Giant Baba BABABANK figure review

 Blog #279 Giant Baba BABABANK figure review.

In previous posts, we've looked at several Giant Baba figures from the 1980's. Like the Giant Baba BABAWATCH, Upper-Upper World/EHKOH also released another Giant Baba collectible under
the similar-sounding name of the Giant Baba BABABANK. 

The BABABANK is a miniature soft vinyl coin bank of Baba.

As usual, Baba is sculpted performing his signature chop and 16mon kick techniques.

The coin slot is placed along Baba's backside.

The bottom of the bank displays the corporate information for Upper-Upper World and EHKOH.

There is no date on the figure itself, but I would ascertain that the BABABANK was created 
around 1984.

Upper-Upper World and EHKOH's partnership was a brief but colourful one in the 1980's. While collectors may feel Antonio Inoki had the lion's share of figures made in his likeness (which there are), Giant Baba had the majority of licenses made in the 1980's. 

The BABABANK is a simple, yet interesting oddity from the Japanese Wrestling scene of the 1980's.
A collectible that isn't too hard to find, nor commanding that much from a resale perspective. Most examples can be found for less than $20 from Japanese merchants.

More figure reviews on the way! 

Giant Baba Remote Control Wrestler review

 

Blog #278 The Giant Baba Remote Control Wrestler review.


By the early 80's, merchandising was in full-swing with All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Being the founder and star of the promotion, Giant Baba was the central figure in All Japan's merchandising boom of the era. 

Our next wacky figure was released by Japanese toymaker MAME CON in 1984.

Special thanks to Wrestlefigs.com for the above photo.

The Giant Baba remote control figure sold for $6 USD upon it's initial release.


The packaging reads
'Remote Control Wrestler
Giant Baba Con'

(リモートコントロールレスラー
ジャイアント馬場コン).

In case you were wondering, the word 'con' is short for controller.

                 


As expected, the controller makes Giant Baba move and perform chops simultaneously. Notice the 'MAME CON' company logo on the controller.


                          





Providing chops on the-go: the Mame Con Giant Baba operates with three wheels at the bottom of the toy.






A belt-wearing Giant Baba is pictured on the sides of the box.

Sadly, no other likeness was added to expand upon MAME CON's Remote Control Wrestler concept. Stan Hansen would have been a perfect fit swinging his bullrope or Lariat. A fork-stabbing/throat-choppin' Abdullah The Butcher could have been a cool idea, too. Though, Abdullah wouldn't return to AJPW for another 4 years.

HAO Collection Giant Baba figure review

Welcome back to the largest source of information for Japanese Pro-
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.

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.