Robat

Select apparently had access to a lot of product by MARK, because they included so many different types of toys under the Converters brand. You’ve got Orguss, Macross, Dorvack, transforming boats, planes, insects even ships! There’s no rhyme or reason other than Select had access to the properties. It’s a randomness that I’ve grown to love and now makes me hunt down original releases from Mark.

This particular release is Robat from the Avarians, sub-line of Convertors.

Image from Super Toy archive

It’s pretty much an exact repackaging of Bat Robo (コウモリロボ) from the Bird Robo (バードロボ) line by Mark.

So what if a bat is technically not a bird? Japan don’t care.

It’s actually a sturdy little robot with fun transformation. Yes, the plastic is of lesser quality than a Transformer of the same era, but it’s nowhere near bootleg quality.

In robot mode, there are few cues that it is a bat. The head is shiny chrome and the black body has a great 80s mecha feel. Arms and legs are poseable, with nice stickers and chrome accents.

You’ll note the chrome sword has a round ball at the tip for safety. This is actually included in the Japanese release and not an American safety add-on.

To transform, open the chest cavity and unfold the bat head. Fold in the arms to the same cavity and close. Bend the legs at the knee around to the back and unfold the wings. You now have a bat.

In Bat mode, I guess it sort of looks like a bat. It has the cartoon-elements of a bat – it’s black, it’s got wings, and a bat-head. Therefore – bat.

These are fun, cheap and plentiful – a rarity in this age of toy collecting. Grab one when you can.