Shogun Warrior Memories
Although I never had them as a kid, the Shogun Warriors played a big part in my current dementia. My neighbor and then best pal Willie had Mazinga and I played with it every time I visited. Flash forward to 1983 when Willie was having a yard sale, I cruised by on my bmx and bought Mazinga for $2. We were both 13 years of age so there was an awkward silence. This was basically the starting point for a career of scowering garage sales, flea markets and eventually ebay.
If you’re reading this Willie, I still have your Mazinga! Although my daughter has him now and his current where abouts are unknown…..
I loved the Shogun Warriors! But, I have to admit, when I saw a picture of the Japanese version of the Godzilla toy from this line (which is much more accurate), I was seriously jealous!
Similar experience: a kid in my school was having a garage sale when we were in like 4th grade. His mom made him sell his old comics for like 5 or 10 cents each. I went there and bought a bunch of his old comics. We went on to become best friends, collecting comics and spending many a day at each other’s house reading through each other’s stash. And he always harboured a resentment that some of his old favorites were in my pile – especially when we’d see them at the local collector shops selling for a few bucks each!
Mazinga Rocked, the only part I have left of that toy is the little ship in his head (which is not a complete ship by the way)
also had Godzilla, the Exchange on Base used to carry the whole line when I was a kid, the large ones, die cast, you name it ships, robots , monsters.
I used to think that was the greatest place on earth!
I still have my Mazinga and Godzilla! They’re cherished treasures…
And I still have my Raydeen. He’s in great shape. I loved the fact that when you held him horizontally, he was some kind of space bird. It was like a Transformer who didn’t need to transform!
Living in the middle of Toronto as a kid, I didn’t discover garage sales until I was in my late teens. I always wonder what great finds I missed out on…
I. LOVE. SHOGUN WARRIORS.
I never had them and I always wanted them…
Ah yes, one of my fav toys from childhood, yet I have no idea where my old Gaiking (the one at upper left) is now. =(
Seeing this ad reminds me of the countless times I spent at the local Fedco sitting in front of the giant Shogun Warrior boxes deciding which one to get. I think this was in '77 or so. I remember the box being HUGE!