Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts General Grievous

Release Date: November 2025

RRP: 18,150 yen

While Bandai Tamashii Nations are constantly revealing new and exciting figures in the S.H. Figuarts line, sometimes the most satisfying releases are the ones that have been sitting in Bandai purgatory for years only to suddenly get a surprise release. 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, so there couldn’t have been a better time for S.H. Figuarts General Grievous to suddenly become a reality. First seen at an event all the way back in 2015, Grievous (along with many of the other Star Wars figures seen at the same event) hadn’t been seen since despite the line continuing on strongly. How much of that old prototype is still in this new release is another question entirely, but nevertheless this is one fans (including myself) have been waiting a long time for.

Series REVIEW: Ultraman Taro

Despite Ultraman Ace proving to be fairly popular throughout its run, the show was not without its problems behind the scenes - so much so that some at broadcaster TBS even suggested putting the franchise on hiatus for a year following its completion. However producer Yoji Hashimoto was able to convince them otherwise, and work began on the next instalment as Tsuburaya Productions approached their tenth anniversary. The initial pitch was "Ultra Jack" - a space-based "neo fairy tale" series which would introduce the sixth Ultra Brother and build upon ideas from Ace. While many of the ideas presented would remain in the final version, the trouble was coming up with a name. Jack was a common name in Western fairy tales, but it was also felt to be too similar to "hijacking" - something which was a global issue at the time. So director Kazuho Mitsuda suggested a more Japanese name which conveyed the same idea - and thus Ultraman Taro was born. The series premiered on April 6th 1973, and ran for a total of 53 episodes.

Toybox REVIEW: Marvel Legends Gamerverse Gargantos

Release Date: October 2025

RRP: $69.99/£65.99

The Capcom range of Marvel fighting games has gone through a bit of a renaissance recently, not only with the release of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics at the end of 2024 but also both Hasbro and Bandai revealing Gamerverse figures inspired by the series in their Marvel Legends and S.H. Figuarts lines. Hasbro have led the charge with quite an extensive range of figures, with one of the premium pieces among them being the Marvel Legends Gamerverse Gargantos. But rights issues regarding the name be damned, everyone knows this is Shuma-Gorath. Also known as the "Great One Who Slumbers", "Conqueror of Midnight", "All-Killer of the Dawn", "Father of All Evil" and the "Lord of Chaos", the Doctor Strange adversary has been a mainstay of the games since 1995's Marvel Super Heroes, going on to also appear in the first three Marvel vs Capcom games as well.