[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Unsung Heroes (and Villains)

Most collectors probably consider 2006 to mark the end of ‘classic’ RealxHead releases. These three figures were released very early in 2007, and are typically lumped by collectors with the less sought-after ‘modern’ era RxH (2007-09). However, I posit that they are as deserving of adulation as any figure released prior thereto.

Mutant Head [ミュータントヘッド], catalogue number MH-20, was the first of the three to be released as a phone-order sale in January 2007. Because Mori did not use online sales (which he still does not), collectors actually had to call him on the phone to buy these figures. Super7 was able to purchase a small allotment of this MH for semi-public sale on their online forum.

[Transformers] White Bumblebee

Last weekend was the San Jose Super Toy Show, hosted by Time Tunnel Toys at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds. To me, the show is basically something to do on a Saturday morning. If the dealer isn’t flipping new Transformers or hauling thousands of dead stock Robocop figures, they usually know what they have and price it accordingly. In other words, don’t expect to find rocket-firing Boba Fetts at the bottom of a plastic tub of $2 toys. But every once in a while, you do find something genuinely cool.

Gee Eye Dee.

[Cronic / クロニック] Christmas 2008

As 2008 wound to a close, Cronic [クロニック] surprised fans with a lucky bag release at the winter Hobby Complex. I believe the deal was that for 10,000 yen, you would receive one fight-size figure (Zyuraiasu, Maverasu or Tripasu) and two small-size figures (Dorome, Dorogami, Ankoron or Nougaki). I’ve never seen one of these bags opened- and I wasn’t even really aware they were released- so I was both intrigued and confused when I saw a “Cronic Xmas Lucky Bag 2008” up for sale.

[Dream Rocket / ドリームロケット] Prototype Marnon

While it may not look like much, this unpainted grey Marnon [マーノン] is a pretty significant item for Dream Rocket [ドリームロケット] collectors. Although most may not know it as such, this is the first Marnon made available to the public. But wait, you might be saying, I remember the first Marnon and it was that pink one released in two paint variants and an unpainted version. WRONG. About a month before the first production release, in October 2007, Dream Rocket provided a handful (about 4-5) of test shots in unpainted grey vinyl to the organizers of Patchi-Summit for use as lottery prizes. Being that you had to be there in person, in the moist basement of a skanky Japanese bar, to win these, they're next to impossible to find after-the-fact. Only the really crazy people go to Patchi-Summit. Personal story- one of these actually did turn on an auction site after the aforementioned event. I half expected to walk away with it, given that Dream Rocket items rarely garner any significant competition on the aftermarket. To my unhappy surprise, I ended up in a bidding war with a major collector in Japan- by the time I gave in, the winning bid was at around $250. Boy am I glad I didn't win that one! There's a sentence I rarely use.

[Max Toy Co.] Halloween Alien Xam

This Alien Xam is one of thirteen one-off customs painted by Mark Nagata for a Halloween release through the Max Toy Club in 2007. Club members were offered the chance to buy one figure, which would be selected at random upon shipping.

[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Pheyaos Man (フェオスマン)

Released in December 2011, this Pheyaos Man [フェオスマン] features a head cast in red glitter vinyl with its face painted a steely metallic blue. It's a really cool effect that suggests a corona of energy surrounding the hero's head, as seen with many fiery superheroes. There were two additional eyes included with this figure (I suppose, in the event you want to swap them out)- one yellow-green cat eye and one standard red eye. A thoughtful addition that I'm sure many collectors will appreciate, but I think the standard yellow eye matches best. The wood-style business card has also been replaced with a white card, which I assume is a running change.

[Modern Toy / モダントーイ] Giant Gamera

Modern Toy [モダントーイ] is a soft vinyl toy producer whose lineup over the past decade can only be described as an eclectic grouping of licensed properties. Beyond the Giant Gamera toys pictured below, they have produced and sold several variations of Paira Seijin (from Warning from Space) and an unpainted grey Robot Hack (from Captain Ultra, which may have been sold assembled or assembled and painted or as an unassembled kit). Modern Toy also shared a booth with upstart toy company, iluilu, upon the latter's debut at Superfestival. Modern Toy's Giant Gamera was probably first produced in 1999, based on the imprint on its foot. Most sales seem to have occurred in the first half of the 2000s. Two versions cast in grass green and light blue vinyl, respectively, are the most commonly found and, I suspect, were sold through dealers or direct mail-order. There are a host of other versions, most of which turn up infrequently if at all: flesh vinyl w/ orange paint; flesh/pink vinyl w/ pink, red and blue paint (2 different versions); GID vinyl w/ blue paint; and orange vinyl w/ green paint. The majority of these were probably exclusive items from hobby shows, with the GID version distributed as a gift item.

This dark blue unpainted Giant Gamera bears a sticker on one foot reading "Sample T1" I don't believe there was a Giant Gamera produced in this color of vinyl, so it would probably be a production sample (i.e., a test shot). An unpainted red Tokyo Tower (otherwise identical to the painted version included with most production releases) was included when I purchased this figure- rather intriguing that they would bother to keep the accessory together with the main figure for a test shot.

I've come across MT's Giant Gamera in a pink and blue scheme a few times in the past. I thought the color combination was very eye-catching and unique for a Gamera toy; however, the very high prices always forestalled a purchase. Well this one came along at a reasonable price and I very quickly hopped on it. To my surprise when comparing it to older pictures, I realized that it featured a slightly different paint application than the past pink-and-blue versions (which only had blue paint on the rear 2/3 of the head and which may have used pink, rather than flesh vinyl). Accidentally, it appears, I bought a toy that I had never seen before. I can live with those kinds of accidents. This version includes a painted red Tokyo Tower accessory, which is not pictured here. As a note, the tower can be gripped in Gamera's hand. The stylized precision of this Giant Gamera seems to either draw people in or turn them off to the toy. You might say that it is the antithesis of the Bear Model school of sculpting. My only recommendation is that you find one and hold it in your hands before you say 'never'.

[Glyos] Mraedis

This Friday, Glyos collectors old and new will see the doors open to the Experimental Mechanics Division of the United Glyan Forces. A familiar Glyanaut takes center stage, along with a mysterious new Traveler... But the EMD wave will also excite many veteran collectors as it features the return of 'safety orange' Glyos parts. This shocking shade of orange was first seen back in May 2009 when Mraedis Buildman (seen above) and Spartek Buildman (lurking in the background) were released as Warp Zone items. I've recently reassembled this pair (they were sitting in the parts bin for quite some time) and have reached a new appreciation for the construction/tech feel of the orange. I think it looks smashing combined with the bright white pieces of these Buildmen- sadly, the upcoming wave does not appear to feature white parts, but I suspect enterprising collectors will be able to obtain them from past waves.

[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Gatchigon (ガチゴン)

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