Ralph, here's a little help for updating the list. I'm not sure the exact release order for the Channen and the clear blue...so many blue zags released side by side: 2010 LB 2 zags, light blue 1 with pink eye, 1 with purple sprayed head. Rotofugi blue zag, might have been both painted and unpainted? (Dec 2010) 2011 LB gid with Tokyo color sprays Chanmen zag blue-green with purple sprays, also available unpainted (released ???) Clear "rainy day" blue unpainted (released ???) 2012 LB black with garamon color sprays. edit: This kinda shows the change of direction Gargamel has gone. Look at past years with 5+ zags per year and now only 7 zags(only 5 real release times) spread through over 2 years. In that same time period we've seen 10+ shows/venues of gargamel custom releases.
Interesting! If this was indeed a lottery prize then it might be a stretch to include it in the release checklist - but it mnight be interesting to see what one-off unpaints are out there in a separate list. Werent there some in this years lucky bags?
There's also the relatively recent Mishka camo colorway. That would still count as a regular release wouldn't it? Sorta like the lucky bag variations... That could potentially be a very long list couldn't it at this point?
Yeah it could be a long list - I was thinking less of a checklist - more of an "interesting to seee what is out there" type of thing. ANd I agree - the Mishka was a run of 30 or so, so should be on the list.
If I remember correctly that was a prize from the first Pachi Summit, it's been so long!!! The Anraku guy used to actually sell at those!
If you remember the Japanese Zag collector who has posted here, there are several blanks that he had that were on no general release. I believe he must have gotten them directly from Gargamel and they represent test pulls in different colors. Like those, a blank given as a prize should not be considered a general release because it is alike a one-off.
DYBBUKIM, you're talking about Reba's picture right? (It's too amazing not to quote it, and post it again.)
Thanks Carl, Dave, Drano, Dennis, Harmond and anyone else I perhaps missed, for the info. I wasn't sure and couldn't recall what the deal was with the unpainted number 1 Zag, I just remember a mention of that version. This checklist could easily get out of hand with all the various types of releases and to be honest I'm not sure exactly where to draw the line. I have included lucky bag versions of Zags and even the "Cola" Zag which I'm not sure I'd consider a "regular release." My thoughts were to include lucky bag one-offs, but exclude other one-offs from special events, that could be a separate database. I don't mind the inclusion of unpainted versions since there seems to be a lot of them included in LBs and chances are, multiples of unpainted, painted releases do get out there in one way, shape or form. The original intent for the list was more in the line of Carl's thought; " less of a checklist - more of an "interesting to see what is out there" type of thing." I'm certainly open to more suggestions.
@Ralph: As far as checklists go - the one you have created is pretty much perfect - its a smart list - cataloging regular releases and runs. I'd vote to keep it in this vein and add the Mishka plus the releases David mentioned. Open a separate lists for the one-off/prizes amazingness. @Dennis: Thanks for the Patchi Summit info! @Reba: My mind is blown every time I see your collection pics. Truly inspirational!
Wanted to bring light to this thread again in hopes we can start adding some pics of the releases after those Oni (awesomely) posted... Anyone?
And quote again..... This is most badass collection of zags ever. I really need to step my game up!!! Wowwzers
I'm chipping away at revising the old Zag checklist I started way back, and when I initially compiled it, someone mentioned that an "unpainted" version of the very first Zag was released prior to the painted one (55 Blue). It is confirmed in a list by Parka/Hiro and there are a few pics in the earlier pages of the thread but as I tried to confirm this, looking at other pics of an unpainted blue Zag, I realized that the dates don't jive. According to my dates which I pulled from Gargamel's site; http://gargamel.jp/item/zokki01.html the first Zag (55 Blue) was released on April 9, 2005. The pics I have ( above) show "2006" in the header so I checked the 2006 releases on Gargamel's site and I don't see any Zag that matches this pictured one. Soooo....was this unpainted blue zag pictured an "official" release from 2006? If so, it's not on Gargamel's database. It does look a bit brighter than the 55 Blue but it could be the lighting, but the date is wrong! Perhaps someone would be kind enough to translate the header? This has left me in a bit of a conundrum as I try to update the list.
Well, I can't seem to find any evidence that the dark blue 55 unpainted Zag was officially released in any way so I won't include it on the updated list.
Is there any way we can try and contact the guys at Gargamel and ask? I'd be happy to push them as hard, yet subtly as possible... frequently to get answers
