Super Festival 62 Glyos

At Super Festival 62, which took place on April 29, 2013, Fig-Lab sold a number of one-off custom mash-up Glyos figures from its booth. These were most likely mash-ups made from back stock (similar to the Crystal Marauders sold at 2010 Summer Patchi-Summit), and not special production or pre-production items.   That said, I can't figure out where the deep mauve head on the last Pheyden comes from.

[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.

[Glyos] Edgeliner Balena

[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Chaos Trooper (Again)

The unpainted beige vinyl version of the Chaos Trooper shown above was displayed at Superfestival 56 in April 2011 and sold via Shinto Gangu at the end of that month. Onell also received an allocation of the initial release Trooper, which they sold via their webstore at the end of May 2011.

By my count, this is the 16th release of the Chaos Trooper. Using a subtle grey vinyl base with embedded micro-glitter, this color scheme is evocative of classic sci-fi and aliens. Suprisingly, this release appears to have been painted entirely with wipe and wash techniques- no airbrush! The restrained black wash does wonders to bring out the hard technical lines of the body design. This Trooper was initially a micro release from Shinto Gangu (or RealxHeads) in June 2011, with a few brought to SDCC the following month. As always, these Chaos have been entered into the official rolls at the Mutant Chaos database: http://robotxmonster.blogspot.com/2009/10/realxhead-chaos-family.html

[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Chaos Trooper

Future mutants from another universe! Since the tear in the space-time fabric caused by Pheyden’s exploration into the Mutant Zone, Phase-powered Chaos hybrids have streamed into the Glyos universe and back into the Mutant Zone. Are these peaceful brothers of Mutant Chaos or are they evil hybrid clones? And more importantly, who is behind the Chaos invasion??? The second crossover figure collaboration between RealxHead and Onell Design recently marched into the Mutant Zone- the Chaos Trooper [カオストルーパー]! Originally conceived as a Glyos-scale toy with custom urethane accessories, the Chaos Trooper has come full circle to be realized as a full-size RxH vinyl figure.

As fans of both Glyos and RxH will vividly recall, the Chaos Trooper originated in Glyos Custom Corps. 3.0 which merged RxH’s Mutant Chaos with Glyos-scale bodies. New Glyos-compatible parts were sculpted with the assistance of Lamour Supreme and resulted in two primary build types: the Chaos Soldier and Chaos Trooper. The Trooper features both a Chaos head and swivel-jointed probe arm on a Glyos body; the Soldier utilizes only the head.

The full-size Chaos Trooper recently debuted at Superfestival 56 in April of this year (2011) as a limited sale of unpainted beige-flesh vinyl versions (although this version would also see a release through Onell’s webstore in May 2011). This is the second version of the figure released, and the first painted version. Although it has only been around for a little more than a month, there are now at least 14 officially released versions of this figure!

The proportions of full-size RxH bodies are a perfect fit for the up-sized Trooper. While the details of the original Glyos figure are recognizable, they are also streamlined, which reminds me of adaptations made in the animation model for older cartoons. This toy uses nearly 100% new parts, which is very surprising given the cost of developing new molds. I believe even the head is a slightly resculpt from the original Chaos Man. Chaos Trooper introduces so many possibilities with a new probe arm part and a nearly full set of Glyos-style armor- I can’t wait to see what those mad scientists at Onell Design and RxH come up with next! Check out other Chaos variations at the Robot Loves Monster! database: http://robotxmonster.blogspot.com/2009/10/realxhead-chaos-family.html

[Glyapaedia] Purple Space Rain

There is something endearing about the first few waves of Glyos figures. Nothing against the polished presentation and character-driven lineup of current releases, but the first few figures really convey the feeling of something cooked up by a couple of friends in an attic full of toys. I don't know if it's the shameless re-use of the Pheyden and Exellis molds in all varieties of homage colors (which would, ironically, become independently iconic in the Glyos community), or the variation in paint application between versions (it was not yet a settled fact that Pheyden has pupils and Exellis does not). Nebula Pheyden is one of these fellows from the formative days of Glyos. Still holding the distinction of being one of the few solid purple Glyos figures, what sets Nebula apart from his brethren is his 'reverse pupil.' He looks like he was ripped straight from an 80s-era Marvel newsprint comic where they didn't run the white ink for his eyes. Most of the early figures don't have much of a back story either- the idea was that we were supposed to come up with our own Glyos universe, if you will. Clever in theory, but Matt Doughty probably didn't appreciate the woeful lack of coherent imagination possessed by most toy collectors (self included). Fortunately, some folks don't need to have every aspect of canon spelled out for them in a Wikipedia page... Folks like John K., aka Doctor Kent, who runs his rather entertaining toy blog, Fans of Pheyden. Nebula now has an an unofficial background story as a scientist and inventor forever changed by absorbing of the cosmic energies of a nebula. I like it, and hey, my army of multi-colored Pheydens needs a scientist, so that works.

[Glyapaedia] A Classy Combination

In nearly every major science fiction toy line or property, white and black variations are a recurring theme. Stormtroopers and (now) Shadow Troopers (I guess Darth Vader was really the obvious choice there). Ultra Magnus and Nemesis Prime. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.

Glyos continued this proud tradition in the late spring of 2008 by releasing the duo of Eclipse Pheyden and Empire Exellis. Eclipse Pheyden was sold through the Onell webstore in a mini release in March 2008.[1] (This is technically a version 2 of Eclipse Pheyden, as a very limited number of version 1s were created from off-white Standard Exellis parts and hand-cast urethane heads.)[2] Empire Exellis was exclusive to New York Comic Con 2008 in April 2008, but a number were sold through the webstore as well.[3] Nerd fact: Eclipse and Empire are two of the only three production Glyos to exchange Pheyden and Exellis torsos (the third is Andromeda Pheyden). In their production configurations, Eclipse pulls off the swap a little better than does Empire. The slim white armor is very striking against the black head and extremities. Exellis' head has a unique appearance due to the prominent pupil on its eyes. Very few, if any other, Exellis versions have this added paint detail. Hyper Exellis may have this detail as well, but I'm not certain without checking. The detailing on Empire is pretty rough compared to current Glyos figures. Onell has certainly come a long way in terms of its production standards.

But ultimately, I think it was Onell's secret design to have the parts swapped between Eclipse and Empire: Those names make a LOT more sense when seen this way. Recombined Eclipse also became our first (unofficial) Classified Glyos figure (an official Classified Pheyden would have to wait until the Soul of the Traveler release in September 2010). Classified all-black figures are a neat 'gimmick' version that have made their way into the Glyos lineup. Nearly every major character has received the Classified treatment to-date.

Soul of the Traveler (SotT) introduced the first all-white counterpart to Classifieds- the Enforcer Sarvos. (I guess Empire Exellis kind of counts, but he had a lot of paint detailing.) Supposedly introduced in response to demand for DIY figures for customizers, Enforcer was also neatly shoehorned into the SotT story as one of the Glyaxian troops, along with Classified Pheyden and Sarvos (I was waiting for the MJ-style synchro dancing, which sadly never happened). My only complaint is that the new white PVC seems to pick up dirt and smudges much more easily than the old material (suppose that is the trade-off for parts that can be disassembled without breaking your hands). Onell recently also released an all-white Pheyden torso and head w/ Scar Pheyden head set to complement the Enforcer Sarvos. The classic colors of sci-fi live on in Glyos.

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[1] The Mystery Trio Arrives, Glyos Transmission Web Log, March 15, 2008, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2008/03/mystery-trio-arrives.html

[2] October Toys forum/ Onell Design / Glyos/ Metran Times, thread titled "What is Glyos? + Official Checklist and helpful links," (page 1, post 1, dated April 7, 2009, 5:08 a.m.), at http://www.octobertoys.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3118 (last visited November 6, 2010).

[3] New York Comic Con, Glyos Transmission Web Log, April 7, 2008, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-york-comic-con.html.

Saturday Night Updates

Since I am such a fun and swinging kind of guy, I did a major update to my Glyos Custom Corps. article last night and tonight. Saving a spot for FORCE DELPHI!

[Onell Design] Glyos Custom Corps.

Check it out!

[Glyapaedia] When Rigs Fly

I suppose it's not much of a surprise anymore, but the piece that I bought at Toxic Catalyst was none other than the "Old Rig" contributed by Onell Design.

Matt Doughty perhaps explains best just how special this item is in his post on the Onell blog. In action figure lingo, this is essentially a hardcopy prototype of the Rig. Hardcopies and mock-ups are some of the most coveted items for vintage toy collectors since they provide key insight into the development process and are very rarely seen in public circulation (more commonly, you will pre-production test shots). When sold, these items can go for hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on production differences and condition. Granted the Old Rig is a prototype from a relatively new toy line, but it was pretty awesome to be able to just throw down some cash/plastic and buy it. Not something you would expect to see at an art show.

I have to say that the temptation to play with this thing is incredible, and I must remind myself over and over that I need to be a little careful with it. The resin joints are silky smooth, which enhances the Rubik's-Cube-like nature of the toy. I am a little curious as to how the limbs and waist are jointed, since they could not use the vinyl plugs. Post and hole perhaps? At any rate, I am now very keen on getting my hands on the production Rig to do a comparison.

Up close, it is abundantly clear that this is an engineering model and not some shmancy art toy. Paint is rubbed off on the bottom of the feet, revealing whitish urethane beneath. I can even see bits of fuzz embedded in the paint (I have fuzz from Matt's house!!!). Paintbrush swipes are evident on the green eyes and details. All of this makes me extremely giddy.

To hold something that is the end result of untold hours of labor and artistic consideration is, to say the least, humbling. In the immortal words of Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar: We're not worthy, we're not worthy.

[Glyapaedia] Voss up?

In the Glyos universe, the Voss are an alien race that travel the cosmos in a living biovessel. Not to be confused with the tasty Earthen brand of bottled water. A Voss color scheme- clear aqua and colorless clear- was adapted for production Glyos figures. Exellis, officially sold in October 2008, was the only normal release to receive Voss coloration. Voss Exellis was previously sold at SDCC in July 2008, packed with one or more production level Sarvos, Scar Pheyden and/or Phanost heads in 'Voss' aqua PVC (clear red PVC heads were also available). The set I picked up happened to have both a Sarvos and Scar head in the bag!

Who are these mysterious Sincroids and Travelers and why do they resemble the alien Voss? Could they be clones created from imprints stored by the shapeshifting biovessels?

[Glyapaedia] Pheyden Standard Mk. I

Time to rewind. I don't think any overview of the Glyos universe could be complete without an understanding of its (arguably) central character. Pheyden, as recently disclosed by Matt Doughty in an interview, is a composite of his childhood creation and the "mechanical ghost" of a character created by his wife.[1] Over time, Pheyden has emerged as the hero character of the Glyos universe and toy line.

So who or what is Pheyden? Not much has been established in official canon with regard to the identities of characters. This is what is generally known: - Pheyden is capable of phasing through time (including, it appears, separate time streams) and the "Edge of Space." This has led to the interaction of alternate-universe versions of Pheyden (the blog says that he has "split" into many versions of himself, but I think this was probably worded as such to simplify the explanation, rather than imply that Pheyden is a multiversal singularity).[2] - There are Pheydens and there is the first Pheyden. The opening sequence of Glyaxia shows a Pheyden among the members of Glyaxia Command without any recognition that he is the Pheyden (although it is possible that this is simply one of many Pheydens from another time/universe). Numerous references are also made to the "first" or "original" Pheyden throughout the official materials.[3] Therefore, it can probably be assumed that the different toys of Pheyden are not all meant to represent different versions of a single character- although this could theoretically be the case. This also raises the question of whether Pheyden is a type of being or a proper name. Pheyden is commonly referred to as a "Traveler." His original toy box also designated him as a "Space Traveler." - Pheyden is tasked with "keeping infinity in order."[4] - Pheyden is roughly 6'6" to 7 feet in height (but can shift his size at will).[5] - Pheyden is probably mechanical. He is not a Sincroid (i.e., artificial being). - Several Glyos characters are, in reality, alternate or future versions of Pheyden. We have been told that the background on these characters is kept deliberately vague to facilitate our own creativity in playing with Glyos toys (much like Microman/Micronauts and Diaclone). However, there is an internal 'official' story that Matt has developed and leaks from time to time.

Pheyden Standard was first sold[6] at the San Diego Comic Convention in 2007, the original wave of Glyos toys. Subsequently, a Mark II and Mark III version of Pheyden Std. were released via the Onell webstore in October 2008 and August 2009, respectively.[7] Mark I differs markedly from later versions as it is made from a very hard PVC and nearly grey in color (see comparison photo with new Phase Arm pack). Mark II and Mark III can be differentiated by eye color[8] and possibly a slightly different material color. Select items from the first 2007 wave (including Mark I) were 'reissued' in December 2009 under the Founders banner. Technically, these were not reissues, but 'seconds' that were not deemed to be of saleable quality initially.[9]

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[1] Interview > Matt Doughty of Onell Design (Part I: Onell), Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation, June 17, 2010, at http://www.poeghostal.com/2010/06/interview-matt-doughty-of-onell-design-part-i-onell.html.

[2] Alternate Pheydens, Glyos Transmission Web Log, October 28, 2007, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2007/10/alternate-pheydens.html [hereinafter Pheyden I].

[3] See, e.g., Pheyden I; Phanost, Glyos Transmission Web Log, December 19, 2007, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2007/12/phanost.html.

[4] Pheyden I.

[5] October Toys forum/ Onell Design / Glyos/ Metran Times, thread titled "January '10 Custom Corp/March Glyos drop thread," (page 115, post 10, dated March 29, 2010, 10:55 p.m.), at http://www.octobertoys.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4733&start=1710 (last visited July 10, 2010).

[6] See SDCC Press, Glyos Transmission Web Log, August 7, 2007, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2007/08/comic-con-video.html.

[7] October Toys forum/ Onell Design / Glyos/ Metran Times, thread titled "What is Glyos? + Official Checklist and helpful links," (page 1, post 1, dated April 7, 2009, 4:08 a.m.) at http://www.octobertoys.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3118 (last visited July 10, 2010).

[8] October Toys forum/ Onell Design / Glyos/ Issaris Trading Post, thread titled "WTB Armodocs!!!," (page 1, post 12, dated June 20, 2010, 6:07 p.m.) at http://www.octobertoys.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5427 (last visited July 10, 2010).

[9] See Founding Figures and Glyoformations, Glyos Transmission Web Log, December 25, 2009, at http://onelldesign.blogspot.com/2009/12/founding-figures-and-glyoformations.html.

[Glyapaedia] Pulse Pheyden

Pulse Pheyden was released by Onell Design at the New York Comic Con in April 2008 (although sales were also conducted via Onell's website). This was a fairly early mini-wave of Glyos (its release was paired with the Empire Exellis). A 'reverse color' Redlaw Exellis would be sold in the following month. The Pulse/Redlaw colors were never ones that I had a particular interest in owning. They seemed rather saturated and gaudy in the official photos. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that the pink was of a much lighter tone than anticipated. To be honest, I fully intend to bash this into a custom- soon- but it is nice all on its own.

[Glyos] Phase Wars

Maybe it's the recent Iron Man movie, but I've been going pretty crazy with phase armor builds recently. I've tentatively christened this build the "Phase Crusher." Essentially, it is the 'what if' result when Phanost steals/copies a prototype Phase Armor Mk. II and bulks it up with additional weaponry. Of course, the increased weight of the armor necessitates additional boosters to help the user maneuver in combat. The clear orange bits are supposed to represent prototype/overheated booster units. (I cribbed the design of his jet pack from one that Matt posted on the Glyos blog. Shhhh.)

Rather fortuitously, the Phanost mini-wave came out at around the time that I was considering this build. Not only did it provide more 'Pheyden Blue' parts, but also the design for the modified Morphisar Cannon that comprises Phanost's right arm. In my mind, the story is that Phanost destroyed a Morphisar drone and incorporated its technology into the Phase Crusher. The light blue Callgrim pieces were unexpectedly quite useful in giving added bulk to Phanost's arm and leg joints.

This is not quite a finished product since the chest should actually be the same dark grey as the rest of the armor. I would then substitute the light blue Phanost head for contrast- and because the 'original' Phanost (and Scar Pheyden) are colored in this fashion. Let the Phase Wars begin!

[RealxHead / リアルヘッド] Collaborations

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