For a series than began as a Frankenstein’d story crafted by combining several Japanese series’ from Toei Animation, Voltron has certainly come a long way in the past 34 years. Already popular in Japan, Beast King GoLion is what most Americans would come to recognize as Voltron: Defender of the Universe, while the Armored Fleet Dairugger XV became the second iteration of Voltron to hit the ‘States, though a vehicular version that’s oft-forgotten in favor of the lion-based counterparts. Since the launch of the Netflix Original Series, DreamWorks’ Voltron: Legendary Defender in 2016, renewed interest in the character and it’s past (fueled largely by the reissued Voltron ’84) has led to it becoming a staple of Comic-Con. For this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, there’s a huge amount of Voltron goodness coming into play – you could even say that it’s an unusually large amount this year, packed with reveals and SDCC exclusives. It started with Playmates Toys’ Voltron: Legendary Defender Hyperphase Voltron that Entertainment Earth will be selling, but now there’s so much more…
Voltron at SDCC 2018:
- Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 7 Panel: Friday, July 20, at 10:15am in room 6BCF. Featuring executive producers Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery, story editor Josh Hamilton, and actors Rhys Darby (voice of Coran), Bex Taylor-Klaus (voice of Pidge), and Jeremy Shada (voice of Lance).
- Voltron Exclusive Poster Signing: Saturday, July 21, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Autograph Area
- Voltron Legendary Defender Series 3, Issue 1, SDCC Variant Cover Art by Keezy Young. Limited to 400 copies. Lion Forge Comics booth #5543
- Han Cholo Designs (Booth #1720) is serving up a wide array of Voltron Exclusives, including a 2018 SDCC Voltron Team Force Membership Kit and several limited-edition pins.
- Playmates Previews Exclusive Hyperphase Voltron. Entertainment Earth Booth #2343
And perhaps the biggest news? The official reveal of LEGO Voltron!
It’s time to defend the universe so get ready to form LEGO® Ideas 21311 Voltron, the biggest buildable LEGO mech ever! This awesome set features buildable and highly posable black, blue, yellow, red and green lions with specially designed, extra-strong joints to combine them all and create the Voltron super robot, plus a huge sword and shield that attach firmly to Voltron’s hands. Ideal for display or to recreate thrilling action from the original 1980s animated Voltron TV series and the modern DreamWorks Voltron: Legendary Defender series.
- Features 5 buildable and posable lions that can be transformed and combined to create the giant Voltron super robot.
- Play with the lions individually or combine them using extra-strong joints to form Voltron—the black lion forms the head and torso; the red and green lions form the arms; and the yellow and blue lions form the legs.
- Pose the head, shoulders, arms and wrists of Voltron (legs are not posable).
- Also includes a sword and shield (each with silver-colored elements) that attach firmly to Voltron’s hands.
- Includes a booklet with building instructions, plus information about the set’s fan creator and super force of LEGO® designers.
- This set includes over 2,321 pieces.
- Display or play out exciting stories from the original 1980s animated Voltron TV series and the modern DreamWorks Voltron: Legendary Defender series.
- Voltron measures over 15” (40cm) high, 5” (14cm) long and 8” (21cm) wide.
- Black lion measures over 6” (17cm) high, 8” (22cm) long and 5” (15cm) wide.
- Yellow and blue lions each measure over 3” (8cm) high, 8” (21cm) long and 3” (8cm) wide.
- Green and red lions each measure over 3” (8cm) high, 7” (18cm) long and 1” (5cm) wide.
- Voltron’s sword measures 11” (29cm) long.
- Voltron’s shield measures 6” (16cm) in diameter.
Need more robot lions? Check out http://www.therockfather.com/voltron