Mine has the red eyes, and his tag has him fighting Ultraman Zero so I am assuming it is the newer version. I like the paint job on my instance of Tyrant so I am happy with him. He scales really well with my Ultra Acts and given his fighting style (using his hand weapons), the poseability is not much of an issue in his case. :D

I'm right there with you on considering going vinyl over Figuarts, especially given that the baddies seem to be exclusives and thus pricier. For the Ultra Monsters (save Baltan, whom I will eventually get as a U-A) it just makes perfect sense from a dollars and cents standpoint. Even the older kaijin, just to ave a vinyl there for FA Kamen Rider to tangle with would be fantastic.

Modern kaijin are harder. I really like Master Phoenix, but it really becomes a question of a trade off of poseability versus cost with a character like him.

Well, my sofubi daikaiju were about to hit the 60 day limit at HLJ, so I put together a shipment. Coming my way are Red King, Gomora, Alien Metron, Eleking, and Melba. My monster army grows!

(King Joe is still backordered.)

Just received this guy from HLJ, it's much more detailed than I expected!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/8...709f68cf_c.jpg
Sofubi Red King by Jcee_, on Flickr

Awesome! Can't wait to get mine!

Got my shipment from HLJ today!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps0b79686b.jpg
The rampaging army of monsters invades the futon!

Anyone heard of the Ultra Kaiju 500? From what I can tell, they are the new series of soft vinyl toys, 140 mm as normal, but cost 500 yen. 12 of them are up on Amiami right now. Might pick up some monsters I need, especially at the discounted price.

Well, of course I've heard of them, but that's me. Their figures are intended for use not only as the new vinyl series, but also as the Spark Dolls of the new Ultraman Ginga and the DX Ginga Spark. At 14cm, they're also nearly an inch shorter than the vinyls Bandai has made since 1983. It's how they can be so cheap.

Several of the twelve sold out on AmiAmi already, but HLJ still had all twelve for 400 yen last I checked. Thunder Darambia, as a new form of the kaiju, is the fastest-selling.

140 mm is not bad though, at least for a display if not a diorama.

For that price might pick some up. Still loving my latest wave of Ultra kaiju, so more is always welcome.

And considering that I was unable to get UA Ultra Seven, I am seriously considering getting an Ultra Seven vinyl just so I have a Seven.

Just got an email from HLJ, the first wave of Spark Dolls are In Stock and ready to ship. Which, considering that Ultraman Ginga starts in like a week, seems like good timing.

In addition, preorders are up for August and September Spark Doll releases, including Ultraman 80, Red King, Antlar, and (appropriately) Ultraman Nexus, and many others.

I got my first wave of Spark Dolls from HLJ yesterday: Ultraman Ginga, Ultraman, Thunder Daranbia, and Alien Godola. (I also got King Joe, but he is a gift for a friend of mine who is named... you guessed... Joe.) All of them have two tags on their peg hook, one of which is character specific, and the other of which details how to use the Ginga Spark with them. The Ginga Spark point is on each figure's left foot, and looks like a mix of a QR code and the standard Biohazard Warning symbol.

The two Ultra Heroes really look like regular Bandai sofubis which were shrunk down in the dryer. They're light, but are well detailed for the size. The paint apps are good. Ginga really looks nice, I hope we get an Ultra-Act or at least a full size vinyl of him in the near future.

The Ultra Kaiju are an interesting group. Thunder Daranbia looks cool, but I have not seen him in action yet. Interestingly, his tail is partly molded as part of his left leg. It looks like this is partly a compromise because of the size, but also I think to help him stand up. Details are very nice on him. A good looking monster.

I got Alien Godola because I have never seen him as a normal vinyl, and had just seen his Ultraseven episode. His slight figure makes him seem smaller than he is. Detail is pretty good, although his face could have been sharper. Still, a good likeness and well worth the money.

King Joe looks about the same as his larger counterpart except his arms are placed better, so he no longer has the "wave your hands in the air like you just don't care" pose going on.

Overall I was very impressed with these guys from a straight sofubi standpoint. So much so that I ordered about 10 more of them from the next two waves. Interesting point about the monsters -- I have to check this tonight but I think at 140mm they should be in scale to do battle with Super Robot Chogokins and Retrofire Megazords! :)