Pro-Kaku Heroes - Mini Big Head Figures Vol. 8. figure review

On November 14th, 2006, Character Product released their eight
wave of Mini Big Head figures.

The Vol. 8. hobby box cover containing 15 randomly inserted Vol. 8. Mini Big Heads.

The theme for Vol. 8. was inspired by legendary Joshi Pro-Wrestlers
from over the last thirty plus years from various defunct and modern
female Wrestling promotions such as AJW, GAEA, and even a minor
reference to KAIENTAI Dojo!
 

Care to open a blind box?

                     
Vol. 8. would feature the largest roster of figures to collect since
Vol. 1. with a total of thirty figures plus a special, secret figure.

An individual Vol. 8. blind box.

The figures of Vol. 8. are:

to kick things off, "flying angel" Manami Toyota (who just
retired this year) and fellow legend: Mimi Hagiwara.

Manami Toyota comes painted in a classic Japanese Empress
entrance attire while Mimi Hagiwara's Mini Big Head includes
entrance cape and tiara.

                         
                              
Mimi's entrance cape is also removable with a peg hole placed
at the back of the Mimi Mini Big Head.

This year's prom king and queen are...

               
                          
The only other Mini Big Head to feature a removable cape
is the Vol. 2. Bob Sapp (A) Mini Big Head from the K-1
themed set.

                       
                      
Two more 1980's throwback Mini Big Heads come in the form
of the legendary Dump Matsumoto along with modern power
-house Aja Kong!

Dump Matsumoto's entrance attire; complete with Kendo
stick, police hat, sunglasses and leather entrance vest is based
on the incredibly popular Joshi faction "Gokuaku Domei"
(translation: Attrocious Alliance) which Dump would lead.

The second Dump Matsumoto Mini Big Head in regular ring
attire contains a different haircuit, alternate facepaint/ring attire
colours and a small tattoo!

                                                                      

We can't talk about the famous Gokuaku Domei stable without
mentioning their greatest rivals: legendary Tag Team - Lioness
Asuka (not THAT Asuka) and Chigusa Nagayo of the "Crush
Gals".

                       
                      

Both Crush Gals were available in their entrance karate gi's as well
as their 1980's leotard ring attires. Chigusa's ring variant also sports
a more 80's hair style.

                   

                             

WWF enthusiasts might recognize this popular 1980's tag team:
The Jumping Bomb Angels - Itsuki Yamazaki (left) and Noriyo
Tateno (right) along with 1990's Joshi star Mariko Yoshida.

                           

                             
As another throwback figure, Yoshida is sporting a more
colourful ring attire from the earlier part of her in-ring
career.

There are no shortage of legends in Vol. 8's 31-Wrestler
roster with Jaguar Yokota, Devil Masami and submission
specialist Shinobu Kandori.

All three Joshi's once again feature throwback looks from
the 1990's. Devil Masami's attire also contains silver paint
highlights.

                           

Making her Mini Big Head return is the innovator of the
Northern Lights Bomb: the legendary Akira Hokuto along
with the hard-hitting Dynamite Kansai!
                          

Akira's entrance attire variant features a full Kabuki outfit
complete with Hannya Mask, entrance kimono and Katana
accessory!

Be afraid, be VERY afraid!

                           
                           


Dynamite Kansai comes painted in her classic green, yellow
and black ring colours and is molded in a stiff, kick pose.

                          

Four volumes apart: Vol. 4. and Vol. 8's Akira Hokuto Mini Big Heads.

                                
       
The Vol. 8. Akira design is based on her 1990's ring attire and
makeup. Akira also holds the distinction of being the only female
Wrestler to be included in two separate Mini Big Head volumes. 

                         


Mariko Yoshida's long-time rival: Yumi Fukawa and shoot
fighter Yumiko Hotta.

                          
                               
Hotta's Mini Big Head was inspired by her modern ring attire
and is a popular figure mold from the Mini Big Head series.

Pro-Wrestling sisters: Kyoko and Takako Inoue along with

KAIENTA Dojo's popular masked Joshi Ofune.

                               
From the fringe on her attire to her colourful paint job and "Let
me hear you" taunt pose, the Kyoko Inoue Mini Big Head stands
out easily.

The Ofune Mini Big Head is another great example of variety in
Vol. 8.'s selection of Joshi Wrestlers. The detail in the Ofune's ring
mask is especially noticeable.

It's just a shame that more Masked Joshis didn't make it into this
volume.

Have a seat with Mima Shimoda (left) and Etsuko Mita (right)
of Joshi Tag Team "Las Cachorras Orientales" (The Oriental
Bitches) along with OZ Acamedy founder Mayumi Ozaki.   

                              
There are no shortage of weapon accessories in Vol. 8. I
especially like how Mima and Etsuko's chairs are colour
-coordinated to match their ring attires.

                     

                                 
Another mixture of classic and modern stars are Cutie Suzuki
and FMW legend "the queen of hardcore" Megumi Kudo along
with Amazing Kong and Kayo Noumi.

                                

The colours Character Product chose for Megumi Kudo's ring
attire is based on her 1993 match against Takako Inoue for the
FMW promotion.

Personally, I would have loved to have a variant of Megumi
in her more well-known pink and white colours as well.

From her fangs to matching hair, contacts and ring attire, one
of my absolute favorite designs from the Pro-Kaku line is the
Amazing Kong Mini Big Head.
                        
                             

The secret figure of Vol. 8. is deceased Referee Shiro Abe.

The Shiro Abe Mini Big Head is one of two Referee figures
next to Vol. 2.'s Nobuaki Kakuda A (referee) figure.

Ready to count a pinfall, Shiro Abe's Mini Big Head is also
the only figure in the entire line that was sculpted in a mat-
based position.




Closing thoughts:


Despite not being the most popular volume from the Pro-
Kaku Mini Big Head line, Vol. 8. does feature an impressive
assortment of popular Joshi legends and a just-as-impressive
thirty-one figure roster.

My biggest problem with Vol. 8. is the strange omission of
very popular Joshi Bull Nakano. Nakano would have paired
nicely with Dump Matsumoto to at least have two original
members of the Gokuaku Domei stable. Nakano would have
also fitted well with  her more-modern raised hair look.

Other worthy additions would have been Command Bolshoi/
Bolshoi Kid, Alundra Blaze, Super Heel Devil Masami, 1980's
Devil Masami, Combat Toyoda and the late Plum Mariko to
name a few.

Besides the Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto figure two-pack,
Character Product would never release full-sized figures of
any Joshi Wrestler past or present. Making Vol. 8. one of the
few pieces of Joshi merchandise available to fans and collectors.


More figure reviews coming soon!

HAO Great Muta (Mech Ver.) figure review

Continuing my last blog post reviewing series 2's Great Muta
(Spider Ver.) figures, HAO would also release two addition
Great Muta figures the same year in the form of the Great Muta
"Mechanical Ver." figures.

Just like series 2's Spider variants, the packaging for both Mech.
variants features a large image of Great Muta across the package.

                           

Both variants have the same design on the front and back; this time,
with a large caricature of Muta's mech design, short bio and list of
Pro-Wrestling accolades.

                              

The Mechanical variants are based on The Great Muta's attire
that was worn back in 2004 for All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Muta's
mask for these  variants was inspired by famous Horror movie
villain (Friday The 13th's) Jason Voorhees as he appeared in the
2001 spin-off "Jason X".

                       

The Mechanical HAO figures are the only Great Muta figures
from the line that include two variations of Muta's entrance attire.

The Mechanical versions also recycle the same pants design as
the HAO series 2 Spider Muta figure (alternate silver version).

The slogan "FANTASY OF MUTA" is once again printed
on Muta's pants. The pose chosen for the Mechanical Muta
figures depicts Muta as he had just removed his entrance
hood in the ring.

I also love how the two variants of this HAO design
contrast in colours.

                            

As another throwback, Great Muta's shoulder pads are made
up of Ninja hoods from Muta's earlier days!

                            

Muta's ring mask is even layered to differentiate between
the mask portion and the facepaint Muta would wear around
his eyes!

                      

Again, the Mechanical HAO versions contain articulation at
the wrists, arms, neck and waist.

HAO Muta Scale

Series 2's Spider and Mech version HAO figures are taller in
comparison to series 1's facepaint version.


                         

Like series 2's silver Spider version, the Great Muta Mechanical
version white variant was a Japanese battleroyal.jp online exclusive
and is the only HAO figure to come packaged with an Autographed
trading card signed by The Great Muta himself!

Keiji Mutoh would sign this card in Gold Sharpie with his less
-common "Great Muta" signature.

The front of the card translates to:

(Top) ALL JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING BATTLE ROYAL

(Middle) Keiji Mutoh PRODUCE WORK
               GREAT MUTA
                      2nd Version

"KEIJI MUTO CREATES SPECIALWORKS"GREAT MUTA" second ver.
With the Drawing Card."

The back of the Autographed trading card features a behind
-the-scenes look of Keiji Mutoh going over sketch designs to
create various Great Muta looks.

I have to give bonus points to HAO for shipping the Auto
-graphed trading card in a protective. acrylic card holder
which has kept the card in perfect condition over a decade
later!


Closing thoughts:
HAO definitely went the extra mile when putting together the
Mechanical Muta figures. The included Autograph from Mutoh
himself was a very nice touch and something that has never been
done since with a Muta figure.

Out of all the HAO figures, I'll always have a special soft spot for
the Mechanical versions and recommend them as must-buys for toy
collectors and Puroresu fans alike.

HAO Great Muta (Spider Ver.) Figure Review

Following the success of their first wave of Pro-Wrestling figures,
Japanese toymaker HAO would release a second wave of figures
in 2006.

The theme for this set of figures was based around the biggest stars
of All Japan Pro-Wrestling during the mid 2000's.

Continuing from my previous blog post that featured the classic, red
facepaint Great Muta HAO figure, today we'll be looking at the two
"Spider" variant Great Muta figures:

This time around, HAO discarded their classy tile design in exchange
for large, full-colour imagery on the front of each figure's packaging.

If you look closely, you can see two small Great Muta icons  (classic
red and Spider design)next to the large image of Great Muta towards
the top of the packaging.


                 

The alternate black and silver Spider Muta figure comes with a special,
gold, foil sticker on the front of the package indicating that the figure
was an online exclusive that was only available at the (now defunct)
battleroyal.jp website back in 2006.

Since the second wave of HAO figures featured All Japan Wrestlers,
this would be the first Great Muta figure exclusive not sold at New
Japan's Toukon Shop.

Other than the battleroyal.jp sticker on the front of the Silver variant's
clamshell, both Spider Muta figures have the same packaging; complete
with a collage of Great Muta images as well as a small bio and list of
Muta's Pro-Wrestling accolades.

I also find Spider Muta's entrance hood (with blood dripping down the
design's lips) extra creepy.

These particular designs were based on The Great Muta's debut for
All Japan Pro-Wrestling back in 2002 and 2003 where Keiji Mutoh
 resurrected the Muta character after leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Following Character Product's Great Muta figures, the HAO Spider
versions are posed in an intimidating pre-Poison Mist sculpt and
feature an amazing amount of detail.

The red Spider version has a special splatter design along Muta's pants
with the text "MUTA" scrawled across the front while the alternate Spider
version has red and silver spider web decals with the text "FANTASY OF
MUTA".

The Spider designs are also the first of many bizarre ring masks Keiji
Mutoh would wear as The Great Muta after he shaved his hair.

The Japanese Kanji "Fire" (火) is written twice on the left side of both
version's mask.

The silver Spider version also has a red tongue and mist stains over
Muta's beard when compared.

Even Muta's famous arm scar is recreated.

The regular red Spider version contains black and red wristbands with
Japanese Kanji scrawled across them. The alternate silver version
contains black wristbands with "MUTA" written in red.

Pictured with Character Product's Spider Muta figure.

"Poison Mist" about to drop some insane Puroresu rhymes.

The Spider Great Muta figures have articulation in their waists,
wrists, neck and arms.           



Closing thoughts:When it comes to highly detailed Puroresu toys, it's hard to top HAO's
assortment of 6" soft vinyl, sofubi-styled figures. Their level of detail,
size and variety of Wrestler likenesses is worth checking out.

Next to Takara's 12" Keiji Mutoh and INSPIRE's fully articulated Keiji
Mutoh/Great Muta figures, the HAO versions are some of largest
Puroresu figures available (at a more attractive cost, too)