Monster in my Peru

Monster in My Pocket was an incredible little line of keshi that made every day feel a little like Halloween. I'm pretty amazed by this commercial from Peru advertising a chocolate candy promotion. Not just for the stickers (that I love), but for the production itself. More like Monster Movie in My Pocket!

Hagen no Zista? I hardly know you

One of the more pleasant discoveries while I was at Toylanta was that of a small gatcha/gashapon line of figures (and trading cards) by Bandai called Hagen no Zista. I knew nothing of this line before the convention and at the time of this writing still know very little. To be fair, the amount of this type of thing that completely escapes my attention is not uncommon. It's a much bigger thing than a single person can keep up. That being said, this is a cool little series that completely passed me by a few years ago and seems to be over... though I seem to be able to track down some of the stuff still. 

Hagen no Zista is a neat little line of robot mini figures with fun designs in mostly translucent plastic designed by Bandai. There's probably an accompanying fiction, but at this time I haven't learned of it. Knowing these kind of things, it's a typical good vs evil formula. There is some sort of card inside the boxed ones I bought, not sure if that's for a game or just a cool bio card (there seems to be associated trading cards). I generally appreciate when mini figures and keshi come with that sort of thing.

The blind boxed/gathca style figures are seemingly candy toys that regularly came with a chocolate. The ones I got had some apple gum inside that my wife convinced me to try. It was a pretty tasty apple flavored gum that I hope hadn't gone bad. I didn't get sick, so guess not. The Gashapon capsule I got seemed to be the same style of figure as the boxed on, just delivered differently. The figures are pleasant, articulated little robots in colorful translucent plastic. They have that Bandai look, but also look like they should have been from a video game. I could definitely see some of these in a LCD game like Digimon or an RPG.

The line has ended, sadly so because I'd love for these to still be readily available. That's the kicker when you discover something after it's over. There was an apparent successor named Robot Concerto. I can't tell if Robot Concerto is still going, but honestly, Bandai makes so many of this type of thing... there's always something else similar. The boxes for Robot Concerto look like Mobile Suit Gundam Ensemble boxes, so it's possible the team moved onto that. I'm partially stoked about Hagen no Zista as it's something that's clearly my type of thing. But also because, it's neat to discover something at a con. It's been a while since that's happened for me and I'm happy for it.

Hagen no Zista TV Magazine scans

Phantom Jista Chocolate 3

A Hyper Galaxy

 

Cybertron/Galaxy Force is one of those lines that feels like the last of it's kind. It was the last series to run before the 2007 live action movie changed everything. Sure, 'classics' happened in between. However that didn't have a cartoon and generally filled out the time before the movie (which had been delayed) released. Cybertron was the last of the Unicron Trilogy (Galaxy Force was stand alone) and a fun ride. Following up on the gimmick heavy lines of the Unicron Trilogy, it took the 'activated' gimmick from Armada and improved it. I liked the different themed planets and variety of robots that came from it.

A neat Kabaya candy toy line sold as part of Galaxy Force was Hyper Galaxy. Hyper Galaxy was a figurine line sold mainly at convenience stores like other candy toys in 2005. There were 3 total figures in the line- Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime), Galaxy Convoy Super Mode (Optimus Prime Super Mode), and Master Megatron (Megatron). Each was individually labeled (not blind boxes) and came with a piece of gum. 

The figures were neat overall. Galaxy Convoy Super Mode was my favorite with Master Megatron coming in second. The regular Galaxy Convoy was fine, just not as neat as the others. They were well painted and honestly something I would love to grab from a convenience store. I could easily see myself picking up one while stopping in for a Bueno Bar and bottle of Coke Zero. Unfortunately these cool toys don't reach my small stores. I got my set at BotCon that year. I don't remember the exact price, but it wasn't expensive. The three stood by my computer monitor for a while with some Beast Wars gachapon figures. That was a cool set up.

Fortress of Necros

 

Nekurosu No Yousai was a very neat keshi line by Lotte sold in the late 80's and early 90's. Translated into English, the name of the line is technically Necros Fortress, but often called Neclos Fortress. Neclos is printed on the lines cards as l and r are often confused in translation. Necros/Neclos being the main villain character. Each figure would come in a box with a card and piece of chocolate. Readers know this is the exact kind of thing I go crazy for.

The line was a fantasy based with cool monsters and warriors intended to be used in a rpg game. The cards would be used for the figures stats as well as items and spells. There was a total of 320 figures released in 8 parts. The figures were in multiple colors and would often come in color change or metallic plastic depending on the release. Some with plastic jewels. I can see a fun evening spent with these. If you noticed that they resemble Monsters in my Pocket, you're not alone. It's only natural for keshi lines to look alike, especially ones based on monsters. Necros Fortress and Monsters in my Pocket do share a lot of the same monsters. Both even have video games. NES for one, PC Engine the other. A crossover would have been perfect.

Unfortunately, Necros Fortress figures are not easy to get. The line was exclusive to Japan in a per-internet time. Candy toys are no problem now, but the older ones can be a challenge. I don't have any myself but can still enjoy them through various pictures on the internet. They have great sculpts and I like the variety of monsters. I love the art. It's exactly the style and era that's a steady favorite of mine. I'm pretty jealous of those who got to experience them first hand. I could see myself in a local convenience store buying these up.

Robotic Treasure

After what seemed like forever, I finally completed the Hershey's Treasure Surprise Transformers toys. I had been steadily putting two on each weeks grocery list. Sometimes they were out, sometimes they weren't. There's a visceral joy after bringing your grocery delivery inside and opening the little blue treasure chests. Though after many, many, many repeats of Starscream and Optimus Prime... it does get a little tedious. A random trip to CVS last Sunday lead to an entire brand new case and I grabbed one on a whim. This finally gave me a Bumblebee completing the set. I have no clue how Bumblebee was the impossible one to find.

The figures are roughly an inch and are cast in their primary colors with a small touch of paint for details. They're a stiff plastic, not soft and rubbery as you'd think looking at them. The sculpting is pretty good with some than others. Optimus and Bumblebee have more simpler sculpts than the others. Megatron and Grimlock are pretty impressive and probably my favorite of the bunch. Starscream is good, probably a the mid point of the series. Despite the frustration of getting a lot of repeats, I did like chasing after them. I'd like to see another series. This kind of thing is my specific thing.

The Dark Pharaoh's Curse

I don't know if it's been noticeable, but I've got a really big toy back log. This isn't a problem, and if it is, it's a good problem to have. Because it gives me plenty of material to work with here. Speaking of here, today we're talking Machine Robo. You know, Gobots.

I have two boxes of Mugenbine I bought in 2019, Mugen Saga to be exact. Machine Robo Mugen Saga is a series of Mugenbine candy toys Bandai has been putting out the past few years. Dark Pharaoh here is the 'evil' version of Mugen Pharaoh and released with a new Arthur Paladin (I'll get to him later) in the same series. Mugenbine's gimmick is that every robot can combine with each other. The possible combinations are only limited to how many you have. It's pretty neat.

The specific team that makes up Dark Pharaoh is the Dark Five God Beasts. Individually: Dark Anubis, Dark Sphinx, Dark Ra, Dark Scorpion, and Dark Sobek. I'm pretty sure you've picked up on the that it's an Egyptian themed set. You may have also noticed it's dark. Dark Sphinx comes with a tiny pilot figure. The human pilot is a designation of a good guy as the robots without pilots were turned evil.

There's not much of a story to Mugenbine outside of a few blurbs of text and commercials (maybe a pack in manga). Mugen Pharaoh has a Buildroid so presumably he's a good guy... but this is Dark Pharaoh and dark versions are traditionally evil. Because of that and based on the teams individual forms, I've mentally classified the them as newer Devil Invader members. Because I like Monster GoBots and they pretty much fit the bill. Just look at how disapproving Lorraine Warren is towards Dark Pharaoh in the top picture. That's not just because I was watching spooky shit on Discovery+ either.

The set is pretty great and no matter how slick the combiner looks, the individual members still feel like old school GoBots. It's a nice balance between new and old. The combination isn't a simple affair, you literally have to completely dismantle the team and assemble it from all the parts. Not to mention, these are candy toys. Which are basically model kits that need to be individually assembled themselves. Opening up each members box, assembling, and then assembling Dark Pharaoh was almost an all night affair. It was a lot of fun and I've got three more teams waiting in their boxes. Good thing I've got Discovery+ and Doordash.

Maybe Dark Sphinx's pilot is a ghost. Ooh SpOoKy!

Optimus's Chocolate Surprise

Candy with a surprise toy is a tried and true delivery system for blind bag toys. Hershey's has recently entered the arena with their new Hershey's Treasure Surprise line. For $2 (what I've been paying anyway) you get a tiny blue treasure chest with a blind packed mini figure and four Hershey's Kisses.

While a bag of Kisses at the same Walmart is about $2, it's still a candy I've always liked in the little box. Usually with these surprise things you either get some generic sugar candy that's maybe shaped like the characters or that stuff inside Kinder Surprise Eggs. It tastes great usually, but that's not the issue. If you get one of these occasionally, you'll probably eat the candy not long after. If you buy up a bunch... you're going to have a small stockpile. That will eventually get thrown away. 

I still remember finding that forgotten zip lock of bubble twist gum that had went bad and melted into a weird goo. Gross. A Hershey's Kiss however tends to vanish almost instantly. If you end up with a stockpile of Hershey's Kisses, they'll get eaten. It's one of the world's most popular candies. At worst the little packs will end up in your lunch for a work time snack. I had a few from these this weekend while watching TV.

 

The actual reason you buy the chest is the toy. Right now these chests have Transformers and My Little Pony surprise toys. I'm trying to collect all the Transformers. You may have guessed. I was waiting to get them all before I did a post, but doing so has been a challenge. I'll probably do a post on them all once I do so. Right now I just kind of want to talk about the hunt. 

 

Which is a mother fucker. 

 

So far I cannot physically find the packs. What I can do is add them to my grocery order and wait for it to be delivered to see if the employee pulling said order could find them. Which half the time they can. I've tried using the Walmart app to find them in the store. So far it's taking me to everything aside from these. I do know where the motor oil is now though. I'll just have to be patient for more to show up at other stores at this rate since they haven't sent any in about two weeks. 

So far I've got Optimus Prime, Starscream and Grimlock. The only other two left is Bumblebee and Megatron. At this rate it's probably going to be until they show up at Five Below before I find anymore. I must have cleared out the shelf box mine were picked from. Which resulted in a bunch of Primes, a bunch of Starscreams, and two Grimlocks. I can't tell if there's a code system or not, which would be useless right now anyway. Usually the random nature of a blind bag toy is fun... but not when you're waiting for a delivery and see that item wasn't in stock when you get your receipt email. 

Dammit. 

Robots In Chocolate Disguise

Hershey’s Kisses Transformers Milk Chocolate Treasure Surprise https://t.co/B7QJXqo4Es pic.twitter.com/OrjldjN4lo

— TFW2005 (@tfw2005) September 9, 2020

This was an unexpected surprise. Readers know how this is specifically something I'd go nuts for, so you can be sure that I'll be hunting for these. It doesn't hurt that I specifically prefer Hershey's chocolate to supposedly superior fancy brands. 

Let's all get our Multiple General Node Combine System's on

Boy, it's hard to get my mind back on track after the Christmas break. My work schedule is all wonky for a while (still got New Years next week throwing things off) and my sleep schedule is complete off track. I'm normally a little confused about what day it might be, but right now I'm just lost.

One cool thing about the days after Christmas is buying neat stuff with gift cards you might have received. I've spent such funds on things like another year of Nintendo Switch Online, Siege Astrotrain, something for the future of the site (nope, not telling yet), a few others things... but relating to this post some way cool Mugenbine sets.

Mugenbine, for those not in the know, is a series of Machine Robo (Gobots) toys chock full of combination. I'm pretty excited to get them and hope they get here sooner than later (free shipping from Japan means around a month). In my excitement I thought I'd look up some commercials and found this compilation. It's one of those things that make you wonder, if Gobots would have continued on here...