rmored Trooper Votoms was my first love, my re-introduction to the Japanese toys I had loved as a child. In my younger years, like many, my toys consisted of everything from Takatoku Valkyries to Shogun Warriors, Transformers, Dougram toys and GI Joes. In my teenage years I abandoned all the wonderful toys and stories of my youth for, well, some of the softer things in life.

As an adult, I started picking up model building, and what better subject matter to turn to than the Gundam and Votoms models I had loved as a child. I searched high and low, and while I could find Gundam-a-plenty, I could find very little in the way of Votoms merchandise. It wasn't until I took a trip out to San Fransisco and wandered into a little shop, Kimono My House, that I reaquainted with Armored Trooper Votoms, manifested in the form of sweet plastic and diecast ala Takara.

Since then, I have met Roger Harkavy and have aquired a meager understanding of everything Votoms. I have at one point or another, owned many of the toys from the various toymakers and built various and sundry, ultra-expensive garage kits of the mecha in the show, but it wasn't until recent years that Votoms mechandise really became readily available. Sure, you could always drop some change on the vintage Takara toys, and some of the second rate stuff from Clover/Poem, but it wasn't until Takara started to re-release everything that it still had molds for that the Votoms merchandising mahem truly began.

Takara rereleased not only the 1/24 scale ATs; the Scopedog, Brutishdog, and Scopedog Red Shoulder Custom, they also released the 1/35 Snapping Turtle and the 1/35 Scopedog Red Shoulder Custom. Since then, they have also re-tooled the standard 1/24 Scopedog into a meanacing 'SlashDog' to be included with a Japanese Playstation game. Somehow in the melee of Votoms mania the cute little 1/60 AT Votoms line was passed over for re-release. Takara also went on to produce Chirico Cuvie and Fyana dolls, both in 1/6 scale. Two other versions of our venerable hero Chirico exist as well, a 1/10 Scale figure from Ohtsuka Kikaku (a Medicom rival) and a cheapie from Yutaka based on the famed 'Spiral Zone' body.

Next, Kaiyodo threw their hat into the ring with some 1/35 scale action figures. Varying in poseability and quality, this line consists of mediocre action figures at best. Frought with poor quality and PVC that suffers the dreaded 'Gashapon Disease' the early figures could harly stand, and while they are decent display pieces, toys they are not. There is good news, however. Each figure that is released in the line has drastic improvements in quality, articulation, painting and sculpting. Maybe someday it will be worth picking up one for $30. In the meantime, if you are a die-hard Votoms enthusiast, you NEED to buy these, because they are Votoms. Otherwise, pick one that catches your eye, and wait for Diamond Comics to offer it.

I am apprehensively awaiting the 1/35 Kaiyodo Scopedog Battle Action figure. Said to have diecast joints and springs, it boasts to be the best Scopedog action figure to date. But alas, it will still be an action figure. What the world needs is a high end Scopedog chogokin, in the spirit of the Kadou Senshi line.