Super Robot Chogokin Mazinkaizer SKL
This review has been in the works for some time but I’ve finally found time to finish it off. Thanks to Ken at Toy-wave I was able to get it at a reasonable price, and it’s one of my favourite pieces in my collection!
Background:
Mazinkaizer SKL (Skull) is a 3 episode Japanese OVA spinoff of Go Nagai’s Mazinkaizer. The story is based on Machine Island where 3 factions, the Garan Army, the Kiba Army and the Hachiyokaku battle for dominance. Machine Island is a prison island isolated to the rest of the world by a “Gravity Curtain” which all three factions have partial control of. Due to the battle for dominance on the island the Gravity Curtain has become unstable and risks exploding and destroying all of Earth along with it – enter Mazinkaizer SKL. Mazinkaiser SKL, piloted by the Death Caprice Squad members Ken Kaido and Ryo Magami is a part of the Skull Force dispatched by the WSO (Worldwide Government) to stop the impending doom…
Name: Mazinkaiser SKL
Manufacturer: Bandai
Line: Super Robot Chogokin
Sculptor:
Designer:
Scale: Non-scale
Material: ABS, POM, PVC, Zndc
Release: Dec 2010
Original Price: ¥5,800 (approx. $71AUD / $73USD)
Height: 145mm / 5.7inches
Packaging:
Mazinkaizer SKL Starter pack comes in a white outer box which contains the packaging for the toy as well as a DVD of the first episode of the OVA. I wonder if it is good design or pure coincidence that the packaging of the toy has the exact height and width of the DVD case. Inside, Mazinkaizer sits snugly in his plastic tray.
Accessories:
The biggest and most notable accessory Mazinkaizer SKL gets is his signature weapon – the Gazantou (牙斬刀). This is a huge blade that is carried on Mazinkaizer SKL’s back. The handle of this blade can be extended to allow it to be used as a pole weapon. Mazinkaizer’s second set of weapons, the Breast Trigger is also included in two variations. The first variation can be separated and held as pistols whilst the second set is a slimmer version which is designed to be attached as the breast plate only.
Form/Sculpt:
Based on the Mazinkaizer design, the SKL version has been given a demonic twist with added pointy bits and redesigned Pilder in the form of a human skull. I’m no cultist but I love this menacing design and it has been perfectly captured in toy form. The execution is also exceptionally good with nice solid die-cast lower legs giving the toy incredible stability and heft. Nothing more to say except awesome, absolutely awesome!
Articulation/Action:
As far as articulation goes, for such a small toy there is an incredible amount of engineering put into this toy to give it pretty decent movement. The head, shoulders, hips and ankles all have ball joints which move nicely and are concealed cleverly. The elbow and knee joints are both ratcheted and the chest can roll upwards however there doesn’t appear to be any waist articulation. Overall very impressive.
Paint/Print:
The incredible-ness of this toy continues on to the paint department. Mazinkaizer SKL’s head would be about the size of my pinky (I have small hands) yet the paint is so detailed and crisp. The red paint on the Breast Trigger, the forehead and the arms has a metallic pearl effect matching the glossiness of the rest of the toy and looks amazing.
Detail/Features:
One of the features which can sometimes be annoying is the detachable Skull Pilder. It is held in by a small peg in the crown but it’s not all that tight so you really need to be careful and not loose it.
Another feature is the rotating handles on the Breast Trigger, not exactly sure why but its there in case you wanted to know.
Lastly, as I don’t have either the SRC Mazinger or Great Mazaginer to compare size with, I’ll compare it to my Revoltech Mazinkaizer. Here you can see where a lot of the design inspiration for the SKL version came from, and it’s also quite a bit bigger than the Revoltech toy line, and much nicer to be honest.
Overall:
This toy easily ticks all my boxes when it comes to design, execution, paint app and playability. Although these days you will be hard pressed to find it at a reasonable price, but if you do please do not hesitate and grab him as quickly as possible, it’s definitely a keeper!
Thanks for reading!
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Filed under: Featured, Reviews, Anime, Bandai, Chogokin, Japanese, Limited Edition, Super Robot, Super Robot Chogokin, Tamashii Web
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