Just a heads up ... i was purchasing epoxy resin recently and decided to peruse the toy section of the Dollarama i was in on my way out. The M.A.R.S. Heroes that were originally released years ago have returned with new packaging (black with silver text) and new colors (off of the top of my head.. a neon green was included but i dont recall the other colors). I only saw the robots but what stood out the most is that the figures maintain the full compliment of ball joints that the originals had (i.e. neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles) as opposed to the later released M.A.R.S. Heroes robot 3 or 5 packs which had reduced articulation .

Edit: Pics for those on the hunt 02/11/13



For reference : http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_040907b.htm

All 3 non alien robots shown in the above link.

As opposed to these (the later released less articulated versions):
http://www.infinitehollywood.com/figure ... es-3-pack/

http://monsterforge.blogspot.ca/2009/09 ... obots.html



$3 for a 3 pack of the originals is just awesome custom fodder at a great price.

NICE! I only got a couple a few years ago (coz I assumed they'd be around for some time - bad decision... they sold quickly)...

I'm not making the same mistake this time if I see some again.

My mistake was not picking up any of the single or 3-packs while they were on local shelves... never to be seen since.

Is there a US equivalent of Dollarama? Has anyone found these in the US? My son is playing with his old ones again and I'd like to get him new ones, since half his figures are missing their legs.

The next time I'm at the store I'll grab a pack or 3 just in case someone needs them. They are $3 for a 3 pack of robots. I recall the absolute BS I had to go through to acquire my figures initially.

To answer your question while i do not believe Dollarama has a US based sister chain any of the larger dollar store chains are likely are to carry them.

Anyone had luck finding them? None of the dollar stores I've hit have had any.

For those on the hunt i've taken pictures of the figures in their new packaging. See my original post.

I've picked up 2 packs for those who cant find them.

Found them at a Canadian Dollarama in Toronto, but passed. The plastic seems pretty flimsy, and one was broken in the pack.

- R

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Can you really say they've returned when they've actually been bootlegged?

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Yes i can (and, no , i don't know for sure if they've been bootlegged. One can never tell with Hap-P-Kid and the like over seas. I dont care if they have though)



Regarding the plastic..

The plastic , from a perspective, is actually better with this latest run. Specifically the MARS Heroes robot originals from a few years ago (that i had a *lot* of at one point) had either A) 100% hard plastic parts or B) 100% Polypropylene or harder Polyethylene "flexible" limbs and core. It depended upon where you got them from as Happy Kid / Hap-P-Kid provided different batches. I specifically bought them from Hap-P-Kid directly (samples) years ago, from Walgreen stores in the southeast US and from the west coast US (California).

This latest batch has a hard plastic "cheap ABS" core" and flexible plastic limbs (probably a cheap polypropylene as i doubt theyd invest in PVC as it's more expensive and it holds paint better than these robots do based upon a glance). So , if your a kid, non hard plastic instead of the usual brittle ABS i.e typical dollar store plastic seems like a good thing. For little ones at least. The ball nubs and stems actually flex under pressure.

Overall they are what you'd expect - exactly like the last run from a few years ago. IMO they really arent that stellar in stock form (i like hinge - swivel joints) are but adding a few joints from other toys for a greater degree of pose ability makes them well worth the dollar if for no other reason than the unique sculpt fodder. I wish they'd re release the aliens.

Just out of curiosity what was broken in the package ? These seem pretty damn hard to break without actually trying.

The left arm ball joint (it's left) on the figure on the top right (my right) of the package was broken. The separator packaging inside the box looked a little damaged too, but the box looked undamaged.

- R

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Just going through some old posts as I've been gone for awhile. So has anybody found any more of these in the US, and if so where?

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Yeah, somehow I completely missed this first time around. It's like they took the robots and gave them the colors of the aliens. If these are decent figures, I'd certainly be interested! I do think they may be bootlegs of a sort since they don't say either "M.A.R.S." or the company name on them, but what the heck.

They are very much bootlegs. They also have that thinner - cheaper plastic that is common to knock off toys.

They are interesting, and I learned a bit about ball joint articulation by playing with them, but I certainly don't love them. The originals were better, but at a buck a robot, they're a fun little diversion.

- R

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Got a set yesterday.
Now to find some time to open the box and start a space adventure or make them attack some 1/72 soldiers.

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