Last year at San Diego Comic Con, I had the pleasure of meeting the fine folks at Toymunkey Studios.  I had my assignments, I photographed their booth, spent some time with them learning more about their product lines, the usual convention stuff.  Toymunkey was a little different, however, than other new companies.  Firstly, their “Top Munkey” Scott was someone who has been around the toy industry most of his life.  As a fan, a collector, and working for various companies.  It was clear this wasn’t his first rodeo, and it shows.  I have been given the honor of being the first to review their inaugural piece, The Red Pyramid Thing 1/6 scale PVC statue based on the very popular film and video game franchise “Silent Hill”

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So those who know me know that I have a profound love of Transformers.  It’s one of my main focuses in collecting.  The arrival of a new Masterpiece Transformer is a very special day in my household.  To be fair, I have a love/hate relationship with them.  Sometimes they’re absolutely brilliant.  Grimlock, MP-10 Optimus Prime, Megatron.  Genious.  Then there are the ones that test the limits of my patience.  First issue Starscream (what were they thinking?), Rodimus Prime (absolute disaster).  You get my point.

Sideswipe (Lambor for those of you who don’t know) was my very first Transformer, and my very favorite of the original G1 Autobots.  Without going in to the trappings of a long back story, I was both excited and anxious when he and his mold-mate Red Alert were announced.  Would he be everything I’d hoped?  Would it suck?  I’m happy to report he falls in the category of the former.  Big Time.

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  Over the past year, Mattel has been slowly but surely releasing the Lions of Voltron, and their respective Space Explorer pilots, much to the delight of Voltron fans everywhere.  I think the wonderful thing about these toys is the fact a company as big as Mattel even made him in the first place.  Sure, there’s a new cartoon on the air now, but this is classic Voltron, a Voltron from my time – The classic Lion Force Voltron.  It’s like a slice of mom’s homemade pie straight from your childhood.  And to answer everyone’s burning question – they did good by him. (...)
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Today we’re going to take a peek at the Green Lion & Pidge, going on sale at Mattycollector.com tomorrow, as well as the August set, the Blue Lion & Princess Allura! If you’ve read the previous entries detailing the Red Lion and Yellow Lion, these are their corresponding limb counterparts. Also included are two more parts of the huge electrified collect-n-connect Blazing Sword! And we’re off!!!

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As we race towards Comicon and the sunny shores of San Diego, I am harkened back to this time last year, when just rumors of a gigantic, fully transforming Voltron by Mattel floated through the spring air….

Flash-forward to one year later, and we are already two-fifths of the way to completing this heroic monstrosity!  If you caught our last installment, we were taking a sneak-peek advance look at Lance and his Red Lion.  Today, it’s his chunky comrade in arms, Hunk and his trusty Yellow Lion!  Let’s go!!!

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Our favorite Defender of the Universe is back is his own graphic novel!  VIZ Media has generously sent along a preview, this one looks to be a sure-fire winner, continuing the Voltron Force saga as soon as in the new cartoon.  It’s time to slay some RoBeasts!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LET’S GO VOLTRON FORCE®!
VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURES FOR ALL AGES WITH NEW
VOLTRON FORCE GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

VOLTRON FORCE® Updates the Classic ‘80s Sci-fi Epic
For A Whole New Generation of Fans

San Francisco, CA, April 3, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, debuts today the riveting outer space action of VOLTRON FORCE®, in a new graphic novel series that complements the animated series currently airing on Nicktoons. VOLTRON FORCE Volume 1: SHELTER FROM THE STORM, under the VIZ Kids imprint, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

VOLTRON® is a hugely successful brand that is recognized globally ever since it was introduced in the early 1980’s. Season one of VOLTRON FORCE debuted on Nicktoons in 2011 and was the highest rated premiere ever for the network. The new series is a continuation of the classic ‘80s cartoon, Voltron: Defender of the Universe, with updated storylines and characters for a whole new generation.

VIZ Media’s graphic novels are all-new, original adventures featuring Larmina, Daniel and Vince, the Voltron Force cadets. In the first volume of the series, SHELTER FROM THE STORM, the evil King Lotor and his villainous minion Maahox unleash a horrifying storm, churning with evil energy. When Daniel, Larmina and Vince are sucked into the vortex, their worst nightmares come true!

“Many of us at VIZ—myself included—were huge Voltron fans as kids, so being part of the reimagining of this iconic series is a real thrill,” says Traci Todd, Senior Editor, Children’s Publishing. “The best part? Everyone creating these books is a fan too! From the action-packed adventures by series writer Brian Smith, to the stunning art of Jacob Chabot, Dario Brizuela and Alfa Robbi–these books are truly labors of love.”

VOLTRON FORCE writer Brian Smith is a former Marvel Comics editor whose past credits include The Ultimates, Ultimate Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and dozens of other comics. Smith is also the co-creator/writer behind the New York Times best-selling graphic novel The Stuff of Legend, and the writer/artist of all-ages comic The Intrepid Escape Goat.

Smith is also the illustrator of The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA LOUDBOY!, named one of The Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youths 2009 by Booklist Online. His illustration clients include Time Out New York Magazine, Nickelodeon, MAD Kids Magazine, Harper Collins, Bongo Comics, Grosset & Dunlap, and American Greetings.

For more information on VOLTRON FORCE or other VIZ Kids properties, please visit: www.VIZKids.com.

About Voltron®
In a galaxy plagued with chaos and evil, five robotic lions, piloted by a team of brave space explorers, combine to form the mighty robot hero, Voltron®. After blazing onto TV screens in 1984, Voltron: Defender of the Universe quickly became a top-rated animated series. The hit series inspired a best-selling toy line and made Voltron a pop-culture icon. An all-new 2D/CGI animated series, Voltron Force®, is currently airing in the U.S. on Nicktoons. Follow Voltron on Twitter @Voltron or join the official Voltron Facebook page at Facebook.com/VoltronOfficial for all the latest news.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Just when you thought it was safe to start saving money again…..

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As time has gone on, these offerings have sputtered to an almost non-existent drip. Aside from the rare and expensive garage kit, there only existed a dark and empty void.

Then emerged the little company that could – Y-MSF. Unlike other smaller action figure companies, this tiny operation got the Toho licenses, hired some talented sculptors, and did what no one else has been able or willing to do – Make cool Godzilla vinyl action figures. In the past year, we’ve gotten some of the most fan requested, empty shelf space filling, obscure characters from the Godzilla movies. Each figure has improved upon the last, with better paint apps, sharper sculpts, and faithful scales.

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As a lifelong Godzilla fan and collector, the pickings were kind of slim. In the 1970′s, we were treated to a Shogun Warriors Godzilla, which was pretty off-model, an un-articulated PVC that came with a playset, and the Aurora model, which was as articulated (not at all) as most offerings. We were teased by images of kids playing with Godzilla toys in the movies, but that was about it. Then came the glorious 80′s, which brought to market the Bandai Vinyl Collection. These 8" "action" figures were semi-articulated, and offered a wide variety of characters. This line would come to pass as the definitive toyline, which continues to this day in limited 6" releases. The 1980′s also saw the rise of the ultra-detailed Garage kit offerings.

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That’s pretty much how this little venture started.  A local friend and artist simply named “Talker” and I got to talking over drinks one night, and decided that our shelves needed, nay – demanded we do something about it, and the partnership was formed.  He’s amazingly talented with wood.  He’s got 30 years experience and all the tools needed, and he cranks out shapes and plans faster than anyone.  We agreed on our first project – The Cantina, and started drawing up plans, gathering materials, the usual stuff (all the pics after the jump!)

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