Tokusatsu products are considered as a major topic here at Hero Club, so it is the perfect category to cap off the Holiday Buyers Guide! Starting off the list is one of the originators of the genre, Ultraman! Following the Ultraman products, we transition to Toei brands such as Kamen Rider, Super Sentai and Power Rangers, since it is the American adaptation of Super Sentai. Closing out this listing is the King of the Monsters, Godzilla, which will feature items from the Monster Planet anime film!
Ultraman
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DX Geed Riser & Ultra Zero Eye Neo MSRP: 8320 yen
“Get over now! Get over pain!” Because this is the ultimate set for Ultraman Geed fans! The DX Geed Riser & Ultra Zero Eye Neo is wonderful due to the multiple purposes that these items serve. One can either use the Geed Riser to Fusion Rise into Ultraman Geed, or a Belial-Fusion Beast. In addition, combine the Ultra Zero Eye Neo with it to become Ultraman Zero Beyond. The set features a total of six Ultra Capsules!
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DX Magnificent Ultra Capsule Set MSRP: 1200 yen
Now, it does not really matter which Ultra Capsule Set(s) one gets! However, we are featuring the Magnificent due its popularity among the staff member here. The reason we chose this set is because it is one of the few to feature both an Ultra Fusion Rise, and a Belial Fusion Beast. In addition, we enjoy the form Ultraman Geed Magnificent which fuses Zero with Father of Ultra, as well as Pedanium Zetton (Zetton & King Joe)! Furthermore, the episodes in which they debut in are amazing, so check it out on Crunchyroll!
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Ultra Hero & Ultra Monster DX Vinyls MSRP: 600 – 2500yen
Every series has vinyl figures, but the Ultraman related ones are usually the best! The reason is because of the vast array of heroes, aliens, and monster to choose from, as well as the diverse sizes. These items are highly collectible!
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S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Orb Orb Origin
Ultraman Orb is back… technically, and it is all thanks to Tamashii Nations! In Summer, Tamashii Nations released S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Orb Orb Origin as well as its Amazon Japan exclusive counterpart. Now, this S.H.Figuarts is simply wonderful, and it is a must have for fans!
Kamen Rider
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DX Build Driver MSRP: 6000 JPY
Kamen Rider Build is the current Kamen Rider, and final Rider in Heisei Era! Now, as such Build’s henshin device is the Build Driver; it is mechanical steampunk-like belt that works by turning a crank. However, one needs to load it up with the Full Bottles, the collectible gimmick of the series, which look pistons when activated. Full Bottles create Best Matches if paired correctly, but luckily enough they are labeled! The Build Driver itself consists of the belt, and two Full Bottles that create the Best Match, RabbitTank!
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DX Cross Dragon MSRP: 3000 JPY
The Cross Dragon is the attachment required to becoming Kamen Rider Build’s secondary Rider, Kamen Rider Cross-Z! However, one will still need to insert the Dragon Full Bottle before completing the transformation. Luckily enough, that Full Bottle does come with this product. In addition, the Dragon Full Bottle can be paired with the Lock Full Bottle (campaign item in Japan) to form the Best Match, KeyDragon.
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Kamen Rider Build So Do Figures MSRP: 400 JPY
Every year there is a coexisting Candy Toy action figure line to go along with the current season! Now like Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Build’s series is a clever way to avoid the basic BCR figures. The first wave of figures gave the option to be purchased either singularly, as a wave, or an entire case if one lives in Japan. However, options for international fans are to purchase entire cases (roughly 5000 JPY), unless online stores provide the alternative options. Never the less, it is an effective way to get all of Kamen Rider Build’s Best Matches, and additional characters!
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S.H.Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Ichigo & Takeshi Hongo MSRP: 6000 JPY
First there is S.H. Figuarts Takeshi Hongo, which is a stunning design based on Hiroshi Fujioka when he was at his prime. Then there is his transformed form state, as Ichigo! However, with Ichigo being a Seihou it is the most exact S.H.Figuart representation for the character currently. Both Takeshi Hongo and Kamen Rider Ichigo are set to release in December, so it makes them the perfect pair and gift for any Kamen Rider fan!
Super Sentai & Power Rangers
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DX Seiza Blaster MSRP: 4800 JPY
Uchu Sentai Kyuranger is the current on-going Super Sentai series, however currently it almost at the end of its run. Yet, during its airing the main transformation device, the Seiza Blaster, has been one of the most wanted toys. Luckily it is one of the better stocked toys too, meaning practically anyone should not have too much trouble buying it. In mounts to the arm, features lights and sounds, as well as can read every Kyutama made to access the Kyurangers’ various powers.
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DX Kyurenoh MSRP: 8600 JPY
The Kyurangers mecha is called Kyurenoh; it is a five-piece mecha formed from the core five Voyagers (Shishi, Chameleon, Kajiki, Wolf, Oushi) of the main nine. Yet, since Shishi Voyager is the body the other Voyagers serve as its limbs, but feature the ability to be either an arm or leg. However, these limbs are interchangeable with the other four which are sold separately (Sasori, Washi, Hebitsukai, Tenbin). In addition, the Shishi features working electronics to read the various Kyutama like the Seiza Blaster.
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Super Mini-Pla Daizyujin & Dragon Caeser
Super Mini-Pla is still a fledgling series of being advanced Mini-Pla kits for various mecha. Kicking off the tokusatsu portion of Super Mini-Pla is oddly enough Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger’s Daizyujin, and Dragon Caeser. One reason as to why these two were chosen is because of Zyuranger being known as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in North America. In addition, to the fact Bluefin Tamashii quickly distributed these products shortly after their release in Japan. They are wonderful kits featuring more regular kit construction process and design; that means one may need to bust out their building tools, and take more time assemble.
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BullRider Megazord MSRP: $29.99 – 34.99
Power Rangers Ninja Steel is over, but will return in 2018 as Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel! With the original run being hard to find and cleared out of stores, the Super Ninja Steel reissue is the easier version of the BullRider Megazord to come by. The overall Megazord is probably the best one made in the entire toy line. However, it can combine the Ninja Steel Megazord to form the Ninja Fusion Zord.
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Legacy 6.5” Figures MSRP: $19.99
The Legacy line is Bandai’s method to compete with Hasbro’s Marvel Legends, or Mattel’s DC Multiverse figures. However, they are not entirely perfect rivals! Never the less, this year the waves and assortments met some issues hitting retail. Yet, from what was released there were a few nominally good figures like Metallic Rangers!
Godzilla
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S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla (2017) MSRP: 9936 yen
Tamashii Nations quickly set forth to produce a S.H.MonsterArts for the 2017 rendition of Godzilla! This version of Godzilla is how the King of the Monsters is depicted in the anime film, Godzilla: Monster Planet. Now, the film is currently out in Japan, and from what we understand Godzilla (2017) is the largest Godzilla yet! While this is great gift to get a Godzilla fan, the only issue is it may not arrive for Christmas since it is a December release.
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Movie Monster Series Vinyls – Monster Planet MSRP: 1800 yen
With Monster Planet releasing this year in theater in Japan, or early 2018 for those waiting on Netflix, Bandai releases vinyl figures for the monsters. First from Monster Planet is the King of the Monsters, himself, Godzilla who looks very similar to Legendary Goji. The only difference is its blue-ish color, and overly muscular body. Whereas, the other figure is for the new kaiju, Servum, a wyvern-like creature that is seen in the animated feature.
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NECA Shin Godzilla MSRP: $23.99
Yet, again NECA capitalizes on the chance to make a new Godzilla figure for one of the more recent installments. NECA’s Shin Godzilla figure released in late Summer, but at times can be a hard figure to come across. The figure is quite wonderful and pretty accurate to the on-screen design. The NECA figure also serves as a fair and reasonable substitute for any of the Tamashii Nations S.H.MonsterArts releases for Shin Godzilla thus far.
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Tamashii MIX Super Mechagodzilla (Ohrai Noriyoshi Poster Color Ver.) MSRP: $184.99
From Tamashii Nations the Tamashii MIX Super Mechagodzilla is based on Ohrai Noriyoshi’s original poster art for the character. Now, originally when Noriyoshi drew the poster he was under the belief that he was drawing the final working production design for Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II. However, during production the design drastically change due to the complexity of the concept to have Mechagodzilla be a multi-vehicle combining mecha. Yet, due to popularity in the poster and un-used concept art, 24 years later Bandai thought at least make a product out of it! Thankfully, Bluefin Tamashii was also able to distribute this behemoth too to North America…
Now, this finally concludes Hero Club’s Holiday Buyer’s Guide 2017! We hope our choices helped our readers with their holiday shopping! In addition, we are already looking towards next year’s guide. Maybe the next one might be some sort of catalog?! Never the less, thanks for reading and always checking in with Hero Club…
