Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series Soundwave (with Buzzsaw, Laserbeak & Ravage)

Release Date: December 2025

RRP: $59.99/£55.99

Transformers: The Movie may have introduced fans to a whole new selection of Autobots and Decepticons, but that doesn't mean that the veteran cast was completely forgotten about. The opening battle on Autobot City in particular was a showcase of previously established characters, earning them a place in the Studio Series "86" line. Among the figures to kick of the 2026 assortment (even if they were technically released at the end of 2025) to celebrate the film's 40th anniversary is Studio Series Soundwave, the Decepticon Communications Officer and one of Megatron's most loyal soldiers. Of course no Soundwave figure would be complete without some of his cassette minions to go with him, and this release has been bumped up to Leader Class status partly thanks to the inclusion of Buzzsaw, Laserbeak and Ravage.

First Impressions: Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity

The age of Super Sentai is over, and so begins the time of Project R.E.D.! Overall details on Toei's newest tokusatsu franchise are still somewhat vague, but what we do currently know about Project R.E.D. (which is an acronym for Records of Extraordinary Dimensions) is that while it will primarily feature red-coloured heroes (no surprise there), the shows themselves won't necessarily follow a specific pattern. It's first entry, Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, is already a pretty good example of this. As the title suggests the series is a reboot of 1982's Space Sheriff Gavan, however it is not explicitly a continuation of the series (in the same way the 2012 movie was) nor is it a relaunch of the Metal Heroes franchise. So just what is Gavan Infinity, and why has a reboot of the iconic Space Sheriff been chosen to spearhead a whole new franchise? We'll just have to watch on to find out! 

Series REVIEW: No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger

50 years is one hell of a milestone to celebrate anyway, but when it comes to tokusatsu it's a particularly monumental achievement for Super Sentai. Ever since Himitsu Sentai Gorenger first began on April 5th 1975, the franchise has carried on almost non-stop all the way up until now - spawning 49 different mainline series, 50 different teams and hundreds of brightly coloured heroes. But it seems all good things really must come to an end, and after several years of experimentation amidst declining profitability it was decided that the 50th anniversary series would also be its last - at least for the time being anyway. And thus the longest consecutively running tokusatsu franchise bows out with No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, a series which aims to celebrate five decades of Super Sentai spirit in its own unique way. The series written by Akiko Inoue (daughter of tokusatsu legend Toshiki Inoue) in her debut as head writer, with Ryuta Tasaki (a veteran of Super Sentai, but most recently the main director of Avataro Sentai Donbrothers) as main director and Daigo Matsura as chief producer.

First Impressions: GARO: Sentinel of the East

While it may not seem like new GARO series come around quite as often as they used to, every time a new one is announced it feels all the more special. With the franchise currently celebrating its 20th anniversary there have been a few new projects celebrating its different timelines. The tail end of 2025 saw the release of prequel film GARO: Taiga, taking place in the Saejima family timeline and focusing on Kouga's father and previous Golden Knight Taiga. Meanwhile 2026 kicks off with a new instalment in the alternate Ryuga Dougai universe, GARO: Sentinel of the East (Higashi no Kairo) - the fourth series to feature the character. As with 2024's Heir to Steel Armor, the series will be simulcast worldwide via the official GARO YouTube channel. However like before whilst multi-language subtitles are available, these are machine generated and thus of varying quality.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 2 (Legendary Showa Masked Riders Edition)

Release Date: December 2025

RRP: 11,000 yen

If there's one thing you can often guarantee about a Kamen Rider 1 figure, it's that a Kamen Rider 2 figure usually isn't that far behind it. After revitalising their standard and Sakurajima version Kamen Rider 1 figures with new "Legendary Showa Masked Rider Edition" versions, the least Bandai Tamashii Nations could do is offer the same treatment up to his successor. But as well as bringing the figure more in line with the more recent Showa era releases, S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 2 (Legendary Showa Masked Riders Edition) has another surprise in store for fans who've watched Hayato Ichimonji's costume evolve over the years.

Special REVIEW: Kamen Rider Eins with Girls Remix

Over the past couple of years the Girls Remix series of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club specials hasn't just been a brilliant way to bring back the heroines of the Kamen Rider franchise in one multi-series crossover. It's also been building towards something - particularly in its last two instalments Kamen Rider Majade with Girls Remix and Girls Remix in Halloween Party. Now the story reaches its climactic conclusion (for the time being at least) in Kamen Rider Eins with Girls Remix, reuniting many of the cast members from across the previous specials once more alongside representatives from Kamen Rider 555 and Kamen Rider Fourze as well as a few other surprises along the way.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Shocker Combatman (Evil Showa Kaijin Edition)

Release Date: December 2025

RRP: 7150 yen

With both S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider 1 and Kamen Rider 2 getting new "Legendary Showa Masked Rider Edition" re-releases, Bandai Tamashii Nations were wise to bring back another iconic figure from the original 1971 series. The Shocker Combatman went through many evolutions over the course of the series, but the final "Bone" version is arguably considered the most recognisable - having gone on to reappear in later shows and just become part of the franchise iconography as a whole. The S.H. Figuarts Shocker Combatman (Evil Showa Kaijin Edition) figure is the third version (of this variant) of the evil organisation's expendable henchmen to be released in the line - following on from the first edition in 2013 and then a second in 2018.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Borsalino -Future Island Egghead-

Release Date: November 2025

RRP: 16,500 yen

One Piece S.H. Figuarts have been keeping up with current events in the anime through its "Future Island Egghead" range, but it (along with the line in general really) has been sorely lacking in antagonists. With Luffy getting a long awaited rematch against Admiral Kizaru (aka Borsalino) during this arc it's the perfect time for Bandai Tamashii Nations to add some Marines to the line with the release of S.H. Figuarts Borsalino -Future Island Egghead-! Borsalino is the first Marine Admiral to join the line, and while it shouldn't come as any surprise to hear the figure is a Tamashii Web exclusive (and a rather pricey one at that), hopefully it bodes well for the other Admirals joining him in due course.

Series REVIEW: Ultraman Omega

As Ultraman rapidly approaches its 60th anniversary, it's interesting to look back and see just how far the franchise has come in recent years in regards to worldwide availability. Not just in terms of the show being simulcast beyond Asia thanks to the ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL YouTube channel, but also the exposure it has through live shows and convention appearances across the globe. 2025 saw the release of Ultraman Omega, once again available globally with a variety of different language subtitles as well as a full English dub (albeit not released simultaneously this time around). The series compositors were Toshizo Nemoto and Junichiro Ashiki (both of whom have worked across the New Generation era), its main director was Masayoshi Takasue (Ultraman R/B, Ultraman Decker), and chief producer Tsugumi Kitaura.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Usopp -Romance Dawn-

Release Date: December 2025

RRP: 7700 yen

Although the One Piece line continued to go from strength to strength in 2025, the year was actually rather quite as far as the "Romance Dawn"/pre-time skip characters were concerned. Following Zoro's release in February, the line largely decided to focus on the modern era and the Future Island Egghead arc instead. However fans longing to go back to the franchise's humble beginnings weren't kept waiting for too long, and the year ended with the fourth member of the Straw Hat crew - S.H. Figuarts Usopp -Romance Dawn-! The plucky sniper from Syrup Village was a retail release, ensuring that so far none of the main crew have been locked behind Tamashii Web exclusivity.