Frankenstein Magic Robot
Review by The Enthusiast
I've felt a little cranky and unsatisfied with a few toy purchases lately, but the Magic Robo makes it all better.
This is a cheapo drugstore transformer whose alt-mode is Frankenstein's head. These were originally made by Marca in the mid-eighties as Change Robo. The series also included a Dracula head, a Skull, and a King Kong head.
The box is beautifully illustrated. Dig that head!
And the sides feature more loopy goodness.
Magic Robo comes in a simple styrofoam tray.
The robot mode is dead simple. The arms fold out from the face shell/wing panels. I love the metallic decals. The paint apps are crummy, and the plastic has yellowed, but this thing has a certain brute charm.
To transform, you fold his arms and head down, and fold the wing pieces in.
I prefer this intermediate mode to the final head. Frank's head sits together tighter and I like the appearance of a neck and robotic shoulder pedestal.
The head collapses down for the proper alt-mode. As you can see, his facial panels don't close very well.
There are wheels and a pull-back motor on the base.
A goofy, charming piece. I want them all, though I'm not holding my breath. This is the only one I've ever seen.
Posted 10 July, 2011 - 14:38 by The Enthusiast |
Comments
9 comments postedThere is no limit to what a robot can transform into. A FRANKENSTEIN HEAD. Wow, Imagine if it can dock into a huge robotic Frankenstein body. This thing is so wacky its cool.
I mean someone has to come up with the idea, bring it to board meeting, get it approved, get someone to sculpt it, make test shots, packaging etc etc. Just wacky stuff. Thanks for this review
Wow, a Franken HEad master... awesome. I admit, it's much more strange than transforming Lock, or slot machine. I think in Japan, everything transform.
I have the Dracula, MIB was planning on reviewing it soon. They are great pieces, just so odd and wonderful. Great review!
CANT WAIT! I would love to see the Dracula one
Seconded! And if NekroDave is not in love with these well then he's just dead to me.
I am HUNGRY for one of these.
In america this would have just been a rolling-monster-head-toy. Japan? Turns into a robot. Doesn't matter what it is. Won't sell to Japanese kids unless it turns into a robot.
But hey, I can't say that I'm not a part of that demographic. Perhaps that's why I wouldn't be interested in a rolling monster head, but I WOULD be interested in monster head that turns into robot. Heck, everything can be improved that way! I'd have my sandwiches turn into edible robots if I could. Wouldn't even have to sell robo-sandwich; those suckers would just fly off the shelves! ...literally. They come with jetpacks; don't ask me how that works.
I pretty certain this whole series was available in the UK - I had the skeleton and the vampire for certain as a child.
In doing a little research for my review of the Dracula one - I've come to find out this toy is actually called "Horror Robot". Dracula is called "Devil Robot", King Kong is "Gorilla Robot" and the last is "Skull Robot"