Andre The Giant 16d figure review

Today's figure coverage is about the brand new 16d Andre The Giant soft

vinyl figure which was just released this week in Japan!

Pre-orders for the 16d Andre The Giant figure began in late 2017 through
various Japanese websites such as Good Smile Shop and Otaku Mode.

Originally, the Andre The Giant 16d figure was planned (see above
advertisement) to ship in September 2018, but was delayed until

October.

                         

The packaging uses the same layout and design as the first two figures
in the 16d series.

Andre's name is also written in Japanese Katakana and English.

                             

The left side of the packaging contains a brief bio on Andre
which reads:


"PROFILE
..........................................
Date Of Birth: 1946Year 5Month 19Day (May 19th 1946)
From: France, Grenoble
Height/Weight: 224cm (7'4")/236kg (520lbs)

Special moves: Sitdown Splash.
                          Double Underhook Suplex"

 

The right side of the packaging with a full body shot.

The back of the packaging with an intimidating close up of Andre.

The top of the packaging contains the "16d COLLECTION" logo
(for those curious: 16d stands for "sixteen directions") and the
numbers "003".

As the third figure in the 16d series (behind 001:Tetsuya Naito
and 002: Kenny Omega) Andre The Giant marks the first
throwback figure in the set not to be based on the current stars
of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion.

The bottom of the packaging contains the standard toy handling and
recycle warnings in Japanese; along with a description of the figure
itself.

The bottom of the packaging also contains the WWE and INGRAM
(Japanese company that licenses merchandise in Japan) logos complete
with holographic INGRAM sticker.

A picture on INGRAM's official website under the company's client
section called "LEGEND PRO-WRESTLING" displays images of Tiger
Mask 1, Genichiro Tenryu, Stan Hansen, Riki Choshu and Abdullah The
Butcher.

Here's hoping we'll see these (and other) Japanese legends make their
way into the 16d collection in time to come!

 

The Andre The Giant 16d soft vinyl figure stands just under 15cm

(6 inches) in height.

This particular design is based on a younger Andre The Giant
from the 1970's with red and blue coloured ring attire.

Even Andre's time-accurate afro contains plenty of detail.

More than just painted on: Andre's beard also has a textured
feel to it.

 

Ready for a body slam: The 16d Andre The Giant figure features

articulation at the neck, arms and waist.

As an officially licensed WWE product, the WWE logo is printed
on Andre's left sole while CMG Brands LLC (Andre's licensing
company) on Andre's right sole.

Setting the stage for the 16d series.

 The 16d Andre The Giant figure was sculpted by HAO Arts
Office who also handled the Genichiro Tenryu retirement
soft vinyl figure that was released in 2015.

The Tenryu retirement figure stands 12cm (about 4.7
inches) in height compared to Andre who again stands
at 15cm (under 6 inches).

The 16d box is about the same scale (just slightly wider) compared
to the Tenryu figure's packaging.

It's been 10 years since HAO's last legends series (2008's Regards
For Superstars series). I only hope that Andre will be the first of
many legends added to the 16d series.

Hopefully, we'll see more WWE hall of famers such as Hulk Hogan,
Ric Flair and...even the Ultimate Warrior in the not too distant future
as part of the 16d legends lineup!

Akira Maeda HAO Soft Vinyl figure review

Today, we'll be looking at the third (and final) soft vinyl figure from
HAO's "Regards For Superstars" line: Vol. 003 - Akira Maeda!

                          

The Regards For Superstars line was sold through the now defunct Japanese

Wrestling website "ringside.jp" (not to be confused with ringsidecollectibles.
com).

The above advertisement reads:

                           "HAO X RINGSIDE
                           Regards For Superstars
                                                    Series 3!!
                                                 
                                                        Figure
RINGS Version                             HAO X RINGSIDE Akira Maeda
500 pieces only!                             UWF Ver.  [Purchase here]
                                                        RINGS Ver. [Purchase here]"
               

The packaging for the Akira Maeda HAO figure contains the
standard Regards For Superstars packaging.


                                             


The front of the slip-case packaging reads Akira's name in both Japanese
and English while including a throwback photo of Maeda from his early
Fighting Network RINGS years.

The ringside.jp logo is also displayed at the bottom right corner.

The back of the packaging contains the standard bio and list of
championships Maeda won.

The back of the packaging reads:

"Akira Maeda"
Profile

Real name: Akira Maeda
Born: 1959.1.24. (January 24th, 1959)
From: Osaka, Japan
Blood type: A
Height: 192cm
Weight: 115kg
Debut:1977.8.25. (August 25th, 1977)
Titles: European Heavyweight Championship
            UWF Heavyweight Championship
            IWGP Tag Team Championship
Signature moves: Capture Suplex (written simply as "Captured")
                             Big Wheel Kick
                             Jumping Knee Pat

Rings Official site (now defunct)
http://rings.co.jp/"

It's also worth noting that at the bottom of the packaging, the Akira
HAO figure was licensed under "株式会社リングス" (Fighting
Network Rings)


                       


                 


Akira comes sculpted in a fighting stance and is dressed in his
standard black ring trunks and shoot gear.

                       

Akira's likeness is well represented in soft vinyl form.

The sculpt itself is based on Maeda's late 1980's early 1990's
in-ring career as an active fighter for the UWF and RINGS
promotions.

                       

The Akira Maeda HAO figure was released in two variants (both
labeled as "Vol. 003"). The UWF version features white wristbands
while the RINGS version features red coloured wristbands.

Also exclusive to the white wristbands version is the UWF
promotion logo painted on the sides of Maeda's boots. An
unexpected touch and an overall nice addition to make this
variant even more collectible.

The bottom of Maeda's boots reads "(C) HAO 2008" and was the
last Akira Maeda figure released to date.

                             
                              


The Maeda HAO Figure contains articulation at the arms, neck
and waist.

                      


When posed next to Character Product's Yoshiaki Fujiwara figure.
The Akira Maeda HAO figure stands about 7" in height (making
it the largest Maeda figure ever produced).

Collectors should also keep an eye out for the "RINGS Ver."
variant with red wristbands which was limited to just 500 pieces.

1986 The Pro Wrestler Keshi figure review

In 1986, Bandai added a new wave of Pro-Wrestling Keshi figure erasers
to their popular "The Pro-Wrestler" (ザ。プロレスラ) series.



The left side of this booklet displays the 10 figures available in the set
(which are shown painted - a popular hobby for both kids and adult
collectors in Japan). The five gaijin Wrestlers appear as silhouettes
in the background.

The right side of the booklet contains a matchup between legendary
shoot fighter Akira Maeda and Yokozuna turned Wrestler Hiroshi
Wajima.

The 10 figures in this lineup are:

"The Immortal" Hulk Hogan! The Kanji written on the right side of
Hogan's trunks says "一番" ("Ichiban" which means "Number One"
in Japanese).

There's no doubt in my mind that Bandai used the POPY 1981 Hulk
Hogan figure mold to create this Keshi.

                                       

The Ichiban emblem is a reference to Hogan's pre-Hulkamania years
as a star in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair with classic "RF" initials on his trunks.
Perhaps the only (or very, very few) Ric Flair figure from Japan.


                              
Whether you call them the Legion of Doom or The Road Warriors:
Road Warrior Hawk

...and tag partner Road Warrior Animal.

If you loo closely, you'll see the intricate lines used to create Animal's
facepaint.

As to my knowledge, these are the only known Keshi of the Road
Warriors.

                               

My absolute favorite Keshi from The Wrestler series is "King Kong"
Bruiser Brody.

From Brody's stern facial expression to his gnarly gig mark scars,
this is easily the most realistic (sorry, Character Product) likeness

of Brody ever created.

It's just a shame Brody's tag partner Stan Hansen is nowhere to
be found.

Let's take a look at the five Japanese Wrestlers:

All Japan legend: Jumbo Tsuruta (sorry for the cropping).

Jumbo also comes sculpted with his signature elbow pad.

New Japan legend: "The Dragon" Tatsumi Fujinami!

                             
Another figure first: fellow NJPW legend: the innovator of the Sasori-
Gatame (Sharp Shooter to Western audiences) ...Riki Choshu!




                           

One of the most sought after figures from the Japanese Wrestlers
portion of this set, the first ever figure of UWF legend and Fighting
Network RINGS founder: Akira Maeda.


                            

The last figure of the set is Yokozuna turned Pro-Wrestler: Hiroshi
Wajima.

Sadly, Wajima had just passed away on October 10th, 2018; making
this Keshi Wajima's first and only figure ever created.

Scale-wise: The Pro-Wrestler series are also in scale with Bandai's
popular M.U.S.C.L.E./Kinnikuman Keshi; standing about 1.5.".

Closing thoughts:By 1987, Bandai had finished releasing the original series of Kinniku
-man/M.U.S.C.L.E. figures in Japan. 1987 would also mark the end of
officially licensed Pro-Wrestling Keshi in Japan as the popularity for
Keshi in general was becoming increasingly unpopular.

Bandai would attempt to resurrect the Kinnikuman series four years later
in 1991, but the "Keshi revival" wouldn't take off again until 1998 (and in
the early 2000's from outside of Japan).

Bandai's 1986 wave of "The Pro-Wrestler" figures are, in my opinion, the
most detailed, officially licensed Pro-Wrestling keshi ever released by the
company (they were also the largest Keshi based on real-life Pro-Wrestlers
at the time).

With an appealing lineup of top Japanese and American talent (not to
mention, many likenesses being made into figures for the very first time)
and due to the fact that this 10 figure set came out at the end of the 1980's
Keshi craze in limited numbers, it's easy to see why these figures are also
some of the rarest and most expensive to find.

A single figure from the set in good condition can fetch upwards of $70.
A complete 10 figure set with original booklets and packaging can be
worth just as much as an unreleased M.U.S.C.L.E. rarity (hundreds
and hundreds of dollars)!

More figure reviews coming soon!

Hakushi DX & Big Head Bobblehead figure review

Carrying over from our previous coverage of Character Product's

Jinsei Shinzaki DX figure, today we'll be looking at three more
figures; this time, as Jinsei's mysterious alter ego "Hakushi".


Hakushi DX figures:

In 2002, to celebrate Hakushi's tag team partnership with Keiji
Mutoh (as Kokushi Muso) Character Product released two deluxe
versions of Hakushi as part of their "DX" line.

The first variant features Hakushi in prayer pose.

The Hakushi variants use the same packaging as the Jinsei Shinzaki

DX figure. Both of which, contains a split biography for both
gimmicks.

                            

The second variant depicts Hakushi with arms at side to recreate
Hakushi's signature "Diving Headbutt" attack.

Other than arm placement in the packaging, there is no major differ
-ence between both versions of the Hakushi DX figure. Both variants
contain the same two sets of interchangeable arm accessories and an
identical paint job.

I truly can't think of any other Character Product figure that features
the exact same figure released twice with simply different accessory
placement.

Hakushi Big Head Series Bobblehead:
From the success of their popular Mini Big Heads line, Character
Product would take a handful of their most popular  Wrestlers and
reimagine them as full-sized bobbleheads!

                            

The Hakushi Big Head Series Bobblehead with packaging.

I love the big, bold lettering on the front of the package; clearly indicating
that this bobblehead is part of Character Product's Mini Big Head Series.

                                   
The back of the packaging displays Hakushi's name , the Character
Product logo and the phrase "bobbling head".

                              

When compared to Character Product's Mini Big Head series Jinsei
Shinzaki and Hakushi figures.



                             

Every Big Head Series Bobblehead comes with a Wrestling ring base.



                            

Hakushi is sculpted with a different prayer pose not found on any
other figure.



                       
                      

The Kanji Buddhist writing decals on Hakushi's face and body are
well done; creating a very unique bobblehead.


                       

The Buddhist writing continues on Hakushi's arms and back.




                           

There's even detail on Hakushi's monk attire.




                            

One of my favorite touches is the real fabric ring ropes.

Character Product must have been very proud of these bobbleheads as
the company's hologram sticker logo is stuck to the back of the base
(a trait not found on any other Character Product figure).

                      

For size comparison with Mattel's Kamala Elite series and Great Muta
Toukon Shop figures. The Hakushi Bobblehead stands around 7" tall.