The prices jumped so crazily high. Moon Knight Alpha were $100 to $120 on Manda, then seemingly overnight they jumped to $250+. And the Golems, holy shit. Those prices exploded to nearly $1K in some cases, so these $500 aren’t the worst. I’ve paid $500 for a one off once, and $400 for another. It’s not deadening to me, but also not the most comfortable. They were/are worth it to me! Just don’t think I could run it on these TE sculpts!
More mixed parts Golems from the past week.. all turning up at the Complex store. I guess Target Earth's workshop is around the area?
The Complex location is in Akihabara, with the vintage and modern sofubi on the seventh and eighth floors. I’ve never been privy to Sato - San’s location or stay, so Tokyo could very much be a possibility. A couple more Crater Man blanks were up, too.
Here’s to hoping I manage more Target Earth in 2020! One of the few makers I personally still deem heavily worth searching for and coveting in today’s collecting climate. Most of these are re - shot, but a couple have been given the Infinity Glass Style Studio Shot treatment for the first time. Spoiler
Just saw a ¥12,000 still bagged and headered OG blue Bagun on Mandarake, and I sincerely hope someone here was able to snag that!!!
I actually thought about this and was turning it around in my mind for about 40mins or so, Robert. I was genuinely shocked that he did not get snagged up immediately. I have been after one for so many years, it takes me all the way back to the early days of collecting. It did not have the original artwork from Kajita-san (offered through special autograph session at SF46), but is still so remarkable to see still wrapped up like that. A real pleasure, from a great artist and excellent sculptor; really OG beauty which is lacking in today's 'market.'
Even with all the crazy one offs and multiple releases, this is still my favorite version, and I’m not even a fan of yellow vinyl, really.
Sato-san has written up a beautiful text on his blog today, where he reflects on his life and career as well as the current situation with the coronavirus. If someone who knows Japanese are looking to kill some quarantine time I'd be very interested in reading a better translation of this entry. Volumes are lost in Google translation but I include two short outtakes here. He writes about Kemur Seijin. How it was the first standard-size soft vinyl sculpt of note that he made, or at least the first that was made commercially available. About the character he writes: And about his collection:
I get the feeling too when looking at my collection from time to time. Although not TE, when I looked at the Gargamel zodiac series, I am also saying to myself "oh, 12 years is so fast"
Forgive my ignorance, but what's up with all the new TE stuff popping up on mandarake? Is it even possible anymore to get TE directly from the source? I love this "bump golem" character but I don't necessarily need a one-off, especially for $500 from Manda. Is this business as usual?
@nothisisluke As it stands there doesn’t seem to be any way to get TE releases from Sato - San himself. I don’t check his blog, or even know where it is to be frank, so I’m unaware of any updates. But there’s been speculation as to the origin of these random bursts of TE poppin’ up on Manda.
Judging by his instagram he sure seems to be hitting the club often enough for a person with failing health - then again people have noted how punk he is, so might just be how he refuels and finds his Zen.