Bandai HG, DG, EX & HG EX Gashapon Series Visual Guide

Thanks. I will look into it. But after my initial random purchases, I wanna collect in a linear, chronological way. 

Thanks for clearing the air on that cracker. Btw, I've a few moar questions-
1) Are all the series available as sets or do sellers just compile individual figures and sell 'em off as a set?
2) If I buy an individual figure on Ebay, is it rightful to expect the gashapon capsule to be included in the purchase too?
3) HG Set #16: SSJ Gohan as Saiyaman. Does he come with a clear plastic base and a prop?

I'd like to expand a bit on some of those subjects. 

Gashapon is a trade mark brand owend by Bandai, this applied to a capsule toy sold in a Capsule-Station vending machine.

The original cupsule packing -

The figure inside is sealed, and include a Ghasa penflit of the set, which usually contain an advertisement to another series as well.

In the UDM series for example, in every set there is a chance to get one bigger figure, so the Capsules aren't all necessarily the same.

Japanese Bandai Gashapon Cupsule Station




A capsule of an unassembled HG EX figure can definitely fit through the machine, the claim about the new releases featuring a new sculpt make no sense.

The 1/2 Capsule Station that you can buy from Bandai


This is the Hong Kong version



For the Hong Kong released, from my personal experience, my HG figures that came from Japan look a bit better than those that come from Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong sellers might buy the Gashapons directly from Bandai (Which possible for the Banpresto crane-machine prizes, according to a Japanese contact), or just empty the machines to form sets to sell.

I'd recommend getting some of the more common sets from possibly some of the Hong Kong sellers on Ebay - part 13, part 16, part 22, part 23, Most of the HG Plus releases, and both of the SP Repaints - Which the price range on those should be about 20$-25$.
More rarity sets for example would be part 20, part 1, part 2, the Digital Grade releases, and Hybrid Grade. 


The original Capsule Station price of a blind HG figure is 200 yen, therefore some of those are being sold as low as under 100 yen in Yahoo jp, and locally at collectible stores in Japan.
I got most of my HG's from a Japanese friend, for about 3$ per HG.


More sought-after rarity characters can be as high as 20$-150$, like the HG EX Dore, Neiz, and Broly. Thankfully, Dore and Neiz from Coolers Armored Squadron are getting a repaint re-rleases this year.
(I hope that the Broly will see a re-release as well, it is a really beautiful piece - but I can't see myself droping around 100$ for a single Gashapon with all the things that I have on my plate,especially when there are way cheaper alternatives for an HG-scaled LSSJ Broly, and a chance for a re-rlease in the future).


Bootlegs -
In addition to the really cheap bootlegs, mounted on rods, there some DG bootlegs as well.
They don't come with a stand, and have relatively crappy paint jobs and detailing, but still better than the mounted bootlegs.


Bootlegs of Hybrid Grade figures -

Photo by Marvelous Mark that show the mounted bootlegs in more detail -



Monochrome HG -
This is very similar to the Banpresto Mask Collection having the Black variants in each blind box, the Unifive posing figures having the gray variants, The Soul Hyper Figuration Gray variants, and The Megahouse Capsule Neo Bronze Variants.
It is a marketing technique in the trading figures market, having collectors buy more blind boxes\  to accommodate for the variants-  Some collectors try to collect full sets of the variants as well. 

All of those sets include the monochrome variants, they arrive with a black podium with a writing "Dragon Ball Z HG", and connectors parts to connect between the podiums.
Super Saiyans are gold, Non-Super Saiyans are bronze.

Part 20 I (full set of bronze variants)


part 20 II   (full set; 3 gold, 3 bronze)






Part 21  (one bronze Roshi)




Part 22  (1 Gold SSJ3 Goku)



Part 23 (one gold SSJ2 Gohan)



HG EX (two gold, two bronze)

 

I don't know for sure, but I had assumed that HG series had ended. The last full HG set, HG 23, was released a few years ago. Recently, though, Bandai put out a HG Special series which was a combination of previously released HG and DG figures.


M5 posted an image, located on the first page of this thread, that show Bandai is re-releasing Dore and Neiz from the HG EX line under the heading "HG Special DragonBall Z Movie Edition". That shows that the HG line is not entirely dead, but not being released nearly as frequently as it was (about 3-4 new waves a year). Although we have only seen four of the figures from the upcoming 'HG Special Movie Edition' (usually there are 6-8 figures per series), to me it seems that because that series and the HG Special are comprised of previously released figures, it is unlikely that we will get new figures from HG line. 

@m5jagdragonpanzeriv - Awesome job on the info. Incredibly informative, as usual!

burdocksan - Yes, HG 16 Gohan comes with the clear base with prop.

I understand the logic behind it and while I'm slowly getting the ones available for cheap at the moment, I'm also keeping an eye out for the old, rare ones and if they ever do come by, they take priority.

I don't mind the absence of capsules too but imo, they add a sense of appeal in their very own way and so if it's included, it'll soothe my completist itch! 


 What's your symbol? I need to wear it on my gi!

Those bootlegs make me wary a bit too much. 

I'm planning a trip to Tokyo sometime later this year. If it pans out as planned, I know the first place I'll visit. 

Thanks again. Just wanted to confirm.

f! The detail is just insane. Thanks for sharing.

At the moment, I'm just dizzy looking at the sheer number of listings out there and the itch to click on the bid/buy it now button is irritating and favorable at the same time

I still want to get that set if it ever comes out.

The last set (HGR) was released in October 2013, so I'm thinking that the Special Movie Edition might be in the last quarter of the year as well.

Hey guys, so is there still no new news about any dragon ball z gashapon figuers coming out this year? Or next year? I really want to know. Haha. Thx guys.

Looks like the Battle of Gods HG figures are finally getting a release, along with a few Resurrection of F characters. Don't know an official release date, but one site had pre-order with release in September 2015. I still haven't seen anything about the re release of the Cooler Squadron figures, though.

Edit: I just read that, as of now, this HG God Edition set is not going to be a regular gashapon release. You have to pre-order the set before June 30 and it goes for ¥7,560, roughly $65.