Monday 31 March 2014

Movie REVIEW: Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger vs. Go-Busters

Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger vs. Go-Busters

With Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger having just drawn to a close, it was only a natural that the annual Super Sentai vs. movie would accompany it. However with Kyoryuger being the third dinosaur themed Sentai, Toei decided to do something special for this year's. Fully titled Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger vs. Go-Busters: The Great Dinosaur Battle! Farewell Our Eternal Friends, the movie brings back previous teams Zyuranger and Abaranger for an all-dinosaur themed rumble. But when this news broke, there was one question on most people's lips - where exactly did this leave the non-dino themed but part of the movie Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters?

Friday 28 March 2014

Anime REVIEW: Samurai Flamenco

The various forms of Samurai Flamenco

When Samurai Flamenco was first announced prior to its October 2013 debut, what exactly it was going to be about was somewhat of a mystery. What we did know that it came from the studio Manglobe (Deadman Wonderland, The World Only God Knows), writer Hideyuki Kurata (Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, The World Only God Knows), was directed by Takahiro Omori (Durarara!!) and somehow involved superheroes. It was also airing on Fuji TV's prestigious noitaminA programming block, which made it a pretty big deal. However, I'm sure not many people were fully prepared for just how wacky the world of Japanese superheroes this 22-episode show was going to parody just is.

Sunday 23 March 2014

Eaglemoss Official Doctor Figurine Collection Emperor Dalek


Character Option's range of Doctor Who figures may have recently changed scale, but its been running pretty much consistently since the series came back to television screens in 2005 (although the toy line more likely came back the year later...I should check my dates). During this time they've done all sorts of great figures and sets, but in terms of my collection at least there's always been one big thing missing - the Emperor Dalek that appeared in the season one finale episode The Parting of the Ways. It may be a bigger figure, but with things like the Empress of Arachnos made it seems criminal that such a great design was never immortalised.

Well, jump forward to 2014 and the Official Doctor Who Figurine collection from Eaglemoss has finally answered my prayers. It may be a static resin statue (hence why this post is a gallery rather than a review) rather than a figure, but I'm quite happy to take anything that I can get...

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: 66 Action Kamen Riders Wave 1

66action Kamen Riders Wave 1

It's always nice when I have a different toy line to review rather than the same five ones over and over again, and this latest candy toy line from Bandai is something I've been looking forward to for a long time now. Dubbed 66 Action due to their average height of 66mm, this line is dedicated to bringing fans tiny yet poseable figures of their favourite Riders from the Kamen Rider franchise. After a brief delay the first wave finally hit at the end of February, consisting of our first four mini heroes - Kamen Rider Gaim (Orange Arms), Kamen Rider OOO (TaToBa combo), Kamen Rider Decade and Kamen Rider 1.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Mammoth Ranger

S.H. Figuarts Mammoth Range

It's been quite a few months since the last Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger character joined the ranks of the S.H. Figuarts toy line, but rest assured Bandai Tamashii Nations are still cranking these figures out and will have the team completed by mid-2014 - still in perfect time for the Bluefin Western releases to continue marketing them in celebration of Power Rangers' 20th anniversary. The fourth character to join the line is the mighty Mammoth Ranger, aka the "Warrior of Wisdom" Goushi of the Sharma Tribe. Power Rangers fans will also know this character as Black Ranger Zack Taylor, who was later replaced by Adam Park.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who 3.75" Scale Zygon

Doctor Who 3.75" Zygon Figure

As I've very much come to terms with the fact that 3.75" is the scale most Doctor Who figures produced by Character Options are going to be from here on out, I've also come to terms with the fact that I'll probably be buying a lot less as well. Daleks are always going to be a priority no matter the size, but until the sculpt quality improves it looks like I'll be sticking to a few choice figures per wave. And the choice figure of wave 2 is of course the Zygon, the classic Who monster that made its' first (and only) appearance in the 4th Doctor story Terror of the Zygons before making a return in the 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor last year.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who 3.75" Scale Assualt & Imperial Guard Daleks

3.75" Scale Assault & Imperial Guard Daleks

We're still quite a long way off season eight of Doctor Who, but in the meantime Character Options have finally released their second wave of figures in the new 3.75" scale. As there haven't been many new episodes since the last wave was released, this wave mainly draws from the Day of the Doctor and Time of the Doctor specials while at the same time choosing a few choice favourites from older (i.e. pre-Matt Smith) episodes as part of a new "Heritage" sub line. And just to spoil fans like myself, this wave contains two exciting new Dalek variants based on versions seen in the season one finale episode The Parting of the Ways. So combined into one special Dalek-filled review, I introduce to you the Assault Dalek and the Imperial Guard Dalek with sensor arm!

Saturday 8 March 2014

Anime REVIEW: Robot Girls Z

The Robot Girls Z - Grenda-san, Z-chan and Gre-chan

It's about time the Mazinger franchise saw some action again isn't it? The last time the original super robot reared its head was four years ago with Mazinkaiser SKL, and that was only three episodes. Before then it was Shin Mazinger in 2007, which was thankfully a full-length show but also ended (or began in some respects) on an agonising cliffhanger. However the franchise has finally returned home  to Toei Animation for a brand new outing, which is really the polar opposite of what SKL was doing. Instead of a brand new Mazinger reboot/continuation, here was have Robot Girls Z - a miniseries which reimagines Toei's rich super robot history as a team of magical girls. Well, that's certainly something different isn't it?

Unfortunately, the franchise is once again doomed to being something short. Only three 30min approx. episodes (each split into a further three 10min approx. episodes) were made, one released for each month of the Winter 2014 anime season. There was also a shorter preview episode released late last year for those who want to go all completist, but it doesn't really offer anything the main series doesn't.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Domon Kasshu

SH Figuarts Domon Kasshu

If you're familiar with the S.H. Figuarts toy line, you'll more than likely know of the plight of Mobile Fighter G Gundam - and more specifically, Master Asia. S.H. Figuarts Master Asia was first seen at a Tamashii Nations event way back in 2009, and still hasn't been released. Since then, Rain Mikamura and Alleby Beardsley also joined Master Asia in the "Figuarts that may never be released club". So if you're a G Gundam fan, things pretty much suck for you.

However there is a slight silver lining - the most important G Gundam figure got a (mass) release even if it is destined to spend the rest of its life alone. Domon Kasshu was the eighth figure to be released in the line, practically making it Figuarts royalty. With G Gundam having just rocked my world, it was a matter of time before I scoured the aftermarket to get my hands on one (note: I bought him when I was about 15 episodes into G Gundam...the need was that strong).

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Anime REVIEW: Mobile Fighter G Gundam

The cast of Mobile Fighter G Gundam

I'll be honest - despite proclaiming myself as a big anime/mecha fan my knowledge of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is minimal. I watched Gundam Wing a fair few years ago, but I've mostly remained uninterested until Gundam Build Fighters came into my life late last year and changed everything (but more on that in a future review). So after much pestering, I was persuaded to give Mobile Fighter G Gundam a try - a standalone series that I'd heard a lot of good things about despite not being all that talked about. I was interested to say the least.

Monday 3 March 2014

Toybox REVIEW: Reshape TV21 Comics Golden Emperor Dalek Model Kit

The Reshape TV21 Golden Emperor Dalek

This is a project that I've been on and off with for about six months now, but only really found the time to finish it this weekend. If you've been reading this blog, you'll know by now that I'm a massive fan of the TV21 Dalek comics from the 1960s (during the height of 'Dalekmania'). Their origin may be completely different, but seeing the Daleks in a Doctor-less strip created a really rich history for them that made the race so much more than the ruthless villains we see on TV. Leading them was the Golden Emperor, a unique Dalek with a smaller skirt section, giant spherical head and seven dome lights adorning it.

I knew I needed to have one, but a good looking custom is something I've always felt beyond my current skills and the chance of Character Options ever producing one is probably zero. Then I came across this garage kit from Reshape and Comet Minatures (who have sadly since closed down and re-opened as internet store Timeless Hobbies). The asking price was a little high (it has gone up slightly since I purchased it) and the set was recommend for experienced model builders, but with it being my dream Dalek I knew I had to have it.