1998
The Power Rangers Astro Megazord, affectionately dubbed the "ASStro Megazord" by certain butt-loving members of this site who shall remain nameless (Sean), has suffered from a pretty bad rap since it was released in 1998. To set the stage, this piece came out at a particularly dry time Jumbo-wise -- prior to any of the Uni-Five Jumbo reissues -- and was a sort of life-line for Jumbo fanatics desperate for a cheap polyethylene fix. It was a surprise release (hey, we're not exactly avid "Power Rangers" fans here at Jumboland), sold as an limited Target store exclusive, and seemed to disappear almost as quickly as it went on sale.

It's actually a "mini-machinder," meaning it stands somewhere south of twenty inches instead of the full-sized twenty-four-inch Jumbo standard, and it's not particularly detailed. In fact, aside from the painted vinyl head, it's kinda like a blocky, stubby version of Giant Gorg: featureless blue. Even though it comes with a big sticker sheet and "transforms" (disassembles, actually) into a spaceship-looking thing, the smaller size and lack of multiple colors really irked die-hard Jumbo fanatics. (Okay, the thing really DOES blow. But hey, whaddya expect for twenty bucks?)

In a weird twist, collectors were astounded when the ASStro Megazord suddenly popped up on Uni-Five's fall 1999 sales list as a "limited-edition American Machinder" (and at a huge mark-up, of course.) It seems that Bandai cut their losses in America and shipped the overstock straight to Japan. They're even still boxed in the English Power Rangers boxes.

Bandai produced a prototype of a second Megazord jumbo as well, but pulled the plug on the series before it ever got released.

Matt Alt