Maruhachi Gangu

I’m comfortable with the notion that collecting must be much more fun for us “normal” folks, that sometimes win and sometimes don’t, than for those that can readily afford anything and everything and never lose!

 

I’m honestly not that into this release, though I wish I was. I think if it was an opaque blue it’d work a lot nicer with the purple, but the clear blue sort of loses the detail of the face. So the painted eyes and mouth sort of look like they’re floating in a faintly blue...shape. The blue blank by itself looks awesome, I just think the effect of the clear gets hidden. Then again it could just be lighting!

 

Each to their own, and normally I'd agree because I'm not a fan of clear vinyl, but I actually think this one works.

To me it reads as a spectral or ghost Frankenstein, especially because of the eye paint detail.

 

I've always been into the Universal Monsters, so anything Frankenstein inspired has my attention. As I mentioned previously, I am not normally a fan of clear vinyl but the Shelterbank version of the Frank sculpt works for me. I've taken a few quick photos to try and give a better impression of the toy:

 

I don't believe anyone has mentioned Chagama and Kochagama yet?

The expression on the faces and, in particular, the cast iron pot detailing on their backs is really well executed.

 

Great photos of the Frankenstein’s Monster, @Mr Fox! I haven’t been a fan of the clear blue version, but your shots are havin’ me rethink my position! I currently only own the Halloween version, but the green skin(first, I believe?) is easily my favorite!

As for the Chagama and Kochagama, I finally got to hold those at DCon when I saw these Maruhachi versions. Though I believe the toys themselves are Unplug Works toys by Tamotsukambe. They’re a lot bigger figures than I thought! I was rather surprised!

 

@xSuicide Squadx honestly, in the vinyl, I think you'd be won over; as I mentioned above, he has a ghost of Frankenstein vibe about him and the paint is really nice. For me, the green is king and the other three are tied for second and change rank depending on the day. I swear I have seen black and white (silver screen) version but that may be my mind playing tricks because I know he did the a fly, alien and lagoonie version in that style.

Regarding Chagama / Kochagama, I purchased them directly from Maruhachi Gangu, so thought he was involved - sounds like I'm mistaken, so will move them to the appropriate thread... now where is the bang head, doh!, emoticon

 

Curious about this and will email him tomorrow. . I won a lotto in the past and he offered those and it was implied he sculpted or painted them in his spare time. A lot of vinyl pulls are coming from unplug work on the maruhachi thread. Stay tuned

 

@bryce_r I can’t recall any posts on Tamotsukambe‘s page that reference the Chagama as Maruhachi toy, but rather his own alongside his own toys. I did understand these black and red ones at DCon to be painted by Maruhachi, though. I could easily be mistaken. Unplug Works pulls his own toys, as well as Maruhachi’s sofubi endeavors, and more recently Headlock’s Amabie.

 

Sadly, no rokurokubi for me yet but here's what I have:

 

The black and grey is incredible. So many subtle details. Wow.

 

The monochromatic set was available at DCon 2019, sans the Frankenstein. That’s the first I’m seein’ of it. I kick myself for grabbin’ the Daruma instead of the set.