I've finally "completed" my jumbo Shogun Warriors collection.

I say "completed" in quotation marks because of course there are still variations out there that I should probably get someday, but for the time being, I just wanted one version of each character available in the Shogun Warriors line. And some may find it odd that Dragun would be the last one I would get since he is among the most common and popular ones out there, but I was waiting for just the right specimen, at just the right price.

So, why did I need a particular specimen? Well, it's been awhile since I was cranking out jumbo reviews on a regular basis, but you may remember that I do have the original Popy version. And by all accounts, the first version Shogun Dragun was the exact same toy simply in a different box. So I figured that if I'm going to have more than one toy of the same character, I would like them to be as different as possible. To that end, I decided that I would not buy a Shogun Dragun until I saw a complete, box "lightning legs" version at a decent price.

As you can see, this version replaces the traditional "V" stickers on the legs with some silver lightning bolts.

Why?

Who knows? But this is usually the version that is the least popular so every time I'd say I specifically wanted this version to a friend, they would often wonder what the heck was wrong with me. But variety is important to me. So here are all of my jumbo Getter Dragons.

(l-r) Popy, Mattel, Nacoral, Famosa

(Famosa review forthcoming..)

I'm really glad I held out for that version because when I got it, I noticed some things about it that I didn't know before. For instance, did you notice that the Popy version is shorter than the Mattel version? Why would that be if the only different is the leg stickers? Well, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the feet on the Mattel version are actually modified feet from a Great Mazinger!

I'd never seen this reported anywhere else and it makes me wonder what other barely noticeable differences there are among the various versions that can't be seen without having all of them in one place!

One other difference that WAS known is of course the fact that the spinning sawblades from the Popy version were removed from this version. Also, the star shooter accessory was added to the Mattel version. The first version Mattel one has a strap but this one has the more common clip on version.

My specimen came with 12 stars and three axes.

So, other than pointing out those differences and just adding this toy to our database, there really isn't much more I feel like I can add.

(And yes, I know I haven't reviewed the Shogun Warriors Goldorak. I have it and will do it....later. )

One can argue that this toy was the one that sparked the imagination of kids in the late 70s, fueling our now current frenzy for all things giant and robot.

The Shogun Warriors. Invincible guardians of world freedom. These toys are the ones that sparked our imagination back in the late 70s, and shaped our idea of cool. Not everyone had a Shogun Warrior – at the time most kids were busy with more affordable toy lines such as Star Wars, Micronauts and Mego Super heroes. But those of us who got them knew that we were onto something special.

Great Mazinga was one of the original Shogun Warrior characters, and probably the most recognizable. You ask people of that generation if they had one, and they may not recall the name (“Great something?”) but you describe the bright red V on the chest and they go “That’s the one! It shot fists!”

Like the rest of the Shogun Warriors line, Great Mazinga was actually a repackaged Popy toy. The first release of Great Mazinga was simply titled “Mazinga” and was identical to its Japanese Counterpart.

The version shown here is the second version, a greatly dumbed-down version for the american market. Gone are the knee and waist decals. Gone is the multi color scrander with chrome engine nozzles. Nope, this one was clearly designed to be cheap and easy.

It's still a good toy, and its likely the one most kids got back in the day. The whole body is diecast metal with plastic being reserved for the head, chest V and arms.

The arms shoot off with a satisfying "Plink!" when the buttons on the arms are pushed.

Great Mazinga comes with two cheap red plastic swords. These can be held in either hand, but cannot be stored in the legs like with the Jumbo Machinder version.

The scrander is detachable.

The box is a classic example of 70s package design, with the clear plastic tray, die-cut window and side flap. This particular specimen is from the Josh C10 Fraser collection, and I have tried my best to keep it C10. I believe this came out of a sealed case. Yeah, I opened it.

To me, this guy (or any version thereof) is one of the cornerstone pieces of any vintage Japanese toy collection. It is relevant in so many ways, it set the stage for so much that was going to come. One can argue that this toy was the one that sparked the imagination of kids in the late 70s, fueling our now current frenzy for all things giant and robot.

Another classic, beloved Shogun Warriors toy. Raydeen evoked fond memories in me when I first saw him again as an adult, but once I discovered the original, it lost it's appeal for me.

Two years after Popy released their Raideen Jumbo Machinder, the toy would be imported into North America and Europe as part of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line-up. Mattel labeled the toy as "Raydeen" on the packaging. Depending on who's doing the writing, you'll see it listed sometimes as "Raideen" or "Reideen". There are three versions of this Mattel release. I won't focus on those differences since that's already been done here. What I will touch on is the difference between the Mattel and Popy versions. The Mattel version I have is version 2.

The first thing that jumps out at you is that the left fist has been changed. Instead of having the original bow-fist, Mattel attached a launching "Iron Cutter" fist that was originally a part of Popy's line of Jumbo accessory fists, designated XX-13. It's nice that they wanted you to have another launching fist, but it really throws off the symmetry of the toy, with one hand now hanging lower than the other.

If you stand the Popy and Mattel versions side by sie, you'd notice that the Mattel one is actually taller. On the 2nd version, this can partly be attributed to the different wheel housing on the feet, but more significant is the fact that the legs have been elongated at the knees. In the picture below, notice that the Mattel version (on the left) has a lot more blue plastic above the screw before you get to the white upper leg. You'll also see that the Popy version comes with stickers on the side of the leg, while the Mattel (2nd version at least) did not.

I have no idea why this extra material was added, but personally, I prefer the stockier look of the original toy better. One thing is sure though, while replacing the Iron Cutter with a bow-fist will make your Shogun Warrior Raydeen look better, it's still noticeably different from the Popy version.

Other than those things, it's basically the same as the Popy toy (with the other differences detailed in the link above notwithstanding.) As with most of the Shogun Warrior Jumbos, it's very, very common on ebay.

This is very likely the easiest to acquire Jumbo out there. But it's a classic and should be in your collection....

Leading the charge for Mattel's Shogun Warrior invasion in the late 1970s was Great Mazinger (called Great Mazinga on the box). This is probably the most easily recognizable Jumbo out there. Not only was it released in great numbers, it also had several different versions produced from Matttel alone. (For more on the variations between releases, check out this site.) Additionally, it was also released in such places as, of course, Japan, but also Hong Kong, Spain and Venezuela. Various different forms to be sure, but quite obviously the same basic toy.

The version I have is the third version with the cheaper sticker on the chest. Now, most people think I'm a bit nuts for wanting to get this one instead of the more elaborate and eye-pleasing first version, but I have a solid reason for that. I simply wanted the one that was most different from the Unifive version that I already had when I bought this. Naturally, I'd love to have every Jumbo ever released at some point in my life, but until then, variety is the way to go for me. Some might suggest just getting all three Mattel versions, but frankly, I just wanted one of each character and then move on. I can also get the other versions later if desired.

If you've clicked the links above, you'll see that about the only other significant thing that sets this toys apart from the previously reviewed versions is that it has a normal right hand and a rocket launcher for a left hand, instead of a matching pair of either. Furthermore, this toy comes with only 3 missiles on each leg instead of the usual 5. Recently, someone was actually able to recognize that my tattoos were from this toy!

You SHOULD own all the Jumbo Shogun Warriors. This is a fact. But if you want only one of each character, you're probably better off getting one of the earlier versions of Great Mazinga, unless you already have the Popy/U5 version and think the same way I do. This version is not as nice, but is cheaper. I paid just over $100, I think, for mine. And they are all over Ebay.

Ok, sorry if this review stunk and that I made you look at my hairy leg. But let's face, this is basically the 5th time I've had to review essentially the same toy so forgive me if it becomes progressively harder to keep it interesting! Maybe this appearance of the toy in the 1982 made for TV movie "Don't Go To Sleep" will add some spice.

And naturally, the old commercials are always fun, too.

As you can see in the pics, I'm missing the sticker for one of the knees. If you've got one, let me know. I've got an extra sticker from the pelvis I could swap for it.

This is a great toy, but tough to find in excellent condition.

I didn’t have a lot of the Shogun Action Vehicles when I was growing up. I had plenty of the smaller robots, and a few jumbos, but for some reason I never got the small action vehicles. I did however drool over the images on the back of the packages I did have.

One of the cool designs that caught my eye was the Sky Jet. I noticed how similar it looked to the Grand Car, and I was enamored with these weird smiley faces on the front of the vehicles.

I know now that these Shogun Action vehicles were repackaged toys from Popy’s Popynica series of chogokin vehicles. Mattel got the licenses and sold them in the United States in the late 70s.

This particular vehicle, the Sky Jet, was one of two vehicles that came from the Tokuatsu TV show Kyodain. Each vehicle featured Skyzel and Granzel in one of their alternate forms.

Sky Jet features a diecast top ship and a plastic launching missile. The Top ship is almost entirely metal. The nose is made out of rubber so as to meet safety standards. The back features 2 missile launchers and another button that launches the missile below.

The missile actually has wheels of its own. When launched, the missile will roll away across the floor. The black sections of the missile are made out of rubber, but do not turn.

This is a great toy, but tough to find in excellent condition. The eyes and mouths of each vehicle are just stickers, and often fall off over time you will notice that on my specimen, the eyes are painted on the missile. This was done by the previous owner, not the factory.

Also, the latch that holds the missile in is fragile, and can break. This results in the missile not locking in. My Sky Jet has a broken clip, so the missile does not go in all the way.

Sky Jet is a very cool, very funky old toy.

This is another example where the original Popy Jumbo Machinder is infinitely better than the Shogun Warriors version, but regardless, I'll always love this Mattel toy.

I don't care what anybody says, I love the Shogun Warrior Daimos. This is THE one for me. The one that brings me back to when I was little. I was just three years old in 1978 when it was released, but I distinctly remember my first exposure to it, hidden away in my parent's closet, waiting for it's Christmas time unveiling. Technically, I think it was a gift for one of my older brothers, who'd led me to that closet in the first place, but we all played with it (as well as the others in the line). There wasn't one in the line that I didn't love back then, but Daimos was my favorite. I loved the red and black color scheme, augmented by those silver and yellow stickers. I loved the slight smirk on his face. Maybe it made him looks closest to human and more easily related to or something. Or maybe it was just the wonder and excitement of looking into that closet and seeing something I wasn't supposed to that I've always connected with this toy. Regardless of why, I'll always love this one.

Of course, it's not the best Jumbo representation of the character. The Popy original is widely considered a masterpiece and most people agree that the Mattel version can't hold a candle to it. Too many changes were made and too many corners cut for this release. Most of the weapons were dumbed down or removed entirely. None of the handheld weapons are included anymore and the parts that formed those weapons originally have been replaced by stickers. The missile launchers on the upper thighs are gone. The ones on the calves are still there, but for some reason the color of those missiles have been changed from red to yellow (4 are included). Instead of both fists shooting, only the right one does.

The stickers on the arms, legs and pelvis of the Popy version have been replaced with a couple original stickers on the front of the legs. Strangely, although there were both English and Japanese language waist stickers on the Popy version, Mattel only used the Japanese language one, an odd choice since this was released in an English speaking country. Of course, this was also released in Europe, but it still seems sort of bizarre to me. Perhaps they wanted some consistency with the other imported jumbos in the line.

Daimos is pretty simple beyond those changes. There is simple articulation at the neck, shoulders and hips, though moving the legs is pointless since you really can't pose it anyway. The right fist is jointed so it can be swiveled, which is cool, but it kind of just makes you sad that the left one isn't the same. Furthermore, the right fist now hangs lower than the left. The missiles launchers on the legs can turn to rest in a dip in the legs. Each foot has one large and one small roller on the bottom.

Ok, so the Popy version is much better. In fact, in looking at Mike's review while writing this one, I like my toy a little less than when I started. But this is still the best Shogun Warrior Jumbos, in my opinion. All of them are asymmetrical in one way or another, but overall, I think this one has the best proportions and color scheme. It's also the hardest to get. Most suggest that is because it was released at the tail end of the line when sales where already sagging, and therefore had a lower production run.

In addition to Popy and Mattel, two other companies would release jumbos of Daimos. Nacoral (Spain) and Famosa (Venezuela) both released versions more similar to the Shogun Warrior. There is also another Daimos that is similar to the Mattel, "Super Daimos" I believe it was called. It had more missiles but it's uncertain if this was a legitimate release or a faked custom. At least one collector from the Philipines recalls a version there that had a hard plastic head with a light up feature (perhaps not unlike the Takara Giant Gorg toy), but at this time there's not a photograph of such a toy. Lastly, if you have the Mattel Daimos, but wanted to make it look more like the Popy, there have been custom sticker and resin repro parts on the web at various times to help with that. So you may see some interesting "hybrids" out there. The Popy add-on stickers are available at the Machindershop Yahoo! Group.

DAIMOS OPENING by ANIMETAL:

Though inferior to the Popy toy it's based on, the Shogun Warrior Gaiking is one of the most famous and beloved Jumbos worldwide.

Among the characters that Mattel chose to import from Popy's Jumbo Machinder line, the Shogun Warrior Gaiking is easily the most different from it's predecessor. It's almost a completely different toy. Since I don't actually own a Popy Gaiking, for the purposes of this review I'm actually comparing the Mattel version with the Unifive version, which is basically the same thing.

The first difference you can't help but notice is that the torso has been changed. Instead of separately molded parts that open to reveal the missile launchers/storage racks, the entire torso of the Shogun Warrior version is one molded piece. Stickers provide the black of the eyes as well as the silver and red off the mouth and the effect is far less impressive. The missiles still shoot from the eyes, but now the firing mechanism is located on the back. It utilizes the same mechanism as the one found on the Popy Dangard Ace Jumbo. Of course, what this means is that now there can be no wings on the back like the Popy Gaiking.

The firing right fist was carried over, but here Mattel added a hinge that allows for greater poseability than before. But the downside to that is that now the symmetry of the design has been compromised. And the extra black on the right arm has always sort of reminded me of Canada's Greatest Athlete. With the missile racks no longer available inside the chest, they are now stored on top of the shoulders. Most of the Shogun Warrior Jumbos had the regular red shaft/white fin missiles, but my Gaiking has the opposite color scheme.

The "Counter Cross" weapons that could be removed from the legs of the Popy toy have been replaced with simple stickers on the Mattel toy. Most people hate this, but in a way, I think it works better on this toy, since the chest has also been simplified. I think if you had separately molded "Counter Cross" weapons on the legs, they would stick out much further than the now flat torso and the effect would be strange looking. Of course, it would have been better if none of these changes were made at all.

About the only things that were not changed here are the hips and the head. The head looks like the exact same sculpt, but the paint job is much, much poorer on the Mattel toy. Not only is it more sloppily applied, but there is no color within the grills of the mouth. That missing detail makes a huge difference. The horns were molded in yellow instead of gold, but I have to admit, even though the gold looks nicer on the head, I sort of like that it now matches the color of the chest.

Now, you're probably reading all this and thinking, "Gee, Dave really hates the Shogun Warrior Gaiking" and that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just acknowledging that it is in fact inferior to the Popy toy. But it's also the toy I grew up with and loved as a kid. Due to it's inclusion in the "Force Five" cartoon, which was widely loved where I grew up, Gaiking was a VERY popular robot and remains so to this day. Though the cartoon wasn't one of my favorites of the group, only it and Getter Dragon were chracters from the show to be released in Jumbo form in the United States, so familiarity alone made me love the toy as a child. And despite it's flaws, I still love it as an adult.

It seems all the Mattel Shogun Warrior Jumbos were produced in great numbers and are pretty easy to find on Ebay. However, as easy as it is to get the Shoguns, it's not so easy to get them in PERFECT condition. Often the boxes are pretty beat up and things like inserts and paperwork are missing. A perfectly deadstock example will command a much higher premium.

I've listed the original price for Gaiking as $13.88 because I've seen a picture advertising Mazinga, Dragun and Raydeen for that much, and until I know better, I'd assume that Gaiking was the same cost. If you know otherwise, please let me know.

Probably not a must have for Jumbo Machinder fans, but it's one that no monster collector should be without.

Reviewing the Shogun Warriors Godzilla Jumbo feels like a daunting task. It's a bit like reviewing the sky. Most everyone is already familiar with it. Robot fans, Jumbo collectors, monster collectors and pretty much everyone in the vicintiy of 30 years of age seems to have owned this toy at some point in their lives, whether as children or adult collectors. But I think it should be covered and what better time to do it than during the Halloween season?

The Shogun Warriors was one of the most influential line of toys released in the 1970s and Godzilla was added to the group of Jumbos in 1977. It was the only kaiju released in the line and collectors are divided on it. Some consider it one of their most beloved childhood toys, while others think of it as a poor interpretation of the character and a bastardization of the Popy Jumbosaurus Godzilla. The interesting thing about this take though is that it seems to be wrong! The Mattel Godzilla was released in 1977, while the Jumbosaurus was released in 1978. So while it can be in vogue to bash Mattel for copying and dumbing down the Popy toys of the '70s, in this case it was Popy who seems to have copied Mattel. They even replicated the silly and inappropriate launching fist mechanism.

Both the left fist and the right launching fist can be turned to different positions. Additionally, the tail (with needs to be attached) turns and the position of the legs can be adjusted. Like the other jumbos in the line, there are wheels on the feet. The toy features a fiery tongue that can be extended from the mouth via a red lever on the back of the head.

This lever is one of the most commonly broken parts on the toy. You'll often find specimens with the toes cracked as well.

Frankly, I actually like this toy better than the Popy one. Partly for nostalgic reasons, but also because I like the eyes on this one more than the Popy. They just look meaner to me. The toy is smaller than the other jumbos in the line, at only 19.5" tall. Mattel released at least three slightly different variations of Godzilla. Since I generally am only interested in having one version of each character, I tend to not pay much attention to these minor differences so for further details about them, I'll direct you to John Eaton's classic Shogun Warriors page which lists the differences.

The Mattel Shogun Warrior Godzilla is a classic toy, but is probably not a must have for Jumbo Machinder fans. It doesn't quite fit either with the robots in the line or even any of the monstrous villains. However, it's one that no monster collector should be without. It's a pretty easy acquisition too as they are always available on eBay. The only trick can be getting one a perfect condition.