First Impressions: Wingman

While the various franchises that make Japan's tokusatsu sphere rarely disappoint, it's always exciting when something new and/or difference comes along to add to the usual annual line-up. 2024 sees Masakazu Katsura's superhero fantasy manga Wing-Man celebrate its 40th anniversary, with the occasion marked by a brand new live-action adaptation. Wingman is co-produced by TV Tokyo, Toei Video and DMM TV, is directed by Koichi Sakamoto and stars Maito Fujioka (son of Kamen Rider legend Hiroshi Fujioka and the young Hongo Takeshi in Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations) in the lead role. An anime adaptation of Wing-Man was also previously released between 1984 and 1985.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

Between Kamen Rider Gaim and Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, 2013-2014 was a very popular year for Super Hero Time. So much so that Bandai Tamashii Nations haven't forgotten either series' tenth anniversary, first releasing a brand new Kyoryu Red figure earlier and this year and now following it up with new renditions of the Armoured Riders. S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms is the first of what will hopefully be many Gaim characters in the "true bone carving" line, offering the usual high standard when it comes to sculpt while also throwing a working form change gimmick into the mix once again.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Legacy HasLab Victory Saber

Release Date: December 2022

RRP: $179.99/£179.99

The problem with toy collecting based on media franchises is that sometimes there’ll be something fans desperately want which just won’t realistically sell well at retail, whether its due to size or engineering costs. To that end, Hasbro introduced HasLab - a crowdfunding platform where they can make some of these things a reality…with the right number of backers of course. As far as the Transformers franchise is concerned Hasbro kicked off with an obvious one in 2021 - an enormous War for Cybertron Unicron figure that dwarfed any previous efforts of the character. But for their second campaign the following year, Hasbro turned to the world of Japanese-exclusive Generation One to bring fans Legacy Victory Saber. Based on the 1989 series Transformers: Victory, the set features Autobot Supreme Commander Star Saber and Victory Leo (alongside a whole host of extras), and originally needed 11,000 backers to be put into production. Strap yourselves in and “Let’s Say Go!”, because this review is a LONG one.

First Impressions: Dragon Ball DAIMA

Dragon Ball DAIMA is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix

It's been five years since the Dragon Ball Super anime series ended and while fans haven't been completely starved of new Dragon Ball content since then, the times have certainly changed. The passing of creator Akira Toriyama earlier this year shocked the world, and although its a far sadder place without him we were fortunate enough to see him revisit the story onscreen one last time with Dragon Ball DAIMA. The sixth entry in the Dragon Ball franchise had Toriyama involved with the story "deeply beyond his usual capacity", in which Goku, Vegeta and the rest of Earth's fighters are transformed back into children by a brand new evil.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Arc

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

The latest instalment in the Ultraman franchise is well underway (and available both subtitled and English dubbed on YouTube if you haven't checked it out already), and of course Bandai Tamashii Nations have kicked off a new range of S.H. Figuarts releases to cover the series. After briefly skipping over it with Ultraman Blazar, S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Arc returns to the "entry level" pricing Tamashii have adopted on many of their various franchise releases now - offering the main character of a specific series at a slightly lower price. Usually that also means that the figure itself has a little less to offer than your average release too, but does that hold true for Arc and his power of imagination?

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Father of Ultra

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 8250 yen

The completion of the six main Ultra Brothers was a big milestone for the Ultraman S.H. Figuarts range, but there's still plenty of work for Bandai Tamashii Nations to do. What good are the Ultra Brothers without their leader, the top commander in the Inter Galactic Defence Force? To some he's known as Ultraman Ken, but these days he's better known as Father of Ultra. S.H. Figuarts Father of Ultra has been long overdue, and the fact he's also a retail release shows Bandai know the importance of this character to collectors as well. Despite Father of Ultra becoming a prominent figure in Ultraman franchise and making numerous reappearances over the years, this particular figure is based on his debut appearance in Ultraman Ace. 

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Dinobot Swoop

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: £54.99/£55.99

When the Transformers Studio Series 86 line began back in 2021 one of the first things it promised fans was new renditions of the Dinobots at Leader class scale – kicking things off with Grimlock as one of the very first figures in the range. Now three years and four fantastic Dinobots later, Hasbro are finally completing the team with the release of Studio Series 86 Dinobot Swoop. Though far more prominent in Transformers: The Movie than poor old Snarl, Swoop is a rather fitting choice for the final one to come to the line – with both he and Snarl being the second wave of Dinobots to be created in the series.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Collaborative 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Transformers' Party Wallop

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: $49.99/£49.99

Featuring everything from the likes of Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and Jurassic Park to the Universal Monsters and Stranger Things, the Transformers Collaborative line has made quite the name for itself over the past few years. But amongst all the possibilities for where Hasbro could go next with the line, as much as it was probably on people's wish lists Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles probably didn't seem like the most likely candidate. However with both the Robots in Disguise and the Heroes in a Half Shell both currently celebrating their 40th anniversaries, the timing really couldn't be better for Transformers Collaborative 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Transformers' Party Wallop. This latest collaboration gives fans a Transformers take on the Turtles' iconic Party Wagon, with a few extra surprises thrown in as well.

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.

Special REVIEW: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles

Super Sentai fans have been lucky enough to celebrate some milestone anniversaries in style the last few years, with specials, crossover movies and the like to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Kyoryuger as well as the 20th anniversaries of Hurricaneger, Abaranger and Dekaranger. But a 30th anniversary special? Well that's something new for the franchise entirely. Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles is a Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club special celebrating 30 years of the first ninja Super Sentai team, reuniting the full team for the first time in decades for an all-new chapter in their story alongside other favourites from the series.

Movie REVIEW: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster

With both the casts of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and Bakaryuu Sentai Abaranger having recently reunited for 20th anniversary specials, Super Sentai fans have seemingly entered a golden age of fan-favourite series celebrating this milestone with brand new V-Cinext movies. Following their previous return in both their own 10 Years After film and the short-lived Space Squad series of films, there should have been very little doubt that cast of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger are always ready and willing to give it another round. Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster marks the third 20th anniversary Super Sentai film, with Tomozaku Yoshida even returning to reprise his role as Tekkan/Deka Break despite his retirement from acting in 2018. Series main writer Naruhisa Arakawa returned to pen the film, alongside veteran Super Sentai director Katsuya Watanabe.

Series REVIEW: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

Following the success of Gosei Sentai Dairanger, Toei looked to a new theme for the 18th instalment in the Super Sentai franchise - one that had not been done until this point, but would go on to be among its most repeated. 1994-95's Ninja Sentai Kakuranger marks the first appearance of a ninja-themed Sentai, combining ancient Japanese folklore with the visuals of street art, fashion and American comics to create a series quite unlike any that had come before it. Despite being one of the few series since Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger to not feature a sixth ranger as a regular character, it instead looked to innovate the franchise in other ways - marking the first time a ranger other than red would be leader, an "Extra Hero", as well as a two-part story format that shifted in tone as it progressed.

Toybox REVIEW: Power Rangers Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers

Release Date: May 2023

RRP: $124.99/£118.99

Full team sets don't really come along all that often in the Power Rangers Lightning Collection, so whenever one is announced it feels like a pretty big deal. But while Hasbro had previously tested the waters before the Psycho Rangers set with some individual releases, with the Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers it's all brand new! The first (and currently only) release of the Alien Rangers of Aquitar, this set features all five Rangers alongside the usual selection of accessories and effect parts.

Movie REVIEW: Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained

Milestone anniversaries are something that rarely go uncelebrated in the Kamen Rider franchise, and when it's a series as popular as Kamen Rider 555 of course something big was going to happen for its 20th birthday. Though a series that has continued to endure in parallel universe, crossover and/or spin-off material, there is one thing that it has constantly been denied - a proper resolution. All this could change however with the release of Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained, a V-Cinext reunion film penned by original writer Toshiki Inoue (fresh off his work on Avataro Sentai Donbrothers) and directed by Ryuta Tasaki (who has worked on nearly every Kamen Rider series since Agito). The film's production was initially announced on the 5th May 2023, which was dubbed "Faiz Day" in celebration of the 20th anniversary.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Red King

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

Despite having already released an impressive range of monsters and aliens from the original Ultraman series in the S.H. Figuarts range there are still a number of important gaps for Bandai Tamashii Nations to fill, which just goes to show how iconic many of these creatures have become. One such example is S.H. Figuarts Red King, who has taken a whole eight years to come to the line despite being one of the franchise's most enduring foes. First appearing in episode eight of the original series, the ferocious "skull monster" has gone on to appear in numerous instalments across the franchise, most recently in the opening scenes of currently airing series Ultraman Arc.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 5500 yen

A sure sign that a toy line is doing well is if they revisit things previously covered years before in order to plug any gaps they might have missed first time around. This is definitely something Bandai have had in mind with the Shokugan Modeling Project line - first revisiting Ninja Sentai Kakuranger last year to give fans Ninjaman and now also returning to Chōjin Sentai Jetman to give us the last of its mecha as well. Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy is a Premium Bandai exclusive release, finally giving Jet Icarus and Jet Garuda in the form of the AI-powered robot with kickboxing skills and the abilities to turn into the formidable Tetra Buster.

First Impressions: Ultraman Arc

2024 looks like it's going to be another big year for the Ultraman franchise! In the last few weeks Ultraman: Rising has dropped on Netflix to largely positive reception, in comics the Giant of Light will be facing off against Earth's Mightiest Heroes starting this August in Ultraman x Avengers and on the main series side of things a brand new instalment in the franchise has just begun! Ultraman Arc invites fans to unleash the power of imagination, once again being distributed worldwide via the ULTRAMAN OFFICIAL YouTube channel complete with a variety of different language subtitles as well as a simultaneously released English dub.

Special REVIEW: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger with Tombo Ohger

The Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club April Fools' joke has become something of an annual tradition now, with them teasing some bizarre joke concept only for them to go and turn it into a viable special. For its 2024 rendition they announced its first ever romance drama in the form of "First Love Detective", to then later reveal the following day that the production was in fact Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger with Tombo Ohger. Coinciding with Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger's 20th anniversary movie Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster, the one-off special reunites the "Girls in Trouble" Jasmine and Umeko in a crossover with Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger's Yanma Gast.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project GaoGod

Release Date: September 2022

RRP: 7000 yen

True to their word, Bandai went all out to complete the in-show line-up of Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger Power Animals in the SMP line. The final release in the range was something familiar but at the same time different – Shokugan Modeling Project GaoGod! This Premium Bandai exclusive release is a remould of GaoKing – its components the five God Power Animals, the ancestors of the Gaorangers' own totem Power Animals.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kyoryu Red

Release Date: May 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

As if releases from series of the past three years wasn't enough confirmation that Super Sentai S.H. Figuarts truly are back, there's now also the fact that S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Gokai Red wasn't just a one-off. While the idea of getting full teams from Bandai Tamashii Nations once again still feels like a pipedream, a second entry in this prestigious line is definitely something to be excited about. This time around Bandai are being a little timelier with their celebrations, marking the tenth anniversary of Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger with the (general retail) release of S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kyoryu Red!

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project GaoLion & GaoElephant

Release Date: July 2022

RRP: 6364 yen

If the Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger range is anything to go by, when Bandai properly hit the 2000s era of Super Sentai in the Shokugan Modeling Project they really will cover all the bases when it comes to core and auxiliary mecha. 2022 proved to be another glorious year for the 25th Sentai team with a number of retail and Premium Bandai exclusive releases from the series, including the Shokugan Modeling Project GaoLion & GaoElephant set. This Premium Bandai set contains no ordinary GaoLion however, but rather the enlarged version that can combine with GaoElephant, GaoShark, GaoTiger and GaoFalcon to form the mighty GaoKentaurus.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project GaoIcarus

Release Date: July 2022

RRP: 8800 yen

Bandai's overall commitment to adequately covering a Super Sentai series in the Shokugan Modeling Project line is something to be commended, especially when its a series as extensive as Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger. Even after covering impressive ground with their GaoKing, GaoMuscle, GaoKnight and GaoHunter releases, the line carried firmly on into 2022 with the third of its retail releases - Shokugan Modeling Project GaoIcarus! First debuting in episode 31 of the series, GaoIcarus is the combined form of GaoFalcon, GaoDeers, GaoGiraffe, GaoRhinos and GaoMadillo.

Movie REVIEW: Ultraman: Rising

 

Ultraman's worldwide expansion over the last few years has been a thing of marvel, with the likes of mass market Blu-ray releases, a Marvel comic book series, an anime adaptation of an ongoing manga sequel/spin-off, the cinematic release of Shin Ultraman and YouTube simulcasts of the current airing shows all working in tandem to turn the franchise into a household name across the globe. Now the next step in that bid for world domination comes in the form of Ultraman: Rising - a feature length animated film co-produced by Netflix Animation and Tsuburaya Productions with animation by Industrial Light & Magic. The film is the directorial debut of Shannon Tindle, so co-directed alongside John Aoshima. Tindle also co-wrote the story alongside Marc Haimes, both of whom also were behind the original story for Laika's 2016 film Kubo and the Two Strings. The film stars Christopher Sean (Star Wars Resistance) in the lead role as Ken Sato/Ultraman, with the Japanese voice being provided by Yuki Yamada (Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger's Joe Gibken/Gokai Blue).

Toybox REVIEW: Soul of Chogokin GX-37B King Joe Black (Revival Ver.)

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 16500 yen

While a re-release of 2007's Soul of Chogokin King Joe in celebration of Ultraseven's 55th anniversary didn't necessarily come as a huge surprise, it's 2008 repaint from a series that isn't celebrating any notable anniversary getting similar treatment was. As was the case with GX-37R, the Tamashii Web exclusive Soul of Chogokin GX-37B King Joe Black (Revival Ver.) is a slight reworking of the figure from 16 years ago - updating it with a sharper colour scheme. King Joe Black first appeared onscreen in 2007's Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle, clashing against ZAP SPACY on several occasions, In addition to its bold new black and gold colour scheme, King Joe Black is also armed with the Pedanium Launcher - a powerful weapon capable of rapid-fire energy projectiles.

Toybox REVIEW: SV-Action Spider-Man Noir

Release Date: February 2024

RRP: 13500 yen

Though at first it seemed either Hasbro or Medicom would beat them to the punch, it's actually Sentinel who've done the impossible and finally completed the core Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse cast (six years after the release of the film no less) in six-inch figure form. After successful releases with Miles, Peter B., Peni and Gwen/Spider-Ham over the last few years, 2024 sees them round things off with SV-Action Spider-Man Noir. Famously voiced by Nicholas Cage in the film, this version of Spider-Man hails from the Marvel Noir universe of Earth-90214 – a 1930s Great Depression-styled New York entirely in black and white.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Won Tiger

Release Date: December 2023

RRP: 6500 yen

Bandai continue their dive into 1993 and Gosei Sentai Dairanger with the release of Shokugan Modeling Project Won Tiger! Perhaps better known in many parts of the world as the White Tigerzord from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, this feels like a particularly notable release for the line given the popularity of both Kiba Ranger and the White Ranger. Which perhaps makes it rather odd that it comes as a Premium Bandai exclusive release, but when have Bandai ever truly made sense? Created as the sixth Mythical Qi Beast using the powers of both the Great Cosmos and the Dairangers, it then became the personal Qi Beast of Kou as he joined the team as Kiba Ranger.

Top 5: S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Remakes I'd Like To See

Bandai Tamashii Nations' recent announcement of Kamen Rider 1 (The Next) being the 100th Kamen Rider release in the S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou line was just about the perfect choice for the coveted top spot – while there are plenty of unreleased characters deserving of figures, there's just something poetic about the very first S.H. Figuarts release finally getting an updated figure. In fact much of that Shinkocchou Seihou line-up is updates of characters previously released in the standard Figuarts line, which isn't all that surprising given how long it's been going for now. Which got me thinking – what Kamen Rider figures present in the main S.H. Figuarts line would I like to see redone for the Shinkocchou Seihou range? Read on to find out!

Series REVIEW: Sentika F8ABA6 Jisariz

Based on his numerous appearances as both Tsukasa Kayodoya/Kamen Rider Decade in Kamen Rider and Jinga in GARO, it's fair to assume that Masahiro Inoue is a man that loves tokusatsu. So much so that in 2023 following his appointment as representative director of AIC RIGHTS he started up the PINK no Tokusatsu project, the name of which of course refers to Decade's colour scheme. The first major work to come out of the project is Sentika F8ABA6 Jisariz – a 12-episode web series starring AKB48 member Manaka Taguchi alongside Inoue. Though the series was originally made freely available on the GGE YouTube Channel with English subtitles, it has since been put behind a paywall.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gotchard Steamhopper

Release Date: February 2024

RRP: 7700 yen

Just when Bandai Tamashii Nations have settled into a predictable pattern with their releases, they'll go ahead and throw a curveball into the mix. For nearly a decade now the titular heroes from the latest Kamen Rider series have been what collectors would consider an "entry point" release – one with a cheaper price point and minimal accessories, so they can encourage collectors to purchase further figures that come with additional accessories for this one. In recent years they've become a little more generous with the accessories, but the prices have remained low. The same can't be said for S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gotchard thought, who arrives as what one would argue as a more conventional retail release. That said, you only have to take one look at the figure to see that there's a good reason for this.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Phase Variation Batta-Augs

Release Date: March 2024

RRP: 8250 yen

When producing a remake of the original Kamen Rider series there are usually some essentials that have to be hit, and one of those is the concept of the Shocker Rider. These mass-produced versions of the titular hero are Shocker agents that successfully underwent brainwashing, originally appearing in episode 92 of the series as well as the original manga. The Shocker Riders were also featured in both the Kamen Rider Spirits manga and 2007's Kamen Rider: The Next. For 2023's Shin Kamen Rider they were slightly reimagined again as the Phase Variation Batta Augments, 11 mass-produced warriors created by Ichiro Midorikawa to take down the Double Riders. Bandai Tamashii Nations have continued to expand their Shin Kamen Rider range with the release of the Tamashii web exclusive S.H. Figuarts Phase Variation Batta-Augs, their seventh figure from the film.

Movie REVIEW: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs Kyoryuger

In 2013 Super Sentai revisited dinosaurs for a third time, and the result remains one of the most popular instalments in the franchise to this day. Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger was a massive hit, to the point where South Korea even produced its own non-canon spin-off/sequel (which was in turn dubbed in Japan). As such there was no way its tenth anniversary was going to go uncelebrated, and in true Kyoryuger style a reunion movie simply wasn't going to be enough. Instead Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger hosted a two-part crossover, where the stories of the two series were intertwined in a way rarely seen in Super Sentai. Again that wasn't enough though, and so their story continues into Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs Kyoryuger. The film was released in early 2024 as a special King-Ohger VS Series double-bill alongside Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs Donbrothers.

Movie REVIEW: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs Donbrothers

Just after Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger threw out all expectations of what to expect from a Super Sentai series, it seems to be doing similar things with its epilogue content as well. Not just content with having one entry added into the long running VS Series of films, 2024 saw a King-Ohger double bill spectacular as they crossover over with TWO previous teams of heroes. Given their previous in-series crossover, the close story links made between the two series and Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger's 10th anniversary celebrations a proper King-Ohger vs Kyoryuger film felt inevitable, but it just wouldn't be the same without some mayhem from King-Ohger's predecessor as well. So to that end we also have Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs Donbrothers - bringing together the casts of both King-Ohger and Avataro Sentai Donbrothers for an adventure that will surely be anything but conventional.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Dairenoh

Release Date: August 2023

RRP: 7920 yen

After a rather expansive run with their Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger assortment, Bandai move back to the 90s for another fan-favourite Super Sentai series in the Shokugan Modeling Project line. This time we're journeying back to 1993 with Gosei Sentai Dairanger - the 17th entry in the franchise and the basis for the mecha (as well as the White Ranger) in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' second season. Though a much smaller selection of mecha compared to Gaoranger, Dairanger's Mythical Qi Beasts continue to be among one of the most popular mecha designs in Super Sentai and a highlight of the amazing streak the franchise had in the 90s. Naturally the first release in the assortment is Shokugan Modeling Project Dairenoh, the core robot from the series. In Power Rangers this appeared as the Thunder Megazord following the destruction of the original dino Megazord.