All I know of Gamera is that MST3K episode.

Gamera is Really Neat, Gamera is Full of Meat, We All Love GAMERA!

You should checkout Cinemassacre. James (aka the AVGN) has been reviewing almost all of the Gamera films for Monster Madness.

I can't really argue iconic since such evidence is hard to collect and is usually anecdotal, but my hunch is that Kamen Rider is the most iconic in Japan. Worldwide, arguably Power Rangers is the most popular of the three, and that may contribute to seeing more Super Sentai merchandise outside Japan, but we're talking Japan.

One thing we can say with certainty, however, is that Kamen Rider is the most popular now in Japan. It's ratings have been consistently much higher than Super Sentai and this is also reflected in toy sales. Also, Kamen Rider usually gets collector-themed merchandise before Super Sentai does.

I do wonder though, considering how iconic Super Sentai is, why aren't there more toys in collector lines? For example, why is there only one Sentai bot in Soul of Chogokin, and a non-transforming one at that?

I think people are mistaking popularity with iconography.

I think Kamen Rider is more iconic because it is the embodiment of toku when people think of it originally. When you see parody toku heroes, you usually see a single, detailed individual before a team of coloured uniformed guys. (but you do see them) When someone thinks of a Japanese superhero, the aspects original to Kamen Rider are usually the first.

Also, Rider predates Sentai. Decade-long break or no break, that probably factors in a lot.

Also, this.

I'm not entirely sure.
I see so many parodies of the over the top team pose far more than Rider references. It may just be because I'm not watching the right shows, but when my friends throw a parody anime in my face, the Sentai shout outs seem to be far more prevalent.

I still want a Pokemon parody of Sentai like how Bisharp was for Rider. :lol

The thing with that is most of the old toku heroes have over the top pose downs. This is no indicator that Sentai is the target of said parody, Kyodain,Akumaizer,Inazuman,Kamen Rider and yes sentai all have those sorts of poses in their franchise history.
With this said those anime parodies you speak of could mean any of those well known shows except if there are mixed with something that clearly shows that it targets sentai for example if it is a group pose where each of the members wear a different coloured outfit.

From my own experiences in Japan I can tell you that Rider is more or less the more popular series right now in Japan. When you go into a toystore you get blasted by rider merchandise and far less sentai or even ultraman stuff. If we are speaking iconic even then I would say rider is alot more well known in japan than Sentai which doesnt mean sentai isnt a beloved show.
It´s like with Superman and Spider-Man in our part of the world. Most people associat the core Idea of the western superhero with a charackter like Superman even though Spider-Man is equally known just not iconic.

Going back to the rider cancellation you mentioned. This particular instance has nothing to do with iconography and or popularity. The thing is that Toei had three major toku shows in the 80s Sentai,Rider and Metal Heroes. The one thing Toei didnt have in those times is boatloads of money so they had to cancel one of these shows. Why did they chose rider when its so "iconic" you ask? The thing with rider opposed to Sentai and Metal Heroes is that it never was an annual franchise like the other two. Between Super-1 and Black was a break of six years (the ZX special does not count as a full series) so even though Black/Black RX had high ratings they chose to cancel it cause it was the one franchise people expected to take longer breaks between each series entry.

If you go by how toei markets the shows these days its safe to assume rider has a much much older fanbase. You have the Figuarts line going since 2007 and the Kamen Rider SIC brand even longer. Sentai only got its start with a collector oriented line of toys a few years back when they got the figuarts treatment.

Even in the Main Toylines you see how bandai incorporates the older Fanbase for Rider with the belt extensions and Wizard Ring extensions. Something you dont get to see in the Sentai line of toys.

Matrix just wants sentai to win at something.

Let's make a thread of which franchise has more colourful heroes.

Then sentai would stand a chance. :D

Kamen Rider aired before the 90's.

So it's fanbase is even older!

Doesn't change that there's an entire generation who didn't grow up with, thus having no nostalgia for, Kamen Rider.
And nostalgia has a large impact on the desire to watch a series.

I don't really care which "Wins." Hell, I've only ever managed to watch 4 Sentai from start to finish, and only even liked two of them. I just think that Sentai has the larger fanbase, is all.