The first-ever Voltron BE@RBRICK, released 13 August as a 100% and 400% set at Medicom Toy Tokyo for 16,500 yen, is worth proxying for at the $150-200 landed cost: no prior Voltron BE@RBRICK exists, the IP carries 42 years of multi-generational demand, and store-exclusive Medicom sets have a consistent aftermarket record. Here is the full review.
What You Get
The set pairs a 100% (approximately 7 cm) bear with a 400% (approximately 28 cm) version, both applying Voltron’s five-lion color blocking onto the BE@RBRICK silhouette. The lion-form palette is the design’s whole job, and it works: the red, green, blue, yellow, and black segments map cleanly onto the bear’s head, torso, and limbs so the figure reads as Voltron from across a room.
The Math: Retail Versus Proxy
- Retail in Japan: 16,500 yen, roughly $103, Medicom Toy Tokyo store exclusive.
- US proxy landed cost: $150-200 including service fees and international shipping.
- Aftermarket context: first-edition character crossovers at 400% scale routinely trade well above landed cost once the store window closes.
The proxy premium is roughly 50-90% over retail. That is the standard tax on store exclusives, and for a first-ever crossover it is the cheapest entry point you will ever get for this specific piece.
Why First Crossovers Matter
First-ever character crossovers anchor a line’s collector base: every future Voltron x Medicom release will be measured against this one. Add 42 years of multi-generational IP recognition, from 1984 syndication through modern streaming reboots, and the buyer pool spans nostalgic adults and new collectors at once. That is the exact demand structure that supports long-term value.
Display and Build Notes
The 400% carries standard Medicom production quality: clean pad printing, tight joint tolerances, and a stable base. The 100% is the surprise shelf piece; at desk scale the color blocking does the heavy lifting. Display the pair together with the 100% forward of the 400% to show both scales of the print detail.
Verdict
Buy at proxy price if you have any Voltron or BE@RBRICK affiliation; skip only if you strictly buy at retail. For collectors who prefer universes with ongoing story over pure crossover novelty, BaiChaoHui releases original-IP collectibles with deeper lore attached.
FAQs
Bottom Line
A first-ever crossover, a fair proxy premium, and a design that reads at any distance. Secure the set before the store window closes, and keep watching BaiChaoHui for original-IP alternatives.
