Battra should come to you in a plain cardboard box with a prominent barcode and a simple "Battra" on the outside. Since this is a web-exclusive figure, I would assume this is the "mailer box" that Tamashii Nations would ship the figure in. The colorful packaging box is inside. There's no window, but there is a beautiful (larger than full-size) shot of the figure, along the typical (and hilarious) MonsterArts mantra (if anyone can translate what their statement about "pursuing character expression" actually means, I'd love to hear it - my own translation is "these are really good monster figures that are more art than toys"). The back of the package has 5 shots of the figure in various poses (2 of which I found impossible to achieve with the actual product). It's a fairly long box at 13 & 3/4" long, while it measures 8" tall and about 5" deep. The box I received had been opened and re-taped closed, which I assume was to check the contents before shipping, on Amazon's part. The figure inside was pristine.
The figure is sandwiched between 2 clear plastic trays. There is no assembly needed, outside of a small baggie taped underneath which includes the base and display arm. There are some directions included for removing Battra, and for attaching the base. Battra's legs are very fragile. They come with a protective shell, whose removal the directions attempt to explain. Despite following the directions, my figure has one leg that consistently falls out with the slightest movement. My understanding is that this is typical of the figure.
Right out of the package, Battra is a beautiful figure. S.H. MonsterArts is the ONLY line of toys I collect where I regularly catch my breath in awe when I first take them out of the box. Battra is no different. Sporting a bright yellow and fire orange/red on black paint scheme, she's a striking figure. Battra measures about 13 & 1/4" from wing tip to wing tip, with the rearmost points nearly 7 inches behind the foremost curve. The head and torso measure about 4 & 1/2" long, depending on where you choose to measure. The sculpt is exceptional - it's the main reason I buy this line. There's an incredible level of detail in the texturing, which varies from head to thorax, abdomen, legs and wings. I will admit that the wings come off looking a bit more plastic and "toyish" than the rest of the figure.
There's a generous bit of translucent plastic used throughout the figure, most notable in the horns/spikes of the head and torso (orange on the head, red on the torso). The eyes also sport a beautiful textured detail as well as a vivid race-car red paint app. Battra is a beautiful looking figure, and looks right at home hovering above or amongst the other MonsterArts figures atop her custom stand.
I'm not as thrilled with the articulation. Most of it is restricted severely, with the head probably possessing the greatest range of motion. The torso parts are very tight, and I'm not able to come close to the pose shown on the back of the box where the rearmost part is curled under nearly vertically. The wings can move up and down freely, with an additional joint allowing the smaller ones to be posed independently. The legs...ugh, the legs. Yeah, one keeps falling out and it's quite annoying. Besides that, they really don't have much of a range of motion - they are all angled severely and feel so fragile that I'm loathe to mess with them much. This is my least favorite part of the figure.Battra is a terrific looking figure priced about twice what she's worth, in my book. There are no accessories, limited articulation, and she's fairly obscure (having appeared in only one film). If you are an S.H. MonsterArts completist or a huge Battra (or Mothra fan), you'll most likely be pleased. Otherwise, this might be a figure worth passing on...
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