Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
Gamu reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Tetsujin 28 vs Black Ox (Time Slip Monokuro versions) Figure Ou magazine exclusive mail-order set. (Related: 1, 2.)
Nekonekokoara reviews the Bandai Motion Revive Series Kamen Rider 1 (The Next version), Deneb Imagin and Kamen Rider Kiva (Garulu Form) trading figures.
Ebi reviews the Takara Tomy Tomica Hero Rescue Force Rescue Gattai Series Rescue Riser and Rescue Shovel toys.
Acro_characin reviews the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Lancelot figure from the Code Geass series. (See also.)
Ka2-yuki reviews the Bandai HCM Pro Gouf Custom 1/200 scale figure from The 08th MS Team OVA. (See also.)
Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Max Factory Figma Saber (armoured version) figure from the Fate/stay night series. (See also.)
Hinatatiki reviews the Kaiyodo Fraulein Revoltech Amami Haruka (Snow Strawberry version) Friend Shop exclusive figure from The Idolmaster game. (See also.)
Syuuamamori reviews the Konami Busou Shinki Panzer Murmeltier and Firearms Zelnogrard figures. (See also.)
Hikari reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Eta Benetnasch Mime figure from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)
Syuuamamori reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Jun figure from the Doko Demo Issho game series. (See also.)
Hinatatiki reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Premium Series Voyager Class Ironhide figure.
Toybu reviews the NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michelangelo carded figure. (See also.)
Len reviews the CM’s Corporation Mecha Action Series Balking figure from the Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu series. (See also.)
Retro reviews
Shishioh reviews the Bandai Equip and Prop volume 1 Garo and Zaruba and volume 2 Rekka Ensou Garo and Madoubi sets from the Garo series.
Shishioh reviews the Bandai HCM Pro Jaburo Infiltration set from the Mobile Suit Gundam series.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Collector’s Edition Clampdown e-Hobby exclusive figure.
Hima-toy reviews the Volks Super Robot Wars Original Generation Full Action Figure Series Sladegelmir Dengeki Hobby Magazine exclusive figure. (Related.)
Acro_characin reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Bear Geki and Hydra Ichi figures from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Bandai Machine Robo Revenge of Chronos MR-26 Sanitation Robo figure.
Don’t make him angry
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Chris Gin.
Toy links
The Gallery of Monster Toys.
“The toys in this gallery are not, for the most part, ‘slick’ or ‘hyper-detailed.’ They are humble and imperfect. They depict flawed, tortured creatures. These toys capture a time when horror was fun.”
Dark Knight.
Batman gets medieval thanks to customtoyz.
A powerful drink.
Another amusing Star Wars photocomic by Niktom.
Bionicle Rider.
Neat Lego MOCs. (See also.)
Black Hole Exhibition.
(Part 2.) Kaz’s report on the 12-inch custom figure exhibition is in Japanese but you can enjoy the photos.
Toyhaven.
“That’s no house, it’s a toy museum”
Showdown of the movie toys.
“More than 2,000 toys … are flooding stores to coincide with summer’s biggest movies … Toymakers are now being invited to movie sets so they can replicate props and costumes exactly.” (Related.)
Medieval play.
“Made mainly from pewter (a tin-lead alloy), these medieval toys are exceptionally rare and have helped transform perceptions of childhood during the Middle Ages.”
ToyVoyagers.
“ToyVoyagers are toys travelling around the globe using people to help them on their journey.”
Best and worst toy tie-in comics.
Mmm
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by OctopusHat.
Toy review roundup
Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Indiana Jones Indiana Jones with Ark, Marion Ravenwood and Cairo Henchman, and German Soldiers two-packs from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Indiana Jones (Whip Cracking Action and Real Movie Dialogue versions) 1/6 scale figures from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Sanjeev reviews the Yamato GN-U Hagane Chogokin Groizer-X figure. (See also: 1, 2, 3.)
yo go re reviews the DC Direct Justice League of America Dr. Impossible figure.
Artemis reviews the DC Direct Justice League of America Hawkgirl figure.
Michael Crawford reviews the DC Direct Deluxe Collector Figure Green Arrow 13-inch figure.
Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro The Incredible Hulk Hulk and Abomination movie figures.
Jeff Parker reviews the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest Cannibal King Jack Sparrow and At World’s End Will Turner 1/6 scale figures.
Michael Crawford reviews the NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael box set. (See also.)
yo go re reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Attack on Cobra Island Cobra H.I.S.S Target exclusive set. (See also.)
Dan Clark reviews the Diamond Select Toys Stargate SG-1 Desert Combat Samantha Carter, Desert Combat Daniel Jackson, Desert Combat Jack O’Neill, Desert Combat Teal’C and Jonas Quinn figures.
Josh Bernard reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Jun and Suzuki figures from the Doko Demo Issho game series. (See also.)
Mark Meyer reviews the International Playthings Mighty World Jonesie the Mounted Guide and Search for the Lost Mummy sets.
Retro reviews
WIKD reviews the Tomy Zoids Deadborder (1988, 1998 pre-release campaign and 2005 Toy’s Dream Project versions) kits. (See also.)
Mike reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Dusty and Sandstorm figures. (See also.)
Vroom vroom
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by arquera.
Toy links
Lego Voltron.
Another impressive MOC by Johnny Tang.
Shuma-Gorath custom.
The tentacles are bendy and the eye lights up.
Beastbox.
Inspired by the Decepticon cassette, Chris Morada used a High Score 100 figure for this custom.
Spawn the Bloodaxe and Thunderhoof.
Thunderhoof: the early years.
“I Herd U Liek Kewt Ponies”
“If you aren’t mildly disturbed by this and think it’s adorable at the same time, there’s something wrong with you.”
The 10 coolest toys.
As determined by that renowned arbiter of cool, The Times’ Business section.
Roger Sweet interviewed.
“I’ve always been slender. And when I saw or got into tough situations happening, there were many times I wished I was a He-Man. That had a very strong bearing on my originating this concept.” A 2005 interview.
Those valuable throw-aways.
“… a rare prototype of an action figure for the ‘Star Wars’ character Boba Fett sold for $10,000 on eBay. The toy had been sitting in a Kenner Products employee’s Cincinnati home for years before the sale.” A 2004 article.
The fittest will survive.
“The planets are aligning to create a disaster scenario for the toy industry with rising costs, currency fluctuations and other factors piling on the pressure.”
Toy markets in the world.
(PDF file, 453KB.) The worldwide toy market was estimated to be USD67 billion in 2006.
Sometimes sheep happens
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Leonid Mamchenkov.
Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
Hirohiro reviews the Kaiyodo Fraulein Revoltech Amami Haruka (Snow Strawberry version) Friend Shop exclusive figure from The Idolmaster game.
Syuuamamori reviews the Volks Super Robot Wars Original Generation Full Action Figure Series Dygenguar Dengeki Hobby Magazine exclusive figure. (See also.)
Len and Machu review the Max Factory Figma Saber (armoured version) figure from the Fate/stay night series. (See also.)
The G and Shishioh review the Max Factory Figma Suzumiya Haruhi (uniform version) figure from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. (See also.)
Satocchi (part 2, part 3) and Mojya review the Bandai Soul of Chogokin Spec XS-07 Black Sarena set from the Martian Successor Nadesico: The Motion Picture – Prince of Darkness movie. (See also.)
Gamu reviews the Bandai Soul of Chogokin GX-41S Raideen DX Fade In (part 2) set. (See also.)
Ken Murasame, Goe, Toybu and Mondo review the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Lancelot figure from the Code Geass series. (See also.)
K2O reviews the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Sutherland (Purist version) from the Code Geass series. (See also.)
Toybu reviews the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Sutherland (Normal version) from the Code Geass series. (See also.)
Kaz reviews the Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider The Next Kamen Rider 2 figure. (See also.)
Kaz reviews the Bandai Movie Realization Kamen Rider 1 vs. Kamen Rider 2 set from the Kamen Rider The Next movie. (See also.)
Ebi reviews the Bandai Go-Onger Engine Combination Series Engine Carrigator (part 2, part 3) toy. (See also.)
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Hasbro Transformers Allspark Battles Legends Class Cliffjumper versus Recon Barricade two-pack.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers MD-20 Recon Barricade figure.
Syuuamamori reviews the Konami Busou Shinki Fighter Asuka figure. (See also.)
Len reviews the CM’s Corporation Mecha Action Series Raiking figure from the Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu series. (See also.)
Ledmb4da reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Hot Rodimus figure from the Transformers series. (See also.)
SR../Blood Zwei reviews the Bandai Kamen Rider Kiva FA (Fighting Action) Kamen Rider IXA candy toy. (See also.)
Ebi reviews the Subarudo Tomica Hero Rescue Force Vehicle Rescue Striker, Rescue Riser and Rescue Shovel candy toys.
Retro reviews
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Gattai-Oh Police Driller toy.
Plarail
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Plus-Tech-Railways.