Kamen Rider Gaim 12

Kyoryuger 43

Not Released and Limited Released Megaforce Toys



I have done posts on toys that were not released, they were planned but never appeared in stores. Sometimes toys are planned, they make the prototype, even have it in the back of the box or toy listing but it doesn't reach stores. I decided to do this post for Samurai and Megaforce. First I will cover toys that have not been released and since they are doing Super Megaforce, they might not be. Then later after I will do toys that had limited release in the past two years.

NOT RELEASED

 Blue Ranger Training Set

While the Training Gear has appeared, the Training Set has not. This is common to non-Red Rangers, sometimes they don't get release. Probably because the red ranger training sets didn't sell well. I barely saw Robo Knight sets in stores but plenty Red.

 Mini Battle-Ready Figures Series 3

I do not know why these were not released. I think Series 1 sold well. Fans were confused to not see Series 2 in stores. More on that later. Most likely we won't see these because Super Megaforce toys coming out. This would had have Ultra Red, Blue, Black, Pink and Yellow; Vrak, MM White Ranger, MM Armored Red Ranger, MM Dino Megazord and Dragonzord Battle Mode.

 Mighty Morphin Legacy Mask Collection 

This would had been Metallic versions. Since I see this A LOT in Toys R Us stores, I guess they didn't sell well. I didn't buy them because they were a bit too pricey for my taste. They should had released them individually like in Japan.

Gosei Great (Original)

Since they released ShinkenOh (Samurai Megazord), Bandai was planning to release the original Gosei Great. But they have not. They could still do so. But since I seen the ShinkenOh warming shelves, most likely they canceled it.

RELEASE UNKNOWN

Red Lost Galaxy Ranger

This was to be released under the Megaforce label, it could still be released under Super Megazord.

 Tokyo Vinyl Dino Megazord

Megaforce Black, Robo Knight, and MMPR Red Ranger are also planned but they showed up at an Art show. But Dino Megazord did not. It is unknown if they will all be released.

Alpha 5 and Zordon

This 2010 MMPR figure was set for a re-release but unknown if it will be released.

LIMITED RELEASES

 Loogies

These figures were only available during the summer at CVS Pharmacy. Most CVS Pharmacy had one Loogie at a time. It had a very limited release at Target only for a few weeks. Some cities didn't even have them.

 Vrak

These figures were only available during the summer at CVS Pharmacy. Most CVS Pharmacy had oneVrak at a time. It had a very limited release at Target only for a few weeks. Some cities didn't even have them. But luckily Vrak was available with the other Rangers in a pack at Toys R Us.

  Mini Battle-Ready Figures Series 2

 It was only available on online stores like Amazon and Entertainment Earth. It was also seen at Tokyo Pavilion of Epcot at Walt Disney World. This has Gosei Grand, Gosei Great, Red, Black and Blue Rangers and Robo Knight and MMPR Blue, Green, Yellow and Alpha.

Puty
The 2010 Putty Patrollers got a re-release but apparently only in the UK. Also misspelled 'Puty' on the card.

"Mystery Ranger" Lauren

Only available in UK starting December 2012.

Related: http://henshingrid.blogspot.com/2009/06/planned-but-never-released-power-ranger.html

Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad Series Review

I bought Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad Volume 1 & 2 DVDs from Miller Creek. I have not seen the whole series since 1994. For those who do not know, this series was not produced by Saban. Tsuburaya Productions who created Ultraman had a 38 episode series called Gridman in Japan. The footage was used for this series along with help from DiC, Playmates and Ultracom. Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad had 53 episodes, some had continuity and the majority were stand-alone episodes. It had an announcer that sounded like SNL's Don Pardo or it was Don Pardo uncredited. It not only had one but two Christmas episodes.

 Both Gridman and SSSS dealt with teens watching a hero on the computer fight viruses online. In both series, a teenager could become Servo/Gridman. In SSSS, his friends entered the syberworld through the vehicles and in Gridman, they observed him. Kahn Digifer/Kilokahn both had control over a sullen rich kid who deisgned monsters for him. Syd was the tech/brains, she was like Billy of MMPR. Amp was the weird one, like the Screech of Saved by the Bell. Tanker was the jock/drummer who was like Slater of Saved by the Bell. Tanker liked Syd and Syd kind of harbored feelings for him as well. Amp's actor (Troy Slaten) left for unknown reasons and off-screen they said he was an alien and went home and he was replaced by Lucky. "Hasta La Virus Baby" is a clip-show reminiscing on Amp and introduces Lucky (Rembrandt Sabelis). "Little Ditch, Big Glitch" was his last episode.

DiC created two Tokusatsu programs, Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad and Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills (Episode One available as an extra in the Volume Two First DVD) at the same time. Major difference is that SSSS used Gridman footage. While TTAFBH suffered bad acting and bad writing and bad special effects, SSSS had good writing and good acting. Tim Curry played the voice of Kilokahn and Matthew Lawrence (Hot Chick, Ms. Doubtfire, Boy Meets World) played Sam/Servo. It had its arc where Sam wanted Jennifer and finally got her and they were dating. It was an on/off relationship but mostly on. Sam was often teased for his height. His little sister Elizabeth (the brilliant Kath Soucie who was Phil and Lil in Rugrats) is an off-screen character that we hear from a laundry shoot.

In the episode "Kilokahn Is Coming to Town" is the second Christmas episode and shakes things up. It is the 38th episode and seems to use footage from the last episode of Gridman, 38th episode. Kilokahn is out to destroy Malcolm and tracked down the Team Samurai. He 'zaps' the team except for Sam and reveals Malcolm has been helping him so he goes to Malcolm and recruits him and even Jen comes down to his basement and she finds out the truth about Sam. Since there was only 38 Gridman episodes, they use limited footage and plotlines to not use footage like with "Hide and Servo." Also it looks like since Matthew Lawrence was 14 at the time, they limited his appearances as child labor laws.

 

In "Kilokahn Is Coming to Town," Kilokahn looks strange, like his clothes are too big for him. It could be possible this is his only American version. Could be they had the suit but had an American actor play him and the suit didn't fit well. Also, Sam gives Malcolm his digitzer. In Tokusatsu magazines it was revealed Malcolm's Japanese counterpart Takeshi Todo was going to become Gridman Sigma in a sequel series. It is hinted in this episode as Sam gives him his digitizer. Also worth mentioning is "Ashes to Ashes Disk to Disk," Jennifer is tired of being treated like a "sex object." Malcolm is also alludes to a sexual advance to her.

 "What a Rad Universe" is one of my favorites, where Sam enters another dimension where Yolanda or Yoli is one helping Kilokahn. Tanker is the Rainman, Syd is clueless as Kelly Bundy, Lucky is a sophisticate snub, Malcolm is as nice as Sam and Yoli and Jennifer is the brains. Ultimately Malcolm and Jennifer help Sam become Servo and fight a virus to return home. Funny part of the episode is Tanker says, "Oh right, like there is an alternative universe where we all Japanese." And yes, Tank, there is. What I do like about the show is that the Team Samurai got along so well. The Tattooed Teenagers did not. At least they had Malcolm to be grumpy and gloomy.

Does this show age well? No. Syd has a "Blossom" hat. They talk about topical stuff back then like New Kids on the Block. It also has timeless stuff like Anthrax, Bill Gates, etc. It has computers that are now 'old school' but deals with the digital world which can now be more fun with iPads, Smart Phones and the like. Both SSSS and TTAFBH had limited sets. TTAFBH had 5 sets: Drew's pool/backyard, Nimbar's command center, a high school hallway, coffee house and bad guy headquarters. SSSS had less with 4: Sam's basement, high school cafeteria, high school hallway, and Malcolm's bedroom but it wasn't as noticeable as TTAFBH.

Worth the watch: YES
Series Grade: B-, not gold but a fun series