The saga of Saint Seiya continues and Bandai has new Saint Cloth Myth to show for it. I take a look at the first release from Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas. It's Pegasus Tenma.

Review sample provided by HobbyLink Japan.

Saint Seiya has a long and rich history and the main story is still not finished. While fans wait, for the stories of Heaven and Chronos to be told a prologue story was created under the supervision of the original creator Masami Kurumada and written and illustrated by Shiori Teshirogi.

The Lost Canvas takes place 250 years before the original Saint Seiya saga and tells the story of three orphans that grew up as children only to assume their roles in this cosmic battle of good and evil. It touches upon plot points and themes from the original series while chronicling the previous Holy War between Athena and Hades.

First up in Bandai's line of Saint Cloth Mythology line for The Lost Canvas is Pegasus Tenma, the series's main character and this generations Pegasus Saint. With the series being written and illustrated by a different artist the anime adapts this new look and Bandai took and ran with it. Creating a striking new look for the Saint Cloth Mythology line.

The packaging continues the look of previous Saint Cloth Myth, a book style package that opens to reveal the figure and all the armor parts and pieces neatly arranged.

The Tenma figure features an all new body type and a new “style” to the look of the head sculpt. I love how it captures the look of the new series yet fits in with previous SCM releases.

The body features over 40 points of articulation as well as interchangeable faces (for different expressions) as well as 8 interchangeable hands.

Also included is the flower bracelet Sasha (Athena) made for Tenma, Alone and her as children to signify their bond as children.

Each warrior wears an armor in the series. Athena's warriors wear “clothes” and are all named and designed after constellations in the night sky. So when the Cloth is not being worn be our heroes they form a statue or “Object” to be more accurate. Tenma's armor being the Pegasus saint turns into a Pegasus statue.

You may notice that the figures themselves are fairly spindly and thin but all that changes when you put the parts on for the armor. Everything sits and looks properly in proportion once on and looks stunning on the shelf.

Most of this release is die-cast metal with only the skirt plating and head-piece being made of plastic. There's not a lot for armor on the figure as this is how it appears early in the show before it's first repair/evolution.

Not a lot of surprises with this release. Saint Cloth Mythology has been a top quality line from Bandai for many years now and Pegasus Tenma is an excellent start to The Lost Canvas line of figures and a good place to start if you;ve ever wanted to check one of these sharp looking figures. You can get yours at HobbyLink Japan.

On a side note, I have finally had a chance to see the 6 first episodes of the series, fan subbed. It's really well done and a bit more mature in tone that early Saint Seiya. It is an excellent place to start if you have ever been interested in the Saint Seiya Mythology but have been overwhelmed at the rich and long history of the series. It's an excellent beginning point without knowing a thing about the history.

Go Nagai's Super Robot anime Mazinger Z was extremely popular with children in South Korea during the 70's. So, with this in mind, Kim Cheong-Ki wanted to create a Korean hero for Korean children. In order to emphasize that this new Super Robot is Korean, it is able perform the traditional martial art, taekwondo.......hence the name, Robot Taekwon V!

Go Nagai's Super Robot anime Mazinger Z was extremely popular with children in South Korea during the 70's. So, with this in mind, Kim Cheong-Ki, a Korean director, wanted to create a Korean hero for Korean children. In order to emphasize that this new Super Robot is Korean, it is able perform the traditional martial art, taekwondo.......hence it's name, Robot Taekwon V!

From Wikipedia

Robot Taekwon V is a South Korean animated film directed by Kim Cheong-Ki and produced by Yu Hyun-mok, the prominent director of such films as Obaltan (Aimless Bullet) (1960). It was released on July 24, 1976 , immediately becoming a mega-smashed hit in the late 1970s, and consequently inspired a string of sequels in followng years. Robot Taekwon V was released in the United States in a dubbed format under the name Voltar the Invincible. Robot Taekwon V became the first Korean film to receive full digital restoration treatment in 2005. In Japan, it is known as a plagiarism of Mazinger Z.

I do not necessarily agree with the statement of Taekwon V being a plagiarism of Mazinger Z. I agree with the fact that Taekwon V has similarities to Mazinger Z, but doesn't most Super Robots? I don't know, you be the judge.

On to the toy!

Taekwon V comes in a very unassuming black corrugated cardboard box measuring 2.5" deep x 9" wide x 11" long. The packaging is very plain as you can see in the pictures below. The box only has few markings in silver and red type, letting you know what awaits you inside. The thing that I would like to emphasize about this rather boring box is it's weight. The box weighs in at a hefty 2.5 pounds. You know what that means, die-cast! glorious die-cast metal goodness!

Upon opening the box you are greeted with Taekwon V encased in his very own Soul of Chogokin style Styrofoam sarcophagus. Also included in the box is 2 plastic trays of accessories and the instruction booklet. Now if I only could read Korean....

The accessories included are:

• Taekwon V
• One pair of closed fists (already affixed to Taekwon V)
• One pair of open hands
• One pair of hands with pointing fingers
• One pair of taekwondo chop hands
• Display base
• 3 extra chest V's (clear read, white and silver)
• Die-cast metal "Tin-Can Robot Cheol" mini figure
• One autographed certificate of authenticity with production number

Towering over the SOC GX-01R Mazinger Z, Taekwon V stands 8.5" tall and weighs 1 lbs, 7 ozs. due to its mostly die-cast construction augmented with PVC and ABS. Since the Japanese feel Taekwon V is a plagiarism of Mazinger Z, I figured I would give you a few pictures of Taekwon V with Mazinger Z. Note that he can do Mazinger Z's famous, arms up, fists clenched pose really well.

Well, like the picture below suggests, I too am now bored with with comparing Taekwon V with Mazinger Z. I totally think Taekwon V would kick Mazinga Z's butt...LOL!

Moving along, Taekwon V has all the nice tight and ratchety joints that we now expect from any high end chogokin, allowing him to be posed in many ways. He also has a waist joint! All I could think of when looking at the picture below is that song by Right Said Fred, "I'm a model you know what I mean and I do my little dance on the catwalk!"

Who is Taekwon V plagiarizing in these 2 photos below? Give you a hint, 2 words...G.....M.... c'mon you know who I am referring too...LOL

Here is the only flaw that I could find with the figure, that is if you even consider this a flaw. Damn ugly exposed screw holes! I hate them! I guess I can let this go because the figure is so great in many other ways. And lets face it, the figure looks great when viewed from every angle except its backside.

Here is Taekwon V atop his base with all the included accessories mentioned above. As you can see he displays really well and will fit right in with other SOC's you may have in your collection.

I wanted to give you a nice close up shot of the little die-cast metal Tin-Can Robot Cheol mini figure. From what I gather this is supposed to be Taekwon V's pilots little brother wearing a home-made robot suit with a tea kettle head. Tin-Can Robot Cheol is the comic relief element in the TV series.

Lastly, Taekwon V is proudly displaying his autographed certificate of authenticity. You will notice that my figure is number 586 of the 1976 produced to commemorate the year that Taekwon V was first released in Korea.

In closing, I would like to say that if you like modern chogokin this is a must have. Even more so if you are into the more obscure characters. With only the very limited number of 1976 being produced, the original MSRP of $110 is quite a bargain. The figure is sure to go up in value. Heck, last time I looked, it was going for around $160 on Ebay. Grab it before you have to pay with your first born son! You can click on the Ebay links we provided below.

This Soul of Chogokin was an exclusive release for the Autumn 2009 Tamashii Nations Expo.

Video Review Included!

This Soul of Chogokin was an exclusive release for the Autumn 2009 Tamashii Nations Expo.

If you are looking for Tamashii nations exclusives, check out Anime-Export.com

It shares the same body as the GX-45 Mazinger Z, so I am not going to go over again how great it is. If you don't have one, pick it up. it's great.

But if you do have one, and you want another, slightly more evil version, this is the one for you.

Released in limited numbers at the Autumn 2009 Tamashii Expo, the GX-45A Mazinger Z Atami Night version is a darker take on the classic hero.

I have not yet seen the new Mazinger TV series, and I should be flogged for it. I have no idea if this version of Mazinger appears in the show or not.

The box is rather bland and nondescript. Thus is the nature of these "night" versions. It does the job, and it makes it less toy-lke.

The deal with this one is that you have a completely different finish than the other version. This time you get a metallic black finish with shiny chrome limbs.

Maz's head is darker, with red eyes and red highlighting on the grill. The Hover Pilder is the same, aside from a darker red metallic coloring. It still fits loosely on the head.

This version comes with an alternate head, one that is half Mazinger, Half Koji Kabuto. I can see this emulating one of those anime split-screen effects, but like I said, I haven't seen it yet.

The only other difference is the translucent chest plates. These are really spectacular.

The other accessories included are the standard set of open and closed hands, arm launching attachments and launching arms.

Not included with this set is the scrander wing.

The stand is the same as the GX-45.

It's a really great looking figure, and I think a repaint that you should pursue. However, being a convention exclusive makes it hard to come by. Fortunately Anime-Export.com seems to get their hands on Tamashii Nations exclusives in record time. Yes you will have to pay a premium for them, but in this case, I think it is worth having.

From what I can gather, over the years, Getter Robo has had many re-incarnations. So many that I get quite lost wondering how everything may connect or even if the stories do connect. With all that being said, I will just talk about the toy I am reviewing today and not its background......

Growing up in the US makes my knowledge of the Getter Robo franchise limited. My only real knowledge of Getter Robo is Getter Robo G which was brought to us in the USA as Starvengers, Part of Jim Terry's Force Five TV series.

From what I can gather, over the years, Getter Robo has had many re-incarnations. So many that I get quite lost wondering how everything may connect or even if the stories do connect. With all that being said, I will just talk about the toy I am reviewing today and not its background.

So, sparing you any further verbal diarrhea, I present to you Aoshima's New Getter Robo (weathered version) which incidentally was provided by Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan

Lets start off with the packaging. Aoshima always seems to hit the mark with the way they present their toys. I don't care which figure you buy from them, you can always expect great artwork or illustration of the figure within the box in a cool dynamic pose. As you can see below, New Getter Robo is not exception.

Upon opening the box, you are greeted with every chogokin collectors dream... A big chunk of metal entombed in Styrofoam. Aoshima was even kind enough to include tissue wrapping the figure. I guess the tissue paper is for those of us who may get to excited opening the box.

So, enough with the jokes, what's inside the box already!

• New Getter Robo
• One pair of weapon holding fists
• Open right hand (detailed backhand)
• Open right hand (detailed palm)
• Three pairs of back wings (1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended
• Two axes

You can clearly see in the photo below, all that is mentioned above. This version of New Getter Robo is called a weathered version. This basically means that the paint has shading added to give it a more realistic appearance. Let me just say that the paint job is stunning. The figure stands approximately 7.5" tall and is comprised of almost 90% die-cast metal as well as other quality materials. The large die-cast content really gives the figure nice heft and quality feel when you hold it. Something about a toy that weighs over 1 pound (1 lb. 3 oz. to be exact) really makes you feel like your money was well spent.

You can see below that this figure has great articulation allowing it to do some cool poses with the 2 axes that are included. Clicking ratchet joints are used in combination with tight friction joints. The combination of the 2 mentioned joints enable you to pose the figure as you choose.

Here is where the toy kinda fails for me. I really wish that some caps were included for the screw holes. I think the exposed screw holes really take away from the realistic look of the figure.

Enough about the exposed screw hole shortcoming. Heck, just turn the figure around and look at it from the front. You have to admit, this New Getter Robo looks quite fierce wielding his spiked battle ax. Also note the added shading on the axes adding to the weathered look.

The detailing on this figure is really nice, look at the translucent green chest panels that reveal the mechanics underneath. Note how well the green on the face matches up with the translucent chest pieces.

Be careful, those forearm spikes are kinda sharp! You don't want to let the young-ins to get a hold of this one folks!

Moving right along, yes I am turning the figure around again. I am doing this to show the 3 sets of wings that I mentioned earlier in the review. The pictures go like this, 1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended. The open extended wings are my personal favorite.

Here is something that kinda bothers me a little. Look at how odd the elbow joints appear when the arms are bent. Most Aoshima figures have this style elbow joint. I really wish Aoshima would come up with a more aesthetically pleasing joint.

Joint aesthetics aside, New Getter Robo is very well balanced figure. Just check out the photo below of him unleashing an ass whipping on CollectionDX's Nor-Easter Vegitius. No tricks, New Getter Robo is actually holding that pose!

So in conclusion, I love this toy. It is a big sturdy hunk of die-cast Chogokin goodness! Aoshima has once again produced a quality modern chogokin. The formula is simple, great materials and craftsmanship in conjunction with a uncomplicated design is always going to be a winner in my book. You can grab one of these metal beauties at Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan.

This toy was the fourth entry in CM's Brave Gokin line, and as such, the engineering leaves a little bit to be desired. It's a huge set, and it suffers from being overly ambitious. In short - it's kind of a mess.

God Raijin-Oh (ゴッドライジンオー) comes from the 1991 anime series "Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh" (絶対無敵ライジンオー}. It was the first in the Eldoran series, sort of a Brave series for the younger set.

This toy was the fourth entry in CM's Brave Gokin line, and as such, the engineering leaves a little bit to be desired. It's a huge set, and it suffers from being overly ambitious. In short - it's kind of a mess.

A pretty mess, but a mess nonetheless.

So much of a mess that I didn't do a video review - I figured I would just get too frustrated.

So here it is.

The box is big, making it a bitch to store. Inside is two beautiful old-school styrofoam trays.

The toy consists of two robots - Raijin-Oh and Bakuryu-Oh.

Raijin-Oh

Raijin-Oh is a combining robot, consisting of three smaller robots:

Ken-Oh

Ken-Oh is the humanoid robot, the core of Raijin-Oh and God Raijin-Oh. He's a fantastic figure, almost entirely metal. Articulation is great and the figure has swappable hands. Ken-oh's sword is stored in his back (just the hilt) and the blade can be attached. I had difficulty attaching my blade - there was excess plastic in the hole in the hilt that had to be carved out with a hobby knife. Ken-Oh comes with two head crests - a gold chrome one for display and a flexible yellow one for transformation (shown here).

Hou-Oh

The Eagle is all plastic but has a tremendous wingspan. The quality on this one is so-so, with pieces falling off during handling. The head pops off easily, the tail is just held on by friction, and one of my foot claws won't stay on. On the plus side, the jaw is articulated, the wings are jointed in several places and the legs are articulated.

Juu-Oh

The Lion is the heaviest out of the three, with the entire torso being diecast metal. The feet are articulated, as well as the tail. The jaw moves, but thats about it. In the show, Ken-Oh can ride Juu-Oh, but I have no pictures of that.

Raijin-Oh Gattai!

Raijin-Oh

Combining the three units to form Raijin-Oh is almost identical to the anime. Really, if you want to know how it goes together, just watch the clip above.

Essentially, Ken-Oh folds up and becomes the core - Hou-Oh becomes the head, arms and wings, and Juu-Oh become the legs. The thing is massive, and heavy as hell. It retains a great amount of articulation, pretty much everything Ken-Oh had, just bigger.

Some of the flaws are glaring though. For one, once you add the heavy lower legs of Juu-Oh, the upper legs (which are compacted) will not stay locked into place. Pick the thing up and the legs just come sliding down, the left moreso than the right. It is as if there is no mechanism to click them in place.

There are two sword blades included with the toy. The silver blade is for the tail of Hou-Oh. When used as the sword we switch to the gold blade.

Another fatal flaw is the hands. For one, all the hands have this film on them.. maybe an oxidation of the rubber? But either way, they look bad until you wipe them down. And then they are brittle. 3 years later, and while trying to place the shield (which, incidentally is Juu-Oh's head) into the holding hand, the hand broke in half.

It looks pretty, but don't let it fool you.

The second robot in the set is the Bakuryu-Oh

Bakuryu-Oh

Bakuryu-Oh is a bulkier robot than Raijin-Oh, and is very plain looking (in my opinion) with the only saving grace being the large wings. it's very... white.

The upper body is all plastic, with limited articulation. The head turns, the arms are on ball joints, the upper arms swivel and the elbows bend. It's very plasticky and toy like - fitting of a Brave-type toy. The lower legs are solid metal, but have almost no articulation due to the connection method to the body (pegs). The knees bend, and the feet can move a little.

The hands on Bakuryu-Oh have the same issue with the film on them, and swapping them out sucks. The reason? at the end of each arm there is a peg, and that whole assembly can slide into the arm. To get it out, you push a small peg under the arm. Well, the fit is so tight with the fists that applying force to the wrist peg while holding the small peg underneath results in - you guessed it - peg breakage. I ended up putting a flat-head screwdriver in the space behind the peg to force the wrist peg into the hand.

Bakuryu has a large cannon that can be held in his hand. Unfortunately, it does not shoot anything. It is articulated, but that is for another purpose. Also included is a shield.

Bakuryu-Dragon

Bakuryu-Oh can transform into the Bakuryu-Dragon. It's really just a bunch of parts-swapping. The big gun becomes the tail with articulated segments and the shield unfolds origami-like to form the head. Combined the thing is immense.

Combined, the two form

God Raijin-Oh

This is a messy process.

If you already have Raijin-Oh combined it is not so bad. Bakuryu-Oh dissasembles like a puzzle - there are parts everywhere. Each part needs to be folded and arranged just so to fit on or over Raijin-Oh. Once again, the video is spot-on.

Together, God Raijin-Oh is a heavy fiddly clusterfu*k. You can't touch it without something falling off. It's just too much.

Some of the notable flaws - The head looks too small for the crown that it wears. That crown does not snap on at all, and grazing it will send if off across the room as if it were spring-loaded. The same thing goes for the chest panels, shoulder panels, eagle head etc...

The "shoes" on the feet are the solid metal legs from Bakuryu-Oh and they just klink and klank each time you pick the thing up. The connection method is just two clips for each leg, and you really have to jam them in there.

The large blue wings slip over the red wings, giving the combined figure a wingspan of over a foot. They include small blue wing tips to keep the red and blue wings lined up.

It's big, for sure.

Bakuryu-Oh's shield combines with Raijin-Oh's sword to create a giant arm blade. This requires a special hand that has two posts pre-attached to it that connect with the shield.

God Raijin-Oh can now hold the large cannon with two hands. The hands have angled wrists to accommodate the pose.

So there you have it. It's a great concept, and much more anime-accurate than the old Tomy version, but you really sacrifice durability and play value here. Once you get it in the mode you like - put it on the shelf and leave it alone.

CM's included a ton of screw-hole covers, but honestly, I don't have the time or the motivation to put them on. Also included was a small sticker sheet of clear stickers, die-cut into shape. Nowhere in the instructions are these shown, but my guess is these stickers help protect parts that are prone to chipping.

Not cheap. Not durable. Handsome as all get-out. My advice - display it as the two separate robots - Raijin-Oh and Bakuryu-Oh.

PS - in an odd move - CM's is re-releasing JUST the Raijin-Oh.. I wonder if that is an acknowledgment that the design went too far.

Well it only took 28 years but I finally got a BETA fighter to add to my Robotech collection and I am happy to report it is as awesome as you we have been led to believe.

Robotech was a multi-generational animated saga that documented the “Robotech Wars” and originally aired in 1985. Robotech used three different and un-related Japanese animated series re-edited and re-purposed for American audiences at the time. The Beta Fighter shown here is from the final arc, The New Generation, also known as Mospeada in Japan.

From Robotech.com:

“The Veritech Beta Fighter was developed as a heavily armed and armored booster system for the Alpha fighter to extend its range in space, as well providing the ability to reach orbit from the surface. The fighter can operate from the Horizon dropship when joined with an Alpha fighter. Besides operating as a large fuel tank for the space Alpha-Beta combination, it allows for high thrust capabilities for an Alpha Battloid for high maneuverability in close combat, in addition to augmenting the Alpha's missile load, and carrying a formidable weapons capability when operating independently.

Without the attached Alpha fighter, the Beta fighter relies on its excessive thrust to overcome its non-aerodynamic shape in an atmosphere. Its true power comes in Battloid mode, where an impressive amount of firepower is available for heavy assault.”

Robotech and Mospeada fans have been wanting a Beta fighter for a very, very long time. Matchbox imported many of the original Japanese toys from the various shows (as well as producing original pieces) under the Robotech banner and the Gakeen-made Alpha fighters where released stateside. Disappointingly no Beta ever showed up on shelves in 1985/1986. I found out years later as an Adult collector Gakeen designed a BETA fighter and even produced a handful of test pieces but they went belly-up before they could produce it.

Flash forward to now and Toynami has made our fan-boy dreams come true with a 1/55 scale Beta to attach their previously released 1/55 scale Alpha fighters. The Blue and Red have already been reviewed by Dan and Josh and now I finally get my hands on one.

The Beta fighter or the VFB-91 (in nerdspeak) is the third release in the Beta Masterpiece Collection. Which means it comes in Toynami's book-style packaging. This allows you to take the piece out and keep the Mint-In-Box look when you store it. Just like the toy the box is huge!

The first thing you notice when you get it out of the box is the sheer size and weight of the piece. It's enormous. In Battloid mode it stands over 12 inches tall and weighs over 2 pounds.

All the arm and leg joints are ratcheted and so "click" when moved. Us toy-nerds do love us some "clickity-click."

Since the red and green Beta fighters never transformed into Battloid mode in the show, Toynami had to design original heads for these releases and they opted to design them to match their Alpha counterpart. The shape of the Alpha's 'eye" is retained but there is no head fin.

Paint detail is fantastic with no under or over-spray anywhere and the chest compartments open to reveal banks of missiles. It doesn't do much else but with a piece like this, it's more about the sheer size and presence on the shelf than gimmicks.

Guardian Mode is probably my least favorite on the Beta fighter. See the Beta fighter was not part of the original design and was thought up as an afterthought and kind of mashed together late in the design stages. And so, while it looks good in Fighter and Battloid mode, Guardian just seems a bit of an afterthought.

But with that said it holds this form just fine on the shelf. However if you pick it up and try to fly it around the room (Don't roll your eyes- we know you do it...) the weight of the lower legs makes the legs droop down as these are die cast metal where the rest is plastic.

It is not a big deal as I really won't be displaying it in this mode. Plus it's more of a nitpick then a genuine complaint.

Fighter mode is where it looks best in my opinion. I don't know why but I really like the flying brick aesthetic of the fighter. Everything locks in and sits where it is supposed too. No loose, dangling or floppy parts here.

My one complaint about Toynami's release is the landing gear. Instead of the landing ear folding into the fighter when not used you have to remove them. Yep the landing gear just plugs into the fighter when you need it. It's not a big deal but I am finding that having to keep track of parts keeps me from wanting to pick it up and fiddle with it more.

It's not a huge deal but if Toynami where taking a pole I would have voted for gear that folds into the fighter instead of part swapping.

Toynami also includes a removable pilot figure but like many tiny pilot figures the paint and sculpt detail doesn't really hold up to close inspection. It's all a bit “soft' and sloppy. From a distance it's not a problem.

So as huge and impressive the stand alone Beta fighter is, we as fans of Robotech are more interested in how well it docks to the Alpha fighter. Well I'm happy to report, it's all good.

While again this involves part swapping, it doesn't bother me as much as swapping out the landing gear. There is a white arm that cups the fighter and then slides into the beta fighter. Once in you can attach the combined form to the provided stand.

It sound like it wouldn't work it does. The fighter sits nice and tight but I wouldn't recommend doing barrel rolls with it.

You can do the same with the Alpha fighter in Battloid mode. Toynami includes a second arm to attach it int his mode. The arm cups the bottom of the crotch and leaves a hole for the nosecone to fit in. Once again you can attach this combined form to the provided stand

Again, it hold the Alpha part in well but I wouldn't recommend doing a barrel role with it.

Despite a couple of nitpicks it is a really nice piece and a fan boy's dream made real. While many know the Alpha fighters where plagued with QC issues the Beta makes it all worth while. The fit and finish is fantastic and the materials all feel top notch. Toynami has done a real nice job delivering a solid, long-desired collectible.

Get one while you still can because when these are gone they are GONE. If you where ever a Robotech or Mospeada fan you will kick yourself for missing out.

The whole set is really fun, sturdy, and it has fantastic shelf presence. Combined its over a foot tall!

Epic review with THREE HD VIDEOS inside!

Dygenguar & Aussenseiter (ダイゼンガー&アウセンザイター)come from the Super Robot Wars franchise, including the games and the spin-off anime series. these designs are original designs created for the series, unlike other robots who just make guest appearances.

The robots are massive, dynamic and powerful. I've never seen the series, or played the game, so most information I could give about the characters background is just assumption.

Really though we are here to talk about the toy.

The toy consists of two robots who could make complete great SOC releases unto themselves: Dygenguar & Aussenseiter.

First off - the box. The box is HUGE and appears to be one of the largest SOC boxes to date. The DX Raideen set may be bigger, but if so not by much. Inside is a styrofoam tray, and two plastic trays.

Dygenguar

Let's start with Dygenguar. Pronounced "Daizengar" Dygenguar is a fantastic robot. It's angular design may scare off super robot purists, but once you get him in your grubby little hands you will feel the love. Everything about this guy is tight. All the joints are great and stiff. The shoulders can swivel forward and backward as well as rotate, and elbows are double jointed. The chest has a fantastic ball joint with a collapsable chest panel to allow for more dynamic poses.

The hips have an odd joint in it. When I first took this out of the box I thought that Dygenguar did not have the ability to move his legs forward. Come to find out that there is an interesting joint that you have to swivel forward to enable forward motion. This joint is necessary to enable Dygenguar to ride Aussenseiter in horse mode. The video below explains it better, so watch to fully understand.

the skirt armor is fully articulated and does not feel like it will pop off - a common problem with skirt armor.

The legs are mostly metal, and click nicely. The knees are not double jointed, unfortunately, but the knee spikes are articulated. Also, the large red panels on the legs have a tendency to pop off easily, so be aware of that.

The feet are remarkably articulated, with the toes, heel, shin guard and ankle having a full range of motion. There are flip out clips on the bottom of the feet that I THINK are to secure it to the stirrups in combined mode.

Check out the pistons on the back of the feet.

Other neat little things about Dygenguar - There is a panel on the back that lifts up to reveal engines, the large shoulder spikes can move, and there is an interchangeable face.

Of course there are the required optional hands, and some of those hands can hold the big-ass swords.

Yeah, these swords are big - no not just big - ridiculous. Suprisingly Dygenguar has no problem holding any of the swords.

Aussenseiter

Aussenseiter (アウセンザイター) written as "Außenseiter" (the "ß" translates to SS in German) is the second part of the set, the companion robot to Dygenguar.

Aussenseiter is bigger and heavier than Dygengyar, and has more gimmicks, but is less poseable. This is laargely due to the complex transformation hidden inside, but it's still reasonably articulate.

The head is on a ball joint and features a large removable plume of electric hair. There is no variant expression with this figure.

The chest is immovable. Each shoulder can move, and the elbows are double-jointed. At the end of each shoulder is a large disc shaped shield that can be removed an used as a weapon.

Alternate hands are also included, and can hold the thin angular sword with the hook at the end. One variant hand as a unique pointing pose, apparently a signature move for Aussenseiter.

The legs are hefty and feature thick metal parts. These legs have good articulation, nothing double jointed, but again the feet are fantastic. The feet have articulated rolling rubber wheels that really help the figure obtain a sturdy pose.

Moving the legs has a tendency to pop off the front panel on Aussenseiter, but it easily pops back into place.

The cape is made out of hard rubber and is divided into three pieces. Securing over that on the back is a backpack that holds the two large Lanze Kanone cannons.

The cannons fold up on the back, but can be removed and placed in both hands. You have to unfold the handles at the end, and there are also two small clips provided that attach to the shoulders for extra support.

Pferd Mode

Transforming Aussenseiter to Pferd Mode is challenging the first few times, but once you see all the connection points it becomes easier. Most of all the parts that are required to do the transformation are contained within Aussenseiter, save for the tail, mane and rear connection support.

So how is it done? Well, it is hard to explain in writing, so I did it on video for you. But I will go over some of the points.

First, the cape, shields, and the head need to be removed before transformation. Also, a plate on the top of the chest around the neck needs to be removed.

Each arm folds up into the shoulders, and then the shoulder sections fold down the sides, revealing the horse's head. Remove the head and neck section, and re-attach Aussenseiter's head with the new, larger mane.

From here it's a bit of jumbled luck and a bit of origami to get the rest done, but it involves a rear connector part that the feet and rear section snapping into.

The front and rear legs are formed out of the cannons on the back of the figure. The front legs snap into the back of the grey panels in front, and the back legs snap into the former shoulder parts. Add the head to the front, and then the tail to the back, and there you go - Aussenseiter in Pferd mode.

Now, this is well and good, but things look a little small. Dygenguar can sit on it, but not well.

What Bandai has done is provided you with a second set of parts - a more anime-accurate set of limbs, head and saddle.

The new head is larger, with a larger mane, and is more articulated. The head moves around and the jaw can move as well.

The front legs are longer and smoother, with better range of motion. You can pull the legs out a bit at the hips to provide for a wider stance. The rear legs are also larger and smoother than the ones from the cannons but they connect in the same way.

The saddle is the best improvement to the horse mode. With this saddle, Dygenguar can mount Aussenseiter and create that iconic pose. It even has stirrups.

The special stand included can hold the combined pair up in the glorious attack mode.

Aussenseiter's cape now gets re-purposed into a cape for Dygenguar, but the cape can only be used when in this combined mode. It's meant to flow in only one direction, and it looks a little odd when not on the horse. An additional support stand is inserted in to the horse's....uh.. hind quarter to brace the cape.

But wait, there's more...

There's another stand included that looks like a piece of rock. All of the leftover parts can be attached to this stand and displayed alongside Dygenguar & Aussenseiter.

At what cost?

Here's the elephant in the room - the cost. The GX-46 set retails for 29,400 yen, which as of October 2009 converts to $324.37 - no small chunk of change. Bandai and Toynami teamed up to bring select Tamashii product to the states. US retailers such as Big Bad Toy Store have it for around $280. Considering that you would likely have to pay an additional $50 to ship this from Japan, that's quite a discount of the Japanese retail.

But still, that $280 is a significant cost especially in this economic climate. The number one question people ask me is is this worth the money?

Across the board prices on these high-end collector pieces have gone up. Considering that you get TWO full featured chogokin toys - one that transforms, and a ton of accessories, the $280 price seems about right. Also worth noting is that this is labeled as a DX Soul of Chogokin toy (the second since the DX Raideen Set), and thus commands a higher price tag.

The whole set is really fun, sturdy, and it has fantastic shelf presence. Combined its over a foot tall.

Recommended!

SDX Gundam is a line of some of the more obscure SD Gundam characters that older fans may recognize from the old OVAs from the 80's and 90's. The first character in this line is from an old SD Gundam short known as SD Gundam Gaiden.

SDX Gundam is a line of some of the more obscure SD Gundam characters that older fans may recognize from the old OVAs from the 80's and 90's. The first character in this line is from an old SD Gundam short known as SD Gundam Gaiden.

SD Gundam Gaiden is like the opposite of the Musha SD Gundam World, where instead it focuses on medieval characters and has many mobiles suits in suits of armor or based instead on dragons and other mythical creatures. If you remember the anime SD Gundam Force, the world which Zero the Winged Knight was from, Lacroa is loosely based on a similar setting.

Knight Gundam is the main character of this OVA and his appearance in figure form is extremely accurate to his on screen counterpart. He really does look like a sterling knight from days long past... Well, as sterling as a miniature robot with big eyes can look.

The first thing to note about this guy is that he comes with a LOT of accessories. Two trays worth! He has several hands, different eyes, an alternate helmet, two swords, a shield, a cape, a stand, and an unusual pair of legs...

Posability on this guy is about the same as any SD Gundam kit. The arms, hands, legs and waists move on ball joints while the feet and head are on swivel joints. While I think it may have been possible to put in a small elbow joint into the arm, it would have been slightly useless due to the stub-like nature of SD arms to begin with.

The head joint on Knight Gundam is fantastic. While the actual head is attached by a ball join, there are mechanics inside of the head piece that allow him to look up, down, and even tilt his head slightly. It's quite a nice bit of design work that I just love.

Swapping eyes is easy enough. All you have to do is remove the helmet and pull of the entire face. The mask will come off as well and then you simply peg in the other eyes. You get eyes that look straight, left, right, happy eyes, and startled eyes.

The hands are all on ball joints that easily pop on and off. You have your standard closed fists, open fists for holding things, a more open first, an open palm and a piece sign hand. All of the ball joints are also on swivel joints so you can curl the hands in pretty much any position you want.

Knight Gundam is covered entirely in armor. It would have been incredibly nice if all of this was metal, but only the shoulders and part of the helmet actually is. But for the price you're paying, I don't think I can complain too much about it really. All of the pieces can be popped off easily and leave Knight Gundam in just chain mail. He even has an alternate helmet to mimic this look.

I have to mention that I love these metal pauldrons to death. They are attached with ball joints and have an additional swivel joint that helps to keep the shoulders aligned with the body when it comes to those really dynamic poses with the arms.

Knight Gundam comes with a lance, a sword, and a shield. The lance has a spring inside that actually lets you pull back and hit random targets. It's kind of hard to do though because of the small size of it. It's a silly gimmick, but a nice touch. The lance can also be stored via a clip that goes into the back of the helmet and fits in snuggly.

The sword and shield is very nicely designed and are a very nice pair. The sword slips in easily into the shield and stays in place. Also if the sword seems a little stocky for your liking, you can actually pull the blade off of the hilt and use an extension piece to make the sword even longer and quite frankly a bit terrifying when cute little Knight Gundam holds it.

Knight Gundam's cape is on a ball join attached to a peg that goes right into the back. It can turn and move easily to whatever direction you want the cape flapping in.

Knight Gundam has one final gimmick, and it's a big one. With a little bit of part swapping, you can pull his legs off and switch them out for horse legs to turn him into a centaur... Gundam. It's a pretty cool mode and Knight Gundam does look pretty majestic like this. But you can't really pose him past just having him stand in place without the help of the display base.

If you also want, you can fold up the rear legs and make a backpack of sorts.

Knight Gundam's stand pegs between his legs and keeps him secure. However the actual design of this stand is sort of unusual. It's not jointed to allow Knight Gundam to actually be standing on the base. It's an odd design choice and just makes me wonder a bit honestly.

I think that for the price you pay, you get so much from Knight Gundam. The SDX set is very solid and has more than enough accessories to leave me fiddling with this guy constantly. However I'm aware that the SD design may not strike everyone and others may just flat out hate it. But if you're a fan of these designs and want something a little more substantial than a model kit, these guys are great. Satan Gundam, Commando Gundam, and several others are on the way so keep an eye out for them.

Not just a Gundam want to be.....

Today I will be reviewing the Gundam Huckebein MKII.....Hey, wait a minute....It looks like a Gundam, walks like a Gundam and talks like a Gundam...So it must be a Gundam? WRONG!!

The Huckebein MKII is not just a Gundam want to be. Its actually its own character from the wildly popular videogame and anime OAV series franchise know as, Super Robot Wars: Original Generation. It may be its own Character, but its roots are all Gundam right down to the Core Fighter. After you read my review and look at the pictures, you will see how the Uni-five 1/144 Huckebein MKII chogokin is so similar to the much loved Gundam.

Lets start off with the box...

As you can clearly see below, the box is quit dark. The packaging's darkness matches really well with the Huckebein's dark blue color scheme. No happy light Gundam colors here!

The first accessories shown is the translucent plastic beam saber and the included stand which allows flight poses. Very Gundam-ish huh? You will need that stand because when posing the figure and adjusting it's feet....well.....lets just say that the feet tend to fall off.

In conclusion, I feel even with its above mentioned flaws, Huckebein MKII is still a decent pseudo Gokin figure for the meager $35 that I paid for it. Even if it is sorta a Gundam MSIA copy!

This set is bittersweet. The scene where Michel's valk arrives and Ranka starts singing is one of my favorite scenes in all of Macross Frontier. It sends chills down my spine. The set itself is great, but the fact that it only gets used in gerwalk mode really bumms me out.

The Galia 4 Fold set is a Tamashii Web exclusive. Collectors could mail away for the set, which is only available to Japanese residents. However, with the help of shops like Anime-Export, you can order them and have them shipped to the states.

The set is named after the Planet Galia 4, from Macross Frontier. In episode 12, singer Sheryl Nome is sent to the largely Zentradi military base on the planet Galia 4 to perform a concert. When she is stricken ill, a Zentradi uprising occurs. The SMS sends ace pilot and sniper Michel out with Ranka Lee to sing in her absence and quell the riot.

Unfortunately, the planet is too far away, but there has been work on an experimental Super Fold Booster that can get there quickly. This is the booster included in this set.

Once Michel and Ranka arrive, the fold booster is jettisoned and Michel's valk is equipped with sonic boosters that amplify Ranka's song, disrupting the renegade Zentradi attack.

As I said before, this is a mail-away set. While the parts are used with Michel's VF-25 Messiah valkyrie, they can be used with any DX Chogokin Messiah Valkyrie.

This is a small set. You don't get a lot. Included in the set is:

• Super Fold Booster x1
• Fold Speaker x4
• 1/60 Ranka Lee figure x1

The Fold Booster is plastic with clear dome parts. Unlike the Yamato fold boosters, nothing lights up. It can be attached with one of two different connectors, depending on if the toy has its armor parts on or not.

The Fold speakers clip onto the wings of the toy in either fighter or gerwalk mode. Unfortunately, the appearance in the anime is in gerwalk mode, and we all know how much the gerwalk mode on these toys sucks. Each booster is decorated with different colors on the points where they should be lit up, but these don't light up.

Also included is a tiny 1/60 scale Ranka Lee figurine.

This set is bittersweet. The scene where Michel's valk arrives and Ranka starts singing is one of my favorite scenes in all of Macross Frontier. It sends chills down my spine. The set itself is great, but the fact that it only gets used in gerwalk mode really bumms me out. And there is the price. The original Japanese retail is around $50 bucks, which is already too much. Add on the fact that you have to import it, and pay a markup due to the rarity... well, lets just say you need to be hardcore to get this set. Maybe if the fold booster or speakers lit up?

Regardless, good luck finding a set. We got ours at Anime-Export, and if you want one, maybe you should too.