TFTM First Strike Optimus Prime Voyager Class

The last Voyager class Transformers Movie Optimus Prime that I haven gotten, well, until now. It's basically the same Voyager class Optimus Prime, except that it is in Optimus' G1 colors.

Takara Action Hero-Pro RYUKENDO

From the (not so) popular Kamen Rider-rip-off, Ryukendo action figure from Takara.

Madan Senki Ryukendo (translated as Magic Bullet Chronicles Ryukendo), is Takara and We've Inc.'s first attempt at a Japanese Tokusatsu-type show.

This is Takara's foray into the lucrative venture of the 6 inch scale superhero action figures. They do have the diminutive microman series in the 3.75inch scale. But this is their attempt give us an action figure line with microman-like articulation in Marvel Legends scale.

So, where they successful? Read on.

Here is a picture of the front and back of the box. I like the packaging. The box art at the back is extremely helpful on how to tinker with the figure. The front side of the box prominently displays the figure and its accessories. The box is small enough, that it doesn't take too much space on the shelf, if you choose to keep it mint-in-box.

One thing that this figure has over any 6-inch toys, NO TWISTIES! I hate twisties.

Out of the packaging, Ryukendo here seems fun enough. It has it's huge sword, extra feet, and the dragon-like weapon which attaches to the figure's backhand.

The figure has articulated hands which makes holding the sword not a problem.

It's in the 6inch scale, and is very compatible with your Marvel Legends and DC Universe Classics.

The armor parts can be removed. It's surprisingly durable, and the armor attachments work perfectly. It works so much better than the armor attachments of Bandai's Souchaku Henshin, which has been known to fall apart rather easily. Takara's Action Hero-Pro is the level-up version of the Souchaku Henshin, in terms of stability. But I still prefer the Souchaku Henshin series by Bandai, because the figures are made up of diecast. Takara's Action Hero-Pro is all plastic, except for the screws located on its arms, legs, body and head.

As you can see, it is very posable. It has 40 points of articulation, all of which are useful. I can pose it any which way I want to...

...and even if the armor parts are attached, it retains its posability.

"Hey guys, check out my big ass sword, and my nifty dragon head thingie."

"This is me, doing my Hulk Hogan thing."

Check it out! The joints are tight enough that you can actually pose it standing on one foot.

Yep, no trick photography here. Ryukendo is really standing on one leg, while doing a high-kick.

"Go ahead and buy me, I'm cheap enough, RJ here got me for only $10."

But if you check out the internet shop Toys n' Joys, it's being sold for $39.95, exclusive of shipping.

Very highly recommended for sentai (power rangers) and tokusatsu (kamen/masked riders) toy collectors.

Transformers Movie Voyager Optimus Prime/s

Previously, I posted pictures of the battle-damaged voyager movie Optimus Prime. I really like the sculpting on voyager class Optimus, that I had to get the other versions of the movie figure. One is missing, because I am on the fence with the G1 color voyager movie optimus. If it's not in movie color, then it's not a movie figure, well, at least, that is how I see it. Anyway, regardless, these three movie voyager Primes are great to collect. The sculpt is more movie accurate than the leader class version, it looks great in both robot and vehicle modes, the articulation is complex enough to challenge but not too confusing that you have to have the instruction sheet in front of you to do it, and it's just oh soooo sexy. It's the closest to perfection for a movie Prime figure you will ever get, well, until they release the Optimus figure for the second movie, that is.

This is the REGULAR voyager class movie Optimus Prime figure...

... and this is the Robo-Vision version. The Robo-Vision has lighter color than the regular version, and some parts are supposed to be molded in some sort of metallic colored plastic, as opposed to the flat colored plastic of the regular Prime, but unfortunately, I do not see it. But, it's irrelevant, because either of the two figures kick major ass, so go get, if you are lucky enough to find them at this time.

Transformers Movie Battle Damaged Voyager Optimus Prime

I like the sculpting for the Voyager Movie Optimus Prime figures, which was first shown in the Robo-Vision Optimus Prime. I got every release, except the Battle Damaged version. I just recently got this version for a great price. It was on sale for $14. Great! When this thing was first released, I chose not to get it because I didn't feel the paint application. I thought it's a waste of an awesome sculpt. Optimus looked ugly with the paint application, but that is precisely the point. It's a "battle damaged" version. Optimus is supposed to look like he was crapped on by Unicron.

The packaging is perfect. I think this is superior to the packaging of the regular Voyager Movie Optimus Prime, and it is almost as sexy as the Robo-Vision version. I like packagings which shows off the figure inside, but does not take up too much shelf space. This packaging fits that perfectly.

Recommended to all Decepticon-lovers who want to see Optimus Prime on a bad hair day.

Bandai Kamen Rider Den-O 5 inch Action Figures

I have to warn you, I start and end at climax.

I have posted pictures of these bad boys a few posts before, but fortune smiled upon me and I got doubles of the same figures for sale. Now, I can afford to open them. The 3 figure boxset I got for only $12. The rider and bike set were sold only for $15 each. Very sweet.

So, here is the main hero of the series, Kamen Rider Den-O with his bike. The bike is compatible with your souchaku henshin figures, so, if you want to get a bike for your Den-O souchakus, this is the most ideal choice.

The only thing which disappointed me with the Den-O and bike set is the fact that Den-O's sword, for his "sword form" (duh), was missing. Bandai remedied that, and packed in a Den-O sword along with the three-figure Den-O (Rod, Gun, Ax) boxset.

Soure sanjou!

Here are the first four Den-O forms. In the order of their appearance in the series, we have Sword, Rod, Ax, and Gun forms.

Notice the various poses. They are very compatible with your Souchaku Henshin and S.H.Figuarts figures.

Here is Kamen Rider Zeronos. I still do not know his deal yet. But, if it's like the other rider series, he will probably start of as a rival for Den-O, but will later on be surpassed by the titular character, through Den-O's eventual upgrades (Climax, Liner, Wing forms).

Zeronos sports an almost identical bike as Den-O's.

Check out the differences of the two bikes.

Transformers Encore Omega Supreme

One of the best and memorable character in the original TV series is Omega Supreme. Unfortunately, with the electronic mechanism, it's very rare to find an absolutely near mint figure of Omega. So, we have to make do sometimes of the expensive, and often, not-so-near-mint, with non-working electronic parts, figures we see on Ebay. Some sellers are even so brazen to sell one small part for as high as $20. Back then, Omega Supreme here is far more valuable to sellers if they sell him for parts. But not anymore. Thankfully, Takara Tomy saw the light, and realize that there is a huge demand for this classic character, and re-issued it for those who want a mint figure.

It has all the gimmicks of the original, at an affordable price. It can turn into a sort of rocket base, complete with a rocket and a tank.

As a robot, Omega Supreme is like Shaquille O'Neal, he is big, bulky, but oh so sexy. Hehehe, go Suns! Go Diesel!

This is the only thing which I can readily see on the box which distinguish it from the original Japanese issued Omega Supreme. Of course, if you see a website address for Takara-Tomy, then it's a safe bet it's a re-issue.

The main difference of the new Omega Supreme figure is that they gave him a face outline, which makes THIS version cartoon-accurate. I am sure folks out there who are into that are happy and satisfied.

I highly recommend this to all freaks of Cybertron, and those who are into vintage designed robots.

DC Direct Despero

I recently got the Mattel DC Universe Classics Despero set, but the Despero figure there didn't look menacing enough. Oh sure, it is bigger than the DC Direct version here, but this version has a body which tells you-"I can beat you, your whole family, and your dog, pinhead". I think, I will just keep my Mattel set MOC, and will just open one of these bad boys.

Choosing which to open was particularly difficult. Both looked good in their respective package, and both packages were mint. I settled for one with the more "dynamic" pose, meaning, the head was a little tilted.

DCD Despero is within Marvel Legends Hulk size range, which is absolutely perfect. The Hulk is slightly taller, but with the fin, Despero is far more intimidating.

Despero is not very articulated. It only has 12pts of articulation, which is fine, but it's practically a statue next to the usual Marvel Legends figure. But then again, this is DC Direct, so 12pts is awesome. Ball-jointed neck, ball-jointed shoulders, peg elbows, cut thighs, and peg knees. All in all, very not bad.

Even with the limited number of articulation, Despero's range of movement is amazing. However, a cut waist would have made a whale of a difference.

Paint application is nice and neat, since there are very few painted parts. Most of the colors of the figure are molded plastic, which I prefer, actually, because it can withstand alot of playwear.

Hulk getting trashed by the real "Red Hulk".

Despero wins! Big dumb green gorilla lose.

The sculpting is phenomenal. One can readily see the muscle details and the texture of the skin of the figure.

Despero comes with the usual DC Direct Superman/Batman base.

Buy me, or I will give you pink eye.