UPCOMING TEASER RELEASE : BOTCON 2012 'GIGATRON'/ OVERLORD!

12:07 AM in Botcon 2012, Exclusive Repaint, G1 HOMAGE, OVERLORD, Remake, reminiscent

Hello folks! Sincere apologies for not updating my blog, been busy on the travelling side as I visited Beijing, China sometime last week. Back and refreshed from my trip, here to preview another anticipated release, this time straight hot off the highly anticipated upcoming annual USA-themed Transformers Convention- Botcon, which is slated to take place sometime in April 2012. 

The Overlord@ 'Gigatron'  homage was the first reveal from the Themed Boxed Set of 6 remoulded/ repainted Classics/ Henkei figures, this time with Fun Publications utilizing the Classics Bludgeon/Banzaitron mould.  Today, courtersy of

Hong Kong Fans Group - '

Transformers Galaxy', we get to examine up-close the detailed changes made in terms of how the color scheme matches the original Generation One Masterforce Overlord. 

This incarnation of Overlord is derived from the inspiration of how uber Transformers artist Nick Roche, depicted the Emperor of Destruction is the highly acclaimed and mind-blowingly rated Transformers Graphic novel: 'Last Stand of The Wreckers' (LSOTW)

When TFW2005 picked up this story on their front page news, and I knew I had to feature this on my blog  for one of two reasons: First: It's the very first time, ever, that the Overlord character was remade into a homage in toy incarnation since it's original 1989 release; and two, when the first pictures surfaced, the majority of fickle Transformers fans reaction of the chosen mould- Bludgeon, was received with much scorn and trepidation. Admittedly, I was one of those who thought that the great history and reverence of such an important character such as Overlord in the fandom should at the very least receive the  highest form of treatment it deserved. The head sculpt then, looked certainly quite unfitting on Bludgeons body, but oh how perceptions can change once better and clearer quality pictures of this toy surfaced.  He certainly looks miles better and the sculpt is nothing short of fantastic- pouty lips and all- in the same vein as Roche's depiction as seen in LSOTW- 

Tank mode is pretty spot on, because it works- while looking menacingly like his original Generation 1 predecessor, albeit without the 'Mega-Jet' portion to combine into his robot mode. I have to admit that using the tank-mode from Bludgeon is a stroke of genius.  The colors pay a great homage to the 'Giga-Tank' original, and works well in both modes. As his Bio is shown,  from Transformers Wiki.com, he has a ruthless history littered with violence and anarchy. True to his namesake, he is merciless and unrepentant...all the qualities of a tyrannical Decepticon leader.  

Dreamwave Generation 1 comics

Gigatron was an ancient Cybertronian, who developed an idea to allow Decepticons to survive on alien planets by biologically integrating local inhabitants into their systems. In modern times, Gigatron's records were uncovered and used to develop the Powermaster process. More than Meets the Eye #8

[IDW Generation 1 comics 

“	A good strategist is half psychologist and half sadist. And I was the best.	”
—Overlord, Last Stand of the Wreckers #3

Hey, he appeared as a rabid fan of gladiatorial combat in a crowd shot once. Wouldn't it be awesome if someone built a whole character round that?.

In the days before the Cybertronian civil war, Overlord was an avid spectator of Megatron's gladiatorial matches. Like many, this led him to join the charismatic pit fighter's army and bear the badge of the Decepticons. Megatron Origin #2

However, Overlord perhaps didn't join for the right reasons. He was enthralled not with the loftiness of the Decepticon cause that Megatron espoused, but more with the glorious excess of the gladiator battles and the freedom of making entire worlds his arena. ToOverlord, the ends didn't matter overly much when the means themselves were this pleasurable. As a result his tactics developed a reputation as unsound, and his schemes as nothing more than flights of brutal whimsy. Unlike many other powerful Decepticons, he had no interest in command, only in taking his slaughter to the next stage. Megatron was not convinced, however, believing the image of Overlord as simply interested in killing to be a façade, and began searching for a way to exert greater control over him.

Final thoughts: A very excellent homage which will test the resolve of Masterforce fan-boys and give them a valid reason to go all out and purchase him.  I know I will certainly try and achieve and strike up a deal to get Botcon 2012 Overlord. 

Last Stand Of The Wreckers/ Overlord Copyright IDW Publishing'/ Hasbro & Takara 2011

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WING SABER TOYZ SPOTLIGHT: REVOLTECH YAMAGUCHI Series No 085: UFO Robo Grendeizer!

9:07 AM in Go Nagai, granddaddy of super robot shows, gRANDIZER, not in collection, old school mecha, reminiscent, Revoltech, Yamaguchi

Hello there folks, this is yours truly WSX just giving YET another random musing and blog post for today. Basically, as I have previously and humbly mentioned, I will be occasionally putting up some toy and Mecha spotlights that I am particularly fond of or just having some memories of them. There is no exception to the rule of thumb, simply because im very sure that most hobbyists or collectors have their own limits, be it time and space, not to mention other real world commitments to handle, mortgages, car repayments and insurances. But im thankful that I am still able to occasionally indulge in the love for my hobby, albeit due to the fact that my circumstances are at present, rather non-committal..PHEW! ;-P

The inspirational and super influential Go' Nagai-sama! 

This time, WSX would like to give a HUGE NOD OF APPRECIATION to one of the most iconic and early recognized 1970's mecha that was the catalyst for the sudden influence and inspiration for the Super Robot genre in Japan ever since. 

GRENDIZER INTRO:- WIKIPEDIA

UFO Robot Grendizer (UFOロボ·グレンダイザー UFO Robo Gurendaizā^?, sometimes romanizedas UFO Robo Grendizer) is a super robot TV anime and manga created by manga artist Go Nagai. It was broadcast on Japanese television from October 5, 1975, to February 27, 1977, and lasted 74 episodes.^[1][2] The robot's first appearance in the United States was as a part of the Shogun Warriors line of super robot toys imported in the late 1970s by Mattel, then in Jim Terry's Force Five series, both under the title Grandizer. It is still widely popular in the Middle East and was especially popular in continental Europe and in the province of Quebec under the title, "Goldorak.

GRENDIZER GETS THE REVOLTECH TREATMENT! 

I love to admire the technique which the Japanese modeling and Otaku sculptors handle the production process of certain dynamic and iconic Mecha and various characters with extreme reverence to the original source material. As with this February 2010 release, the team at REVOLTECH has yet again delivered another solid and beautiful sculpt. Basically, the Yamaguchi series epitomises a more dynamic and "jazzed-up" versions of famous Japanese characters. IMHO, quality rules the day!

PAINT SCHEME AND OVERALL IMPRESSION:- 

SHARP, BOLD AND METALLIC COLOUR SCHEME. WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?! STAYS FAITHFUL TO THE ANIME ROBOT MODEL, AND CAN AS USUAL, BE POSED IN A SUPER-DIMENSIONAL WAY..(whatever THAT means! LOL!)  

MINI STATISTICS ON RELEASE:- 

* 120mm tall. 17 points of articulation, 11 Revoltech joints used.
* Double Harken can be separated
* The Screw Crusher can be connected to each other
* Harkens on the shoulders can be detached. Different compatible ones are included for the weapon (Double Harken)
* Weapons and accessories: Double Harken x1, option hand unit x4, Screw Crusher x2 (left and right), display base x1, RevolContainer x1, RevolChip worth 10 points x1.

February 15th release, 2,400 Yen (inclusive of tax).

WSX VERDICT?

STRICTLY FOR FANS-DUH!  :-p

PICTURES LINKED AND COURTESY 2010 - REVOLTECH

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