Zarios MRD-103 / MRGD-3
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Zarios. This figure was part of a new direction by Bandai to add specifically evil characters to the toy line. Prior to Challenge of the Gobots the toys were un-charactered, non-factioned interesting robots that turned into vehicles. This also explains why the figures don't bear a good or evil faction insignia. Dividing and giving them a war to wage helped Tonka successfully introduce them to the US market. In Japan for the most part they remained neat puzzle toy robots that were both toys and shelf display worthy. Bandai's initial distributions in Australia as Machine Men and Robo Machine in Europe were also factionless with no specifically good or evil characters. The creation of the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon change that for all Western releases with things in Japan remaining the same... until the Devil Invaders.
Rather than choose existing figures to be good or evil Bandai created new models designed to look the part. These Devil Invaders were the line's first not to include the word 'Robo' in their names and possibly indicating that they weren't technically robots but something else adding to their otherworldly mystery. Bandai also broke from the MR- model numbering system and began MTD- (Machine Robo Devil) specifically for these figures. Unlike their portrayal as single characters in the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon the Devil Invaders were depicted as a swarm of like looking enemies with marketing imagery showing many of the same figure engaged in battle with existing Machine Robo Series figures.
To keep in line with global marketing Bandai adopted the Gobots name Scorp for the Australian Machine Men release while strangely retaining Zarios for the Robo Machine line in Europe. Multilingual Robo Machine blister cards show both Monster and Zarios in the name section.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots 47 Series 2 US/CA Tonka (gunmetal thigh sections) 1984
Gobots 47 Series 2 US/CA Tonka with 3-D Sticker (black thigh sections) 1985
Machine Men AU Bandai (black thigh sections, slightly darker red sections) 1984
Robo Machine RM-103 & RMD-103 EU Bandai (gunmetal thigh sections, slightly darker red sections) 1984
Robo Machine RM-103 & RMD-103 EU Bandai (black thigh sections, slightly darker red sections) 1984
Machine Robo Devil Invaders Series MRD-103 JP Bandai (gunmetal thigh sections) 1984
Machine Robo Revenge of Cronos MRGD-3 JP Bandai (new instructions) (black thigh sections) 1986
The model code change to MRGD was to tie-in with the Revenge of Cronos anime which saw the MR Devil Invaders origins changed to Gyandlar Devils.
Prototype with variant chest sculpt missing lower, deeper vents