Maize Spaceman

Discussion in 'Japan Toys' started by plastichunter, Jan 25, 2012.

  1. plastichunter

    plastichunter Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    4,264
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Connell
    Maize Spaceman
    Picked this up on Mandarake. Don't know much about the toy or the company but I'm totally smitten with it. I was blown away by the two little robot birds that came with it. Had no idea. Any more info would be appreciated.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  2. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,790
    Maize Spaceman
    Wow, awesome figure C. I have seen this around a few times in Japan, but I had no idea it wasn't from one of the standard makers. The quality looks phenomenal, and I love the heavy sheen on the paint. The header is an extra fantastic bonus too. But those birds, well, brilliant! They really look like aluminum. Remind me of German baking molds. Great pickup.
     
  3. plastichunter

    plastichunter Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    4,264
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Connell
    Maize Spaceman
    The birds are tiny. Like 3/4".
     
  4. Onion

    Onion Toy Prince

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2011
    Messages:
    278
    Maize Spaceman
    Here's what I could dig up:

    That's the main character from a Tokusatsu show called 'Lightspeed Esper' [光速エスパー] that aired in the mid 70's. His street name would be Ikaru, and he only transforms into Lightspeed Esper or Esper when he calls out for his suit. If I had to guess I'd date that figure in the early naughts. Our hero apparently lost his parents when just a boy. I'm translating from Spanish but basically at least one of the birds is called Shikar and is a manifestation of his dead mother's spirit. The whole thing is, apparently, totally camp and was a vehicle to sell Toshiba electronics. I just might have to watch it now...

    Oh! About the toy maker...

    Maize co. [MAIZEソフビ] apparently makes a range of toys. Right now they have a Batmobile, based on the Dark Knight movies, listed for pre-order/sale on their website. It's ABS plastic not vinyl. Apparently they made toys in the past based on other kids shows. I found examples for Princess Comet and Plawres Sanshiro. Photos of the toys are here and here, respectively. That's about all I could find with my extremely limited Japanese but if you like, I can search around on the Spanish side of the net after I sleep. The show's full run was apparently aired in Latin America so I can hopefully dig up some more info there.

    Hope that helps! And congrats on the score :razz:
     
  5. deadboy

    deadboy Comment King

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2006
    Messages:
    1,325
    Maize Spaceman
    Great find! I've never heard of it but that paint is beautiful and now one of my favorite Spaceman toys.
     
  6. Dean

    Dean Prototype

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2007
    Messages:
    6,321
    Location:
    415
    Maize Spaceman
    [​IMG]

    It's details like this that make the world go 'round.
     
  7. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Messages:
    11,790
    Maize Spaceman
    So great. Nice lustre and excellent detail. And big thanks to Onion for all the added info. A lot I have to check in to now.

    Edit - oops, my bad, time to go back to school and read closely :)
     
  8. JoeMan

    JoeMan Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2007
    Messages:
    4,961
    Location:
    NJ
    Instagram:
    splurrt
    Maize Spaceman
    Great find. Looks like a fun toy.
     
  9. plastichunter

    plastichunter Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    4,264
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Connell
    Maize Spaceman
    I think the ABS plastic is for the Batmobile. I'm pretty sure the Spaceman is vinyl.
    And my thanks to onion also. You went above and beyond the call of duty.
     
  10. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,901
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Maize Spaceman
    now THAT is a really choice find . . . .
     
  11. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2006
    Messages:
    7,363
    Location:
    Shima
    Maize Spaceman
    Really cool find, PH. Another gem that has flown under the radar for a long time.
     
  12. TULKU

    TULKU Addicted

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    Messages:
    523
    Maize Spaceman
  13. liquidsky

    liquidsky Vintage

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2005
    Messages:
    7,728
    Maize Spaceman
    It's cool when someone goes after something unusual and different rather than following the herd of hype.

    Really nice find with alot of character and detail.
     
  14. ElvisFromHell

    ElvisFromHell Comment King

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2006
    Messages:
    1,494
    Maize Spaceman
    I always thought that was an M1 collaboration. There's also another version of it, in yellow I think.
     
  15. dokuroking

    dokuroking Comment King

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    Messages:
    1,430
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Maize Spaceman
    Awesome looking piece!
     
  16. jebcrow

    jebcrow Side Dealer

    Joined:
    May 24, 2006
    Messages:
    2,277
    Location:
    lahn-dahn
    Maize Spaceman
    really cool toy...nice find connell!!

    although,,,the only thing that bugs me about it is the face,,,is there a masked version?? :lol:
     
  17. plastichunter

    plastichunter Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    4,264
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Connell
    Maize Spaceman
    Here was the pic I went by on Mandarake. It also said there was header tag damage/figure scratched. Really not knowing what I was going to get I took my chances at 4,000 yen. Turns out the figure is in perfect/mint condition and other than some very slight wear on the corner of the header it's in near perfect condition also. More and more I find myself attracted to toys I don't know that much about. It was sort of exciting buying something and then learning all this about it. Thanks for all the support/help.
    [​IMG].
     
  18. scobot

    scobot Addicted

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    756
    flickr:
    scottvan
    Instagram:
    tokusatsu_svb
    Maize Spaceman
    I have the alternate colour version , he is very cool ... curious is yours numbered on the foot ?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  19. PaulieVinyl

    PaulieVinyl Post Pimp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    2,501
    Location:
    Somewhere, TX
    Maize Spaceman
    love it. my favorite thing I've seen all day.
     
  20. plastichunter

    plastichunter Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    4,264
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Connell
    Maize Spaceman
    Oh! The yellow one is nice.
    Mine's Number 012.
     
  21. Paulkaiju

    Paulkaiju Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2005
    Messages:
    4,217
    Location:
    SD
    Instagram:
    Paulkaiju
    Maize Spaceman
    Damn I want that Princess Comet toy.<3
    i think Maize has some ties with M-1 go as well.
     
  22. Jace76

    Jace76 Comment King

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2010
    Messages:
    1,073
    Maize Spaceman
    ^ ^ Would love one too! She is all sorts of awesome!!!
     
  23. scobot

    scobot Addicted

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2011
    Messages:
    756
    flickr:
    scottvan
    Instagram:
    tokusatsu_svb
    Maize Spaceman
    I realised I had another figure of this guy - By Konami I think

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  24. MattyBoomBatty

    MattyBoomBatty Addicted

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2011
    Messages:
    893
    Location:
    Inside a Tangled Web of BS
    Name:
    Matt
    Instagram:
    AOIMatt
    Maize Spaceman
    Ah, I saw that on Manadarake awhile back...thought it was cool too! I'm sure I saw a big write up on these somewhere else and it showed others in this line or from this company. There was a female that looked cool Princess something.
     
  25. rattanicus

    rattanicus Super Deformed

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2012
    Messages:
    5,195
    Location:
    RVA
    Name:
    rei
    flickr:
    rattanicus
    Maize Spaceman
    Another thread back from the dead! Loving my new Spaceman~
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page