CRIIMSON TYPHOON - LingJiHun Pacific Rim action figure

I've been a fan of the Pacific Rim franchise since I saw the first movie's release in theaters. The Jaeger designs were each so unique and interesting - I had, at one time, a pretty sizeable collection of NECA's figures. Those have mostly been long sold off, but I did keep versions of the main 4. I skipped all the offerings from Uprising (which I initially hated, but have since come to appreciate for what it is). I did enjoy Netflix's Pacific Rim: The Black (I think I enjoyed the second season more than the first), and I was smart enough to pick up the Robot Spirits Atlas Destroyer when it was released. But other than that, my Pacific Rim attentions have been pretty minimal. Then just this past year, two figures of Crimson Typhoon were solicited by two different Chinese companies at about the same time. There was the very expensive Infinity Studios version, and the smaller and much less expensive Ling JiHun figure. I decided to pick up the latter, and that's the topic of this post.

LingJiHun's Crimson Typhoon is a stunningly beautiful figure. It's a true work of art. And what makes it so is the gorgeous paint job. The color is a striking, vibrant metallic red that pops like no other figure I have on the shelf. The gold detail work is just as beautiful, and the entire thing features crisp sculpted detail that's highlighted with a deep black wash. Everything is exceedingly professional and the whole figure feels high-quality, with one or three slight exceptions. The first are the yellow plastic caps at the junction of the shoulders on each of the two right hands. They stand out as what they are - plastic - in sharp contrast to everything else. Secondly, the waist features a loose covering that rotates freely. It appears meant to cover an articulation point of some sort, but the entire thing feels loose and poorly thought out - it honestly feels like the piece has broken off and isn't meant to swivel around like it does. 

Finally, the alternate rotating blades on the right hands feel cheap and are (again) unconvincing alongside the rest of the figure's high level of detail. They do spin freely, but they are plastic - glaringly so. I also had a wicked time changing the hands out. In fact, I gave up on swapping out the right hand for the blade, as I knew I wouldn't leave it that way and it didn't seem worth the hassle to change out. 

Otherwise, this is a terrific representation of Crimson Typhoon. The cyclopean eye and the three rear thruster ports light up (batteries are included) with the aid of the alternate left arm, which must have some sort of magnetic mechanism embedded in it to make the lights switch on or off. There is some light bleed around the head port, but it's not terrible. The articulation throughout the figure is plentiful enough for my needs, and the figure features a heaviness and weighty solidity that indicates die-cast metal in the frame.

It includes three detachable flame effects for the rear ports, alternate right spinning blade hands and an alternate spinning blade left hand, which activates the lights, as well. Crimson Typhoon stands about 7 & 3/4" tall the way I have her posed, and does look terrific alongside NECA's figures, if not slightly too big. Gypsy Danger has been solicited, and I'm definitely on board for her and any others Ling JiHun makes for this line. I'm similarly intrigued by the Infinity Studios version, which is larger, seems to have more die-cast content, and is nearly three times as expensive. They have also shown pictures of a half dozen other Jeagers in the works, so I'm fighting with myself about whether or not I need two versions that are so similar of so many characters. In any event, I am very happy with this figure, and am looking forward to continuing my Pacific Rim collecting!

Alongside NECA's Gipsy Danger & Ultimate Striker Eureka