Let it Bee

A second approximately 4.5" Japanese vinyl figure I grabbed at the swap meet this past weekend appears to be 'Hachi Onna' or 'Bee Woman' who made her television debut in Kamen Rider episode 8.

The funny thing about this figure is that I originally thought it represented a male of less than ideal body type. With swirls on his man boobs. But my internet sleuthing for yesterday's Bat Man revealed to me that this little toy is actually a 'she.'

I assume this says 'Bandai' just like yesterday's toy. Clearly from the same sub-series as Bat Man, Bee Woman was also made by Bandai back in the seventies.

I still don't know exactly what this says, but it's clearly copyright info, probably for the show's production company or something.

Here's what Bee Woman looked like on the show. Dig those swirly boobies:

And here's her toy. More swirly booby fun, with the likeness falling a little short of uncanny:

My Bee Woman has a small crack in the vinyl on the top of her head, but otherwise she's in great shape. She's the bee's knees hahaha!

The Terrifying Bat Man

No, it's not who you think.

This refugee from the National Enquirer is actually (as far as my internet detective skills have revealed to me) 'Kyōfu Kōmori Otoko' (or Komorii-Otoko) or 'The Terrifying Bat Man.' He was a villain from the Japanese Kamen Rider TV show of the seventies, apparently making an appearance in episode 2, 13 and the first movie.

I had another epic Swap Meet run on Saturday, and I think this little 4.5" vinyl Kaiju figure may be the best of the bunch.

If anyone reads Japanese, please feel free to enlighten me as to what this says. I assume this guy was made by Bullmark or Popy or something like that, but I could use some specifics if anyone can help. But dig the sculpted belt details on the back. Haha love it!

Here's what it says on the bottom of his foot. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? EDIT: According to Soundwave810, this says 'Bandai.'

And here's what he looked like on the show. Terrifying indeed!

Top Kamen

There was a recent attempt to revive the Kamen Rider franchise (or to bring it to American audiences' attention,) and I don't know how successful it has been, but from what little I saw of it, it didn't really speak to me. Forget uber-armored dragon and bat themed dudes, when I think of Kamen Rider I think of guys like this:

This vinyl figure is Kamen Rider J, made by Bandai Japan in 1994.

When I was in the first grade I had a friend who had family in Japan, and they would always mail him vinyl Kaiju and other Japanese characters from Godzilla to Ultraman to Kamen Rider. Kamen Rider always fascinated me because these guys looked like insect based superheroes - a hit concept for sure, just ask Stan Lee.

I don't think I've ever actually watched an entire Kamen Rider episode, but the gist is that these grasshopper helmeted guys ride motorcycles and defeat similarly rubber-suited foes. What's not to love?

Kamen Rider J is a "newer" version of the Kamen Rider, which originally debuted in Japan in 1971. His costume has evolved but still retains enough of the original concept to be immediately recognizable, and of course the vinyl platform, with a whopping three points of articulation (waist and shoulders) is exactly what I remember my friend having when we were kids.

Kamen people now, smile on your Rider

The other day Bandai America sent out a tweet (that's Twitter speak for you Neanderthals) announcing a chance to win free toys if you RT'd them (more Twitter speak - get with the program people!)

I did so, and I won a free Kamen Rider deluxe figure, which arrived today!



Now to me, a child of the seventies and eighties, Kamen Rider means grasshopper headed dirt bike riders. But there's a new Kamen town, and apparently this dude is one of them.


The guy is pretty bland, but this is the unmasked character so what do you expect. According to the package his name is Kit. I'm sure he's a cool, no nonsense ladies man with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. I can tell because he wears a red shirt, black jeans and has that "I spent an hour on my hair to make it look like I just rolled out of bed" hair-do.

But he's irrelevant anyways because the coolest part of this set is Dragreder!


Dragreder is a robotic Asian style dragon and is very cool.


His head, waist and tail are jointed so his body twists a little like a snake.


He can also stand on his rear legs. He cannot, however, roll over or fetch. Yet.


So I'm a total Kamen Rider 2009 newb, and I don't know what robot dragons have to do with grasshopper headed dirt bike riders, but I know if I was ten I'd be all over this series like purple on Prince Adam.


Thanks Bandai for the cool free toy, and thanks Twitter for making me feel like a winner!