I don't collect Real Head, but I saw this on page 137 of the mook and was wondering, why the hell would they color up a fight figure like the Hyaku Shiki from Zeta Gundam?

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/msn-00100.htm

Does anyone here have one of these?

Hey Rog...I didnt and still dont really make that connection.....although the 100 script is the only thing that makes me wonder at all...but it was the 100th HH give away so that solves that....what makes you sure of a connection to Zeta Gundam ??? Wait a sec....you dont even collect RXH !!!

i need this HEAD and will trade all kindsa Rare RXH / Kaiju for it !

It was a Hyper Hobby Magazine give away. I guess someone at the mag or Mori thought the "100th" issue - hey there is a gold Zeta with a 100 script - lets do that. There is a lot of paint tributes to other classic kaiju - are you just now discovering that?

I guess the connection to a Gundam mecha seemed a little bit random to me. I dig it, definitely, but it surprised me that Real Head would use their "canvas" for a reference to something so mainstream, and that Bandai would let them do it.

It might look cool next to that Gigabrain Jet Jaguar that was done up in the Gundam colors.

I wouldn't think they'd need any blessing from Bandai to do this - Homages are generally considered 'fair use' under US IP law ... dunno about Japan of course.

Actually, the Mutant Head's face kind of reminds me of the Hyaku-shiki's faceplate, no?



Given the number of Hyper Hobby exclusive Gundam items, I wouldn't be surprised if the magazine were able to arrange this. Maybe someone at Bandai or HH is a fan of RxH. Although I admittedly know nothing of Japanese IP law, this seems less objectionable than, say, the Walder Akro or the Inazuman Mutant Evil.

I doubt anyone would be able to do anything about it anyway... it's a gold figure with a "Hyaku" character on it. It doesn't say "gundam" on it, so I'm sure there are similar homage type protections for artists in Japan.

You'd be surprised. Intellectual property is treated pretty seriously in Japan. There was an incident not too long ago where a hobby magazine ran a picture of a Gundam kit on their cover without clearing it with Bandai first, and they were threatened with hefty lawsuits.

Eventually things were cleared up, but it shows how differently they view these things. It's definitely not the same over here. If Toyfare runs a picture of a Batman toy on their cover, Mattel and DC usually don't know until the magazine hits the stands, and they're tickled pink about it.

However, since this was a Hyper Hobby exclusive (and therefore definitely not under Bandai's radar), I could imagine that they went the extra mile to clear things with them. When I get the chance I'll ask around about it, maybe someone can remember to do the same with Mori.

Yeah, but there's a distinct difference between using something that's like a trademark like the Superman "S" or Batman Bat image, and someone just slapping a number on a gold figure. The "hyaku" character is hardly a Gundam exclusive glyph.

Do you think it's supposed to be referencing something other than the Hyaku Shiki, then?

True, but you'd have to prove that it wasn't merely a coincidence... If the mark isn't trademarked, and the figure does not resemble a Gundam mobile suit, they'd be able to sue anybody for putting the "hyaku" character on anything that's gold colored.

If I did a series of numbered gold rocks from 1 through 100 with japanese number symbols, is that much different? Sure, you can point out that the intent of the figure was as an homage, but if Mori said it was coincident, I think Bandai would be hard pressed to prove otherwise.

Anyone have a picture of said figure? I can't picture it.

hiro has it as old trade bait here (second photo down):

http://www.skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8404&highlight=

It's literally a gold painted Mutant Head figure with a black "hyaku" character on its left breast. I don't have my mook at work, so I can't remember if it has green or red eyes... I think they're red.

Well, "hyaku" means 100, so if it was for a 100th giveaway......with just a wink at the Shiki.

from the hiro archives

I forgot that the eyes were red, too, like the Hyaku Shiki's.

(Hey, it's Char's ride, something has to be red. ;p)

I thought Quattro was the pilot.

Hey, watch it, pal! Make sure you spell that last name with a "B" instead of a "V". ;p

This is true but getting sued by any corporate giant is going to suck even if you win. Insurance likely isn't going to cover legal fees and even meritless litigation could financially crush a small company.

true true...