Alen Yen's ToyboxDX

	10.25.01-- 11.15.01


RUMBLE INDEX

11.15.01: Macross Masterpieces?

Robotech.com, purveyor of all things Toynami, has announced the latest details about their upcoming Masterpiece Edition Valkyrie toys. A whole slew o' improvements have been added to the previous prototype: improved proportions, a bigger scale (1:55!), and the welcome announcment that they won't be 'net-only' exclusives. "Rick Hunter's" (gag me) VF-1J is due to hit "select anime and toy retailers" in March at an as-yet undisclosed retail price.

--'Macross' Matt

11.15.01: At least it ain't Gundam

For anyone out there that hasn't gotten a few of the 99/2000 line of Microman toys from Takara, here are some images to get you more aquatinted with these wonderful toys. Their detail and sheer "playability" still makes me smile. And for any American kid that had Micronauts as a child, they have the ability to make you feel 6 years old again, and that's worth a pretty penny to me. In fact, they are the only toys I've bought in my adult life that actually had me PLAYING with them... playing as in getting down on the floor and imagining all sorts of adventures. Even my favorite S.O.C. has only spurred me to merely "whooshing" it around from time to time.

When I bought them last year they were going for under $10 a piece, not sure where they reside now on the moolah-scale . These are just the basics of the line, the larger Magnemo Robotmen are amazingly cool (the new Baron that could smack your vintage Baron Karza around with ease), and the giant Microman Dean and Endeavor "Gattai" robots are similarly fab.

A great bit of advice. Keep a basic Microman in your jacket pocket wherever you go. It makes the day better... Get them while you still can.

--Keith

11.14.01: Eat Me

Uncle. I'm putting the blame on H-man's mad arm-twisting skills. But here I am, wrenched from the comforts of cushy retirement-- from the afternoon croquet games and the finger sandwich luncheons. Just to bring you another dose of quickly glossed-over and forgotten ranting...MORE!

--Yappy

11.14.01: Gundam I Am

The original Mobile Suit Gundam has always been a robot with an identity crisis. Is it the last of the heroic combining robots, or the Godfather to the real robot throne? Is it best rendered as a super-detailed styrene kits, or as a chromed-out Clover toy? The debate continues to rage. How fitting, then, that Bandai's new Jumbo Grade Gundam is an item with a bit of an identity crisis itself...MORE!

--Matt

11.13.01:CAM on, baby!

Check it out! This baby slipped under the robo-radar: the boxy yet foxy "communication robot" CAM-08! An "analog robot with a bit of human touch," as the ads say, a r/c robo with a gait designed to mimic a human's as much as possible. The little (well, 8-inch) guy comes semi-assembled; you've got to put in some elbow grease yourself. I know, it ain't an anime robo, but hey -- every budding giant-robot builder's got to start somewhere. And c'mon, he's CUTE! (And expensive: 15,000 yen. Made by the Cube Corporation.)

--Matt

11.12.01:Bandai is on the fast track!

Can you believe it!? Whether or not you are a Mazinger fan, you gotta love the new production schedule at Bandai. Hot on the heels of the new Mazinger incarnation, we will see GX-08, Aphrodite A. She is due to debut at the end of January for mere pocket change - ¥3500.

--Rumble Crew

11.12.01:Word has it on the street...

More juicy tidbits direct from the clever and crafty Mr. Facets! Some hot new imports will be hitting the streets Wednesday of this week starting with those Getter Robo Choro Q we warned you about.

Also, be sure to check out the Kaiyodo line of Daimajin action figures:

--Tim

11.12.01:More Sorry SOBs

Advance word from Japan tells us that the Soul of Bullmark series 3 will include Ultraman, Jamila, Kemler, Eleking, Kanegon (Hawaii color version) and (YAY!) Mikuras! Remember where you heard it first...

And now, for your enjoyment, is a new color photo of Soul of Bullmark series 2. Enjoy!

--Roger

11.11.01: If the 'Boot' fits...

There comes a point in every collector's life where things get out of hand. In your quest to complete a character or series, you eventually reach the end of the line. You come across one piece that defies description that spits in the face of all you hold dear.

This is that toy....MORE!

--JoshB

11.07.01: Link-o-rama!

Blood....lots of blood. Sweat. Tears too. But for you, we did it. We FINALLY updated the Link-o-rama. Out with the old, in with the new. Check it out HERE!

--Rumble Crew

11.02.01: Kaiju Kontentment

In the age of highly machined molds, totally refined forms and ultra-detailed toy characters, I still find myself wanting. There is a quality of charm and playfulness that seems to escape even the most talented modern toy designers Japan has to offer....MORE!

--Tim

11.02.01: Further Arkestrations...

"Ark!" this hairy angel sings,

"Check these funky diecast things!"

....MORE!

--Corey

11.01.01: Optimal Gashapon

This one is for all you Transformer fanatics out there. Takara has plans to release a "Jumbo" PVC Optimus Prime around the March 2002 timeframe.

This five inches of power packin' gashapon fury appears to sport shoulder and elbow articulation and comes toting his own personal arsenal . Apparently he will be sold in a packaged set with a metallic color version .

Big props go out to Chris, the Darkest of the dark toy lords for sending this in.

--Tim

11.01.01: Scopedog Teaser

Recently, an industry insider who shall remain unnamed approached me with samples of Kaiyodo's new Battle Action Scopedog figure, both regular and battle damaged variants. Needless to say, I descended upon them like a German Shepherd on a can of Alpo. Here's the rundown:

Construction: Most of the figure is made up of the same hard vinyl as previous releases, but it feels like the parts are cast solid, as opposed to the hollow body segments of previous releases. The joints and the skirts are metal (verified via the "cheek test"), as well as the antenna. The knee joint armor plates on the back of the legs are spring-loaded, so they maintain the correct position while posing. The main scope has a flat clear disc inserted in it to make it look like a real lens.

Poseability: The legs and arms are configured for action poses, so it's not made to return to an "attention" stance. The poses it can get into are right out of the anime. I can't think of any VOTOMS Scopedog toy or model that has the look that this one does.

Detail: Surface detail is good and the paint job is nice and even. I didn't see any gaps in it as I have with Kaiyodo's previous figures. It's done up like a Red Shoulder (correctly, with the right shoulder painted in red). And no panel lines! The battle damaged version has machine-gun fire stitched across the skirt armor and the chest. Accessories: The Scopedog comes with the standard rifle and a big bazooka, as well as two mortar packs that mount on the shoulders. It also comes with a solid base that you can mount it on for those one-legged "skating toward the enemy" poses.

Packaging: I really liked this. The package is roughly 6" by 6" by 4" deep, and reusable, as opposed to the old blister cards. The toy rests inside a plastic clamshell that can be removed from the box and set back in there for storage.

After my "quality time" with the toys was up, the unnamed industry insider wrested them from my grip. My opinions...

Is it a replacement for the Takara VOTOMS toys? No. This is not done in the style of a classic mecha toy, it is an action figure.

Is it a good action figure? Yes, it is a very good action figure. Is it a replacement for all of those cool resin/vinyl kits we can't buy/build/paint/afford? Yes. After all, we can't ALL be Tim Brisko...

Does it look cool? Yes.

Is it fun to play with? Yes.

Would I pay ¥3980 (Japanese retail) for it? Maybe.

Would I pay $18 (Diamond's price) for it? Definitely! Hell, I'm buying two!

The figure is currently being offered through the November issue of Diamond Comics' Previews Magazine. They currently have info page for the figure at their web site.

If you want to order the figure through your local comic store, try their Comic Shop Locator Service Otherwise, if you want to order it online, Westfield Comics is who I use. Just do a search on the word "Scopedog".

--Roger

Tim wants to know if Roger likes his Alpo with or without Vegemite.

10.31.01: Wayne HO!

Club Tokyo, that paradise of Godzilla toy info, has published a great interview with Wayne Ho, the sculptor of the recent Godzilla vinyls made by Toy Pirates. It's required reading for anyone interested in just how annoyingly difficult it is to legitimately license character likenesses for toys.

Check it out!

--Matt

10.30.01: Bandai Bonanza!

Check out the latest release dates from our friends at Bandai, this should wet yer whistles!

November Schedule:

GX-06 Getta Robo ¥14,800 11/23/01
Gundam Fix FAZZ #0005 ¥3,680 11/30/01
MSiA Gundam Ez-8 ¥1200 11/30/01
Immortal Baltan Seijin Set ¥2,980 11/29/01
ROAR! DX Gojira ¥10,000 12/1/01

December PARTIAL Schedule:

SOC Mazinga Z Original Edition Design ¥4,800 LATE DECEMBER
DX MSiA GP-01Fb ¥3,980 LATE DECEMBER
DX MSiA GP-02 ¥3,980 LATE DECEMBER

--Darren

10.30.01: Zak It To Me

Those sick of reading about Gundam should just go ahead and skip to the next news item (which is undoubtedly about Gundam, too, but hey -- such are the times we live in.)

But those desperate for more info on the drool-inducing, lust-promoting, big-ass remote controlled Zaku should look no further. Here's the latest scoop.

The toy, which is now officially dubbed the "RC Tech-Roid MS-06F Zaku II," is set to roll off the production line in February of 2002. The details haven't changed: it's still a "semi-completed kit" (you need a screwdriver, but no glue), it's still equipped with a CCD camera eye , it's still capable of firing BB pellets ,the R/C unit still contains a 2.2 inch color LCD display , and it's still a wallet-draining ¥ 98,000 ($825.)

Still can't get enough? Check out the quicktime movies of the sucker in action on Bandai's Gundam Perfect Web.

--Matt

10.30.01: UltraSevenEleven!

This isn't really news; it's more of a lament. You may or may not have been aware that the Seven-Eleven chain of convenience stores was acquired by a Japanese company several years ago. You may also be aware that Seven-Eleven stores in Japan have evolved beyond the Big Gulp swilling, Playboy-and-beef-jerky crowd that they serve here in the good ol' US of A.

What you probably weren't aware of is just HOW far they've evolved. In Japan, Seven-Eleven stores serve that etheral cross-over audience of Big Gulp swilling, Playboy-and-beef-jerky-loving TOY fans.

Observe: if you live in Japan, and should the desire strikes you, you can have the latest MSiA or FIX delivered right to your local 7-11 outlet for pick-up. Convenient! Hell, grab some T-P and a sixer of Kirin tall-boys while you're at it.

I tell ya, it's this kind of thing that makes me want to trade my spacious American digs for an overpriced, festering "capsule apartment" in a squalid section of Tokyo.

--Matt

10.30.01: Viva La Variety!

Great News! One for each room of the house! You know your wife won't let you get away with just having one!

Check out the new "Gotta have it" color variant of the humongous hybrid model Zaku.

The rumble crew was mildly surprised about this spate of Hybrid Model recolors. We'd assumed re-colors as a whole were generally aimed at the multiples-of-same-character collector crowd, but who the hell has the dough (or room, fer god's sakes!) for multiples of THIS?

Matt admits fleeting lust for the standard green colored one, but the divorce papers would be soon to follow after the acquisition for sure.....

--Rumble Crew

10.28.01: Tokyo Superfest 22

Michael Grifka and Robert Curlee sent in this incredible coverage of the Toyko Superfest 22, held October 7 at Tokyo Bigsite. I personally have always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Japan, and I would love to time it around a large toy show. Don't miss the wacky commentary and the dissertation on Robert's booty!....get the whole scoop HERE!

--Tim

10.27.01: Visions Of a PVC Danguard

Japanese toy companies have reissued and revisited a lot of vintage robot designs over the last few years. Most of us now have more Mazingers, Getters, Gaikings, Grendizers or Combattlers than we could ever eat. Still, one there is at least mecha that rarely seems to make it into the super robot line-ups. Those of us that were weaned on Force Five are still wondering where the heck good ole Dangard Ace is!.... MORE!

--Inwards

10.27.01: Delicate Flower

This is one of those things that I hate: No matter how many pictures you take, no matter how many angles you try, the images don't do your subject justice. MSiA Dendrobium is very, very cool, but I'm not sure the pixels reflect that.

Ultimately, it boils down to this: You either like Dendrobium, or you don't... MORE!

--Darren

10.27.01: Super Size It

If you wanted "confirmation", NOW you've got it. GaoGod will be out in general availability in mid-December for ¥7,000.

Here's another surprise: DX GaoLion -- yes, you read that right, a DX GaoLION -- will be out in early December for ¥4,000. Who needs a giant, 10 inch long GaoLion with firing missiles? You do, if you want to build GaoKintaurus, which combines DX GaoLion with your other GaoCritters.

I'm hoping GaoKintaurus is a winged, kitty centaur. We'll see.

--Darren

10.26.01: 19 1/2 Inches of Zaku Love

19.68 inches to be precise. The new 500mm Jumbo Grade Char's Zaku will be shipping New Years day, January 1, 2002 for 16,000 yen. This salmon cyclops will boast the same level of articulation and detail as Jumbo Grade Gundam. His accessories will include the ominous Zaku Machinegun and the Zaku mini-shield.

Darren and Tim will be waiting for the green mass production model. Pink mecha are for the weak....

--Darren & Tim

10.25.01:Full Metal Kubrick

Check it out! For those annoyed by the usual all-plastic construction of Medicom's Kubrick figures, be annoyed no more!

Medicom has partnered with the GSX Watch Company in Japan to produce a limited edition watch-and-figure set for the Japanese market, and the figure is solid electroplated brass! Must be heavy. Limited to 300 pieces, pre-orders for the $600 (!!) set will be taken until the end of December.

--Matt & Tim

10.25.01:The Empire's Left Fielder

If you're a 1/6 scale figure lover, or a consummate Star Wars fan, chances are you have seen the incredible 1/6 scale Star Wars figures from Marmit.

If you missed out on the first couple runs on the Stormtrooper, or you are insatiable completist, check out the new Left Handed Stormtrooper . Lefty will retail for 8800 yen and will be available 'soon' (anyone who follows Marmit release dates knows what I mean).

--Tim

10.25.01:Nomura no mo'!

Farewell, Yamato! Adios, Baldios! Bye-bye, Blue Noah!

Read all about it in Matt Alt and Robert "Robot" Duban's newest datafile: NOMURA DIECAST!

--Rumble Crew

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