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under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

“Red Fight!”

Comic Book artist & writer Matthew Frank AKA @spankzilla85 has just dropped by our forums with an update on his & Goncalo Lopes’s long awaited REDMAN comic series!

Debuting on May 30th, 2018 in Japan and on Amazon Japan, an English US release will follow suite soon after! While we don’t have specific dates or times for the English release, we’ll be sure to keep you updated as that info becomes available! For now, here’s a powerful synopsis to tease the series:

He is REDMAN, the Kaiju Hunter…
Trapped in a desolate and yet somehow familiar world populated
with an vast array of the ferocious beasts known as “Kaiju,”
REDMAN continues his endless fight in Red Fight, battling tirelessly to cull the monsters.

With each fierce battle, the blood-splattered “Hero” sinks closer to his prey,
and a sinister form watches and records his every move…

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights, Ultraman

“Red Fight!”

In 1972 Tsuburaya began a quirky little side project to their Ultraman franchise with the now infamous Redman. This more violent cousin of the Ultramen is known for his brutal fighting style and savage way of defeating his opponents, often recycled ultra Kaiju. In recent years fan demand has grown for a collector oriented poseable figure of the character. Now, Evolution Toy has now stepped up as the contender to offer the first such product by launching a brand new line.

HAF (Hero Action Figure) Redman, is the first release in a new line that aims to encompass all of Tsuburaya’s less mainstream heroes like Mirroman, Iron King, Gridman etc. It’s ambitious to say the least, given the number of prototypes that have been displayed recently. While I won’t give away all my thoughts in this post (check out the full thread) it does seem that despite production delays, HAF Redman may have been a little rushed to market. At the very least though Redman includes his iconic Red Knife & Red Arrow weapons and gives collectors a figure they’ve been seeking for years.

We’ve attached the full 50+ image gallery to this post, but you can also read through our full review by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We’ll be back soon with a new Kamen Rider Build gallery of S.H. Figuarts Night Rogue!

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

“The only thing standing in front of the apocalypse, is us.”

In the 5 years since Pacific Rim first rampaged it’s way across theater screens, fans have been rabid for a sequel to this giant robot love letter. Meanwhile collector’s have been desperately hoping a better option for merchandise and collectibles for the franchise. Well Tamashii Nations has finally come to rescue to provide fantastic action figures and toys at multiple price points and functionality from Pacific Rim Uprising! Today we’re taking a look at the very first release in their Pacific Rim Robot Spirits (Damashii) line with Gypsy Avenger!

Kicking the line off in fantastic fashion, is the heroic mech central to Uprising’s plot, Gypsy Avenger. The slimmed down successor to Gypsy Danger, Avenger comes to us at an insanely affordable price point (only $20!) and is one of the best and most functional figures we could hope for at that price. Armed with her Gravity Sling & Chain Sword, Gypsy Avenger can go toe to toe with the toughest Kaiju, giant robots, or otherwise huge heroes in your collection.

We’ve attached the full 70 image gallery of Robot Spirits Gypsy Avenger to this post. You can also read our extensive (and positive) review of the figure by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. And, we’re gonna continue to cancel the apocalypse off and on for the next month as we review the other 5 Pacfic Rim Robot Spirits that make up the rest of waves 1 & 2!

under General Tokusatsu News

It’s time for another BigBadToyStore.com sponsor update here at TokuNation! Spring is officially here and what better way to celebrate the warming trend outside than with warming your wallet by emptying it on great toys and collectibles?! BigBadToyStore.com is here to help! Check out what’s new in stock and new for pre-order!

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under General Tokusatsu News

Tsuburaya Productions has uploaded an official teaser for the upcoming Studio Trigger anime revision of the tokusatsu series Denko Chojin Gridman!

Titled SSSS Gridman this new series takes several design cues from the Tsuburaya series but will feature a brand-new storyline unreleated to the original show.

While SSSS Gridman is currently scheduled for release in 2018, exact details remain unconfirmed at time of writing. Stay tuned to TokuNation for further details!

under General Tokusatsu News

3, 2, 1! Switch On!

Celebrating creator Shotaro Ishinomori’s 80th anniversary, Premium Bandai have revealed what is perhaps the definitive Kikaider statue – Ultimate Article Kikaider!

Standing roughly 40cm high, this static figure is a highly detailed replica of the suit seen on the original 1972 show – complete with intricate detail on Kikaider’s exposed mechanics as well as perfectly capturing his iconic red and blue colourscheme. The statue also features light-up brain and eyes, as well as alternate arm parts to display Kikaider in signature “Denji End” finishing move pose.

Unfortunately this statue isn’t for the faint of heart, releasing in July for a whopping 27,000 yen. Though a Premium Bandai exclusive release, the figure is also curiously being released exclusively through Amiami – with preorders on both sites opening tomorrow.

Is your wallet deep enough for this to join your tokusatsu collection? Either way, be sure to check out the full image gallery of this incredible figure after the jump!

under General Tokusatsu News

Millions of children (and adults) across the United States and the United Kingdom are still in the mourning phase of the realization that the biggest toy store there is will be no longer with the announcement of the end of Toys’R’Us. However, a new champion has entered the ring claiming that he will save the toy industry.

Ellia Kassoff, CEO of Strategic Marks, LLC, announced via a LinkedIn article that he and his company have been looking in to the return of KB Toys/KayBee Toys over the last six months and, with the announcement of the end of Toys’R’Us, have accelerated their plans and hope to have stores open by this Christmas.

What? How can that be? Isn’t the toy industry reeling with kids playing video games and online retailers like Amazon stealing all the business away from brick and mortar stores? If there’s anyone in the business world qualified to give it a crack shot, it’s Ellia Kassoff, and we’re going to share with you why.

How many of you enjoyed the candy Astro Pops as a kid? What about Tart’n’Tinys? (personal note: those are my favorite candies to ever exist in the history of ever). Wacky Wafers? If you answered yes then you probably know that you can’t find those items at your grocery stores anymore. Most of those brands were discontinued long ago by the major candy companies like Willy Wonka and Hershey.

Enter Ellia Kassoff and Leaf Brands. Wait – Leaf Brands was sold to Hershey Food Corporation in 1996 and left the United States, you say. Yes – this is true. But Ellia Kassoff, the nephew of Ed Leaf (the original CEO of the original Leaf Brands) restarted the company in 2011 with the idea of bringing back those classic candy treats that you can no longer find. And he’s succeeded we might add. You can order the candies we listed above from the new Leaf Brands or their specialty distributors. I’m eating some Tart’n’Tinys as we speak. And not the gel-coated junk from before – the original, powdery-like original versions like in the cardboard box you used to get in the candy aisle.

Ellia Kassoff is all about taking old brands that failed and bringing them back today with new and current ideas, strategies that make sense in this digital age, and a results-oriented business. And thus far he has been successful.

Welcome back KB Toys. We hope, this time, you’re here to stay.

under General Tokusatsu News, Power Rangers

After 70 years in business, the biggest toy store there is simply won’t be anymore. Today Toys’R’Us filed papers in court to begin the immediate process of liquidating and selling all of it’s US store operations for both Toys’R’Us and Babies’R’Us.

Toys’R’Us filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in September of 2017 and received an influx of cash of $3.1 billion dollars to maintain business operations over the 2017 Holiday Shopping Season. Through court documents we now see just how bad this Holiday Shopping Season was for Toys’R’Us – Quarter 4 of the 2017 Fiscal Year brought in only $81 million dollars for Toys’R’Us compared to $347 million in Quarter 4 of 2016. To quote CEO David Brandon, their financial results were “worse than worst case scenario”. To remain open, Toys’R’Us would need to spend $50 million to $100 million per month which the company is incapable of doing.

The small, silver lining to this scenario is that there are potential plans for the Toys’R’Us Canada branch to outright purchase a select number of stores – possibly close to 200 – and allow them to remain open. However, until such a deal is reached, every single Toys’R’Us and Babies’R’Us store in the United States will begin the process of liquidation.

It’s a sad day for the toy industry. Toys’R’Us is estimated to make up 15% of all the total toy sales in the United States, putting huge burdens on major manufacturers like Hasbro and Mattel to find a way to make up for that change. Hasbro, in recent investor calls, has already stated plans in place currently to help minimize the overall effect and that they are confident they will come out of this mostly unscathed. Mattel on the other hand is close to filing for bankruptcy themselves, having recently suspended dividend following poor sale results in the recent quarter.

We’s sharing the following jingle by Twitter user @ChaseHolfelder in memory of the “Biggest Toy Store There Is”. Our thoughts are with the estimated 33,000 workers who will soon be out of a job. If there are any changes to the news, or Toys’R’Us Canada does end up purchasing some US stores to keep them open, we will share that with you.

The full press release is after the jump of “Read More”.

[Read more…]

under General Tokusatsu News, TokuNation, TokuNation Site Updates, TokuNation Spotlights

In the last 7 years I’ve had the opportunity to review some seriously unique and interesting pieces for this website. Honestly though I think nothing has ever been quite as unique as what I have to share with you today. I’ve recently come into possession of  a special Pre-Production Factor Sample of the S.H. Figuarts Hakaider Squad! While Kikaider & Hakaider related products may not necessarily be something of personal interest to each of you, this figure offers us a rare look at what goes into the process of creating a repaint and remold of a previous release.

Yes, this figure is indeed a true blue working sample used to model new parts. At it’s base level it’s your standard Hakaider body. But after disassembly and study, you can see several areas where new parts from the final Hakaider Squad figures were integrated for testing purposes. The new biceps and face are dead giveaways. More than that though we also have the anti-theft paint job, as well as the trademark hole drilled through the figures’ chest that numerous Tamashii display samples have had through out the years.

We’ve attached the full 40 image gallery of this unique item to this post, but please read through the in depth breakdown of what makes this factory sample what it is after the jump. Just click “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post to be taken to the full thread.

Next time, “Rabbit! Tank! Best Match!”

under Conventions, General Tokusatsu News

In addition to the previously reported Denkou Choujin Gridman figures revealed at Wonderfest 2018, Evolution Toys also brought along a number of other classic tokusatsu heroes as part of their Hero Action Figure series line.

First up for release in May is Fake Janborg A (also known as Imitation Jumborg Ace), who appeared in episode 29 of the 1973 Tsuburaya Series Jumborg Ace. Following on from that in June will be Janborg 9 (aka Jumborg 9), the second fighting robo to appear in the series.

Next up in July comes Spectreman (star of the 1971 series from P Productions), followed by Silver Kamen Giant (from 1971 series Silver Kamen) and Mirrorman (star of the 1971 series by Tsuburaya) in August. Fans may recognise an updated version of Mirrorman as part of Mirror Knight, a member of Ultraman Zero’s Ultimate Force Zero in the film Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial. Meanwhile Silver Kamen also received something of a renaissance last year, appearing alongside fellow classic tokusatsu hero Red Baron in the movie Brave Storm.

Rounding off Evolution Toy’s display was an unpainted prototype of Triplefighter, another series from Tsuburaya that first aired in 1972. Triplefighter is set to be released in September.

Each of these figures will retail for 8,800 yen each. Check out the full selection of images after the jump and join in on our Wonderfest 2018 discussion thread!