You were very lucky to score this Andy - bagged especially. One of my favorite SB pieces - and an absolute steal of a deal! Here's some more history for those interested: Folk in LA were also lucky to be able to pick up this guy in hand from Span of Sunset - they had a very limited quantity available. Isaac got the first one from there - and actually posted a teaser on those pesky K R boards - mind you, this was maybe a few weeks prior to Skullbrain been in existence. I scored one a day or so later - you can believe I was hot footing my way to Span the very next day! Not really sure how many other folk got them from there - as at the time, seemed like only Isaac, Rick and me were collecting SB locally in LA. The insert also shows some more info about the free figure; In the US it was a black unpainted GF - which seem to be made in a decent quantity. In Japan you could also get the mythical unpainted black Madball Mantis - which is what the silhouette shows if I'm not mistaken. That one seemed to be much rarer. I hardly ever saw any available then or since. Sorry to interrupt - and back to the ongoing discussion on test shots Vs discretion. Meaning lost in the annals of time unless someone remembers the promo from 10 years ago. [/quote]
I wonder how the FC releases (the GID Pumpkin and black Pumpkin with different trunks) factored into this. I wonder if you needed the tags from the FC releases in addition to the normal 5 to get the black Madball. Otherwise, I can't see a reason for numbering the FC items. That might also explain why the black Madball is less common than the black Ghostfighter. Just speculation on my part. EDIT: See below. Black Madball was a lottery giveaway.
^Not sure. I was also wondering about the 0 on the bag. Back then it sure was a different vibe, and so much more mysterious and challenging to even figure out what was being released when. BTW, great backstory Carl!
Y'know, I'm thinking that the Black Madball may have required ticket and was also a lottery item in Japan. Maybe the translated inserts tell the tale?
Found this old thread. Sounds like it was a lottery item. Not sure on what the FC "0" tickets would mean then. http://www.skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=381&hilit=black+madball&start=50
Nice work! According to an old member known as Brian Flynn: "the all black madball I think was a lottery with the tickets. Only 25 made (?) and then it was a lottery between the submittors. I think that is how it worked in japan." So, I guess you could submit tickets from either a regular or a FC Halloween purchase to qualify for the Madball lottery. As Caesar once said: "Skullbrain powers activate!"
Actually I didn't remember there was a lottery? I always thought it was just a fcfs exchange with the ticket until the item ran out. Anyway, I also didn't know there were 25, so maybe it was indeed a lottery and I just got lucky
and the story takes a startling turn - and who better to comment than someone who was there! Joe, it does seem though that the number of Madballs was low though based entirely on aftermarket appearances. In 9 years Ive never seen one for sale publicly.
there was one on yjp a while back and he is now suffocating sealed mint in his bag in icy cold massachusetts
Haha - yeah, I've come close to losing an arm inside a glove. If you can get at enough of the arm use a small bit of paper towel to cover the area you plan on gripping so you don't mark up the arm with your pliers (needle nose). BTW - love that Toxic Phantom! Wish I bought one when they were available...
I should have done the paper towel trick! Got a little scuff on the forearm, but the suit is fine Success!
Secreters nice, but that Whiz Obake Dog!!!!!!!!! Nice photo too Robert. Oh yeah - nice pic of the red glow Madball Mantii Mark - but ONLY six versions? ... (Only 6? Fukkin hell!!!!!! Thats two more tahn Ive ever seen!!!!)
