Where to Purchase Shotaro Ishinomori Works & Inspired Pieces

January 25th marks the birthday of Shotaro Ishinomori, one of the great early minds of manga who played a part in the creation of the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai series.

While the bulk of his library is still unavailable in the West, some of Ishinomori’s most famous titles are out there for those interested in other works from one of the fathers of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.

Cyborg 009, arguably his most famous work, is a title that follows a team of nine cyborgs battling against a Shocker-esque organization lead by a figure similar to the Great Leader. While Tokyopop, the original US distributor of the manga series, is no longer printing, the title is available from third party sellers. The 2001 anime series is also available from various sellers.

In 2012, Comixology licensed the whole of Ishinomori’s manga catalog, so though the Tokyopop physical copies are no longer in print, fans can read Ishinomori’s classics Skullman, Kikaider, Inazuman, and Kamen Rider in addition to Cyborg 009 in English.

Furthermore, a year after in 2013, an American comic retelling of the manga’s first few story arcs was also released and is readily available in hardcover form.

“Cyborg 009” by F.J. DeSanto (Author), Marcus To (Illustrator), Ian Herring 2013. Published by Archaia.

An updated retelling of the story, featuring a new cel-shaded animation style, Re:Cyborg 009, is also available in the US and other parts of the world. Some of Ishinomori’s tokusatsu are also available in the US. Generation Kikaida offers Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, Kikaida 01, and Kamen Rider V3 in DVD boxsets complete with English subs.

Fans may also be able to purchase art pieces inspired by Ishinomori, such as those from the Showa Era Vintage Manga Tribute Art Show held at QPOP this past summer and from independent artists such as Alden Viguilla, who created these tokusatsu inspired pieces.