#940 FIGURAS EN ACCIÓN (F.E.A.) Nr. 21 + HE-MAN and THE MEMORY STONE + DAS SPIELZEUG + SPIELZEUG INTERNATIONAL

FIGURAS EN ACCIÓN (F.E.A.) Nr. 21

The publication celebrates this month its tenth anniversary. It was exactly 10 years ago, that the first issue was published. If you look at that first issue today and compare it with this very last issue, you will find many differences. I tried to explain a bit how was the development and the evolution of the magazine. Many people have worked on it and brought their ideas to this project.

We also bring other articles about Nacoral die-cast and plastic models in 1:43 scale, Androids and Invaders by Redondo, Furby (the robotic pet), a curious board game called "La Bola Astral" and finally we interview a cultural association called Tekubi Toy that organizes a great toy event in Albacete.

I hope you like this new issue, let me know if you read it by leaving a comment here or in the official blog of the magazine.

This is the url for the official blog, where zou will find the direct link to the pdf (completely free, not even a registration is required)

HE-MAN and THE MEMORY STONE (LADYBIRD BOOKS)

This was a gift from a friend (thank you Steve!), who probably saw the standard Ladybird books in this blog and decided to send me this one for my collection. I didn´t even know this book existed, because it is much rarer than the previous ones.

It is an adventure book you play with a piece of paper, a pencil and a die. The adventure springs from one point to the next and sometimes you can make a decision on what to do or where to go or maybe you have to fight monsters or evil warriors until you reach Skeletor at the very end. He-Man may "die" during the process, and has to restart the story from the beginning. It is also the first book of this kind I read since 30 years, so it was a nice experience overall, it brought me very good memories.

DAS SPIELZEUG and SPIELZEUG INTERNATIONAL

I borrowed these two magazines and it was an interesting read. They cover all new products and bussiness related information: fairs, retailing and so on. It helped me finding a couple of interesting news that I used in the last issue of Figuras En Acción, but in general, I am not so aware of the brand new toys. It is made for professionals, not for amateurs or collectors, although they will provide a great source of information for collectors in the years to come.

#939 COMANSI / YOLANDA - MAZINGER Z MONOCHROMATIC FIGURES (Around 1989)

I haven´t seen many chapters of Mazinger Z on TV. At the time when I watched cartoons, the series was already a bit old, and there were newer, more attractive options. As a result, I never knew much about the characters or the plot. I liked it, no questions about that, but children didn´t comment it anymore, it had not so many merchandising available and they were aired at times where most children were doing other things (that is, either too early or at the time where children used to go out and play outdoors).

Afrodita, Mazinger y Gelbros J3

I bought these figures in different flea markets and got to have the collection almost complete, just missing two figures. They were made by Yolanda in the late 80s (maybe even in the 90s), although there were a previous version in painted plastic. The monochromatic versions of Yolanda are far less attractive than the painted ones, so I decided to sell some monochromatic collections I had and focus on the others. I also sold my monochromatic Super Monstruos a few years ago.

Conde Brocken y Koji Kabuto

The figures made by Yolanda are 9:

• Mazinger Z: Came in two different versions, from which I only have/had one (walking). The second one had its arms up, in a position that resembles the one that the robot used while flying.
• Afrodita / Afrodite A: Female robot, most remembers for being capable to fire its breasts.
• Koji / Kouji Kabuto: The kid that piloted Mazinger Z from its head. Grandson of the creator of Mazinger Z.
• Dr. Infierno / Dr. Hell: Wants to become the new ruler of the world with an army of mechanical monsters. He is a German research scientist who went mad and killed the rest of the researchers except Dr. Kabuto, who fled to build Mazinger Z.
• Barón Ashler / Baron Ashura: An evil character, right-hand person of Dr. Hell. Half man, half woman.
• Conde Brocken / Count Brocken: Another minion of Dr. Hell, ex-Nazi soldier. Not very bright.
• Two robotic creatures/monsters/enemies called Gelbros J3 and Baras K9. These are for me the most attractive for their design.

Doctor Infierno y Baron Ashler

The most interesting part is that the figures are actually promotional. The came in blind bags that were not sold, but could be won when buying some chocolate eggs from the brand “Tombola” (they were similar to Kinder Surprise). The bag looks like this:

Picture courtesy of El Cuartín de Juguete (elcuartindejuguete.blogspot.com)

In the front part it is clearly indicated that each figure is available in four colours, each of them with a particular “meaning”, in an attempt to make children try to get all figures in all colours. My objective was to get one of each cast, no matter which colour.

Back to the colour and their meanings…

• Purple: The Power of the Fist
• Green: The power of the “Lasser”
• Blue: The Power of the Hurricane
• Metal: The Power of the Force

By the way... note that the Count Brocken figure shown in the pictures is red... so there are alternative colours.

In the back we can read that this toy has been manufactured by Comansi, although the figures are marked with Comansi’s second brand Yolanda. Otherwise there is no logo of the company printed in the bag.

They are relatively easy to find.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Names: MAZINGER Z, AFRODITA, KOJI, DR. INFIERNO, BARON ASHLER, CONDE BROCKEN y GELBROS J3
• Toy Line: Mazinger Z (monochromatic version)
• Year: Around 1989
• Company: Yolanda (Spain)
• Size: Around 11 cm