Update
Updated Busou Shinki Links list with the updated guide for creating a Konami ID.
Toy links
Giant–sized Defensor.
Knock-off Transformers Protectobots repainted and gussied up with repro stickers.
Marmit versus Medicom.
Jeff Parker does a pictorial comparison between the two 1/6 scale versions of Boba Fett.
Beauty is …
A scene that will not end well featuring figures from the Sideshow Toys Eye of the Beholder set.
Microman news.
Sadly, it would seem Takara Tomy is relying solely on licenses.
Micronauts commercials.
They didn’t need special effects or fancy tricks to sell those toys.
HobbyLink Japan power ups.
HLJ not only provides a valuable service to non-Japanese toy fans but its web site is a key reference site for Fanmode.
Toy review roundup
Dan Wakerhauser reviews the Marvel Toys Legendary Comic Book Heroes Conan the Barbarian and Wrarrl, and Clownface and Panda two-packs. Excerpt: “I don’t know how legendary these heroes can be since Conan is the only one I’ve ever heard of …”
Dan Wakerhauser also reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends Black Queen Toys R Us exclusive figure. Excerpt: “As the Black Queen, Jean Grey’s costume consisted of a corset, briefs, long gloves, boots, a choker and a cape. The figure gets at least half of it wrong.”
Josh Bernard reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Yotsuba figure. Excerpt: “If you are not into cute, this is not the toy for you.”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Deluxe Barricade figure. Excerpt: “… there’s no question that Barricade is a cool toy, and an excellent representation of the movie character …”
Adam Pawlus reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Stalker figure. Excerpt: “25 years later, it seems the toy business still works pretty much the same way.”
yo go re reviews the Art Asylum Minimates Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E set. Excerpt: “This is a very cool set of Minimates, without any real shortcomings.”
Scott Rubin reviews the Art Asylum Star Trek Minimates Captain Kirk & Vina, Captain Pike & Spock and Scotty & McCoy two-packs. Excerpt: “They have great articulation and really perfect likenesses that bring out the individual characters.”
Retro reviews
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1985 Tonka Gobots combiner Puzzler. Excerpt: “It shouldn’t work, but it does, and very well at that, resulting in a surprisingly solid robot.”
Josh Bernard reviews the 2000 Unifive Choshingokin Daikyojin DX set. Excerpt: “The Daikyojin DX set is a remarkable toy, one that has modern engineering while maintaining the old school styling.” (See also.)
John Muir reviews the 1976 Mattel Pulsar: The Ultimate Man of Adventure figure. Excerpt: “He didn’t have the advantage of his own TV show, so maybe I need to create one. Now I just need to find someone with a see-through torso…” (See also.)
Simon Skey does a video review of the 1987 Hasbro Transformers Headmaster Mindwipe figure. Excerpt: “… it really does show that by the late 80s Hasbro really were just churning them out for the sake of churning them out.”
Toy links
Daimos power up.
Shihatsu experimented with various weapons mods for the Busou Shinki Vitulus and Tigris mecha combination.
Busou Shinki light saber.
Master Takamura used a Hiromi Milight, which we believe is actually a fishing lure, for these cool custom weapons.
The Art of the Brick.
Nathan Sawaya’s Lego sculptures have been featured on CNN and are being displayed in museums around the US. He is a Certified Lego Professional.
MugenDaiRyuutei.
A Mugenbine fanmode by N.N.G.R.
Microguns.
The Blue Box Toys Elite Force 1:18 scale weapons and accessories are perfect for gearing up your Microman figures.
Chevrolet Aveo Swerve.
An exclusive Transformers figure limited to 2,000 pieces.