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First promotional image from Comic BomBom, April 1983 issue The Armored Trooper Votoms manga, adapted and drawn by Minoru Nonaka, was originally serialized in Comic BomBom, a monthly manga magazine published by Kodansha. Its target audience was mainly young boys whose passions were ignited by mecha anime and the plastic...

Minoru Nonaka’s adaptation of the Kummen arc ran for three issues of Comic BomBom with a total of 93 pages. The first chapter appeared two weeks after the first Kummen episode was broadcast, and the last appeared a month before the Sunsa arc began. Votoms was joined by two more...

Minoru Nonaka’s adaptation of the Sunsa arc was the shortest, occupying just two issues of Comic BomBom with a total of 62 pages. It began exactly in sync with the TV broadcast, but finished well over a month before Episode 39 was aired. The Woodo paperback edition was published during...

Whereas the Sunsa arc was shortest, Quent was the longest with 124 pages spread over four issues of Comic BomBom. It started 3 weeks before the arc began on TV and finished just one week before the series ended. Kodansha’s paperback editions of the Kummen and Sunsa arcs were both...

There are many key names to know when reviewing the roster of major contributors to Armored Trooper Votoms, from Creator Ryosuke Takahashi to all the major staff members who worked with him. Then there are those we’re indebted to without even knowing it yet. You’re about to meet one of...

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Neither Jim nor I could afford a VCR in early 1983, so we banked on the kindness of our friend Steve Harrison, who DID have one and had recorded the TV series. One afternoon we went through them and Steve would hit pause and I sketched like crazy before any...

Collaborations by Tim and Jim Super rare unused art! (because we ran out of room) Back to main article

They’ve been branded by many names over the decades: Super Deformed, Robo-chan, Choro-Q, and others. Over time, the blanket term “deform” has settled in as a reference point. It’s a classification for representations of a character or mecha that in some way distorts the original image, usually for cute/comedic effect....

Bandai Converge figure series, 2016 Scopedog Turbo Custom Bloodsucker 6-type A.T. set 5PRO Studio Robonimo figure series, 2018 Scopedog with Chirico Scopedog, Melkia colors Scopedog with Round Mover Scopedog Red Shoulder Custom with Vanilla Scopedog Turbo Custom Brutishdog with Fyana Bloodsucker with Ypsilon ArtStorm/Beaver B2FIVE figure series, 2019 Scopedog with...

Kotobukiya D-Style model kits, 2014 Scopedog Turbo Custom, Sunsa War Chirico type Scopedog Turbo Custom, Sunsa War Gregor/Baiman/Muza type Burglarydog Scopedog Berkoff Squad type from Pailsen Files, with Pailsen figure Cavico Choypla Series model kits, 2020 Scopedog Scopedog in Melkia colors Scopedog, tan version Scopedog, clear version Scopedog Red Shoulder...

When you think Votoms merch, the Armored Troopers jump right to the top as the most obvious products, whether they be toys or model kits. But there’s plenty more gas in the tank, as this wide variety of goods will demonstrate. All of these were released after the year 2000....

When you give Armored Trooper Votoms more than a passing glance, you quickly find the Takara toy and hobby company built into its DNA. The concept itself originated as a joint production of Sunrise and Takara to generate toy and model kit sales. Takara released cutting-edge versions of both during...

Hanketsuya through Nori Motors Hanketsuya 1/60 Diving Beetle, Hanketsuya 1/24 Pentatrooper rifle, Hanketsuya 1/24 Shoulder Missile Pod, Hanketsuya Hobby Japan 1/20 Solid Shooter, Hobby Japan Ikari Manbou 1/24 Berserga DT, Ikari Manbou Illusion 1/35 Erdspinne, 1/35 Order Buckler, Illusion Imbecile 1/35 Bloodsucker, Imbecile Inagawa Sai Kits displayed at Wonder Festival...

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