Welcome back to It Came from the Back of the Toybox, a segment where I take a look at the unknown, underrated, and unheard-of convertible robots in my collection!
Maruka Corporation is a company founded in Japan in 1962. Unfortunately English-language information on Maruka is scarce, but I have managed to piece some things together. They were initially a wholesale toy distributor, and they later expanded their horizons to creating original toys. Like many toymakers in the mid-1980s, they caught the robot bug, and even dabbling in official Transformers product at one stage.
Maruka had a line of converting robots named variously as “Change Robo” and “Magic Robo”, eight of which found their way to the States in late 1986/early 1987 as ESSO gas station exclusive Robot Racers.  Here’s a video!
Maruka also made a series of four transforming toys to cash in on Japan’s love for monster movies.  There were toys based on King Kong, Dracula, and Frankenstein’s monster, but the one I somehow ended up with is named Skull Robot.
The idea behind these robots is that they’re cheap and cheerful, so this toy would likely have been bought from a pound shop or flea market or similar when I was young.
Even back then he was as severely yellowed as he is now, and I was absolutely convinced he was an official Transformer.  I just love the guy.  Skull robot. Iconic.
Today, Maruka Corporation is still making convertible robot toys, like this fellow who is legally distinct from Optimus Prime.
Srcs: http://www.hktdc.com/manufacturers-suppliers/Maruka-Corporation/en/1X03V8NP/
