There's always one silver lining to Hikōnin Sentai Akibaranger finishing - it's a sign that the latest onslaught of new Super Sentai S.H. Figuarts is incoming! Much like last year, season 2 of Akibaranger has already announced a veritable selection of both official and unofficial heroes for collectors from the end of June and beyond. To kick things off Akiba Red is back with a brand new figure, representing the Super Akiba Red mode he gains in fourth episode of the second season. Continuing the theme started with the season one Akibaranger  figures, Super Akiba Red's packaging is delightfully garish in all of its rainbow glory. The layout is a little different with the new season two logo adorning the front, and the "unofficial" stamp on the window has been replaced with some red Japanese text (although I have no idea what it says). I really like the lengths Bandai go to to make the Akiba packing look good...even the silver backing card on the inside h...

When  Hikōnin Sentai Akibaranger first hit television screens in April last year, I don't think anyone knew quite what to expect. But as it turned out what we get was not only a Super Sentai   parody that was hilariously funny on a meta level, but one that was clearly a love letter to the official heroes that both appeared and were mentioned. In the year that past the merchandising drive has been pretty huge, and with fans left wanting more from the unofficial Sentai it seems Toei   were more than happy to oblige. Akibaranger Season 2  (or Tsuu , which also doubles as "pain") returned exactly a year later for a further 13 episodes, promising more delusion chaos. Meet your new Akiba Blue The season opens with the events of Akibaranger  season one rewritten by its manipulative creator Hatte Saburo. The Akibarangers never became self aware that they were in a TV show, Dr Z and the Delusional Empire never happened, Mitsuki (Akiba Blue) was the one p...

The biggest problem with last year's fantastic Hikōnin Sentai Akibaranger was the it was simply too short. 12 episodes of delusion-filled Super Sentai parody just wasn't enough for fans, and they quickly went about campaigning to see more of the unofficial heroes. Thankfully roughly a year after Akibaranger began airing, Toei (and Bandai Tamashii Nations ) have pulled through with a second season of the show. There's already been plenty of hype and teasing for the show, and we know it promises a new Akiba Blue (as Kyoko Hinami sadly had to leave the show), new villains, a super mode for Akiba Red and a whole new selection of official hero cameos. We begin season two several months after the events of the previous season, with Nobou visiting Hakase and Kozkoz at the Super Sentai cafe. As they begin to reminiscence about the Akibarangers' adventures, it seems like this episode will be little more than a clip show recapping the events of the first season. However al...

Akibaranger was a series that wasn't subtle about a lot of things, but one of the first ones that comes to mind is product placement and merchandising. In a series where the cast were frequently seen in a room filled to the brim with Super Sentai figures, mecha and roleplay items, its no surprise that Bandai also had plans to milk the show as far as merchandise was concerned. Not only that, but the show also included several commercial bumpers for the products, and even a gag in the last episode about promotion of two Tamashii web exclusive Figuarts for characters that didn't even appear in the show (Deka Blue and Black Condor). Well now that the show has finished, it's time for the figures to start rolling out. The first to be released is none other than Nobuo Akagi aka Akiba Red, with Blue to follow in July and then Yellow in August. Malshina and a Shatieek have also been seen, however their release details have yet to be announced. The box is a bright displa...

However you look at it, Super Sentai is kids show. It may have a large adult fanbase, but it has and probably always will be mainly for children. So what if Toei made a Sentai show strictly for adults? Well our prayers have been answered....somewhat.  Hikōnin (Unofficial) Sentai Akibaranger is a 13-episode series is an adult parody Super Sentai series geared for adult fans of the show and is not part of the main Super Sentai series of shows. Just like in reality, Super Sentai is a long-running television show within the world of Akibaranger. Our heroes In the otaku paradise of Akihabara, three individuals are chosen by a scientist to become the unofficial Sentai Akibaranger, protecting Akihabara from the evil Stema Otsu Corporation and their attempts to destroy otaku culture. These three individuals - long time Super Sentai fan and 29-year-old delivery boy Nobuo Akagi, 18-year-old martial artist Mitsuki Aoyagi and 23-year-old cosplay fanatic Yumeria Moegi battle th...