1970's Kaiju Series Devilman Bootlegs

  In Japan, the 1970's were a time of many big hits such as Ultraman, Godzilla, and all of those other Kaiju Series that have had a huge impact on Japan's culture. It was so huge that all of Japan went crazy for all of those Kaiju Series! They just loved the Kaiju Series so much that they had to make toys, merchandize, and many other things of it! But of course, there were some companies who also tried to get into the Kaiju toy market.. and that's when the whole Kaiju Bootlegs came in..

                                   
  Todays Kaiju Series Bootleg is........ The Kaiju Series Devilman Bootleg!! Devilman was a manga from 1972 by Go Nagai. It was known for its strong violence and dark theme. It was also known by its anime which barely began a month after the manga was released and was an anime slightly different than the manga. The anime made Devilman more of a hero and was more aimed toward kids rather then teenagers and adults. In fact, if you think about it, the Devilman anime is kind of a Kaiju show in some ways since he fights against many demons that are like Kaiju's themselves. However, how can we be assured this is a Kaiju Bootleg?

In the picture below, you can see the header card of this figure and it says 怪獣シリーズ  （Ｋａｉjｕ Ｓｅｒｉｅｓ）. That being said, "What does this have to do with Devilman"? That is a mystery indeed...

   Surprisingly, at that same time a removable mask version of the Devilman bootleg figure was made.. Was it made by the same people? Was it a bootleg of the other bootleg? That is yet another mystery...
Now, when it comes to how they both are, they are pretty similar. Both look the same, have the same colors (That is if both of them have the golden spot on their chest. The non-removable mask one's were made with either a golden or greenish blue spot. The removable mask versions however, were only made with gold spots.), header card and the same floppy yet hard-thin wings that can be moved from position or bend very easily. The only difference between them is obviously that one has a removable mask. The removable mask retains the same design of the other bootleg's head but it is made of a really weird vinyl indeed... It is extremely soft, and even if it is squished entirely it retains the same shape.
    That is very useful though, since it makes it way easier to put on the mask on the figure. Also, it doesn't give you that strange nervous feeling of tearing the mask apart and breaking it which makes it really useful.. Anyhow, in the end, both of them are great figures. Although they are bootlegs, it shows us that not all bootlegs are just incredibly bad toys but in fact very interesting. It is indeed a must have toy for any kind of collector! We will meet again.. Devilman!

                                               

Those are pretty scary eyes indeed........!