Wrestling figures on the web.
For blog #74, we'll be taking a look at another large scale, soft vinyl
figure from HAO Collection's Regards For Superstars line: "The
Giant Of The East": Giant Baba!
Released in 2008, Giant Baba was another long-overdue legend who
was finally added to the HAO Collection at the tail-end of the line's
original production run.
The slip-case packaging can be removed to reveal a jumbo
trading card.
The front of the packaging reads Giant Baba in both English and Japanese
along with the Regards For Superstars series logo. The bottom right corner
also features the Japanese RINGSIDE website logo (which sold the HAO
Collection figures online).
Giant Baba would be the first figure released for HAO's "Regards For
Superstars" series (Vol. 001).
The back of the slip-case packaging features Giant Baba's stats
and Championship accolades. The profile reads:
"GIANT BABA
Profile
Real name: Shohei Baba (the brackets indicate how "Baba" is written)
DOB: 13.1.23. (January 23rd 1938 - "13" is 1938 in the Japanese calendar)
Place of birth: Niigata, Prefecture, Japan
Blood type: 0
Height: 209cm (6ft 8 in)
Weight: 135kg (297 lbs)
Debut: 35.9.30. (September 30th 1960 - "35" is 1960 in the Japanese calendar)
Taito Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
vs. Yonetarō Tanaka
Titles: NWA World Heavyweight Championship
PWF Heavyweight Championship
International Heavyweight Championship
Asia Heavyweight Championship
International Heavyweight Tag Championship
Asia Heavyweight Tag Championship
Special Skill: 16 inch Kick (or "Big Boot" - named after Baba's boot size).
Running Neck Breaker Drop
The bottom text also mentions that the Giant Baba HAO Collection
figure was licensed by Baba's company "GIANT SERVICE Co.
Ltd." (株式会社ジャイアントサービス).
Let's take a look a closer look at the Giant Baba figure itself:
Giant Baba comes sculpted in his signature, hands on hips pose with
classic entrance robe.
Baba's likeness is captured in soft vinyl form accurately; marking
Baba's first and only appearance in the HAO Collection since the
company's inception in the late 1990's.
Even the mole on the left side of Baba's nose has been added.
Baba's gown depicts a pattern of a Japanese Phoenix (鳳凰 - "Ho-oh").
The clear and vivid details of the gown's decals are a highlight of
the Giant Baba HAO Collection figure.
If you look closely, you'll see a glitter finish applied to the white
portions of Baba's robe.
Unfortunately, the belt is molded into the gown itself.
The back of the Giant Baba HAO figure continues the Phoenix
design perfectly.
The Giant Baba HAO Collection figure has articulation at the waist
and neck only (sadly, Baba's arms are frozen at Baba's sides.
and neck only (sadly, Baba's arms are frozen at Baba's sides.
 |
| When stood next to HAO Collection's Bob Sapp figure. |
At just under 8 inches tall, Giant Baba stands the tallest (and right
fully so) of the regular HAO Collection figures.
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