MP-22: Ultra Magnus

Picked up MP-22: Ultra Magnus with some local collecting buddies yesterday.

Yeah, Magnus, I have not opened you yet other than to pose you with your vintage US and Japanese counterparts.

Don't sulk Magnus, 'deal with it'...

... moments this year (and last), when it felt like Christmas!

This year, I didn't get any toys for Xmas.

To then get that festive feeling, I figured I should post about those times in the past year (or two), where it felt like Christmas.

Most of the shots in this post are unreleased group shots that I did when I received toys (or large lots of toys), mainly because I like to post about the toys individually before posting a large group shot. Due to my posting speed, I still have yet to complete posting about the toys I received from way back in June 2013!

Today's arrivals - Takara C-64: Seaspray carded and boxed

Just got home from dinner and was handed two packages by concierge. The first was a bottle of wine from JW, a UK collector and friend (what a nice surprise!) and the second was a package from Japan.

Popped the wine below my tiny xmas tree for unwrapping on xmas day and then opened the package from Japan.

This is what's in it - boxed and carded versions of C-64: Seaspray. Will write more later.

1987 Headmasters - Skullcruncher original box art - an Update

I had wanted to take this shot when I did my original birthday post Parts 2 & 3, but I didn't have time to dig out my US boxed Skullcruncher. I managed to dig out my US box Skullcruncher this morning and as I was chatting with a good buddy Seb (G1-Junkie / Hyperoptic), took the below shots.

Top - pre-production box flap of D-85: Skull's box; and original hand-drawn and air brushed box art for Skullcruncher.
Bottom - Takara boxed D-85: Skull MIB; and US boxed Skullcruncher.

I thought about it more and just really like this little collection here more and more. When we were little boys, the only Headmasters my brother and I had were Chromedome (mine) and Skullcruncher (my brother's). When I first got the box art in hand, I immediately texted my brother (who does not collect TFs) and asked if he remembers his "Transformers crocodile"; and he replied "yeah, the green and pink one right? Can't remember the name, but remember I had it".

The little collection of pieces below just warms my heart when I look at it because they will always remind me of my brother and of the fun we had with Transformers when we were little. Pity that he does not collect TFs now, but then his 5 year old son loves TFs! Haha...

The above shot shows the Jap box and US boxed Skullcruncher side by side. This would be a good place to start with Unicron Nemesis' idea of documenting and comparing Japanese vs US boxes.

Takara boxed Mail Away Overdrive MIB (#25 of 36)

This is piece #25 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Overdrive.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

Takara Mail Away Downshift MIB (#24 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

White box with blue character line art, somewhat like the Japanese Mailaway Ratchet box.

Takara box Mailaway Camshaft MIB (#23 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

 

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

The Birthday Post 2014 - Parts 2 & 3 - Skullcruncher

In Part 1 of my birthday post yesterday, I posted about a casefresh unused Diaclone blue Fairlady Z, aka "blue Bluestreak". Given the rarity and desirability of that piece, it would be a very difficult one to top - but I believe the items 2 and 3 in this post could top 'blue Bluestreak' casefresh.

So what would be in this Part 2 of my birthday post?

Here it is...

Item #2: On the left is a 'box flat', which was a sample made by the factory (in the 80s) then sent to Takara or Hasbro to be approved. In the words of The Spacebridge, 'some box flats are different to production boxes, others are identical.  Differences can be very slight even as far as the internal flap shape. Copyright text may also be different'.

Item #3: On the right is something so rare, I never thought I'd ever own something like that - the original hand-painted, hand-air-brushed artwork for Skullcruncher.

I will no doubt write more about these, but here is the story in brief first ....

The Birthday Post 2014 - Part 1 (Diaclone blue Fairlady Z MIB unused and near casefresh)

It's my birthday.

Well, I actually only got to write this post on 3 December, but backdated it.

This year, I decided to get myself some birthday presents. There are three presents I got myself and this is one of them - hence the "Part 1" in the title of this post.

From the photos so far, you would be able to guess what nature of item I got, I suppose. Yes, it's Bluestreak related (no prizes for guessing!). While I was walking around Mong Kok with UK collector, Jason W, I chanced upon this beauty....

Series 3 - Runamuck MOSC

I bought this near the end of June 2014... and only posting about it now, heh.

I have ever been fond of the Battlechargers since the 80s. I clearly remember one particular interaction, where I pointed to the 'white car' on the catalogue and asked my sister how to pronounce his name. Her answer was "This robot is called 'Runamuck'."

Years later, I acquired the vintage versions Runamuck and his partner in crime, Runabout both MOC.

This June, I finally got off my bee-hind and got myself a MOSC Runamuck!

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Mail-Away Ratchet MIB unused (#22 of 36)

This is piece #22 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below.

Takara, Fight! Super Robot Lifeform, 01-Convoy MIB (#21 of 36)

This is piece #21 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot (see 'Related Posts' at the end of this entry).

In some ways, this is the piece 'that started it all' as far as Japanese Transformers are concerned. This is likely the very first Takara boxed Japanese TF... 01-Convoy.

From what I understand, there are a number of versions of this piece, a number of variations. My collector buddies Chaos Kit, Maz and Himawari would know a lot more than me, so I'm not going to pretend to state where in time this particular came about, but just state what I see.

Panini Transformers sticker book and Transformers FHE Poster

Here are 2 items that share the same 'cover' - this one below

Back in 1984 / 1985, every Friday at 6.30pm, Channel 5 in Singapore would flash the above image for maybe 2-3 seconds before it played the opening theme song of the Transformers cartoon and then that week's episode would commence!

For me, that image above represents the start of that week's exciting Transformers episode, where new and exciting things happen, where I get to see and meet new robots which are thrown into various life-threatening situations. It therefore is little wonder that the above image is extremely close to heart for me.

Takara Transformers 2010, C-78: Rodimus Major MIB

I bought this back around October 2013. Wow, that is how long it's taken me to post about it... about a year late.

Bought it at the China Square flea markets when I was walking around with the Cave Collector and TCYE.

Sidetracked - MP-18 and Scoria (aka Dinobot Slag)

Random pic of the day....

G1 Skywarp - USA pre-rub, Mexican, Takara 23-Skywarp, SCF Skywarp

I bought a Mexican Skywarp from Masterforce.co.uk at around the time they started their online toy business - I wanted to show support in terms of actually buying something from them.

It was a pleasure buying from them - the responses were prompt, the package was well packed and the shipping was fast. Overall, I was a very satisfied customer.

Left to right: loose USA pre-rub Skywarp; 23-Skywarp MIB (Japanese box); USA Skywarp box; Mexican Skywarp (plane mode) and box.

Xmas is now around the corner (or at least near enough I think) and many fans and collectors might be thinking of doing some shopping - which is why I'm bringing this up now... Masterforce.co.uk might be a good place to start (they sell more than just Transformers).

Masterforce also has a FaceBook page.

Ok, now on to Mexican Skywarp....

Fight! Super Robot Life - Japanese Transformers Takara boxed Insecticons MIB

Group shot of Takara boxed Insecticons:
40-Kickback MIB
41-Bombshell MIB
42-Shrapnel MIB

I have variously been told that, among the early G1 Japanese pieces, these pieces are quite rare, but I never quite fully appreciated just how difficult it could be to find them. It's been about 15 months since I bought these as part of a 36 pieces (and more actually) mega-lot from Devstar37 and to be honest, I have not seen any Takara boxed Insecticon pop up for sale on Yahoo Japan, Yahoo HK, eBay or FB sale pages.

Group shots of Transformers Cassettes in Japanese Takara packaging

So I took some time to photograph cassettes that were released by Takara, all of them.

Since I was a boy, I've always really liked the cassettes, whether they were Autobots or Decepticons. I just thought they were so cool and the concept of them being spies just fit so well. Since the 80s, cassettes have become something of an anachronism, but that has not stopped Takara from releasing Masterpiece versions of various Decepticon cassettes. I'm sure there will be more than one 90s or post 2000-born kid that will ask their parents what a 'cassette' is!

 

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform, 42-Shrapnel MIB (#20 of 36)

This is piece #20 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot.

It is 42-Shrapnel, one of 3 Takara mold Insecticons.  I used to own Shrapnel as a boy and I am quite fond of this electrifying character and also this mold. The black and purple colour scheme just works really well too.

Some say that the Takara boxed Insecticons are mailaway releases, but I am not really sure whether they are. In many instances, the common thought is that they are pretty difficult to track down in box. Not really very expensive, but just difficult to track down.

So here is Shrapnel ....

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform, 41-Bombshell MIB (#19 of 36)

This is piece #19 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot.

It is 41-Bombshell, one of 3 Takara mold Insecticons.  I used to own Bombshell as a boy and I am quite fond of this character and also this mold. The black and purple colour scheme just works really well too.

Some say that the Takara boxed Insecticons are mailaway releases, but I am not really sure whether they are. In many instances, the common thought is that they are pretty difficult to track down in box. Not really very expensive, but just difficult to track down.

So here is Bombshell ....

Giddy up! It's Hasbro versus Takara in Optimus Prime / Convoy trailer Race Day!

Trailer Race Day happened on or around 4 September 2014. I took the photos on 4 Sep 2014, but it is only now that I am documenting it and writing it down.

I was at home alone that night because E was working late, after having picked up a variant of 01-Convoy from a HK collector. I suddenly realised that I had a lot of Primes on hand... and I asked myself: 'I wonder which variant of Prime has the most powerful trailer'.

And then I thought further, 'Just how powerful is the fabled VSX-style 'super' launcher. Is it really that super?'.

I grinned and resolved within myself: 'I have the Primes, I have the time - let's have me a Trailer Race Day!!!'.

Takara Headmasters D-85: Skull MIB (aka Skullcruncher)

Here is something I bought a couple of months back, Destron Headmaster Swamp Warrior D-85: Skull, aka Skullcruncher.

Masterforce D-307: Overlord MIB (#3, my third one)

I wanted the title to read 'Yet another D-307: Overlord MIB', but thought that it would be too cavalier and perhaps not respectful of how difficult this piece could be to come by for some collectors.

 This is the 5th Overlord that I have in my collection (a fact). It is one of 3 MIB pieces, amongst the 5 pieces I have (or had).

I guess I have been fortunate that, as a collector of vintage TFs, Overlord (which is a holy grail to many) has been relatively easy and straightforward for me to acquire over the years. I wish I had this same good fortune with all TFs, but it seems that the good fortune only works for Overlord.

Early Takara boxed Cybertrons (Autobots) MIB within '01 to 49' (Fight! Super Robot Lifeform series)

The post follows on from my previous post titled "Early Takara Japanese Autobot 'cars' MIB", where I photo-ed almost all the early Takara boxed Cybertron cars.

In this series of shots, I attempted to photograph all of the Cybertrons (Autobots) that are within the '01 to 49' Japanese numbering. As you will see, the results are a little awkward owing to the varied and different box sizes.

I have, for completeness, also included 4 mailaway toys in the group shot (but somehow I forgot to put the VSZ set into the shot). Shamefully, I have to admit that the only piece I am missing from this shot is #13-Cliffjumper MIB (it's not difficult to find, but I still have not tracked down a piece yet).

Almost all the Takara boxed Destron Headmasters (except D-93: Mega Zarak; D-311: Black Zarak)

Following from my earlier post of the Takara boxed Cybertron and Destron Headmasters (see here), I went back and took a shot of almost all the Destron Headmasters.

Obviously, D-93: Mega Zarak and D-311: Black Zarak are not in the photo. D-93 is in Singapore and not with me in Hong Kong - see here for D-93. D-311 whilst here with me in Hong Kong, is buried so deep in my cabinet and I just could not dig it out in time for the photo - see D-311 here and here.

Left column: D-85: Skull (Skullcruncher); D-86: Wolf (Weirdwolf); D-87: Wipe (Mindwipe). D-85 I bought from my usual shop; D-86 and D-87 I bought off of Yahoo HK.

Middle column: D-99: Apeface; D-100: Snapdragon. Both of these I bought as a set from my usual shop here in HK.

Right column: D-301: Wilder (Fangry), D-302: Bullhorn (Horri-Bull), D-303: Cancer (Squeezeplay). D-301 and D-302 I bought off separate sellers from Yahoo HK. D-303 was from Devstar37.

Early Takara boxed Destrons (Decepticons) MIB within '01 to 49' (Fight! Super Robot Lifeform series)

Over the weekend, I've had to stay at home (many would know why). So I did a little light shelf re-arrangement and also took the opportunity to photograph some Transformers.

This series focuses on the Destrons (or Decepticons) that are within the numbering of '01 to 49' - remember my mission, here?

There were just too many boxes and I could not fit all of them onto my (tiny) table. So I took shots of the '1984' Destrons first (in truth, back in Japan all of '01 to 49' were released in 1985 as part of the Fight! Super Robot Lifeform series).

Top row: 18-Frenzy MIB; 19-Jarguar MIB (aka Ravage); 20-Condor MIB (aka Laserbeak)
Middle row: 16-Megatron MIB (more detailed pics here); 21-Reflector MIB; 17-Soundwave MIB
Bottom row: 22-Starscream MIB; 23-Skywarp MIB; 24-Thundercracker MIB

The Takara boxed Cybertrons and Destrons Headmasters and Targetmasters MIB

I did these shots, maybe a week or two back, but other than sharing with a few friends on What'sApp, didn't manage to post about them here.

The complete Japanese boxed Targetmasters!

The idea in this series of photographs is to showcase the run of Japanese Takara boxed Headmasters and Targetmasters. As of this writing, I just realised that I have missed out including a number of Headmasters when I was photographing this lot - C-114: Fortress Maximus, C-301: Go-Shooter, C-302: Hosehead, C-303: Minelba, C-311: Grand Maximus, D-93: Mega Zarak, D-99: Apeface and D-100: Snapdragon, D-301: Wilder (Fangry), D-302: Bullhorn (Horri-Bull), D-303: Cancer (Squeezeplay), D-311: Black Zarak.

Ok, so I've missed quite a number. Oh well, better luck next time - I have included links to these pieces on my blog at the end of this post.

Takara boxed number 31 to 36: Constructicons

Slowly, I turn to the Destron (Decepticon) portion of the "01 to 49 Quest" that I am on...

These are Japanese boxed numbers 31 to 36, the Constructicons. Who doesn't love the very first G1 combiner there is. Well, love it or hate it, there is just something about the lime green and purple colour schemes of these guys that work.

Finding these guys individually took some effort as well. Actually, back in 2010, when I was at Mandarake Nakano, there was a very nice set of 31 to 36 MIB that I could have bought, but then back then, they were considered repeats and there were other higher priority items on my list (and luggage space was limited).

Early Takara Japanese Autobot "cars" MIB

About a year ago, I conceived of a "mission" in my mind - I wanted to acquire 'proper' versions of the TFs that mattered to me.

Over the years, I have gone and acquired a lot of TFs from 1984 to 1992, all in the name of completion. Also 99% of them came in USA boxes or packaging, but many were without the ever elusive 'bubble insert' that tends to go missing (or even when present, is quite pointless). For the Japanese section of TFs, my collecting aim up till that point last year was that if there is an equivalent USA release, I would get the USA boxed version and not the Japanese boxed version. This means that I would not have gotten a 01 - Convoy MIB because I would have gotten a USA Optimus Prime MIB; however, I would get Japanese pieces that had no USA equivalent release, for example Artfire.

The 'mission' then, was to also acquire all the early Japanese TFs. In particular, I wanted my focus to be on numbers 01 to 49, which were the earliest Cybertrons and Destrons in the Japanese line (ie; both Autobots and Decepticons were mixed into the 01 to 49 numbers).

After about a year and two months, these are the Cybertrons (Autobots)...

MP-20: Wheeljack and other Wheeljacks (Generations, Japanese Takara MIB, USA MIB, G1, SCF and Hard Hero)

Once again, what's worth doing is worth over doing.

Took a shot of my Wheeljack family after I transformed MP-20: Wheeljack, which is an awesome mold by the way.

Pictured with: 03 - Takara boxed Wheeljack (2 pcs), USA box pre-rub Wheeljack MIB, Generations Wheeljack, loose G1 rub-sign Wheeljack, SCF Wheeljack and Hard Hero Wheeljack.
(acknowledgements - Takara boxed Wheeljack from jgon, Hard Hero Wheeljack from Fatbot)

1987 Takara exclusive (variant) white Headmaster heads - Kaku, Lodoney, Lione, Trizor, Shuffler

After more than 6 months post obtaining these, it is finally time to reveal them and talk about them. For one reason or another, my blog is suffering from a substantial backlog of posts - I have close to 70 posts worth of photos and materials ready, but yet to be posted.

A sign that I am enjoying other things in life surely.

I start off with the money shot - almost a full collection of the 1987 exclusive Headmasters, in colour and in white. I am missing a white Loafer of course. Oh, goes without saying that I would pay good money to buy one from whoever has it.

Back row (L to R): white Lodoney (Rodney), white Kaku (Kirk), Loafer, Lodoney (Rodney) and Kaku (Kirk)

Front row (L to R): white Trizor, white Lione, white Shuffer, Trizor, Lione and Shuffer

Shelve re-arrangement - Autobot cars to the front!

This was toward the end of July, a couple of days before E and me left for our Euro vacation. That day, I decided to (once again) rotate and re-arrange my toy shelves. This time, I really wanted to feature the early year 'Autobot cars' and sort of rotated them all to the front.

Specimen-17's sale of the decade (perhaps) - lots of rare G1 figures AFA-ed, MISB, MIB

Beginning from a couple of days ago till somewhere in mid-September, long time UK seller Specimen-17 will be selling a very large lot of Transformers - mostly AFA pieces, Japanese G1 (MISB and MIB), USA G1 (carded, MIB, MISB) and other exotic paraphernalia.

For a sale of this scope and magnitude, Specimen-17 is currently in Beijing, China, assisting a long time collector auction off key pieces of his collection. The collector is known to me, was active on the Australian Transformers Boards and we are good friends - this is why I am doing a shout out here.

E and I have personally seen his collection in Australia before we all moved back to Asia. With hand to heart, I can say that his collection is one of the most breath-taking and stunning collections that I have seen. The depth of the pieces he has to the rare and exotic nature of the items are really something to behold.

Some of what is on auction right now includes such pieces as AFA Arfire MISB, AFA dino-cassettes, AFA Masterforce figures, MISB Japanese, USA and Euro-exclusive figures and more.

Okay, enough of the hard-sell, go see for yourself...

eBay.com page: http://www.ebay.com/sch/specimen-17/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=3&_rdc=1

eBay.co.uk page: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_ipg=50&_ssn=specimen-17&_sop=1

(I included 2 pages because eBay kind of displays strange on my browser and depending on which site I use, a different number of hits is show; weird, but I don't know why).

Good luck bidding, I know I want to win some of those puppies too!

~ HD

so this year, I will be at Auto Assembly!

This weekend, I will be at Auto Assembly in the UK.

Long story short, I guess, I'd say that Auto Assembly is the UK's annual version of a TF convention by fans.

How this all came about has been pretty fortuitous. It wasn't planned, at least not from the very beginning. E and I were always going to take a vacation during this period, after her secondment at a client's office ends. This year, she wanted to go to Europe and decided on Paris, London and Switzerland. It was during the planning stages of the trip that I realised I would be in Paris on or around the time AA is happening.

Initially, we weren't supposed to be in the UK during the AA weekend, but on realising that there is a true blue TF-convention on at the time, E sort of moved mountains to make sure our schedule aligned with some part of the convention. She even booked a nice room at the hotel where AA will be held.

Needless to say, I am very excited to be attending perhaps my first even TF dedicated convention. Looking forward to meet my buddies Maz, Morg and Specimen-17 too.

Thanks a million to E for making it possible!

~ HD

Generations of Deathsaurus' (aka Deszaras) - from D-336 to Botcon 2005 to Kabaya

Today, this is a post of a slightly different nature - it is not a post about my toys per se, but a post about the toys of my good friend and collector from Hong Kong, KCH (those are his initials).

Hence the tag / label, 'Sidetracked'.

To me, he is some sort of super collector, with a collection spanning hundreds and hundreds of figures from many varying lines of toys which includes Japanese G1, Japanese boxed Beast Wars, Armada, CHUG, third party toys and the like.

Recently, he has jumped head first onto the G1 bandwagon, and has started amassing some really nice and juicy G1 items in minty condition and at great prices. (I can feel the death stares, but hey, I'm not entirely responsible for inspiring him to collect G1! The G1 toys, really do speak for themselves).

The focus of this post, on KCH's behalf, is none other than Deathsaurus (or Deszaras, or as Robot Heroes would have its 'Dessaras', or as the official poster from Malaysia below says... 'Death SanRas'!). For this post, I will use 'Deathsaurus' as the name.

Teaser image...

Hasbro G1 Mega-Pretender Crossblades MISB

This was part of a lot of 4 pieces of MISB Pretenders that I bought when I was in Japan last December. Yes, there was some wheeling and dealing while I was snowboarding in the mountains of Niseko. Such is my reticence and the extent of my backlog that I have only now gotten to them some 7 months later.

This is the fourth piece - Mega-Pretender Crossblades MISB. Crossblades is 1 of 3 Mega Pretenders that were actually "USA exclusives", in other words, these 3 has never seen a corresponding Japanese release. The 3 are - Autobots Crossblades and Vroom; and Decepticon Thunderwing. Of the trio, Thunderwing is of course the most famous of them and naturally the most sought after and expensive.

However, Crossblades and Vroom are not that far behind in value because they are both quite obscure and for collectors hoping for a complete sweep of Pretenders, Crossblades and Vroom, both of whom has quite a lot of accessories that tend to go missing, are quite tricky to track down.

Hasbro G1 Pretender Splashdown MISB

This was part of a lot of 4 pieces of MISB Pretenders that I bought when I was in Japan last December. Yes, there was some wheeling and dealing while I was snowboarding in the mountains of Niseko. Such is my reticence and the extent of my backlog that I have only now gotten to them some 7 months later.

This is the third piece - Pretender Splashdown MISB. Splashdown is 1 of 6 large format Pretenders that were actually "USA exclusives", in other words, these 6 has never seen a corresponding Japanese release. The six are - Autobots Groundbreaker, Splashdown, Sky High; and Decepticons Iguanus, Finback and Bugly.

Of this 6, Splashdown is commonly regarded as the most difficult track down and complete. It actually has quite a lot of accessories, which could be one of the reasons it is difficult to complete. So, to be able to get it in MISB condition, well, I pounced on it!

Hasbro G1 Pretender Groundbreaker MISB

This was part of a lot of 4 pieces of MISB Pretenders that I bought when I was in Japan last December. Yes, there was some wheeling and dealing while I was snowboarding in the mountains of Niseko. Such is my reticence and the extent of my backlog that I have only now gotten to them some 7 months later.

This is the second piece - Pretender Groundbreaker MISB. Groundbreaker is 1 of 6 large format Pretenders that were actually "USA exclusives", in other words, these 6 has never seen a corresponding Japanese release. The six are - Autobots Groundbreaker, Splashdown, Sky High; and Decepticons Iguanus, Finback and Bugly.

Hasbro G1 Pretender Landmine MISB

This was part of a lot of 4 pieces of MISB Pretenders that I bought when I was in Japan last December. Yes, there was some wheeling and dealing while I was snowboarding in the mountains of Niseko. Such is my reticence and the extent of my backlog that I have only now gotten to them some 7 months later.

This is the first piece - Pretender Landmine MISB. Perhaps one of my favourite large format Pretenders from 1988. I don't know why, I just like Landmine. I know some collectors think he is the worst Pretender toy, but I like Landmine. Deal with it.