Soft Garage's Karoria Tetsujin 28 from the Legend Of Gokin line.

Today I will be reviewing Soft Garage's Karoria Tetsujin 28 from the Legend Of Gokin line. Unfortunately I can't give you much of a back story on this character other than it is a mass production version of Tetsujin 28 AKA Gigantor here in the states.

Like Soft Garage's Giant Robo, Legend Of Gokin Karoria Tetsujin 28 is packaged in what I consider a classic box similar in size to the old Popy boxes. The box has an actual pic of the toy with a great lightening illustration surrounding the toy.

Removing Karoria Tetsujin from the box and you are greeted with styrofoam goodness. I know I've said this before but their is just something about styrofoam and gokin.....they just go great together!

Karoria Tetsujin 28 in made of about 80 percent die cast metal, giving the figure a really nice heft. It feels like a small brick!

The figure includes two jet flames that plug into the back of the figure giving it that cool flying effect.

As you can see in these next few pictures, Karoria Tetsujin has some nice articulation and tight joints allowing it to hold a pose.

After looking at the above pictures and the head shot below, its hard not to notice that the paint is nice and glossy and the figure is well detailed.

Check out the size difference when the Karoria Tetsujin is placed next to Bandai's Soul of Chogokin version of Tetsujin 28. Hey shorty!

Before Mazinger Z....Existed another giant robot....The cleverly named, Giant Robo!

Before Mazinger Z....Existed another giant robot....The cleverly named, Giant Robo!

Since I began collecting in 2000, I really wanted a chogokin version of the original Giant Robo. I know Yamato made a chogokin of the modern version but (sigh), its just not the same. I could never understand why their wasn't one made of the original. Surely its a popular enough character in Japanese culture, isn't it?

This quandary bothered me for years until, 2007 when in honor of it's 40th birthday, Soft Garage produced Giant Robo in the Legend Of Gokin line.

My quest began, It became my Holy Grail. I had to have this toy! I searched high and low with no luck. It was if it sold out immediately upon release. I started to get really discouraged with my quest. Every time I came across one on Ebay it was going for over $250 and I refused to pay that.

My quest ended in July 2008 at the San Diego Comic Con. Josh and I took a break from our show coverage, we decided to check out the toy vendors. Wow, so much to look at, so many things I wanted to have. It was rather overwhelming and easy to loose your objective on what you really wanted. I had totally forgotten my Holy Grail when Josh pointed out a Giant Robo for $85 bucks! I was surprised because Josh wanted this piece too. Being the fact that Josh is truly a gentlemen collector he offered me first dibs on the purchasing of it. Without hesitation I grabbed it! After making my purchase I asked the seller if he had another (thinking of Josh). Unfortunately he said he did not not have another....bummer.

Now don't feel bad for Josh. He strolled by the same vendor the day before the show ended and mysteriously he had another Giant Robo for $75 bucks! Hey, that's $10 less than I paid! Josh's good Karma paid off for him.

Giant Robo is packaged in what I consider a classic box similar in size to the old Popy boxes. The box has an actual pic of the toy on the box with a 40th anniversary tag in it's lower right corner. Remove Giant Robo from the box and you are greeted with styrofoam goodness. Something about styrofoam and gokin.....It's like chocolate and peanut butter...they just go together!

The paint and detail on this figure fantastic, right down to the rivets. Die-cast metal is used throughout this toy including arms, chest and legs. Giant Robo's comes with two sets of hands and has articulation allowing it to do most of the poses from the show.