ThreeA - Popbot : Tomorrow King Seven Bones Slicer Kureiji Yaro.

"Know the day of your death, know the freedom of life, the freedom to fight for your King.

Give all for a half breath, let your bones lay with your family, all for a punk kid and his shitty cat.

We fought the entire universe, just for one day with you!"

- write-up from leaflet.

A (mis) interpretation:

Category type: Experimental prototype replicants.

Model type: The Tomorrow King - GEN 2.5

Unit type:  The Seven Bones (七骨) Slicer.

ID: Kureiji Yaro / The Crazy One.

Rank: Wakagashira-hosa.

Manufacturer: The Luthor Bean Jr. Corporation.

Incept date: 9th June 1990.

Serial no.: TKG2.5MAB0000007B.

Longevity: Unknown.

Function: Close assault.

Physical level: A.

Mental level: B.

Abilities: Panzer Kunst - anti-armour martial art; superhuman physiology; pre-cognition.

Std. armaments: "Slice and Dice" - power weapon x 2; melta grenade x 8; krak grenade x 8; frag grenade x 6.

 

Yaro is one of the elite Seven Bones or Nanatsu Hone-gumi, hand selected, experimental prototype replicant TK which also acts as personal bodyguard of Punk King the Fourth. He is genetically purpose-engineered and bred from the Slicer TK gene seed template. Yaro is far removed from a standard Slicer in terms of both skills and abilities. Wielding a pair of master-crafted monomolecular-edged Biting Blade electro-plated power blades called "Slice and Dice", which is powered by a THC fuelled power battery pack and sheath in blue-ish energy, the weapon could cut through any object at molecular level. Like a whirlwind, blurry in movements, Yaro could cut up a Mortis Warp corrupted Titan and reduce it to pieces at a pace which is said to be between the span of a human inhaling and exhaling. He would charged into the intertwined and intermixed Warp energy and realspace corrupted battlegrounds of the Underverse Warp rift armed with at least twenty two hand grenades, capable of destroying large swath of the Mortis Legion singularly, if they hadn't been fell by the Slice and Dice. He is called The Crazy One due to his hyperactive behavioural trait. In combat, Yaro would be nigh-uncontrollable, sometimes even defying the orders of the Onna-Oyabun, Queeny. But he is exceptionally loyal and dedicated, to the point of obsessive and fanatical. To the untrained eyes, Yaro is sometimes mistaken for Kyoku, the wakagashira and second in command of the Seven Bones for both shared the basic physical template as a Slicer, different only in ranking and authority. Like all Seven Bones members, he has pre-cognitive ability, giving him the fore-sight to see the ebb and flows of a combat in advance. And Yaro has seen how he would die but like they say, he doesn't care and in fact looking forward it.

 

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Ever since the debut of Baka and Kyuuketsuki, the Slicer TKs, I have been a fan of its design. For all that's worth, the Slicer TK is exceptional for its time, different from other TKs which 3A came out with. Of course, the law of progression means that much more interesting and creative designs have come and gone, but the Slicer TK remains a classic, which I guess why 3A market it under their, uh, Classic line. I have not expected 3A to revisit a Slicer. And it is great when Yaro was announced because I have since sold off my Kyuuketsuki. Initially I was abit unhappy, as I noted that the prototype pictures seem to have omitted the part where I could slot in a grenade on the helm of the pants. Which is not. Good news. No QC issue with this figure, and comes with the 7B tattoos and all the standard stuffs expected of a Slicer. Of course I would wish 3A would put in the word "大麻" on the battery pack like Kyuuketsuki. I miss the "naughty and cheeky" times of those days from 3A.

 

 

ThreeA - Popbot : Tomorrow Queen UKTQ.

F*** you, f*** them, we do what we do for us, get out of our f***ing way and shut your gob!

Time is like a dream, you made up memories of it all, we clear up the shit left on your carpet! We can't grow old, we can't escape the beginning.

- write-up from the leaflet.

Survival of the fittest.

The enemy is fear.

The bully boys are coming.

Can it really happen here?

Pornography of violence.

The dogs will have their day.

The bully boys are coming.

Machismo rules O.K.?

But don't you cry my darlings.

No don't you shed a tear.

Just put on your black leather.

The bully boys are here.

No time to be a victim.

When the enemy is fear.

So put on your black leather.

The bully boys are here.

Overkill! Overkill! Overkill!

- Poison Girls, Bully Boys.

A (mis) interpretation:

Category type: Mass production replicants.

Model type: The Tomorrow Queens - GEN 3.5.

Unit type: Anarchist TQ.

ID: Vi.

Rank: Sukeban.

Function: Search and destroy.

Manufacturer: The Luthor Bean Jr. Corporation.

Incept date: 12th April 1998.

Serial no.: TQG3.5FBB12041998S&D.

Longevity: 4 years.

Physical level: B.

Mental level: B.

Abilities: Panzer Kunst - anti-armour martial art; superhuman physiology.

Std. armaments: monomolecular-edged wakizashi x 2; Ion Cyclotron glove x 2.

1998. Albion City, Europa. The Battle of Manchester. Archduke Samael Bridger begins to invoke spells and prayers to summon the Dark Gods of Chaos from the Warp for assistance. Lady Sham enters the Palace of Thorns, senses the formation of the Warp energies. With no time to lose, she counters the Archduke's effort. If she fails, the fabric of reality within the entire combat zone would collapse, with daemons entering realspace, unstoppable and creating unprecedented chaos. She doesn't want another Underverse to be formed. More importantly, Lady Sham doesn't want to attract the N.O.M. Legion Supreme Mother's attention. Garmr's intervention would equally tear the place and its inhabitant apart within minutes. They may be sisters but of different paths. The Lady instructs the Tomorrow Queens whom followed her inside earlier to track down the Archduke before too late. The once opulent and baroque designed halls and corridors have began to change - signs of the corruption from the Warp. Lesser daemons begin to manifest, attacking the Lady. But standing in their way are the TQs. Long thought to be the ultimate slayer of Mortis's colossal Titan machines, the TQs prove themselves equally effective in stopping the daemons for they could not lock into the psyche of the TQs for the fact that as replicants, the TQs are soulless. Invoking a powerful counter-spell, the Lady blessed the TQs with protection which allows them to slay the lesser daemons. Somewhere she could hear the shriek of the Archduke echoing across the multi-faceted halls as reality begins to melt and mend with the Warp. The remaining TQs, clad in black leathers, boots and punkish attitude, form a circle around the Lady as she moves into the primary chamber of the Archduke.

 

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Sometime prior to UKTK Search and Destroy edition drop day on Bambaland, announcement was made that there would be a UKTQ Search and Destroy edition. Stoked and excited needless to say. Like UKTK, the UKTQ is based on punk subculture once more, with black leather jacket, studded belt, combat boots, eyebrow ring and fox tail. The more significant is the hair sculpt, incredibly awesome. There is a slight variation in the face sculpt, taking the direction of the Easter TQ/Choco Hunter. The surprise drop of the day is an all-black Shadow UKTQ. Everything is fine with this figure except that the boots initially prevent it from standing properly, forcing me to use a hairdryer to soften it up a bit. 

ThreeA - Popbot: Tomorrow King UKTK.

Search and destroy, f***ing smash its face in, that's what we do. We stand between you and f***ed, we didn't look away and hope they would go away, you said we were s***, trash on the street and now we are your kings.

GOD SAVE THE MORTIS QUEEN, FOR SHE AIN'T NO HUMAN BEING!

- write-up from leaflet.

I'm a street walking cheetah.

with a heart full of napalm.

I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb.

I am a world's forgotten boy.

The one who searches and destroys.

- Iggy and the Stooges, Search and Destroy.

A (mis) interpretation:
 

Category type: Mass production replicants.

Model type: The Tomorrow Kings - GEN 3.5.

Unit type: Anarchist TK.

ID: Sid.

Rank: Shatei.

Function: Search and destroy.

Manufacturer: The Luthor Bean Jr. Corporation.

Incept date: 12th April 1998.

Serial no.: TKG3.5MAC12041998S&D.

Longevity: 4 years.

Physical level: A.

Mental level: C.

Abilities: Panzer Kunst - anti-armour martial art; superhuman physiology.

Std. armaments: Monomolecular-edged ko-wakizashi x 1; monomolecular-edged o-wakizashi x 1; "Oi" - melta grenade x 4; Ion Cyclotron glove x 2.

1998. Albion City, Europa Union. The Battle of Manchester has entered its 1000th day. Samael "The Devil" Bridger's Palace of Thorns is being besieged from all sides by the coalition army led by Lady Sham which comprise the ICG (Independent Countries Group) and the Neo Zoroaster Movement factions. Yet, the stronghold of the Archduke still holds, its defences dug in deeply. Waves after waves of the rebel bots lead the assaults. Lady Sham summoned her reinforcement - the Tomorrow Kings and Queens. These are amongst the last generation of the famed replicants given birthed via the DNA Organ machine in vitro within Hatchery 51 using the gene seeds. A group of these super-warriors have been sent by Luthor Bean Jr. from Leviathan 1 to reinforce Lady Sham's army. They move in with speed and agility blurry to the eyes of a normal human. Neural mapped to suit Lady Sham's preference, these replicants throw themselves at the defences, obliterating it. Carving out a path for the Lady to enter the main gate of the palace, the TKs and TQs fight the loyalist bots and defend the gap in the defence breach simultaneously. The replicant warriors move like a wraith, the bots could not re-act in time. As Lady Sham enters the palace, the Archduke Bridger is shaking in fear and begins to summon help from the Warp. The cost would be high, for invoking the mightiest of the Dark Gods of Chaos for direct intervention and assistance from the Immaterium would be no less than millions of souls.

 

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This is the Bambaland version of the UKTK. The first version, with blue shirt, was an exclusive for ToyConUK in April 2014 of which a few were put up for auction at eBay with 100% proceed to Cancer Research. I am excited, needless to say, when 3A announced the Bamba version, called the Search and Destroy edition. This is one of the most unique TK in collection, based on the punk subculture movement. Mohawk hair, leather jacket, tartan pants, studded braces/suspenders and fox tail. Alas, this TK also marked the debut of what I personally call the "brinjal face", shoehorn headsculpt (the other being the Thiddy TK). Honestly in hand, it is not that bad though. The QC concern continue, with the left arm joint coming loose and pop out from the moment I un-box it. Luckily, it could be attached back. The two swords are held by loops which came loose and I had to re-tie it. Anyhoo, a great addition to the TKs collection.  

 

Chloe and Dylan - The Rabbit.

Foo Yew got Suet Nee a rabbit, which they brought to the house. The kids are having a great time with it. Not sure about the rabbit though...

Chloe and Dylan - Sunday Relaxation.

...the kids relaxing at home. Dylan watching the Lego Movie, while Chloe tried to be a contortionist.

Original Effect - SH-02 Shadow : Hasuike Sunayuki.

The second figure, of the "Shadow" version, Hasuike Sunayuki. Apart from the new "Reborn Body", comes with an all-black kimono and more tone down design, and without accessories, unlike the original (which is beyond awesome in terms of the kimono design). Again, like Viola, there is difficulty in posing it standing, keeps toppling over.

Original Effect - SH-01 Shadow : Viola.

Original Effect (OE) Army Attractive line of 13 inches plus buxom female line of action figures largely escape my attention until lately. I saw the original when it first debut but I wasn't into the "theme" of the line. Also, the body used then and headsculpt finishing seemed to be lacking. With the "Shadow" series announced, with revised "Reborn Body" used in their later figures which means with rubberised torso, neck and hard plastic, the price is also quite reasonable for me to grab it. There is a reason why the retail is lower than the original. For one, there is no box and a comic book. Each figure comes pack in blister card. Secondly, I have to "cloth" the figure personally. And finally, in comparison, there are a number of accessories not available to this figure, unlike the original. The material used for the coat is different and more minimalistic. And there are no gun and cap. The advert stated that the "Shadow" line has "blue skin". This is not the case, thankfully, in comparison to the original but more pale. The only concern with this figure is that it could not stand, at all, regardless how I tried. And it keeps suffering from the case of "nipple slippage" due to corset design vs. the new body. Anyhoo, I would probably try to look into the secondary market for the accessories which come with the original version.

ThreeA x Goodsmile - Popbot : Tomorrow King Undernaut (Origin Hunter) Kozo.

"Mystery TK emerges from the Underverse! Fighting Mortis bots to protect humanity, Tomorrow Kings are rumored to be genetically engineered clones created from generals and military commanders that once existed in Japanese history, but their true origin is unknown. Kozo himself is said to be named after a naval general. Rumor has it that some TKs are able to side step time utilizing the Underverse, and could it be that Kozo has such ability as well? And what could be the purpose of his diver-like gears?"

- promo write-up.

"We asked the question why and we are told because we are needed. But I, Kozo asked - why are we needed? Where do the weapons we use without question originate? We made us and why?

I hunt for all these answers in the Underverse where the answers to questions all reside."

- write-up from box.

"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?"
- Gaff, Blade Runner.

Live. Die. Repeat.
- Edge of Tomorrow.

I am just a copy of a copy of a copy
everything I say has come before
assembled into something into something into something
i don't know for certain anymore

i am just a shadow of a shadow of a shadow
always trying to catch up with myself
i am just an echo of an echo of an echo
listening to someones cry for help

- Nine Inch Nails, Copy of A.

A (mis) interpretation:

Category: Mass production replicants.

Model type: The Tomorrow King - GEN 3.0

Unit type: Undernaut.

ID: Kozo / The Origin Hunter.
Rank: Shatei.

Function: Close assault.

Manufacturer: The Luthor Bean Jr. Corporation.

Incept date: 9th February 1994.

Serial no.: TKG03MAC09021994.

Longevity: 4 years.

Physical level: A.

Mental level: C.

Abilities: Panzer Kunst - anti-armour martial art; superhuman physiology; teleportation.

Std. armaments: Nō-men - Kyparissos gas mask x 1; flak jacket x 1;  monomolecular edged ko-wakizashi x 1; krak grenade x 3; frag grenade x 5.

Hatchery 51. Luthor Bean Jr. looks at the replicants and recalls the past. His father had pioneered and brought biorobotics genetic engineering and technology to another level. Using DNA procured from late humans, Luthor Bean Sr. successfully produced and replicate human DNA with superhuman physiology via the machine known as The DNA Organ. The first batch, comprising pleasure models category sexroid, was a success. However, it gives rise to the existence of Queen Mortis and her Legion. On his death bed, Bean Sr. reminded his son the responsibility to undo the monstrosities he had inadvertently created now rests upon him. Jr. continued to refine the biorobotic engineering process, resulting in the birth of the Tomorrow Kings and Queens. They are virtually identical to a human, but have superior physiology with variable intelligence depending on the model. The replicants could only be identified through their lack of emotional responses and empathy. They are neural mapped to complete only the task of eliminating the Mortis Legion. Bean Jr. later discovered that the longer a replicant lives, the more life-experience it would gained. With these memories they often develop their own emotional reflexes, and the longer they live the more independent and unstable their personalities become. So, Bean Jr. adds a "fail-safe device" to the Tomorrow Kings and Queens models, a built-in four-year lifespan to prevent them from developing their own "emotional responses" and emergent independence. This is especially necessary for Mental-A level models whose intellectual capacity at least matched those of their designers. Bean Jr. believes that a replicant could possibly outlive a human. There are exceptions to the four-year lifespan rule, such as the elite Seven Bones, models where self-sufficiency is important to complete a task or goal. Bean Jr. would implant false memories into the replicants, to act as "pillow" to cushion developing emotions. Regardless, by the fourth year, a TK or TQ would sometimes start questioning their existence and memories, due to the endless repetition of now and the emergence of the latent memories of their original hosts. The inability to cope with the hosts memories cause confusion and wide range of emotions is one of the factors suspected to cause the random rise of the Dark Rage mutation within the replicants, turning them into an Interloper.

Kozo is a TK developed to carry out assault upon the Mortis Legion within the deepest zones of the Underverse Warp rift. It is a model programmed with teleportation ability, allowing it to combine teleportation with physical fighting. As such a Kozo TK could attack from every possible angle, making them a formidable and much feared TK by the Mortis Legion. After the irreversible damage is discovered within the DNA Organ, the Kozo TKs are re-programmed to expand their roles to include recovery of STC (Standard Template Construct) by hacking into the Leviathan 1 mainframe, Camelot, to recover important data which could allow Luthor Bean Jr. to gain access to the long lost knowledge of repairing the DNA Organ. Their teleportation abilities could be countered, such as over-reliance and when their teleportation patterns become predictable. Each Kozo TK is specially equipped with a Noh-Gas Mask to protect them while travelling through space-time continuum during teleportation and more importantly, to prevent the swirling madness of overlapping Warp energies and realspace within the Underverse from corrupting them. As such they are sometimes refer to as an Undernaut or The Origin Hunter. Their greatest achievement is an unprecedented infiltration upon Xana II, the primary Mortis manufactorum which lies on the Great Waste, near the eye of the Warp rift, Byssos, the hole which tears into the fabric of reality and continuously pours raw Warp energy into realspace, creating and sustaining the Underverse within the Leviathan 1. There Kozo recovers and download several precious, un-corrupted data-stacks of STC back to Luthor Bean Jr.

 

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This is a Goodsmile exclusive TK with newly sculpted hair and same face sculpt as Cornelius. The gas mask, I believe, is made removable upon request from fans, causing the delay to the release. The mask is attached to the tank via a pair of bendy hoses, the same ones like Takara's Kerberos Panzer Cop. The manner it is designed to "sit" by balancing it on the shoulders and backpacks kind of making me un-easy as I am worried the hoses might come undone. There is also only one short sword. I would personally prefer a katana instead. The "fan-fiction" write-up is derived from Blade Runner and The Sky Crawlers. Again, I could have pulled the gun too early as a Bambaland version has been announced for release...soon.