[Originally posted on http://obsessive-geek.blogspot.com/]

This week's My Heroes was planned to be about The Tick, but he'll have to wait. With the news of  Shigeru Akari's untimely passing, I've decided to dedicate this foray into the hallowed halls to one great man and an amazing Rider...

"The heaven's cry out! The earth cries out!The people cry out!They cry out for me to destroy evil! Listen up,evildoers...I am the warrior of justice, KAMEN RIDER STRONGER!

... Kamen Rider Stronger.

After the death of his friend by the hands of Black Satan, Shigeru Joh goes undercover in the organization to become a cyborg and destroy it. Saved fro becoming a brainless pawn by the "we're too stupid to check that the obedience chip in our new recruit is actually working" gambit, Joh swears to destroy Black Satan. While escaping, he came across Yuriko Misaki, who became his partner in crime fighting: Electro-Wave Human Tackle.

Eternal Partners.

As Yuriko and Shigeru went on  to defeat Black Satan and fight the Delza Army, Stronger lost his partner/love interest/sidekick to the mad Dr. Kate. Stronger would go onto get an upgrade himself and become the first rider to have an alternate form, CHARGE UP FORM! and teaming up with his brothers brought the reign of Dai Leader once and for all. (Until Skyrider, anyway.)

Gotta love the silver detailing.

And through it all, Shigeru Akari brought swagger, kindness and enormous levels of badassery to the role. He was basically James T. Kirk in Japanese karate bugman form.And I love him for that.

SUPER Gentelmen's Quarterly 1975 cover, right here.

So rest in peace, Akari-san. The heavens have called you home. May you forever live in the hearts of those who love justice. And let us all raise a glass for another hero entering Valhalla and in the "In Memoriam" wing of My Heroes museum.

Shigeru Akari, forever a warrior of justice.