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Cyborg Double-Nine Takara Double-Nine as Spectreman (6/99) |
Henshin Cyborg |
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1988 Neo Cyborg Series
Neo
Cyborg Series Yellow Neo Cyborg Silver Neo Cyborg Gold Neo Cyborg
Smoke Neo Cyborg Blue Neo Cyborg Red Neo Cyborg Gun Metal Neo Cyborg Copper Neo Cyborg Stealth Neo Cyborg
PPFM Cyborg Exclusive P-02 P-03 (1999) P-04 (2000)
Walder Vinyl Doll Series Invader O Invader Z Invader J
King Walder Monster Series Satan King Skull King Plant-man
Exclusive Mail-away Clear Invader Z Blue Satan King White Invader J Crystal Skull King
Neo Cyborg Accessories Costumes Series Cy-Protector Gold Cy-Protector Black (1999) Dr. Kenichi Katagai Lion King Cyborg
Weapon Series Weapon Arms Set #1,2 & 3 Replacement Head Sets
1999 Cyborg99 Series
Cyborg Double Nine Double-Nine Series Gunmetal Double-Nine Blue Double-Nine
King Walder 2 Series Purple General KW2 Red Magma KW2
Exclusive Double-Nine 99 VS KW2 set (1/00) Satake Cyborg99 (5/00)
Diamond Exclusive (Cancel) Silver 99 Gold 99 Blue Evil KW2 Smoke Shadow KW2
Double Nine Accessories
Double Nine Costume Set Spectreman (6.99) Dr. Gori (7.99) Zarborger (8.99) Lion-Maru (9.99) Thunder Mask (10.99) Tiger Seven (11.99)
Misc. Accessories Double-Nine Head Set
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Cyborg Double-Nine as Spectreman (DX version) |
Spectreman had realistic looking vinyl head. The DX version came with clear brown color eyes version of Spectreman.
Spectreman ST version came with blue-gray eyes to represent the later version of Spectreman costume.
Spectreman came with vinyl hands. There were two set of hands included in the set open fist and closed fist.
The DX version came with Gunmetal Cyborg Double-Nine body inside the suit.
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| In 1999, Takara started new series called Cyborg Double Nine. Cyborg Double Nine featured new body design (inspired by the modern 12" body design by Dragon and Medicom) with more articulations and even magnetic arms joints. This time around Takara only released few variants and concentrated mainly on costume set. The costumes were sold in DX and ST version. The DX version came with Cyborg Double Nine body (or in Dr. Gori case - a King Walder 2 body) and ST version came with just the costume. Takara debuted the new Henshin Cyborg costume series in June of 1999 with Spectreman. Spectreman (or Spectraman) was one of the early live action sci-fi TV shows from 1971. The TV showed named actually was called "Space Apeman Gori" after its main antagonist Dr. Gori, it was later renamed to "Apeman Gori VS Spectreman" and then just "Spectreman". Spectreman was a creation of P. Productions studio and used very similar concept to the popular Ultraman series. Spectreman was a cyborg send by Nebula 71 to protect earth from mad scientist-genius Apeman Dr. Gori. Spectreman was probably the earliest Japanese sci-fi TV show I recalled watching early every morning before school. The show was quite popular and many would later credited Spectreman for ushering the second boom of sci-fi live action TV show of 1970's. |
Cyborg Double Nine ST version
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There were two versions of
Spectreman costume set released by Takara - DX and ST. The DX version
came packaged with Gunmetal Cyborg Double body and ST version sold as
just costume set. There was one minor difference between the ST
and DX costume, the DX came with clear-brown eyes version of Spectreman
while the ST came with blue-gray eyes. (The eyes colors were changed
during the TV show run of Spectreman) Double Nine Spectreman costume
took the new approach of mixing the retro style with the modern
realistic looks of the current 1/8 scale figures. The main costume was
bright gold color suit with vinyl head, chest and pelvic pieces. The
vinyl pieces had very nice details but with simple snap on design
instead of the multi-pieces like the Marmit version. This semi-retro
style gave Takara Cyborg version of hero costumes quite a unique look
and I rather enjoy Takara's bold take. However I am sure many collectors
of 1/8 scale who like Medicom ultra-realistic look probably were turn off by
this semi-retro approach and the old-school retro group probably find the new
semi-realistic looking vinyl parts too modern for their tastes. Takara
would followed the released of Spectreman with his main antagonist Dr.
Gori costume and later Lion-Maru costume from the another P. Production
Studio TV show Kaiketsu Lion Maru (which interestingly was a
replacement show for Spectreman which ended its run in 1972.)
For more info about Spectreman please check out these excellent Spectreman websites - Damien M.'s Spectreman The Nebula Sanctuary and Eric's Spectreman - The Absolute Fan Page. |
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