Showcase #19: 1999 Reissue Deka Kinkeshi
In 1999 BANDAI decided to re-release some of the popular Deka sculpts of yesteryear. I always wondered if this was a “one-shot” from BANDAI or if they intended to release future sculpts from the vintage line. The Dekas are pretty much exactly the same but differ in the material; it’s more a keen to that of the Mattel MUSCLE figures. The distinguishable mark on them is the BANDAI/Japan stamp on the back (Copyright C and Y/S.T B.Japan); unlike the China stamp on the 29th anniversary releases. The color is more uniformed which in the vintage line varied from pink and beige due to releases, discoloration or sun damage.
I am always going to love the original/vintage rubber feel more than the PVC but I really like the feel of the material (more robust) and especially for those looking to paint their Dekas the new PVC like material lends itself better for painting.
So it’s a pity that more were not released. The release saw 13 sculpts total (if you count the glow in the dark Kinnikuman chase figure). The 12 sculpts are not particularly rare (the vintage versions of these sculpts can be readily found online) however the re-release Dekas do not pop up in the wild often for some reason. This makes them somewhat special but am sure you can find them if you look hard enough; I have the seen the glow in the dark chase figure pop up more than the original individual 12 sculpts (as of writing I have seen two online on yahoojapan). So to me the regular re-release Dekas are harder to find in 2017. I would have loved more glow in the dark Dekas which explains why I like the glow in the dark Sofubi releases.
They were released in the classic "candy store" box style of the 1980’s but without a window (so it was not possible to know what you had until you opened the box). I am missing 2 boxes but I have 11 of them and the original mailer; I am still not sure on how to go about displaying them. I like the idea of displaying the mailer and boxes as I already have the original sculpts on display openly.
Here is a link to a UofM blog from Nov 2015 by Professor Terry on the release:
http://blog.uofmuscl...cle-musings-60/
Attached Files
Edited by kayfabe1985, 13 July 2017 - 07:13 AM.