April 2017 Haul: S.I.C. Masked Rider X and Appologeist plus S.H. Figuarts Bruce Lee figures

What happens when the figures you have pre-ordered have not arrived and you have to satisfy the toy bug that is itching inside you? I end up getting stuff I didn't pre-order but bought on impulse because I liked what I saw and these are my April 2017 haul so far, pending the arrival of Black Panther: The S.I.C. or Super Imaginative Chogokin Masked Rider X and Appologeist plus the SH Figuarts Bruce Lee (Yellow Track Suit version).

I can blame the method of pre-ordering for these impulse buys but I'm not sorry that I bought them so no complaints here. Because 1/6th scale manufacturers believe that pre-orders are the best way to go for selling collectible figures, collectors like us end up waiting months (sometimes up to a year) to get the figures we want, figures which we first saw as prototypes in pictures released by the companies to solicit our pre-orders. Some of these prototypes might not even see the light of day if the response to the preview pics are lukewarm or worse. Case in point: Hot Toys 1/6th scale Brock Rumlow aka Crossbones (played by Frank Grillo in Captain America: Civil War) 12-inch figure. Since the preview pics at many of the toy shows, it has failed to show up for pre-orders or any of Hot Toys catalogues. Toys, unlike limited edition adult collectibles, are mass produced and sold at major stores worldwide. There is no need to pre-order because chances are, you can probably get your hands on them easily. Some adult collectibles and figures that become highly demanded after they are released might not be so readily available because the supply was dependant on pre-orders which can mean limited supply. That's when the secondary market gets exciting as prices for them keep going up and up as their demand heats up.

Scroll down to the rest of the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better view.

Medicom Toys 1/6 scale Kamen Rider Fourze 12-inch Figure plus Premium Club Module Set

The Kamen Rider Series (仮面ライダーシリーズ Kamen Raidā Shirīzu, translated as Masked Rider Series) is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as kaijin (怪人). The franchise began in 1971 with the Kamen Rider television series which followed college student Takeshi Hongo and his quest to defeat the world-conquering Shocker organization. Over the years, the popularity of the franchise has grown and the original series has spawned many television and theatrical sequels. [source: wiki]

I grew up with the Kamen Riders from the Shōwa era (the original Masked Riders that resembled more of the insects) and have no inkling of the Kamen Riders from the Heisei era (the new riders from the year 2000 - Kuuga, Agito, Ryuki and the rest of the new generation Kamen Riders). They had deviated from the original insect theme which I thought was pretty cool and I didn't quite like the new designs.

The latest Kamen Rider Fourze premiered in late 2011 following the finale of KR OOO. The series has a spaceflight motif and is intended to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's and mankind's first flight into space as well as the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series.

Kamen Rider Fourze (仮面ライダーフォーゼ Kamen Raidā Fōze) is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011. The show's catchphrase is "Switch on youth 'cause space on your hand!" (青春スイッチオンで宇宙キター！ Seishun suitchi on de uchū kitā!), referencing the Fourze Driver (フォーゼドライバー Fōze Doraibā) transformation belt which gets its various powers from devices called Astroswitches (アストロスイッチ Asutorosuitchi) to conjure attachments to Fourze's limbs. [source: wiki]

Medicom Toy RAH DX 1/6 scale Masked Rider The Bee (Rider Form) 12-inch Action Figure

Kamen Rider TheBee (仮面ライダーザビー Kamen Raidā Zabī) is one of the characters in Kamen Rider Kabuto. It is based on a bee / wasp motif. Kamen Rider Kabuto (仮面ライダーカブト Kamen Raidā Kabuto, Masked Rider Kabuto) is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. Similar to the Hopper Riders, it relies on close-range combat because of the lack of any weapons.

The TheBee Zecter (ザビーゼクター Zabī Zekutā) allows its user to transform into Kamen Rider TheBee. As with all of the Zecters, TheBee has two basic forms that the user can transform into.

Masked Form
TheBee's Masked Form (マスクドフォーム Masukudo Fōmu) is a heavily armored form resembling a beehive that has very little offensive capabilities. This is the default form that TheBee transforms into, until the user rotates the TheBee Zecter around its wrist mounting to initiate the Cast Off (キャストオフ Kyasuto Ofu) command.

I collect Action Figures! And here are some of them

Eric Stettmeier aka Bubba Shelby of Toyriffic recently posted an entry "Action Figure or Doll?" on his blog :) It made for some interesting reading and generated quite a response. I thought I'll jump in with my two cents worth.

Definition of Action Figure from Wikipedia - Ac•tion Fig•ure: An action figure is a pose-able character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a movie, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors. [source: wiki]

The term "action figure" was first coined by Hasbro in 1964, to market their G.I. Joe figure to boys who wouldn't play with dolls. It featured changeable clothes with various uniforms to suit different purposes. In a move that would create global popularity for this type of toy, Hasbro also licensed the product to companies in other markets.

So let me state here that I collect Action Figures (NOT dolls) and am darn proud of it :) So proud in fact that I've posted 24 pictures of action figure group shots in this post alone to show how much I enjoy collecting Action Figures! Scroll down to see all ENJOY ;p

Medicom Madness

Continued from previous post

Before Hot Toys and Sideshow came on the scene and offered us better 1/6 head sculpts and quality plus value for money products (for Hot Toys, it's all their movie masterpiece series figures and for Sideshow, it's their Star Wars armored figures - 1/6 stormtroopers etc), there was Medicom. Medicom is over-priced and below par for their quality (some of their bodies have broken apart and self-destruct for no apparent reasons and some have experienced torn costumes or costumes coming apart at the seams).

However, if you are into 1/6 scale Japanese anime, manga and tokusatsu (live action films with special effects), then Medicom still rules supreme in this area - sad but true. Here are some of the tokusatsu figures I grew up with in the 1970s - ULTRAMAN







and KAMEN RIDERs (or masked riders, as they are also known) of the Showa era (describing the reign of Emperor Hirohito from 25 December 1926 to 7 January 1989).








Medicom Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman/G-Force/Battle of the Planets



Medicom Apocalypse Zero Kakugo Hagakure with the Zero armor, agent Nico and Hot Toys Astro Boy

Medicom MGS3 Naked Snake (Cold War version) and Captain Harlock

Medicom Wolverine and Black Cybone (from Mad Capsule Markets)

Medicom White Crusher (from Mad Capsule Markets) and Hugh Jackman Wolverine

And some Femme Fatale figures



Medicom MGS4 Raiden

Medicom Ghost in a Shell / Stand Alone Complex Motoko Kusanagi

And then Hot Toys entered the picture with their exceptional Appleseed Ex Machina Deunan and Briareos, along with their Resident Evil/Biohazard 4 Jack Krauser and Leon S Kennedy

2008 Top 10 Toys - No. 4

Medicom may have done many things wrong but at least they got their Kamen Riders right! So the number 4 place for 2008's Top 10 favorite toys list goes to Masked Rider No. 1 from "Masked Riders the Next (2007)", a sequel to "Masked Rider the First (2005)" which was a re-working of the original masked rider or Kamen Rider.

The new generation masked riders stand side by side

"Masked Rider the First" (仮面ライダー The First) or "Kamen Raidâ The First" (original title), released in 2005 gave a whole new refreshing look at an old icon, giving the original two Kamen Riders an updated look and feel.

This was followed by "Masked Rider The Next" (仮面ライダー The Next) "Kamen Raidā Za Nekusuto" in 2007 which re-introduced Kamen Rider V3 to the original two Masked Riders 

A more seasoned, battle-damaged Kamen Rider No. 1

A new version Kamen rider i.e. Kamen Rider Version 3 (or V3) started out as a villain but ends up a hero alongside Kamen Riders 1 & 2.

Kamen Rider No. 2 also bears battle scars as well

The new reworked villains were pretty cool too but no news of their release except the Shocker Riders who were basically Alternative Riders based on Kamen Rider 2 who had defected and joined Kamen Rider 1 in his fight against SHOCKER (Sacred Hegemony Of Cycle Kindred Evolutional Realm - uh, I don't know what it means either).

The villains included The Spider, The Bat, The Cobra and The Snake from "The First", and Scissors Jaguar, Chainsaw Lizard and Shocker Riders from "The Next".

Kamen Riders by Medicom

Whilst we are on the subject of tokusatsu (live action films with special effects), let's not forget the Kamen Riders / Masked Riders. Love their costumes.

Already covered Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2. Yet to cover Kamen Rider Amazon whose design motif was based on a komodo dragon rather than the more typical suit basis of a grasshopper, beetle or other insect. Amazon transforms biologically, rather than simply donning a mask and armor. He is far more violent and brutal than the previous riders and his combat style is much more harsh, severe, and direct than previous Riders. Amazon is the only Kamen Rider who was able to open his mouth during his Rider form and has bitten his opponents on occasion.

Also covered V3 previously but not Kamen Rider X who preceded Amazon in the series. Kamen Rider X is Keisuke Jin whose father Keitaro, a robotics scientist, performed surgery on him before he died and transformed Keisuke into Kamen Rider X who now battles the monstrous minions of G.O.D. (Government Of Darkness) with his powerful "Ridol", which can be used as a spear, a rapier, or a club, among many other weapons he possesses. With an exuberant cry of "Set Up!", he transforms into X-Rider, charging into battle aboard his motorcycle "Cruiser".

Kamen Rider Stronger's attacks were based on electricity, and the cyborg aspect of his body is much more prominent than in the previous series; his hands were metal coils that had to be covered when he was not transformed. Stronger was not based on a grasshopper or grasshopper-like insect as with the previous Riders; he was based on the Kabutomushi or Japanese rhinoceros beetle.

Kamen Rider Super-1 was the seventh installment in the Kamen Rider series. Kazuya Oki underwent cybernetic surgery in the International Space Development Program in the United States in order to become an astronaut who can survive in outer space without the need for a bulky external suit. After the successful operation, he was given the codename "Super-1". However, before he can depart for space, the base where he received his operation was attacked by the Dogma Kingdom and only Kazuya is able to escape. As Super-1, Kazuya possesses super-powered attachments called the "Five Hands". They are: Super Hands: Super-1's default silver gloves. He can perform the Super Punch with them. Electric (Eleki) Hands: Super-1's blue gloves. They can shoot an electric beam. Power Hands: Super-1's red gloves. He gains the ability to lift heavy objects. Radar Hands: Super-1's gold gloves. He can shoot missiles that emit radar waves, allowing him to see further from the radar screen on his gloves. Hot/Cold (Reinetsu) Hands: Super-1's green gloves. The left glove is a cryogenic sprayer, while the right glove is a flamethrower.

Riderman was created within the Kamen Rider V3 series. He was a former member of DESTRON but becomes Riderman and aids Kamen Rider V3 in bringing down DESTRON. He lost his right arm when he was sentenced to be tortured to death by being dipped into a pool of acid. As Riderman, he has a wide array of  prosthetic weapons to meet his needs: Rope Arm - Riderman's Default Arm, which is used in various ways. There is his default Hook Arm, with hook attachment, for climbing and combat. When the mace end is attached, he gets his Swing Arm, which can be extended and used as a flailing weapon. Then, there's the Net Arm, where Yuuki's arm can shoot out a net to capture and restrain enemies. Finally, there's the Sickle Arm. Apart from his Rope Arm, there was also Power Arm, Drill Arm, Machine Gun Arm, Spray Arm and Octopus Arm.

The latest / revamped Masked Riders are pretty cool too - Masked Rider The First and Masked Rider The Next.