Merchandise
A Tokusatsu Fan Guide to San Diego Comic-Con 2017
From official merchandise to panels to independent artists, Team TokuNet rounds up some of the best, must-see items and events for San Diego Comic-Con 2017.
Power Rangers
Saban’s Power Rangers comes to San Diego Comic-Con with a wide range of offerings, as they usually do. First, the official Power Rangers panel, titled “Saban’s Power Rangers: Toys and Collectibles Power Hour” will take place on Thursday, July 20, 2017 in Room 25ABC from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. This panel focuses on consumer products, featuring current and upcoming news from the franchise. It will be moderated by Nerdist’s Dan Casey and panelists include Saban Brands’ representative, Jason Bischoff and select partners (i.e. nWay, Pop Culture Shock, Imaginext, etc.).
Various Power Rangers actors will be signing autographs throughout the week at the Sails Pavilion and actor, Jason David Frank, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, will be playing Power Rangers: Legacy Wars against fans in the Lionsgate booth located at #4045.
Additionally, there will be a screening of the 2017 Power Rangers movie on July 20, 2017 in the Marriott Grand Ballroom B from 2:30pm to 4:45pm.
SDCC 2017 exclusive slap bracelets will also be available from various partner booths including those listed below.
Bandai America (Booth #3535)
Bandai America is once again back for another round of exclusive merchandise during this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. As always, the company is represented by its number one brand in the United States, Power Rangers.Headlining the convention is the Power Rangers Zeo Legacy Communicator Zeo Gold Ranger Edition. The toy is the Legacy Communicator fans have grown to love since its original release, but decorated in a gold chrome with black inserts, done such to replicate Jason’s communicator in Power Rangers Zeo. The toy includes newly designed packaging and new sound clips not heard in previous renditions of the communicator. The Legacy Communicator Zeo Gold Ranger Edition will be available in limited quantities each day for $100.
SDCC wouldn’t be SDCC without a new Tokyo Vinyl. This year’s release is a redeco of the Megazord Tokyo Vinyl, now decorated in the traditional black and gold color scheme seen on several renditions of Megazord toys in the past. Limited quantities will be available each day for $60.
Wrapping up the Power Rangers exclusives is this year’s exclusive Legacy Figure Collection release. 2017 brings us a boxed version of the Power Rangers movie Megazord build-a-figure included with the movie Rangers (and Alpha!) earlier in 2017. Unlike the original build-a-figure release, this version features metallic paint and exclusive packaging. Limited quantities will be available each day for $40.
Bandai and Tamashii Nations both have a number of other exclusive merchandise from franchises like Dragon Ball Super, Sailor Moon, Gundam, and more that can be seen here (Bandai), here (Bluefin Tamashii Nations), or here (Bluefin Bandai Hobby).
Entertainment Earth (Booth #2343)
Entertainment Earth will be releasing one of Bandai’s newest Power Rangers products as an exclusive at their booth. The store will be offering a 5-pack of the Power Rangers Micro Morphins, a new line of random capsule toys that are slowly making their way out to store shelves. The 5-pack includes translucent variations of Goldar, Red Zeo Ranger, T-Rex Super Charge Red Ranger, Ninja Steel Red Ranger, and 2017 Movie Pink Ranger. Also included are two translucent blue bases. The Micro Morphins set will retail for a currently undisclosed price while supplies last.
Funko (Booth #5341)
If you haven’t heard already, Funko will have the 6″ Funko POP vinyl Megazord SDCC exclusive figure available for $14.99.
BOOM! Studios (Booth #2229)
BOOM! Studios Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #17 gets another 90s treatment with some exclusive SDCC 2017 cover variants. All four covers combine to create one super image paying homage to Jim Lee’s 1991 relaunch of X-Men. Prices are $20 individual cover; $75 for set of 4 individual comics; and $100 for the pullout version including entire panoramic.
Fans can also get their copies signed by creators and pose with Power Rangers in suit at the BOOM! Studios booth as follows:
Wednesday, July 19 Preview Night
- 8:00pm – 8:30pm: Costumed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Thursday, July 20
- 12:30pm – 1:00pm: Costumed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- 5:00pm – 5:50pm: Ryan Parrott, Dan Mora (Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers)
Friday, July 21
- 12:30pm – 1:00pm: Costumed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- 1:00pm – 1:50pm: Ryan Parrott (Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers), Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Dan Mora (Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers), Ciara Hanna (Power Rangers Megaforce)
- 2:00pm – 2:30pm: Costumed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- 5:00pm – 6:45pm: Jason David Frank (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
Saturday, July 22
- 12:30-1pm Costumed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- 3-3:50pm Ryan Parrott, Dan Mora (Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers)
For their full signing schedule, check out the Unofficial San Diego Comic-Con blog.
BOOM! Studios will also host their Go Go Power Rangers panel on Friday, July 21 2017 in Room 5AB starting from 11:30am. The panel will be moderated by Ciara Hanna (Gia/Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers Megaforce).
Heroes and Kaiju
Fans can also get their fill of tokusatsu merchandise from the various booths and tables throughout SDCC 2017, from official releases to independent artists.
The Kaiju Kingdom podcast will be hosting a live recording once again at the San Diego Central Library at the Neil Morgan Auditorium on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 1:00pm to 2:00pm. They will discuss the resurgence of the kaiju film genre and will include panelists: Mitsuki Koga (actor Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.,Kamen Rider Ketaros), Steve Ryfle (author of Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa), Chris Mowry (writer of IDW’s Godzilla), Mark Jaramillo (curator of Godzilla vs. Wolfman, producer Kaiju Gaiden).
Exclusive footage of Godzilla vs. Wolfman will be shown followed by an Q&A. The first 100 guests to attend will receive an exclusive art print by Transformers artist, Livio Ramondelli.
In addition to the Power Rangers (2017) movie mentioned above, the following kaiju films will also be screening at the Marriott Grand Ballroom B on Thursday, July 20, 2017
- 1:50pm: Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Star Attack
- 4:45pm: Kong Skull Island
- 6:55pm: Big Man Japan
- 12:35am: King Kong Escapes
Previous Artist Feature, Thomas Perkins will be offering sketch commissions, prints, and copies of his books at his Artist Alley Booth HH-21
HEY FOLKS! Here’s a few sketch commissions, like the ones I shall be drawing into my sketch book at #SDCC2017 at Artist Alley HH-21 pic.twitter.com/JwTxWhBNE3
— Thomas Perkins (@TNPerkins4) July 18, 2017
Christopher Lee, the artist behind the Beast is Back and Night Cake Press, resurrected some previously sold out, limited edition enamel pins, as well as brand new designs, inspired by your favorite kaiju. Check out his work at Booth #1535.
Furry Feline Creatives in Booth #5149 will also be offering an SDCC 2017 exclusive plush toy happily named, Kai Kai Kaiju.
Oni Press (Booth #1833)
Meanwhile, Oni Press, publisher of the Kaijumax comic series created by Zander Cannon, will be bringing the plush of their popular kaiju Electrogor to SDCC. The plush was previously available exclusively via We Love Fine, and will be sold at Oni Press’s booth at SDCC for $25.
Zander Cannon himself will be available at the Oni Press booth as well at his own table in Artist Alley Booth FF-08. In addition, Cannon also created an exclusive SDCC 2017 cover variant for Rick and Morty™ #28 highlighting Rick as a rampaging kaiju.
Kaiju @RickandMorty @Comic_Con exclusive cover by me that you can get during #SDCC2017 from @OniPress ! pic.twitter.com/Km1qoJTXYa
— Zander Cannon (@zander_cannon) July 10, 2017
Shout! Factory (Booth #4118)
Shout! Factory made their mark on the tokusatsu community by offering the first official releases of the classic Super Sentai series adapted for the Power Rangers franchise, starting with the release of Zyuranger in 2014.
At the time of this writing, Shout! Factory’s current offerings include the complete DVD sets of Zyuranger, Dairanger, Carranger, Ohranger, and Megaranger in their original Japanese with English subtitles.
Famous Monsters of Filmland (Booth #1621)
Notable cult film magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland is heading to SDCC 2017 with a variety of merchandise and panels, including the return of the Famous Monsters podcast, the debut of Famous Monsters TV, and more.
At the Famous Monsters of Filmland booth, folks can purchase a deluxe zip hoodie featuring Shin Godzilla art work from TOHO artist, Yuji Kaida, priced at $40. The artwork was exclusively created for the Famous Monsters screening.
Funimation (Booth #731)
Speaking of Shin Godzilla, while the Blu-ray for the film won’t be out until August, stop by the Funimation booth to check out their other live-action offerings. This also includes the live-action Rurouni Kenshin Blu-ray sets that stars Kamen Rider Den-O actor, Takeru Sato.
Funimation’s official industry panel will also take place on Thursday, July 20, 2017 in Room 9 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.
IDW Comics (Booth #2743)
In a previous Comics Corner, we listed IDW’s official line of Godzilla comics and graphics novels. They would be a booth to check out if you’d like to grab some copies for yourself.
Power Morphicon / Robo Toy Fest (Booth A-09)
Scott Zillner, showrunner for the upcoming Japan World Heroes, Power Morphicon, and Robo Toy Fest conventions in Pasadena, CA will also be tabling at San Diego Comic Con offering merchandise, advanced show tickets, autograph signings, and more.
Gallery Nucleus (Booth #2643)
Gallery Nucleus will be offering exclusive art prints from their previous shows, including their Power Rangers tribute, and enamel pins.
AnimeBooks.com (Booth #5552)
While mostly anime art books and the like, AnimeBooks.com also offers a selection of magazine books, or “mooks” and production art books from franchises such as Kamen Rider and GARO.
To find up-to-date information regarding panel times, autograph signings, and booth locations, we highlight recommend downloading and installing the official Comic-Con app.
