I noticed a couple of the Tiger Mask minis with removable sofubi masks and boots were posted. Here's a boxed set. They all come with removable masks and boots except for Skull Star, who just has a removable mask.





The back of the box has a ring and some nice pics:



It also comes with this large insert card which is a sort of character ID list:

Wow, amazing Andy! How did you ever manage to score this?! I didn't even know that they had a full set of the removeable mask minis. I am really curious to know what they look like underneath. Do they all feature the same head, and especially what is under Skullstar's mask? Just stunning man - so envious.

Just happened on it, is all. I only took off one of the masks when inspecting it, and I think it might be the same head as the one for Golgotha cross posted a few pages back. I'd like to do a proper write up for the set when I have 2 seconds to put together, but it might take a bit.

BTW, the plastic tray is super flimsy, and removing it is really nerve wracking.

Haha, no kidding Andy, I am surprised it is there in that shape at all. Even brand new these trays crack and chip so easily, for vintage ones it is next to impossible to find one in that kind of shape. This must've been stored carefully in old store stock or something. Sometimes you almost wish for more beat up ones, so you don't agonise over making them worse when you want to take 'em out and enjoy them.

HAHA, first thing I thought of too. Is he hideously deformed? Great set, love the tiny heads underneath.

those look factory fresh! this is the first time i've seen bendies with masks.

i love bendies, but i'm always afraid that this bend will be its final, when metal fatigue takes its deadly toll

Oi vey, all right here ya go.

Looks like the heads are the same. The masks feel like a very similar material to the Kamen Rider keshi gomu masks, so that must have been a trend. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the same factory.

I'm really into this sort of mixed material toy.

Aw, thanks for the additional pics Andy - even if it crushes my inner demented hopes for some mutants, having all the same head helps me to justify it that it doesn't represent the character but is just a toy.....yes, that is what we will go with.

These are definitely really cool, but I understand the hesitation on overbending them Bill. One thing I have always found with these toys is that very rarely do they keep the pose when you bend them anyways. Another drastic worry with some of the cheaper ones is when the wires are stiff and actually pop through the vinyl. Many sad experiences.

Amazing .. these guys are very hard to find !!

Interesting that your tigermask has a painted head, mine does not.

I noticed that - also the capes are flipped. Yours has the striped pattern on the back. But that could just be from regular play.

Oh Wow! Thanks so much for sharing those, Andy! That's 1 seriously amazing set. Good stuff

Thanks - it's a fun set.

I followed up with a couple of knowledgeable folks in Japan (including the Mandarake dude shown in the Tokyo Underground book He's a very nice guy.) They call this sort of figure "bendable" (or "bendabulu"). From what I've learned, the figures weren't sold individually - only in this 11 piece set - except for the Tiger Mask figure, which I've also seen in another mini gift set that came with I think a keshi gomu figure and some other small thing.

Compared to mainstream figure types like sofubi and chogokin, bendables are much more obscure, so it's an esoteric area that takes a lot more digging to uncover info.

Would love to hear if anyone has more info. I've seen pics of a Cyborg 009 set with a box that looks around the same size, so there could have been a wave of bendy popularity in the late 70s that paralleled interest in bendy toys (like the WWF figures) in the US.

Yeah you are correct ... the other set bendable tigermask was sold in was with 10 painted keshi's which are alost impossible to find unless you can get the set boxed

Nice, I haven't seen that one before. There's another much smaller boxed set with the Tiger Mask bendy and a couple of smaller things.

Found a Skull Star quicker and cheaper than i thought i would (thanks again Steve) and he cleaned-up great.
. . . . now to find a few more to join the group!

Here's an updated collection pic (and some manga pages i found).


Tiger Mask by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr


タイガーマスク by The Moog Image Dump, on Flickr

sweet baby jesus this rules
was that tough to find?

Only one I've seen so far, but I imagine sometimes the reason sets like it don't pop up very often (or remain intact) is because of the unusual box size. It's long, thin, and somewhat fragile.

denboku versions from wonderfest (thank you Andy!)

These minis turned out fantastic.

^ Agreed, they did a great job on these. I need to find a way to get a set. I like that they did the anime version of tiger mask, Golgotha Cross is cool in this size too.

I can imagine so many afternoons wasted with these guys. Would love to find a set State side.

It's Denboku so I doubt it.

Denboku's figures at WF are nearly always (maybe always) one-day license figures, so they can't be sold anywhere except at the event. Fortunately they leave sample figures out all day so it's possible to shoot pics after the feeding frenzy ends.

Here's the Tiger Mask bendie +keshi (plus trophy, it looks like) set I mention a few posts up.

Agreed, and thanks again for the great pics and coverage Andy. Really like the Denboku set of minis, but the one I saw come up for sale was kinda crazy, so I think I will stick with the vintage guys. That is a fantastic bendy set Andy; with the trophy and little keshi guy I could see myself being very happy with it as a runner up to the full set. I don;t think I have seen any TM stuff I didn't love.

YOU'VE DISCOVERED OUR SECRET

NOW YOU MUST DIE