Wow great info Roger AND Matt, I've been trying to find that book to get more info. There was an earlier thread where this issue was discussed. Link Below.
Here were my comments...If Daikyo and Gargamel did not "officially" license the rights to make this figure from the manga/book well then two wrongs don't make a right. And it makes no sense that Hukkokudo would license or get legal rights from a company (Daikyo) who presumably made the figure illegally or unofficially. That would be three wrongs that certainly don't make a right. The bottom line is that the creator or artist of the manga/book is basically getting his character/art ripped off and not being compensated. I wonder why no one has contacted the artist, family, publisher whomever really owns the rights, to really licence these characters, then be able to place the real copyright on the packaging.

http://www.skullbrain.org/bb/viewtopic. ... kb&start=0

That's an assumption, isn't it? It's possible that the three manufacturers did attempt to do this and were unsuccessful. Matt may chime in with some examples but there are even major properties from the 1970s that nobody makes toys of because the intellectual property rights can't be properly attributed and established.

Koji posted earlier that Hukkokudo is actually a division of Marmit. Based on previous experience, my impression of the president of Marmit is someone who tends to be a little loose when it comes to copyrights and trademarks, so it wouldn't surprise me if he thought just getting permission from Daikyo was enough to make these reissues legitimately.

I wonder why Marmit went to these lengths to reissue these, though, aside from the obvious (making moolah). Was it some sort of "f you" to Gargamel?

It may have been a little bit of both. Marmit certainly capitlized on Gargamel's reintroduction of these characters and Gargamel's success with them. Maybe they did try to obtain rights, I am sure more info will unfold. I'd love to see the artist/creator come out in some way and maybe shed some light if he is still around.

After a little googling I found this.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/g_sakuhin1954/46719695.html

Scroll down to the last pic and you'll find a familiar face on the right.

Wow, that's awesome! The original design looks a lot like Angilas.

thats rad. i think i've found my new cell phone wallpaper

See, I kept telling everyone that Mightin' was a donut.

And nobody would listen!!!!

From a very old post:

When did Hukkokudo make the Zagora in that paint scheme?

Those Gamerudons are sexy!

The black Gamerudon has never been released either, from what I've seen. Supposedly these were intended to be event releases. They might have only had paint samples at the time.

Aren't the black Gamerudons released as T.E. & Grumble Toy blog versions and the Hyper Hobby pic one and the same?

The colors are slightly different. The one in the photo doesn't really look green or red either.

Also, the Howaton in the bottom left corner looks like the "Aurora" version, but the colors are again slightly different on the one that I have.

I need one of those bad. Hard to find?

Only 10 made.

Does anyone on the board have a Grumble black Gamerudon???

I remember it being for sale but I missed it Pics???

I have a custom of this guy, it's huge and such a great sculpt. I would love to get other colorways.

I know Tim (plover) has the Grumble Toy version. Joe has the Target Earth black version.

The one in the pic above almost looks like the T.E Black version but the eyes appear gold (where as T.E ver. they are silver) and there is no gold paint on the feet. It's hard to tell from the photo though. Looks like a proto.

Also on this note, what ever happened to the clear red Standing Hedoro? I know they went up on Huk's blog, but I wasn't clear if they'd be offered elsewhere, if they even ship to the US/Overseas, etc? Anyone know?

I know TE does not sell directly to overseas customers - try as I might. The new Hedo releases have shipped though. I'm not sure whether S7 is going to be offering these?