Roman Album Hyper Mook 6:
The Victory Legend
review by Darren Pierce, August 2001

In some way, all Takara toys are connected to each other, starting with G.I. Joe, Takara's first toy offering for boys in Japan. Explore the foundations of the infamous Victory Series with Roman Album Hyper Mook 6.

The story begins with Henshin Cyborg, Takara's first original science fiction toy line. The pages are packed with various Henshin Cyborg toys, accessories, and a gallery of "henshin sets" -- kits that allow your cyborg to mimic your favorite tokusatsu or anime characters -- from Kamen Rider to Ultraman to Mazinger Z.

The big cyborgs evolve into the Microman line, and we are treated to endless pages of toys from perhaps a more imaginative and less self-concious time. Beautiful full-color, full-page spreads of publicity stills and advertisements fill 80 pages of eye candy, with another 32 pages in black and white.

RAHM6 finally transitions to the Diaclone, MicroChange, and short-lived Timanic toy lines, but not as a point of focus. The Victory Project, after all, was a 3-pronged marketing combination of Microman, Henshin Cyborg, and Robotman, known in the US as Biotron.

The back of the book concentrates on interviews with key figures from Takara, Design Mate, and Russell, all collaborators on the Cyborg and Microman products. We end with a large section of ads, catalogs, and concept sketches, sure to cook your retinas.

Although marketed as an "encyclopedia", RAHM6 may disappoint if purchased as a toy reference. But if you're looking for a glossy photo-art dream book to grace the coffee table of your "hobby room", buy the book.