Geoff's Superheroes, Space and other incredible Toys

Well, you knew this would be there sooner or later... The hiding place of the greatest robot of all time ? Check. One of the more elusive toys on my wanted list ? Check. It's plastic and metal and has it all : retractable tower, laser guns, spring loaded missiles, secret compartments... and the smallest version of Grendizer and Spazer I have in my collection...

Grendizer base (PA-63), Popy, Japan, 1979

Bibyun Beni-Shark (Crimson Shark), Eidai Grip, Japan 1976

I think this was a spaceship from zome kind of Akumaizer show... very obscure and definitely never seen or translated in Europe... Check more about this serie here.

Libellule, Popy, 1981 Singapore

From all the cartoon we watched on TV in the 80ies, this one (Il était une fois l'Espace / Once upon a time... space) was maybe one of the Frenchiest of all - even though it was created in Japan. All the mecha (= including this spaceship) was the creation of French illustrator Manchu, His very realistic approach to design was something no one had seen yet in a cartoon. But this is also why, about 30 years later, these same designs do not look outdated at all.

Yatta Doiler (Yattaman), Takatoku, Japan, 1977

Elios, Popy, Singapore, 1980's

Another really cool ship is this Elios from the Ulysse 31 series. Fully transformable, from a flying saucer to... this.

The Classics !
Metal and platic with removeable helmets...
and pistol + pistol/sword

Ulysse + Telemaque, Popy, Singapore, 1980's

What was the best way to teach Greek mythology to a bunch of schoolkids in the early 80ies ? Well, you named it - having Ulysses and Telemachus redoing the whole Odyssey in the future. (Ulysses being the Latin name for Odysseus - which does not make sence since in this Franco-Japanese anime series the Odysseus is the spaceship in which Ulysses travels... hmmm, I will have to chat with Homer about this... (no, not the Simpson's one !). Toys were very prolific. Popy had a whole diecast toyline, and a cheaper blister-carded one. These toys were produced in Singapore, not in Japan like most other Popy toys (end of diecast toys in Japan...). You had bendies in France (CEJI) and Spain (VICMA), rubber figurines in Portugal (Maia e Borges), candy dispensers etc.

Ulysse 31 - club membercard, France 1980s

Group of Rubber Figurines (Yumi, Ulysses, Nono, Telemachus), Maia e Borges, Portugal 1980s

Odysseus, Popy, Singapore 1980s

With radars open...

Sideview...

Nono le petit robot, blown plastic (fair giveaway), France 1980s

3-part Spaceship, Popy, Singapore, 1980s