Popy Mazinger Z
Mazinger Z was the very first jumbo machinder released by Popy and as such it's a bit of the grandaddy of all that came after. I've owned two - the first was one of the two Popy JMs that I purchased in the 2000s and included the Scramble Dash (this is a back-pack that belts onto the figure so you can simulate flying). Mazinger Z looks quite a bit like the more familiar Great Mazinga figure released in the US and is the original giant robot created by Go Nagai and later replaced by Great Mazinger and Mazinkaizer. Some notable differences are the shape of the legs, the separated "Z" shaped chest pieces and the more crown-like head. As I've noted before, when Popy marketed these toys in Japan they were intact figures and did not include the accessories marketed with the toys in the US. Those accessories were sold separately, a bit like the dongles you now need with your Macbook Pro (heh). The basic figure had a hover pilder (the vehicle the pilot flies to attach to Mazinger Z) that's removable from the head; two removal fists so you can add accessories; missile banks on each leg and both shoulders; and rollers under the feet.
There are three versions of the figure:
- First Issue - the punches (fists) lack the "rivets" that help hold the fists on the arms and the feet are molded completely differently - they have two plastic clips, one front and one back, that hold double-wheels - it's quite unusual and only found on this first issue figure.
- Second Issue - this is the most common - the punches have the rivets and the bottoms of the feet are more like the other Popy releases, with metal axles and wheels on each side. At some point the eyes and horns went from gold paint to yellow paint and the leg and feet sculpt changed slightly with later versions notably gaining screws to keep the feet from falling off as easily, I'm assuming.
- Third Issue - the Pilder was modified to be a "jet pilder" instead of having the more common fans the stickers show jets - the Pilder is actually molded completely differently as well. This seems to be a fairly rare variation.
Mazinger Z First Issue Figure
Mazinger Z First Issue Left Second Issue Right |
Mazinger Z Fist Comparison First Issue Left Second Issue Right
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Mazinger Z Foot Comparison First Issue Left Second Issue Right
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Mazinger Z Fist Comparison First Issue Left Second Issue Right
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Mazinger Z First Issue Waist Sticker |
Mazinger Z Second Issue Waist Sticker |
Mazinger Z First Issue Copyright Back |
Mazinger Z Second Issue Copyright Back |
Mazinger Z First Issue Wheel Trucks |
Mazinger Z Second Issue Wheel Trucks |
Mazinger Z Second Issue Figure
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Front |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Side |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Back |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Side |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Chest Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Head Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Head Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Chest Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Copyright Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Fist Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Leg Missile Banks Detail |
I've taken some detailed images of the hover pilder as it seems to be missing from some of these figures.
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Hover Pilder Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Hover Pilder Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Hover Pilder Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Hover Pilder Detail |
Popy Mazinger Z Second Issue Hover Pilder Detail |
Mazinga Z Third Issue Pilder (not mine, swiped from the web):
Popy Mazinger Z Third Issue Pilder 1 |
Popy Mazinger Z Third Issue Pilder 2 |
There are at least and maybe three box variations:
- First Issue Box - this box has No. 2600 at the top and on the ends. The interior of the box bottom is printed? a light yellow color, as is the insert.
- Second Issue Box - this box does not show a stock number otherwise it looks just like the 2600 box. The interior doesn't have the gold tinting to the cardboard bottom.
- Third Issue Box - this box shows a stock number on the front near the bottom and on the ends. It has No. 2860
- Fourth Issue Box (maybe) - I haven't seen this but I believe that when Mazinger Z went to the jet pilder (see above) the box may have been altered - this may have just been a sticker - I'm not sure.
Mazinger Z First Issue Box
Popy Mazinger Z First Issue Box Front |
Popy Mazinger Z First Issue Box Side 1 |
Popy Mazinger Z First Issue Box Side 2 |
Popy Mazinger Z First Issue Box Ends |
Popy Mazinger Z First Issue Box Interior |
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