Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman & Emi [Ultraman: Rising]

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: 7700 yen

The Ultraman franchise's global expansion plan took a big step forward this year with the release of Ultraman: Rising - the long awaited Netflix animated feature film. Having largely been received positively by newcomers and Ultraman fans alike, only time will tell if the film did well enough to receive a sequel. But in the meantime, Bandai are on hand to make sure there's plenty of merch to look forward to. On top of various action figures aimed at younger fans, older collectors are also covered with the release of S.H. Figuarts Ultraman & Emi [Ultraman: Rising], the first of a number of characters from the film to join the line. In addition to this Japanese release, a more affordable bare-bones edition was released in US stores shortly after the film's release a month earlier in June.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Saga

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 11,000 yen

Tamashii Nations purgatory is a place well known to collectors of Bandai's various toy lines, where numerous figures are revealed at events only to never see the light of day. There have been countless examples over the years, but one of the oldest cases is that of Kamen Rider Saga. With Kamen Rider Kiva being one of the series that helped kickstart the S.H. Figuarts line, Saga's original prototype dates back to well over a decade ago. But while the wait has been a bit of a saga in itself, the Fangire ruler and half-brother of Wataru Kurenai has finally arrived in 2024. That original figure will never see the light of day, but its spirit lives on in S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Saga – a newly tooled Tamashii Web exclusive figure that continues Kiva's strong place in the "true bone carving" line.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn-

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

One Piece's grand return to S.H. Figuarts was one of the line's biggest moments last year, but with the franchise celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024 Bandai Tamashii Nations had only just started cooking. As well as continuing their range of modern-era figures based on the Wano saga and beyond, Bandai are also going to back to very beginning to revisit the Straw Hat Pirates as they first appeared all those years ago. And kicking off this new "Romance Dawn" subline of figures is of course the captain himself – S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn-! Much like the previous Raid on Onigashima release, this Luffy comes with a slightly cheaper price tag to encourage fans to set sail with a brand new collection of figures.

First Impressions: Kamen Rider Gavv

Among the many faucets of Kamen Rider merchandising there's one that often goes under appreciated, despite being a consistent element since 2011 and being beloved by the fandom for its memorable advertising. But it seems 2024 is the year that the "Kamen Rider Gummi" finally gets its due, as gummy sweets, snacks and all kinds of confectionary take centre stage in the 39th entry in the franchise - Kamen Rider Gavv (pronounced "Kamen Rider Gavu"). The sixth series in the Reiwa era takes over from Kamen Rider Gotchard and joins Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger in the current Super Hero Time lineup, with Junko Komura (head writer for Super Sentai series Zyuohger, Lupinranger vs Patranger and Zenkaiger, as well as having previously written episodes for both Kamen Rider Wizard and Kamen Rider Ghost) on board as writer.

Toybox REVIEW: BUZZmod Yoko

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 10,909 yen

Aniplex have been making quite a name for themselves in the world of articulated anime figures with their BUZZmod line, especially last year when they did what no other company has done for the last 15 years and made a poseable Kamina figure. But of course you can't just start making Gurren Lagann figures and then stop at one, so in 2024 they've followed it up with BUZZmod Yoko. Arguably the poster child for Gurren Lagann when it comes to character merchandise, Yoko was the obvious next step when it came to expanding the range – and hopefully it won't stop there.

Series REVIEW: Kamen Rider Gotchard

Given how merchandise-driven the Kamen Rider franchise (or rather any tokusatsu superhero for that matter) is nowadays it's surprising that it took 53 years for trading cards to be the main gimmick of a show, but at the same time finding a way to incorporate them in a way that still tells a good story is no easy feat. Such a task fell on writers Keiichi Hasagawa, Hiromi Uchida and Akiko Inoue for its 38th series and fifth to debut in the Reiwa era - Kamen Rider Gotchard. Joining Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger (and later Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger) as part of the 2023-2024 Super Hero Time, the series' main theme revolves around alchemy and it is the first to focus on high school life since Kamen Rider Fourze back in 2011. The catchphrase for the series is "Seize it! The greatest Gotcha!".

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] Effect Parts Set

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

While Ultraman Gaia might not have had a series to celebrate its 25th anniversary that doesn't mean Bandai Tamashii Nations aren't taking that milestone seriously, with the titular character's S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou release coming alongside something that could definitely be considered a rarity for the range. The S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] Effect Parts Set is the first effect part set to be released for a Shinkocchou Seihou figure, the only one in the Tiga/Dyna/Gaia Heisei era trilogy and one of the few effect part sets in the Ultraman range as a whole. Not to mention it's the only one to come as a standard retail release rather than a Tamashii web exclusive, so as far as toys are concerned it's definitely not looking bad for Ultraman Gaia.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2]

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 8800 yen

With Bandai Tamashii Nations having celebrated the 25th anniversaries of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna with brand new S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou releases, it was fairly obvious where they were going to go next even if the show didn't mark the occasion the same way Trigger and Decker had prior. However that doesn't make S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] any less special, particularly when it's the only Ultraman Figuarts release thus far to be accompanied by a rather impressive Effect Parts set. Both come as standard retail releases, with Gaia rounding off the Heisei era TDG trilogy as well as being the fourth Ultra series to join the Shinkocchou Seihou line.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. MonsterArts Jet Jaguar [1973]

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 11,000 yen

They might have taken their sweet time getting there, but now that Bandai Tamashii Nations is fully embracing the Showa era in the S.H. MonsterArts line they are finally tackling some firm fan favourites. After the 1972 double hitter of Gigan and Godzilla, it’s now time for them to turn their attention toward the following year and the 50th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Megalon. But the titular villain will have to wait a little while longer, because before then it's the turn of the film's real MVP. S.H. MonsterArts Jet Jaguar [1973] finally brings the original version of Godzilla's mechanical ally to the line, following the Godzilla: Singular Point version of the character back in 2022. The figure is a Tamashii web exclusive, and the first designated release from Godzilla vs. Megalon.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project GingaiOh

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 6800 yen

It's always exciting when the Shokugan Modeling Project branches into a new Super Sentai series and it seems Bandai are keen to stay in the 90s for the time being, with 2024 being the year of Seijuu Sentai Gingaman! Although the item in question may be the only confirmed release for this year from the 22nd Super Sentai series, Bandai have been quite the tease and shown off that there's plenty more to come. Kicking things off at the very beginning and with the core robot of the series, Shokugan Modeling Project GingaiOh is a retail release that immediately displays how this beloved model kit line continues to evolve.