Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom

Discussion in 'Japan Toys' started by kopponigen, Jan 23, 2014.

  1. kopponigen

    kopponigen Post Pimp

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    They're doing Lion Maru now. Two releases including Tiger Joe and the Lion. I'm an eager Lion Maru collector but this is not doing it for me. Something about the face. Kind of expression less, almost as a lion rug or a latex mask... Not sure what it is. May be it'll grow on me or may be if I catch it for way less that retail. :mrgreen:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. kopponigen

    kopponigen Post Pimp

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    I should add, I love the body, sword and black cape. It looks like a sturdy figure and Bear Model has been doing some outstanding job with all these Medicom releases.
     
  3. Mr. Humphreys

    Mr. Humphreys Mini Boss

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    Very nice! I don't think it's too bad. Is there a photo of the entire figure, and Tiger Joe? Just curious as to how it compares to the vintage figure.
     
  4. kopponigen

    kopponigen Post Pimp

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    Yes there is, sorry Grace, here you go.
    [​IMG]

    I think the TJ looks a lot better.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Ultra999

    Ultra999 Post Pimp

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    i think it's the "action figure" paint applications that deter me from getting excited over these releases.
     
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  6. Lixx

    Lixx Mr. Grumpy™

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    A little too detailed for my liking. The charm of the original toys lie in the crudeness of the sculpt and sometimes haphazard paint application.
     
  7. Mr. Humphreys

    Mr. Humphreys Mini Boss

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    Oh thank you Aldo! :razz:
    Well, I do like the stripey stripes on the tiger, but I agree that it's a bit too GI-Joeish for my taste personally. Still, it is fun to see how they are newly interpreted! :razz:
     
  8. Kingboy D

    Kingboy D Comment King

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    It kind of looks like the talker. But I think the main problem is the 1970s bangs on it (sorta like how I look when my hair grows out and I am waiting on my wife to cut it! :oops: ). Cover up the hair over the forehead and the figure looks a lot better!
     
  9. Mr. Humphreys

    Mr. Humphreys Mini Boss

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    It also might be a texture thing... I'm so used to seeing these figures (vintage ones), being smooth and "shiny".
     
  10. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    Well, I am definitely happy that they keep trying new things, but I have to agree these aren't quite there in terms of my preferred vinyl taste. It is all so subjective though. I, too, get the action figure feel from these; probably the amount of detail and the heavy paint. I think they would work much better (like this) as four inch action figures, rather than large full size vinyl toys. They are right in line with a lot of the other Medicom stuff though, like the KR villains they have done. Which is cool, just not really the same style as most of my stuff. Pity that the Medicom stuff is so expensive, kids would love these (I would think).

    Abridged- totally cool toys I would play with and really enjoy, but I would have to take a pass at the usual price point.
     
  11. kopponigen

    kopponigen Post Pimp

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    I'm sure we're all going to forget what we don't like about them when they release Wakuranba and Musasabian. :twisted: :twisted:
     
  12. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Ahahahaaha, well said man. And indeed, I will be the first to eat my words I am sure. :razz:
     
  13. Mr. Humphreys

    Mr. Humphreys Mini Boss

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    Still waiting for Mr. Osashi to make a Wakuranba... wouldn't that be something! :shock:
     
  14. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    Personally, i love Bear Model for their crudity and rough textures . . . . a lot of the recent Medicom collaborations are fine but not really for me.
    That also has a lot to do with the fact they are always expensive on Mandarake :mrgreen:

    These two are OK but they look far more like Medicom than BM. I agree the Lion Maru face is a little character-less.

    Maybe they would look a lot better in-hand . . . . if i could buy them at retail i would be tempted.
     
  15. plasticXO

    plasticXO Comment King

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    Yeah, I agree with Moog. Too bad those are not available (again :? :evil: ) to foreigners.
    I love BM too and I really like the face of the Tiger. Lion Maru is OK but could have been more intricate.
     
  16. TULKU

    TULKU Addicted

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    Maybe Lulu will get them in a pre-order.
     
  17. tobor2099

    tobor2099 Toy Prince

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    Lion Maru by Bearmodel/Medicom
    I agree with everything said here.
    It's interesting to see the fine line these new remake toys have to walk. It's a shame they can't just use the actual molds.
    I will say I've been collecting both vintage and new medicom Kamen rider lines and even though theres no contest between the two, the new ones look much better in hand than photos.
     

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