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Astro Toy - Mega Drive Megatron
In his final Astro Toy column, David explores a Sega Megadrive with a secret. You might, in fact, say that it's a robot... in disguise.― Mega Drive MegatronMaker: Takara/Tomy (with Sentinel) Series: Transformers / Hi☆sCoool! Seha GirlsPrice: $100Well, let's get the big thing out of the way: this is my final Astro Toy column. The column is undergoing some major changes in format for 2015 and I've...
Astro Toy - Figma Ninja Slayer
There's already an action figure for Trigger's upcoming ninja show, and of course, David already has it.― figma Ninja Slayer Maker: Phat!! Company Series: Ninja Slayer Price: $50I want to talk to you about how great Ninja Slayer is, because nobody but me seems to be saying so in English. Ninja Slayer is a Japanese light novel series, originally posted in pieces on Twitter at @NJ_SLYR. Its gimmick,...
Astro Toy - Figma Haruka Nanase
Are you ready for the swim boys? David sure is, and figma Haruka is here to help.― figma Haruka Nanase Maker: Hobby Stock Series: FREE! Price: $50Finally, it's that “Swimming Anime” I've been hearing so much about! Full disclosure, I really don't know anything about FREE! other than the following: FREE! is Kyoto Animation's popular series about boys swimming for the benefit of fujoshi. It is notab...
Astro Toy - Figma Inogashira Goro Extra Helping Version
A deluxe, accessory-heavy figma of a very normal, very hungry salaryman. He can smoke, too!― Figma Inogashira Goro Extra Helping Version Series: Kodoku no Gourmet (The Solitary Gourmet) Maker: Good Smile Price: $80Again this week, I have explaining to do. This whole article may be an excuse to just talk about the Solitary Gourmet. I am not ashamed.Kodoku no Gourmet is a manga about a traveling bu...
Astro Toy - Myth Cloth EX Pegasus Seiya
It's another visit to the world of big, heavy, construct-it-yourself Myth Cloth armor and the world of Saint Seiya.― Myth Cloth EX Pegasus Seiya Series: Saint Seiya Maker: Bandai Price: $60Hey, everyone! Who wants to hear about the behind-the-scenes of the column again? You do, of course. I had four things set to ship out this month, and last week all of them were pushed back to either November or...
Astro Toy - Figma Ryuko Matoi
David's back to the Figma line again, this time with Kill la Kill's hot-blooded heroine Ryuko.― Figma Ryuko MatoiMaker: Good Smile Series: Kill La KillPrice: $50-60After a little sidetrack into the unknown, we're back on Kill La Kill. See Nendoroid Mako previously. This time we have the figma of the main character Ryuko wearing her battle armor, the living, speaking, blood-sucking sailor uniform...
Astro Toy - Dynamite Action Big Dai-X
It's that special time of year when the leaves turn, the air turns crisp and brisk, and David reviews another extremely obscure and expensive giant robot.― Dynamite Action Big Dai-XSeries: X-Bomber/Star Fleet Maker: Evolution ToyPrice: $130I know that you're all looking at me like I've lost it again. I haven't topped Galvion for obscurity: I'm not sure I'll ever be able to beat reviewing somethi...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Mako Mankanshoku
It's a Nendoroid of Mako from Kill la Kill! How can you resist?― Nendoroid Mako Mankanshoku Series: Kill La Kill Maker: Good Smile Price: $60This is Nendoroid number 408. Last May, Nendoroid #300 (Miku 2.0) came out. So in about a little under 18 months, the line has produced over 100 figures! With that many figures coming out in so little time, I have found the quality is all over the place on th...
Astro Toy - SH Figuarts Naruto
At long last, David covers a Naruto action figure.― SH Figuarts Naruto Maker: Bandai Series: Naruto Price: $50Boy, here's an overdue one. When I started this column I wondered to myself “I wonder when I'll order Naruto.” Well, it's been four years since then and here we are.Speaking of which, Naruto is now a 15-year-old series (the manga began in 1999!), one of the only truly big international hi...
Astro Toy - Figma Crystal Bowie
He's translucent, he's evil, he's out to get our man Cobra, and now he's a figma.― Figma Crystal Bowie Series: Space Adventure Cobra Maker: Good Smile Price: $65Figma, figma. I've been doing this column for years now, my first review was of a figma. I've seen a hell of a lot of them in the meantime and said everything that there is to be said about the line. Every popular character gets a figma, a...
Astro Toy - SH Figuarts Mario
It's-a me, Mario! In SH Figuarts form, with a ton of fun accessories.― SH Figuarts Mario And AccessoriesSeries: Super Mario Maker: Bandai Price: $65 with accessories, $25 withoutThis is an interesting release for Bandai. They've been doing videogame figures for the past few years under the “D-Arts” (D as in Digital) label... but the figures were noticeably inferior to Bandai's usual work in both ...
Astro Toy - Chogokin Hello Kitty
David finds himself impressed with a full-on giant robot Hello Kitty from the Chogokin line.― Chogokin Hello Kitty Series: Hello Kitty Maker: Bandai/Sanrio Price: $55So alright, we have a really weird one again this week. Shall I explain the joke? Both Bandai's Chogokin line and Sanrio's Hello Kitty have their 40th birthday this year. These two massive Japanese toy/merchandise lines from the same ...
Astro Toy - Variable Action Hi-Spec Galvion
David tricks ANN management into paying $140 for an obscure transforming robot, and the results are glorious.― Variable Action Hi-Spec Galvion Maker: Megahouse/T-Rex Series: Super High Speed Galvion Price: $140“What the hell is this?” is what you're probably asking right now. Some of you might be asking “How the hell did you get away with this?” on top of that. Well, like I say, I simply buy what'...
Astro Toy - Figma Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman
Two hotly anticipated figmas from the world of Attack on Titan are up for review! PLUS: A contest! Learn how you can win these guys!― Figma Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman Series: Attack on Titan Maker: Max Factory/Good Smile Price: ~$50 eachWe haven't had a double review in a really long time. Usually I do it with teams: like if you're watching Jojo Stardust Crusaders right now, we did those figu...
Astro Toy - Proplica Moon Stick
David transforms using Moon Prism Power and this delightful prop replica.― Proplica Moon Stick Maker: Bandai Series: Sailor Moon Price: $98Bandai waits until a thing turns 20 to fully exploit nostalgia with high-end merchandise, and right now that thing is Sailor Moon. My question when the Figuarts came out was “how did this take so long?”, but as we speak we're basically in the thick of it. Every...
Astro Toy - DX Munyu Munyu Zuba—n
David revels in the strangeness of another artifact from Akibaranger.― DX Munyu Munyu Zuba—n Maker: Bandai Series: Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger Season 2 Price: $80 (sale)Oh my god, has it been a while. I've gotten through a tear of Figmas and Nendoroids and basically normal things, but this. This is different. I love to get obscure and interesting things for the column, but this figure is actuall...
Astro Toy - Figma Rintarou Okabe
It's a Figma! This time from Steins;Gate! And it has proper lab slippers!― Figma Rintarou Okabe Series: Steins;Gate Maker: GSC Price: ~$48I've found that Steins;Gate is one of those “you haven't watched Steins;Gate?!” series, so I'm going to come out of the gate and say I haven't seen Steins;Gate. That being said, it's pretty popular, Galvion got delayed... so we bought a figma off the shelf. This...
Astro Toy - Figma Strength
This ambitious Black Rock Shooter figure teaches David that sometimes, Figma's reach exceeds its grasp.― Figma Strength Maker: Good Smile Series: Black Rock Shooter Price: $66Ah, yes, this figure. How long has it been? According to my records, I preordered this figure in July of last year, and it was set for a September release. The first delay was for December: we were going to let the order laps...
Astro Toy - Figma Amy
Dave checks out a figma of the heroine from Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, and walks away satisfied.― Figma Amy Series: Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Maker: Good Smile Price: $50I looked at two Nendoroids over the last month, and now we're going straight into the other GSC flagship line, figma. I wouldn't have thought, when I started this column, that we wouldn't review figmas very often. ...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Tomoko Kuroki
No Matter How Dave Looks At It, it's his fault he bought two Nendoroids this close to one another. But who could resist Tomoko?― Nendoroid Tomoko Kuroki Maker: Good Smile Company Series: Watamote Price: $48Now we just did a Nendoroid here at Astro Toy, and I realize this might be redundant... but it's alright, it's Watamote. The title is an abbreviation, short for (when translated) “No Matter How ...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Mikasa Ackerman
The crush of Attack on Titan figures continues with a Nendoroid version of everyone's totally ripped heroine, Mikasa.― Nendoroid Mikasa Ackerman Series: Attack on Titan Maker: GSC Cost: $48It's Valentine's Day, or weekend, or it's in the area, and I happen to have a figure of a character who many otaku have certainly pledged themselves to in a long-term, fictional relationship. It's Mikasa from At...
Astro Toy - Sentinel X T-Rex Black Getter
It's robot o'clock once more on Astro Toy, this time with a look at a Sentinel version of Black Getter.― Sentinel X T-Rex Black Getter Series: Shin (Change!!) Getter Robo Maker: Sentinel Price: ~$106Welcome back, everybody! I was just looking at the stack, and then looking back at the order queue, and I've been thinking. The Titan thing shipped, but it's not in my hands yet. I've got a robot sitti...
Astro Toy - Real Action Heroes Princess of the Crystal
David crosses an item off his Astro Toy Bucket List and finally gets his hands on a Real Action Heroes figure, this time from Mawaru Penguindrum!― Real Action Heroes Princess of the Crystal Maker: Medicom Series: Mawaru Penguindrum Price: $120 or more?!So I've been doing this column for a couple of years now and we've never, ever bought from this one toy line, Real Action Heroes. Of course, I've b...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Colossal Titan And Attack Playset
David checks out the first in what is sure to be a very long line of Attack on Titan toys, this time in Nendoroid form.― Nendoroid Colossal Titan And Attack Playset Series: Attack on Titan Maker: Good SmilePrice: $63Remember how I said it takes a year or so for anime series to start producing decent figures? Well, due to its massive popularity (and perhaps the fact that the manga had already been...
Astro Toy - Cu-Poche Mami Tomoe
David loses his head over a non-Nendoroid version of Nendoroid-esque Mami.― Cu-Poche Mami Tomoe Series: Madoka Magica Maker: Kotobukiya Price: ~$50Hi, gang. Did you manage to see Madoka 3 in its little theatrical run a few weeks back? I'm going to break my rule and talk about what I thought of it. About half an hour into the movie, I thought “This isn't important or anything, but it's pretty fun.”...
Astro Toy - Figma Hatsune Miku 2.0
Dave inspects the the 200th Figma, and of course, it's Hatsune Miku.― Figma Hatsune Miku 2.0 Series: Vocaloid Maker: Good Smile Price: ~$50If you pay attention to this column and Japanese toys at large, you might have noticed I gave away the identity of this week's item last time by its item number: figma #200. Nendoroid Miku 2.0 is #300 in that line. It demonstrates exactly how popular and import...
Astro Toy - Figma Link
Figma Link hookshots his way into David's heart.― figma Link Series: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (game) Maker: Max Factory/Good Smile Price: $50And Nintendo Month concludes with a reprint of a release from about a year ago. To give you an idea of how fast the Figma line moves, I have figma #200 sitting in the to-review pile. This figure, from a year ago, is #153. Give or take a few months, they...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Isabelle (Shizue)
David checks out a Nendoroid from Animal Crossing that he's still making payments to Tom Nook for.― Nendoroid Isabelle (Shizue) Maker: Good Smile Series: Animal Crossing (game) Cost: ~$45Hello and welcome to what has turned out to be Nintendo Month here at Astro Toy! I want to take a moment to say that whenever Astro Toy's schedule lines up in a theme-like way or perhaps matches with a news story,...
Astro Toy - Rio-Bot Blodia
An obscure robot from an obscure fighting game? Why not!― Rio-Bot Blodia Series: Cyberbots Maker: Sentinel Cost: ~$80I haven't made it a secret when I talk about this column on Twitter that I just really like Sentinel's figures. We have a bunch of their stuff coming up in the coming months on the column, and I might even be buying their super-deluxe Giant Gorg in April. It appears to be a direct c...
Astro Toy - Revoltech Yotsuba Koiwai and Danboard
It's an especially heartwarming Astro Toy featuring Yotsuba and Danboard.― Revoltech Yotsuba Koiwai and Danboard Series: Yotsuba&! Maker: Kaiyodo Price: ~$40 eachWe haven't been able to cover the Revoltech line for a while. mostly it's game and robot characters (and though you all know I love them, I do make an effort to keep the robots to times when nothing else is going on release-wise). How lon...
Astro Toy - Super Robot Chogokin Shin Getter One
The Soul of Chogokin provides Dave with yet another fantastically-rendered Super Robot.― Super Robot Chogokin Shin Getter One (OVA Version) Maker: Bandai Series: Shin (Change!!) Getter Robo Price: $70I hear you can get a lot of hits on your internet article if you remember the 90s. Hey guys!! Remember the 90s? With Urkel? And Shin Getter Robo??Seriously, though, Shin Getter Robo. Do you mind a li...
Astro Toy - SH Figuarts Sailor Moon
After years of waiting, David finally gets his hands on a premium Sailor Moon figure.― SH Figuarts Sailor Moon Maker: Bandai Series: Sailor Moon Price: 42.99I've actually kind of had a statement prepared for the inevitable release of this figure, so bear with me for a second.Ahem.What the hell took so long? Sailor Moon was quite popular in its day, and that popularity has endured with its fans w...
Astro Toy - Chogokin Archer (Gilgamesh)
David checks out a somewhat pricey companion piece to Saber from Fate/Zero.― Chogokin Archer (Gilgamesh)Series: Fate/Zero Maker: BandaiCost: ~$95A few months ago we looked at Chogokin Saber, and in keeping with the storied line of diecast metal toys, it was a very impressive figure. It was, then, a very easy decision to put in an order on the follow-up piece, Archer. Not that Archer, from Fate S...
Astro Toy - Super Action Statue Joseph Joestar
Dave revisits the Super Action Statue line with another Jojo's Bizarre Adventure item.― Super Action Statue Joseph JoestarSeries: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency Maker: MedicosPrice: $55Hey, guys, back from Otakon over here! Did you see Yoko Kanno in concert? I hope you did, for your sake. She was unbelievable. I'm also very happy to say that my foray into comic sales was a hug...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Mikudayo
Another Sunday with a Nendoroid Miku, but this one's a little... off.― Nendoroid Mikudayo Series: Vocaloid Maker: Good Smile CompanyPrice: $40We're back to Miku again; this is how I make it up to the reader base after taking a detour into robot country. Actually, looking back into my records, this figure had been delayed once every month since March, making it a regular headache for me and probab...
Astro Toy - DX Soul of Chogokin Mazinger Z Jet Scrander Set
The massive, expensive Soul of Chogokin Mazinger Z gets a massive, expensive accessory pack.― DX Soul of Chogokin Mazinger Z Jet Scrander Set Series: Mazinger Z Maker: Bandai Cost: $100(This is the third(!!) Astro Toy feature on DX Soul Of Chogokin Mazinger Z. See parts one and two for equally massive reviews of the base figure and its accessories.)Oh my god, did you guys see Pacific Rim? Oh my g...
Astro Toy - Nendoroid Hatsune Miku 2.0
Hatsune Miku returns in difficult-to-find Nendoroid form.― Nendoroid Hatsune Miku 2.0Series: Vocaloid Maker: Good Smile Price: $40-50 (probably more, if you are lucky enough to come across it)Here at Astro Toy I do the shopping myself, and assembling a schedule for the year creates its own work aside from the actual writing of the column. If you're familiar with Japanese otaku toys in the last te...
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