Don't wanna know why, everybody ready get it on!

Fresh off the boat from HLJ is the Revoltech Mazinkaiser!

リボルテックシリーズNo.016 スーパーロボタイプ マジンカイザー
Revoltech Series No.16 Super Robot Type Mazkikaiser

Mazinkaiser comes from the 1999 OVA series of the same name.

Wikipedia Summary:

The basic plot is a re-telling of the adventures of Kouji Kabuto, pilot of the mighty Mazinger Z, the first Super Robot of anime, defender of Japan and of the Photon Energy research laboratory. He is joined by another hero, Tetsuya Tsurugi, in his Great Mazinger, along with token girls Sayaka Yumi and Jun Hono in their female robots Aphrodite A and Venus Ace, and comic-relief Boss and his Boss Borot. They all fight against the evil machines of Dr. Hell and his assistant, the half-man, half-woman servant Baron Ashura. This time around, however, Ashura forms an army of machines powerful enough to defeat both Kouji and Tetsuya, and is able to capture Mazinger and do severe damage to Great Mazinger.

While Ashura and Dr. Hell plot the final attack to the Photon Laboratory, Kouji, who is missing after the battle, finds a hidden laboratory of his dead grandfather, Juuzou Kabuto. There he finds a hologram of his grandfather that tells him that the time has come to unleash the most powerful robot ever created: Mazinkaiser, so terribly powerful it can as easily be used as a lethal weapon of evil as it can be for good ("Mazinger Z gives you the power to be God or the Devil, but Mazinkaiser allows you to surpass both!"). Kouji, now piloting Mazinkaiser, arrives just as Ashura is almost on the verge of destroying the Photon lab, and defeats him. Ashura leaves, stunned and hardly believing that a new Mazinger has arrived. In the seven episodes serie, Kouji, Tetsuya and their allies fight and finally defeat the forces of Dr. Hell.  

Mazinkaiser is number 16 in the Revoltech series from Kaiyodo, distributed by Organic Hobby. It’s the first affordable action figure of Mazinkaiser. Up until now, most toys of Mazinkaiser have been expensive gokin toys from Aoshima and Max Factory.

The paint and detail on this figure is really nice, but the grey seems odd to me. I am used to the metallic look of the gokin toys, but if you look at the anime, the color is correct.

The figure is comprised of 11 Revoltech joints and a few swivel joints. Revoltech joints can be found in the neck, chest, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and even the Kaiser Scrander is attached to the back with a Revoltech joint.

Included accessories are:

• 2 Kaiser Blades
• 1 Final Kaiser Blade
• 2 Sword gripping hands
• 2 Open hands
• 1 Kaiser Scrander
• 2 piece stand

The two Kiaser Blades are made out of hard plastic and are shorter than the Final Kaiser blade. The Final Kaiser Blade is longer, and the handle is long enough to be held by both hands.

Hands are swappable and have yet another new kind of hand attachment mechanism. These hands have the pegs on them, instead of on the arm, and the pegs have a little nub at the end so they “pop” in and out. They are easy to remove but still remain firm.

The Kaiser Scrander features amazing paint detail and very sharp points. It attaches to the back of Mazinkaiser by small Revoltech joint. The smaller of the two wings seem fragile, and one of them actually fell out on mine. It goes right back in place, fortunately.

The stand is the same Revoltech stand as is included with previous releases. As before, the figure’s name and number are printed in white on the bottom. While the figure will stand on its own, the stand does help with the more precarious poses.

This is another great release in the Revoltech Series, and is actually my first Mazinkaiser toy. I was hesitant to drop $100 on a diecast version, but this little guy is just right. At 12 cm, he fits right in to your ST Chogokin collection, or next to the Yamato Hero Collection toys.

Revoltech Mazinkaiser is available now at Hobby Link Japan.

Besides it's massive size, I'm immediately drawn to the fact that it is a diecast version of a villain character.

Ankoku Daishogun was the 11th entry into Aoshima's Shin Seiki Gokin line of diecast action figures and represents the updated version of the classic Great Mazinger villain. This line is noted for having toys that have a tremendous amount of diecast content and this piece is no exception. What it lacks in gimmicks, it more than makes up for in sheer size and weight. At approximately 10" tall and 2.25lbs, this is one big hunk o'metal!

This toy appeals to me alot for a few reasons. Besides it's massive size, I'm immediately drawn to the fact that it is a diecast version of a villain character. And though many people like all sorts of fancy gimmicks, combinations and transformations with their diecast toys, none of that interests me very much. This toy is simple and I like it all the more for it. You can pretty much play with or display this right out of the box. The only thing you need to do is add fists (3 separate pairs are included to chose from), attach the cape if desired and snap on the shoulder pads.

All the parts go on and off with ease. The cape is a great addition, giving the character an air of malevolent royalty. To connect it, you must line it up with the holes on the back and slide a plastic piece into them. A big round piece connects to the figure while the smaller, flat piece goes through the cape, holding it in place. Very simple. Next, just pop the small, metal rods inside the shoulder pads inbetween the two tabs on the shoulders and you're good to go. The tabs on the shoulders appear to be fragile, but I haven't had any problems with them, nor have I read of anyone else's breaking. Of course, I use caution when adding/removing the shoulder pads just to be on the safe side.

Each section of the skirt is a separately molded and separately attached piece of plastic. It makes for a nicer look as well as a better range of mobility in the hip joints. On my specimen though, the paint in this area chipped very easily. I honestly don't even remember doing anything that might have caused it and it's possible it might have even been that way right out of the box. Fortunately, I reallly don't care too much.

Ankoku Daishogun comes with just one weapon, a large sword that he can hold in either hand, provided you've attached the correct fists. There is a sheath for this sword and it it is the only point of contention I have with the toy. There is no place to connect it to the toy, such as on the waist. He must simply carry it around. A large chain hangs from the left side of his waist, but it seems to be nothing more than window dressing. It doesn't connect to or hold anything in particular.

Ankoku Daishogun was released in at least 3 different versions. The regular version (reviewed here) comes with a a miniature figure of the character of Baron Ashura, while the obligatory black version has a metallic finish and comes with a miniature figure of Dr. Hell. A third release was a limited Anime Export exclusive TV version with anime accurate colors and a miniature figure of Duke Gorgon included.

I really like this toy alot, but if you like lots of gimmicks and high-tech engineering in your gokin, then you can probably look elsewhere. But if you want something with some sheer "presence" on your diecast shelf, this is a great piece to get.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the box for Aoshima's latest version of Mazinkaiser is its weight. Opening the box and you're rewarded by one hefty robot toy. Here's the vital statistics - height 8.5 inches, wing span 14.5 inches, weight 1.9 pounds. It all adds up to an admirable amount of die-cast, plastic reserved for joints, head, hand and Scrander.

Packed in the box with Mazinkaiser are a variety of hands, a shiny Kaiser Blade, missiles and most obvious of all the vast black wings of Mazinkaiser's Scrander. Being a fan of robots with wings and swords, the natural choice was to put the Scrander straight on his back. The first thing you'll learn when assembling the Scrander? Those wings aren't just big, they're also pretty sharp - some care is required to avoid impaling your hands. But Scrander in place, Kaiser Blade in hand the winged Mazinkaiser has real presence on any display shelf.

There's more to Mazinkaiser than just standing around, posing with a sword. Remove a small panel from his stomach and you reveal a discreet missile launcher. Load one of the two missiles from the box, flick a switch on his back and launch the Giganto Missile across the room (with a missile less than half an inch in length the name Giganto seems a little out of place).

Switch his metal arms for a second set of plastic ones and Mazinkaiser gains his Turbo Smash Punch. Operation is simple, push back the forearms and wind them as tight as they'll go. The punch is released by pushing a shoulder button, but what follows is wholly disappointing - the forearms spin off and drop to the ground a matter of inches in front of Mazinkasier's feet. Hardly turbo and never likely to smash even the polystyrene packaging in the box - it seemed like a nice idea, but unfortunately the execution lets it down.

The gimmicks and accessories are nice to have, but never really live up to hopes, stronger springs are needed to make them worthwhile. Anyone who loves die-cast in their toys is not going to be disappointed, with metal legs, arms and chest Aoshima have not been stingy. Joints are strong and offer a reasonable degree of pose-ability, certainly enough for Mazinkaiser to adopt a striking stance. For me it's the combination of that solid metal weight, those sharp black wings and a long shiny sword that make Aoshima's Mazinkaiser a must have.

This review refers to the Japan version of the Black Wing Mazinkaiser. Aoshima also released an Overseas version with blue leg and forearm armour and without the Japan version's chrome shine on the sword. Both retail for around 13,000 Yen.