《東島丹三郎想成為假面騎士》是一部以昭和時期假面騎士為核心題材的青年漫畫，講述一群對昭和假面騎士充滿熱情的粉絲們的故事。作品的名字已經直接揭示了主角的目標——東島丹三郎，一個自小看假面騎士長大的中年男子，一直夢想成為像電視裡的英雄一樣的正義戰士，甚至希望有一天能被假面騎士系列中的大反派修卡改造，成為真正的假面騎士。

為了配得上被修卡改造的資格，東島丹三郎從小便開始鍛煉身體。他的體能極為出眾，中學時一拳就能打飛比自己胖很多的人，面對校園霸凌，他往往不還手，因為一旦出手，將是一場腥風血雨。然而，他清楚僅憑這些能力不足以對抗像修卡和怪人這樣的敵人，因此他持續修煉，直到40歲，甚至能徒手在山林中擊敗成年棕熊。漫畫中，這種誇張而幽默的表現既展現了主角的決心，也充滿喜劇色彩。

然而，現實始終殘酷。東島丹三郎並未真正遇到修卡，他孤身生活，擔心自己若孤獨死去，家中珍藏的周邊會被當作便宜玩具販售，因此他先行賣掉了收藏品，也逐漸接受了假面騎士只是幻想的現實。正當他心灰意冷時，一次偶然的事件重新點燃了他的鬥志：他在街頭撿到一個帶有假面騎士造型的兒童面具，這讓他找回了曾經的自己，決定以現實中的假面騎士身份繼續行俠仗義。然而，東島丹三郎所處的世界是否如他所想象，修卡與怪人的存在又成為一大懸念。

漫畫中登場的人物各具特色。除了主人公東島丹三郎外，還有24歲的女教師岡田百合子，她是電波人塔克爾的狂熱粉絲，平日性格冷靜，但談到塔克爾便會熱血沸騰，經常穿自製的假面騎士服裝行動。27歲餐廳店長島村三葉原本夢想成為假面騎士V3，但因童年爭執而改為“騎士人”，與女高中生服務生由卡莉斯交往，而由卡莉斯實際是修卡女戰鬥員臥底。此外，還有島村家其他成員和多位喜愛假面騎士的角色，共同構成了漫畫中幽默與致敬元素兼具的世界。

《東島丹三郎想成為假面騎士》由日本漫畫家柴田峪申創作，自2018年6月起在《月刊HEROES》連載，2020年12月紙本雜誌停刊後，作品轉至網絡平台《コミプレ》繼續連載。截至2025年4月，已出版單行本16冊，漫畫話數達67話。作品以其幽默風格、對昭和假面騎士的致敬以及獨特的畫風吸引大量粉絲，雖然部分畫面偶爾帶有成人向元素，且打鬥張力略遜於同類作品，但其趣味性和懷舊感仍受到廣大騎士迷的喜愛。

“Tanzaburo Tojima Wants to Become Kamen Rider” is a youth manga that centers on a group of devoted fans of the Showa-era Kamen Rider series, blending humor, nostalgia, and tribute to the classic franchise. The story follows the protagonist, Tanzaburo Tojima, a man who grew up watching Kamen Rider and has long dreamed of becoming a real-life hero. His ultimate fantasy is to be chosen by the iconic villain Shocker and transformed into a true Kamen Rider.

From a young age, Tojima dedicated himself to physical training, determined to become worthy of being modified by Shocker. Even in middle school, he could easily overpower individuals larger than himself with a single punch. When faced with school bullying, he often refrained from fighting back, aware that retaliation would result in chaos. However, he knew such strength would be insufficient to confront enemies like Shocker or the monsters, so he continued rigorous training into his 40s. By then, he had developed the extraordinary ability to defeat adult brown bears in the mountains with his bare hands, illustrating both the comic exaggeration and dedication central to the story.

Despite his efforts, reality remained harsh. Tojima never actually encountered Shocker, and he lived alone. Fearing that his beloved collection of Kamen Rider memorabilia would be sold off cheaply after his death, he sold it preemptively, gradually confronting the fact that Kamen Rider was ultimately a fictional creation. However, a chance encounter reignited his passion: finding a child’s Kamen Rider mask at a night market reminded him of his former self and inspired him to continue acting as a hero in the real world. Yet the manga playfully blurs the line between fantasy and reality, leaving readers to wonder whether Shocker and the monsters truly exist in his world.

The manga features a colorful cast beyond Tojima himself. Yuriko Okada, a 24-year-old teacher and fan of Denpa Rider Tackler, is typically calm but becomes intensely passionate when discussing her favorite Rider, often donning a homemade Rider suit even in public. Mitsuba Shimamura, a 27-year-old restaurant manager, initially aspired to be Kamen Rider V3 but, after a childhood incident, instead becomes a “Knight Man” and is romantically involved with high school waitress Yukaris, who secretly serves as a Shocker female combatant. Other Shimamura family members and supporting characters populate the story, each contributing humor, action, and homage to the original Showa Riders.

Created by Japanese manga artist Shibata Yushin, the series began serialization in Monthly HEROES in June 2018. After the magazine ceased print publication in December 2020, the manga continued on the digital platform ComiPlex. As of April 2025, it has published 16 volumes with 67 chapters. The manga has garnered a devoted fanbase for its comedic storytelling, nostalgic references to Showa-era Kamen Riders, and unique artistic style. While some visuals occasionally include slightly adult-oriented content and the fight sequences are less intense than in comparable works, its charm, humor, and affectionate homage to the franchise have made it a favorite among Rider enthusiasts.