The Toei Company, the legendary Japanese production company, made a big move this year to give one of their most iconic brands, Kamen Rider, it’s biggest amount of global exposure in decades. This year with the release of their new Kamen Rider season, Kamen Rider: Zeztz, the company is doing what a lot of anime has done the last few years, and they are simulcasting the new episodes of this season internationally every Saturday night.

For those not in the know, Kamen Rider is one of Japan’s most iconic super heroes created by legendary Manga creator Shotaro Ishinomori in the sixties. There have been dozens of incarnations of the character, and Kamen Rider: Zeztz is just the newest in a long legacy of incarnations. If the iconography looks somewhat familiar to you there have been two previous attempts to bring this property to the United States. The first was in 1995 with Saban’s adaptation of Kamen Rider: RX labeled Masked Rider, which was not the same hit that Saban’s adaptation of Shotaro Ishinomori’s other legendary creation Super Sentai, better known to us as Power Rangers, was.

Then in the late 00’s there was Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, an adaptation of Kamen Rider: Ryuki which has a big cult following, but didn’t have the cultural penetration that the creative team of that show, and Toei was hoping for. So for the last fifteen years Kamen Rider has only been available to western audiences with the occasional DVD release and seasons that are available courtesy of SHOUT! Factory. So simulcasting this new season came as great news to people outside of Japan who want to interact more with the brand like myself.

And eight episodes in? I am thrilled to report I love Kamen Rider: Zeztz. I truly look forward to watching it every week and it’s been a great super hero story, but what is the premise of Kamen Rider: Zeztz? This season follows a young man named Baku who in his waking life is sweet, but largely directionless and in need of a job. In his dreams? He’s a hero, a spy named Code Number: 7, inspired by his favorite super spy character (a gentle nod to James Bond). However, Baku begins waking up in other people’s dreams, encountering their nightmares who manifest as monsters. Baku becomes Kamen Rider: Zeztz, a super hero whose job it is to defeat these nightmares. If he doesn’t defeat them in the sleeper’s dreams? They can escape in the real world and cause more damage. The show is part Batman, part Inception, and part James Bond. It’s pretty fantastic, very charming, and the show unfolds at a really exciting pace where anytime you have a question about how the mechanics of the dreams or Baku’s adventures comes up, the show keeps up with you and answers pretty quickly.

We are eight episodes in to what I believe is going to be a fifty episode season. If you are looking for something a little different to mix into your media diet or like me have always wanted to give Kamen Rider a shot? I highly recommend watching this show. I am going to include a link to the first episode courtesy of the Tokushoutsu Youtube channel here. Give it a shot and if you like it? Report back!

As I hinted at last week I have been working on two projects that are going to come out early in 2026. The first of those two has been announced. I will have a short story in the pages of the Valentine’s Day Anthology DC’s Supergirl Next Door which will be coming out on January 28th, 2026.

We have not said what character (or characters) my story focuses on or what artist I am working with, but what I can tell you right now is that I could not be more excited. I wrapped up the script a few weeks ago, and I set out to do something a little different than I have done before in a couple areas and I think I succeeded. Over the next few weeks I will be seeing art come in from the art team and it’s going to be fantastic.

So look out for that! Our final order cut-off date is December 15th, 2025 so you have around a month and half to go to your local comic book store and make sure you order one of the first great comics of 2026!

Tomorrow may be Halloween, but I am here to remind you to get in your questions for the second annual HoliDave Q&A. We will be taking your questions about comics, comics I have written, comics I have worked on, comics I love, pop culture, and anything else nice (nothing lame please) at [email protected]. Last year we got ten questions, I would love to try to double that.

It’s going to be a lot of fun!

I will be back next week with something fun for the kick off of November.

Until then?

Stay safe!

—Dave Wielgosz