Something tells me this thread won't be too popular, but I just started getting into the new Bandai Namco figures and really like these guys. One day I'll splurge and get a Figuarts figure.
I’ve been reading the Marvel Ultraman comics, but my only knowledge beyond that is some vague memories of watching the show as a child. I do have the 18” Ultraman they put out a couple of years back.
I started getting into the show with the Blu-Ray releases over the last several years. I never knew there was another related series (not to mention a massive franchise) other than the original show until these sets. Ultraman was at the top of my superhero list with Spidey and other comic heroes as a kid. It's great now that Youtube, Prime, Shout, Tubi and whoever else now streams these series/films/specials to catch up on the shows that I haven't bought yet.
Well, I finally dipped my toe into the Ultraman Figuarts line. Pop Market has a 15% code and really low prices on some of my favorites, so I grabbed:
Ultraman Geed (Primitive)
Ultraman Decker (Flash Type)
Absolutian Tartarus (one of my very favorite designs from the entire Ultraverse--can't wait for his return!)
I remember watching Ultraman as a kid in 1992 (the Australian production that aired in the US). I loved it back then, and wanted the Bandai America toys, but too many other things ended up catching my interest at the same time that the toys took a back seat. I'm with fac, I'd love updated versions of those!
Edit: Just Googled, and the toys were actually done by Bandai DreamWorks.
I never knew there was more to Ultraman (1966) until I saw the VHS/DVD for the Australian show at Amazon in the early 00s. I immediately recognized it was a different Ultraman than I watched as a kid, which puzzled me as I then noticed it was an Australian production--puzzling me even further. But the internet still being shit at the time, I couldn't find any info on that show or anything else. It wasn't until the Blu-Rays started hitting a few years back that I realized what a massive franchise it had become. It was crazy to find out there was even an American production I'd never heard of as well with my man, Harrison Page, from Sledge Hammer.
I love both Ultra Q and the first Ultraman because they're so strange and goofy, but the franchise lost more and more of its original weirdness with each iteration to the point that it's mostly absent by the 90s. Still, I have a bunch of sofubi Ultraman kaiju from Bandai and a Monster X Semi Ningen I really love.
Please, forgive the shit photo. I just wanted to post because I was excited Tartarus' circular space/time warp background has the exact OD of the MCU sling-ring warp's ID on top of the colors matching. My stocking feet were splaying out on my wood floor while I tried to get a lower angle.
My one complaint about the awesome background is that the stand is too high to really center a figure correctly, but it is a nice thick plastic that I don't have to worry about bending/warping over time.
Well, Amazon suckered me for 2 more Figuarts with 30% off coupons on some gradually lowering prices over the last week or 2. Grabbed my 2nd favorite Ultra of the franchise, Zoffy, and my 2nd favorite to come out in the last 20 years, Ultraman Taiga, both $30 each. I had set some rules for myself and getting this line:
1.) Price must be under $35 (for Ultras/aliens, I haven't encountered a kaiju/choju/robot at a low enough price to decide my limit yet).
2.) Stick with original/prominent forms of each character.
Right now DD has an Ultraman Orb marked down and with coupon brings it under my limit, but it's neither his original nor prominent form so I begrudgingly have to pass
Shit! Just got Trumped. Ordered Ultraman Z in my price range from HK seller on Ebay Sunday and now received the following message: Thank you for your business!
But, due to HK post notices, we have to stop to ship out the package to the USA.
So, we are sorry that we have no choice but to cancel the orders.
We will go through a full refund to you.
On the bright side, I just received Ultraman Orb Origin (the version I wanted) from Amazon last night.