Anime REVIEW: Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

After the overwhelming success of shows such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Fate/Zero, it's no surprise that writer Gen Urobuchi is a hot topic in the world of anime. Despite only being responsible for a handful of episodes and the overall concept, having his name attached to Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (Suisei no Gargantia) has no doubt brought it to people's attention. A 13-episode series from the studio Production I.G., Gargantia first aired in 2013 and has since spanned a further two OVAs - with a two-part OVA sequel also set for release later this year.

Toybox REVIEW: Nendoroid Mako Mankanshoku

Where Ryuko Matoi goes, her best friend Mako Mankanshoku isn't far behind - and the Nendoroid toyline is no exception! Rather than make Kill la Kill fans wait any longer, Good Smile Company opted to release both characters at the same time, with Satsuki Kiryuin following shortly afterward in October. With her over the top personality and expressions, Mako seems like a perfect character for the Nendoroid line so here's hoping the figure can live up to her potential!

Toybox REVIEW: Nendoroid Ryuko Matoi

It's been almost a year since Kill la Kill first graced Japanese television screens, yet only now are figures of Studio Trigger's first full-length series beginning to hit retail. There's plenty to choose for both poseable and non-poseable fans, witth Good Smile Company, Max Factory, Phat Company and Medicom among some of the companies bringing out figures in the next few months. However my first Kill la Kill toy review moves towards the chibi side of things, looking at the endless juggernaut that is Good Smile Company's Nendoroid line. The end of August saw a double bill-release of the first two characters to grace the line, so we start things off with the main protagonist of the show - Ryuko Matoi.

Reviews in Time & Space: Listen

After a jovial forest romp last week, Steven Moffat returns to the writing chair this week to do what everyone agrees he does best in Doctor Who - straight up horror. Listen sees the Doctor and Clara embark upon their own little investigation (rather than stumble into trouble like they usually do) when the Doctor hypothesises that every living being has a constant companion - the creature they dream hiding under the bed. Unfortunately the Doctor drops in on Clara straight after her first date from hell with fellow teacher Danny Pink (last seen in Into the Dalek), leading them to become wrapped in his own timeline as well. As the pair search for the answers about the thing that goes bump in the night in both the past and future, Clara meanwhile tries to repair her relationship with Danny. The big question is whether there's really something hiding, or is a little boy just afraid of the dark?

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who 3.75" Classic Dalek (from 'Genesis of the Daleks')

With Doctor Who finally back on television screens, its time for the merchandising train to continue on full steam once again. The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay will reopen from its "regeneration" in a few weeks time, and both the 3.75" action figures and Character Building mini figures are back for brand new waves. The subject of this review is particularly special, as it marks the new scale's first foray into the classic series. This Classic Dalek figure hails from the 1975 story Genesis of the Dalek, released as part of wave 3 of the new figure line. In the US, it is also a Walgreen's exclusive figure.

Series REVIEW: Android Kikaider

Having dived through a fairly extensive array of both Kamen Rider and Super Sentai shows but still having plenty left to watch, I decided it would be good to take a little break from the "big two" franchises and take a look at some of the lesser known tokusatsu heroes Japan has to offer. And having just received a reboot movie and guest appearance on Kamen Rider Gaim the Kikaider franchise seemed like the perfect place to start. Despite probably not being quite the household name Rider and Sentai are, Kikaider (again created by the the late great Shotaro Ishinomori) is still an incredibly popular hero and actually one of the more successful non-adapted heroes outside of his home country. Due to his huge popularity in Hawaii both live-action series have received an official DVD release, while the anime adaptations were also aired on Adult Swim.

Anyway there's no better place to start than the beginning, so my journey through the Kikaider franchise starts with the 43-episode series Android Kikaider (Jinzō Ningen Kikaidā), which aired between 1972 and 1973 (making it the oldest Toei series I've watched so far).

Reviews in Time & Space: Robot of Sherwood

Another week has passed, so naturally it's time for another look at the latest season of Doctor Who. Episode three sees the TARDIS flying to Sherwood forest to the times of Robin Hood, after Clara tells the Doctor she's always wanted to meet the legendary hero. Eager to prove that Robin Hood doesn't exist, the Doctor is naturally rather surprised to find both him and his merry men almost instantly when they land. So while the Doctor gets caught up in trying to prove that this Robin Hood is a fraud, they all also get caught up in a plan involving robots, gold and of course - the Sheriff of Nottingham. The episode is titled Robot of Sherwood, and was written by Doctor Who regular and Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss.

Toybox REVIEW: Ressha Sentai ToQger Minipla Build DaiOh & Drill Ressha

After brief detour into the world of additional armaments, the Ressha Sentai ToQger minipla candy toy line returns with its third mecha. The team now has its sixth member in former Shadow Zaram who has now taken the name Akira Nijino. After seeing a rainbow he left the Shadow Line to become a Rainbow Line maintenance worker, eventually becoming the appropriately themed/coloured ToQ #6. So naturally an orange construction themed ranger needs an orange construction themed train, which Akira gets in the form of the Build Ressha - an impressive double-decker train able to transform into the giant robot Build DaiOh.

Reviews in Time & Space: Into the Dalek

Poor old Daleks, they haven't had much luck in the new run of Doctor Who have they? After Rob Shearman showed just how powerful a single Dalek could be in the phenomenal 2005 episode Dalek, the Doctor's most feared adversary have gone on to be beaten by a poorly executed deus ex machina TWICE (Parting of the Ways and The Stolen Earth/Journey's End), gatecrash a Cyberman finale and then play second fiddle to Rose's long-winded goodbye (Doomsday), be turned in human hybrids (Daleks in Manhatten/Evolution of the Daleks), be rebooted in new cases that are instantly retconned (Victory of the Daleks) and finally put in a story where they get the Doctor to do something because they're too scared to do it themselves (Asylum of the Daleks). And that's without even getting started on the stone Dalek that appeared in The Big Bang...

With such a poor repertoire after such a strong introductory episode in the new series, its no wonder that fans are crying out for the Daleks to be retired from the show for a few years. Yet they still remain Doctor Who's most popular monster, and after some rather good minor appearances in Day and Time of the Doctor its time to wheel them out once again for their first face off against the 12th Doctor. Ladies and gentlemen, its time to go Into the Dalek...

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryugen Budou Arms

Rounding off the four 'main' characters in Kamen Rider Gaim is the release of S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryugen, moulded in his standard Budou Arms (or grape if you'd prefer). Despite being one of the less-seen suits in the series (replaced halfway through by the next Gaim figure due out), Ryugen is one of the earliest Riders to appear and the original suit of main character Mitsuzane "Micchy" Kureshima. And anyone who's watching Gaim will probably have quite a few words to say about that character.