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I MUM III I M A S T E R A R T IS T K E N K E L L Y ’S
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M IC R O N A U T S
SUPER7
VOLUME 04_ ISSUE 02
JUNE 2006
05
EDITORIAL
06
S7 NEWS
14
18
30
MASTER PAINTER
KEN KELLY AND
THE MICRONAUTS
44
G O O D MECHA
NEVER DIES
S7 TALK
OH ANTRON,
WHERE
ARE YOU?
ROCK THE
VOTOMS
36
40
AN INTRODUCTION
TO SOFT VINYL
PENDANTS
THE FIRE AND
THE FURY
A HISTORY OF
RODAN TOYS
WE ARE THE
CHAM PIO NS
THE ORIGINAL
JAPANESE FIGHT
FIG U R E-TH E
FINK-SHIT
VINYL IS
A KID’S
BEST FRIEND
51
M USIC
WESTERN ADDICTION,
BUCKETHEAD
52
S7 FASHION
SEVEN STARS, NIKE,
STUSSY, SUPER7,
MUTANT MASSACRE,
SHOCKER + MORE
54
REVIEWS
56
ART GALLERY
58
S7 GEAR
61
S7 LIFE
T im B is k u p ’s
ALPHABEAST:
QALU
B c@ r b r k k
"Calli” BE@ RBRICK by Tim B iskup - San D iego C om ic-C on 2006, High Five Exclusive
w w w .tim b is k u p .c o m
BE@RBR1CKTM & ©2001-2006 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. A ll rights reserved. ©2006 TIM BISKUP. A ll rights reserved.
EDITORIAL
Super7 Magazine, Volume 4 Issue 2 - June 2006
P ublisher
Brian Flynn / [email protected]
Super7 Media, Inc. / San Francisco, CA
Editor
Justin Kovalsky / [email protected]
Design
Brian Flynn / G eoff Allen / Caleb Kozlowski / Darlene Gibson
Hybrid Design, Inc. / w w w .hybrid-design.com
N atio n a l Ad S ales / S ta ff W rite r
Chad Hensley / [email protected]
R etail D irectors
Karen Stanley (store) / [email protected]
Isaac Ramos (web) / [email protected]
G racious C o n trib u to rs & S p e c ia l Th an ks
Ken Kelly, H iddy o f Secret Base, Oka Narue o f M edicom , Takeshi Sakamoto,
Dave Waugh, Tim Brisko, Hirosuke Nishiyama o f Balzac, Isaac Ramos, GOE o f
Evilegend 13, Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Sun-Min Kim, H iro Hayashi, Roger Harkavy,
Neil O'Rourke, Mark Gradwell, Kaminaga-san o f Marusan, John Cafiero o f Osaka
Popstar, Ray Fong, M atthew Porter, M artin Harris, A ugust Ragone, Mark Kollecker,
Liz Russell, Rob Arevalo, Devon M orf, Jeremy W hiteaker, Western A d d ictio n ,
Buckethead, Frank Kozik, Denise and O m ar o f Ningyoushi, Chad the dog,
Susan, Suzi N uti, Bwana Spoons and John Patterson o f Media Blasters.
THINKING LUCKY
ARTWORK BY BWANA SPOONS
US D istribution
Tower Books, Diam ond Comics, Ingrams Periodicals,
Retail Vision and Last Gasp
T h e y say th a t luck is n o th in g m o re th a n th e m o m e n t th a t o p p o r tu n ity m eets
Japanese D istribution
Presspop, Inc. / w ww.presspop.com
I'm in c lin e d to agree.
O th er In te rn a tio n a l D is trib u tio n
[email protected]
p re p a ra tio n . W h ile I'm usually th e last p e rso n to e m b ra c e such a se e m in g ly
u n ro m a n tic view , a fte r w o rk in g o n o u r lu c k y 13th issue o f Super7,
It was th is issue's co v e r s to ry on m a ste r a rtis t Ken Kelly's M ic ro n a u ts p a in tin g s
w r itte n b y D ave W a u gh th a t le d m e to b e lie v e th a t p e rs e v e ra n c e is really
P rinting
Transcontinental Printing / LGM Graphics
attn: Mike Bradley 1.800.661.0052 x2 4 Printed in Canada.
th e key in g re d ie n t in g o o d luck. A s y o u 'll learn in th e a rtic le , o n e o f K elly's
E ditorial / S ub m issio ns
[email protected]
30 years. R ecently, it was u n e a rth e d and saved fro m r o ttin g in a b a s e m e n t
C ontact / G o odie Boxes
S uper7 Magazine
540 Delancey St., Suite 303, San Francisco, CA 94107
415.227.4700 / www.super7magazine.com
2 5 ,0 0 0 d o lla rs ! W h ile m any w o u ld say it was p ure luck th a t th e a rt was lo ca te d
m a s te rp ie c e s , a s tu n n in g re n d e rin g o f th e p o p u la r M ic ro n a u ts c h a ra c te r
nam e d A n tro n , was c o m m is s io n e d in th e late '70s b u t w e n t m issing fo r nearly
in N ew York. A n d g e t th is. T h e p a in tin g 's va lue can b e e s tim a te d a t a rou n d
a fte r all th o se years, it never w o u ld have never been fo u n d w ith o u t th e relentless
fo cu s (O K , som e m ay call it o bse ssio n. You say to m a to e s ...) o f o u r v e ry own
c o n trib u to r Dave W augh and th e d ie -h a rd M ic ro n a u t fan base. In trig u ed ? Just
R etail Location
S uper7 Store
1630 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
415.409.4700 / www.super7store.com
Legal
The advertising and articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinions
and attitudes of their respective authors and not necessarily those o f the publisher
or other persons affiliated w ith this publication. All rights to the photographs,
artw ork and articles contained in this publication are co pyrig h t owned by th e ir
respective creators. All righ ts to any character names a n d /o r likenesses are
copyright owned by th e ir respective owners, and no assum ption o f ownership
is made by this publication. Everything else contained herein is © 2006 S uper7
Media, Inc. and may not be reproduced in part or whole w ithout written permission
from Super 7 Media Inc. as well as any contributors if applicable. In the end,
Super7 is a magazine about toys; keep it light.
w a it until you read th e sto ry and take in Kelly's A n tro n fo r yourself. You'll be glad
th a t W a u gh n eve r le t his c h ild h o o d m e m o ry o f th is g o rg e o u s p a in tin g fade.
W h e n y o u th in k a b o u t it, it's th ro u g h a s im ila r s o rt o f d e te rm in a tio n th a t we
a chie ve th e th in g s in life th a t are w o rth a c h ie v in g — w h e th e r its fin d in g an
e x tre m e ly rare to y a fte r years o f se a rc h in g , n u rtu rin g la s tin g frie n d s h ip s or
fin d in g an e n jo y a b le career. T h e re 's n o th in g lu c k y a b o u t th o s e th in g s . W e
c re a te th e m s im p ly b y c a rin g a b o u t th e m fo r th e lo n g haul.
J u stin Kovalsky
E d ito r, Super7
TOY
NEWS
C o n te n d e rs bew are. Th e re's a new vinyl fig h t fig u re in to w n . Brian Flynn, Super7
06
p ub lishe r and co -prin cip a l o f H ybrid Design in San Francisco, has created another
v ’3
J a p a n e se-style fig h t fig u re . P roduced by p o p u la r to y b ran d S ecret Base in Tokyo
and nam e d th e Fran ken g h ost, Flynn's fig u re is o n ly th e se con d S ecret Base to y
in h is to ry d e s ig n e d c o m p le te ly b y an A m e ric a n — th e firs t was th e Skull Pirate
cre a te d b y le g e n d a ry u n d e rg ro u n d a rtis t P ushead. (Flynn also d e s ig n e d th e
h ead s c u lp t fo r th e p o p u la r S e cret Base to y , th e G h o s tfig h te r, back in 200 5 .)
A v a ila b le e x c lu s iv e ly a t Super7, th e F ra n k e n g h o s t w ill d e b u t on J u ly 23, 2 006
a t San D ie g o C o m ic -C o n . Flynn ta lks c h a ra c te r c u ltu re and d e s ig n in s p ira tio n .
S7: W h a t is it a b o u t th e Frankenstein c h aracter th a t lends its e lf so w ell to
your new to y design? Brian Flynn: M any o f S ecret Base's to ys are fille d w ith
re fe ren ce s to o ld e r to y s — fro m A s tro -m u , Henshin C ybo rg s, K ing W alders,
C o c o b a t Jo e and v e ry lite ra lly th e Fink-Shit. W h e n it cam e tim e to d esig n this
fig u re , I w a n te d to re fe re n c e a v in ta g e to y as w ell, b u t I w a n te d it to have an
"A m e ric a n " influence. These references e m b o d y th e d e e p c o lle c to r-g e e k love
and passion w e have fo r th e toys. You d o n 't have to g e t th e reference to love
th e toy, b u t if you d o, it g ives it a n o th e r level o f d e p th . I c o lle c te d Universal
M o n s te r to y s fo r years, so it w as really a n o-b ra in e r.
Still, there's m ore happening than just a super-deform ed take on Frankenstein.
I w a n te d F ra n k e n g h o s t to have a c e rta in charm . I like th e c a m py ‘60s m onsters
th a t have a g re a t sense o f h o rro r and fun a t th e same tim e - Rat Fink, W e ird-O h's,
th e M u nste rs, A d d a m s Fam ily, N u tty -M a d s , e tc. I th in k you can still have really
gross o r scary th in g s th a t have h u m a n ity a nd p e rs o n a lity . For e xam p le , a g h o s t
can b e sca red o f c e rta in th in g s . A m o n s te r can love c a nd y and have a h is to ry o f
cavitie s. The tin ie s t m o n s te r can b u lly a g ia n t. Those kind s o f p la y fu l nuances
are e n d e a rin g a b o u t ch ara c te rs and are necessary in m y o p in io n .
Please te ll us a b o u t th e Frankenghost's back story. Th e re are a m illion stories
a b o u t Frankenstein alive, b u t th e F ra n ken g h ost s ta rts w h e re th e o th e rs le ft off.
In th e o rig in a l m o v ie , a t th e e n d , F ra n ken stein is tr a p p e d in th e castle as th e
v illa g e rs b urn it d o w n . This is th e g h o s t o f Frankenstein, th e s p irit o f th e m o nste r
a fte r th a t m o m e n t. Even his b o o ts are s p irits c law ing and c h o m p in g th e ir way
a ro u n d th e ring .
W h a t was th e process like c re a tin g th e F rankengho st as op po s e d to th e
S u p e r7 x S e c re t Base G h o s tfig h te r collab o ratio n ? W as th e re much exchange
b e tw e e n you and th e o w n e r o f S e c re t Base, H idd y? I g o t in v o lv e d w ith
S e cret Base w hen w e b e g a n w o rk in g to g e th e r on th e G h o s tfig h te r. I was a fan
b e fo re th a t, a nd o rig in a lly w e discu sse d th e p o s s ib ility o f d o in g a re c o lo r o f
th e Skull Brain, b u t I d e c id e d to g e t a b it b o ld e r and asked if I co u ld d o a head
s c u lp t instea d fo r Super7. H id d y was e x c ite d a b o u t th e c o lla b o ra tio n fro m day
one, and th e G h o s tfig h te r head was th e firs t sketch I sent him . I d id a b o u t 40
sketches firs t, and th e n p ic k e d th a t one to send to him . From th e re , a s c u lp to r
n a m e d Betch c ra fte d th e head, and n aile d it firs t try . I had no ch an g e s a t all.
In h in d s ig h t, a fte r seeing th e fin al p ulls fro m th e m o ld , I w o u ld have m ade th e
cracks on th e h ead lon g e r, b u t he d id a g re a t jo b . For th e Fra n ken g h ost figure,
I se n t a lo t m o re p re lim in a ry ideas and o p tio n s , and Fra n ken g h ost was th e one
H id d y really re a c te d to . Th e re w ere q u ite a fe w m o re w e c o n sid e re d , b u t th a t
was th e c h a ra c te r th a t w on th e fig h t. So, h ow else d o you b e c o m e a fig h t figure?
You have to w in fig h ts !
FRANKENSTEIN IS
DEAD-LONG LVE
FRANKENGHOST
SUPER7 CREATOR BRIAN FLYNN
REVEALS NEW VINYL FIGHT FIGURE
Speaking o f scrapping, have you and H iddy discussed how th e Frankenghost
will fit into th e la rg e r S ecret Base fig h tin g fa m ily tre e ? W hen H id d y and I
s ta rte d to discuss th e new fig u re I w a n te d to m ake, he w a n te d to m ake very sure
th a t it fe ll in to th e S ecret Base w o rld ... He w a n te d to m ake sure it was a fig h te r
a t h ea rt. In his p re v io u s to y s he was v e ry litera l w ith th is [in c o rp o ra tin g ] b oxin g
g lo ve s and fig h tin g u n ifo rm s , b u t I w a n te d th e new fig u re to b e a b it m o re o f a
re lu c ta n t fig h te r. The u n d e rd o g o r m is u n d e rs to o d fig h te r c o m in g fro m o u t o f
th e shadow s th a t stands u p fo r o th e rs w hen no one else w ill.
SOMETHING WICKED
THIS WAY COMES
SUPER7'S EVIL GHOSTFIGHTER THINKS LOVE SUCKS
H ere to b a ttle th e fo rce s o f love th a t m a n ife s te d in th e p re v io u s ly rele a se d Super7 V a le n tin es Day and W h ite Day
G h o s tfig h te rs , th e d a s ta rd ly d o p p e lg a n g e r kn ow n as th e Evil G h o s tfig h te r h it th e s tre e ts M ay 13th. Tra n slu ce n t ye llo w
vinyl, w ith re d and b la ck h ig h lig h ts a nd a red " X " m a rk in g his arm , th e G h o s tfig h te r is b ack and he's lo o k in g fo r a fig h t.
H o p e fu lly you m a na g e d to snag o n e o f th e se a n g ry a p p a ritio n s b e fo re th e y d is a p p e a re d in to th e darkness. If you
m issed o u t, b e on th e lo o k o u t fo r th e u ltra lucky 13th G h o s tfig h te r to b e rele a se d soon a t su pe r7 sto re .co m !
BURNING DOWN
THE HOUSE
SUPER7x MARUSAN GIANT
MELTDOWN GODZILLA
Based on th e success o f th e in itia l release o f th e M arusan g ia n t-size 15" G o d zilla
g lo w -in -th e -d a rk v in y l in H aw aii g re e n sp ray o r H aw aii b lu e sp ray a t last year's
San D ie g o C o m ic -C o n , S uper7 n o w p re s e n ts th e fin a l in c a rn a tio n o f o u r fa v o rite
fire -b re a th in g m o n s te r. C a st aga in in g lo w v in y l, th is M e ltd o w n sp ray v a ria tio n in
shades o f o ra n g e and red, takes its visual cues fro m th e h ig h ly s o u g h t a fte r Bandai
M e ltd o w n vinyl to y s base d on G o d z illa vs. D e stroya h . L im ite d to o n ly 50 pieces, th is
fig u re w ill m akes it's d e b u t a t San D ie g o C o m ic -C o n 2 0 0 6 . W ith th e o rig in a l tw o
ve rsions s e llin g o u t in o n ly days, e x p e c t th a t th is fig u re w ill b rin g th e house d o w n .
IT’S MODELESOUE
WITH YMSF
REVIEW BY SUPER COLLECTOR
LEON STEELE
M y m o th e r always says, " If you d o n 't have a n y th in g nice to say, d o n 't say a n y th in g
a t a ll." W h ile I ta ke h e r a d v ic e to h e a rt, th e YM SF G o d z illa lin e tu g s m e b o th
ways. Let's s ta rt w ith th e g o o d . A n d w hen I say g o o d , I m ean g re a t: th e scu lp ts.
The YMSF scu lp ts are p h e n o m e n a l. I c a n 't th in k o f a n o th e r G o d zilla vinyl th a t can
stand on only tw o fe e t w ith th e ta il su sp e n d e d in th e a ir w h ile s till m a in ta in in g
such keen d e ta il. B u t w h a t YMSF earns p o in ts fo r in accuracy, th e y lose a lto g e th e r
in fu n c tio n a lity . T h o u g h so ld as vinyl toys, th e se fig u re s are m o re like p re -p a in te d
vinyl m o d e l kits w ith very lim ite d p o sin g o p tio n s . These new e d itio n s are vastly
im p ro v e d o ver som e o f th e o ld e r fig u re s —■YM SF's e a rlie r M e g a lo n co m es to
m ind — th a t had p ro b le m s even s ta n d in g , so ku do s to th e co m p a n y fo r s te p p in g
up th e ir gam e. Ju st d o n 't e x p e c t a toy. E x p e c t a sta tic, g re a t lo o k in g m o d e l
th a t has som e bon u s m o ve m e n t. If you can d ig th a t, you w ill b e p le a se d w ith
YMSF's new line.
TOY
NEWS
0 8 v,3
HEDORAN TO THE HILLS
GARGAMEL HITS WITH NEW FLYING
HEDORAN AND BAKOBASO
Im a g in e th e se tw o c u te -b u t-m e n a c in g m o n s te rs to w e rin g 50 fe e t a b o v e y o u r
h om e b e n t on hap le ssly tra m p lin g civ iliz a tio n . S p o oke d ? W e ll fe a r n o t. T h e o n ly
th in g th a t these tw o crazy kaiju are g o in g to crash is y o u r to y co lle c tio n , and ju d g in g
b y th e se e arly p h o to s , th a t w o u ld b e n o th in g b u t nice. B ro u g h t to us by th e
Ja panese to y co m pa n y, G a rg a m e l, th e new 9 " fly in g H e d o ra n s c u lp t (le ft) pays
h o m a g e to th e o rig in a l fly in g IKB H e d o ra n to y fro m th e 1970s. W e c a n n o t w a it
to see th e p a in t on th is a m azin g scu lp t. O n th e rig h t, th e 9 " B a kobaso w ith clea r
vinyl ch est and b o n e in s e rt is sure to p lease kaiju c o lle c to rs w ith an eye fo r d e ta il.
These tw o to ys re p re s e n t a n o th e r am azing s h o w in g fro m G a rg a m e l.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
BWANA SPOONS X SUPER 7STEVEN THE BAT PROTOTYPE FINALLY
ON U.S. SHORES
It's b ee n a lo n g tim e c o m in g , b u t Steven th e Bat is fin a lly here! W e ll, he's a lm ost
here. (Sigh.) A s m any o f o u r readers know , Steven th e Bat is a rid ic u lo u s ly cool
c h a ra c te r to y c re a te d b y Bwana S p o o n s th a t was s c h e d u le d fo r release fro m
Super7 in late in 2005. A fte r several m o n th s o f fa c to ry delays, w e fin ally have a
p a in te d p ro to ty p e o f th is 5 " vinyl fig u re a nd w e are o ffic ia lly e x c ite d ... again.
O n c e th e fin al p ro d u c tio n runs arrive, Steven w ill b e a vaila ble in five v a ria tio n s —
Fig B elly (Shown here in g ree n w ith eyes clo se d . This is th e sle e p y -e y e d Super7
e xclusive ve rsio n . Th e re w ill also b e a version w ith o p e n eyes.), Black M e ta l is
M y G o d (black), P urple N ig h ts (black and p u rp le ) and C a n d y C orn (o range and
y e llo w ). To fu rth e r w h e t th e a p p e tite , ch eck o u t S p o on s' lo v in g ly illu s tra te d
p a c k a g in g (d e s ig n e d b y Super7's Brian Flynn) in w hich Steven hangs u psid e dow n.
Keep ch e c k in g super7 sto re .co m fo r u p d a te s because th e d ay o f th e Bat is nigh!
SMOKED SQUID
FRANK KOZIK’S KAIJU VINYLS FROM WONDERWALL
P o p ula r a rtis t Frank Kozik, m o s t fa m o u s in th e d e s ig n e r to y w o rld fo r his ic o n ic S m o kin ' R a b b it character, has te a m e d
u p w ith Ja pa n e se to y c o m p a n y W o n d e rw a ll to c o n trib u te to th e ir u p c o m in g vinyl kaiju series. Kozik e xpla ins th a t
"W o n d e rw a ll's idea fo r th e lin e was to d iv id e th e w o rld in to m o n s te r te rrito rie s . I w a n te d to d o th e oceans and w ha t
I c re a te d was Ika-G ilas, th e D e m o n S q u id ."
Ika-G ilas is a 5 -in ch vinyl and com es b a g g e d w ith h e a d e r ca rd . C o lo r w ays o f th e m o n s te r in c lu d e tra n s lu c e n t clear,
tra n s lu c e n t p u rp le , tra n s lu c e n t g re e n , and an u p c o m in g o p a q u e versio n . The o p a q u e e d itio n o f th e to y w ill be available
in th e U n ite d States a t K id ro b o t and in v e ry lim ite d q u a n titie s in Japan. Kozik w ill sell th e c le a r vinyl ve rsio n s him self,
in c lu d in g 50 p ie ce s th a t h e 'll have on hand fo r his a p p e a ra n c e a t th is year's San D ie g o C o m ic -C o n . Each c o lo r way o f
Ika-G ilas w ill b e lim ite d to 100 pie ce s and w ill re ta il fo r $100 each.
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
SAM FLORES’ FATIMA
Ladies and g e n tle m e n w e 're p ro u d to p re s e n t Fatim a. G ive her a b ig hand. O r a
p air o f th e m to b e m ore exact. U nm istakably th e lineage o f Sam Flores, this e legant
w a if is his second fo ra y in to vinyl and th e firs t in a series o f co lla b ora tio ns betw e e n
N in g y o u s h i a nd U p p e r P layg ro u nd .
She's an a m b ig u o u s bea u ty. Sorrow. Serenity. R esignation. It's hard to p in p o in t
her e x a c t sta te o f m ind , because in essence she's all th e abo ve and m ore. Sam
explains: "In my w ork, Fatima represents d iffe re n t em otions in each painting. She's
s o rt o f w ith d ra w n and clo se d o ff fro m her s u rrou n d in g s. I see a lo t o f bea u tifu l
th in g s in th is w o rld , b u t so m any p e o p le are o b liv io u s to e v e ry th in g th a t's a round
th e m . T hey ju s t n eed to o p e n th e ir eyes a little m o re and lo o k u p fo r once."
There are fo u r versions available, tw o o f w hich - th e pin k and th e yellow - feature
ra th e r fe tc h in g flo ra l headdresses, a n o d to th e rich flora th a t p o p u la te s m uch o f
Sam's recent w ork. M eanw hile th e green and gray o ffe r m ore naturally flo w in g hair.
Be w arned th o u gh , th o u g h th e green and pink are editions o f 450, there are only 54
o f th e y e llo w and gray. The y e llo w is an u p p e rp la y g ro u n d .c o m exclusive and th e
g ray w ill a p p e a r a t sam flores.com . So g e t in q uick. J u d g in g by th e c u rre n t prices
o f his T ig e r B abies, th e s e c o n d a ry m a rke t w o n 't b e nea rly as p re tty as Fatim a.
EASY DOES IT
THE TURTLECAMPER BY JEREMY FISH
A h, th e o p e n road. Th e re's n o th in g like h ittin g th e h ig h w ay w ith o u t a care in th e
w o rld and n o b o d y know s it b e tte r th a n San F ra n cisco -b a sed a rt star, J e re m y Fish.
Mr. Fish also seems to em brace a no the r o ld cliche — th a t th e jo u rn e y is best enjoyed
slowly. Very slowly. Inside o f a g ia n t skull and a stra p -on camper... o f course! Jerem y
is one o f th e m ost im aginative artists w orkin g to d a y and this new to y p ro d u c e d by
US to y d is trib u to r S tra n g eC o is e vid e n ce. The T u rtle c a m p e r is lim ite d to 1000
to ta l pieces and w ill release th is June. In a d d itio n to th e s ta n d a rd c o lo r w ay (500
pieces), tw o o th e r va ria tio n s are fo rth c o m in g — th e silve r skull e d itio n (lim ite d to
350 pieces) and g o ld skull e d itio n (lim ite d to 150 pieces). Also, be sure to check o u t
Jerem y's new N ike shoe in th is issue's fashion se ction .
ARACHNIDS AND CONFECTIONS
SUN-MIN KIM’S SPIDER BOOM QEE
The new e st fig u re in Toy2R's 8-inch Q e e A rtis t Series com es fro m n one o th e r than Sun-M in Kim , one h a lf o f th e d ynam ic
d u o b e h in d th o s e o h -s o -p o p u la r plush toys, U gly D olls. For h e r Q e e , Kim chose Toy2R's Toyer as h e r p la tfo rm , a Q ee
w ith th e head o f a s u p e r-d e fo rm e d skull. B ut it's n o t ju s t any o ld skull. This s p o o k y -c u te th re e -e y e d th in g is a ctu a lly
d e s ig n e d to lo o k like th e ske le to n o f one o f Kim 's o rig in a l c h ara cters nam e d S p id e r B oom .
"S p id e r B o o m eats cake. Lots o f ca ke," she says la u g h in g ly . S p id e r B oom b e g a n life in an illu s tra te d s to ry th a t Kim
c re a te d fo r her husb a n d and U gly D olls c o lla b o ra to r, D avid H o rv a th , a nd th e c h a ra c te r has n ow spun o ff in to toys. Kim
says th a t Toy2R has th e e xclusive to y license fo r her o d d b a ll a ra ch n id in 2 00 6 and th a t "th is Q e e is ju s t th e b e g in n in g ."
The 8 -in ch S p id e r B oom Q e e also com es p a cke d w ith a 2-in ch S u n -M in Kim Q e e keychain based on th e a rtis t herself.
TOY
NEWS
*13 11
ROUNDING BASES
A BEVY OF RECENT RELEASES FROM JAPAN’S
MOST POPULAR TOY BOUTIQUE-SECRET BASE
Plush Skull Brain
S ecret Base has cre ate d p illo w s in all sizes, b u t re ce n tly th e co m p a n y released
o rig in a l M ad Balls. (S ecret Base c re a to r H id d y is a c o lle c to r o f o ld US M ad Ball
a s o ft version o f an e x is tin g character, th e Skull Brain. The firs t ve rsio n o f th is
toys.) The d e ta ile d d e s ig n o f th e h ead lends its e lf to m any p a in t o p tio n s , w hile
little c u tie was cre a te d in black, re d and w h ite fe lt w ith a irb ru s h in g on th e brain
th e b o d y is m ega s im p le w ith n eve r b e fo re seen tin y b u b b le fin g e rs and w ha t
area. There's even a little strin g c o m in g o u t o f th e to p o f th e b rain so you can
lo o k like S n o o p y 's fe e t. O b a k e D o g is a s tra n g e clash o f ideas; p e rh a p s w e w ill
hang it fro m y o u r re a rvie w m irro r! This release was so ld as a se t w ith a m a tc h in g see th is b o d y used w ith several d iffe re n t heads in th e fu tu re o r fa b ric c lo th in g
vinyl Skull Brain. S h o rtly a fte r th e se t was released, a fu ll c o lo r ve rsio n , p u rp le
to co v e r th e sim p le b o d y . W e w ill have to w a it see w h a t is n e x t fo r O b a k e D og.
and b la ck Skull Brain p lu sh was re le a se d all by its e lf. E v e ry th in g a b o u t th is
d e fo rm e d co m ic version o f th e a lready classic Skull Brain is am azing, especially
V a le n tin e's D ay and W h ite Day M a n tis and U n d e rw e a r Sets
It is a special tim e o f ye ar w he n w e c e le b ra te o u r love d ones. H o p e fu lly yo ur
th e m ini h e a d e r card.
special o n e c o lle c ts S ecret Base ju s t like y o u! O n V a le n tin es Day in Japan a
g ra y vinyl w ith p in k sp ray Skull 2 M a ntis & M ad M a ntis s e t was released. The set
O b ak e Dog
G e t ready fo r som e serious n erd d e b a te s o ve r th is release fro m S e cret Base —
in c lu d e d a p a ir o f m en's u n d e rw ea r, o n e to y and it was p a c k a g e d in a sm all can
th e O bake D og ! Some say it is an u g ly m u tt th a t needs to be p u t to sleep, w hile
th a t said "H o u s e o f Toys." T h e M ad M a ntis loo ks e s p e c ia lly c o o l w ith th e w h ite
o th e rs w a n t to take th e d o g h om e and c o lle c t all its va ria tio n s. Love it o r hate
p a in t a ro u n d th e face. O n W h ite Day (3 /1 4 /0 6 ) a p in k vinyl w ith g ra y spray Skull
it, it is still th e n ew e st o rig in a l to y fro m S e cret Base. Fans w e re te a se d w ith th e
2 M a ntis & M ad M a ntis set released. This tim e th e se t c o n s is te d o f w om e n 's
appearance o f a small O b a ke D og lo g o on th e b ack o f th e Plush Skull Brain set.
u n d e rw e a r and one to y p a cke d in a s o ft p o u c h p rin te d w ith a g litte r y S ecret
The p o p - o u t eye and b a n d a g e d M ad B a ll-style h ead is lo ts b ig g e r and m o re
Base lo g o . The c o m b in a tio n o f u n d e rw e a r and to y s is p e rfe c t — tw o necessary
d e ta ile d th a n th e hea d s on th e M ad Ball M a n tis, m uch c lo s e r to th e size o f
ite m s in y o u r life. M ix and m atch a p a ir o r c o lle c t th e m all.
THE HORROR IS CLEAR
BALZAC'S RAREST SKULLMAN TOY EVER
As many Super7 readers know , th e Super7 s ta ff loves th e Japanese b and Balzac, as prove n b y o u r
exclusive o ra n g e Balzac fig u re fro m last issue. In an a tte m p t to m ake th e ir p ro m o tio n a l to ys c o o le r
than darn near e v e ry th in g else in th e universe, Balzac has ju s t re le a se d a set o f five c le a r Skullm an
fig u re s w ith clear vinyl b ag s th a t fit o v e r th e to ys w o n d e rfu lly c re e p y heads. V isua lly a rre s tin g in
five d iffe re n t c o lo r ways, there's a catch to a cqu irin g th e se co ol fellas; you have to sp en d 100,000 yen
(a bo u t 900 US dollars) at Balzac's c lo th in g b o u tiq u e ca lle d S hocker in Osaka, Japan ju s t to g e t one
sing le c o lo r v a ria tio n . The h o rro r in a c q u irin g a sin g le fig u re , m uch less an e n tire set, b o g g le s th e
m in d . To ease y o u r p ain , how e ve r, fe e l fre e to ch eck o u t Balzac's w o rld w id e m ail o rd e r s ite at
e v ile g en d 13 .com /sho cke rw o rld w id e w he re you can score all sorts o f co ol b an d re la te d m erchandise
in c lu d in g som e am azing to ys — ju s t n o t th e se bab ie s.
LOOKING FOR A CURE
BEWARE THE TERROR’N
T h e T o kyo -b a se d s h o p C ure has ju s t released its n ew e st fig u re — th e T e rro r'n . A la u g h in g p u m p k in -h e a d in a robe
w ith a h a u n te d Santa hat and a ray gun tu c k e d b e h in d it's b ack, th is to y may b e one o f th e m o s t surreal m ash-up fig ure s
w e have e ve r seen. In itia lly rele a se d in tra n s lu c e n t o ra n g e o r p u rp le vinyl c o lo r ways, you n eve r kn ow w h a t th e guys
a t C ure w ill co m e u p w ith next.
CHANGE IS GOOD
YAMATO TOYS LICENSES
MEGAZONE 23 GARLAND
In 1985, th e b o o m in g h om e v id e o m a rk e t in Ja pa n u she re d in th e era o f th e O rig in a l A n im a tio n
V id e o (O AV), d ir e c t-to -v id e o a n im e th a t d id n 't have to fo llo w th e tim e and c o n te n t c o n s tra in ts
o f b ro a d c a s t TV shows. This, c o m b in e d w ith th e e x p lo s io n o f tra n s fo rm in g ro b o ts on TV and
on to y sto re shelves, p ro v id e d fe r tile g ro u n d fo r an O A V like M e ga zo n e 23.
M e g a z o n e 23 had a re c ip e fo r success: c h a ra c te r a n d m echa d esig n s b y p ro m in e n t in d u s try
ve te ra ns, s o lid p ro d u c tio n values, and a s tro n g d o s e o f m e ta p h o r a b o u t th e e c o n o m ic b u b b le
Japan was e n jo y in g a t th e tim e . It m a de e n o u g h m o ne y to spaw n tw o sequels, and was also
b rie fly lice n se d b y H a rm o n y G o ld to b e re w o rk e d in to th e unre le ase d R o b o te ch : The M ovie.
U n fo rtu n a te ly , M e g a z o n e 23 w a s n 't as successful in a ttra c tin g a m a jo r s p o n s o r to p ro d u c e toys
and m odels, and aside fro m a fe w g ara g e k it releases, th e ro b o t designs never g o t m uch exposure
in 3-D. Now, a fte r 20 years, Yam ato is appeasing fans o f th e anim e by releasing a 1/12 scale version
o f th e G a rlan d , th e s to le n m ilita ry ro b o t th a t e nd s u p in th e hands o f h ero S h o go Yahagi.
Y am ato's G a rla n d sta n d s ro u g h ly 9.5" ta ll in r o b o t m o d e and fe a tu re s m a g n e tiz e d jo in ts th a t aid
in th e tra n s fo rm a tio n to m o to rc y c le m o de , real ru b b e r tire s, and a 4.75" fig u re o f S hogo. As w ith
th e ir previous VOTOMS and Macross o ffe rin gs, e x p e c t Yam ato's usual e x tre m e a tte n tio n to deta il.
The G a rla n d is b e in g o ffe re d by Yam ato USA a t a s u g g e s te d p ric e o f $129.95, and is s c h ed u led
fo r release in June. For m o re d e ta ils see ya m ato to ysusa .co m .
GET REAL
SUPER7X REAL HEAD
EXCLUSIVE SET
O f th e m any Ja pa n e se v in yl m ic ro -c o m p a n ie s th a t have e m e rg e d re c e n tly , Real H ead is
one o f th e h o tte s t and m o st a d o re d by Japanese and A m e rica n co lle c to rs . N atura lly, it was
ju s t a m a tte r o f tim e b e fo re Super7 te a m e d u p w ith Real H ead c re a to r M o ri-s a n fo r a to y
release. In S uper7's s ig n a tu re c o lo rs , th is c le a r o ra n g e vinyl set w ill h it th is s u m m e r a t th e
Super7 sto re in San Francisco. P ictu re d here fro m le ft to rig h t are th e Real H ead x Super7
M u ta n t Evil, M u ta n t B iga ro , M u ta n t H ead and M u ta n t C haos fig u re s — all fo u r h e ro e s fro m
M o ri-s a n 's Real H ead u n ive rse ! W e 're ke e p in g th e re lease d a te s a s e cret, b u t w e can te ll
you th a t th e to ys w ill be d ro p p e d o ne at a tim e o ve r th e p e rio d o f a m o nth . Keep checking
supe r7 sto re .co m fo r u pd a te s.
mm
\ 7
.
KENTUCKY FRIED
COSMOS
SUPER7 X CHICKEN FEVER
Even th e m o s t e x tre m e alie n c o n s p ira c y th e o ris ts d o n 't e x p e c t e x tra te rre s tria ls
to c o m e in th e g uise o f p o u ltry . B u t th e y 'v e p ro b a b ly n eve r discu sse d th e m a tte r
w ith th e to y m akers a t S in + W o m b a t, th e Ja pa n e se c o m p a n y th a t b rin g s us th e
C hicken Fever toy. M a d e as e xclusives fo r th e Super7 S tore in San Francisco, this
b la c k vinyl to y w ith o ra n g e and w h ite spray was re le a se d on A p ril 2 9th ; an o ran g e
v e rsio n w ith b la ck a nd s ilv e r sp ray was also re le a se d on M ay 27th. L im ite d to 50
pie ce s o f each c o lo r way, th e s e aliens are re a d y to inva d e any and all c o lle c tio n s .
MONSTER FACTORY
PATIENCE YOUNG JEDI
For all th e d ie -h a rd v in ta g e vinyl c o lle c to rs o u t th e re , I was a b le to w atch, b u t n o t purchase, th e h y p e r rare red and blue
spray a ntle r on Yahoo auctions recently. This is th e e xact same fig u re shown in th e Saito d ig e s t to y books, which so many o f us
Brian Flynn was b o rn in th e m id s t o f a h u rrica ne .
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know so well. It is always excitm q to see these tiq ure s p o p up, even th o u q h I know my chances o t ever o w n in q any o t them
in 1875. A ft e r s p e n d in g h is f o rm a tiv e ye a rs u n ,
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d e ra c h ie v m g a t va rio u s tasks, h e d e c id e d th e
w o rld was n o t re a d y f o r his fo r w a rd th in k in g
v is io n o f th e fu tu re a n d w as c r y o g e n ic a lly
fro z e n
u n t il 1994. A f t e r re a w a k e n in g ,
B ria n
h it th e s tre e ts , a n d d e c id e d t h a t ru lin g th e
7
3
,
,
,
are a lm o s t n o n -e x is te n t. So, in a ro u n d -a b o u t way, w hen Mr. Saito q o t in to u c h w ith us a fte r se ein q issue 12 o f Super7,
z/
r
w e w e re sh o cke d to fin d o u t th a t w e had a fe w to y s even he d id n o t have. N o t w a n tin g to p a rt w ith o u r Barom-1 kaiju,
Mr. Saito still m a n a g e d to g e t an A rg e n tin ia n Peguira fig u re fro m th e S uper7 S tore th a t he had n o t b ee n a b le to fin d .
It is hard to believe, th a t c o lle c tin g fo r as lon g as som eo n e like Mr. Saito has, th a t th e re are still pieces w hich are fru s tra tin g ly
u n a tta in a b le fo r every level o f c o lle c to r.
u n iv e rs e t h r o u g h th e h id d e n m y s tic is m o f
a rc a n e S ta r W a rs re fe re n c e s , b in a r y p u ls a r
-p}-,js b r jng s m e to m y la rg e r p o in t. I have b ee n c o lle c tin g Ja panese vinyl fig u re s fo r 15 years now , and I can list h un d re ds
ra d io e m is s io n p a tte r n s , v in ta g e J a p a n e s e
vin yls a n d C o c a -C o la w as th e o n ly w a y to g o .
0 f fjg ures th a t I am still lo o k in g for. It seem s th a t so m any c o lle c to rs I run in to th e se days are fru s tra te d by th e lack o f
H e is th e p u b lis h e r a n d o w n e r o f S u p e r7
.. ,
,
.i l l .
m agazine, a w o rld -c la s s d e s ig n e r a n d a h ig h le v e l to y c o lle c to r
. . . . . . .
,
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a v a ila b ility, im m e d ia c y o r p ric e o t m any o t th e tiq u re s th a t th e y are lo o k in q tor. U n to rtu n a te ly , th is q e n re o t c o lle c tin q
7
.
7
°
3
is n o t as easy as m any o th e rs , w h e re sto ck is so m uch m o re p re v a le n t. For e xam p le , if you w a n t an o ld c o m ic b o o k like
J
J
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r
J
X -M e n #1, a b lu e S n a g g le to o th fro m S tar W ars, o r a T o p p s M ickey M a ntle , s im p ly g o to e ba y and th e re are p le n ty to be
fo u n d - as lo n g as you are w illin g to pay th e p rice . Ja pa n e se to ys, e s p e c ia lly d e s ira b le toys, are always in s h o rt supply.
W h e n th e se rare to ys d o show up, c o lle c to rs are w illin g to b reak th e b an k try in g to a cqu ire th e m . So, my advice to th e
n ew ly fru s tra te d c o lle c to r is, be p a tie n t. It to o k m e 15 years to a c q u ire one o f th e tw o to p to y s on my w a n t list, and
n eve r a lo n g th e w ay was I o ffe re d a sing le one. The o th e r to p to y on my lis t I am s till lo o k in g for.
A n o th e r c o u n te rp o in t is th e g lo w -in -th e -d a rk u n p a in te d G h o s tfig h te r. I have had several p e o p le c o m p la in to m e a b o u t
h o w d iffic u lt th is fig u re is to fin d to fin ish th e ir G h o s tfig h te r c o lle c tio n . To c la rify c o m p le te ly , th e re are o n ly 33 g lo w
G h o s tfig h te rs in e xisten ce . They w ere p ro m o tio n a l (n o t fo r sale) g ifts in Japan fro m S ecret Base, and o n ly a h an d fu l o f
th e m m a de it o v e r th e w a te r to th e states. W ith th e m a jo rity o f th e m still re s id in g in Ja panese c o lle c tio n s , and 10 o r less
stateside, to le t th e h u n t fo r a g lo w G h o s tfig h te r ruin y o u r co lle c tio n is d o in g yo urse lf a disservice. The fa c t o f th e m a tte r
is, m any o f us w ill p ro b a b ly n o t b e a ble to o w n one , s im p ly because th e re are fa r m o re c o lle c to rs than th e re are figures.
Those o f you th a t d o w a n t one , and ke ep u p th e h un t, m ay e v e n tu a lly fin d one, b u t, m uch like my to p w ants, it may take
a fe w years to d o so. The th in g is, w hen you fin ally d o fin d one it w ill be th a t m uch sw eeter, and th a t m uch m ore enjoyable
alo n g th e way. D o n 't let th is h o b b y so ur you, e njo y th e ride, and focus on w h a t you d o have, because to m o rro w th e re will
b e so m e o n e s tru g g lin g to fin d th e to y s you a lre a d y o w n - ju s t like m e, and ju s t like Mr. Saito. To share m y fru s tra tio n s ,
p ic tu re d abo ve , are a fe w o f th e g e m s I have had th e m is fo rtu n e o f n o t g e ttin g lately.
01. Red A n tle r w ith b lu e , y e llo w a n d g re e n s p ra y c o u rte s y o f Yahoo Japa n . 02. Kam en R id e r A m azon G T car w ith box.
03. Tigerm ask's car o f choice. Very stylish. 04. Large Yonezawa Inazum an C ycle w ith b o x. 05. Large Barom-1 car still in the
b o x! Curse yo u G roove5020! 06. Sun fa d e d Hawaii Gorosaurus; close b u t no cigar. 07. O h man, ju s t loo kin g a t th a t D oublas
M 2 is hard to do. 08. A ll o f th e large figures in th e G ia nt R ob o t family.
S7
TALK
V.13
HOUSE OF SECRETS
HANGING WITH HIDDY
T hough it can g e t really m anic ru nn in g S ecret Base, it's always g re a t w hen frie n d s d ro p b y th e sh op in Tokyo. R ecently,
I hung o u t w ith m y g o o d frie n d Ussun w h o is n ow w o rk in g a t T h re e T id e s T a tto o in Osaka — m y h o m e to w n ! (1) Ussun
b ro u g h t w ith him a super ta le n te d a rtis t fro m th e US nam ed M ike G iant. G ia nt is a very nice g u y and he's b eco m e p o p u la r
w ith ta tto o p e o p le in Japan. I b o u g h t th is c o o l sw e a ts h irt fro m G ia n t's San F ra ncisco-based fa sh io n label, R ebel8. (2)
It goes really w ell w ith th e d e n im N ikes th a t I p icke d up. (3) I d o love Nikes, how ever, I also th in k th e s e A d id a s Q e e
toys are q u ite co ol. (4) A n o th e r to y th a t's c a u g h t m y eye lately is th e C ure x CCP H e d o ra h — am azing! (5) W h e n I'm n o t
w o rk in g on to ys o r c h eckin g o u t new releases, I like to read co m ics like O n e Piece. (6) The tin ie s t d e ta ils in th is m anga
are c a p tiv a tin g and th e universe th a t a u th o r Eichiro O d a creates is so e la b o ra te and co m ica l. I th in k th is title is p u t o u t
in th e US b y Viz C o m m u n ica tio n s if yo u 'd like to try it fo r yourse lf. O f course, I also like lis te n in g to m usic like th e US
punk rock b and Zebrah e a d. (7) This is th e ir la te s t CD released in Japan. S o o ne r o r la te r th o u g h , I always end up b ack at
Secret Base h e a d q u a rte rs to create new toys. H ere are ju s t a fe w o f o u r la te s t releases: th e SB O b a k e D o g plush and the
new Balzac plush in various styles. (8) I w a n te d to m ake so m e th in g th a t p e o p le c o u ld alw ays have w ith th e m instea d o f
th e norm al show case vinyl to ys th a t I m ake! These w ere a c tu a lly d e s ig n e d b y an a rtis t nam e d Hilo. A n d finally, I'd like to
in tro d u c e th e b ra n d -n e w Secret Base vinyl toy, th e O b a ke D o g ! (9) I h o p e th a t you e njo y it!
H id d y is th e o w n e r a n d d riv in g fo rc e o f Ja p a n 's
p r e m ie r b o u tiq u e to y c o m p a n y , S e c re t Base.
S e c re t Base has b e e n p ro d u c in g so m e o f th e
m o s t in v e n tiv e fiv e -in c h v in y l to ys o n th e p la n e t
a n d th e re 's n o e n d in s ig h t. In each issue o f
S u p e r7 . H id d y w ill b e s h a rin g h is th o u g h ts
w ith his ra p id ly g ro w in g le g io n o f US fans.
15
S7
TALK
16
v13
T a ke -sh it is th e c re a to r a n d bass p la y e r fo r th e
Ja p a n e se h a rd c o re b a n d C o c o b a t, as w e ll as
a c o lu m n is t f o r W a rp J a p a n a n d C o o l T rans
m a g a z in e . H e 's n o to r io u s ly a d d ic t e d to a ll
t h in g s
H e n s h in
C y b o rg ,
M ic r o m a n
and
D e v ilm a n a n d his to y c o lle c tio n is so in san e
it w o u ld m a k e y o u w e e p . H e h a s a ls o b e e n
in v o lv e d in th e c re a tio n o f m a n y to ys o v e r th e
ye ars in c lu d in g th e h ig h ly in flu e n tia l Fin k-S h it
figure, M e d ico m 's C o c o b a t Joe, M icrom an-style,
M ic ro - S h it to y s a n d B e @ rb ricks.
GARBAGE DIGGER
BEHIND THE MASK
In th e 1970s, m any s o ft vinyl h ero to y s had hum an faces h id d e n u n d e r th e ir m asks — w h e th e r it was T ig e r Mask's
a lte r e g o N a o to D ate o r Kam en R ider's se cre t id e n tity , Takeshi H o n g o u . B ullm ark also released th e U ltram an Kyodai
(kn ow n in th e US as th e U ltra B ro th e rs ) w ith s o ft re m o v a b le m asks. M any assum e th a t B u llm a rk 's fig u re s faces are
e xa ctly alike fo r any p a rtic u la r toy. But, if you lo o k closely, every fig u re has d iffe re n t c h a ra c te ris tic s . Even th e s lig h te s t
d iffe re n c e in th e p a in t on th e eyes can ch a n g e th e to y 's o v e ra ll a e s th e tic — th is is w hy th a t m any c o lle c to rs say th a t
th e life o f th e to y is in th e eyes. B u llm a rk also c re a te d a c a rd e d fig u re w ith fiv e d iffe re n t m asks in b r ig h t c o lo rs,
w hich is ve ry hard to fin d .
T h e firs t re m o v a b le m ask to y was p r o b a b ly M arusan's U ltra 7 p e n d a n t c re a te d in 1967. W h e n U ltram a n Taro h it
Ja pa n e se th e a te rs , th e U ltram a n Fam ily to y s w e re m o re in th e s p o tlig h t th a n th e kaiju ch a ra cte rs fro m th e film .
It was because o f th e success o f th e U ltram an Fam ily to ys th a t m o re and m o re heroes w ere p ro d u c e d a round th is tim e.
Later, Ultra Taro, Ultra Haha (M other) and Ultra Chichi (Father) w ere m ade n o t w ith rem ovable masks, b u t w ith revolving
h ea d p ie ce s. W h e n yo u 'd spin th e to p o f th e ch a ra c te r's h e lm e t th e to y 's face w o u ld ch an g e fro m hum an to h ero fo rm !
This is co n s id e re d an in g e n io u s d e s ig n b y m any s o ft vinyl a fic io n a d o s and it is one o f my fa v o rite to y g im m icks. It's
also in te re s tin g to n o te th a t th e U ltra Haha is c o n s id e re d by m o s t e x p e rts to b e th e b e s t fe m a le s c u lp t o f th e 1970s.
S7
TALK
v.13
T h o u g h y o u m a y n o t b e fa m ilia r w ith th e n am e
O ka N arue, w hen y o u h e a r th e lis t o f Japanese
to y s th a t th is d is tin g u is h e d g e n tle m a n has
m a d e y o u w ill u n d o u b te d ly flip . W h e th e r he's
c ra n k in g o u t o b s c u re v in yl toys fo r Take-shit's
p u n k b a n d C o c o b a t o r n e w G le n D anzig fig ures,
O ka fills h is days to ilin g a w a y as a to y p ro d u c e r
fo r M e d ic o m Toy c o m p a n y in Japan. O h yeah,
h e 's a lso th e in v e n to r o f a lit t le to y lin e c a lle d
K ub ricks. M a y b e y o u 'v e h e a rd o f it.
NOTES FROM THE
UNDERGROUND
POSI-TRACTION TIN CAR
In th is in s ta llm e n t, I'd like to ta lk a b o u t th e P o si-tra ctio n Tin C ar — th e se co n d to y th a t I h e lp e d m ake fo r T a ke -shit's
b and C o c o b a t. The p ro d u c t was rele a se d fro m Z a a p !, th e c o m p a n y th a t I w o rk e d fo r back in 1998. W e to o k p re -o rd e rs
fo r th e to y w h ile w e cre a te d it — ju s t like we d id fo r C o c o b a t's firs t toy, th e C o c o b a t Joe. A t firs t, I had no idea h ow to
tu rn Pushead's a rtw o rk fo r C o c o b a t's a lb u m P o si-tra ctio n in to a to y, b u t th e idea to o k shape w he n w e cam e across a
tin m a n u fa ctu re r ca lle d Ichiko a t a to y show. Today, w hen I m ake a to y w ith Pushead o r Take-shit, s e le c tin g m a te ria ls
and g o in g th ro u g h th e process is easy, b u t back th e n e v e ry th in g was so unclear. It was like w e w e re s tu m b lin g a ro u n d
in th e d ark. So, I still fe e l d e e p ly th a t th e p ro d u c t tu rn e d o u t w e ll, even w hen I lo o k a t it now . Fo r th e b la ck a nd w h ite
versio n , w e m a de o n ly 3 0 0 p ie ce s e xclu sive ly fo r W arp m a ga zin e. S oon, T a k e -s h it to ld us th a t th a t he really w a n te d to
d o a n o th e r ve rsio n o f th e ca r u sing an idea th a t he had — th e Fink-Shit. B u t I w ill leave th a t s to ry till n e x t tim e . The
c o lo r p a cka g in g show n here was d e s ig n e d b y Seven Stars in Ja pa n (the sam e s tu d io th a t d e s ig n e d B o u n ty H un te r's
logo). I've also show n th e m ail o rd e r box.
17
W hile th e c o m b in a tio n o f a rt and toys is a re volu tio na ry c o n ce p t fo r m edia mavens
and tre n d seekers, m a ste r p a in te r Ken K elly has a p p a re n tly n eve r p e rc e iv e d
a d iv is io n b e tw e e n th e se tw o w o rld s . O r a t lea st th a t seem s tru e w hen one
co n s id e rs K e lly's w o rk on o n e o f th e m o s t p o p u la r and successful to y lines
o f th e '7 0s and '8 0 s — th e M icro n a u ts.
A lth o u g h Kelly is m o st fam ous fo r his w o rk on KISS re cord covers (D e stro ye r and
Love G un) and fo r his fa b u lo u s fa n ta sy p a in tin g s d e p ic tin g C onan, V am pire lla ,
D arth V a d er and m ore, Kelly's M ic ro n a u ts p a in tin g s re p re s e n t a tru ly am azing
b o d y o f w o rk. C o m m issio n e d b y to y c o rp o ra tio n M e g o in th e '70s to p ro d u c e
p acka g e a rt fo r th e ir firs t line o f o rig in a l M ic ro n a u ts fig u re s fo r th e US m a rket
c a lle d th e A lie n s, Ken fa c e d an iro n ic a lly tita n ic task.
A s many Super7 readers know , th e M icro n a u ts b e g a n as an im p o rte d Japanese
p ro p e rty (Takara's M icrom a n line) th a t was re p a c k a g e d and re na m e d fo r sale in
A m e rica . S p u rre d by M e g o 's d e sire to bran ch o u t fro m th e p re -e x is tin g Takara
p r o d u c ts w ith b ra n d n ew ch a ra cte rs, th e b iz a rre A lie n s fe a tu re d s h o c k in g ,
g lo w -in -th e -d a rk b ra in s and in te rc h a n g e a b le w e a p o n ry th a t m a d e th e m an
in s ta n t h it w ith c h ild re n . Today, th e y are h ig h ly s o u g h t a fte r b y M ic ro n a u ts
c o lle c to rs across th e g lo b e .
W hen Kelly firs t re ce ive d th e call fro m M e g o in 1978 a b o u t th e o p p o r tu n ity to
p a in t th e A lie n s p a cka g in g , h e'd b ee n c ra ftin g co ve r p a in tin g s fo r C re e p y and
Eerie m agazines as w ell as p ro d u c in g w o rk fo r KISS. The d esig n s th a t M e g o had
in m in d fo r th e lin e w e re rig h t u p Ken's a lley — fa n ta stica l and la rg e r th a n life.
Ken recalls, "T h e y w a n te d m e to m ake th is 4 -in ch p ie ce o f p la stic lo o k like a
3 0 -fo o t-ta ll, living b rea thin g menace. I said, th a t's cool. I can d o th a t." O bviously,
Kelly achie ve d th e d e s ire d e ffe c t and m o re, p ro d u c in g som e o f th e m o st
b re a th ta k in g p a in tin g s th a t to y a ficio n a d o s have e ver laid eyes u po n .
OH ANTRON,
WHERE
ARE
YOU?
MASTER PAINTER KEN KELLY AND THE MICRONAUTS
Text and photography by Dave W augh
wm
The firs t tw o p ain tin gs th a t w ere c o m p le te d to o k Ken a p p ro xim ately 2 to 3 weeks.
"T h e A n tro n a nd th e H o rn e tro id w e re th e firs t [in th a t o rd e r]. "K e lly recalls.
C o n s id e re d by m any to b e th e b e s t o f th e batch , A n tro n was p a in te d b y Kelly
and h a n d e d o v e r d ire c tly to M e g o fo u n d e r M a rty A b ra m s o n ly to d is a p p e a r
e n tire ly fro m th e p u b lic realm fo r a lm o s t 30 years. O n ly recen tly, th e A n tro n
OH ANTRON,
WHERE ARE YOU?
p a in tin g has re s u rfa c e d . B u t m o re on th a t in a m o m e n t...
M e an w h ile , back in th e 7 0 s , p ro d u c tio n c o n tin u e d as th e M ic ro n a u ts A lie n s
w ere released in tw o d iffe re n t waves. The firs t series o f toys was m ass-produced
2 2 v '3
fo r th e US m a rket, w h ile th e n e x t w o u ld b e u n d e r-p ro d u c e d and so ld largely
in Italy. The re m a in in g six p a in tin g s in th e A lie n s series w ere c o m p le te d a t a
furious pace and cre ate d u nd e r th e high stress o f co rpo ra te deadlines. "Suddenly,
M e g o sa id 'H e y ! W e n e e d six o f th e m . N o w .' You c o u ld a lm o s t see it in th e
p a in tin g s — like an a ssem b ly line th in g . A n d th a t's n o t th e w ay you w a n t to do
this stuff, b u t hey, th a t's w ha t th e call was and I ste p p e d up. Those all h appened
a w ee k a p a rt. Bang, b an g , b an g , bang, b a n g ," says Kelly. The p a in tin g s th a t
Kelly speaks o f w ere o f R epto, M e m b ro s, th e T e rra p h a n t ve h ic le and th e 2nd
series C e n ta u ru s, L ob ro s and K ronos fig u re s . T hey w e re o il on canvas and
each w ere a b o u t 3 0 " b y 34".
Top row : These o rig in a l M icron a u ts
toys are fro m th e c o lle c tio n o f a u th o r
Dave W augh. Each o f th e fig ure s and
vehicles are in th e ir o rig in a l p a cka g in g
w hich has b ee n a u to g ra p h e d b y
Ken Kelly.
B o tto m ro w fro m le ft to rig h t: Kelly's
ro ug h sketch fo r th e H o rn e tro id is
e n o u g h to se nd m o s t a rt stu d e n ts into
th e d reg s o f d e p re ssion . N ext, check
o u t these co ol Italian M icronauts figures
also sig n e d b y Kelly. I M icronauti, baby!
Finally, d o n 't fo rg e t o ld R ep to fro m
th e US M e g o line, o r h e 'll use his saw
h an d to break in to y o u r h o m e and
steal y o u r toys.
THE SIX LIMBED INVADER FROM THE
FARAWAY GALAXY OT THORAXIO
The idea to sw itch fro m th e p h o to g ra p h ic style b o x a rt p re v io u s ly used fo r
"T h is p e rso n had p u rch a se d th e p a in tin g s fro m Ken Kelly w hen he was still an
th e M icro n a u ts to c o lo rfu l fa n ta sy a rtw o rk was b rillia n t and it fit w ell w ith th e
u p c o m in g a rtis t. A fte r she a g re e d to sell m e th e M e m b ro s, I asked h e r if she
org a n ic d e sig n o f th e A lie n s. A lth o u g h M e g o w e n t o u t o f business s h o rtly a fte r
o w n e d any o f th e o th e r M ic ro n a u t p a in tin g s . She in fo rm e d m e th a t she o w n e d
th e release o f th e se to ys fo r u n re la te d reasons, th e leg a cy o f th is o rig in a l line
seven o f th e o rig ina l e ig h t pieces, b u t really d id n 't w a n t to sell anym ore o f them ,
and K elly's p a in tin g s lives on in th e h e a rts o f to d a y 's co lle c to rs . In fa c t, th e
th e T e rra p h a n t b e in g her fa v o rite ."
very p a in tin g s the m se lve s a ctu a lly re sid e w ith o n e o f to d a y 's to p M ic ro n a u ts
c o lle c to rs, Rumel T o m iam pos.
E ventually, she d id b rea k d o w n and le t th e m g o. This d e a le r's o n ly wish was
th a t th e p a in tin g s w o u ld g o to a g o o d h o m e and th a t th e y 'd rem ain in a set;
A fte r th e o rig ina l p a in tin g s w ere p h o to g ra p h e d fo r th e p ro d u c tio n cycle, M e g o
o f c o u rs e T a m ia m p o s has d is p la y e d th e s e tre a s u re s w ith all th e p rid e o f a
re tu rn e d all o f th e A lie n s a rtw o rk to Kelly e x c e p t fo r th e o h -s o -e lu s iv e A n tro n .
b ra n d -n e w p a re n t. " If I e v e r w o u ld c o n s id e r s e llin g th e m ," he says assuredly,
Ken, in tu rn , s o ld th e se w orks to p riv a te b uye rs. T h e p a in tin g s s h ifte d hands
"I w o u ld o n ly sell th e m as a se t and to a g o o d h o m e to o . I've had an o ffe r as
a co u p le o f tim e s o ve r th e years u n til th e y fin a lly fe ll in to th e c a p a b le care o f
h ig h as $ 7 0 ,0 0 0 , b u t d o n 't w a n t to p a rt w ith th e m . If th e S m ith son ia n o r th e
h a rd co re M ic ro n a u tfa n a nd a rt love r To m iam p o s.
M u seu m o f A r t in D.C w a n te d th e m , I w o u ld m o s t lik e ly d o n a te th e m so
th a t e v e ry o n e c o u ld e n jo y th e m ." T a m iam p o s has also g e n e ro u s ly le n t th e
T o m iam p o s viv id ly re m e m b e rs th e day th a t a n o th e r o ld -s c h o o l to y c o lle c to r
p a in tin g s to b e p h o to g ra p h e d fo r th e 2 00 2 H ero F a c to ry M ic ro n a u ts card set.
to ld him so m eo n e had th e o rig in a l M e m b ro s a rt fo r sale. He says, "I th in k it
S till, even w ith all seven o f th e m a s te rp ie c e s in o n e p lace, th e A n tro n p a in tin g
was s e lling fo r a ro u n d $1,850. I c o n ta c te d th e se lle r and to ld h e r if h e r in itia l
was n o w h e re to b e fo u n d . J u s t w h e re in th e w o rld was th e v e ry fir s t and o ft
deal fe ll th ro u g h (there was a n o th e r in te re s te d b uyer), I w o u ld b e w illin g to
c o n s id e re d b e s t p a in tin g s in K e lly's series? T h e answer, it seem s, was to be
purch a se it. The s e lle r e -m a ile d m e b ack a nd to ld m e th a t if I was w illin g
fo u n d in th e d a rk e s t d e p th s o f th e A b ra m s fa m ily hom e.
to pay th a t p rice th a t she w o u ld le t m e have it." T o m ia m p o s co ntin u e s,
L eft: W ith o b v io u s braw n a n d brains,
M e m b ro s was o n e o f th e m o re p o p u la r
M icron a u ts ch aracters — thanks in no
sm all p a rt to Kelly's k ille r re n d e rin g .
R ight: The p a in s ta k in g d e ta il in th e
K ronos p a in tin g m akes th is m antis
d re s s e d in a p in k le o ta rd lo o k m uch
m o re m e na cin g than he should.
OH ANTRON,
WHERE ARE YOU?
v .,3
Left: The lost M icronauts p ain tin g. A fte r
b e in g b u rie d d e e p in a b a s e m e n t fo r
deca d e s, Ken K elly's A n tro n s till looks
p h e n o m e n a l. A s th is was th e firs t th a t
Kelly p a in te d in th e series, th e precision
a n d d e ta il is u n m a tc h e d b y a ny o f th e
M ic ro n a u t p ain tin gs.
PART 2: N O M O M ! PLEASE D O N 'T TRASH M Y PRICELESS P A IN TIN G .
" I f I c o u ld n 't b e Tru m p 's kid b o rn in to m o n e y ," Ken A b ra m s q u ip s , "a t least
I was b o rn in to th e M ic ro n a u ts ." A b ra m s is th e son o f M a rty A b ram s, th e
fo u n d e r o f M e g o toys. Ken K elly's p rize A n tro n p a in tin g used to hang in yo un g
A b ra m s ' b e d ro o m w hen he was a boy. It re m a in e d th e re as th e c e n te rp ie c e o f
his livin g q u a rte rs s u rro u n d e d by Led Z e p p e lin and S p rin g s te e n p os te rs until
he le ft h om e to a tte n d c o lle g e in 1984. H ow ever, even fo r th e A b ram s, A n tro n
to o b e c a m e a fa d e d m e m ory.
U ntil 2002, th a t is, w he n th e Palisades R etro Series o f M ic ro n a u ts was released.
A card set fe a tu rin g th e seven o rig in a l Kelly p a in tin g s was c re a te d , fro m w hich
th e A n tro n was c o nsp icu ou sly m issing. A fte r several fa ile d a tte m p ts a t a cqu irin g
a p h o to g ra p h o f th e p a in tin g fro m M a rty A b ra m s him se lf, it was th o u g h t th a t
th e p a in tin g was lo s t fo re ve r. Then, in 2 00 4 at M e g o C o n in NYC, a co n ve n tio n
d e d ic a te d to e v e ry th in g M e g o , th e e n tire A b ra m s ' clan w as in a tte n d a n c e .
This was th e chance to set th e re c o rd s tra ig h t on th e w h e re a b o u ts o f one o f
K elly's ke en e st sci-fi p a in tin g s .
Your h um b le a u th o r asked Ken d ire c tly w ha t h a p p e ne d to th e pain tin g th a t hung
in his b e d ro o m as a c h ild . He r e d ire c te d th e q u e s tio n to his m o th e r w ho
re s p o n d e d w ith th e fo llo w in g s ta te m e n t, "I th in k I th re w th a t u g ly th in g o u t."
Im m ediately, hun d re ds o f d ie -h a rd M icronauts and Ken Kelly fans' hearts d ro p p e d
d e e p into th e ir bellies as a c o lle ctive gasp seem ed to resound across th e universe.
Ken A b ra m s q u ic k ly c a lm e d th e p o te n tia lly rio to u s c ro w d w ith th e s e w ord s:
"T h e re 's n o w ay M a rty le t h e r th ro w th a t th in g o u t. N o way, no how , is th a t
th in g in th e g a rb a g e ." Ken soon to o k it u p o n h im s e lf to scavenge th e o ld
A b ra m s h o u s e h o ld th a t v e ry w e e k e n d . A fte r his fo u rth a tte m p t a t ru m m a g in g
th ro u g h th e b a s e m e n t, he fo u n d th e m issin g p a in tin g tu c k e d b e tw e e n a fe w
fra m e d fa m ily p a in tin g s and b u rie d d e e p in a cra w l space. T h e m yste ry was
fin a lly s o lv e d , to th e d e lig h t o f a m u ltitu d e o f M ic ro n a u ts d e v o te e s . Today, it
seem s th a t th e A b ra m s w ill n e v e r aga in le t A n tro n o u t o f th e ir view ; th e p iece
n o w hangs h ig h a b o v e M a rty A b ra m s d e s k in his p e rs o n a l o ffic e in N ew York.
So please, e n jo y th is p h o to g ra p h o f little o l' A n tro n . This is th e firs t tim e he's
ev e r b e e n in a m a ga zin e and he's a p p a re n tly m a de q u ite a jo u rn e y to b e here.
27
Left: R epto is one to u g h lo o k in g
alie n , b u t n o t nea rly as to u g h as
Ken Kelly is fo r having p a in te d him
in less than seven days. Kelly says,
'That's w h a t th e (jo b ca lle d for) a nd
I s te p p e d u p ." Huzzah!
R ight: G e tty up, C entaurus. Kelly's
m a ste rfu l re n d itio n o f th is h y b rid
horse a lien s o m e h o w m akes th e
actual C entaurus to y seem a to u ch
less than m ajestic.
ROCK
THE
VOTOMS
MILITARY MECHA MAYHEM
By Roger H arkavy/Photography by Geoff Allen
In th e early 1980s, the mecha anim e revolution was in full swing. G iant heroic robots
w ith sw ord s and s a m ura i-styled h elm e ts w ere fa d in g away, b e in g replaced by
faceless, g u n -w ie ld in g m ilita ry m achines. L eading th e charge w ere shows like
Macross, Xabungle, Srungle, and Dunbine. A rm o red Trooper VOTOMS, y e t another
r o b o t series w ith a nonsensical b u t c o o l-s o u n d in g nam e, c o n tin u e d th e tre n d
to w a rd a g re a te r d e g re e o f "realism " in ro b o t anim e.
VOTOM S is actually an acronym fo r Vertical O ne-m an Tank fo r O ffense and Maneuver
System. M ost likely, th e name was coined because it sounded cool, and th e meanings
fo r th e le tte rs w ere assigned a fte rw a rd s. V O T O M S 'c o n trib u tio n to th e ro b o t toy
w o rld , th o u g h , is unqu e stion a b le .
"V O TO M S was d e v e lo p e d based on th e success o f th e D ou g ra m series, w hich was
largely d u e to th e sales o f th e p lastic m odels, a nd (had th e g oa l o f m aking ro bo ts)
even m ore realistic," accord in g to A sahina Yoshikazu, a p ro d u c t desig n er at Takara
d u rin g th e 1980s. D ougram e nd e d its run on TV in early 1983, b u t in late 1982 Takara
was already d eve lo pin g VOTOMS to fill th e void. Based on his success h andling the
D o u g ra m anim e, Ryosuke Takahashi was h ired as th e new series' producer, and
D ou g ra m m echanical d e s ig n e r Kunio O kaw ara was re c ru ite d to create th e robots.
Takahashi's vision fo r th e ro b o ts o f A rm o re d T ro o pe r VOTOMS was d iffe re n t this
tim e . The ro b o ts , o r A rm o re d T roopers, w ere g o in g to b e small co m pa re d to
th e ir conte m po ra rie s, s ta n d in g ju s t u n d e r fo u r m eters, and th e y w ere g o in g to be
versatile. He e nvisioned ro b o ts b a ttlin g in space, in th e dese rt, in swamps. They
w ere also g o in g to be co m p le te ly d e -ro m a n ticize d . D raw ing on his experience
g ro w in g u p in p o s tw a r Japan, w here husks o f ravaged Jeeps co uld be found
nearly everyw here, he im ag ine d a fu tu re w he re a ro b o t vehicle was sim ply a to o l
th a t was used and disca rd e d.
VOTOMS
Takara w a n te d th e ir VO TO M S to ys to m atch th e anim e d esig n s exactly, in som e
b e tw e e n A p ril 1,1983 and M arch 23,1984. The to ys and m o d e ls sold, b u t d id n 't
cases even d u p lic a tin g th e actual m echanism s th e ro b o ts used in th e show. They
h it th e level o f success th a t Takara had previously expe rie nce d . "I d o n 't th in k they
also w a n te d to fo llo w th e fo rm u la b e h in d D ou g ra m 's success: th e to ys w o u ld be
e ver reached th e p o p u la rity o f th e D ou g ra m to ys," Yoshikazu says. He notes th a t
m arketed tow ards m o d e l builders w ho w anted to create th e ir ow n special versions
th e m o d e l kits d id n 't sell as well as th e D ou g ra m kits, either.
o f th e ro b o ts th e y saw on TV. Takahashi's idea o f a m a ss-pro d u ced ro b o t w ith
o p tio n a l parts fo r every occasion fit well w ith this plan.
Like th e D ougram toys before them , VOTOM S toys w ere m ade in 3 scales: 3 " 1/60
figures, 5" 1/35 "Join t M o de ls" and 7 " 1/24 "D ual M odels." Again, names like Joint
The M acGyver-like ing e n uity o f th e show's p rotagonist, C hirico Cuvie, also helped
M odel and Dual M o de l w ere em ployed to convey the idea th a t these w eren't simply
th e m a rke tin g m ission a lo n g . C h irico , a ro g u e s o ld ie r fro m th e d re a d e d Red
toys, b u t m odel kits to be customized. Okawara was also commissioned to d o a series
S h o u ld e r squad, s p e n t m o s t o f th e early e p is o d e s fig h tin g his e ne m ie s using
o f illustrations fo r th e boxes, and w hile his a rtw ork w asn't displayed p rom inently on
ro b o ts he re b u ilt fro m discarded ones in junkyards. C hirico's yen fo r custom izing
som e item s in th e to y line, many co lle cto rs consider th e huge Okawara p ainting on
a ro b o t, a b a n d o n in g it, a nd th e n s ta rtin g a new w ith a n o th e r sa lva g e d one
th e Dual M o d e l Red S houlder C ustom S co p ed o g b ox to be a tru e w ork o f to y art.
m irro re d w h a t Takara w a n te d fro m th e ir co n su m e rs — b u y o n e ro b o t, fix it
up th e w ay you w a n t, and th e n b u y a n o th e r to c u sto m ize a d iffe r e n t way.
The 1/60 series o f fig ure s fe a tu re d a high m etal co nte nt, m aking fo r seven solid
U nfortunately, Takara w asn't as e nthusiastic a b o u t c o m m ittin g th e ir resources this
a ged to w ork a high level o f d eta il into them , in clu d in g th ing s like rem ovable hip,
b u t som ew hat less poseable pieces. D esp ite th e ir small size, th e designers m an­
tim e around. A much smaller b u d g e t was allocated fo r th e show, and o ut o f necessity,
knee, and fo o t arm or, "m u d skis" on th e aquatic ro bo ts, and flip -u p visors. O u t o f
Takahashi designed th e show in fo u r "stages." Like th e d iffe re n t acts o f a play, each
the seven 1/60 figures, tw o versions o f the Scopedog, the ubiquitous "g ru n t" mecha,
stage o f th e show w ou ld take place in a specific locale, m aking it easy fo r anim ators
w ere in c lu d e d , as w ell as so m e m o re e x o tic d e s ig n s like th e D iv in g B eetle and
to reuse backgrounds and o th e r anim ation elem ents. This m o d u la r a spe ct to the
Berserga. The 1/60 packaging also features a strange defin itio n fo r VOTOMS: Very
sto ry line also m ade it easy to end th e show in case it was ca nce lled b e fo re th e
O bnoxious Tagger's O u t-o f-sig h t M urder Service, which is definitely th e p ro d u c t o f
52-e p isod e mark, th e p o in t a t w hich an anim e series was d e e m e d successful.
an overam bitious graphic a rtist rather than a reference to anything in th e TV show.
D espite th e sole sponsor's co ld fe e t, VOTOMS m ade it. F ifty -tw o e piso d es aired
The 1/35 J o in t M odels w ere o d d itie s because they w ere co m ple te ly devoid o f any
L e ft p a g e : W ith o p e n in g c o c k p its,
rifles w ith re m o v a b le p a rts a n d a
p le th o ra o f p o s in g p o s s ib ilitie s , the
1/24 scale D ua l M o d e ls show cased
Takara's to y e n g in e e rin g b rillia n ce .
R ig h t p a g e : T h o u gh th e se 1/35 J o in t
M o d e ls b y Takara la cke d d ie -c a s t
p arts, c o lle c to rs lo v e d th e m fo r th e ir
e x tre m e ly c u s to m iz a b le nature.
large m etal pieces. This sh ortco m in g was m ore than com pe n sa te d fo r b y th e J o in t
cam e b e fo re it, th is 3 " S c o p e d o g was re n d e re d in th e classic "s u p e r d e fo rm e d "
M odels' highly customizable nature. Both toys came w ith many optional weapon and
style. It tra n s fo rm e d into a small, drag ster-like version o f th e mecha, which
a rm o r pieces th a t co uld b e c lip p e d on to cre ate d iffe re n t variants o f th e mecha.
d o u b le d as a p u ll-p a ck racer.
The Red S houlder C ustom S co p ed o g cam e w ith a standard backpack as well as
th e full suite o f sp rin g -lo a d e d w eapons th a t C hirico used in early episo d es o f th e
D urin g th e 1980s, som e VO TO M S toys fo u n d th e ir way into A m erica. The b ig g e s t
show. The Snapping Turtle could b e o u tfitte d w ith arm or to create a Space Assault
d o m e s tic source was T w e n tie th C e n tu ry Im p o rts , a Japanese m o d e l w ho le sale r
version, co m p le te w ith a m issile-firing bazooka.
w h o had b ig plans fo r th e VO TO M S TV show . A t one p o in t, TCI a nn o u nce d th a t
th e y w o u ld be re le a sin g a s u b title d ve rsio n o f th e show d ire c t to h om e v ide o .
The 1/24 Dual M o de ls w ere p rim e exam ples o f Takara's excellent to y eng in ee ring ,
Perhaps to fo s te r in te re s t in th e series, th e y so ld m any o f th e 1 /60 to y s at rock-
fe a tu ring o p e n in g co ckpits, th e a b ility to assume a kn ee ling pose (know n as th e
b o tto m prices. U nfortunately, th e su b title d videos never m aterialized, and it w asn't
"dow n fo rm ") to pick up th e pilo t, ro ta tin g scopes, rifles w ith rem ovable clips, and
u ntil th e 1990s th a t C entral Park M edia released VOTOMS on vide o in Am erica.
num erous m etal parts. The S co p ed o g, m o ld e d in d ra b m ilita ry green, in c lu d e d a
standard-issue backpack w ith extra a m m o clips. Takara's second o ffe rin g in this
In Japan, VOTOMS' life e xtended far past th e original TV series. In fact, three direct-
series, th e Brutishdog, a custom ized salm on-pink version o f th e Scopedog, featured
to -v id e o m ovies, a tw e lv e p a rt s p in -o ff series ca lle d A rm o re d H unter M erow link,
a g a ttlin g ca n n o n /c la w c o m b o th a t re p la ce d th e rig h t h and and a specia lize d
and a fiv e -p a rt conclusion to th e saga w ere released over th e next ten years. As the
b ackp a ck. The H o ly G ra il o f th is to y series fo r c o lle c to rs , th e Red S h o u ld e r
1990s drew to a close and mecha nostalgia entered full swing, Takara began reviving
C ustom S co p ed o g, shared th e co lo r schem e o f th e standard S co p ed o g, w ith th e
th e p ro p e rty w ith reissues o f th e toys and new vid e o gam es fo r th e Playstation.
n ota ble e xception o f one sh ou ld er p ain te d b lo o d red. In a d d itio n to th e standard
S co p ed o g e q u ip m e n t, th e Red S houlder also in clu d e d C hirico's w eapons suite
Two o f th e th re e to y lines, th e 1/35 J o in t M o de ls and 1/24 Dual M odels, were
and a special "R ound M o ver" je t pack fo r fly in g around in o u te r space.
re-released in slick new p ackaging. These pieces rem ained largely unchanged,
ke ep in g th e ir orig ina l co n s tru c tio n , accessories, and features. C lear and chrom ed
N o VOTOMS co lle ctio n can b e consid e red c o m p le te w ith o u t one o f th e m ore
reissues o f these toys w ere also ch urn e d o u t by th e Takara factories, b u t w ere n 't
bizarre Takara offe rin gs, th e C h o ro -Q S co p ed o g. Like th e C h o ro -Q D ou g ra m th a t
w ell received b y co lle cto rs, w ho p re fe rre d n o rm a lly-co lo red versions. Many o f
THE ROBOT IN THE MIRROR
Top rig h t: Look c lo s e ly a t th e last lin e
M a ny c o lle c to rs w h o s ta rt d e lv in g in to V O T O M S d is c o v e r
Takara b oxes. This biza rre take o n th e
o f c o p y o n th e s id e o f th e 1/60 scale
th a t so m e Red S h o u ld e r C u sto m S c o p e d o g to ys have th e rig h t
VO TO M S a cronym a c tu a lly has n o th in g
s h o u ld e r p a in te d red, w h ile o th e rs have a re d le ft sh ou ld er.
to d o w ith th e a nim e ; it's s o m e th in g
W h ich version is co rre ct? The answ er is a c tu a lly " both ."
o f a c o m ic a l m y s te ry to VOTOM S fans
a n d g r a ffiti a rtists alike.
In th e w o rld o f VOTOMS, th e Red Shoulder Squad is th e e lite corps
o f th e G ilg a m e th arm y, th e b a d d e s t o f th e bad . T hey p a in t th e
B e lo w rig h t: B e h o ld a ll seven o f th e
rig h t sh ou ld er o f th e ir A rm o re d Troopers red to sign ify th e b lo o d y
1/60 scale VO TO M S d ie -c a s t toys.
A R M O R E D TJ
m issions th e y're sent on.
B e lo w : The s u p e r-d e fo rm e d C h o ro -Q
O u r protagonist, C hirico Cuvie, is an ex-Red Shoulder. In th e inital
S c o p e d o g tra n sfo rm s in to a s o rt o f
episodes o f th e TV series he's try in g to lay low in a to w n called
m in i-p u llb a c k ra c in g car.
U oodo. He hooks u p w ith a g ro u p o f sca ven g e rs w h o fin d o u t
a b o u t his p ilo tin g b a c k g ro u n d and push him in to B a ttlin g ,
an arena s p o rt w h e re V O T O M S fig h t each o th e r fo r b ig bucks.
W h ile p re p a rin g fo r o n e b a ttle . V anilla, o n e o f th e sca vengers,
p a in ts th e le ft sh ou ld er o f C hirico's S co p ed o g red, co m m en tin g
th a t it w ill freak o u t his o p p o n e n ts. C hirico n onchalantly notes th a t
th e y actually p a in t th e rig h t s h o u ld e r red. This sh ocks th e g ro u p ,
a nd th e y s ta rt to realize th a t there's a lo t m o re to C hirico than
they assumed.
So technically, rig h t is c o rre c t and le ft is w ro n g ; b u t th e y 're b o th
show n in th e anim e. If th e to y re p re se n ts a tru e Red S houlder,
th e rig h t sh o u ld e r nee d s to b e re d. H ow ever, if th e to y d e p ic ts
th e one th a t Vanilla was d ressin g to im press, th e to ym a ke rs n eed
to make th e sam e m istake he d id and p a in t th e le ft s h o u ld e r red!
these w ere o v e rp ro d u c e d by Takara, and fo u n d th e ir way into A m erica th ro u gh
D ia m o nd C om ic D istrib u to rs.
Tw o v id e o gam e s fo r th e P laystation w ere released in special c o lle c to r e d itio n s
th a t in c lu d e d th e 1/24 S c o p e d o g and Red S h o u ld e r to ys in new o liv e and gray
c o lo r schem es. A th ird v id e o g am e was also released w ith s o m e th in g special: a
new Dual M o d e l toy, th e Slashdog. The to y was based on a design fro m th e vide o
g am e th a t was specialized fo r arena co m ba t. R oughly tw o -th ird s o f th e Slashdog's
p arts cam e fro m th e existin g 1/24 S co p ed o g m o ld , b u t new b oo sters fo r th e legs,
a h ig h -te ch visor, a claw arm a tta c h m e n t, and a new rifle w ere sc u lp te d fo r it. To
to p it all o ff, th e to y was cast in a m enacing crim son c o lo r scheme.
As a re s u lt o f th e va rio u s reissues th a t Takara has d o n e o v e r th e years, anyone
w h o w an ts a V O T O M S D ual M o d e l o r J o in t M o d e l to y can fin d one easily and
fo r a re aso n a ble p rice . C o lle c to rs w h o h u n t o n ly v in ta g e pie ce s have n o te d th a t
even th e h a rd e s t p ie c e to fin d , th e Dual M o d e l B ru tis h d o g , is reasonably p rice d
c o m p a re d to o th e r 1980s m echa to y s like th o s e fro m M across and G undam .
In re c e n t years, Takara has h e lp e d keep V O TO M S alive by licensing th e p ro p e rty
to a new g e n e ra tio n o f to ym a ke rs. Toy c o m p a n y Yam ato released a 1/12 scale
S c o p e d o g to y th a t sta n d s a p p ro x im a te ly 12" ta ll. The to y fe a tu re s nearly every
feature o f th e S co p ed o g fro m th e show, inclu d in g a spring loa d e d "arm o r punch,"
and "ro lle r d ash" w heels and "tu rn p ic k " m echanism s in th e fe e t. Yamato has also
ROCK
THE
VOTOMS
V a r tic a l O n e - m a n T a n k f o r O ffe n s e & Maneuver,
V e ry O b n o x io u s T a g g e r's " O u l- o f - M g h t " M urd e r S e rv ic e s .
i-H E A V Y -Q -6 4
RM OREDTRC
A R M O R E D T R O O P E R -H E A V Y -Q 4 -S T
PILO T LUI C H A K O
SUPREME OFFICER
ALBERT KILLEE
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Armored Thickness 6 - 14mm
Cmsvng Speed 4 3 k m /h
|P t l O T C H IR IC O CUVIE
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PILOT: FANTAM LADY
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1:6 0 SCALE
1 :60 SCALE
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been releasing m u ltip le o p tio n packs th a t include th e various hand w eapons and
1/24 D ual M o d e l series, No. 1 ATM-09-ST S copedog, No. 2 ATM -09-G C Brutishdog, No.
backpacks fo r th e 'dog.
3 ATM-09-RSC Red S houlder C ustom Scopedog, C ho ro -Q series, C horo-Q Scopedog
Takara has also been hard at w ork on th e ir own new toys. A line o f 1/48 scale "Actic
REISSUES: 1/35 J o in t M o d e l series, N o. 1 - A TM -09-S T Full W eapons S copedog
G ear" (a bran d nam e d erive d fro m th e w ord s "a ctive " and "a rtis tic ") is cu rren tly in
Red Shoulder, N o. 2 - ATH-14-SAC Space A ssault S napping Turtle M ark 2 (Both were
full swing, and th e small size o f th e ro b o ts is m aking it possib le fo r Takara to o ffe r
also issued in tra n slu ce n t versions.)
vehicles such as th e AT Fly tra n s p o rt ch op p e r. Takara has also revived th e Dual
M odels, a p p e n d in g "Z w ei" (German fo r " tw o " ) to th e m oniker. The firs t release
1/24 D ua l M o d e l series (firs t reissues, late 1990s), N o. 1 A T M -0 9 -S T S c o p e d o g ,
was a p ain te d and w eathered 1/18 scale S co p ed o g th a t cam e w ith a M icrom an
No. 2 A T M -0 9 -G C B ru tishd o g , N o. 3 ATM -09-RSC Red S houlder C ustom S copedog
C hirico fig ure , and a d d itio n a l fig ure s are e x p e cte d to be announced.
(All th re e w ere also issued in b o th tra n slu ce n t and chrom e versions.)
VOTOMS, considered by m any to be th e high w ater m ark fo r m echa shows, gave
1/24 D ua l M o d e l series (se con d reissues, 2005), RDM-1 A T M -0 9 -G C B rutishdog,
us some o f the best realistically-styled ro b o t toys ever made. The legacy o f Takara's
RDM-2 A TM -09-S A S co p ed o g fo r P erfect S oldier (inclu de d Round M over and new
u n fo rg e tta b le toys lives on to this day, and looks like it w ill e xte n d in to th e fu tu re
weapons), RDM -3 ATM -09-RSC Red S h o uld er C ustom S copedog
fo r som e tim e to com e.
S pecial E d itio n VOTOM S P laystation Gam es, Blue K n ig h t (inclu de d Dual M odel
CHECKLIST: OR IG IN AL 1/60 A T C o lle c tio n series, N o. 1 M id-09-S T S co p ed o g,
ATM -09-ST S co p ed o g reissue in olive /g re y) U oo d o /K u m m e n (included Dual M odel
No. 2 M id-0 9 -G C B rutishdog, No. 3 H eavy-04 -ST S tanding Tortoise, N o. 4 M id -
ATM -09-RSC Red S houlder C ustom S co p ed o g reissue in olive/grey)
09-W R M arshydog, No. 5 Heavy-14 -WPC S napping Turtle, N o. 6 H eavy-06-W P
L ig h tn ing Slash (inclu de d Dual M o d e l A TM -09-G S C Slashdog)
D iving Beetle, No. 7 H eavy-Q -64 Berserga
C h o ro -Q series, C h o ro -Q S co p ed o g (sold as p a rt o f a 4-pa ck w ith Dougram ,
1/35 J o in t M o d e l series, No. 1 ATM -09-ST Full W eapons S co p ed o g Red
Shoulder, N o. 2 ATH-14-SAC Space Assault S napping Turtle M ark 2
G ia nt G org, and Galient) (This was also issued as a tra n slu e n t version.)
THE FIRE
&
THE
FURY
THE CLASSIC MONSTER TOYS OF RODAN
By Chad Hensley/Photography by Tim Brisko/Toys from the collection of Mike Johnson
The e ponym ous m o nste r in Toho's1956 film Rodan is a tita n ic p te ro d a c ty l that's
im p rin te d fo o tp rin ts . Then, th e very next year in Am erica, M a tte l p u t o u t a large
endured th e te st o f tim e b oth fig u ra tive ly and literally. T h ough bein g prehistoric
plastic version o f Rodan in a o ne -sh o t series called W orld's G reatest Monsters.
and 160 fe e t ta ll adds to th is kaiju's surface a ppeal fo r w id e -e y e d ch ild ren , th e
tru e key to Rodan's lasting p o p u la rity is his on-screen cam araderie w ith th e King
The W G M fig ure is especially n otew orthy because it is in the same scale as another
o f M onsters, G odzilla. T h ough Rodan techn ica lly dies in his d e b u t film (burned to
M attel to y line from th e same tim e p e rio d —The Shogun Warriors. It has a wingspan
a crisp in an erupting volcano) the character later appeared in th e 1964 film Ghidorah:
o f 38',' m assive m o v a b le claws, and a lever on th e toy's neck th a t contro ls the
The Three-H eaded M onster to team up w ith Godzilla in an o ut-a n d -o u t w ar against
figure's bea k-like m o u th . However, unlike th e to ys in th e S hogun W arriors line,
G hidora. O ve r th e next 40 years, Rodan makes five m ore appearances in G odzilla
all o f w hich are based on to ys previously released by Popy in Japan, th e W orld's
film s, each tim e jo in in g forces w ith th e lizard lord to to p p le an adversary. In tw o
G reatest M onsters Rodan has no Japanese counterpart.
o f these m ovies, Rodan even g o t c o m p le te m akeovers. First, in 1993's G odzilla
vs. M echagodzilla th e reptile is transform ed into a spiny, vio le t-co lo re d creature
It w o u ld b e nearly th irte e n years b e fo re a n o th e r Rodan te rro riz e d to y store
ca lle d Fire R od a n .T h e n in th e 2 004 film G o d zilla : Final Wars, a m o d e rn iz e d ,
shelves. In 1992, Bandai fin ally show ed th e fire bird som e love by releasing an 8 "
m uscle-bound in te rp re ta tio n o f th e w in g e d m onster m anifested. Naturally, due
brow n Rodan as p art o f th e ir expa n d in g G odzilla series. The next year, this figure
to th e character's e nd u rin g grasp on audiences' hearts, to y com panies have
was reissued w ith a slig h tly d iffe re n t p a in t schem e in Bandai's G odzilla M em orial
p u m p e d o u t a ve ritab le flo ck o f Rodan vinyl toys over th e years.
Box fig u re co lle ctio n . Also in 1993, Bandai d ro p p e d a new 8 " Fire Rodan in viole tc o lo re d vinyl. C onsequently, th e com pany d id tw o m ore versions o f Fire Rodan;
Bullmark released th e first Rodan to y in 1970 in th e fo rm o f a 9-inch standard sized
one as p a rt o f th e 1996 G odzilla Forever series and th e o th e r in th e ir Godzilla
vinyl and sm aller pink mini-sized vinyl, b u t it w asn't until a decade later th a t another
Island/Toho Kaiju series. The G odzilla Forever Fire Rodan is cast from the same
vinyl inca rn a tion o f th e m o n ste r a pp e a red . In 1978, Popy d e b u te d th e ir 6 -inch
m o ld as th e standard release, w ith a m ore d e ta ile d p a in t jo b on th e veins in the
Rodan as p art o f th e ir King Zaurus series in w hich each vinyl fig u re to u te d unique
m onster's w ings. The Toho Kaiju Fire Rodan is m o ld e d in a sm aller 6 -inch scale,
O p p o s ite p a g e : R ed Popy Rodan
THE FIRE
&THEFURY
3 8 v' 13
I.fl
Top (le ft to rig h t): M a rm it Rodan
from m in i-fig u re se t a n d M a rm it
m in i SD figures.
R ight: B andai re p ro d u c tio n n e xt
to tw o o rig in a l B u llm a rk vinyls.
B o tto m (le ft to righ t):
O rig in a l B u llm a rk m in i vinyls,
M1 B ullm ark re p ro d u c tio n s
a n d P opy fig u re variations.
and is very d iffe re n t from th e tw o larger versions, boa stin g a b rig h t red b o d y
d iffe re n t c o lo r ways; th e re was a com m on green vinyl version, a show exclusive,
and a w hite beak.
u n p a in te d b e ig e , and an u n p a in te d sm oke w h ite vinyl. M ore recently, M1
p ro d u c e d a 9-inch sta n d ard -size Rodan fig u re based on th e o rig in a l B ullm ark
Also d u rin g th e '90s, a fe w Japanese to y com panies offered a fe w o ff-k ilte r Rodan
m o ld in flesh vinyl w ith brow n spray as an event exclusive. O th e r co lo r variants
toys. These o d d itie s included a m iniature su pe r-d e fo rm ed , disk-firing Rodan th a t
o f this to y include a m e ta llic green spray on brow n vinyl even t exclusive, and a
came on a b liste r card m ade by Tomy, and a blocky, su pe r-d e fo rm ed Rodan th a t
g lo w -in -th e -d a rk version. A co u p le o f M1 3-inch m ini-sized re p ro d u c tio n vinyls
co u ld be tra n sfo rm e d in to a p te ro d a c ty l e g g p ro d u ce d byTakara. In th e last few
have also been released in ye llo w and brow n.
years, b o th M1 and M a rm it have c o n trib u te d to th e g ro w in g ro o st o f Rodan toys.
M a rm it churned o u t a chunky 10-inch vinyl o f Rodan as p art o f th e ir Vinyl Paradise
N o t to be o u td o n e , Marusan and B earm odel have created th e ir own versions o f
line in three d iffe re n t c o lo r ways. M a rm it also m ade a nice su pe r-d e fo rm ed , tw o -
th e g ia n t p te ro da ctyl. Marusan's 8-inch Rodan vinyls com e in b oth standing and
inch Rodan articulated a t th e neck to be given away as a prize at Japanese to y
flying form s. The B earm odel m iddle-sized Rodan is available in yellow, brown,
shows. O ne o f th e co ole st pieces, however, M arm it's Para-baby Rodan vinyl, is
and unpa inted , translucent red vinyl.
much m ore d e ta ile d than th e Vinyl Paradise version and cam e w ith a m ini vinyl
o f th e m o n ste r in flyin g pose; a second Para-baby Rodan was soon released
So there you have it: a c o m ple te re po rt on all o f th e Rodan toys th a t you could ever
a c c o m p a n ie d b y a m in ia tu re fly in g saucer! Both Para-babies w ere p rod u ce d in
want. N ow g e t o u t there and start hunting dow n th e pieces th a t appeal to you most!
Top ro w (L e ft to rig h t): O rig in a l large
scale B andai R odan figures, M a tte l
J u m b o sized fly in g fig u re in box.
S e co nd row : O rig in a l larg e scale
B andai Fire Rodan figures, S m aller
scale B a n da i Fire Rodan ta g a n d spray
variations, S m a lle r scale B andai Rodan
a n d Final Wars variations.
Third row : B a re m o d e l figures, M a rm it
vinyl Paradise figures, M a rm it Parab a b y fig ure s w ith UFO, M a rm it Parab a b y w ith m in i fly in g figures.
B o tto m row : M a rm it m in i fly in g figures,
M a rm it Final Wars Rodan, M arusan
S ta n d in g Rodan, M arusan Flying
Rodan, YMSF figures.
M
i
M
CHECKLIST
R odan: B ullm ark 9 " S ta n d ard -fle sh vinyl lig h t b lu e p a in t o r d a rk b lu e p a in t, B ullm ark 9 " B andai 1991 Blue vinyl re p ro d u c tio n , B ullm ark 9 " M1 re p ro d u c tio n -fle s h
vinyl w ith gree n , b lu e vinyl w ith red, flesh vinyl w ith b row n o r g lo w vinyl w ith p in k and ye llo w , B ullm ark m in i-p in k vinyl w ith d a rk red spray, p in k vinyl w ith lig h t red
spray, p in k vinyl w ith g o ld beak, B ullm ark m ini M1 re p ro d u c tio n -b ro w n vinyl o r ye llo w vinyl, P opy-w hite eyes, g o ld eyes w ith grey spray o r g o ld eyes w ith silver spray,
M a tte l-U S ju m b o scale fig u re , T o m y-m in i SD firin g fig u re , T a ka ra -w in d -u p SD e g g , B andai larg e scale fig u re -1 9 92 b ro w n vinyl w ith g o ld sp ray o r 1993 M e m oria o
Box b ro w n vinyl w ith silver spray, B andai-sm all fly in g fig u re fro m 1992 G o d zilla vs M o th ra b o x set, B andai sm a lle r scale fig u re -b ro w n vinyl, M arusan Flying Rodanbrow n vinyl, M arusan S ta n d in g R od a n -bro w n vinyl, B a rem o d e l m id d le size R od a n -yellow vinyl, b ro w n vinyl o r tra n s lu c e n t red u n p a in te d vinyl, M a rm it Vinyl Paradiseye llo w vinyl w ith green and red, tra n slu ce n t b lu e u n p a in te d vinyl o r bro w n vinyl w ith g o ld , M a rm it P ara-baby w ith m ini fly in g fig ure -fle sh u n p a in te d vinyl w ith w hite
m ini, re d d is h -b ro w n vinyl, w h ite u n p a in te d vinyl w ith flesh m ini, g re e n vinyl w ith b lu e p a in t, o r b lu e vinyl w ith y e llo w p a in t,M a rm it P ara-baby w ith m ini U FO -red
vinyl, flesh u n p a in te d vinyl, o r o ra n g e vinyl, M a rm it m ini SD fig u re -g re e n vinyl w ith red, p in k vinyl w ith re d, b la ck tra n s u c e n t u n p a in te d vinyl, silver u n p a in te d vinyl,
b lack u n p a in te d vinyl, tra n s lu c e n t g re y u n p a in te d vinyl, b ro w n u n p a in te d vinyl, aqua u n p a in te d vinyl, b lu e u n p a in te d vinyl, y e llo w u n p a in te d vinyl, tra n s lu c e n t
b lu e u n p a in te d vinyl, M a rm it M ini se t fig u re -b ro w n vinyl. Fire R odan: Bandai 8 " la rg e version-1993 p u rp le and ta n o r 1996 Fo re ver series w ith veins on w ings,
Bandai 6 " sm aller ve rs io n -firs t p a in t w ith G o d zilla Island ta g , firs t p a in t w ith T oho Kaiju series ta g , d a rk e r re d p a in t w ith M o vie M o nste rs ta g o r d a rk brow n vinyl
fro m 5 0th a nniversary M e m o ria l b o x. Final W ars Rodan: Bandai red vinyl norm a l version o r b ro w n vinyl th e a te r versio n , M a rm it Brown vinyl w ith b lu e spray.
WE ARE THE
CHAMPIONS
THE ORIGINAL FIGHT FIGURE-TAKE-SHIT’S FINK-SHIT
By Super7 Staff/Photography by Robert Arevalo
A nd then, everything changed. W hile th a t m ay sound m elodram atic, it strikes fairly
w hite and black w ith g o ld accents, th e figures came in a small nylon fru it bag, and
close to th e truth. In th e same way th a t Kenner changed th e scale o f action figures
were available at C ocobat concerts. Later, a second run o f figures cast in translucent
forever with its d im in utive 3.75" Star Wars line in 1977, C oco b a t bassist Take-shit
gray vinyl were released, in a dditon to a t-shirt th a t simply read "figh to y."
helpled kick o ff an underground designer m ovem ent when he released his Fink-Shit
fig ure in 1999. Born on th e same d ate as th e influential Bounty H unter Kid H unter
It was n o t until th re e years later, in 2002, th a t th e influence o f th e Fink-Shit figure
vinyl, (For p olitics sake, b oth parties say th e ir fig ure s w ere released a t th e same
w o u ld beg in to m anifest w hen H ideaki Kinoshita (who w orked w ith Oka at Zaap)
tim e), th e Fink-Shit stayed in th e b ackground o f Japanese to y fa n d om fo r years
started his shop, Secret Base. M o re co m m o n ly know n as "H id d y ," H ideaki
before it's true influence w ou ld begin to show.
app ro a che d b o th Take-shit and Oka a b o u t m aking a fig ure fo r his new shop th a t
co uld fig h t against th e classic Fink-Shit figure. Using th e same sculptor, C osm o
The Fink-Shit was an e volu tio n o f a previous to y th a t Take-shit help e d create —
Liquid, Secret Base's firs t fig u re was m ade — th e Skull Bee. Soon thereafter, H iddy
th e Posi-traction Tin Car made w ith Oka Narue at Zaap. Using the Fink head m old
w o u ld p roduce th e a p p re n tice to th e Skull Bee, th e Skull Brain, this tim e using
created by Take-shit's frie nd Hasabe fo r th e Posi-traction Tin Car, Oka and Take-shit th e scu lp to r Kiyoka Ikeda. As th e p o p u la rity o f Secret Base and th e fig h t figures
later d e cid e d to make a fig h tin g style b o d y to m atch th e head as a visual nod to
beg a n to grow , new varia tio n s w ere d e s ig n e d in c lu d in g a m u m m y-w ra p pe d
Take-shit's sem i-professional sh o o t-fig h tin g career. Enlisting th e aid o f scu lp to r
D am aged Brain, a H a llo w e e n -th e m e d P um pkin Brain and O bake (Ghost), as
C osm o Liquid, and p ro d u ce d at th e local H irota Studios factory, th e Fink-Shit was
w ell as a co lla b ora tive fig ure w ith th e Japanese punk band Balzac d e p ic tin g th e ir
the first o f w hat w ould becom e a legacy o f fig h t figures. To appreciate the to y better, P aperbagm an m ascot character.
it is im po rta n t to note th a t everything a bo u t th e Fink-Shit has layered m eaning fo r its
creators. The head is inspired b y th e classic Rat Fink character w hile in co rp o ratin g
In late 2003, Hiroaki Okada o f G argam el approached H id d y a b o u t m anufacturing
th e same glasses th a t Take-shit actually used to wear. The b od y is sculpted in specific a new fig h t fig ure called Gargamess fo r th e ir shop. Asking both Oka and Take-shit
reference to Take-shit's fig htin g style com plete w ith gloves and outfits similar to those
fo r th e ir approval, th e ir first colla b ora tive figure, h alf Gargamess, half Skull Brain
w orn by Take-shit in th e ring. O rig in a lly released in green o r red vinyl and p ainted
was released as a prem ium m ail-in offer in Warp magazine. A fte r this, the first three
WE ARE THE
CHAMPIONS
4 2
K,3
Gargamess releases w ere m ade as collaborative figures betw een Secret Base and
Gargam el; unfortunately, Kiyoka left Secret Base to w ork w ith Gargamel, and th e
relationship sadly soured. Kiyoka's last figure sculpted fo r Secret Base was the Pushead
desig n ed Skull W in g , altho u g h it w asn't released until early 2005. Gargamel soon
b eg a n m aking th e ir ow n custom fig h t figures, in trod u cing th e Bullm ark hom age
Bullm ask and th e S treet F ig h te r v id e o g am e -in spire d Pinwheel. Later releases
include th e kaiju inspired-G appa, th e cone headed Cum berlain, th e w olfm an-esque
W heelbarrow , th e c o lla b ora tive G argadeath (w ith N apalm D eath bassist Shane
Embry) and a single figure-sized fig h tin g ring th a t d o u b le d as a co in bank.
A n d th e list o f p e o p le inspired b y th e Fink-Shit and Secret Base goes on. In 2004
Real H ead fo u n d e r M o ri-kun began his ow n fig h t fig u re com pany. Based on his
ow n styles and interests, th e firs t releases w ere th e M u ta n t Evil, th e M u ta n t Head
and a caricatured se lf-p o rtra it o f M o ri, th e O ni-H ead. W orking in relative obscurity
fo r m uch o f 2004 and 2005, Real Head co ntin u e d m aking figures and variations in
small runs, in trod u cing M u ta n t Bigaro and M u ta n t Chaos in th e fall o f 2005. The
fo u r M u ta n t fig ure s represent th e heroes o f M ori-kun's w orld , and 2006 saw the
release o f th e firs t o f th e fo u r villains, th e Kaiser.
It was also in 2005 th a t fig h t figures e x p lo d e d in b oth th e Japanese and Am erican
consciousness in a larger context. This began w ith the release o f the aforem entioned
Secret Base and Pushead colla b ora tive Skull W in g and co ntin u e d w ith San D iego
C om ic-C on release o f the G hostfighter (designed by Brian Flynn o f Super7). M ultiple
Secret Base figures were released in collaboration with Japanese retailer A tm os and
th e Japanese fashion brand Devilock. Even m ore recently, several new com panies
began d esigning th e ir own fig h t figures as accessories to th e grow ing arm y o f toys
in this style. Sin + W o m b at d eveloped th e Chicken Fever alien, Blobpus and Cronic
b o th d e b u te d th e ir self-titled figures, and a new com pany nam ed Rumble Monsters
developed tw o slightly larger fig h t figures, the Dam nedron (a cross between Hedorah
R ight: The o n ly three c o lo r ways o f the
th e Sm og M onster and th e Creature from th e Black Lagoon) and th e Pharos which
inva riab ly in flu e n tia l Fink-S hit figure.
was deve lo pe d w ith th e help o f artist Rockin' Jellybean.
B e lo w (In side b o x m o v in g clockw ise
Many new fig h t figures are on the way in 2006 including artist Pushead's Skull Pirate
fro m to p le ft): A sa m p lin g o f fig h t
(for Secret Base) and Brian Flynn's Frankenghost (Secret Base x Super7). It's amazing
fig ure s d ire c tly in s p ire d b y th e
to th ink th a t all o f this was spawned from th e innocent fan-m ade beginnings o f the
Fink-shit: First up, a g ro u p s h o t o f
Fink-Shit seven years ago. O nly tim e will tell how far th e fig h t phenom enon will go,
to d a y 's h o tte s t fig h t b ran d , S ecret
b u t w ith over 300 variations so far, it seems th e battle has just begun.
Base. N ext, th e G a rg a m e l g a n g w ill
w restle y o u d ow n . In th e u p p e r rig h t
corner, w e have th e e x c e lle n t alien
p u g ilis ts m a d e b y Real H ead.
D eco ra tin g th e b o tto m left, th e W arp
m a gazine G a rg a m e l x S e cre t Base
S kullbrain is cast in g lo w vinyl w ith a
c le a r brain. To th e rig h t, th e B lo b p u s
m o n s te r is fo llo w e d b y C hicken Fever,
a n d C ron ic's M averasu a n d Z yurai
A su figures. N ext, check o u t these
am azing Pharos a n d D a m n e d ro n
fig u re s b y R um ble M onsters. A n d
finally, th is is th e o rig in a l s h irt th a t
T a ke -shit m a d e b a ck in 1999 to
c o in c id e w ith his Fin k-S hit figures.
Let's here it fo r th e ch am p !
i i S N G F A M ,L v ^ .
^ lZ~ ^
7
Hasabe/Hirota Studios
Sk u l l B r a in
Sk u l l D
amage
Sk u l l P u
O
(
m p k in
F u s io n W r e s t l e r
Hiddy /Hiroaki/Kiyoka
bake
Hiddy/Kiyoka
G
Pa p e r B a g M
a r g a m e l
G
an
Balzac /Hiddy /Kiyoka
O
argamess
B ullm ask
M
P lN W H E E L
Sk u l l W
n i- H e a d
H
utant
M
utant
ead
E v il
Hiroaki/Kiyoka
in g
Pushead/Hiddy /Kiyoka
G
h o s t f ig h t e r
Brian Flynn/Hiddy!Retch
G appa
M
utant
B ig a r o
C U M B E R L A IN
M
utant
C
W
haos
Mori-kun
heelbarrow
Hiroaki/Kiyoka
G
argadeath
Shane Embry / Kiyoka
K
S k u l l P ir a t e
a is e r
Mori-kun
Pushead/ Hiddy / Batch
Frankenghost
Brian Flynn / Hiddy/Belch
additionalfigures launched in 2005 k
C
h ic k e n
F ever
M
Sin + Wombat
Z
B
averasu
yurai
A
(ironic
Pharos
BumbleMonsters/ Rockin'Jelfybcan
lobpus
Kaji/ TigerJet Michiko
su
D
amnedron
Bumble Monsters
O p p o s ite p a g e : K a negon p e n d a n t.
Below , fro m le ft to rig h t: The rare red
K e iji-K p e n d a n t b y Popy, a b o o tle g o f
Barom-1, th e regular blue Keiji-K b y Popy,
a n d th e Barom -1 p e n d a n t b y Popy.
VINYL IS A KID’S
BEST
FRIEND
AN INTRODUCTION TO SOFT VINYL PENDANTS
By Mark Kollecker/Photography by Liz Russell
W he th e r you already ow n countless Japanese toys o r yo u're ju s t starting yo u r own
Also in 1967, a g ro u p o fte n pendants was released featuring heroes and kaiju from
arm y o f heroes and m onsters, soft vinyl pendants are an inexpensive and fun way
popular live-action TV shows o f the era. The sculpts and p aint job s on these pendants
to build up any collection. Pendants first appeared in th e 1960s, when children from
closely resem ble th e soft vinyl toys m ade by Bullmark durin g this era, th o u gh there
Japan w ere likely to w ear these 8 - to 10-centim eter-tall versions o f th e ir favorite
is a possibility th a t the figures may have been bootlegs. There are no manufacturers'
television characters around th e ir necks — like th e ir very own space-age protectors.
marks to be fo u n d on e ith e r th e toys o r th e ir packaging. Plus, even th o u g h each
Even though loads o f cool characters displayed in signature action and flying poses
fig u re sports a p rod u ctio n com pany c o p y rig h t on th e b o tto m o f th e fo o t, it's always
were produced over the years, pictures o f pendants in Japanese to y books are scarce, th e Tsuburaya Productions co p yrig h t. A n d , as any g o o d kaiju geek knows, Garuban
m ostly because hardcore Japanese collectors considered pendants gim m icky low-
and G odzilla w ere Toei and Toho p ro p e rtie s, respectively. N evertheless, these
dollar items m eant fo r child's play. Indeed, this is a fascinating area o f to y collecting
pen d a nts are rela tive ly easy to fin d and are am ong th e fe w pendants, along w ith
th a t is often overlooked by th e to y intelligentsia.
th o s e m ade b y N itto in 1971, th a t actually fe a tu re d kaiju. Included in th is g rou p
are Kanegon fro m Ultra Q ; U ltram an, Red King, A lien Baltan, and G om ora from
Marusan, th e grandfather o f all vinyl to y makers, was th e first com pany to produce
Ultram an; Ultra Seven, Eleking, and A lien G odora from Ultra Seven; Garuban from
pendants, although they d id n 't d o so during th e ir initial run o f character toys during
C aptain Ultra; and th e king o f m onsters him self, Godzilla.
1966. In fact, th e first and only pendants by M arusan-Booska and Ultra Seven —
w ere m ade in 1967. The Ultra Seven p e n d a n t features a re m ovable mask th a t
N itto soon pum p e d o u t some cool kaiju pieces based on monsters from the Gamera
conceals th e id e n tity o f th e hero's a lte r ego , Dan M o roboshi sp o rtin g th e iconic
series o f film s by D aiei. These pen d a nts are ide n tica l to th e ir m ini-size vinyl to y
Ultra Seven g oggles. Both o f these Marusan fig ure s are absurdly hard to fin d and
counterparts b y N itto w ith th e a d d itio n o f th e token stems and chains found on all
te n d to fetch uncharacteristically high prices fo r pendants. Still, intere sted buyers
pendants. Featured in this series are Gam era, Gyaos, Barugon, Jaiger, Viras, and
take heart; a m odern replica o f th e Booska p e n d a n t m ade b y Ichiko can usually
G appa. The pendants in this series can be located w ith a little luck and patience.
be found fo r as little as ten bucks on Yahoo Japan.
The m ost d iffic u lt to fin d are Gyaos and especially th e Viras.
VINYL IS A KID’S
BEST FRIEND
4 6 v'13
R ight: U ltram an M onsters:
(le ft to rig h t) G om ora, U ltram an,
Red King, Kanegon.
B e lo w fro m le ft to rig h t: B o o tle g
K am en R id e r (m issin g m ask), Kam en
R id e r S tro n g e r (Popy), Kam en R id e r
A m azon (Popy), Kamen Rider V3 (Popy),
K am en R id e r X (Popy), P o p y C ute
Shows: (L-R) R obo 110 Ban, 8 -C h a n ,
R o b o co n , T e a ch er G antsu, a n d G ia n t
M o n s te rs : G a ru b a n , G o d zilla .
Based on th e n um b e r o f character licenses and th e array o f toys th e y produced,
M ost pendants were displayed and sold in stores on cardboard backing cards, which
one w ou ld e xpect th a t th e soft vinyl ju g g e rn a u t Bullm ark w o u ld have lead th e way
featured a colorful draw ing o f the character and had about a dozen pendants hanging
in th e p rod u ctio n o f pendants. This, however, is n o t th e case. There seems to be
o ff th e b o tto m . The pendants were sold individually and shopkeepers often threw the
o nly tw o pendants th a t can be co nfirm e d to be Bullmark: Triple Fighter and Red
e m pty backing cards away. However, a slight shift in th e paradigm occurred in the mid
Man. Both were p roduced in 1972.
'70s when Popy jo in e d w ith a small com pany called Patra to com e up w ith a new way
to m arket pendants to kids and parents. Patra, a com pany th a t p roduced bath toys
T h ro u g h o u t th e m id-70s, Takatoku to o k u p som e o f th e slack le ft b y Bullm ark in
and o th e r small toys, had been creating pendants as early as 1972. Som e o f th e ir
th e vinyl p e n d a nt m arket. They prod u ce d many pendants based prim arily on th e
pendants include Denjin Zaboga, Ultraman Leo, Red Baron and Mach Baron. The Popy/
g ia n t hero shows p op u lar at the tim e. Examples include M irrorm an, Iron King, and
Patra p e n d a nt package included a soft vinyl p en d a nt packed in a tw o -o r three-part
Silver Kamen. Takatoku also m ade pendants based on som e o f th e henshin hero
clear plastic capsule w hich sat on a plastic base. A lso included in th e capsule were
shows such as Akumaizer 3 and Zubat. In addition to having great sculpts, pendants
several sm aller toys such as plastic racing cars, small metal pin-back badges featuring
m ade by Takatoku often feature th e characters in fig h tin g and ray-shooting poses.
W arner Brothers cartoon characters, rulers, and small plastic trains and m otorcycles.
However, it was Popy th a t cranked o u t th e vast m a jo rity o f soft vinyl pendants
pencil holder, bank, jew elry holder, o r mini terrarium dep e n din g on th e enclosed direc­
th ro u g h o u t th e 1970s. The licenses they held w ere many and varied and included
tions. The entire capsule was contained within a plastic mesh bag. A cardboard tag hung
p op u lar characters from all genera o f Japanese television. The pantheon o f Popy
on the outside o f the bag and featured character artwork plus the Popy and Patra logos.
Finally, there were plastic pieces w hich, when assem bled, tu rn e d th e capsule into a
pendants inclu d ed characters fro m th e U ltram an and Kamen Rider franchises;
henshin heroes such as N inja Arashi, B a rom -1 , Inazuman, Keiji-K, Kikaida 01,
M any o th e r com panies p ro d u c e d pendants o v e r th e years and co ntin u e to d o so
Ninja C aptor, and Kagestar; sentai shows (usually featuring th e Red Ranger) such
today. Nakajima m ade versions o f Tekkaman and Pegasu. Bandai m ade several highly
as G o Ranger, Jak-Q , and Sun Vulcan; children's shows such as R obocon and
sought after Kamen Rider pendants. Relative new com er M1 has also m ade a pendant
8-Chan; and anim ated shows such as J e tte r Mars and a variety o f super robots.
version o f M atango.
VINYL IS A KID’S
BEST FRIEND
m
L e ft (le ft to rig h t): Popy Pendants:
U ltram an Ace, Zo n e Fighter, D e te c tiv e
K e iji-K , N in ja A rashi, K ikaida 01,
Inazum an, Barom-1.
M id d le ro w (le ft to rig h t): Z u b a t b y
Takatoku, Iron K ing b y Takatoku,
M irro rm a n b y Takatoku, S pectrem an
b o o tle g , Firem an b y Popy, Z a b ita n by
Takatoku, S ilver M ask fig h tin g p o s e by
Takatoku, Triple F ig h te r b y Bullm ark,
Jaiger, B arugon, G am era a n d G appa,
(m issing Gyaos a n d Viras) p e n d a n ts
b y N itto .
B o tto m row : D e n jin Z agoba, Sim one
fro m th e Star o f Seine, Red Baron,
U ltram an Leo, M ach Baron, T h u n de r
M ask a n d Ban K id p e n d a n ts b y
Patora, G ekko Kam en, Sun Vulcan,
N in ja C aptor, S p a de A ce a n d Kagestar
p e n d a n ts b y Popy.
47
VINYL IS A KID’S
BEST FRIEND
v,13
O p p o s ite p a g e :
B altan-S eijin p e n d a n t.
Left (le ft to rig h t): Ultra Seven,
A lie n G o d , a n d Eleking.
Below (le ft to rig h t): Popy/Patra
capsules: J e tte r M ars w ith
ca p s u le o p e n e d to s h o w c o n te n ts
a n d s e t u p as a p e n c il h o ld e r,
R ed G oR anger, D e n jin Z a b o ga .
As w ith o th e r vintag e Japanese toys, various b o o tle g s exist o f pendants. Some
are actually very nice and fill in gaps th a t licensed makers failed to capitalize on
such as th e Spectrem an and th e rem ovable mask Kamen Rider pendants. O thers
appear to be copies o f licensed g o o d s d e sig n e d to d eceive th e b u ye r such as
th e b o o tle g s o f th e Ninja Arashi and Barom-1 pendants. O the rs still w ere m ade
o f th in ly blo w n polyvin yl, called p o ri (poly) b y Japanese co lle cto rs, and sold at
m om and p o p confe ction e ry shops and train stations. These pendants are usually
n o t p ainted and retain flashing fro m th e m o ld s along th e ir seams. The U ltram an,
M irrorm an, Spectrem an, and Kamen Rider series saw m any p ori pendants m ade
o f th e ir characters. A n o th e r typ e o f unlicensed p e n d a n t was released th a t portrays
o rig ina l characters — so th e y c a n 't really be ca lle d b o o tle g s . These fe a tu re
original kaiju similar to the Marusan original series o f soft vinyl from 1970. However,
a quick look at these pendants w ill reveal m ore than a passing resem blance to
in reference b ooks, th e re is a ch alle ng e in h u n tin g th e m d ow n and discovering
kaiju featured on shows such as Ultra Q and Ultraman.
pieces you never knew existed. A search o f th e auctions listed on Yahoo Japan
W ith a little e ffo rt and a m inim al o utlay o f m oney, a nice co lle ctio n o f vin ta g e soft
eBay, especially from Hawaiian sellers. A m issing chain is n o t a b ig p roblem , b ut
vinyl pendants can be assem bled. N ovice co lle cto rs may fin d pendants a fun way
a void pen d a nts th a t have a broken stem . O rig in a l store d isplay backing cards
to sta rt a vintag e c o lle ctio n . M o st o f th e p e n d a nts p ictu re d can b e purchased
fo r s o ft vinyl pen d a nts are also very c o lle c tib le and make a nifty d isplay fo r your
fo r betw e e n $10 and $20. Seasoned co lle cto rs m ay w a n t to add som e pen d a nts
c o lle ctio n. You co uld also make a s ta te m e n t a b o u t yo ur youth fu l and vibra n t view
to th e ir collections fo r the variety they offer. Since pendants are n o t often pictured
o f th e w o rld by w earing one around yo u r neck.
usually reveals tw o o r three pages o f vinyl pendants. Pieces occasionally turn up on
4 9
RYKO
NEW MUSIC IN STORES NOW FROM
Punk Rock IS ALIVE and well from Osaka....to New York City!
C D / D V D IN C L U D E S
2 0 PAGE BOOKLET
A R T W O R K BY:
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S7
MUSIC
*35 51
THINK IT TO DEATH
T H IS IS W E S T E R N A D D IC T IO N
Take y o u r p ick fro m th e se p un k "lo o k s ." There's, (A) a shaved head, Levi's, and an
A rm y jacket. O r(B ), a lip ring , a w ristb a n d and eyeliner.
If you p icke d A , it m ig h t re m in d you o f h ow p u n k used to lo o k — n o th in g fancy,
s lig h tly o ff kilter, and c e rta in ly n o t fa sh io n a b le . T h a t lo o k m ay have g a rn e re d
s tra n g e g la n ce s a t one tim e , b u t th e re was m o re to it th a n d re ssin g like Travis
Bickle in Taxi Driver. T h e re was an e x c itin g , g a lva n ic so u n d th a t re la te s to th is
tim e in p un k's h is to ry — d riv in g , u rg e n t, g u ita r heavy h a rd co re . A n d th a t so un d
is alive and w ell in th e San Francisco b an d , W e ste rn A d d ic tio n .
The m e m b e rs o f th e b a n d m e t as c o -w o rk e rs a t S F -based re c o rd L a b e l, Fat
W reck C hords. F eaturing Jason on vocals and g u ita r; Ken on g u ita r; C hicken on
bass and vocals; and C had on drum s. Several W e ste rn A d d ic tio n m e m be rs play
in o th e r bands, how ever th is is Jason's firs t band. He was also th e catalyst fo r th e
p ro je c t, "I was s ta n d in g a ro u n d a t a show a nd I said to m yself, 'I am so tire d o f
w atching everyone else d o so m eth in g co ol, I w a n t to try... So th e n e xt day I cam e
to w o rk and said to C ha d , 'U rn, yo u p la y d ru m s , I can k in d o f p la y g u ita r, d o
you w a n t to g e t to g e th e r and pla y som e songs?' It was th e w e ird e s t th in g . It was
like asking a no th e r g ro w n man on a d a te ," he laughs. Soon after, th e y co nvin ce d
C hicken and Ken to jo in .
A fte r s o lid ify in g th e ir soun d , th e b and re co rd e d th e "R e m e m b e r to D is m e m b e r"
7 " on Fat W reck C hords and a s p lit 12" w ith N ew M e xico D isaster Squad fo r N o
Idea Records. They th e n re co rd e d th e ir firs t fu ll le n g th fo r Fat W reck C hords, e n ­
title d C ognicide, a w o rd o f Jason's own creation. "A lo t o f p e o p le have been able
to fig u re th a t one o u t so its n o t th a t crazy... C o g n ic id e ... th in k in g s o m e th in g to
death. I d o it all th e tim e ," he says. Jason also takes on th e ro le o f p rim a ry lyricist.
His w o rd s ta ke shape in a m b ig u o u s , p o e tic verses th a t q u ic k ly tra n s fo rm in to
s o m e th in g p ro fo u n d ly su b sta n tia l. H ow ever, he's also ca p a b le o f v e ry s tra ig h t
fo rw a rd m om en ts. For exam ple, th e song "A nim a ls and C h ild re n " d escrib e s his
co m p a n y o f ch oice . He expla ins, "I th in k w he n you g e t o ld e r a p a rt o f you dies,
so th o se are som e p ure th ing s. Kids and anim als — b o th seem to b e so h appy."
Since th e release o f C o g n icid e , th e b an d has p la ye d such d iverse shows as sold
o u t venues in Japan w ith N O F X to b a s e m e n t show s in th e US on th e ir o w n . To
keep up to d a te on w h a t stu n n in g th in g s th e g uys in W e ste rn A d d ic tio n can d o
w ith riffs and lyrics check o u t w w w .w e ste rn a d d ictio n .co m and w w w .fa tw re c k .c o m .
— D evon M o rf
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
BUCKETHEAD
If y o u 'v e never hea rd o f B u cke th ea d , th e e x p e rim e n ta l v irtu o s o g u ita ris t w ith a b e n t fo r
th e s tra n g e , he's an o rig in a l th a t rarely fa ils to e nch a n t. H igh praise? Perhaps. But w hen
y o u 're a s e lf-p ro c la im e d p ro te c to r o f chickens w h o ta u g h t y o u rs e lf to pla y g u ita r in a
1 4 :.
ce m e te ry , and you so u n d s o m e th in g like th e c o sm ic love b a b y o f Sun Ra and th e g h o s t
V
fre a k -o u t a n im a te d se g m e n ts , m usic v id e o s , fo u r u nre le ase d re cord in gs, and an insane
o f R andy R hoads, it's im p o s s ib le n o t to im p re s s c u rio u s m usic nerds. This DVD fro m
M e d ia B laste rs c h ro n ic le s th e firs t 13 years o f B u c k e th e a d 's c a re e r c o m p le te w ith
s c ra p b o o k o f a rt and o d d itie s c u lle d fro m B u cke th ea d 's archives. For m o re info on th e
a rtis t a nd th e DVD g o to b u c k e th e a d la n d .c o m o r m e d ia -b la s te rs .c o m .
— J u stin Kovalsky
MUTANT
MASSACRE
(o<)
T-i
,
...
,
. ...
There s n o th in g to x ic at all a b o u t th is
. u
. i .
. ■ .
j u
a /i
+ +
rad H ed o ra h t-s h irt m a de b y M u ta n t
SUPER7(„2 a?
Super7 s new line o f tees has arrived
just in tim e to keep you lo o k in q fresh
J
rJ
3
this sum m er. First, check o u t th e new
a
.i i i
.
i i
i
,
i •,
Skid shirt th a t pays hom aqe to Katsuhiro
Massacre. A vailable in black and w hite,
r 3
3
,. , i
. ...
i
O to m o 's classic a n im a te d film , A kira,
o ra n g e a nd bla ck, o r red w ith g lo w . i i i
,
* ,
^. I
N ext, th e S7 R ibcaqe s h irt show s you
in-the -d a rk prin t, this te e captures th e
3
3
r-r , ,
.
stay tru e to y o u r to y r o o t s 'til d ea th,
essence o f To h o s sm o g m o n s te r in
3
j
j
. i i «/
..
...
r ||
A n d finally, th e W a lker C am o te e
style. W ear it p ro u d ly and let yo u r fe llo w
3
r
i
i
.
,/
features a su btle E n d or Fore st-insp ire d
to y tans k n o w you k n o w w h a t s u p
r
... ..
. .■
xi
- i
cam ou fla g e. Beinq a to y q e e k never
w ith th e cu rren t king o t kaiju in Japan.
3
3
33
^
lo o ke d so q o o d .
w w w .super7store.com
3
www .super7store.com
..
.1
STUSSY/
SEVEN STARS .os,
This o ld -s c h o o l w in d b re a k e r was
m a de m ade by Stussy and d e s ig n e d
b y Seven Stars s tu d io in Japan in
c e le b ra tio n o f Seven Stars te n -y e a r
a n n ive rsary. In sim p le b la ck w ith an
am azin g ly d e ta ile d d e m o n -m a s k -a n d c ro s s e d -s w o rd e m b ro id e re d patch,
you re ally c a n 't g o w ro n g w ith th is
one . G o o d luck fin d in g it S ta te sid e
th o u g h — this was a Japan-only release.
w w w . /stars.co.jp
OSAKA POPSTARw)
This Osaka M onstar t-sh irt was illustrated
by p o p u la r u n d e rg ro u n d and g a lle ry
a rtis t, D alek, fo r th e NYC p un k b and
Osaka Popstar. It gets extra co ol points
fro m S7 fo r its in te rp re ta tio n o f th e o ld
y o k a i (s p irit) nam e d Kasabake fro m
Japanese fo lk lo re . D alek's re n d itio n
o f th e frie n d ly and p la yfu l u m brella
m o n s te r b o th suits th e b and and looks
s u p e r-c o o l. This o n e is a m ust-have.
w w w .o sa ka p o p sta r.co m
S7
FASHION
SHOCKER
(07 ,08 )
The fa sh io n lab e l th a t's run b y th e
m e m b e rs o f Ja pa n e se p u n k b an d
Balzac, Shocker, co n tin u e s to d ro p
co ol s tu ff S tateside via th e ir re cen tly
lau n ch ed w o rld w id e m ail o rd e r site.
N ow , US fans o f th e b an d and th e ir
p u n k -in sp ire d Japanese s tre e t fashion
can o rd e r fresh item s like this eye-patch
skull and crossbones tee or these bone
gloves fo r extrem ely reasonable prices.
w ww .evilegend13.com /shockerw orldw ide
DOGGPONY
X DC SHOES 09)
Super7's own w eb retail d ire c to r and to y
RAY FONG
X ADIDAS no,
NIKE FISH
CLASSIC,,,,
A d id a s has p a ire d up w ith Bay Area
A fte r d e s ig n in g h un d re d s o f pro skate­
g u ru , Isaac Ramos, is a man o f m any
g ra ffiti le g e n d -tu rn e d -a rt su pe rstar,
b o a rd and t-s h irt grap h ics, Je rem y Fish
interests. In fact, he's so into m usic th a t
B arry M cG e e (a.k.a Ray Fong) fo r th e ir
has g o n e b ig -tim e w ith his bran d -n ew
he s ta rte d his ow n re cord label called
A d ic o lo r lin e o f u rb a n -in s p ire d kicks.
shoe fo r N ike S k a te b oa rd in g . The Fish
DoggPony that's been goin g strong since
A th re e -w a y c o lla b o ra tio n b e tw e e n
Classic is a tw is t on th e N ike A ir Classic
1999. N ow , D og g P o ny is releasing this
A d id a s, M cG ee and San Francisco's HUF
SB. Fish has c u s to m iz e d th e shoe w ith
slick sneaker via DC Shoes. D esig n ed
shoe bou tiq u e, th is shoe is p a c k e d w ith
a Victorian p a tte rn lasered on th e upper,
by Ramos w ith illu stra tio n and le tte rin g
b e lls and w histles — fo u r pairs o f laces,
a m e ta llic g o ld sw oosh and a fuzzy
by w o rld -re n o w n e d a rtis t M ike G iant,
a new re p ro d u c tio n o f B arry M cG e e 's
p in k b u n n y on th e heel. D e s tin e d to
th e se g ra y canvas kicks w ith y e llo w
'zine title d Larceny, and a g o rg e o u s box
live u p to nam e, th e Fish C lassic w ill
em bro id ery g e t S7's stam p o f approval.
illu s tra te d b y M cG e e him self. A va ila b le
be a v aila ble th is sum m er.
w w w .d n p 0 0 6 .c o m
in 12 lo ca tio n s w o rld w id e , th e se sneaks
w w w .n ik e .c o m /n ik e s k a te b o a rd in g
sold o u t im m ed iate ly, w w w .h u fsf.co m
MATANGO - ATTACK OF THE
MUSHROOM PEOPLE
DVD
REVIEWS
H O R R O R TH AT G R O W S O N YOU
M E D IA - B L A S T E R S .C O M
Seven castaw ays s tra n d e d on a fo g -e n to m b e d island, s lo w ly su c c u m b to th e ir
5
4
base d e s ire s , m e ta m o rp h o s in g in to in h u m a n b e in g s u n d e r th e in flu e n c e o f
v' ’3
a d e lic io u s , b u t s in is te r, p o is o n fu n g u s . W ith h a llu c in a to ry scenes th a t w ere
ahead o f th e ir tim e , th is eerie th rille r still h olds u p a fte r all these years d u e to th e
d e c id e d ly a d u lt a pp ro a ch ta ke n b y d ire c to r Ishiro H onda (G o d zilla ) and screen­
w rite r Takeshi Kim ura (The Last War).
F o llo w in g th e fo o ts te p s o f The H -M an (1958), S ecret o f th e Telegian (1960) and
The H um an V a p or (1960), th e p re m is e fo r M a ta n g o (1963) is based on a Lovec ra ftia n s h o rt s to ry "T h e V oice in th e N ig h t" (1907) b y B ritish a u th o r W illia m
H op e H od g so n (1877-1918). Science F ictio n authors Shinichi H oshi and Masami
Fukushim a a d a p te d H o d g so n's tale, w ith Kim ura w o rk in g th e ir a d a p ta tio n into
a d e c id e d ly d a rk screenplay ty p ic a l o f th e d o w n b e a t scribe.
Toho's fantasy film s o f th e era relie d on Eiji Tsuburaya's w on d ro u s visual e ffe c ts to
h elp carry th e narratives, b u t M a ta n go 's success rests w ith th e e xpe rie nce d en­
1
se m ble cast, w ho are th e h ea rt and (lost) souls o f th e p icture : A kira Kubo (Throne
%-F
A m o n s te r m u s h ro o m !
■■,*£•:
o f B lo o d ), H iro s h i K o izu m i (L a te r C h ry s a n th e m u m s ), Y oshio Tsuchiya (Seven
Samurai), Kumi M izuno (S um m er C louds), Kenji Sahara (C hushingura) and Hiroshi
Tachikawa (S anjuro). But, is M a ta n g o an a lle g o ry o f m an's in h u m a nity to man? Is
it a para b le on th e loss o f s e lf-id e n tity in th e industrial age? You d ecide.
-H f
^
*
.
S ou rcin g a n ew ly re m a s te re d tra n sfe r, M e d ia Blasters' DVD o f M a ta n g o is fu lly
.
*.
*
le tte rb o x e d w ith English and Japanese aud io on separate tracks. Extras include
-
1
:
a fu ll-le n g th co m m e n ta ry w ith a c to r A kira Kubo, an intervie w w ith assistant visual
e ffe c ts d ire c to r Teruyoshi N akano, and a u th o r Fukushim a re citin g passages from
his o rig in a l tre a tm e n t o v e r a s e le c tio n o f p ro d u c tio n stills — all fu lly s u b title d in
English. H ig h ly re c o m m e n d e d — no pun in te n d e d . — A u g u s t Ragone
PIECE BY PIECE
A N IN S ID E R ’S L O O K A T A N O U T S ID E R A R T F O R M
P IE C E B Y P IE C E .C O M
W hen m o st p e o p le hear th e w o rd g ra ffiti, th e y envision w recke d subw ay cars alo n g th e tracks in N ew York City. But th a t's all
a b o u t to change. The n ew ly released Piece By Piece DVD is g o in g to s h ift th a t fra m e o f re fe re n c e fro m NYC to th e San
Francisco Bay. N a rra te d b y p ro lific loca l w rite r SENOR (a.k.a. RENOS), th is DVD reveals th e h is to ry o f SF g r a ffiti and
its in tera ctio n w ith th e p e o p le , places and vehicles th a t in h a b it th e city.
D ire c to r N ic Hill has fo u n d every p h o to , b lack b o o k , v id e o clip , and e very w rite r in vo lve d in th e scene. W h a t makes H ill's
d o c u m e n ta ry ring so tru e is th e fa c t th a t th e h istory is to ld b y th e w riters them selves, n o t som e c e le b rity voice-over. W e g e t
to m e e t m e m be rs o f th e fo u n d in g crews T M F and TW S, hear th e tra g ic ta le a b o u t th e d ea th o f g ra ffiti le g e n d TIE and see
th e w o rk o f w riters like G IA N T and GREY w h o are ch an g ing th e cu rre n t g ra f landscape.
l
x x x )
■ Of
In th e D VD's extra s, y o u 'll run s id e b y side w ith w rite rs such as ATARI, BUTER, and REYES w h ile th e y b o m b th e c ity at
n ig h t — o ffe rin g th e kind o f e xcite m e n t and insig h t th a t only w riters know . — G e o ff A lle n
THE MYSTERIANS
M Y S T E R O ID N E E D S W O M E N
M E D IA -B L A S T E R S .C O M
P ro d u ce d d u rin g th e G o ld e n A g e o f Ja pa n e se C in e m a, The M yste rian s (1957) was a h it a ro u n d th e w o rld . In th e m id 1980s, Ishiro H onda and Eiji Tsuburaya's invasion e p ic d is a p p e a re d fro m US te le v is io n and b eca m e a " lo s t film ." N ow , a
b e a u tifu l transfer, in all its a na m o rp hic Tohoscope glory, is available fro m M edia Blasters — jam -p a cke d w ith extra features.
Th e re are six a u d io tracks, Japanese M o n o and 5.1 S u rrou n d re m ix, English 5.1 S urrou n d , Spanish M o n o , A kira Ifukube's
Iso late d Score and A u d io C o m m e n ta ry . O th e r e xtra s in c lu d e p h o to and d e s ig n galle rie s, and s to ry b o a rd s (p re se n te d in
slid e sh ow ), as w ell as th e o rig in a l Ja panese th e a tric a l tra ile r. D o n 't w o rry ; e v e ry th in g in Japanese is s u b title d in English.
If you a re n 't a lready a fan, b u t have a s o ft s p o t fo r classic 1950s science fic tio n p ic tu re s , such as The Day th e Earth S to o d
Still, F o rb id d e n Planet and The W ar o f th e W orlds, yo u 'll love th e icon ic and e m b le m a tic im ages o f The M ysterians.
— A u g u s t R agone
BOOK
REVIEWS
v-13
CONVERGENCE
B Y M A R S -1 , D A M O N S O U L E , D A V ID C H O O N G LEE, N O M E E D O N N A , B R E T T A M O R Y A N D O L IV E R V E R N O N
P U B L IS H E R /2 N D R O U N D P R O D U C T IO N S
Spores, clou d s, e x p lo d in g nuclei and th e b e g in n in g o f w h a t loo ks like a g e o d e s ic d o m e — oh m y! A T im o th y Leary dream ?
D ead sh ow a fte r e ffe c ts ? Bad M e xica n fo o d ? N o, it's th e c o v e r o f C o n v e rg e n c e b y e v e ry o n e 's fa v o rite p a in s ta k in g ly
p re cise p a ra n o rm al pain te r, M ARS-1. This 2 5 6 -p a g e b o o k was p a rtia lly c re a te d b y th e sam e q u a rte t th a t p a rtic ip a te d in
th e e xce lle n t b o o k , 4 W o rd s — D am on Soule, D avid C h o o n g Lee, MARS-1 and N o M e Edonna — w ith th e a d d itio n o f new
kids B re tt A m o ry and O liv e r Vernon.
In b io lo g y , c o n v e rg e n c e is th e te n d e n c y o f u n re la te d anim a ls and p la n ts to e v o lv e s im ila r c h a ra c te ris tic s u n d e r sim ila r
e n viro n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s. In th is b o o k , C on ve rg en ce is th e c u lm in a tio n o f six a e sth etica lly d iv e rg e n t a rtists w hose w ork
d e a ls w ith e v e r-e v o lv in g u rba n la n d s c a p e s and p e o p le . U nlike th e usual th e m e d b o o k s , C o n v e rg e n c e is all o v e r th e
m e ta p h ysica l m ap. T h e o d ysse y s ta rts o ff w ith D am o n Soule, w h o c o m b in e s a 3 -D g ra ffiti a e s th e tic w ith c a rto o n -lik e
ch a ra cte rs. Mr. Lee th e n m akes a s ty lis tic a lly s h arp le ft tu rn w ith his b e a u tifu lly re a lis tic p o rtra its th a t are laye re d over
w ith o ld bus transfers, pieces o f c a rd b o a rd and c ig a r b o x to p s . N e x t up, MARS-1 shares a fa r-o ff w o rld w here his e xtra te r­
re s tria l O b s e rv e r a nd In v is ib le Plan c h a ra c te rs fre e ly ro a m . B re tt A m o ry th e n re fle c ts o n th e m u n d a n e tra p p in g s o f
m o d e rn life th ro u g h p h o to c o lla g e a nd th ic k g e s tu ra l p a in tin g s . The fifth c h a p te r is saved fo r N o M e , a p o p u la r Bay Area
a rtis t kn o w n fo r his s p ille d -p a in t a rtw o rk . His c o n tr ib u tio n to th e b o o k is a w h im s ic a l w o rld o f g e la tin o u s g e rm s and
o d d b e in g s w ith oral fixa tio n s . R o u n d in g o u t C o n v e rg e n c e is n e w c o m e r O liv e r V e rno n w ith his p a irin g o f s u bcu tan e o us
cre atu re s a d o rn e d w ith M ayan -like p a tte rn s . W h a t makes th is b o o k so successful is th e fa c t th a t th e six a rtis ts g a th e re d
here s u b tly c a p tu re th e essence o f o u r c o lle c tiv e m in d s e t as w e m ake o u r w ay th ro u g h life in b u s tlin g cities.
To p ro m o te th e p ro je c t, th e b o y s have b e e n on th e ro a d w ith s ig n in g s a t th e p re s tig io u s L A M O C A a n d SF M O M A .
C onvergence sh ou ld be p a rt o f every a rt g ro u p ie 's lib ra ry, b u t w ith an e d itio n o f o n ly 2 000, th is b o o k is sure to sell out.
— G e o ff A lle n
FIRST AND FIFTEENTH:
POP ART SHORT STORIES
BY STEVE P O W E R S
P U B L IS H E R /V IL L A R D
The s e c o n d b o o k fro m th e ca n n o n o f S teve "E S P O " P ow ers ste p s d e e p in to
th e g a lle ry p ro d u c tio n s th a t Powers cre ate s — la rg e -sca le panels th a t c o n n e c t
to fo rm a story. R eproduced fo r th e firs t tim e in a b oo k, these panels pull reference
fro m s to re fro n t signs and co m ics, b u t th e y are a to ta lly fre sh fo rm o f visual
a rt. First and F ifte e n th reads like a g ra p h ic novel w ith sto rie s o f s tre e t c o rn e r
sw indles, b ig bad b ullie s and su pe r heroes th a t m ig h t as w ell g ive it up. It is nice
to h old this b o o k in yo ur hands and really g e t a chance to lo o k a t all th e lines you
m ig h t miss w hen seeing th e m a t fu ll scale in a large g a lle ry space. — Isaac Ramos
B f t *
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11.
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NEW DESIGNS FROM THE ART
TOY REVOLUTION
B Y JIM C R A W F O R D A N D G R E G O R Y B L U M
P U B L IS H E R /M T V B O O K S
M TV has te a m e d up w ith US to y d is trib u to r S tra n g eC o to cre ate th is hig h ly
p le a sing p ic tu re b o o k a b o u t d e s ig n e r to ys, p e p p e re d w ith in te rv ie w s w ith th e
likes o f N atha n Ju revicius, G a ry Baseman and m o re. It fu n c tio n s larg e ly as a
nice in tro d u c tio n to a v a rie ty o f W e s te rn vinyl a rtis ts and a fe w Asian designers,
b u t if y o u 're lo o k in g fo r a c o m p le te h is to ric a l p o r tr a it o f vinyl on a g lo b a l scale,
you m ig h t lo o k else w h ere . O th e rw is e , th e cu ra to ria l style , in fo rm a tiv e intervie w s
a nd to p -n o tc h p h o to g ra p h y are e n g a g in g , m a kin g Toys a s o lid purchase fo r
new and seasoned to y c o lle c to rs alike. — Ju stin Kovalsky
8 CHAN-HACHAN
MATTHEW PORTER TACKLES TOYS
M a tth e w P orter g rew u p in th e South o f England and g ra d u a te d fro m E dinburgh
C ollege o f A rt in 1997. Soon after, he h o p p e d on a plane to Am erica w here he's lived
and w o rk e d , d a b b lin g in such va rie d s u b je c t m a tte r as M exican w restle rs, g ia n t
ro b o t cats, and M o nkeys in tu x e d o s . He is c o -o w n e r o f B lu e b o ttle A r t G allery,
( b lu e b o ttle a rt.c o m ) lo c a te d in S e a ttle , W a s h in g to n . Recently, he p a rtic ip a te d
in th e custom to y show "10 0 Circus Punks Rule NYC" a t th e Toy Tokyo Showroom .
P o rte r's A n im a l A lp h a b e t series was p u b lis h e d as a c h ild re n 's b o o k by S im ply
Read B ooks th is p a st M ay and m o re o f his w o rk can b e seen at p o w k id .c o m
THE ART OF MARTIN HARRIS
S7
GALLERY
M a rtin H arris is an a rtis t o f s to ry b o o k fa n ta syla n d s w h o se m in ia tu re scenes o f
w him sy are p a in te d w ith a w e -in s p irin g d e ta il in s o ft-h u e d w a te rc o lo rs . A n im a ls,
critte rs and bizarre creatures anim ate co lo rfu l w o rld s o f g e n tle hum or. A c o lle c to r
o f C orgi Toys, R upert th e Bear annuals,1960s shonen co m ics (boys a ction com ics
fro m Japan) and Japanese s o ft vinyl kaiju b y Bandai, M1, Marusan and B ullm ark,
H arris also has an in tu itiv e in te re s t in th e sym b o lis m o f th e Tarot. For m o re on
Harris, check o u t w w w .o u tre g a lle ry.co m
v-13 g y
57
GEAR
58
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02
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07
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T-SHIRTS
A ll sh irts are availa ble in S, M, L, and XL
fo r a c o s t o f $ 22 .
0 1. S U P E R 7 L O G O
0 2 . T IC K E T
0 3 . S P A C E S H IP S
0 4 . 1H E A R T T H E F O R C E
0 5 . L IO N P O S E
06. CYCLE
07. K IK A ID A
08. M AX7
0 9 . G O D A IK IN
10. B W A N A S P O O N S
1 1 .0 G I
12. K IK A ID A F IG H T E R
13. M O N S T E R
14. C A M O W A L K E R
15. B A T T L E S H IP
16. S K ID
1 7 . 1N T 'L T O Y P IR A T E S
BACK ISSUES
A ll back issues are $5.95.
IS S U E 0 5 . B o o ska /G a ry B a s e m a n /D o u g ra m /A k u m a iz e r
IS S U E 0 6 . A le x R o ss /G a tc h a m a n /M irro rm a n /A n g ila s
IS S U E 07. G odzilla 50th A rt and Toys/R aideen/Transform ers
IS S U E 0 8 . G o d a k in /M a s c h in e n K rie g e r/U g ly D olls/S u p erso l
IS S U E 0 9 . Japanese T a lk e rs /T ig er-7 /T im B is kup /S ecre t Base
IS S U E 10. K eiji-K /R ob b y th e R obot/M AR S -1/G argam el
IS S U E 11. King W a ldar/B arom -1/B alzac/C am ille Rose Garcia
IS S U E 12. KAWS vs. P ushead/B ounty H un te r/B lo b pu s
S7
GEAR
V13
ART PRINTS
$40
01. H E A R T B R E A K O U T
16"x 20 " silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y D ora D rim alas.
0 2 . V IS IB L E G H O S T
$40
1 6 " x 2 0 " silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y Brian Flynn.
0 3 . A N A T O M IC A L
$40
16"x 20 ” silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y D ora D rim alas.
0 4 . S P A C E S H IP C O L L A G E
$40
16"x 20 ” silkscreen p rin t
A r t by Brian Flynn.
0 5 . B IK E L O V E
$40
16" x 20 ” silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y D ora Drim alas.
«k
06. R O C KET
$40
tm
|L ^
19.75"x 27.5” silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y Brian Flynn.
07. S U P E R 7 W O R L D
$125
19.75"x 27.5” silkscreen p rin t
A r t b y D avid H orva th .
0 8 . R O B O T O R IG IN
$40
19.75"x 27.5” silkscreen p rin t
A r t by Brian Flynn.
02
01
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06
03
05
07
08
ORDER SUPER7 GEAR
Call th e Super7 store a t 415.409.4700 o r vis it th e w e b site a t super7store.com to
Please send ch eck o r m o ne y o rd e r
Be sure to s to p by o u r w e b s ite s fo r
purchase o u r exclusive toys, t-sh irts and su b scrip tio ns. S u b scrip tio ns to Super7
(d o n o t send cash) to :
s to re u pd a te s, e v e n t info and news
are ju s t $28 p e r year (fo r fo u r issues). Plus, n ew and c u rre n t su bscrib e rs g e t
S uper7 M a g a zin e , A ttn : O rd e rs
on e xclusive m erch!
e xclusive access to s u b s c rib e r o n ly te e s, a rt p rin ts , to y s and m o re ! Be a p a rt
5 40 D e la n c e y S tre e t, S u ite 303
w w w .s u p e r7 s to re .c o m
o f th e Super7 fa m ily and su b scrib e now . A ll m agazines are m a ile d in a s tu rd y
San Francisco, C A 94107
w w w .s u p e r7 m a g a z in e .c o m
e n v e lo p e via US Postal M e d ia M a il. W h e n o rd e rin g b a ck issues, p le a s e a d d
$5.50 fo r p ostage. Back issues are sent using US P rio rity M ail. A ll prices are fo r
th e US only, and are s u b je c t to change. M a jo r c re d it ca rds a cce p te d . C A resi­
den ts m ust add 8.5% sales tax. For intern a tio na l p o sta g e q uotes, please e-m ail
us a t info@ super7m agzine.com .
5 9
BILLY G A L A X Y
■ i rk t a 9 e
toys
•
c o !U st
i e s
912 W. B u rn sid e P o rtlan d . Of? 97208
503.227,8253
‘W WW .bHly9ataxy.c0rp
Japanese Cute Stuff, Apparel & Gailen
50 3 ,.2 3 3 .3 9 9 3
THE ART OF LEO ESPINOSA
A V A IL A B L E FOR TH E F IR S T T IM E
AS LIM ITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS
SIGNED AND NUMBERED BY THE ARTIST
F I W I " ) THEHAPPINESSSTORE.COM
The
Happiness
Store
S7
LIFE
W13
6 1
SUPER7 ROCKS N’ BOWLS
01. G e t your bow l on! The
Super? crew hooked up with
painters o f th e pentagram
Mike Sutfin and Pushead fo r
a w ild n ig h t at th e lanes.
02.
Super7 designer G e o ff Allen
knocked dow n m ore beers
than pins, b ut look at that
form . 03. W ith high pants
and even higher b lo o d alcohol
levels, the lanes w ere just a
little sexier th a t n ig h t thanks to
Team Swollen Liver. N ote the
d ou b le sock attack o f e d ito r
Justin Kovalsky. So h ot right
now. 04. The brains and beauty
behind th e Super7 em pire at
APE. Brian Flynn was there, too.
05. A rtists Bwana Spoons and James Jean taking a break fo r
th e fans a t APE. 06. Brian's d o c to r shows us his latest X-ray.
This proves it... he really d oe s have to ys on th e brain. 07. Bats,
whales and picklebears... oh my! Steven th e Bat s to p p e d b y to
check o u t Bwana's pre-APE p a rty and art show KILLER at th e
Super7 store. 08. Phil S p e cto r may have cre ate d th e W all o f
Sound, b u t Bwana's art rocks th e W all o f C o lo r at th e Super7
Store. 09. Have you ever had th a t dream w he re you w ake up
naked in a b o x o f fresh new G h o stfig h te rs? M e neither. 10. The
holy trin ity — artist Derek Kirk Kim, Super7's Devon M o rf and Philip
from th e band Sanawon. 11. O w n e r o f Asian Man Records, M ike
Park came by Super7 to rock th e house during the C herry Blossom
festival in Japantow n. 12. Young girls and sensitive boys alike
packed th e Super7 Store to hear th e song stylings o f Mr. Park.
13. O p e n in g fo r Park, S hinobu set th e stage fo r an enjo ya ble
afte rn o on at th e Super7 Store. 1 4. Park m oves m ore merch
than the S7 Store.
LOOKING FOR JAPANESE ITEMS?
IF SO, PLEASE EMAIL MASATO!
OUR SERVICE CONTENTS/
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We can place bids on any Japanese auction and arrange
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We w ill be your agent/business partner in Japan!
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Please freely send us e-m ail at any tim e.
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D N P 0 24
X IU XIU / DAVID HORVITZ
7 P IC T U R E D IS C . L IM IT E D TO 5 0 0 C O P IE S W O R LD W ID E
T H E S IN G L E FR O M F O R T H C O M IN G X IU X IU FU LL -LE N G TH
A R TW O R K BY D A VID H O R V IT Z
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A V E R Y S P E C IA L M E N S S N E A K E R
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E M B R O ID E R Y . C A S U A L OR FO R M A L,
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D O G G P O N Y A N D P R O D U C E D BY DC
D O U B L E L A B E L P R O JE C TS . B U Y
T H E S E NO W O R N E V E R !
N O W B U Y T H O S E O N E S A N D M O R E AT W W W .D N P 0 0 6 .C O M !
T H E IN T E R N E T S T IL L R U L E S . L IN K TO : B A R R A R R .C O M , X IU X IU .O R G ,
U R B A N C O W G IR L P R O D U C T IO N S .C O M , Y O U T U B E .C O M , T O Y M A C H IN E .C O M ,
S T E V E K E E N E .C O M , R V C A A N P .C O M , S K U L L B R A IN .O R G & S E C R E T -B .C O M
Playful Ingredients
for Modern Living.
In tro d u cin g e ig h t new p illo w d e sig n s fro m D ora D rim alas
at H ybrid -H o m e . All o f o u r p illo w s are a vaila ble in a range
o f colors, and th e designs are sure to b ring an elem ent o f fun
to any interior. Radial, Pick Up S ticks, S quare-O ne, Deer You,
S ecret Service, A ir Traffic C on tro l and B ird s o f a Feather
view ed at w w w .H y b rid -H o m e .c o m .
Hybrid-Home.com
E >in fo @ h yb n d -h o m e .co m
T >415.227.4700
F > 415.227.4706
Support System
volu me
(J) Journey to Ishbal
A v a ila b le J u n e 2 7 t h
I R iG H T S t U f
S B o o t iy
© H 1 R 0 M U A R A K A W A /S Q U A R E E N 1 X , M B S , A N X , B O N E S , d e n t s u 2 0 0 4 . L ic e n s e d b y F U N im a t io n ® P r o d u c t io n s L t d . A ll R ig h ts R e s e rv e d .
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