Made of glossy dark brown nylon fiber (doll hair--flammable doll hair at that, so be sure to heed the package warning and avoid any open flames...!) and manufactured by Movic in December 1995, it sold for 4000 yen. The braid is 3/4 of an inch across and 34 inches in length, with a built-in barrette at the top. I've never tried it (usually I keep it hidden in a drawer, and it only sees daylight when I'm in sore need of a chuckle--although it's hard to say which is more funny, the fact that it exists or the fact that I leaped at the chance to get one!), but it's sure to work well with the Official Duo Maxwell Hat.
Speaking of which, for the heck of it, here's the hat, which Movic thoughtfully provided to eager consumers for 2500 yen each starting in August 1995. Although it's somewhat distorted in the scan, it's a free-size (but adjustable) black cloth baseball cap, with the lettering embroidered in metallic silver thread. The underside of the brim is dark green, and in addition to the removable silver sticker of authenticity that's adhered to the brim, there's a copyright label stitched inside.
While I'm at it, here's another Duo-related item (although the only scary thing about it would be if you got whopped upside the head with it!): the hefty pewter bas-relief Gundam Deathscythe keyholder produced by Movic in November 1995. The keyholder was sold in a small display box for 1200 yen, and Deathscythe was the only Gundam these were produced for. The scan is at 100 percent; the main rectangular pewter piece is 2 inches across by 2 3/4 inches long.
I should note that this keyholder, as shown, is actually not complete. It's missing a jump-ring, and here's why... In early 1996, I was mighty pleased and proud to use the keyholder for my keys. One night I went into a comic shop with the keys in my pocket and the heavy pewter part hanging out of the pocket to show it off. Suddenly, a friend stopped me and pointed at the carpeted floor--where the pewter part had fallen a few steps earlier, sound deadened by the carpet! The jump-ring attaching it to the keyholder part had let go, having been gradually pulled open by the sheer weight of the pewter slab.
The shop owner (hi, Dave!) got some pliers, pried open the second, stronger jump-ring that remained on the keyholder part, and reattached the pewter piece for me--and when I got home, my too-cool keyholder was permanently retired from use.
The reason I mention this is, someone who also owned one of these recently had the heavy pewter part disappear after the keyholder underwent some frequent use. She's now one unhappy camper, and I suspect a weakened jump-ring contributed to her loss. So if you own one of these, keep an eye on its jump-rings, or else you too might find out how easily the pewter part can come off!
Now, if you want scary-scary, here's my candidate for The Most Scary Duo Item Of All Time: the Duo stuffed-toy keychain that was inflicted on Animate shops in Japan in 1999! He's 3 1/4 inches high from head to--uh--uneven lower extremities, and costs 700 freakin' yen! And scarier still, Dadaist Duo's got friends--you can get all five of the boys, yay! (Warning: Clown-suited Trowa is not for the faint of heart...or for the weak of bladder...)
Return to MIND EDUCATION: Kagenami Q's Gundam Wing Doujinshi Reference Digs
This page was created October 2, 1999. Last updated November 23, 2004.
