Diamond Comic Distributors has managed to forge major links with a number of Japanese toy companies, and the result is a series of superb imported toys available at very reasonable prices.  This month Diamond's parade of Japanese imports continues with a number of spectacular releases that tie in to major events in the U.S. toy and anime markets, along with the first series of toys from a cutting edge anime series by the studio that produced the mega-hit Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Battle of the Planets Gashapons

The 80s revival is in full swing (see 'Back to the Future II') and Diamond's own toy-producing subsidiary, Diamond Select, has acquired a license to create toys from the classic anime Battle of the Planets, which enjoyed a long run on American TV in the 1980s (see 'Diamond Select Adds Battle of the Planets').  Alex Ross is supervising a Gotchaman, G-Force, Battle of the Planets comic series from Top Cow (Image) that is set to bow in June (see 'G-Force Back With a Vengeance'), so this property is really starting to take off once again.

Gashapons are small toys that are traditionally sold in plastic capsules in Japanese vending machines.  Now Diamond has managed to create a collector's window box package that contains fully painted figures of all five of the G-Force team members.  This supercool little figure set is slated for an April release, which means that retailers who are so inclined should be able to assemble a Battle of the Planets section with toys, videos, and comics just in time for heavy summertime traffic.

FLCL