Max Toy Company releases their first original toy based on an existing Japanese character.

Following on the heels of the success of their original character Captain Maxx, Max Toy Company releases their first original toy based on an existing Japanese character, Kikaida. The toy comes bagged with a colorful header card with a cardboard insert, both painted by Max Toy Co. founder, Mark Nagata.

Two versions of the toy are currently being sold. The first features Kikaida's traditional colors, those shown on the insert above. This review covers the second version, the "Mechanical" version. This one is cast in clear vinyl and features paper inserts on the inside, depicting the mechanical inner workings of the character. The artwork was again done by Mark Nagata and was inspired by his love of Jack Kirby's mechanical drawings.

There have been plenty of clear vinyl toys on the market lately, but I think this one truly stands out simply because the vinyl isn't colored at all. It really looks as though the toy is made of glass. You can get a real good look at the paper inserts as a result. When I received the toy, one of the inserts in the leg had come loose and was twisted to the side. I simply popped off the leg, re-adjusted it and popped the leg back on. Heating the vinyl was not necessary at all. The leg went off and on very easily, but still holds firm in it's socket, with no floppiness or anything like that.

Kikaida stands approximately 9 inches tall and has five points of articulation. The joints are at the hips, shoulders and neck. A clear plastic stand is included, even though it really doesn't seem to be needed. The toy stands solidly without it.

There's alot to like about this toy, including the price. Many collector vinyls from Japan can cost as much as $80 or more, but this is available in the United States for just $40 from maxtoyco.com

Kikaida is one of 3 figures from the SIC line that Bandai America incorporated into their short-lived "Studioworks" series.

Kikaida is one of 3 figures from the SIC line that Bandai America incorporated into their short-lived "Studioworks" series.

SIC Stands for Super Imaginative Chogokin. It is a line of modernized Tokusatsu character toys, enhanced with small amounts of metal (chogokin). Early toys in the series were basically fixed-pose statues, with little to no play value aside from some interchangeable accessories.

The Kikaida story follows Dr. Komyoji, a brilliant robotics professor who is kidnapped by Professor Gill, the evil ruler of the Dark Demolition Corps. Professor Gill forces Dr. Komyoji to build an army of androids that would assist Professor Gill in his fight for world domination. Secretly, Dr. Komyoji builds Kikaida, a mechanical man capable of defeating the androids from the Dark Demolition Corps. The fight to save Dr. Komyoji and the world from the Dark Demolition Corps. lies in the hands of Kikaida.

Kikaida stands about 7" tall, and is made of hard plastic. The brass-colored accents are metal, and it gives the toy a solid feel. He comes with a good amount of accessories, including:

• Guitar
• Arm blades
• Removable heart
• Alien mantis head
• Stand

Kikaida is articulated at the neck, shoulders, wrists, waist, hips and feet. The joints dont actually do much, leaving Kikaida pretty much a fixed-pose figure. You can open up Kikaida's chest to reveal a removable blue and red heart. Arm blade weapons attach to the forearms, and his guitar straps across his back. The figure attaches to the base via pegs that fit into the feet.

While the sculpt is fantastic, it doesn't do much but look pretty. Since I have no knowledge of the Kikaida character, I don't have the emotional attachment that I would need to justify keeping a fixed pose character.

Bandai's Studioworks line was cancelled after only three entries. They really put a lot of effort into the packaging and presentation, but the high price point and obscurity of the character didn't drive enough sales. I wonder how the line would have fared if they had started with the later, more poseable SIC toys.

Kikaida was released as #1 in the Super Imaginative Chogokin line in 1998, for ¥3360. It was imported to the USA and released as part of the Studioworks line in 2002 for about $19.99.

Hakaida is one of 3 figures from the SIC line that Bandai America incorporated into their short-lived "Studioworks" series.

Hakaida is one of 3 figures from the SIC line that Bandai America incorporated into their short-lived "Studioworks" series.

SIC Stands for Super Imaginative Chogokin. It is a line of modernized Tokusatsu character toys, enhanced with small amounts of metal (chogokin). Early toys in the series were basically fixed-pose statues, with little to no play value aside from some interchangeable accessories.

Hakaida stands about 6" tall, and is made of hard plastic. The brass-colored accents are metal, and it gives the toy a solid feel. He comes with a good amount of accessories, including:

• Brain canister
• Clear brain
• Solid brain
• Shotgun
• Staff
• Cape
• Extra hand
• Stand
• Heart

The clear brain in the canister can be exchanged with the brain in Hakaida's head by removing the clear dome. The shotgun can be stored on his leg by opening a hidden panel and pressing it into the grooves. The cape is rubber, and just drapes over the shoulder. Hakaida sands on the base via pegs that insert into the feet.

Articulation is limited to the neck, shoulders, wrists and waist. There is also a hidden chest compartment that opens up to reveal Hakaida's heart.

While the sculpt is fantastic, it doesn't do much but look pretty. Since I have no knowledge of the Hakaida character, I don't have the emotional attachment that I would need to justify keeping a fixed pose character.

Bandai's Studioworks line was cancelled after only three entries. They really put a lot of effort into the packaging and presentation, but the high price point and obscurity of the character didn't drive enough sales. I wonder how the line would have fared if they had started with the later, more poseable SIC toys.

Hakaider was released as #4 in the Super Imaginative Chogokin line in 1999, for ¥3360. It was imported to the USA and released as part of the Studioworks line in 2002 for about $24.99

Bijinda is part of the Bandai Studioworks line, a highly detailed and exquisitely packaged series aimed at collectors. The box features double fold-out covers with Velcro. You could almost enjoy this figure the same without ever taking it out.

The 7-inch figure features limited articulation, but an insane amount of detail. It is one of the best sculpts I have ever seen. There is a small amount of metal in the figure, just enough for Bandai to slap the chogokin label on it. It has tons of features, including:

• Chest opens up to reveal a removeable hydrogen bomb
• Evil cat
• Removeable knife
• Interchangeable hand
• Battle-harp
• Base