What, no Bigaro love? FUUUCK YOOOUUU AARRGGHHHH!!!!! (kidding)

Joshua, I hear what you're saying.

We had the RealxHead Kaizine interview translated for us (into Chinese), where he talked about the folks he works with for the painting. It doesn't bother me that Mori isn't the one doing most of the painting (I'm stiill a Chaos completist). The guy's a genius, IMO.

I think it's awesome that Kiyoka still does a lot of painting. He's one of the top notch kaiju masters. I'm a completist on several Gargamel figures, regardless of who does the painting,

Personally. though, I feel there is something special about Naoki continuing to do the painting himself. That doesn't diminish the accomplishments or quality of other designers, but it is a special characteristic, to me anyway.

Thing with the newer RxH figures is they are better appreciated in hand. Because they've mostly appeared unpainted, people think they are bland, but you have to see them to appreciate their intricate designs.

Um, wow. Late to the thread, I guess.

I think my overall feeling toward Cronic is favorable, but not all of the designs appeal to me. I love the Maverasu and Nougaki, and the Dorome and Ankoron are growing on me. On the other hand, I don't care for the Bakurasu and Dorogami. I don't consider it an affront to Koiwa-san's artistry that I do not collect all of his pieces- it seems inherent in the choice to produce widely varying designs that not all will appeal to the same people. The same can probably be said about RxH (although most figures tend toward the fight-figure genre) and Gargamel (among its Zokki Kaiju and other lines), among other companies. And I don't think that this is a bad thing.

Generally speaking, I think it's fairly hard to 'get' every toy that is produced by a certain artist/maker in the patchi-kaiju arena, especially as some of the designs can become rather, er, creative. While I collect Cronic, I still don't 'get' Anraku or Bemon toys. And other people seem to be bananas over them.

The biggest change to me in the Cronic toys is that they seem to have diversified away from the fight-figure type. I guess I see this as Koiwa-san attempting to flesh out the 'world' of his figures- not everyone can be a warrior, right? The Tripasu collab with Mark is particularly cool as it brings it back to the original fight-figure style of Cronic.

I also really like the collaborations by Cronic. I want- no, need- that Eyezon that was released at Wonderfestival. I hope Mark saved a couple for MTC members...

Not just yet. You misunderstood something I said, condescended, and I responded appropriately.

There are many people here who would like to be able to offer their opinions, including at times frank criticism, without the nonsense of fanboi defensive attacks. Maybe "attack" is too strong of a word but I think my gist is clear. Some of that is inevitable as we all have strong feelings about our "most loved" toy lines, and in ways we're all fanbois, but again people should be able to speak freely so long as they're not being abusive. By now you should know that my posting style is frequently a bit tongue-in-cheek over-the-top, intentionally so. Now I'm sorry if my attribution of arrogance offended you, but you can trust that I'm not alone in the perception.

I wish I could think of something funny to say but I'm afraid it would come across the wrong way, so let's just get past any "heat" here and get back to toy love. Peace and all that good stuff.

I like how you used the word "fanboi". Has Avril gotten to you too like she did with HMS?

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. The word wasn't meant as an insult at all, if that's what you mean. I don't even know who Avril is.

Oh no, it's just a reference to pop culture where young kids use the "boi" versus "boy". Avril Lavigne is just HMS' side interest.


Edit: I just checked up "fanboi" and it is indeed a legit alternative to "fanboy". My bad! I learn something new everyday.

Ack, now I remember that LOL. I probably shouldn't say "fanboi" no matter how it's spelled because it risks sounding insulting. Words can be that way, obviously, especially online without all the usual visual and aural clues that you have in person or on the phone. If it needs to be said, Andy is cool by me and I do admire his enthusiasm for Cronic. I'd better just shut up and go away now though.

Wow, great thread, esp considering nobody's taking cheap shots as far as I can tell (though there was the classic "I don't collect cronic, but" comment...those crack me up).

Gotta admit when the Dorome and Ankorons were introduced I wondered the same thing - where is this all going? While the Dorome was a distant cousin to the Dorogami (easily the most attractive pollution monster next to the mighty Bemon), the Ankoron had me wanting more fight figs instead. Since seeing the 4pc LB version though, I've accepted the guy, though I still don't own one (and I'm a rabid fan obviously).

In short, props to Naoki for designing what he wants, regardless of what people expect from him. Once an artist starts pandering to the fans, he is totally compromised and becomes ineffective.

The one thing that I can't agree with at all in this thread is anybody that can't get down with recent Cronic paint apps...the bar is so high at this point - the Black Parade/Hobby Complex Maverasu, the WF2008 releases, LB Maverasus and Doromes (actually MOST of the recent Doromes) show that he's on fire...and if anybody needs proof of the power of the pinstripe I have pictures. Every pinstripe is a masterpiece!

I Concur.

The recent paint apps are out of this world good!







500th post; move along.

Yea these are a dime a dozen, I mean I don't find the need to express my disgust for all things Chaos and Gatchigon in the RxH section. But alas, I agree good thread and I don't think Jacranky was saying anything bad at all.

hey i had a valid question about the pinstriping, which someone kindly answered for me.

ALSO i said i had nothing but respect for it, just not my cup of tea

regardless of whether or not i collect something, i'm still allowed to have an opinion on it

Don't forget Buster Call. The painted Beetlar from the invisible kaiju pack made my eyeballs explode!

Well,all I can say is were all FREAK'S!!
RxH Freaks
SB Freaks
Cronic Freaks
S7 Freaks
Gargamel Freaks
Vintage Freaks
The all different kind of Kaiju Freak..
Now that's all I have to say about that......................I love you all!
Now proceed...

Some are all of the above.

True

Cronic has the BEST paint aps in the neo-Kaiju game IMO. And...............I don't collect Cronic I have some (2?) and might grab more here and there, but their #1 thing is paint. It's amazing and tops all others.

I think as long as we stay away from the beaten to death caveat of "I don't like Cronic, but..." then no one will ever jump down anyone's throat.

I have made my decision to focus on Cronic as a company and then other stuff if it fits into my collection or is just so amazing I can't be without it.

Unless you have endless funds, I think everyone has to put their flag somewhere...and I've chosen Cronic as the place to do it...so maybe posts sound defensive because it's so much more often we see negative threads/posts like that come up.

Constructive discussion is always great...which this became...

BTW...I think Andy's deal is more of his enthusiasm boiling over sometimes in his posts...but it never comes off as arrogant...just very excited...I share that enthusiasm...and agree that is anyone out there wants to give up the Cronic they can contact me as well to send their pieces to a loving home.

m3kcomp I did not use that word to describe enthusiasm but rather the tone of interaction. It was probably mutual misunderstanding. Can we please let it go now? Thank you.

Why can't people who don't collect Cronic have an opinion on it? And if my negative opinion of the sculpts doesn't hold value than neither would my positive opinion regarding everything else.

Absolutely, Joe. That painted Invisible Kaiju Beetlar is eyeball socket popping stunning!

OK, a couple more thoughts about Cronic toys:

Like a lot of folks have been saying in this thread, we're passionate about Cronic collecting. Sometimes there is a need to be defensive, but that word gets a bit too much play time.... In this thread, I'd say most posts (intentionally silly posts aside) have been a passionate but measured wording of why/how/what people like about Cronic toys.

Over the last couple of years I've said a lot about the different styles Naoki works in. Something I've been meaning to, but haven't yet talked about, is the way each new technique rolls in, one wave at a time, and builds to a stunning crescendo. Naoki comes up with something and WORKS to perfect it. Then he integrates it with other styles, puts it aside, or brings it back from time to time.

Really stunning to see it happening with, for example, the pinstripe technique, handpaint (brush style) technique and, most recently, a color bombarding metallic paint technique which Naoki first introduced with the pink Zyurai Asu and has perfected over the last two months.

Well, I won't drone on about that here, but it's an idea I'll be fleshing out in the coming months.

Man...I just finally finished reading the last post, and I am also surprised how long this post became in just a day. Atleast no word battles broke out. So here is what I think.

I like the CRONIC figures. It's one of the figures that caught my eye when I started working here at S7. But it wasn't the sculpt that caught my eye. It was the color. He does amazing jobs in paining. I still need to get a pinstripe figure. I'm more of a "I'll collect it if I like it" kinda guy, so I'm not that worried about being complete. I'll even get things noone will like or remember, as long as they look great to me I'll take it.

For painting the figures:

As for CRONIC, he is one of the few that still hand paints his own figures while holding a normal day job. Thats why we get his products pretty late. He is trying to get the items done on time but being a full time worker, husband and a father, I'm sure it's hard to maintain a regular painting schedule.

Gargamel is one of the companies that also still paints their figures at their shop. I'm sure if you have seen their blogs, it has been shown many times. Remember the SDCC 2007 pics?? How everyone was going nuts at the teasers. But if it is a large order I think they still get it painted at the factory. But like CRONIC, they are not only doing GARGAMEL stuff anymore. They sculpt for S7 and other companies at the same time while doing their own things. I hear it from Kiyoka all the time, how it's getting more and more busy for him that he needs to hire more people to get the job done.

RealxHead is another example. When it first came out Mori was able to paint his own figures but in limited quantities. Thats why it's so hard to get them. But now that he has grown big, he needs to keep coming out with new ideas and more quantities, making it harder for him to paint on his own. Demands are higher so quantities gets bigger. But at times I remember him telling me that he still goes to the factory at times to help get them done. Painting and popping them eyes in.

I think SB is one of the OG companies that has the factory paint them.

But even at the factories they are done by hand. Thats why there are times you see spots missing paints and so on.

Overall, alot of the companies has started out just like CRONIC has. It's just up to the makers what they want to do in the end. I'm sure that if any of us needed extra hands to get things done on schedule, we would find a easy and fast way to do it. Which to the creators, it's going to the factory.

Factory or not, you have to remember who thinks up the ideas and colors. It's still the makers themselves. They just need extra hands to get things done.

I think everyone agrees that anyone can have any opinion they want on Cronic or anything else...

but when you post it in a forum like this there are going to be responses, no? isn't this why people post in the first place?

IMO the situation here is a lot kinder than it would have been in any of the big wig forums...where things would have gotten real angry real fast.

Xoco...I wasn't directing anything at you specifically...just putting in my two cents about how I see Andy's posts...so there's nothing to let go.

I think sometimes people here read these posts like reading an email from a scorned lover...tone is VERY hard to read over a message board...and I refuse to use those little icons to make people understand a joke or lighthearted comment. Do we have to resort to putting a disclaimer on every post that we're all just having fun here...and the following comments are only meant for entertainment? I though this was all implied given the subject matter...

I thought we were all having a nice little chat...and I never felt attacked because I like Cronic...nor was I responding to anyone in particular..NT is right, and I agree with being able to post any opinion about any toy or company...but there's always someone who can post the exact opposite thought as well, no?

so I REALLY love Cronic...but...

I actually just changed my mind and am pissed about this whole thing...

I vote that we all rumble "Warriors" style at SDCC this year, dressed up as our favorite sculpts from our chosen company, and the last Mav. er. man standing wins...enough with this civil BS.