Ultraman Connection has been a godsend for Ultraman fans across the globe. While the series themselves (other than a few exceptions) have been simulcast worldwide for some time now (first on Crunchyroll and now via the Ultraman official YouTube channel), the cinematic release of their end cap subsequent movies meant fans outside Japan had to wait some time for them. But last year things changed as Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z was made available to rent upon release, and thankfully that continues with the release of Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond! The final chapter in the Ultraman Decker story, Journey to Beyond is unique in that the story in that it does not feature a crossover with the previous series Ultraman - something that has been a staple of these films throughout the New Generation Hero era.
Sunday, 19 March 2023
Friday, 17 March 2023
Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Don Momotaro
Release Date: October 2022
RRP: 7150 yen
2022 was a pretty big year for the S.H. Figuarts line as Super Sentai made its long-awaited return with not just one, but THREE releases from currently airing shows. S.H. Figuarts Zenkaizer may have led the way, but with last year mainly belonging to Avataro Sentai Donbrothers it was wonderful to see the Figuarts revival carry on into the 46th Super Sentai series. The Tamashii Nations event got its easy exclusive with Zenkaizer Black, while the main line was also treated to an all-new S.H. Figuarts Don Momotaro. Leader of the Donbrothers and heir of the Don Clan, Don Momotaro is the perfect addition to the line's growing collection of red heroes.
Monday, 13 March 2023
Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Black Sun
Release Date: November 2022
RRP: 6600 yen
Of all the Kamen Rider 50th anniversary projects that were announced, Kamen Rider Black Sun was possibly the one I was most looking forward to. A 10-episode series that was made available on Amazon Prime, it is a remake of 1987's Kamen Rider Black that reimagines the series in a contemporary political landscape. While it may anywhere near as toy-driven as a mainline Kamen Rider series, there's still plenty of potential when it comes to S.H. Figuarts releases. Kicking things off is the titular hero himself, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Black Sun! As well as being the first Black Sun release, it is currently the only one that is a mass-release figure as opposed to a Tamashii web exclusive.
Saturday, 11 March 2023
First Impressions: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger
Of all the motifs Super Sentai hasn't used so far in its 48-year run, insects has proven time and time again to be a particular popular one among fans. On the one hand it makes sense the franchise hasn't adopted it yet - Kamen Rider is the one that's always been more closely associated with insects (despite having branched into many other things over the years), and Metal Heroes entries like Juuko B-Fighter and B-Fighter Kabuto are considered similarly iconic. But at long last the insect-themed Sentai we've all dreamed of has finally arrived as its 47th series - Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger! The series will be written by Minato Takano - a newcomer for Super Sentai best known for working under Yuya Takahashi on his various Kamen Rider series. He is joined by Kazuya Kamihoriuchi, Jun Watanabe and Hiroshi Butsuda as the main, action and SFX directors respectively.
Friday, 10 March 2023
Series REVIEW: Avataro Sentai Donbrothers
Thursday, 2 March 2023
Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Axe Woves
Release Date: October 2022
RRP: $24.99/£25.99
Back in the day, the Star Wars toy line was known for giving an action figure to pretty much every character or alien no matter how long they appeared on screen. That isn't quite as true anymore, but if Hasbro can get an easy figure out of existing mould they will. Calling Axe Woves a background character as such might be a little much, but compared to fellow Mandalorians Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves he didn't really stand out from the crowd as much. Nevertheless, the arrival of Black Series Axe Woves completes the Nite Owl trio from season two of The Mandalorian.
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Series REVIEW: Kamen Rider Black Sun
Kamen Rider Black Sun is available to stream on Amazon Prime
The celebration of Kamen Rider's 50th anniversary came in several different forms – there was Kamen Rider Revice, the forthcoming Shin Kamen Rider movie as well as the franchise's first proper foray into animation with Fuuto P.I.. But arguably one of the most interesting projects that came out of this milestone was the announcement of Kamen Rider Black Sun – a darker, more adult-orientated reinterpretation of 1987's Kamen Rider Black. Releasing exclusively on Amazon Prime, the 10-episode series follows in the footsteps of Kamen Rider Amazons in not only being another reimagining of a classic Showa era series, but also one of the few pieces of Kamen Rider media readily available worldwide.
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
FEATURE: Damiensaber Lightsaber Review - Be one with the Force!
These days Star Wars fans are pretty spoilt for choice when it comes high-end lightsaber replicas. Jedi or Sith, no force wielder is complete without arguably one of the most iconic weapons in science-fiction history. In this special review we'll be looking at one of the models from Damiensaber, a lightsaber company specialising in both replica and custom RGB lightsabers suitable for display and duelling.
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Toybox REVIEW: ACT MODE Chris Yukine
RRP: 8900 yen
News that the girls of Symphogear would be returning to the world of articulated action figures with Good Smile Company's ACT MODE line was exciting enough, but for fans of one particular girl from the franchise it felt like a second coming. After being the one girl from the original trio denied a Figma release following season one, the wielder of the Ichaival relic's time has finally come with the release of ACT MODE Chris Yukine. The second Symphogear release in the line, if there was any that GSC needed to get right in order to please the fans – it's this one.
Friday, 10 February 2023
Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Decker Flash Type
Release Date: November 2022
RRP: 3960 yen
Another new Ultraman series, another wonderfully cheap S.H. Figuarts release from Bandai Tamashii Nations to kick off a whole new range of collecting. 2022 saw the release of Ultraman Decker - a direct sequel to Ultraman Trigger and a series that commemorated the 25th anniversary of Ultraman Dyna. Anyone who watched those episodes via the official YouTube channel would have seen numerous adverts for S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Decker Flash Type - the base form of its titular hero and thus the obvious choice for the first figure in the Decker range.
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