[Den-O]

We've taken another detour to a TV show & toy line long over and forgotten today. Flashback to 1998-1999 with Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack and it's titular hero's figure, Magnet Change Robotack!

The series focuses on our heroic Wonder Robots Robotack & his companion Kamerack (cameo'd in the gallery below) being dispatched to find the sacred treasure of Harappa Land, the Land Tool. In their journey's across Japan they come across the Shardock Private Detective Agency where they assist in solving various crimes. Especially those related to the evil Wonder Robots like Darcrow, Kabados and even Robotack's sinister older brother Torabolt! Many robots both good & bad appear through the series and a crossover film even features a team-up between Robotack & his predecessor Kabutack! Take that Super Hero Taisen!

While the show can be primarily thought of as one aimed at young children, it's not without it's proper toku merits. This show much like the previous year's B-Robo Kabutack serves as a spiritual successor to the now long defunct series of Toei Fushigi Comedies from the late 80's-90's like Robot 8-Chan, Batten Robomaru, or Morimori Bokkun. These examples all featured comedic robots with human allies in various fun situations. Robotack & Kabutack did as well but also came with much more complex toy lines as well as more modern production values. As Metal Heroes these shows do have a bit more of that proper show feel to them with a more refined evolving plot. Even if Robotack was ultimately even just a bit sillier than Kabutack, they both have deserving places as Metal Heroes. And their toys are literal metal!

Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack ran from 1998-1999 and features my all time favorite gimmick for a toy line, Magnet (Jishakku) Change! It is absolutely the best! I own every single release from this line. Though the series is next to impossible to watch, with few episode raws and only one film subbed. However Robotack was a fun follow up to the previous years' B-Robo Kabutack and served as the final official entry in the Metal Heroes series. Read on below to see just what to expect from these toys. If you enjoy this gallery and would like to see more please let us know, I'd be happy to do an entire series of galleries for both Robotack.

Packaging/Paperwork
A bit different from the Kabutack releases the previous year, Robotack is a slightly larger and heftier figure. Packaged in a styrofoam tray Robotack comes already assembled in his Super Mode. Though for the purposes of the review we'll begin with assembling him in Normal Mode. The box itself is quite nice and actually has a brief breakdown of the series gimmick/cross compatibility.

Included with the figure is also a small label sheet meant to accessorize the figure, though I've never actually used them. Waiting to have repros made first. A flyer advertising the Land Tool mail away exclusive is also included (a figure which I have). These were the good old days of toku toys though. When you collected points to mail away for new figures. Lastly a toy catalog, is included. It features contemporary toku releases from Seiju Sentai Gingaman, Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack, Ultraman Dyna, & Godzilla. I've included images of the catalog below as well.

Main Figure
As I said above we're going to be begin this review by getting Robotack into Normal Mode since that's the base state he's in most of the time. And we'll of course be utilizing the unique and amazing Magnet Change system to do it! You begin with 5 body components, legs arms & torso. Each of the limb sockets on the central body has a port with a magnetic plate in it. The corresponding limbs likewise have a magnet with the opposite polarization. All you need to do is plug them in and let science do the rest! Once you assemble the limbs just plug the RK Bar (small knife) into his backside to create a tail. Robotack Normal Mode is a short squat type robot known as a Wonder Dog type in the shows terminology. A fun and cute design that definitely played well with children in the 90's. In this form he can't do much other than rotate his arms. Which have I mentioned is incredible? There are grooves on the limbs and sockets that hold the cylinder in the shoulder in a locked position but the arms can rotate on an axis on the end. It's just a genius design. I also have to mention this figure is HEAVY. A majority of the torso is solid painted diecast metal. Imagine the difference between early G1 Transformers and current movie toy lines and you'll understand just how radically different Robotack's construction is in comparison to today's toys.

To get Robotack into Super Mode detach everything again and start fresh. The legs do a bit of an inside out switcheroo where you fold out the new thighs from within and flip the leg completely upside down. A small tab in the midsection locks them in their new upright position. You also need to pull the "toes" out to add a little more stability to the figure (these were knees in the previous mode!). The left leg becomes the right for this form and vice versa. For the arms you need to pull apart the shoulder and forearm on the extending joint. This "stretches the arm out to it's full length and locks an elbow joint in place creating arm posability for this form. This combined with the upward and outward shoulder motion and previously rotating fists gives the arms pleasantly unexpected full range.

Before plugging the new arms in you need to slide up the white side panels. This is all one piece that actually raises a barrier to cover Robotack's dog mode eyes as well. The magnet ports in this upper white panel section are what you'll use for the Super Mode arms. Plugging the arms in also locks this white panel in place. The lower ports are only used for Dog Mode or for later combinations with other figures. Be sure to pull up and out on Robotack's nose panel as well, then rotate it back down into place to reveal the "R" symbol on his chest. Now open up the back compartment to reveal the stored Super Mode head. Rotate it up in place and close the compartment. Then just finish plugging all the limbs in and you're done! That's Robotack Super Mode. In this form he stands significantly taller and has some really nice heroic proportions. He actually towers over the slightly older Superchange Kabutack figure and much like Kabutack works decently well in a figuarts display with other Metal Heroes. The figure may not have dynamic articulation but the superb arms and some minor head and waist rotation give it more than enough given the time period.

This is a gorgeous, hefty, sturdy toy. One of my all time favorite vintage pieces. And the figure that sold me on owning the entire line. The Magnet Change gimmick of the line winds up on full display with the figures in their Super Modes as everyone can interchange limbs. I've included some shots of Robotack's pal Kamerack the Wonder Turtle robot below to showcase how the 2 look when magnet changed. I've also included an image of Robotack Drill-Wing Special, a form made using the arms of Mog-Lucky & the wings of Takkard. Though only used once in show it's pretty amazing the toys can replicate it fully. The Magnet Change gimmick is a brilliant precursor to the types of form switching that abound in tokusatsu today.

Accessories
Just one. Robotack's signature weapon, the RK Bar. A small serated blade weapon. At rest it's stored in Robotack Normal Mode as his tail. Admitedly it's in a bit of an awkward spot, but it works well. It fits nice and snugly in either of Robotack's hands as well. That's about all he really needs to come with as the entire point of this line is the magnet-interchangeability. So other accessories central to Robotack (for either normal or super mode) come with Mimeena in the Power Arm set. So although Robotack is basic, it's totally acceptable.

Final Thoughts
The toyline of Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack has firmly cemented itself as one of my all time favorites. The engineering of Magnet Change Robotack himself is brilliant. The same can be said for every single other release in the line as well though. Having handled every figure in this line I can safely say it's been incredibly rewarding. If at any point you have the ability to buy any of these figures I HIGHLY recommend them. Other than a couple of pricier releases like Robotack's brother Torabolt, or the combiner 2-pack of Speedam & Mightburn, this entire line is very affordable if sometimes a bit difficult to find. Do yourself a favor and give these a shot some time. For now it's the only way to represent these toku classics in your collection.

If you enjoyed this gallery please let us know in the comments below! I'd be more than happy to share my galleries & reviews of the rest of the line if so!