The face behind the voice.

I was searching the interweb for the lyrics of the beginning theme for Voltes V when I happened to chance upon a picture of Horie Mitsuko, the lady who sang the national song of all Voltes fanatics (my person included) out there.

Horie Mitsuko

She looked great, I thought.

Continuing the search, I landed on YouTube, where the lyrics of the song was sub-titled onto a clip of the five machines volting-in.

Here's the clincher, among the related videos on the side bar was a link to Horie performing live in a concert during the year 2000!

Click. Twenty seconds in and I'm having goose-effin'-bumps!

This video is an absolute win in soooo many ways!

I loved the way Horie sang. I like the way she moved; especially when she emulated Voltes V's "V" stance. I like the way the crowd reacted to her and the song.

Yes. Win. This song... and the singer. Win. Definitely.

Voltes V

The culmination.

Although he's not necessarily my favorite super-robot (Mazinger Z is), Voltes V's Respect for the Volt-in Box version, GX-31V, is by far my favorite SOC.

He looks good up close, but I didn't realize how photogenic he is until I saw the result of my photoshoot. Damn, he looks great! ^_^

You can view the complete set of pics (including the individual photos of Volt vehicles) here.

Volt Lander

The final component of Voltes V -- Jamie's Volt Lander. ^_^

From Wiki --

Jamie Robinson (Megumi Oka) is a kunoichi (female ninja) and the 18th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja. Young, slim, and beautiful, Megumi received special training during her childhood. By the age of 13, she already possessed extraordinary skills and lightning reflexes. She also learned the gentle arts from her mother. Through her mother's guidance, Megumi became a person with a calm yet alert disposition. Joining the Voltes V Team, she was the voice of reason among the male members, especially whenever Ken'ichi and Ippei were about to clash during personal conflicts. Her cool demeanor and uncanny skills qualified Megumi as the fifth (and only female) member of the Voltes V team. Her uniform was yellow with pink accents. Voiced by Miyuki Ueda, who also played as the voice of Chizuru Nanbara in Combattler V, as Erika in the Daimos series, and as Marie Antoinette in Rose of Versailles; the latter was another series which Nagahama, the creator of Voltes V, was one of the contributing directors. She pilots the Volt Lander (Feet).

Volt Frigate

Here's Little John's Frigate!

It would've been uber-cool if they added an Octo-One figure in GX-31V! ^_^

Little John and Octo-One

From Wiki --

"Little" John Armstrong (Hiyoshi Gō) is a genius in inventing automatons. He has been interested in learning mechanics, robotics, and electromagnetism since a very young age. He was considered a genius by many university professors. He even created a funny little octopus-robot called Tako-chan ("Octo-One" in the dubbed version). But to his big brothers, Ken'ichi and Daijirō, Hiyoshi will always be a little brother, a child who never felt the warmth and love of a real father. He also excels in swimming and diving. Because of his exceptional talents, Hiyoshi was asked to join the Voltes V Team as a technical handyman, specifically for repairs during field operations. His uniform was light green. Voiced by Noriko Ohara in the original Voltes V series. Volt Frigate (Legs) is Hiyoshi's vehicle.

Little John and Octo-One image from http://edsabhrainweblogs.blogspot.com/.

Volt Panzer

The next Volt vehicle is as big as its pilot, Big Bert, himself -- the Volt Panzer.

Even the structure of the Volt Panzer would remind you of Big Bert's profile. ^_^

The cockpit slides in when the volt-in procedure happens to allow the Frigate to dock.

This is the side where the Volt Bomber docks.

I forgot to make the left claw flush with the body. ^_^

The most viewed angle of the Volt Panzer -- Voltes V's chest. :)

From Wiki --

Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong (Daijirō Gō) is the defense tactician. He was once a playful child but Daijirō's outlook in life suddenly changed when his father disappeared. Alarmed by this change in his personality, Mrs. Gō sent him to live in the country where a martial arts master taught him different fighting styles and forms of meditation. Upon rejoining his brothers, Daijirō was already a master of different hand-to-hand fighting styles. The naginata (fighting staff) became his favorite weapon. Together with Ken'ichi and Hiyoshi, Daijirō started training as a member of the Voltes V Team. Unlike in the group portrait above his uniform was dark green, not brown. Voiced by Tesshou Genda in the original Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Panzer (Body Chest).

Volt Bomber

Here's number 2 among the Volt vehicles, Mark Gordon's Volt Bomber.

From Wiki -

Mark Gordon (Ippei Mine) is a rodeo champion. He was orphaned while still a young boy. His mother died trying to save him from a pack of wolves. After his mother's death, he grew bitter, aloof, but cool under crisis. He learned how to live in the streets and perform odd jobs. This kind of life strengthened his personality. Upon joining the rodeo, he learned to ride horses and how to use a whip. He found his greatest friend in a white stallion known as Aiful ("Alpha"). The two, man and beast, became inseparable. He won two rodeo championship contests with Aiful as his horse. Then one day, The Earth International Defense Force asked Ippeo to join the team. When he refused, he was taken forcibly, so for the first time, Ippei and Aiful where separated. Dr. Hamaguchi has Aiful brought to Big Falcon early in the series. His uniform was blue. Voiced by Kazuyuki Sogabe in the original Voltes V series. He pilots the Volt Bomber (Arms).

Volt Cruiser

Call it the Volt Cruiser, Volt Cruizer, or Volt Crewzer... it is still Steve Armstrong's plane and Voltes V's head.

Since the white background I used earlier didn't suit my taste, I just had to do a re-shoot with the Voltes vehicles.

You can see Voltes V's chin in this shot. ^_^

From Wiki --

Steve Armstrong (Ken'ichi Gō) is the Voltes V team leader. He is a marksman, a Motocross champion, an ace pilot, and the eldest of the three Gō brothers. He was a very adventurous child, but the disappearance of his father changed him. He became more responsible, caring for his younger brothers as well as for the people who depended on him. His uniform was red. Voiced by Yukinaga Shiraishi in the original version of Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Cruiser (Head).

I guess you know what's coming up next, right?

That's two! Happy birthday, Dad!

I was excited to get this one. Perhaps, I was more excited to get the SOC GX-31V than my SOC GX-01R Mazinger Z.

Maybe I was too excited that even Ate Melai, ever-hospitable staff of GreatToysOnline's Greenhills branch (along with Ate Marilyn), saw it in my eyes, as she remarked, "Excited oh!", as we were checking the contents of the box to make sure that all the parts were there.

Yes, I was and I couldn't hide it.

Mazinger Z may be my favorite super-robot of all time, but getting Voltes V's Respect for the Volt-in Box version made me smile like a kid.

Back in 1980, I think I might've had the chance to get the Godaikin version of Voltes V, which was hugely popular here in the Philippines. Unfortunately, I didn't cry my eyes out enough to make my father (who incidentally is celebrating his birthday today) shell out Php 800.00 and get me one as we passed by a local toy store. I'd bet, that if I cried like hell during that day, I would've gotten my Voltes V.

Anyway, dad -- my hero and my idol, more than made up for it by getting me die-cast versions of Mechander Robo and UFO Grendizer.

Yesterday, after 30 years of patient waiting, I finally got MY Voltes V. It may not be the Godaikin version, but the SOC version is more than enough to make me realize a childhood dream.

Ok, so I'm a wuss who's getting teary eyed already... but this is Voltes V!

Oh yeah, my dad saw me bringing the box in yesterday and he was delighted that I got a Voltes V toy already. My mom who saw both of us talking asked, "Didn't you have a Voltes when you were still a kid?" Dad responded by saying that what he got me during those days were the Mechander and the Grendizer. How's that for very cool parents?!? They know their super-robot stuff!!! ^_^

I've got two of the best parents in the world, I tell 'ya!

I mentioned in my previous post about showing my own pics early this week, right?

Steve Armstrong's ride, the Volt Cruizer

I hope to get a full-on shoot with the rest of the Volt-vehicles on Tuesday night. ^_^

Happy birthday shoutouts to my dad -- my idol and my hero, on this special day! May you have many more candles to blow and continued good health along with mom.

I love you, Daddy! We all love you! :)

Next!

I was having quite a bit of a dilemma these past few days.

You see I'm a bit overdue for a new collectible to take pictures of and couldn't decide what toy I should get first. I have a few of them... okay, I've lots of them running around my mind, and I sort of shortlisted them into a compact list:

• MP-04 Convoy from Takara Tomy or otherwise known as Masterpiece Optimus Prime and his trailer
• SOC GX-31V Voltes V Respect for Volt-in Box from Bandai
• 1/60 VF-0S from Yamato
• Iron Man Mark II or III from Hot Toys

Eliminating IM from the list was pretty easy. My senses came around after a while and reminded me that I should get the icons from my younger years first, before acquiring the more contemporary figures. Don't get me wrong, I still find the HT IM 12-inch figures as two of the most awesome figs out there and I would love to have them in the future, but... they just don't fit into what I would call my icons... yet. Sorry, Tony Stark.

Out at second runner-up is Yamato's 1/60 VF-0S. I regretted cutting Roy Fokker's mech from my list because it is my absolute favorite among the Valks that are available. For me, the VF-xS are the most endearing vari-fighters and I find the Macross Zero version simply as the one who runs away with it all. I just adored everything about it when I first saw it in Zero. I'll get you next time buddy... probably when Yamato releases a 2.0 version.

So, there were two.

Optimus Prime couldn't have said it better when he uttered, "One shall stand, and one shall fall." Yet no matter how wicked the Takara Tomy MP version of the Big Guy may look, he fell short as he was against a very tough contender.

Yup, I'm going for my ultimate icon -- Voltes V, specifically the Respect for Volt-in Box version.

The decision was basically up in the air until I saw these images and licked them off eBay

Doesn't he look awesome?!?

Volt Cruiser

Volt Bomber

Volt Panzer

Volt Frigate

Volt Lander

Just look at all the included weapons and accessories!!!

This is the image that sold the deal. ^_^

So yeah, I am going after him. And hopefully I'd have my own pics of Camp Big Falcon's hero to show early next week!

I'm setting my optics after MP-04 next. :)