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When I began to seriously pursue toy collecting at the age of 16 , it was less for the acquisition of a potential financial investment than as a way of indulging my appreciation for the artistry involved in the creation of a pop culture artform . At their most basic , toys stimulate on two levels , a visceral and physical level and an intellectual plane . GI Joe allowed me to engage in daring adventures I could never undertake myself , and my model building hobby gave me the venue to develop my hand and eye coordination as well as help me to understand how things worked while providing me the opportunity to have in my possession a replica of an unattainable item . Model kits and toys gave me life experience beyond what I could achieve within my sheltered suburban American lifestyle . With the ability to get the toys and models I wanted without parental financial restraints which typically limited new acquisitions to birthdays and christmas ( EGAD!! Only TWO times a year!!! ) I was able to expand the range of my indulgence and the toy and hobby market loomed large before me . Prior to this time , my toy market experience was constrained to American made mass market products , and while there was no shortage of really cool toys out there , suddenly I had access to imported toys and the realm of Japanese imports was replete with some of the most astounding examples of the Toy-making art available .   MACROSS ? What's a MACROSS?!?
I can thank my parents for instilling the " collecting " bug in me via their assistance in providing me every new GI Joe item that hit the market , along with every Matchbox die-cast vehicle item . When I assumed control of my toy hobby , my interest in collecting lines widened to include Takara's Micronauts , Mego's Planet of the Apes and Kenner's Star Wars lines . When I was achieved the freedom to take my enthusiasm beyond my regional borders via vacations and conventions and saw the variety of toys that filled the shelves of toy stores across the United States , my hobby was able to flourish . In 1982 , during a vacation in New York , in the basement of Forbidden Planet , I found the cornerstone toy that would change forever my concept of toy collecting . Takatoku Toys' " VF-1S Battroid Valkyrie " , arguably perhaps , the greatest toy ever made . This was an amazing toy , beyond the factor previously inspired by Major Matt Mason , beyond that of Marx' Johnny West or Fighting Knights , beyond even the imaginative icons Kenner reproduced from that cinematic legend Star Wars . The image quality of the box art was superior , the design was dramatic , the concept of a triple changing robotic combat suit was totally new to me , and it enthralled . This was a toy unlike any I had previously seen . The level of detail and quality of workmanship was beyond comparison and despite the price tag of $40 , which for me at the time was OUTRAGEOUS ; I knew that if any toy was worthy of that hefty fee , this one was . The anime saga of Macross had yet to find an audience here in the states in 1982 so the reference point of the storyline that determined this toy was lost to me , but the imaginative concept at its core was not . I had no idea at the time that this toy was a premiere licensed product to a Japanese adventure series that in a few short years to come would change the face of American animation , that I had purchased an icon of Japanese animation and storytelling . From my own point of view , I had merely purchased a really cool toy , which has over the past 23 years , escalated in my eyes as one of my all time favorite toys .  First impressions invariably mean a great deal , and while the image of the toy as packaged displayed the Battroid mode of the Valkyrie , the thought that the humanoid robotic form could be transformed into the futuristic version of an F-16 fighter jet made an indelible impact on me . The jet mode is still my preferred method of display for this toy , simply because it is such a remarkably formidable looking aircraft . When you consider the level of engineering involved in the creation of a toy such as this one , that enables various modular components to reposition and form three alternate versions of the same toy , all without the necessity of removal of any piece , this is indeed a remarkable example of toy artistry and design .  Combat strategy is also incorporated in the design of the Valkyrie , and is another aspect that helps this toy transcend the mundane . While the Jet fighter mode allows aerial combat , and the Battroid mode allows close combat , the Gerwalk mode is utilized as an infantry support platform in much the same manner as armored combat vehicles employ in conventional warfare . Not as fast moving as in the jet mode , yet far more maneuverable than the bipedal Battroid mode , the Valkyrie Gerwalk is able to provide devastating support for ground troops while maintaining a lower silhouette in defense against incoming fire . This is one of those aspects that you won't typically find in toy design , and while the concept itself is inherently the invention of Macross creator Shoji Kawamori , the fact that this aspect of the Valkyrie Combat modes is incorporated flawlessly into the design of this toy again amply displays the level of integrity that certain Japanese toy producers will employ in the production of a licensed product . The transforming properties of this toy never cease to fill me with awe and are primarily why I consider this to be one of the finest toys ever created . Irregardless of the passage of over two decades since the initial creation and release of this toy , it continues to serve as an archetype of ingenuity and design . As a toy , it is as vital now as it was 23 years ago , and with the release of the new collector editions of this toy , only further underscores its unique place within my toy collection along with the distinction of being a true classic within a market that is constantly changing with the times and tastes of its consumers . | ReelArts Blue Bulleteer | Shocker Toys | Cool Girls | KiniKomix | KiniKomix2 | Custom Action Figures | eBay Auctions | AppleseedTribute | Macross Valkyrie | Planet of the Apes | Horse Sense | WeaversUpholsteryToo | ToyBiz_Iron Man | Dirty Pair | On Display | The OTHER Gorby | | Return Home | Updates | The Archive | Gorby Site Map | Geeb-O-Rama's Model Workshop | Geeb's Toy Box | Geeb-O-Rama Goodies | Movie Madness | World Of The Bizarre | Cool Beans | |
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