Warrior Condor - Robot Changers
Originally designed by Japanese company MARK, this figure was originally released for their Bird Robo* toy line and sold as 'Condor Robo'.
MARK also released this model to the West via Select seeing it renamed Rex' for Convertors in the United States, Canada and Australia (and likely other regions). In parallel MARK distributed it directly to Europe under the Robot Changers banner as, 'Warrior Condor'.
* Packaging for the Bird Robo toy line has a subtitle of, 'Bird Robo VS Zectron' (Convertors Avarians VS Insectors) after the main Bird Robo logo indicating the two MARK toy lines were marketed as rivals.
All of the Avarians bar Calypso (Parrot Robo) were later re-released in Japan by the Japanese company JAM as Candy Toys; toys that come with candy. They came in kit form under the title, Mekabad'. It's supposed Parrot Robo's more complex mode change may have been problematic to replicate in a cheap, snap-together kit.
Then in 1999 JAM again issued the same four figures plus Parrot Robo for their Metal Force line. These further cost reduced versions saw newly designed, non-foil stickers and the chromed sections, including weapons replaced with white plastic.
At this time a connection between MARK and JAM has not been established, nor has how JAM acquired the Bird Robo moulds.
See main Convertors & Robot Changers index page for more details.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / EU Europe / AU Australia
NOTE: Location codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely to be incomplete.
Convertors Avarians US/CA/AU Select 1985
Robot Changers EU MARK 1985
Bird Robo JP MARK 1985
Mekabad JP JAM Date Pre 1999 (kit form)
Metal Force JP JAM 1999 (silver sections replaced by white & unique stickers)
Condor Robo was also released in a three pack along with Bat and Peacock Robo with the word, 'Series' printed after the Bird Robo logo.
The addition of 'Series' is likely borrowed from Bandai's popular Machine Robo Series. The second three pack (Parrot, Peacock and Owl Robo) includes the famous Bandai, 'DX' toy line identifier in place of Series. Both are likely used to encourage potential buyers to feel the product is a quality item.
All five JAM Metal Force versions were more recently sold in as a complete set in an open fronted box under one large, shaped blister. Little is known about this release other than 'Hundredbird' is printed in large letters across the bottom front of the box in English and it appears to be a very budget release.
Rex was also released in an Avarians three pack with Feathers and Robat.
