I just see it as the same thing that Gargamel has done with the IKB characters.

I'm not saying that is good or bad, just pointing out that it's not an original character.

not a big fan of killer j's previous sculpts, but the colorways save the day. great colorways. and as far as ripping off goes, I think this sculpt is so much better than the smoking-mutant-head-blopus-bemon. feels more like he's bringing it back than straight up biting it (but I haven't see full shots) In any case, I would buy this if it's very close to kidclam's figure.

i know you know Vombie, but just so people ain't confused, the photos I posted are of the Marusan.

First: this homage to the OG is tight...very cool.

Second: I think one this sort of this was discussed in the Gargamel Rokuron thread; that being, as opposed to the vast majority of creations in the USA, Japanese culture have much more in the "public domain". Meaning that the rights to the OG are "permission free". That essentially means anyone can use and reuse the OG w/o permission or release from the creator AND they may profit from this. If I am not mistaken, this is how companies like Gargamel are able to release their Zokki line.

If I may.

This figure is really nice. It's the kind you get in your hands and you are immediately sold.
I like the size too, it looks rather big, above standard.
The sculpt and detail is pretty tight as well.

Here's a better pic.

hmmm. I think I like kidclam's Marusan figure more. this one is still pretty cool though.

Blah Blah Blah, I'm not bashing, I was just confused. It's like a repro exists, so why anothr repro, that looks almost the same fully with no visual or stylistic diffrence? I'm also not saying anything like "Killer J is cashing in" or something, but it's like if I produced another Bullmark Repro Hedorah that looks almost exactly the same as M1's. What's the point? Or are those other repros not made anymore. My questions stem from just not knowing. It's a cool figure, no matter who's reproducing it.

How many toy companies have done a Zag? Gargamel, Shikaruna, Hokkukudo.
Wasn't the zag originally made decades ago by Daikyo? Yet collectors here still love the Zag.
I approve, not that it matters.

I like the retro paint app. Looks pretty cool.

in hand, it's pretty big as PK mentioned, but the texture of the arms and legs make this figure imo.

That's exactly what I meant too. and Zag is a bad example EVERY interpretation has been entirely unique and are almost totally unrelated in style and character. This while insanely awesome [ I will be chasing atleast one.] looks pretty damn close to the Bera that is in my display case right now.

Halloweenie Bera I picked up in Tokyo.

Doesn't show him in a great fashion, but this weird dude was a great find for me. The $10 price tag also helped...

Every Zag is stylistically different. This is the same as the other repro, almost identical, I thought it WAS the other repro.

I'm cool with it, just confused with the nearly same sculpt, no stylistic difference really. It's not like "Killer j's spin on it" it's just the same. Again, not complaining, I love the sculpt, but you'd think he'd add something else to it.

From the front it looks the same.
The back is a whole other story.
Oh yea, it doesn't have a tail.

Well if he can convince people to buy a resculpted version of a shelfwarmer toy at a higher price, good for him.

"But she's got a new hat!"

Well, Marusan is still in existence so I'm not sure how one of their original characters would be in the public domain for it to be copied like this even without the tail and texture difference. A lot of assumtions...maybe he has an agreement with Marusan...maybe not.

there is a lot of speculation going on here about the "legit" factor to this figure.
killerj is a board member here, so i'm sure sooner or later he will fall on this and give his explanation.
also, i'd consider it more of a knock off than a bootleg. but it doesn't matter, because i like both.

you seem to like anything he puts out

that's a negative.
i dislike the star pet.

but hey, he did give me a proto black smoking star as a gift, so i will always have his back!

any proto black is most welcome!

Nice Malibu Stacey reference!

If J would have just named this Bera instead of Sarumon, this conversation probably wouldn't have taken place. He has obviously taken a vintage figure and put his stamp on it. I think it is an improvement over the original, too.

I think it looks almost 100% the same. Some changes, but not enough to even count as "his stamp."

ANd it isn't just a vintage piece Marusan has released repro's.

very well put, but
a repro without new creative input and without permission is a bootleg
and to me it is cashing in on another artists design.