Review – Real X Head Organ Bat

Manufacturer: Real X Head * Year: 2006

The Organ Bat from Real X Head (website, Real X Head USA blog) is a mid-sized vinyl toy that has a surprise hidden beneath his bizarre chest and indescribable head. But rather than leap right into the toy’s secret we should first take a little time to look at this toy that was first released back in 2006.

Last Seen at battlegrip.com in 2009

Back in November of 2009 I linked to an Orghan Bat review at CollectonDX and at the time proclaimed that I was immune from the internet’s attempts at getting me into Japanese vinyl toys. Well, as you already know I didn’t hold out for long, and it feels kinda fitting that one of the toy designs that captured my attention is finally getting its turn in the battlegrip.com review seat. Fortunately for all of us, the Organ Bat looks as remarkable in person as it does in photos.

June 23, 2007

My copy of the Super7: The Book identifies this particular colorway as a Super7 toy that was released on June 23, 2007. Listed as “translucent orange vinyl with black,” that description is incomplete because the toy also sports some orange and gold spray over the black spray effects. While not nearly as spectacular as the green version in the CollectionDX review (which seems to be the “phone order” version listed in the book), I’m happy to have gotten my hands on this Organ Bat when I did; I traded some stuff for this guy and since I was trading duplicates I came out ahead with some cool RXH vinyl.

Limited Articulation

If you’ve read any of the other Japanese vinyl toy reviews here at battlegrip.com then you already know that these toys aren’t anywhere near as articulated as the likes of Marvel Universe and DC Universe Classics action figures. No, when it comes to articulation in Japanese vinyl its often more about the requirements of the manufacturing process than it is any attempt to give the toys articulation. And Organ Bat follows that same approach, with only his shoulders articulated. But when you pull at the waist you can tell something’s going on . . . but we’re not ready for that yet.

Fantastic Sculpt

The Organ Bat may have the RXH Mutant Head legs and right arm combined with the Mutant Chaos left arm, but that torso and head piece is incredible, with a weird blending of organic parts, bumps, ridges, and shell-like shoulder pads that all comes together to give the toy an appearance that . . . well, all I can say is that I like how this guy looks. I can’t describe what he’s meant to be, but as you can see in the pictures he’s pretty wicked and makes a great addition to any monstrous army.

Why Doesn’t that Head Move?

If you take a look at the photo below you’ll see the Organ Bat broken down into his four plastic parts. That torso and head is a single piece of vinyl that snaps down over a Mutant Head body; the head of the Organ Bat doesn’t move because RXH found a way to turn an older figure into a new design by sculpting and molding just one new piece. Impressive, and it makes be better understand how the Bigaro toy works. I may not own any of the Bigaro-like toys but I know it’s just a matter of time now before at least one joins my collection.

And looking at how this Organ Bat is assembled gives me ideas for my own projects.

Closing Thoughts

The Organ Bat may be an older Real X Head (website, Real X Head USA blog) design, but it’s still pretty cool and I’m hoping to grab at least one or two more of these guys for my collection. There’s a “black splatter” version at Lulubell Toys that looks pretty cool, but it’s gotta be this clear purple with metallic sprays that’s really calling to me.

Another great toy from Real X Head, and another reason to blame all of you guys for my growing collection of Japanese vinyl toys.

I especially blame Matt (Onell Design), because every time I visit him I spend too many hours playing with his collection of RXH toys. Curse you, Matt!

Philip Reed should probably turn his attention to some mass-market action figures before the internet grows arms and strangles him for posting so many Japanese vinyl toy reviews in one week.