For a number of reasons one robot, neither the rarest nor the most appealing, has acquired a mythical status amongst robot collectors and toy dealers. This is Mr Atomic, the bullet shaped robot from the most innovative of companies, Yonezawa.

Mr Atomic is undeniably a distinctive piece. It is a essentially a cone-shaped robot with arms and feet. Head, legs and a face are totally lacking. A large clear dome covers a futuristic bank of lights that look like Hollywood's idea of a computer. Two clear plastic ears protrude from the head. Most robots have human shape but Mr Atomic is one of the most radical departures from this tradition. Equally it's not a monster. This is probably what sets it apart aesthetically: it's as close to a pure robot as the great robot manufacturers ever got. It's the product of a world in which the word 'Atomic' represented a bright new future.

 The action is nothing special. There's the statutory bump'n'go action with either a clicking noise (silver version) or a whistling sound (blue version). The fragile plastic feet tap up and down and there's a light show behind that screen. You might be forgiven for thinking that those lights would flash on and off independently, but the reality is a bit disappointing. The box art is a plain but attractive depiction of the robot.
 

If the tone of this article is down key it's because it's hard to reconcile the value of this robot with its appearance. Many collectors can't understand the fuss. It has been suggested that Mr Atomic acquired its status in the early days of collecting because there was a need to identify a magic piece, a Holy Grail. Mr Atomic was offered as the icon, and it has lived on its reputation ever since.

 Although it is very hard to find, Mr Atomic certainly can't claim to be the rarest of robots. It actually featured in the 1962 Sears Christmas catalog, with a price tag of $6.79. (Robot Commando cost $13.99 that year) Apparently it did not sell well and was soon withdrawn. To have merited inclusion it must have been available in some quantity; it's inconceivable that Sears had them made to order. The Sears' sales pitch went as follows: "Built-in "computer panel" flashes on and off, as Mr Atomic moves and bumps in all directions. Colorful enameled steel with clear plastic helmet, robot rolls on small concealed wheels."

 Inevitably this robot has been the subject of reproduction. Two batches of the repros hit the market almost simultaneously. One version was the silver grey pictured in Kitahara #115. The second, a copy of Kitahara #114, had the slightly more appealing blue colouring. The quality of these copies, in particular the box, was very good. The repros took the usual dive in price from $500 to $250, though they recovered as stocks dwindle. There was no appreciable effect on the price of the originals for the reason that there are so few circulating. The silver repros can be identified by the letters MTH (Mike's Toy House) embossed in the battery compartment.