Getter Robo (Metallic San Diego Comicon 08)
Review by JoshB
This is a cool toy, not so much for what it is, but for what it means.
On the surface it is a redeco of the old GX-06 Getter Robo set, but this time it is just Getter 1 all by his lonesome. It's essentially the same toy as the GX-06, with different color and material. The metal content has remained the same.
What makes this special though, is that it is a collaboration between US toymaker Toynami and JP toymaker Bandai. This toy was an exclusive at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, and was limited to 500 pcs. This is the first time a Soul of Chogokin toy has been offered as an exclusive to the American market. The toy was later released as a Bandai Tamashii web shop exclusive, but still, we got it first.
This collaboration between Bandai and Toynami is remarkable for several reasons. First, it shows that Bandai Japan recognizes and understands that there is a domestic market (at least they did when they planned this). They also decided to bypass the logical choice of Bandai America in favor of the collector-focused Toynami. BA would likely try to re-mold or change the toys for a more general audience where Toynami is more likely to keep them intact.
There was a lot of talk at the time about bringing future SOC releases to the US through Toynami, but as of this writing, this has been the only release.
The packaging for this release is new and unique to the US market. A monochrome red box with the Toynami logo on it holds an old-school styro tray. Very cool.
Here's to Toynami bringing more SOC exclusives to the US.
Comments
23 comments postedWhen DID you write this article, Josh?
I wrote it a few months ago, but how is it dated? Nothing has changed since I wrote it. Its still the only US SOC, Still the first US SOC, and the first SOC for toynami?
Granted, the Toynami / Tamashii partnership is more cemented now, but its still the only thing we've seen come out of that arrangement.
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CollectionDX Admin
I remember hearing about this as an SDCC exclusive and wanted so very bad to go because of it. I actually don't own any Chogokins myself since I'm still just a student, and I thought this would be a good place to start. But because of plane ticket complications and what not, this piece never made it into my collection. : /
This piece, (Which I think is friggin terrific by the way; I love mine) is still quite available. It's even on clearance for a very reasonable price at BBTS. Go for it.
I didn't expect to find any at SDCC since I went Saturday... but was very happy to find there was still a pile of it at the Tamashii booth. I just walked to the cash register and got two (meanwhile my wife stood in line for me for over an hour at the Hasbro booth...lol).
Picked this guy up from BBTS too I think he's still on clearance. Very cool SOC to have in your collection like him lots.
Larkin
anyone know if he is biggie or same size as the Bandai GX-06 size or same as the getter G version
It's the same size as the GX-06. It's the same toy, just different appearance.
What a weird choice for a standalone release. The Getter 1 SOC isn't that great on its own. Seems like kind of a poor choice to get people excited.
-Andrew
Boy I'm glad to see someone here noticed something awkward about it. I must second that notion...I really gotta admit that variable wise, SOC Getter 1 isn't that great of a super robot toy to arouse collectors, and it's not that charismatic to attract toy collectors buy more SOCs from a local distribution source for a great deal.
If they wanted to do a standalone release, it would've been more prestigious and logical for Bandai and Toynami to either release SOC Mazinger Z since the superhero robot embodies the posterity of modern chogokin culture.
I also think that Mazinger would've serve as a testament of good faith on Toynami/Banadai's part for more great things to come in SOC without paying a chunk of import tax to get over here. Getter Robo just isn't enough.
-R78
If any stand alone SOC is worthy of limited release it's Mazinger Z. Who else better represents retro 70's iconic Super Chogokin Robots? The only reason they might not have done it is because they've done a gaZillion (exaggerated) versions of SOC Mazinger Zs already (11+ and counting...).
Hey!....I've just said that mister. No fair.
Heh, heh, heh.... Well...it's nice to see great minds thinking alike.
Anyway, if you think that's the only reason for Bandai from releasing Mazinger here in first light, then how do you explain them doing countless gaZillion variants of SOC Getter Robos and Grendizers and Great Mazingers? That's no excuse to leave Mazinger out though in my opinion. Bad judgment call on Bandai's part as well as Toynami's.
No matter the circumcumstances, Mazinger Z is SOCs flagship model, and Bandai Co. that capitalizes it everyday in the Japanese market ought to know better.
-R78
before you did (21:39 me, 23:09 you)- but who cares anyway?
And about your comment that Bandai made a lot of SOC Getter Robo- I only know one other than this SDCC exclusive. That would be the the GX-06M (Training Version). So that only makes three compared to about eleven for Mazinger. But who's counting? (heh-heh...)
Who's counting the Mazingers you say?
heh-heh, I'm betting my yen on JoshB.
-R78
You are all wrong. They shouldn't ever release another Mazinger Z because of the gazillion others. Nor should they have released Getter 1 since it's not as iconic here. No, they should have released Getter Dragon! We had the cartoon here and those who didn't surely are familiar with the Shogun Warrior toys. Getter Dragon all the way.
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
I bet you're just saying that b/c you're a die-hard Shogun Warriors fan dude. I don't blame you for doing so, but I still think my comment's still valid though, for Mazinger Z is an ideal candidate. Come to think of it, they should've either released a SOC Mazinger Z vs Garada K-7 or SOCs Great Mazinger/Getter Dragon double boxset or even a SOC Grendizer as a standalone release.
Those are great and attractive choices for a US debut, but they've chose the wrong mech. Like I said before...those guys are to know better.
-R78
Not at all. If anything, it was more anti-Mazinger Z than anything. But I really think if you showed the average person in the USA most of the classic Japanese super robots, Dragun is the one they're most likely to recognize. Maybe Gaiking, but everyone knows Getter Dragun is cooler than Gaiking. And there hasn't been a re-issue of Dragun.
"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High
I warmly admire your passion for this robot. I highly agree that Getter Dragon is way more appealing to the public. I think it's way more appealing than it's predecessor....I mean granted it's the 1st combiner transformer, but it's not convincing one. I didn't like the 1st Getter Robo at all b/c it's goofy, tacky, and kitschy looking. Getter Dragon is an amazing improvement. So yeah I can respect why every Shogun Warriors fan would dig Getter Dragon than Gaiking.
Personally, while I think Getter-D's cooler than the old one, I've felt that Gaiking's more appealing. I mean who doesn't think it's cool to have a big skull for a torso?
-R78
I didn't realize they had released so many Mazingers. This is still a decent SOC repaint and who isn't a Getta fan... does that fact that he looks like he's holding two giant purple Turkey drumsticks seem to bother anyone? The hatchet clubs don't seem to match his look, like Getta Dragon's do. Did he steal them from a Robeast he destroyed in the Manga...
Larkin
Honestly what they need to redo and could release in the US Toynami...would be Spaceketeers ...from force five. We can get Gaiking, Grandizer, Getter Dragun, even Danguard Ace (from Yamato)...maybe a 12 inch ship with starcrow etc...just a dream sniff..all the new SOC coming are mazinger part 100 and anime stuff. Only old popy stuff from Spaceketeers exist
I'm a week behind, but have to agree with NekroDave; Getter Dragun (or even Gaiking)is much more recognized in the US. Even friends not into the cartoons or collecting know/vaguely remember Dragun and Gaiking from Force Five.
I love the toy itself, even though I'm getting rid of mine, but like Larkin, have always thought the axe/clubs seem out of place. Purple? They don't have to be metal, but play-doh purple?
Thanks for this article & the wonderful photography!
I ain't familiar with this anime, but this is one awesome bot! Streamlined without alot of outrageous, extraneous fiddly crap.
BlazeEagle
To the original Popy Getter Robo gokin. That alone makes him worth having.