Bicycle Voltes V: Origins by RunIt Decks (ill. Jet Joson)

[kevork]

1 left. Not for me, but for someone else.

[GandalfPC]

and, gone.

[brownsl]

Dave said a couple of weeks age he was going to try and get some. He has not said anything since.

[laitostarr777]

About Voltes V
Voltes V (pronounced "Voltes Five"), known in Japan as "Chōdenji Mashīn Borutesu Faibu", is a Japanese anime television series produced by TOEI Company and animated by Nippon Sunrise (now known as "Bandai Namco Filmworks"). The series is directed by Tadao Nagahama and produced by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Voltes V aired on TV Asahi in Japan from June 1977 to March 1978, with a total of 40 episodes. This series laid the path for the mecha robots genre stories in the future, such as the Mobile Suit Gundam and Evangelion from Japan to Pacific Rim from USA.

The story is about an alien invasion launched by an alien society known as the Boazan, humanoid species whose elites are born with large horns, with Earth's defense forces involving military-trained teenagers that fight against them to protect Earth from the incoming invasion. These teenagers are given powerful vehicles that can be combined into a gigantic robot known as "Voltes V". With this giant robot equipped with a powerful sword, Voltes V is able to defeat the "Beast Knights", animal inspired warriors created by the Boazans. As the story progresses, some secrets had been exposed and enemies are getting powerful to combat.

Voltes V was shown in other countries besides Japan, specifically other Asian countries, like Indonesia. Although, this mecha robot anime series makes a deep cultural impact in Philippines. When this series was aired in 1978 by GMA Network in Philippines, the people loved it! Voltes V becomes a memorable part of their childhood of the Filipinos. Some of the merchandises are created as a love for the series, like action figures to cosplay costumes. In 2023, GMA Network acquired the rights to make a live-action adaptation from TOEI Company through Telesuccess Productions Inc., TOEI's Philippines licensee and Filipino Tagalog dubbing of this Japanese anime series - named "Voltes V: Legacy". This show has a total of 90 episodes, with the characters and story remains faithful to the show - although the names are Westernized (using English names for some of the characters). Voltes V becomes a bigger thing in Philippines than it ever was in Japan!


Bicycle Voltes V Playing Cards
RunIt Decks, the one and only playing cards retailer in Philippines, succesfully gained the license to create their very first official licensed collaboration deck. Jared is able to get the license from Telesuccess Productions to bring the anime series that captured the hearts of the Philippines, Voltes V, onto a deck of playing cards - having it triumphantly returns after 46 years onto the world-famous Bicycle Playing Cards. The deck was firstly introduced during ToyCon Philippines 2023 in July 2023, and then released in-store and online in August 2023. UNFORTUNATELY, due to Tellesuccess Productions license contract restrictions, the deck is only exclusively available in Philippines.

The deck is printed by United States Playing Cards Company on the Classic Bicycle Stock with the signature Air-Cushion Finish. The tuck box features stock with a card-like texture and it comes with a numbered seal - it is cellowrapped and finished with a blue-colored license sticker of Telesuccess Production on the bottom right corner of the backside of the box. The cards feature metallic gold ink on the fully customized artworks of the deck, which will shimmers in light, enhancing the intricate artwork's every detail. Available as a single deck with a production run of only 1000 decks exact. Also available is the Collector's Set, two decks encased inside an acrylic case with an engraved graphics of Voltes V with a serial number (which will match with the serial number of the decks) and the license sticker on the side of the case (making the decks of this set won't have the same sticker on the back of the box); and the Uncut Sheet, the printed cards presented as two-way sided posters.


The World of Voltes V
Bicycle Voltes V Playing Cards is proudly distributed by RunIt Decks in Philippines by Jared. The deck is designed by Filipino graphic artist based in Dubai, Jet Joson. The fully customized artworks paying homage to the timeless anime that took the nation by storm, remaining faithful to the original masterpiece while infusing modern rendition. It serves both the old and new generations of Voltes V fans. Some of the artworks will be easily recognizable to the beloved Japanese mecha robot anime series, and there are several concealed Easter Eggs that challenge the fans of the show.

The Tuck Box
The tuck box is created using a premium stock with a card-like texture - the surface feels as if you are holding the cards printed by USPCC. It comes with a custom numbered seal placed on the opening of the box. The deck is cellowrapped and finished with a license seal.

• Front - Being Bicycle branded playing cards, there is the iconic Bicycle logo on the top side. The artwork shows the bust of Voltes V, with the title card of the anime.
• Back - The mirror of the card back design (will be elaborated below).
• Seal - Oval shaped, printed serial number showing specific number out of 1000, the total of decks made. It features the title card of the anime along with the artwork of the head of Camp Big Falcon.
• License Sticker - Blue square shape with fabric-like textures. There are different kind of textures that form different graphics when viewed on different angles. There's the head of Voltes V and the logo of Telesuccess Productions. The back side of the sticker (seen through cello) has the company's watermark.

The Back Design
The back design features an organic white border. It is formed through the mechanical graphic artworks that feature homage to the Voltes V anime series. It is a two-way design, a classic form of a playing cards back that makes the deck playable. Here are some of the elements found onto the back design:

• Pilot Helmet, the helmet worn by the young teenagers when riding onto the powerful vehicles.
• Octo-1, the octopus robot created by the youngest member of the team.
• Voltes V, the gigantic robot that fights against the Beast Knights.
• Boazinian Skull Ship, the invader's ship in shape of a horned skull with a castle crown.
• Camp Big Falcon, the base camp for Earth's Defense Force, the base operation for the pilots and their vehicles.
• The Vehicles, a series of five vehicles, controlled by the teenager pilots each, the parts that combined to Voltes V.
• Dagger, the Boazan prince's weapon of choice.
• Twin Doves, a symbol of peace, the symbol on Zardos's dagger.
• V, the Roman level that resembles number '5'
• Earth, planet home of the humans. Complete with the Moon as Earth's natural satellite.
• Boazan Planet, the planet has two parallel rings with two artificial satellites, Sodom and Gomorrah, that circles each other that revolves around the planet.

The Aces
The Aces feature significant props related to Voltes V. The Ace of Spades will be the most elaborate of them all, and it's the only Ace that has the enlarged pip - as the rests are showing items instead of pips.

• Ace of Diamonds = Camp Big Falcon, the base operation of the Earth's Defense Force, a place where it houses the powerful vehicles for maintenance and upgrades to fight against Boazan invaders. The name comes from the towering satellite tower in shape of a falcon's head.
• Ace of Clubs = Boazanian Skull Ship, the space fleet and base operation of the invading Boazan Invasion Force led by the prince. It is in shape of a skull with horns floating in space. The castle on the top of the skull is the invader's castle residence.
• Ace of Hearts = Pilot's Helmet, the helmet worn by the teenagers riding the vehicles that will form to Voltes
• Ace of Spades = Voltes V, the iconic robot of the series, the gigantic robot that will fight against the Beast Knights of the Boazan. It is on it's signature pose in front of the enlarged and detailed spade pip. The title card can be found on the bottom of the card.

The Numbers
The Number cards feature slightly modified pips - each pip is adored with half side shaded with lines adorned with gold details. Overlayed on top of the pips are the vehicle crafts as seen in the anime series. Each value will feature its own vehicle.

• 2 = Volt Cruiser, V1 - the fighter jet that forms the head of Voltes V, piloted by Steve
• 3 = Volt Bomber, V2 - the bomber jet that forms the arms of Voltes V, piloted by Mark.
• 4 = Volt Panzer, V3 - the tank that forms the torso of Voltes V, piloted by Big Bert.
• 6 = Volt Frigate, V4 - the freighter ship that forms the legs of Voltes V, piloted by Little Jon
• 7 = Volt Lander, V5 - the rover that forms the feets of Voltes V, piloted by Jamie.
• 8 = Boazan UFO, army fighters flying saucer of the Boazan Invasion Force.
• 9 = Solar Falcon, the aerial fleet which is a combination of Camp Big Falcon and the Solar Bird.
• 10 = Zoltan, Boazan space fleet fighter that guards the border of Boazan empire.

As an unique homage to Voltes V, all the Number 5 cards have special treatments. Instead of the 5 pips on the center, they all replaces with the iconic letter V in gold with four different poses of Voltes V:

• 5 of Spades = Voltes V ready to strikes with its powerful Heaven Sword, or Tenkuu-ken. The robot holds the sword with two hands like a samurai.
• 5 of Hearts = Voltes V in heroic stance pose.
• 5 of Clubs = Voltes V spread arms and legs, the pose it did after the vehicles combined, forming the iconic V.
• 5 of Diamonds = Voltes V with the sword on its right hand, fighting like a medieval knight.

The Courts
The courts featured the main characters prominently showed up in the story of Voltes V. These includes the heroes who controlled the titular gigantic robot and the villains coming to invade Earth for their alien empire. The central element on some of the characters serve as a subtle one-way design, although some will have noticable difference, making them as obvious one-way design. There are easter eggs hidden in the artworks - serving as part of respective characters.

• The name of the characters are the Westernized names as mentioned in "Voltes V: Legacy" and the Tagalog dubbing of the original anime series.
• The name in brackets and in italized on the Western names are the original Japanese names from the Japanese animated anime - complete with Japanese characters.

• Jack of Spades = Draco/Rui Jangal (ルイ・ジャンギャル, Rui Jangyaru), the three-horned general of Boazanian Invasion Force. Draco is fiercely loyal to Zardos while being a wise strategist.
• Queen of Spades = Zandra/Ri Katherine (リー・カザリーン, Rī Kazarīn), Zardos's aide as well as his unrequited lover. Zandra is the advisor on the Beast Knights sent on the invasion. Her love motivation led her to take a bullet for Zardos, killing her.
• King of Spades = Zardos/Heinel (プリンス・ハイネル, Purinsu Haineru), the prince of the Boazan aristrocat and the leader of the Boazanian Invasion Force. Ambitious and ruthless, Zardos stops at nothing to complete the invasion on Earth.
• Jack of Hearts = Mark Gordon (峰一平, Mine Ippei), a rodeo champion, he with his trust white stallion Eiffel (アイフル, Aifuru) won two rodeo championships. He was recruited to the team by force. Since he is great at rodeo, Mark is very skillfull with the whip. His Volt uniform is blue.
• Queen of Hearts = Jamie Robinson (岡めぐみ, Oka Megumi), a kunoichi and the 18th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja, Jamie's ninja skills and reflexes allowed her to be recruited to the team. She is the voice of reason in the team. Her Volt uniform is yellow with pink accents.
• King of Hearts = Steve Armstrong (剛健一, Gō Ken'ichi), the oldest sibling of the Armstrong brothers, Steve is a marksman, a motocross champion, and an ace pilot. He is the leader of the Voltes team. As being a good marksman, his pistol can be a trusty weapon. Also, he is quite adept with the use of swords. His Volt uniform is red.
• Jack of Clubs = Zuhl (ズール, Zūru), the one-horned, aged, hunchback, toothless scientist of the Boazanian Invasion Force. He attempted to betrayed Zardos, which failed and he was executed.
• Queen of Clubs = Lozaria (ロザリア, Rozaria), the mother of Zardos and previously deceased wife of Ned Armstrong (剛健太郎, Gō Kentarō), the father of the Armstrong brothers who is revealed to be a former Boazanian aristrocat - a prince known by the name of Hrothgar/La Gour (プリンスラゴア, Purinsu Ra Goa).
• King of Clubs = Emperor Zu Zambajil (皇帝ズ・ザンバジル, Kōtei Zu Zanbajiru), the greedy, ruthless, racist, cruel and selfish emperor of the Boazanian empire. His hunger for power led him to sent the Invasion Force to invade Earth and conquest over the galaxy. Emperor Zu commands those Boazanians who are homeless to intense slavery with absolute prejudice.
• Jack of Diamonds = Little Jon Armstrong (剛日吉, Gō Hiyoshi), the youngest sibling of the Armstrong brothers, Little Jon is fascinated with mechanics, robotics and electromagnetism. He is considered a genius at a very young age. His excellency in swimming and diving makes him love ships. His Volt uniform is light green.
• Queen of Diamonds = Dr. Mary Ann Armstrong née Collins (剛光代, Gō Mitsuyo), the co-founder of the Voltes team and the mother of the Armstrong brothers. Her motherly love leads to her brave sacrifice to rescue Voltes V to complete the fight. May she rests in peace and Voltes team continues fighting.
• King of Diamonds = Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong (剛大次郎, Gō Daijirō), the middle sibling of the Armstrong brothers, Big Bert is the defense tactician. He is an expert in various forms of martial art. Bo, the wooden staff, becomes his favorite weapon. His Volt uniform is dark green.

The Jokers
Both Jokers feature the same character - Octo-One (たこちゃん, Tako-chan). Octo-One is the surprise 6th member of the Voltes V team. This cute octopus robot is created by Little Jon Armstrong, which acts like the robotic assistant to the team and the "breaking the fourth wall" character.

• Joker A = Octo-1 activated and ready for duty.
• Joker B = Octo-1 in parts, either on assembly or maintenance.

Extras
The extra cards of the deck features a diptych illustration of the five main pilots who controlled their respective vehicles. When it is time for Voltes V is needed, they will VOLTING IN. They each pressed the red button on their vehicle, which commence their vehicles to change forms and combined into one gigantic robot. The red and black colored background resembles the classic Jokers color scheme.

The diptych artwork features the portraits of five characters, the pilots of Voltes V. Steve Armstrong is on the center. On the left are Mark Gordon and Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong. On the right are Jamie Robinson and Little Jon Armstrong. The iconic gold V symbolizes the united force of Voltes V.

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