FIVE STAR TOY × MEDICOM × PUNK DRUNKERS Wolfman Pre-orders up on 10/7 http://item.rakuten.co.jp/project1-6/45 ... ce-site=pc
Damn those look killer. But...then again, they're pretty much the same as the earlier red-pants version! I've always been torn about that one: it looks amazing because of the face paint, the flag, and the color choices...but it's so NOT how Rikishiman looks in the comics and cartoons! In the meantime, I'm not sure if this was mentioned here or not, but Punk Drunkers released another mask-off Warsman in a sweet Soviet-pride color scheme: There ya go, jhateball!
Thanks Sanjeev! The ONLY thing that is keeping money in my wallet with these dudes is a commitment to only going for unpaints. That Warsman is so awesome...I've thought long and hard about it. Instead, I've been chasing the little bashers that NIlla and Nama and those dudes have been doing. *koff* More Ashurashines *koff*
Heh...ironically, I've sold all my unpainteds as I've now committed to only painted FiveStar Kinnikuman figures! But yeah, man, Eric Nilla's Kinnikuman and GPK Cheap Toys are some of the best rubber cast custom toys I've ever seen. Funny--'cause I *just* got a box of goodies from him last night! I got his brand-new sculpt of Grim Jim, one of my favorite GPKs of all time, some other Cheap Toys recastings, and a few Critters (Eric's rubber ones, obviously, not Bigman Toys' hard resin ones). As for me, more AshuraShine's are on their way. Demand always seems to outpace production on that fucking thing! But also, Alec's and my next figure is getting ready to debut!
I tried to resist but finished up buying the blue wolfman. Punk Dunkers + sumo are too much to pass, awesome release.
Wow, that's a great looking lot. I've never paid much attention to the FiveStar brand of toys until recently. I was a fiend for Kinnikuman toys (M.U.S.C.L.E. as they were marketed here in the US, of course) as a kid, and still have several from my childhood. I'm surprised I haven't taken an interest in these sooner. I used to love buying those little plastic garbage can shaped tubs of these guys! Enough with reminiscing though, that's a kick ass collection!
Yes, Five Star toys are wonderfully produced and have great scale! I first saw them in Yamashiroya but it took me a while to really get into them. I'm no way a completist but they have become central to my collection as I really love the bold colourways combined with the comic book sculpts (not to mention the Punk Drunkers releases, simply awesome). I mean, don't they really pop as a set?
That is a very neat photo and collection Rudebeast ! The series was called Muscleman over here. It was cancelled when the guy with the Svastika appeared to prevent us becoming little nazi kids.
Thx PXO, hoping to take more detailed shots tonight Just love these guys, can't wait for the blue Medicom Wolfman to arrive!
Rob, that is an INSANE photo, dude. I take it you're only chasing painted releases, or do you have a stockpile of unpainteds lying just out of frame? I'm sort of bonkers to get my hands on a Neptuneman (unpainted) and am super-duper enjoying my 'justice vs. deomon' sets that I was able to score a few months ago. Ashuraman is just incredible....not to mention A.S. Radical shot.
AWESOME shot, Rude Beast! I've been meaning to get off my ass and post a group shot of my guys...really gotta get on that. But anyway, I totally agree with your take on these figures. Super-thick, heavy vinyl. Flawless paint. Nice, stiff joints and rugged design...if they weren't so pricey (and if *I* weren't so much of a "collector"!), I'd love to bash these around and recreate the fights from the comics--or from when I was a kid with MUSCLE guys! I've probably said it before, but these are among the highest-quality modern vinyls getting produced in Japan right now.
Thanks guys, glad you enjoy the shot... I'm about to upload another three shots I just took, hope you'll enjoy those too Yep, only painted. Please don't tempt me to go unpainted too I can't but agree, I found them difficult to gauge until I actually finally held one. Now I'm totally in love and waiting to see what's next!
Rudebeast, I'm late to the party, but like everyone else said: Great shots! What a group! I love these toys! I only have two complaints- they are kinda pricey, and they need to get on with the huge roster of kinnikuman characters! I want King 1-Ton, Junkman, Black Shadow, Kinnikuman Phoenix, etc.. =)
I'm with you on expanding the roster!! And yes they are a bit on the pricey side but I totally agree with Sajeev, they seriously are among the best sofubi produced in Japan.
Fantastic collection and pics! As far as the figure quality goes, I agree that they are top notch. Five Star has been at it for 15 years now, and really know how to do things right.
Yeah, these guys are definitely pricey, no question. And I'm certainly not trying to get into one of the classic worth/value debates...that ultimately go nowhere. But at the very least, when you throw down $100-150 for one of these figures, you KNOW you're getting some of the best sofubi Japan has to offer. It's as simple as that. Yeah, they pump out different versions of existing molds pretty often, but I think the main audience for these toys are classic Kinnikuman fans...not designer vinyl collectors who're used to being served a billion versions of the same toy. I'm guessing that most Kinnikuman fans are only gonna be interested in a couple versions of each sculpt/character at most...whether they have the loot to catch 'em all or not. Like RudeBeast, I'm only getting the painted ones...and generally, only one of each character (well, I have two Warsmen!). I think limiting yourself like that helps take the sting outta the prices.
Saw some RAD Five Star prototypes in Tokyo last week, but I could not take pictures and was sworn to secrecy… Here are a few pics though of the Kinnikuman Museum and Muscle Shop in Shinsekai. Had a great time hanging out with Yudetamago. Hopefully we will see an exclusive Yudetamago/Sofubi signing in the US at a major con next year. They had a ton of Five Star blanks (Robin Mask, Kinnikuman etc) for sale at 4,700 Yen a pop. They also had all the BamBam88 red and black sets for sale (Still sold as sets only). Jungle in Osaka is running the Muscle Shop, and said they are happy to try and work out foreign sales via their L.A. "Anime Jungle" location, or direct Osaka store contact: https://jungle-scs.co.jp/info_e.cgi Also saw the current stock of Five Star at Mandarake in Nakano (if anyone is looking for specific figures, I can let you know what they had or not). http://www.nama-niku.blogspot.com/2012/ ... sekai.html
Awesome update, Tyler...thanks for that! Sure, I'm dying to know who's in the pipeline, but just knowing that hot shit is cooking is good enough for me for now.
From my Instafriend, xamilax: Five Star Toy exhibition in the Ueno Yamashiroya store. They are running a Muscle Shop there as well with a bunch of new Five Star sofubi. Also, new Neptuneman man out today only @ Ganking http://item.rakuten.co.jp/ganking/nsc_n ... nking1027/
