By Cacophanus from Mecha Damashii
Soul of Chogokin Spec Layzner V-MAX Ver. by Bandai (available as a Tamashii Webshop Exclusive)
As this year is the 30th anniversary for Blue Comet SPT Layzner, Bandai has re-released its 2007 Soul of Chogokin Spec toy with some new V-MAX parts. Much like the Layzner Mk2 I reviewed a while back, this too is a webshop exclusive in Japan.
In case you haven’t figured out already, I am a huge Layzner fan. Despite owning the 2007 original of this toy, which also has interchangeable parts to build both the regular and enhanced versions of Layzner, I wanted this new one nonetheless.
The main change is that the armor parts switch out for a more glitter-infused set that is meant to represent the V-MAX mode the Layzner can initiate.
In the anime, V-MAX is a Gradosian secret weapon that vents plasma from the reactor and uses a strong magnetic field to create a shield around the mecha. In the case of the Layzner this shield glows blue (hence the “blue comet” in the anime’s title).
This toy, sadly, lacks the parts to recreate the V-MAX aura but the new armor parts are a nice enough concession.
Layzner has always been an influential series, inspiring a variety of games and anime since its inception back in 1985. It was also a very popular show at the time but due to the misfortunes of one of its sponsors, it was cancelled prematurely.
Having this toy re-released, as well as having the Mk2 last year, means that Bandai hasn’t forgotten one of its most fondly-remembered series.
The review of the figure will go up soon, so keep an eye out for that.
