Fans of deep cut Spider-Man lore just got something seriously cool to add to their shelves. Hot Toys has revealed a new 1/6 scale collectible based on the wonderfully strange and endlessly charming Japanese Spider-Man from Toei’s 1978 TV series, a show that carved out its own corner of Spidey history with giant robots, alien blood, and a hero who traded Peter Parker’s camera for a motorcycle.
This article takes you through the history behind this cult favorite version of Spider-Man, the legacy he’s built over the years, and everything Hot Toys packed into their new figure. If you love Tokusatsu, classic Marvel oddities, or just collecting awesome Spider-Man variants, this is one you’ll want to know about.
Running for 41 episodes between 1978 and 1979, Toei’s take on the character barely resembled the Marvel original yet managed to become a fan favorite thanks to its inventive sci-fi storyline.
Instead of Peter Parker, audiences followed Takuya Yamashiro, played by Shinji Tōdō, who discovers a crashed alien ship and meets Garia, the last survivor of the Planet Spider. After receiving Garia’s blood and a mystical Spider Bracelet, Takuya gains new abilities and the Spider Protector suit, which forms around his body when the bracelet is activated.
The bracelet does way more than shoot webs. It can call the Spider Machine GP-7, his flying car, and even summon Leopardon, the giant robot that became an icon in Tokusatsu circles. This version of Spider-Man later swung into Marvel’s Multiverse in stories like Spider-Verse and Spider-Geddon, cementing his place in the larger lore.
After recently unveiling its 1977 Spider-Man figure, Hot Toys is giving this legendary Tokusatsu hero the deluxe treatment with a screen-accurate collectible crafted to capture everything that makes this interpretation stand out.
Here’s the official description:
“This exclusive figure is only available in a limited quantity of 1,500 units in selected markets. The figure features a newly developed masked head with nose and mouth details.
“He dons the classic Spider Protector one-piece suit made from elastic fabric material, completed with his signature Spider Bracelet at the wrist. Eleven interchangeable hands cover a wide range of poses — everything from classic fist battles and wall-climbing poses to web-shooting and dramatic gestures.“
“The figure comes with various webbing effects, including a short and a bendable long string of spider webs, as well as an opened spider web. A TV series logo graphic card, and a specially designed figure stand complete the set, making this the perfect tribute to a Spider-Man unlike any other.
“Whether you’re a Tokusatsu fan that appreciates the 70s nostalgic charm or fascinated by alternate Spider-Man lore, this figure is a must-have from a wildly inventive chapter in Spider-Man’s history.”
It’s awesome to see Toei’s Spider-Man finally getting more merchandise love, especially from a company as meticulous as Hot Toys.
