ACTION TOYS - MINI-ACTION - MAZINGER Z and APHRODAI A

I have a huge passion for classic Japanese robots and anime characters. I'm not overly familiar with the newer stuff, but these kinds of figures are right in my wheelhouse.

Coming from toy manufacturer Action Toys are these two new Mazinger Z animated series in the form of (of course) Mazinger Z himself and his female partner Aphoroia A. 

If you want Mazinger's Scrander, then you'll have to get Aphrodai A also, as she's the one who comes with it. She also includes Mazinger's Iron Cutters.

And, two words-- Boob. Missiles.

I remember watching the cartoon (called Tranzor Z in the US) as a kid and being strangely confused and fascinated with the fact that she had boob missiles-- but she does, and so does this figure.

Mazinger Z will include many different effects, including "firing" forearms, Breast Fire, his belly missile and a pair of "spinning" arms.

Both will be in the 6" scale and are set for a Q3 2022 release. Mazinger will retail for around $54.99 and Aphordai will cost around $49.99

TOY NEWS FOR 9/4/2014 - THREEZERO - MAZINGER Z - APHRODITE A

I don't report much on Japanese toys for two reasons-- 1) It's a nitch collector's market and chances are, if you're into Japanese toys, there are many more places that specialize in that stuff that makes me reporting on it sort of moot, and 2) I don't have as much time as I'd like to put into the blog here, so rather than cut back on more mainstream stuff or keep reporting on things late, I cut out [most] of the Japanese stuff to give me more time.

That being said, there are times when a Japanese toy-- of which I collect many-- is so cool that I think it has cross-over appeal and want to share with the regular US toy collectors. Such is the case with ThreeZero's Mazinger Z figures. (You can see Mazinger himself here.)

Some of you who aren't familiar with the original Japanese character may either remember him from Mattel's Shogun Warriors line or from the US imported version of his original cartoon series renamed "Tranzor Z".

ThreeZero, in conjunction with Mazinger's creator GoNagai, have re-imagined Mazinger in a steampunk form, and now they show us Mazinger's companion robot Aphodite A-- who I think actually looks way cooler than the Mazinger re-imagining. She even has her famous "boob rockets"!

I wasn't too keen on picking up the Mazinger, mainly due to how ThreeZero placed his hips which I thinks makes him look to much like a gorilla rather than the heroic character he's always been, but this Aphodite A is so amazing that I might be tempted to pick up the pair as I have to admit look awesome together in the final pic below.

She stands 15" tall and is scheduled to ship in 1st Q 2015 for around $290

TOY NEWS FOR 4/25/2014 - THREE A (3A) - MAZINGER Z - 16" FIGURE

3A does outstanding work, so when I first heard that they were going to be doing "their" version of my favorite giant robot of all time, Mazinger Z, I was totally psyched to see it. And now that I have....

Damn it, I don't like it.

Much like Fewture's version of Mazinger, this is very much a re-envisioning of the character's design (in very much the same style), and I can deal with that. And I actually like the design-- but those hips, the way they attach to the sides of the hips-- it's just terrible. It makes him look like a lumbering oaf.. like some kind of monkey robot.

But, as much as I dislike this design enough to no longer want it-- which is a bummer-- it's also a blessing because I get to save myself $330!

I'm sure there are many out there who will and do like this design, I only wish that I could, too.

It goes up for pre-order today at http://www.threezerostore.com/ for $330.00

TOY NEWS FOR 12/8/2013 - THREEZERO - MAZINGER Z (TEASER)

If you're a lover of old-school Japanese robots-- as I am-- then this will probably come as some pretty interesting and exciting news.

It looks like ThreeZero will be tackling the most popular of all the classic Japanese robots-- Mazinger Z himself!

I anxious to see more news on this one! I'll bring it to you as soon as it's announced.

TOY NEWS FOR 7/27/2013 - BANDAI - SUPER ROBOT CHOGOKIN - MAZINKAISER

UPDATE 8/2/2013 - MORE PICS ADDED!!!

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At least! We finally get a Mazinkaiser for the Super Robot Chogokin line that isn't a hard to get exclusive!

Personally, I'll take any new Mazinger or re-imagined Mazinger figure-- as long as it's a Go Nagi re-imagining, as this is.

First appearing in a video game, Mazinkaiser then went on to have his own Manga and OVA (original video animation) series and has grown in popularity.

So far, my favorite version of Mazinkaiser in figure form is the Max Factory release, but I'm anxious to get my hands on this one to see what Bandai can do with him.

He should be out in November with a Yen price of Y7,140 and a US price of $69.99