A shitload of pics from Superfest 2008

Ok, here are some pix from Superfest 2008. The Hot Tears of Shame podcast of Tokyo's 47th grand old bi-annual "Get the Toy" event is here.

Our buddies at Aoshima hit us hard out of the starting gate where it counts with a new die-cast Goten-go (AKA Atragon) from that Tohoscope spectacular Kaitei Gundan. The killer app here is the battery-operated rotating drill in front. 

Aoshima is also pumping out a sweet light-up die-cast Queen Emeraldus to match their line of Captain Harlock spaceships bound to make Steve Harrison weep.

If that doesn't do the trick for graduates of the School of '78, maybe this will: a die-cast Deslar flagship from the nutty bunch at Marmit. The box helpfully points out "From Space Battleship Yamato." Like, no DURRRR!

Superfest rules because it's all about old toys and funky kaijyu soft vinyl. If the wares on display at the M-1 table don't make your inner 5-year-old-in-short-pants froth at the mouth, then best venture elsewhere for moe figures and endless Gundam mobile suits.

M-1 celebrates the landmark, epoch-making release of the Godman and Greenman DVD box (at right) with a new Godman figure, yours for the low, low price of around US$60.00.

Only at Superfest does the X-From Outer Space share the same cheap card table with the likes of honorable Jet Jaguar samma.

More M-1 madness: the DX Kanegon (sunglasses not included). Yours for around US$150.00, after which, your kane-be-gone.

I was so high on the scent of sofbi that I forgot the name of the guy hawking this line of pocket-sized monsters along with mini-buildings for them to menace.

Most of Superfest is made up of an Octagon of Misfit Toys destined to haunt subsequent cons to come. Because everyone needs a rumpy Superman soft vinyl, a trio of Toei robot heroes, and Kotetsu Jeeg figures that cost a million dollars.

Tricycle savages with hot steel between their legs roaring through the streets on chopped down hogs! From right, Tatsunoko's Pinocchio, Silver Kamen, and Mirror Man.

Marusan had the darnest booth where folks tossed softballs at sofbi matsuri-style to win free prizes. On display were some of the new hot ones from the factory, including a big-ass new Mecha Godzilla that nearly made Matt Alt weep hot tears of Space Titanium.

Samples of Adam from Evangelion (perhaps you've heard of it). Not sure what these were made out of, but it can't be wholesome...

The 36th Chamber of Superfest was Western Toy Hell presided over by an arch-fiend and firedrake known only as THAT MAN.

THAT MAN insisted that everyone consider playing and fondling his rare mint-in-package Madballs."Toss 'em! Bounce 'em! Catch 'em!" he demanded to no one in particular (except Joey Coco, who bolted upright in his sleep).

My pick for Best of Show goes to CCP and their line of "artistic monsters." Behold the whole blingy line-up of their limited editon Hedorah figures!

But CCP's masterpiece has got to be their Passion of the Ultra Brothers playset, suitable for inclusion in Christmas nativity scenes. Sound chip that plays Issao Sasaki's cover of "Always Looks on the Bright Side of Life" not included (sadly).

The last thing I saw before I hit the floor and turned into a thousand scattered atoms was the elusive Rats&Star figure...maybe next year?

Comments

[danno!]

I'm just gonna sit here and weep deeply over this vision of mad pop culture touchstones and know the end of times is near. Then I'm gonna sit down and read Gravity's Rainbow until it makes sense.

[danno!]

Or maybe I'll go out and just get drunk.

Stupid drunk.

[Patrick Macias]

New category: Pop Deculture.

[Steve Harrison]

Gotta say, I'm a little bit more thrilled by the Goten-go than the Queen Emeraldas, but yes, I will weep hot tears of shame that I want them both.

That Desslar ship is not so good however. I think they went with the Playstation design with the evil looking mad angles and stuff.

And I need an Ultraman on a cross. I need to build a shrine around that.

[Patrick Macias]

Actual footage of crucified Ultra Bros. here:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=7n_gwz0iC8k

[Patrick Macias]

Oh honorable Harrison-samma, I must confess that the Desslar ship pic was stretched out ever-so slightly to fit the size of the rest of the pics. It looked quite a bit cooler, and more anime-accurate, in real life. Plus, the whole thing is made out of solid die-cast! Are you sold yet, or wat?

[Aceface]

Needless to say Ultraman Ace has been my favourite of the series and the picture suddenly taken me back to my days watching the re-run on 5 o'clock in the morning in 1979!

The name of the planet where Ultra bros.are being crucified is Planet "Golgotha" and the name of the monsters fighting along with "Ace Killer" is "Barabbas".
I was actually surprised when I read the new testament years later in the U.S that it somewhat resembles one of the episode of Ultraman Ace....

http://next884mat.at.webry.info/200608/article_13.html

[Patrick Macias]

The Ultrafans seem to be divided into two camps: staunch fundamentalists who hate everything after Kaettekita Ultraman, and those willing to give most everything else at least a try. I guess I'm in the latter camp, although Taro is kind of a pain. Love the first two stormy episodes of Leo tho, although I've heard some complain, "he's not even from M-78!" thus negating the hard work of many men in rubber suits.

[Steve Harrison]

Solid die-cast has its points, but man, at the kind of price I expect it would end up being (over $200, easy. ) it should SHOOT and light up and stuff.

Picture doesn't seem THAT stretched, given the box and how it all seems.

If money was not an issue, I'd buy EVERYTHING man. But since I am broke-ass, I can be picky. :)

As to Ultraman, I think just the first series and Ultra Seven is all I really need. The Franchise has always seemed to go insane goofy the more it went on. OTOH, that whole thing with Ace Killer seems tres intense.

BCI/Navarre, get on it! MORE ULTRAMAN! MORE LIVE ACTION! How about Greenman/Godman? Short episodes for the short attention span of the AmeriOtaku!

rant rant knapsack of rant