GoBot Report: Road Ranger

First off, in case you’re wondering why there was no review last week I had some medical issues to deal with. I’m better now and back to business.

image source: Machine Robo wiki

I have a section of the Toy Review category for Transformers and GoBots. While I have reviewed Transformers, I haven’t reviewed any GoBots. It’s time to change that.

GoBots get a raw deal when it comes to transforming robot toys. The only ones worse are the ones you’ve never heard of like Super Defender or Convertors or something. Tonka and Hasbro both went to Japan, were intrigued by transforming robot toys, and brought them back to the US with a different storyline. Tonka just took most of theirs from the “Machine Robo” line while Hasbro used a few different lines. Yet there are some Transformers fans (I’ve never taken a scientific survey so I have no actual numbers, but they’re a very loud group) who hate GoBots, treating them as second rate compared to their Cybertronian counterparts. But I don’t care, I love them!

In the picture above is Road Ranger. He had few appearances in the show. The producers of Challenge Of The GoBots at Hanna-Barbera chose six main characters, three from each side, and others ended up with strong recurring roles. Road Ranger there was not one of the lucky ones, and yet it may be my favorite of the GoBots toys I’ve been able to play with. So that’s why he’s my first GoBot review here at the site.

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DVD Report: Godzilla Vs. Biollante

I’ve noted in the past that I’m a huge Godzilla fan. I’m also trying to make some room on the video shelf and replacing VHS with DVDs is the best way to do it. It doesn’t hurt that finding a VHS player will someday be near impossible, although I have yet to switch to Blu-Ray. (No HD TV anyway.)  So when I found Godzilla Vs. Biollante at K-Mart for $5 I grabbed it. And paid for it, with the lady cashier even saying it was a classic and she didn’t sound like she was joking. Actually, I don’t care if she was because I happen to think it is.

Construction companies must be the richest businesses in Tokyo. Right after cleaning services.

Godzilla Vs. Biollante

FORMAT: DVD

PRODUCED BY: Toho

DISTRIBUTORS: Miramax and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

STARRING:Kunihiko Mitamura, Yoshiko Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi Emi Kodaka, Masanoru Takashima, Turu Minegish, Ryunosuki Kaneda & Koji Takahashi

DIRECTOR: Kazuki Ohmori

PRODUCER: Tomoyuki Tanaka

Toy Report: My Little Digimon

I’m not a huge Digimon fan, but I do really like the third season, known in Japan as Digimon Tamers. Digimon was created before Pokémon, but came to the US after it to catch in on the little pocket monsters. I did, however, pick up the two figures above because I thought they’d make nice nicknacks. They’re only a few inches high.

Now I’m not going to break out all the Digimon terms so casual readers don’t have to worry about that. For fans, you know all the levels and Digivolving and all that stuff so you don’t need me to go over it. We’re just looking at the toys on their own merits and not the minutia of the franchise. That said, on to the review.

Japan needs help

I was set to review a bunch of untranslated manga that I wanted to get rid of. Sometimes when you have money and room you don’t make the best choices, although in my defense I didn’t know they were untranslated when I picked up some of them.

However, with the recent devastation in Japan, part of me doesn’t feel right doing the review at this time. That may be silly, but I have no alternate article idea that I could get ready in time. I’ll put these aside for the moment and get to them at a later date. In the meantime, if anyone knows a good site where I can price untranslated manga please let me know.

And whether it’s money or just a prayer (I believe in God), then please be of help to the people of Japan. They’re used to earthquakes, but this one is pretty bad. Two charities in particular may be of interest to people in my circles.

• Super Hero Time: Fans of live-action Japanese superhero shows (and possibly anime fans as well) have gotten together to create a charity for their fellow fans. With so many false charities out there, they wanted to be sure that the money when where it’s supposed to. There are also events and auctions being set up.
• Art For Japan: If your a cartoonist, illustrator, or other artist, this group is looking for donations for a charity auction.

I am sadly low on funds, but I already give to an organization, Operation Blessing, that is already working to help people in Japan. The Red Cross is also looking for help. Otherwise, be sure to check out any charity claiming to be looking to help Japan to be sure that it is in fact a legitimate charity. Too many scumbags out there are working to take advantage of people looking to help others in need.

If you are able to help, please do so. If not, then say a prayer for the Japanese people that the survivors will be able to get their lives back.

Related Article

• Google launches Person Finder for Japanese quake victims (Network World)