UlasanAnime.com – Instead of the usual fare of giant robots battling kaiju or intense EVO streams, I opted for a screening of the live-action movie, Hentai Kamen. Let’s address the elephant in the room: the manga revolves around a superhero who transforms into the titular crusader upon donning a pair of used panties on his face. The entire premise operates on the idea that perverted energy fuels a kind of physical power. While the villains are, to put it mildly, somewhat unconventional, the hero himself is arguably even more so.
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The film features a significant amount of male flesh on display. However, given that the style of perversion depicted seems heavily influenced by a male perspective, it feels somewhat balanced. The original manga work was serialized in the early 1990s, which might explain this focus. A major impetus for my decision to attend the screening was hearing Quarkboy casually recommend Hentai Kamen, as he had subtitled the film for festival runs. It turned out to be a rather enjoyable experience.
During the Japan Society x NYAFF 2013 screening, one of the staff members took the stage to introduce the film. In a bold move, he proceeded to strip down to a Hentai Kamen cosplay. It’s safe to say he certainly had the courage for it.
