SHIN GODZILLA - NECA action figure

NECA's version of Shin Godzilla was a figure I had decided not to pick up. I have quite a few of the earlier NECA releases, some of which I have been very happy with (Godzilla 1954) and some of which I have been fairly disappointed by (Godzilla 1985). I think the figures are generally well-made, but they seem to be (almost intentionally) just a bit "off" in their final look. It nearly always seems like the head is tweaked just enough to be inaccurate. I've come to the recent conclusion that this is intentional. NECA is one company that gets their sculpt details as close to accurate as possible. Their Aliens and Predators lines are brilliant and are well-known for their level of accurate detail (not only for the creatures, but for the humans, as well). The best recent video-game figures I own from them (Kratos and Nathan Drake) are, again, spot-on. Terminator? Check. Godzilla? Nope. The bodies have plenty of detail, the paint is usually good, the tails are a worthy attempt, but the heads? Clearly not accurate, just about every time. My guess (a total guess) is that their deal with Toho says something to the effect of, "Make the head look just a little off, so Bandai Tamashii Nations isn't threatened." Case in point: Shin Godzilla's head is too long. Anyone can see that the snout is elongated too far when compared to what you see on-screen. It could be that the jaw design necessitated the longer skull, but that's an aspect of the NECA Godzillas that I'd like to see changed, as well. The way they've done the opening jaw for several figures results in a notable underbite when the mouth is opened. That's the case here, as well. As a result, I don't like the way Shin Godzilla looks with his mouth open (same case with GMK, 1994 and 1995). Now that that's out of the way, I'll admit that I bought this guy once I had a chance to check him out in-hand. And he did, in fact, turn out better than I had thought he would. There are a couple of design choices that are not my favorite, but the overall figure is a good one, and I like having it in the collection.

Shin Godzilla looks pretty cool standing in his standard marching pose. The sculpt (other than the head proportions and the interior of the mouth, which is sorely lacking) is generally strong. The crevices and folds are deep and sharp, with good paintwork to support the look (the red seeps up from underneath effectively). The spines are a bit too candy-apple red for me at the base, personally. The tail is interesting. It comes in several separate pieces that are sharply angled where the ball meets the socket. The interesting part is that they are angled in the opposite direction than I thought they should be. As a result, the tail has some sudden reversals in direction. Like the spines, the tail tip is too red, the sculpt is poorly defined and there's a sloppy black drybrushing made worse by some sloppy random dabs of orange paint. For me, the tail tip is probably the weakest part of the sculpt. Incidentally, the feet and toe claws look awesome, but Shin Godzilla's random claws all over his feet are absent on this version.

The articulation is there, but unfortunately I can't really get much use out of the joints. My figure's right arm doesn't want to move at the shoulder, and it seems very asymmetrical with respect to the left one. The assembly of the chest piece seems a bit tilted, and one leg moves very differently than the other. I'm also wary of messing with the tail too much for fear that it will come apart at the attachment points. As a result, I don't try to pose this guy much. I've got him in a basic, standing upright, faced forward pose, and that's how he's going to stay.

I just realized that I'm pointing out so many negatives, it might seem like I don't like the figure, which would be the opposite of the truth! I do like it, actually. I appreciate the details of the body sculpt, and I like how gloss has been applied to specific areas, like the toe claws and the red undercoat. It does a lot to bring the figure to life. I like the choice of materials: it's a really solid, heavy figure that could put up with some play, while keeping the dorsal fins nice and soft (do be aware, though, that there are some REALLY sharp edges to the body's hard plastic sculpt which might be tricky for young kids - you might want to check it out closely before handing one to a little Godzilla fan). The figure is light years ahead of the typical Bandai America vinyls, and the biggest positive NECA has going for these figures is the price point. It's priced right (though it seems to be creeping up as of late) at between $20 and $25. I haven't heard much from NECA about moving forward with their Godzilla line, other than that they want to. It would be a shame to see the line end, as they do look pretty cool all lined up alongside one another on the shelf, and they are a real cost-efficient alternative to the bloated overpricing of the S.H. MonsterArts line.

SHIN GODZILLA - Art Spirits Plex Hyper Solid PVC figure

This past July Art Spirits released the second Godzilla figure in their Hyper Solid line. I had a very difficult time finding any reviews of the figure online, but decided to take a chance and order it anyway. It carries a pretty hefty price tag (mine came to just over $200 shipped), and without a proven track record for the manufacturer like, say, X-Plus has,  I knew I was taking an awful chance. I'm happy to say that - in this instance, the chance paid off - the figure is wonderful! It's a great addition to my Godzilla collection, and might be my favorite incarnation of Shin Godzilla in figure form!

Hyper Solid Shin Godzilla comes in an enormous window box. Because it's made of PVC, not vinyl, the tail comes attached, and the box needs to accommodate that. It's a bit difficult to see the details of the figure even with the window, because it's wrapped in protective plastic. There's another smaller window on the back of the box, which had me puzzled for a bit - it doesn't allow you to see much of the figure, so I was wondering about its purpose. Then it dawned on me - Shin Godzilla's two most distinctive features are his hideous face and his hideous tail tip. Yup, the window allows for direct examination of the grotesque appendage. Other than the windows, the box has several shots of the figure from a couple of angles. Inside, the figure and accessories (yes, it does have a couple) are plastic wrapped and trapped between two plastic shells. Everything is well-protected, while remaining easy to open and collector friendly. Once out of its package, the figure honestly felt smaller than I expected. Part of this is due to the immensity of the box, I'm guessing, which really raises expectations. In hand, it's slightly larger than the S.H. Figuarts version (there's a comparison picture below), and much smaller than the X-Plus standard version.

That said, the figure itself is gorgeous, and quite heavy. It seems to be "solid" red PVC, with a translucent quality to it, painted over with charcoal black. I'm assuming the "Hyper Solid" moniker refers to the insanely dynamic pose (hyper) and to the hefty nature of the PVC (solid), but that would probably be too obvious. The sculpt is VERY detailed, with varying textures and beautifully sculpted musculature, especially around the shoulders. The face is striking (as it should be) in its monstrous nature, with special attention paid to the interior of the mouth(s), and plenty of razor sharp teeth. I find the teeth a be a bit more symmetrical than on other versions, but man are they needle thin! They are also everywhere, cropping from the lips and jawline at truly crazy angles. The lava-like texture of the thighs wind down to heavily wrinkled feet studded with random haphazard claws, before ending in the large, clearly defined toe claws. The arms are perhaps longer than they should be - long enough to be sharply bent at the elbows and still have the claws reach the chest area - but they look good.

The tail is enormous in terms of length and girth, and curls up and back to end in the nightmarish tail-tip "face", which comes off looking less like bubble gum and more scarred than in other versions I've seen. The black paint could maybe have been applied a little heavier in places, but I think the intention might be to shine a light through the figure from behind and allow it to "glow." The dorsal spines, especially, are quite devoid of black paint except along the very edges.

Hyper Solid Shin Godzilla is in a much more dynamic pose than any other static figure I've seen, and comes across as even more dynamic than he might have been in the film. The statue catches him mid-roar, leaning forward and twisting to the side, head thrown forward and tail sweeping up and curling around. In contrast, my X-Plus Shin Godzilla stands nearly upright, head tilted downwards in a forward march. Additionally, Hyper Solid includes an optional second head, with the lower jaw spread apart in preparation for his devastating atomic breath. It's not purple and there is no effect part - this catches a very specific moment just before his full fury was unleashed. Both heads are equally well-done, and slide out from a thick post at the top of the neck. It does leave a very noticeable seam. A nameplate is included, as well, but it's in Japanese. It's worth noting that a variant version of this figure has been solicited with purple for the mouth interior and spines, but for some odd reason it's listed at $330 or more and there's absolutely no way I'm willing to pay an extra $170 for purple plastic.

There are two other things worth mentioning, both having to do with QC issues (unfortunately). First, the weight distribution of the figure is just a tiny bit off. As a result, his feet don't both sit flush - he tips slightly to his right. It hasn't been enough to cause the figure to fall over yet, but it does seem to want to. The other issue is probably pertinent only to my figure and may not be one anyone else encounters: there's a large spot where the tail was glued into the body and the glue spilled over. It looks like crazy glue or epoxy of some sort, and has left a large white spot at the base of where the dorsals transition to the tail. I may try to rub some cleaner in there to see if it will get rid of it, but it is the only disappointment I have with the figure (and it is something that should NOT happen at this price point). Otherwise, I love everything about the Art Spirits Hyper Solid Shin Godzilla! It's a really striking piece, and might even command more attention on the shelf than my much bigger X-Plus version, simply because of its super-dynamic pose. It's a pricey figure, no doubt, but I'm guessing that its value will increase over time. I really hope Art Spirits continues the line, as I'd be very happy to have a shelf set aside for them, especially at this scale! This figure is what I wanted my S.H. Figuarts Shin Godzilla to look like, and I'd love to see what they would do with GMK (and honestly any other Godzilla)! Art Spirits did release a Godzilla 2000 as the first figure in the line, but there are some things about the head sculpt that have kept me from buying it so far. If the line expands, I'll probably regret not having it, but only time will tell...

Hyper Solid on the left, SH MonsterArts on the right

SAMUS ARAN ZERO SUIT VER. - Metroid Other M Statue

Max Factory/Good Smile Company's Metroid Other M Zero Suit Samus Aran is one incredible statue. It executes the promotional shots perfectly and has zero quality control issues! This is the production quality that every collectible-toy company should be striving for...

Standing just about 9" tall, this PVC statue was purchased during its 2nd "re-release" run. I'm not a huge fan of Metroid, as it's not a game I ever played (though I do have 2 figma Samus releases). As a result, I'd been putting off getting this statue, as it was quite expensive on the secondary market and long sold out. When a 2nd run was announced, I quickly pre-ordered it, before changing my mind again and cancelling. But I just couldn't get over how striking the statue looked, so once it was released I went ahead and ordered - and I'm certainly glad that I did.

The sculpt is fantastic: it's sleek and smooth and simple, while still capturing plenty of detail. It's interesting, yesterday I took a look at a Bruce Lee statue where all of the muscles were defined with deep striations and bulges. In contrast, Samus captures detail with subtlety. There are hints of lines and muscles, which makes the illusion of a suit over top of them all the more realistic. The face is incredible, with no stray marks or blemishes to be seen. Likewise, the suit, with 2 different shades of metallic blue and clearly defined black piping, presents no bleed whatsoever. The design tampoed on her back is, again, perfect, and there's a red band holding the ponytail in place as the wind sweeps it to the side. The pose is maybe a slightly bit awkward, with her hip thrust to the side, but it works. Samus holds a nicely detailed and painted blaster in her right hand.

The entire statue pegs into a plain clear stand, with the words Metroid Other M, which also holds a clear rod which attaches to her base-mate: the baby Metroid. It "hovers" near her right elbow, and sports some average detail. Honestly, I think the JAKKS mini version might be a little more detailed, but the baby is not the star of this show. It certainly doesn't detract from Samus, but she honestly doesn't need it, either.

Overall, Max Factory's Samus Aran Zero Suit statue is a home run. She looks right at home alongside other Bishoujo style statues, and it's light-years ahead of the figma version (which I honestly found a bit disappointing). She's a great addition to the collection!

Base

Beside Storm Collectibles Scorpion

With Figma Zero Suit Samus

BRUCE LEE The Martial Artist Series No. 2 by Storm Collectibles

Storm Collectibles' "The Martial Artist Series" of Bruce Lee statues saw its second release this summer. No. 2 in the series features Bruce in a sparring pose and represents some significant improvements over the first figure, especially in terms of sculpt and proportions.

Standing about 7 & 1/2" tall, Bruce's measurements clearly don't match the line's 1/12 scale moniker. So know, right off the bat, that this figure will NOT be in scale with other 1/12 figures. In fact, it's not even in scale to Storm's other "1/12" figures (Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat). It's just a tad bit "off", even when posed beside No. 1 from the line, although that might be because No. 1's knees are locked, while No. 2's are slightly bent (however, I tend think it's more due to the overly long legs of No. 1, while No. 2 is more accurately proportioned).

The figure itself is beautifully done. The face sculpt is a vast improvement over the two heads that were included with No. 1. This one captures his features perfectly, and the slight pursing of the lips, subtle knitting of the brows in the forehead, and lifelike texturing of the jawline are all brilliant. There's a five-o'clock shadow that's well-done here, as well. The body is made of an interesting plastic, which actually resembles a very hard rubber. It's not flexible in any way, but there's a little give when you press on it with, say, your fingernail. The sculpt of the musculature everywhere is absolutely amazing. In real life, it's one of the things that made Bruce Lee so jaw-dropping, and the figure captures that essence perfectly. Bruce Lee is shredded. From his neck all the way down to his calves, there are striations and crevices and veins. I count six prominent muscles in his forearm, alone. Of course, the abs and obliques are terrific, and nothing (well,almost nothing) is overdone. The result is that the figure doesn't get "old", if that makes any sense. What I mean is, as a statue, there is little to no play value here. What I want from a statue is something that I can return to again and again and still find things of interest. This statue accomplishes that (the muscles across his chest and shoulders consistently amaze me!). It looks great on the shelf, and is something that I will be noticing for a long time.

That said, there are two slight complaints that I have. First, the armpit hair stands out too much for me. My complaint isn't that it's there (accuracy and all), but more that it's too defined. It detracts from the rest of the figure because it's something that distracts my attention from other details. My second complaint is odd, in that it relates directly to the sculpt that I was praising earlier. Sounds like a strange reversal, but it's not. I'll explain. The sculpt is fabulous, period. The paint, however, is not quite as strong. The result is that there are places where the edges are not as sharp as they should be, especially where the trunks meet the torso, and around the black and white applications of the gloves. What would really have been perfect, would have been if these were separate components added on, rather than having them as part of the original sculpt. The lacing at the gloves and shin pads are especially bad, and ruin the lifelike illusion of the rest of the figure. Doing them as separate pieces with that soft rubberized plastic that Storm uses so well on their other figures would knock this one completely out of the park. In fact, they've done such a thing with their Mortal Kombat ninjas, making the forearm, hand and shin bracers as separate sculpted pieces, to great effect.

That said, No. 2 Bruce Lee is a nifty statue. It improves on No. 1 without replacing it, and offers enough of a new look to be worth the purchase. I'm very happy with it, and feel that it's a solid A- offering. Incidentally, the head for this statue is on a magnet, as well, and can be interchanged perfectly with the two heads that came with No. 1. Below are some pics of the heads and torsos, mixed and matched...

No. 1 and No. 2 together

No. 2 with No. 1's head

No. 2 with No. 1's alternate head