Getter Robo

For some reason I never got around to reviewing the GX-06 Getter Robo when it came out. No idea why. I sold it about 6 years ago, and I just recently discovered the photos I took when selling it, so I thought I would put it up here for the sake of completeness. Don’t expect the full Soul of Chogokin review treatment here, I’m going on memory here, without the toy in hand any longer.

The GX-06 came out very early in the line, when Soul of Chogokin was finding its footing and deciding on what kind of toy line it wanted to be. It was trying to balance equally being a high-end collector item, and an actual fun thing to play with. It’s more toy-like than you would expect, and I remember it being a lot of fun at the time. As of this review, it came out 19 years ago.

So lets put on the fuzzy glasses of nostalgia and take a look at the Getter Robo set. In 2002, this retailed for 15,000 yen, which works out to 5,000 yen a robot. The exchange rate back then was very much in our favor, so this might have cost $120 USD or so at the time. I loved that you got the whole set at one time, rather than separate purchases. The entire set was reissued in a metallic “Training color ver” set, and Getter 1 was re-released a few times as convention exclusives.

The three robots came on a nice display stand, with spots for all the accessories. I remember the plastic tray being really flimsy.

I also liked that we got diecast getter machines, as well as stands for them. Each stand could elevate and had a little peg to lock the getter ships into.

What was great about this set was EVERYTHING was interchangeable. The modular component was to allow the change into three different Getters, but you could also create fantastic Frankenstein robots.

There are even parts to represent mid-transformation sequences.

Here’s a breakdown of Getter 3. Sadly, one of the treads for Getter 3 has succumbed to dry rot,

Getter 2 had a satisfying chrome drill. he was spindly but never felt fragile or unstable.

Getter 1 is of course the hero robot, but has the least modularity.

Before I started collecting, I had nostalgia for my childhood, and the toys from it. Now, 20 years later, realize the nostalgia is more than just the toy. As I look at this piece, I can remember getting the box in the mail. I remember the kitchen of the house I lived in. I member the marriage, and how some of my children weren’t even born yet. I remember internet forums like ToyboxDX, and retailers long gone like Betatoys. I’m not sure how to handle those feelings. Someday, I will be nostalgic for the days of 2021! But for now it was a nice surprise to find these photos, and have a little time warp back to 2002 (and then even 2015 when I shot them!).