosplayers]].
* HandSeals: Yō Serizawa makes a couple of them when cosplaying as ''Ayamiyuri'', implying the character's ninja motif.

* HumanWeapon: [[spoiler: Some humanoid weapons seemingly created by UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan are revealed, like [[WhyAmITicking human bombs]], [[{{Transhuman}} supermen]] with UncannyValley disguises, or allegedly air raid-resistant helmets.]]

* MagnetismManipulation: Yu Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' "Magneyuuri", which, despite being katana-shaped, is a powerful magnet purely used to attract steel weapons. Since most suits use electronics, the wearer has to learn how to use it as far as possible from the ''Tokubiken'' suits including his own, averting the SelectiveMagnetism trope.
* ManlyTears: The ''Mikado Waechter'' suit appropiately "cries" after the mock funeral... Although it's a rare case of an actor's sweat spilling out from the mask's eyeholes.
* MillionToOneChance: Deconstructed. In a fight, Otoya hopes that his [[TakingYouWithMe kamikaze-like tactic]] goes well, remembering the odds of the actual wartime suicide attacks... [[spoiler: His opponent, having actually lived during Imperial Japan, calls him out on what was wartime propaganda, telling Otoya that most of his companions died in vain [[TheUnchosenOne hoping to be the one]]. In other words, by every one out of 100.000 who gets it right, ''99.999 don't''.]]

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The manga is a who's who of famous Tokusatsu figures like Creator/EijiTsuburaya (Manji Ichinoya), [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (Yusaku Narita), early ''kaijin'' designer [[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/高橋章 Akira Takahashi]] (Akira Sayama), producer [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoyuki_Tanaka Tomoyuki Tanaka]] (Tomoyuki Morinaga), suit actor Creator/HaruoNakajima (Haruo Shimamura) or "[[Series/KamenRider Takeshi Hongo]]" Creator/HiroshiFujioka ("Jin Sukima" Shin Iwakura) -- although other historical figures also appear, like admiral UsefulNotes/IsorokuYamamoto (Kameto Kuroshima).

** Manji Ichinoya (an Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the ''Tokubiken'' members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how good the Japanese military's private tactical simulation abilities could be... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography. [[spoiler:At least a modified human seems to have a grudge against him, which could potentially mean that he wasn't ''just'' involved in special effects.]]

** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Postwar hero Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), robot Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], alien Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, villain Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, ninja Ayamiyuri seems to be a mix between ''Series/{{Inazuman}}'' and ''Series/NinjaCaptor''[[note]]Although he shares the "Butterfly Ninja" title with Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya''[[/note]], and the police Kiriko Asami/Beeasader seems to based on ''Anime/CuteyHoney'' and Denpa Ningen Tackle from ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' with a scissor motif based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]].

** In a fight, Otoya thinks of using the tactics seen in the climax of ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' to [[TakingYouWithMe end a fight]], since he only has an oxygen tank as a weapon. [[spoiler: It backfires in an unexpected way, since [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome the tank flies off like a rocket]] and ricochets off a wall.]]

* TransformationSequence: Discussed with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer's henshin pose, who doesn't quite convey the original character's strength (performing more like ''Fukumen Viper Zeku'''s [[BattleChant haka]]-like pose)... [[spoiler: Until, unexpectedly, he transforms into a sea urchin-like [[WhyAmITicking human cluster bomb]].]]

** Other cosplayers devolve their practices into more standard street fights and even more violent turf war battles, using the characters' masks as a mere excuse to hide their identities when using violence.

* VomitIndiscretionShot: [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji vomits his breakfast after being crushed by a ''kaijin''... Thankfully, his mask has a built-in emergency nozzle. Not much later, the ''kaijin'' vomits blood after having his lung punctured.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya is constantly called out on his admiration for UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan, like remarking the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide ''in front of a WWII veteran who lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks'' (or, even worse, in their training sessions... Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly), or wishing to live up to the ideal of doing an heroic [[ImpossibleMission one in a million]] sacrifice, without realizing that the trope degrades everyone else to CannonFodder status.

* NerfArm: Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'' carries a paint-firing toy firearm shaped like a Nambu Type 14 gun. [[In a real combat, Otoya fills it with [[DeadlyGas chlorine gas chemicals]]]]

** Manji Ichinoya (a Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the ''Tokubiken'' members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how good the Japanese military's private tactical simulation abilities could be... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography. [[spoiler:At least a modified human seems to have a grudge against him, which could potentially mean that he wasn't ''just'' involved in special effects.]]

* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya is constantly called out on his admiration for UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan, like remarking the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide ''in front of a WWII veteran who lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks'' (or, even worse, in their training sessions... Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly.), or wishing to live up to the ideal of doing an heroic [[ImpossibleMission one in a million]] sacrifice, without realizing that the trope degrades everyone else to CannonFodder status.
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Averted with Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'', who always uses his gun as the first weapon. [[spoiler: Its lethality is proportional to [[SetSwordsToStun the opponent's threat level.]]

* AscendedFanboy: Mari Rima is the only one of the ''Tokubiken'' who indirectly works in the Tokusatsu industry, at a toymaker sponsor overseeing budget and designs. In contrast to the overtly idealistic Otoya, she clearly sees the MerchandiseDriven nature of the works.
* BlindedByTheLight: Otoya Jissoji's ''Mikado Waechter'' suit has blinding lights in his goggles. Mari Rima's ''Beeasader'' suit is also equipped with a commercial-grade laser in her mask's forehead for the same purpose.
* BornInTheWrongCentury: Otoya is not only drawn to UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan imagery, he's also compared more than once to the malnourished and idealistic wartime teenagers who were brainwashed to die for their country.

* CoolBike: Averted with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer, who rides a fairly utilitarian scooter for his delivery job. Not that it does stop him from singing the ''Fukumen Viper'' theme while riding it... [[spoiler: Otoya Jissoji inherits it after Yuhito's mysterious explosion.]]

* HenshinHero: Otoya pulls a real one, covering his flesh in slush powder gel and burning a bulky outer clothes layer to reveal a fireproof ''Mikado Waechter Shikkoku'' costume.

* IaijutsuPractitioner: One of ''Mikado Waechter'' (Otoya Jissoji)'s main weapons is a genuine katana drawn by a compressed air-powered belt mechanism -- which is also very dangerous without the need of a weapon.

* NerfArm: Otoya Jissoji as ''Mikado Waechter'' carries a paint-firing toy firearm shaped like a Nambu Type 14 gun.

* ShoutOut: The ''Tokubiken'' members are named after famous industry figures: part-timer Otoya Jissoji after director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Jissoji Akio Jissoji]], club leader Akinori Kiridōshi after media critic Risaku Kiridōshi, toymaker executive Mari Rima probably after ''[[Series/SuperRobotRedBaron Red Baron]]'' MsFanservice heroine Mari Matsubara, policeman Takafumi Nakano after special effects director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruyoshi_Nakano Teruyoshi Nakano]], and postdoctorate researcher Yō Serizawa after the iconic ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' scientist Daisuke Serizawa. Decommissioner Ichiru Narita takes it a step further, since she's the granddaughter of a [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (early Ultra Series designer) expy.
** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, Ayamiyuri seems to be a mix between ''Series/{{Inazuman}}'' and ''Series/NinjaCaptor''[[note]]Although he shares the "Butterfly Ninja" title with Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya''[[/note]], and the police-like Beeasader seems to based on ''Anime/CuteyHoney'' and Denpa Ningen Tackle from ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' with a scissor motif based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]].

* TeenGenius: Downplayed with Yō Serizawa, who merely skipped a grade. Unlike the rest of the team, he's still doing university research in the present.

* TransformationSequence: Discussed with the ''Fukumen Viper'' cosplayer's henshin pose, who doesn't quite convey the original character's strength (performing more like ''Fukumen Viper Zeku'''s [[BattleChant haka]]-like pose)... [[spoiler: Until, unexpectedly, he transforms into a sea urchin-like [[WhyAmITicking human cluster bomb.]]

* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya remarks the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide... In front of a WWII veteran who lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks -- or, even worse, in their training sessions. Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly.
* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Takafumi Nakano as ''Kiborger'', thanks to his experience as a mover and his suit's abilities, is able to chuckle a football player like if he were a real-life Tokusatsu character... Thankfully he doesn't do it, since the ''Kiborger'' character doesn't harm humans, therefore preventing any possibility of heavily injuring somebody.

** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, Ayamiyuri might be based on ''Series/NinjaCaptor'' and/or Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya'', and the police-like Beeasader's name and scissor motif are based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]].
** Other than the main heroes, there's Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the non-tokusatsu Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]'', but also resembles karateka [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama Mas Oyama]]'s alleged anti-GHQ postwar vigilantism shown in ''[[Creator/IkkiKajiwara Karate Baka Ichidai]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku / Agō (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] / [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Agito]]''[[note]]"Zeku" seems to be a reference to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra Heart Sūtra]]'s ''yojijukugo'' "shikisoku'''zekū'''", i. e. "''form is emptiness''"[[/note]]), [=TraiZion=] (''Series/{{Kikaider}}'' / ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''), Uchū Seigi Renpō K (''[[Series/MetalHeroes Uchū Keiji]]'' series / ''Series/RobotDetective K''), Buddhi Zero (''Franchise/UltramanZero''), the Yaobikuneez (nineties ''Franchise/SuperSentai''), or Shōjo Kabuto Hachikazuki oo (''[[Manga/SukebanDeka Sukeban Deka II]] / [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikazuki Princess Hachikazuki]]).
** In a fight, Otoya thinks of using the tactics seen in the climax of ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' to [[TakingYouWithMe end a fight]], since he only has an oxygen tank as a weapon. [[spoiler: It backfires in an unexpected way, since [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome the tank flies off like a rocket]] and ricochets off a wall]]

* GrapplingHookPistol: Yō Serizawa's ''Ayamiyuri'' suit has a rope-firing gun.

** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: Mikado Waechter seems to be vaguely influenced by [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]]/''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima {{Expy}} as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]](and his jet black ''Shikkoku'' camouflage is similar to ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''), Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17''[[note]]The brief mention of being used in a dictatorship allied with Japan seems to reference the good relations between South Korea's military dictatorships and Japan[[/note]], Nebula Buddi is (''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma''/''Series/{{Spectreman}}'' elements, Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell with a [[Series/{{Kikaider}} Hakaider]]-like brain, Ayamiyuri might be based on ''Series/NinjaCaptor'' and/or Benikiba from ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya'', and the police-like Beeasader's name and scissor motif are based on infamous ''geisha'' [[Film/InTheRealmOfTheSenses Sada Abe]].

* {{Cyborg}}: Actor Shin Iwakura, much like his character Fukumen Viper, is mentioned to have had cutting-edge surgery first used in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar to repair his body. This is a ''very' slightly modified homage to ''Kamen Rider'' actor Hiroshi Fujioka's surgery, who had an innovative hip surgery after having a severe accident filming the series which would make him a Tokusatsu star.

* HenshinHero: Otoya pulls a real-life one, burning a bulky outer clothes layer to reveal a ''Mikado Waechter Shikkoku" costume.

** Manji Ichinoya (a Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the ''Tokubiken'' members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how good the Japanese military's private tactical simulation abilities could be... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography.

->In ancient times, where beast were still stronger than men, our ancestors stared up at the sky from their caves... And, connecting the stars, made the forms of gods and [[Main/{{Kaiju}} fantastic beasts]] all [[SharedMassHallucination with one another]]. {{Tokusatsu}} art modelling is the sucessor to such acts.

Otoya Jissoji, an awkward adult who works in odd part-time jobs like being an art model, used to be a member of the ''[[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]]'', a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji hasn't quite left behind his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as their fans and copycats, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times.

** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: ''Mikado Waechter'' seems to be vaguely influenced by ''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima Expy as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]], Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17'', Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'' elements, and Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell. Other than the main heroes, there's Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama Mas Oyama]]-like vigilante Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]]''), [=TraiZion=] (''Series/{{Kikaider}}'' / ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''), or the Yaobikuneez (nineties ''Franchise/SuperSentai'').

Gekikou Kamen (literally "Stagelight Mask") is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The plot deals with Otoya Jissoji, an adult part-timer and member of the ''[[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]]'', a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji hasn't quite left behind his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as their fans and copycats, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times.

The manga is essentiallly a love letter to the history of Tokusatsu, from Creator/EijiTsuburaya[='=]s overlooked origins in wartime special effects to the genre's enduring popularity with modern blockbusters like ''Film/ShinGodzilla''.

* DecidedByOneVote: Most of the ''Tokubiken'' acts have strict regulations that have to be approved by a majority of members.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The original ''Mikado Waechter'' novel describes rather clearly the superhero's penis just after getting warmed to perform an operation. The exact shape is compared to a World War II [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_B5N torpedo bomber]].

* JapaneseSchoolClub: The Tokusatsu Bijutsu Kenkyukai ("Tokusatsu Art Research Society"), aka the ''Tokubiken'', is a Tokusatsu fan club whose former attempts at making Tokusatsu real drive the plot.
* ManlyTears: The ''Mikado Waechter'' suit appropiately "cries" after the mock funeral -- although it's a rare case of an actor's sweat spilling out from the mask's eyeholes.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The manga is a who's who of famous Tokusatsu figures like Eiji Tsuburaya (Manji Ichinoya), Tohl Narita (Yusaku Narita), Akira Takahashi (Akira Sayama), Tomoyuki Tanaka (Tomoyuki Morinaga), Haruo Nakajima (Haruo Shimamura) or "Takeshi Hongo" Hiroshi Fujioka ("Jin Sukima" Shin Iwakura) -- although other historical figures also appear, like Isoroku Yamamoto (Kameto Kuroshima).

* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Discussed by the ''Tokubiken'' members, who notice that Akira Sayama (an Akira Takahashi expy), a seventies ''kaijin'' designer, might have lied about his creations' original violent nature to mantain a safe audience, merely talking about their educational and creative value.

* ShoutOut: The ''Tokubiken'' members are named after famous industry figures: part-timer Otoya Jissoji after director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Jissoji Akio Jissoji]], club leader Akinori Kiridōshi after media critic Risaku Kiridōshi, toymaker executive Mari Rima probably after ''[[Series/SuperRobotRedBaron Red Baron]]'' MsFanservice heroine Mari Matsubara, policeman Takafumi Nakano after special effects director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruyoshi_Nakano Teruyoshi Nakano]], and postdoctorate researcher Yō Serizawa after the iconic ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' character Daisuke Serizawa. Decommissioner Ichiru Narita takes it a step further, since she's the granddaughter of a [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (early Ultra Series designer) expy.
** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: ''Mikado Waechter'' seems to be vaguely influenced by ''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima Expy as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]], Kiborger is ''Series/DenjinZaboga'' with elements of ''Series/Daitetsujin17'', Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'' elements, and Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell. Other than the main heroes, there's Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama Mas Oyama]]-like vigilante Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]]''), TraiZion (''Series/{{Kikaider}}'' / ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''), or the Yaobikuneez (nineties ''Franchise/SuperSentai'').
* SuicideAttack: Wartime Japan's history with suicide attacks is thoroughly discussed, like the alarmingly low success rate of the ''[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiten Kaiten]]'' manned torpedoes being embellished by the otherwise pefectionist Eiji Tsuburaya expy for propaganda purposes, or the ''[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuryu Fukuryū]]'' suicide divers being an unintentional influence on some early Kamen Rider-esque ''kaijin''.

* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya remarks the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide... In front of a WWII veteran (an Akira Takahasi expy) who lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks -- or, even worse, in their training sessions. Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly.

** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: ''Mikado Waechter'' seems to be vaguely influenced by ''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima Expy as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]], Kiborger is clearly ''Series/DenjinZaboga'', Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'' elements, and Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell. Others are even more obvious, like the legendary Tokusatsu productions Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the vigilante Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]''), Fukumen Viper / Zeku (''Series/KamenRider'' / ''[[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]]'') or the Yaobikuneez (''Franchise/SuperSentai'').

Gekikou Kamen (literally "Stagelight Mask") is a 2021 {{seinen}} manga created by Takayuki Yamaguchi of ''Manga/ApocalypseZero'' and ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'' fame and published in ''Big Comic Superior'' magazine. The plot deals with Otoya Jissoji, an adult part-timer and member of the [[JapaneseSchoolClub Tokubiken]], a former university {{Toku}}satsu fan club dedicated to create [[PracticalEffects fully functional]] --and highly dangerous-- cosplays of their favorite heroes. Most of its members have moved on to adult lives, but Jissoji hasn't quite left behind his former ''Mikado Waechter'' superhero persona... Although the passing of the club's founder, as well as their fans and copycats, might give them an excuse to hang out together like in old times.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The manga is a who's who of famous Tokusatsu figures like Eiji Tsuburaya (Manji Ichinoya), Tohl Narita (Yusaku Narita), Akira Takahashi (Akira Sayama), Tomoyuki Tanaka (Tomoyuki Morinaga) or Haruo Nakajima (Haruo Shimamura) -- although other historical figures also appear, like Isoroku Yamamoto (Kameto Kuroshima).

* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Discussed by the Tokubiken members, who notice that a Tokusatsu artist might have lied about his creations to mantain a big audience: for example, a ''kaijin'' designer talks about his creations' educational and creative value while not mentioning anything about their original violent nature. Manji Ichinoya (a Eiji Tsuburaya expy)'s wartime history is also appropiately softened: while a Tokusatsu fan cites the real-life biographical anecdote of how the Americans thought Tsuburaya's movies were real war footage, the Tokubiken members specify that what made it special to the Americans wasn't that it ''looked real'', it was that it might have been a hint of how good the Japanese military's private tactical simulation abilities could be... As well as Manji's ambiguity about his wartime involvement, which marked him him a war collaborator under American occupation, not being mentioned in his biography.
* ShoutOut: The Tokubiken members are named after famous industry figures: part-timer Otoya Jissoji after director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Jissoji Akio Jissoji]], club leader Akinori Kiridōshi after media critic Risaku Kiridōshi, toymaker executive Mari Rima probably after ''[[Series/SuperRobotRedBaron Red Baron]]'' MsFanservice heroine Mari Matsubara, policeman Takafumi Nakano after special effects director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruyoshi_Nakano Teruyoshi Nakano]], and postdoctorate researcher Yō Serizawa after the iconic ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' character Daisuke Serizawa. Decommissioner Ichiru Narita takes it a step further, since she's the granddaughter of a [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (early Ultra Series designer) expy.
** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: ''Mikado Waechter'' seems to be vaguely influenced by ''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]][[note]]although the mention of the Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima Expy as the first Japanese stuntman on fire in the fictional ''Mikado Waechter'' film is a clear reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_of_the_Pacific Eagles of the Pacific]][[/note]], Kiborger is clearly ''Series/DenjinZaboga'', Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'' elements, and Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell. Others are even more obvious, like the legendary Tokusatsu productions Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''), the vigilante Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]''), Fukumen Viper (''Series/KamenRider'') or the Yaobikuneez (''Franchise/SuperSentai'').

* SquareCubeLaw: Lampshaded in the first Tokubiken meeting, where the leader reads an essay about how it's technically impossible for ''kaiju'' to exist for those reasons.
* StartsWithTheirFuneral: The plot starts with the death of Akinori Kiridōshi, the leader of the Tokubiken university club, and how the members reunite to pay respects... As well as perform a mock funeral/execution to his Tokusatsu costume, as one of his last wills.

* VigilanteMan: Gekikou Kamen (roughly translated as "Tempestuous Light Mask"), a non-Tokusatsu nationalistic masked vigilante, was mentioned as an active vigilante during [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan Occupation-era]] Japan fighting against American-made injustice.
* VigilanteMilitia: The Tokusatsu team's functional suits are later used to stop very minor petty crimes and thefts. Even they admit their impact is very small, and more of a side use than their original purpose.
* WhatTheHellHero: Otoya remarks the poetic beauty of patriotic suicide... In front of a WWII veteran (an Akira Takahasi expy) who lost many colleagues in senseless suicide attacks -- or, even worse, in their training sessions. Needless to say, neither the vet or Otoya's friend Akinori take it lightly.

[[caption-width-right:350:Let's connect the stars.[[note]]From left to right: Mari Rima/Beeaseder, Takafumi Nakano/Kiborger, Otoya Jissoji/Mikado Waechter, Akinori Kiridōshi/Zenopadon, Yō Serizawa/Ayamiyuri, Ichiru Narita/Nebula Buddi[[/note]]]]

* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Discussed by the Tokubiken members, who notice that a Tokusatsu artist might have lied about his creations to mantain a big audience: for example, a ''kaijin'' designer talks about his creations' educational and creative value while not mentioning anything about their original violent nature.
* ShoutOut: The Tokubiken members are named after famous industry figures: part-timer Otoya Jissoji after director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akio_Jissoji Akio Jissoji]], club leader Akinori Kiridōshi after media critic Risaku Kiridōshi, toymaker executive Mari Rima probably after ''[[Series/SuperRobotRedBaron Red Baron]]'' MsFanservice heroine Mari Matsubara, policeman Takafumi Nakano after special effects director [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teruyoshi_Nakano Teruyoshi Nakano]], and postdoctorate researcher Yō Serizawa after the iconic ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' character Daisuke Serizawa. Ichiru Narita takes it a step further, since she's the granddaughter of a [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohl_Narita Tohl Narita]] (early Ultra Series designer) expy.
** The heroes are vaguely patterned after real franchises: ''Mikado Waechter'' seems to be vaguely influenced by ''Mikadroid'' and the creator's own [[Manga/ApocalypseZero Kakugo Hagakure]], Kiborger is clearly ''Series/DenjinZaboga'', Nebula Buddi is ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' with minor ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'' elements, and Zenopadon is an early ''Franchise/KamenRider''-style ''kaijin'' like Zanjioh or Ambassador Hell. Others are even more obvious, like the legendary Tokusatsu productions Vroot (''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'') and Fukumen Viper (''Series/KamenRider''), or Gekikou Kamen (''[[Series/MoonlightMask Gekko Kamen]]'').