1980
Here's a little slice of history for ya: America's only Machinder. Yep, that's right, Rodan is an all-American creation: he (?) was never released in the Japanese lineup. And believe it or not, it's not half bad. Big, flappable wings, elastic-powered claws, and an openable beak -- as a matter of fact, it wouldn't be too surprising if this were actually ghost-produced by the Japanese, who seem to have a genetic predisposition to create well-balanced, cool looking toys. Rodan's not a particularly rare piece, but it can be tough to find one in pristine mint condition (and even tougher to find one in the box. Once it was assembled, it couldn't fit back in again.) The wings are held together by a rubber band inside Rodan's body, and the attachment points often crack.

Matt Alt