On July 17th 2007, Character Product released the final installment
of the Pro-Kaku heroes Mini Big Head figures line.
Simply titled Vol. 9., this particular collection was released just eight
months after the Joshi-exclusive Vol. 8. and features a large emphasis
on popular gaijin wrestlers that have competed for All Japan and New
Japan Pro-Wrestling.
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The individual Vol. 9. blind box.
In total, Vol. 9. consisted of eighteen regular figures to collect, one
secret figure and a special, not-for-sale, promotional figure. The
figures in Vol. 9. are:
To start things off: "The Mastodon" Big Van Vader and Scott
"Flash" Norton.
The unmasked Vader figure is based on Vader's early AJPW
Triple Crown victory and comes dressed in era-appropriate
attire.
The most impressive detail is the very (and neatly printed) "Vader
Time" text displayed on the front of the Vader Mini Big Head.
Scott Norton's Mini Big Head (a Wrestler who never received
a full-sized figure) is based on Scott's pre-NWO Japan career
in NJPW and comes with Norton's signature "lightning bolt"
design on the front of his singlet.
One of the highlights from Vol. 9. is the inclusion of famous
AJPW tag team champs "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and
Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy of the Miracle Violence Connection.
The detail on both figures is quite accurate all the way
down to the mini skull decal on the back of Williams'
trunks.
Again, it's a shame that these legends didn't receive full
-sized figures under the Character Product banner (the
Miracle Violence Connection were licensed to JAKKS'
"Classic Superstars line at the time).
This next legend found widespread appeal in both the Pro
-Wrestling and shoot fighting circuit: "The Suplex Machine"
Gary Albright.
Ready for the match to begin, Albright comes dressed in
his classic University of Nebraska Wrestling singlet and
standout mullet.
Another popular legend: Dory Funk Jr. and real-life Yokozuna
turned Puroresu star: Akebono!
Vol. 9.'s amazing improvement in detail is clearly on display
with the Akebono Mini Big Head's singlet that contains
"Bono" written in Kanji on the front of his singlet.
The sides of Akebono's singlet contains the logo of a "Tsuna"
(a Sumo loincloth representing Akebono's prestigious rank of
Yokozuna - Akebono being the first non-Japanese to attain the
highest level of Sumo in the world) along with "Yokozuna"
written over the Tsuna in orange text.
No attention to detail was spared as Akebono's right arm tattoo
has also been intricately painted!
When paired with his Vol. 7. counterpart Terry Funk, fans
can recreate the legendary Funk Brothers tag team.
Another continuation to Vol. 7. are two more Tiger Mask
throwbacks of the first generation Tiger Mask: Satoru
Sayama! The UWF-era and the "Tiger King" post 2000's
-era variations.
The first Vol. 9. Tiger Mask Mini Big Head was inspired by
Sayama's 1984 UWF repackaging as "The Tiger". The Tiger
was an early idea of Sayama's fter All Japan Pro-Wrestling
purchased the Tiger Mask namesake and gave the gimmick
to then yet-to-be star Mitsuharu Misawa the same year.
Ultimately, Sayama would yet again repackage himself in
the UWF as the purple and silver coloured "Super Tiger".
The second Vol. 9. Tiger Mask Mini Big Head was based
on Sayama's post-2005 return as "Tiger King".
Just like the various Antonio Inoki Big Heads available, this
Tiger Mask variation features an older, heavier Sayama who
had updated his Wrestling style to mat-based Wrestling.
My favorite feature of the Tiger King variant is the pose of
his cape. The Pro-Kaku series hasn't seen this many Tigers
since Vol. 1. with two more additions: Tiger Mask IV (B)
and Black Tiger!
This would be Tiger Mask IV's second Mini Big Head (following
the Vol.1. and Vol. 1.5. repaints), this time featuring Tiger Mask
IV's entrance jacket and Vol. 1. removable turnbuckle base.
Tiger Mask's long-time rival "Black Tiger" has also been featured
for the first time ever in Vol. 9. and comes modeled after the
persona's original look as portrayed by "Rollerball" Mark Rocco.
Simply put, another great (and often overlooked) design that
stands out as much as the final Tiger Mask Mini Big Head.
Vol. 9. also features the return of The Great Muta in three
different variations.
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| Three decades of Darkness. |
The green and white facepaint variants are throwbacks to
Muta's early NWA, WCW and NJPW runs.
You can almost picture Gary Hart cutting a great promo while
Muta would stand silently in the background with the facepaint
variants.
Sometimes unofficially referred to as "Aztec Muta") this gold
and silver design was based on The Great Muta's 2006 AJPW
attire complete with a pair of matching dragons sitting atop
Muta's mask!
This Mini Big Head features Muta in his trademark "Shining
Wizard" finishing move and gold "M"'s painted on his chest.
Character Product would also release a full-sized version of
this design as a limited edition variant estimated to be
numbered to just 1000 pieces!
Personally, I find it confusing as to why a classic red and
black facepaint variant wasn't also added (perhaps legal
difficulties with New Japan?).
Jushin Thunder Liger makes his Pro-Kaku return (since Vol. 1.
and 1.5.) This time, as a throwback to the Jushin Liger character's
original 1987 debut attire as seen in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Like the Tiger Mask character, Jushin Thunder Liger was also based
on an extremely popular anime (google 獣神ライガー "Jushin Liger")
character who's design would change and update as the Anime and
Manga progressed (as would the real-life Wrestler's attire portraying
the same gimmick).
The Atsushi Onita Mini Big Head is another mini recreation of
a Character previously released Product figure that was issued
about eight years prior. With folding chair in hand, this Onita
Mini Big Head figure was based on Onita's iconic 1999 "no rope
explosive barbed wire Deathmatch" against "Mr. Blackjack"
Masahiro Chono.
As NPW and AJPW fans often regarded FMW's hardcore, death
-match style as "garbage wrestling" Onita was famously met with
a less than favorable reception as he made his way to the ring all
the while being pelted with garbage!
Despite being trashed and booed on, Onita famously pulled out
a cigarette, kept his cool and saluted the crowd in this very pose
recreated in Mini Big Head form for Vol. 9.
While Onita may be a hardcore original, he was also one of only
three Mini Big Heads to contain a chair accessory following Vol.
8.'s Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda.
It's been a long-time coming, but the final wave of Mini Big
Head figures would finally see the release of legendary AJPW
founder Giant Baba in his entrance and ring attires along with
a special "secret" variant.
The entrance attire Baba is a mini recreation of Character
Product's full-size figure variant and comes dressed in Baba's
classic white kimono with golden Phoenix design on the front
and back.
The ring attire Giant Baba Mini Big Head is posed exclusively
in Baba's signature big boot attack with an intense smile on
Baba's face.
The secret Giant Baba variant continues the Pro-Kaku tradition
of Baba featured in dress attire with a cigar in mouth and a
slightly modified face sculpt.
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| The 15 figure Vol. 9. hobby box. |
Jushin Thunder Liger RING SIDE promotional figure:
Before the launch of Vol. 9., Character Product held a special
promotion (held at a RING SIDE.jp event) where the first 500
customers who pre-ordered two (2) Vol. 9. hobby boxes would
receive a not-for-sale clear -black Jushin Thunder Liger Mini
Big Head exclusive!
Being the fourth translucent figure in the collection (2x Muta
mail-aways and the 25th anniversary clear-black Chono), this
particular Liger figure uses the exact same mold as the original
Vol. 1. and 1.5. variants.
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| Do you have all five variants?! |
With only 500 pieces available, the clear-black Liger is one of
the rarest Mini Big Heads you can find!
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| The mail-away Liger is the only Mini Big Head with a matching see-through base! |
Vol. 9. would be Character Product's last official volume of
Minifigures as the company folded in 2008. New Japan Pro
-Wrestling would take control of the Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini
Big Head figure brand; releasing figures of their own under
this banner in the years to come.
The sculpts and intricate details of the figures from Vol. 9. are
simply fantastic; ending this great series on a high note with
plenty of worthwhile figures to collect.
