Baltan

It makes perfect sense that Baltan would come in a range of sizes--some big, and some small--which is what makes this jumbo 14-inch version by Bandai all the more perfect.

I picked this one up a few years ago at a little shop in L.A. for about twenty dollars... which I think was a great deal.

What I've always loved about vinyl toys is the rough handmade quality of the older figures. Even though this one is from around '84, it still has the kind of textures that you'll find on most really old vinyls. You can almost still see the finger prints of the sculptor left over from when they modeled the figure.

Having done a bit sculpting in both clay and wax, and then having made all kinds of molds myself, I enjoy looking at a toy like this and imagining the creative process behind it.

But I suppose it's that creative process that makes vinyl toys--both vintage and modern--so appealing. It's also that kind of obviously hand crafted quality that has pushed the popularity of designer vinyl or "art toys" forward. I mean... what kid wouldn't look at a toy like this, and imagine that he might sculpt his own monsters or heroes one day?

Baltan

I'm pretty sure that the very first Ultraman episode that I saw--back in the '70s when a local San Francisco channel was playing the show--was the episode with Baltan. Since that time, he's been one of my favorite creatures. There are no bad Baltan toys, and this simple little Bandai figure is a perfect example.

Dada

Antlar

The idea of color variants is no new idea, and though I've never found any specific info on this particular figure, I imagine that it's maybe an exclusive (perhaps a store exclusive) all white version from around '83.



Antlar is a great monster from the Ultraman series. It's nice to have found a DVD of some of the first episodes a little while ago, so I was able to watch the episode where the Science Patrol and Ultraman fight him. First time I'd seen it in over thirty years... brilliant stuff.



About hang tags: I'm not a huge fan of displaying figures with the tags still attached. I know that many collectors consider it important to leave them on, but I'm not likely to sell any of my vinyl figures any time soon, so I prefer removing and saving them. It's also a good way to keep them from getting bent and damaged.

Kanegon

Kanegon is more than just a cool looking monster, he's a kid friendly lesson about how greed is wrong. His big money eating face, crab like body, and bright orange color make him an awesome figure.



This toy is from around '91, which was a few years before Bandai switched over to a softer vinyl, and started manufacturing figures in China instead of Japan.

Bemular

I'd always thought of Bemular as a kind of pathetic and gimpy sort of monster, but given that he's from the first Ultraman episode, and seeing as how this was the first Bandai vinyl that I'd been sucked into buying, he's really sort of special to me.

Godzilla's Gang

As previously mentioned, the Godzilla's Gang line was actually a Mattel release of reworked Japanese figures by the company Popy. It's been widely observed that all of Godzilla's "gang" are actually characters from the Ultra Seven and Ultraman Jack shows, and I've no problem with that, as I imagine that Godzilla could probably hang out with anyone he wants.

Godzilla

Another favorite of mine, is the Yamakatsu Godzilla from around 1983. It was released in two colors, silver and gold, and each came in both a large and small size.

Godzilla

From the late '70s comes this Godzilla figure sold by Mattel in the US, that was made from a version released by Popy in Japan. I love this figure, as well as the entire "Godzilla's Gang" line for two reasons. Firstly, they're awesome. Secondly, I could actually find and afford all of them, unlike the original Japanese versions.

Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger

A good example of something that I'm happy to have, even if it's heavily worn, is this 5-inch vinyl of Mazinger Z.



The toy is somewhat warped and maimed, and is nearly missing an arm actually, because the left shoulder is partially broken on the inside. It's still awesome though. A great example of a perfectly play worn toy... I can only imagine the adventures that it's seen.

And then there are the Great Mazinger vinyls. Both of them by Popy as well, and both with just enough scars to show that they've done battle.




I have two variants of the Great Mazinger figure--one is gold, and the other is silver. Both of them are missing the tiny sword that can be held in hand, or placed in the angular holder of their left side.

Saru No Gundan (Time of the Apes)

Back when I'd first come across these Bullmark vinyls, I had no idea what show they were from. Later, a good friend told me that they were from the Japanese TV series Saru No Gundan from 1974, which was subsequently edited down into a film called Time of the Apes in the '80s.

Time of the Apes eluded me for a long time, until I managed to find a VHS copy at a local video store.

I'd made a bootleg, and was pretty happy to have it in my collection, but now that there isn't a working VCR in my house, it looks like it'll be a while before I enjoy this brilliant Planet of the Apes knockoff.

The vinyl toys are just as brilliant though, and I can enjoy them any time I want. I've only got two figures in my collection, and I'd love to have more.

Kamen Rider Amazon

It's weird to think that eBay has only been around for just over a decade. It was probably at some point in '98 that I discovered eBay, and soon became hooked on collecting obscure-ish Japanese vinyl toys... many of which were being auctioned off for next to nothing.

One of the first figures that I'd ever purchased online was this 5-inch vinyl of Kamen Rider Amazon by Popy. I had next to no idea who the character was at the time, but I loved the way it looked, I loved the three dollar sale price, and I loved that the kid's name ("Mat") was written on its shoulder.




Kamen Rider figures in this size usually come with a plastic scarf, and this one, like most of my 5-inch Kamen Rider vinyls, is missing his scarf. Still though, this thing is one of my favorites.



Just a few years later, online interest in Japanese toys would spike, and prices for simple things like this would climb. I rarely see much that I can afford on eBay anymore, but it was cool being there near the beginning to find the few treasures that I did.

Ultraman Leo

Here's a 7.5-inch vinyl of Ultraman Leo from the '70s by Bullmark. I picked this up for very little, which is why I thought it was a reissue for a while, but now I'm pretty certain it's vintage.

Tetsujin 28

This small Popy vinyl from the very early '80s came (to me) bagged, which is why it's in such great shape. I really love the glittery plastic.

Getter Dragon

A standard 5-inch Popy vinyl from the early '70s, with just the right amount of play wear.

Kamen Rider V3

This 7-1/2-inch tall vinyl figure of Kamen Rider V3 was made by Popy, a sub-division of Bandai, in the early '70s. The bulk of my Kamen Rider figures are smaller, so I'm pretty fond of this one.

Giant Robo

Around a decade ago, I picked up this Bear Model mini figure of Giant Robo at the Mandarake in Torrance, California... before the place decided to vanish... or die... or whatever it did.

Ultraman King

We'll see how long I can continue this, but I'm going to make March "vinyl toy month", and start with this figure of Ultraman King by Takatoku Toys.



This is a 5-inch vinyl from some time in the mid '70s to very early '80s. I've a really great header card stashed away for this one, but for the life of me, I have no idea where I've put it.