[Alen Yen's ToyboxDX]


    6.4.01-- 7.2.01
RUMBLE INDEX

7.2.01: NO TOY FOR YOU!

News bits from everyone's favorite little company that could:

Late December will see the release of Real Action Heroes Kamen Rider Black and Shadowmoon. Perhaps the most impressive toys to come out of the Medicom-Time House factory in a long while, these ¥12000 beauties obsessively recreate the padded details of Ishinomori's late 80's pleather-men. One BIG caveat: they're exclusives. Surprise! Medicom's offering order forms during the Wonderfest on August 5th and taking orders only until September 30th. Expect serious mark-ups, Combat-Joe-fans.

Another damn exclusive is the Rider Chips Kubrick set-- the toyetification of a band apparently composed of Kamen Rider fans. The ¥2980 set will only be available through a mail-in form included with the band's Deep Breath CD release (due 8/18 through Japan Columbia).

The Medicom Collector's Club exclusive (sigh...) Jin-Roh/Panzer Cop Kubrick is due December. Orders will only be taken by fax or online until September 30th... that's if you've got a Japanese mailing address, of course...
-- Yappy

Update 7.5.01 - Stuart Johnson writes in with a critique of Rider Chips:

"Last year Rider Chips played a life concert called 'Kamen Rider Live 2000' which featured Mizuki Ichiro (recorded many Japanese tv themes including Kamen Rider themes) Horie Mitsuko (recorded Kamen Rider themes, mostly Stronger), Fujioka Hiroshi (Hongo Takeshi/Kamen Rider 1) and Miyauchi Hiroshi (Kazami Shiro/Kamen Rider V3). Following the concert Kamen Riders 1, V3 and Kuuga battled Shocker monsters."

"I've heard one song from the concert, the Kamen Rider V3 theme. Starts with Mizuki Ichiro solo with single guitar (best part) then Miyauchi Hiroshi backed by Rider Chips join then Horie Mitsuko and Mizuki Ichiro join in. I could have done without Rider Chips. 'Fight Kamen Rider V3' is not a rock tune. I can't imagine why anybody would want toys based on Rider Chips."
7.2.01: I'm the Shogun of Harlem! Sho'no!

For those of you dying to bid on all those juicy Yahoo Japan auctions, Masato Shono has kicked off a new service to help wayward gaijin get their toy-fixes. Check out the details here.
-- Matt
7.1.01: Gunbo Machinders?

Not quite, but Bandai's upcoming 1:35 scale Jumbo Grade Gundam and Char's Zaku are descendents of the near-forgotten 1:60 scale "BIG" Gundam Mk II vinyl toy of yesteryear. Pre-painted and pre-built, the soft vinyl Jumbo Grades dwarf the puny 1:144 HGUC Gundam kit seen in the pictures. Their release is tentatively set for this fall. Price TBD.
-- Yappy & Matt
7.1.01: Majin Go!

Breaking a bit of protocol here, since this nugget of news isn't purely toy related... but you don't need a Magic 8-ball to tell you that a whole gaggle of new Mazinkaiser toys are on the horizon. Here are the designs for Mazinkaiser and Mazinger Z from Bandai Visual's Mazinkaiser OAV due September 25th. Note that Z's design is a throwback to the original manga version, down to the squared-off breastplate, the red eye-liner, et al.
-- Yappy
7.1.01: Monkey Socks Ignatz Aqueduct

A few quick Bandai product shots of upcoming MSiAs:
-- Yappy & Matt
6.30.01: Bulldai? Banmark?

In a bold move destined to shake the worlds of PVC and vinyl to their respective cores, Bandai announces a new HG Gashapon line of Bullmark Ultra Q kaiju. Scaled down from their original molds, Namegon, Garamon, Pegira, Kanegon and Gomess will retail for a measly ¥200 apop. Expect them in late August.
-- Yappy
6.30.01: Mo' Getta Blues

Romando's got a vinyl action figure... Miracle House's working on a Shin Seiki Gokin diecast... Now Yujin throws their hat into the Neo Getta ring. The big blue 'bot seems destined to become as cross-licensed as its older brother. Following the precendent set by their upcoming budget-priced GaoGaiGar figure (see the 5.09.01 rumble) Yujin's "Master Action" Neo Getta-One will be fully poseable. For the ¥4800 price tag, you'll also get a Neo Getta with the most dynamic, anime-correct proportions. And dig that funky Plasma Thunder accessory.

And that aforementioned GGG action figure? Here's a shot of the final color piece with its full payload of accessories. Free Zondar Core with every purchase. ¥2500.

Both figures are due in August.
-- Yappy
6.30.01: If Kubrick + Spielberg wasn't weird enough...

Remember the Ultramen Tinibiz? Those recently released Kubrick clones from upstart Run'A? Well, prepare to enter the realm of the weird and the slightly unsettling. Behold two great tastes that never belonged together-- the mindboggling Tinibiz Gokins. Twice the size of the original Tinibizes, diecast-bodied Ultraseven and King Joe will invade in July as a two-pack priced at ¥4800.

And speaking of things pseudo-Kubrick, Banpresto will also release a set of distinctly Lego-esque Ultraman dioramas in July. Six Ultra Kingdom Playsets combine into a giant Ultra-love-in. Set A includes Ultrafather, Set B includes Ultramom and Baby Taro, Set C includes Zoffy, Set D has good ol' plain-jane Ultraman, E has Ultraseven, and F has Taro.
-- Yappy
6.29.01: Poem Bad!

Poem Datafile go live! Boo! No go there! Stop! Govarian am Go Nagai's bestest robot ever! Robocchi am sexiest robot! Sexier than Cutey Honey!
-- Bizzaro TBDX Rumble Crew
6.29.01: DevilMicroMan!

Here's a culture collision for you: a Microman version of Go Nagai's classic creation Devilman. Takara plans to sell a set of four color variations (of two slightly different manga and tv versions) via their (Japan-only) e-hobby site for 6,000 yen. Taking a page from their Micro-brethren, the Devilmen will be individually named: MD601 Dagon, MD602 Dantarian, MD603 Diaboros, and MD604 Dekarabia. Delivery is slated for October of this year. Meanwhile, expect an editorial response from Acro-Satan...
-- Japester & Matt
6.29.01: AFFE Artifacts

In case you missed it, here's a picture of the AFFE Exclusive Bandai Gomess and Ultraman 2-pack, courtesy of Club Tokyo.
-- Roger
6.21.01: Marusan Manuscript

An incredible book has just hit the shelves in Japan: My Work At Marusan and Bullmark : The Toy Life of Ishizuki Saburo. A biography of one of the founders of the famed toy-companies, the impressive tome was penned by Takashi Kuraji (described on the jacket flap as "the foremost scholar of character toys, and Japan's top soft vinyl kaiju collector.")

At over three hundred pages of solid text with only a few pictures, the book paints an incredibly detailed picture of the roller-coaster ride that was the Japanese toy industry of the 1970s. From the founding and bankruptcy of Marusan, to exploits of hunting down bootleg toy-makers in the wilds of suburban Japan, to the eventual crash-and-burn of Bullmark itself, My Work has it all. And if that wasn't enough, the boook also contains obsessively complete lists of EVERY EVERY PRODUCT EVER PRODUCED BY MARUSAN AND BULLMARK. And I mean EVERY product. From tin to plastic to vinyl to diecast, it's all in there.

Juicy tidbits for die-hard toy freaks abound. The book finally clears up the mystery as to where the heck Ark came from (Saburo founded it in 1978 after Bullmark went under.) The lists in the back confirm that Bullmark never made a Junior-sized diecast Sandaio or Bull Ceasar for their Machine Blaster series -- but also reveal the tantalizing bit of info that they DID produce a deluxe-sized Boss Palder diecast, an apparent counterpart to their highly sought-after Robo Kress.
-- Matt
6.18.01: 100% Pure Henkei

Yujin, once known solely as makers of gashapon, has unveiled blueprints of something that will surely put the company among the ranks of the big toy factories: a fully transforming/combining Gaofaigar. Gasp! Finally!

Standing an impressive 30cm tall, this Gaofaigar will separate into the core robot, Mechanoid Gaifar, and the component vehicles Liner Gao II, Drill Gao II, and Stealth Gao II. Furthermore, Gaifar will also transform into the Srungle-esque Phantom Gao plane. No information yet on materials, price, or release date, but stay tuned to the same GGG-channel...
-- Yappy & Matt
6.15.01: Chokinzoku? Gezhundheit!

"Soul of Chokinzoku." Just let the words roll of your tongue, slowly, savoring every syllable.

The late, lamented Chokinzoku series of diecast toys was a powered-up evolution of Popy's Chogokin line, destined to feature everyone's robot favorites in a huge, gimmick-packed scale. Unfortunately for toy-geeks everywhere, it petered out after a single release. And what a release it was: the SG-01 "Godaikin" Tetsujin 28.

Flash forward to the present day, some twenty years after the fact. An enterprising Japanese toy-fan with access to computer graphics software and way, way too much time on his hands created his impression of what a modern, Mazinger-based Chokinzoku might look like. He submitted the results of his labor to Dengeki Hobby magazine, who passed them along to mother-company Bandai. And Bandai, the article says, was mighty impressed.

Will this enterprising (if obsessed) fan's ideas and features make it into Bandai's upcoming Big Scale Soul of Chogokin Mazinger? Is this a premonition of gimmicks to come? Will legions of desperate collectors get their chance to own a new Soul of Chokinzoku? Once can only hope. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.
-- Matt
6.14.01: Become the most Poplar kid in school!

Thanks to Mssrs. Alt & Duban, you can wow your casual acquaintances with your newfound knowledge of Poplar, certainly one of the obscurest and defunctest of obscure, defunct Japanese toy companies. Make new friends! Crush your enemies! Charm the opposite sex with your mastery of the word, "Acrobunch!" What are you waiting for?! Check out the brand spanking nuevo Poplar Datafile now! Includes a money back guarantee!
-- TBDX Rumble Crew
6.13.01: They're, uh...gr-r-r-reat.

I really, really didn't want to post this, but Yappy made me. No, your eyes aren't mistaken: these are Kubricks of Kellogg's cereal characters. Can you dig'um? HA....ha. Sigh.
-- Matt
6.13.01: Gotcha, man!

Hey, take a look at this: Uni-Five's blueprints for the accessories that'll come packaged with their upcoming GodPhoenix diecast. That "burning phoenix" shell will be molded out of translucent vinyl and be large enough to encapsulate the GodPhoenix. Due out in July at the low, low price of 8,800 yen ($80), this sleek l'il thang is looking better and better by the minute.
-- Yappy
6.12.01: Shine On You Crazy Rat Bat Spider

Here it is, the glowing Rat-Bat-Spider vinyl from M-1 that will be sold at AFFE this weekend. Check out some more shots of the Rat-Bat-Spider, along with some of New Jersey's other resident monsters, here.
-- Roger
6.05.01: AKIRA: That's all, Volks!

Bad news! Japanese toy and model makers Volks unvelied a series of 1/6 scale (12") figures and accessories from the Akira comic and film in the last issue of Hobby Japan. Fans drooled over the pics of the prototypes, which even included an in-scale version of Kaneda's custom motorcycle.

Don't expect to see them anytime soon, though. According to Volks, their license was pulled "suddenly [and] without any reason." Politics behind the scenes? A fight between license-or and license-ee? Only time will tell, but the project has been effectively shelved for the forseeable future.
-- Matt
6.04.01: Easy there, Big Fella!!

For those of you following the saga of Bandai's ridiculously, deliciously large 1:12 scale Zaku model, the June issue of Dengeki Hobby featured a boatload of specifics on the big guy.

First off, it seems that Bandai has decided to go with a bit sturdier of a material than styrofoam, as previously reported. The bulk of the design will be formed from blow-molded ABS plastic in a process similar to that used for Jumbo Machinders (although the base material, ABS, is much easier to work with than the virtually un-finishable polyethyelene used for Jumbos.)

Retail sales will be kicked off at the upcoming "C3PRE" hobby show on August 26, 2001, in Tokyo. Bandai plans to sell the 4.8 foot plastic monster in both kit form and as a built-up finished display. The inital price was listed at 200,000 yen ($1700), but that may (and hopefully will) change before the final release date.
--Matt
6.04.01: VF-11 101

For those having problems with their Yamato VF-11 toys, www.macrossworld.com has posted a handy illustrated guide to troubleshooting the transformation process.
--Matt



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