Tsume X-tra - Uzumaki Naruto & Pain

Tsume, a European figure manufacturer that is known for their expensive resin Naruto and Bleach figures just started a new 1/10th PVC scale figure product line called X-tra. The first two characters to be given this "X-tra" treatment is Naruto and Pain.

Based of these official images, these two figures are incredibly awesome. Naruto is in his Sage mode and is dynamically posed unleashing his Rasen Shuriken attack as seen in the Invasion of Pain Arc. Pain is shown in his Deva Path appearance, standing with his right arm fully stretched and left hand holding one of his Chakra Disruption Blades. These two figures are definitely made to be displayed together, immortalizing the epic duel between Naruto and Pain.

Set to be released on May or June 2013 for the price of 44.90 € each (around 60 USD tax included) and according to their site, each figure is limited to 3000 pieces only. Tsume is now accepting preorders for these two figures on their web shop, but it doesn't seem like they are shipping outside Europe. Anyway, I would probably find some third party re-sellers for this one as these are both "must-get" for me. I hope they will continue on with more characters under this product line.

Update (2013-02-27): These two are now available for preorder at Figmation [ Naruto | Pain ]

POP Edition-Z - Nico Robin Preorder Announcement

I have been waiting for this! The lovely POP Edition-Z - Nico Robin has been announced for preorder and it will start next Wednesday, 6th of February 2013 at 18:00 (JST).This is the second POP Edition-Z that was announced to be released, the first being POP Edition-Z Chopper.

Nico Robin is totally sexy here, and it is expected that most collector, whether POP or non-POP fan will be joining the preorder battle. I would be joining the battle too as I already fell in-love with this figure the first time I saw it, even during the time it was shown as a non-colored prototype.

Price and release date for this figure is yet to be announced. So for further announcements, just keep yourself locked on this blogsite, or on my Facebook Page.

Update: June 2013 Release for 7,770 yen (tax included)

Figuarts ZERO - Trafalgar Law (Shichibukai ver.) and Caesar Clown Preorder Announcement

About a month ago, we received a news that Figuarts ZERO's Punk Hazard characters - Trafalgar Law (Shichibukai ver.) and Caesar Clown will be a May 2013 release. Yesterday, Bandai Tamashii Nations officially announced the release of these two Figuarts ZEROs on their official website and the official promotional images was also made available. Preorders will start next Tuesday, 5th of February at 16:00 (JST). Preorders starts Friday, 1st of February at 16:00 (JST).

Remember that these two figures were earlier exhibited during the Tamashii Nation 2012 event but there were no clear images available as these two were marked "Do not photograph" on that event. We got a blurry photo of these two and Caesar Clown was only shown in translucent black material. I thought that Bandai will be releasing him in gas form effect (Caesar's devil fruit ability). Apparently, it was just an unpainted prototype.

Based on these official photos. Caesar Clown is showing his logia devil fruit ability with those translucent effect parts around his body. Very nice and with that dynamic pose, Caesar Clown seems to be ready for battle. His face is is spot-on as we have seen on the manga.

But Trafalgar Law on the other hand looks too plain and simple to me. Nothing special about him, just in plain standing pose with an optional head that is without a cap. The face seems off and the hair on the optional head is too long and thick. I don't think that's how it looks like in the manga when removed his cap. It looks more like Luffy's hair. I'm not very much pleased with Law here. I hope Bandai will improve this before the release by adding some optional arms and some more facial expressions just like the POP version. 

Anyway, that's just my opinion. I believe most Figuarts ZERO collectors will still get these two as they can actually be a nice addition to anyone's Figuarts ZERO collection.

As mentioned, both figures will be released on May 2013

Below are the pricing details

Figuarts ZERO - Trafalgar Law (Shichibukai ver.)

Price: 2,940 yen

Figuarts ZERO - Caesar Clown

Price: 4,410 yen

Update: Preorders starts Friday, 1st of February at 16:00 (JST).

Update: Preorders are now available at HLJ [ Trafalgar Law | Caesar Clown ], Hobby Search [ Trafalgar Law | Caesar Clown ] and Amiami [ Trafalgar Law | Caesar Clown ]

Hot Toys Iron Man 3 1/4 Scale Bust - Mark XLII and War Machine

I'm a very huge fan of Iron Man (who isn't?) and I always love those Iron Man collectibles from Hot Toys. But my problem is that my monthly budget can't handle those 1/6th scale Hot Toys collectibles. But I might just consider this two 1/4th scaled bust based from the upcoming Iron Man 3.

These two are Iron Man Mark XLII (Mark 42) and War Machine. We already know about the Mark 42 from the upcoming third Iron Man movie, but we haven't seen the War Machine yet. Well not at least before it was upgraded into Iron Patriot as seen from the trailer and promotional pictures. Hot Toys gives us a peek on War Machine from Iron Man 3 and its design is unlike the one from Iron Man 2.

Hobby Japan Exclusive - Yui Takamura Swimsuit

There's a lot of Muv-Luv Alternative figures in sexy pose and outfit but this one catches my attention. Yui Takamura is so sexy here and the body sculpt and coloring blows away every anime figures in swimsuit. Though I am not a very huge fan of anime ladies in swimsuit, I really wanted to have this. But the problem is that this is another Hobby Japan exclusive. How can I get my hands on her without paying too much?

She is scheduled to be released around July or August for 8,190 yen (includes tax and shipping within Japan). This lovely figure is scaled as 1/7 with an approximate height of 230 mm. Not bad for that price. Preorders are now open exclusively at Hobby Japan only. I gotta start hunting for third party re-sellers for this one.

POP SA-Maximum LIMITED - Armored Franky... Why MegaHouse, Why?

It has been a while now since Megahouse announced the preorder schedule and the release info of this POP SA-Maximum LIMITED - Armored Franky (check the Jump Festa 2013 announcement), but up until now I still can't get over the fact that they made it ridiculously expensive and LIMITED. Being classified under Maximum means it's huge and expensive. Being classified under LIMITED means it's rare and expensive as well. And this POP, SA Franky has both.

Looking at the photos taken from the previously held events, I can understand that it has to be super expensive because of it's massive size and tons of option parts, not to mention that it looks so freaking awesome. But what is so frustrating is that it is classified as LIMITED. That's a really an irritating and ridiculous move for MegaHouse! This should've been a bonus for us who follows and buys every one of their POPs. They could have made it cheaper, not cheaper as to make it below POP standards, but with a fairly lower price and available as a regular, non limited edition release as a way of thanking their customers.

MG 1/100 Tallgeese (Endless Waltz)

The "Endless Waltz" hasn't ended yet with the completion of all the first five Gundams of Gundam Wing. It is not yet complete, not without the Tallgeese, the first mobile suit of Zechs Marquise. It has been a long time since fans wished for a Master Grade treatment of this mobile suit. Thanks to the Endless Waltz manga (not the OVA) and every Gundam Wing fan's wish has become a reality. Nicely done and detailed under Bandai's plastic engineering and craftsmanship.

It brings back memories from the Gundam Wing Era but with more stylish punch. I'm singing the "Just Communication" theme in my mind as I am writing this. I'm hoping that Bandai will continue the Endless Waltz with the five Gundam Wing mobile suits in Katoki's custom format as seen in the OVA.

Gundam Wing model kits is expected to continue with the "Frozen Teardrop" mobile suits as announced earlier. I can't wait to see those, but I also hope for the animated version of the "Frozen Teardrop".

This model kit is expected to be released this month, January 2013 for 3,800 yen.

Alter's 1/8 Misty is Very Alluring

I always find myself attracted to the ladies of the Shining series. Tony Taka's artwork has really made them alluring. And this 1/8 Misty from Alter is no exception. Nice sculpt, face, pose, colors.. everything looks amazingly nice and detailed. And to top it all are the blue effect parts. I love to have her.

But then again, my problem is that she is a May release. What's wrong with that you ask? Well, POP Sailing Again - Trafalgar Law, that's the problem. I wish I can hold back for POPs and Figuarts ZEROs, and purchase something else. Heck, I wish I am super rich that I can get any figure that I wanted. *sigh*

To be released on.... May 2013. Preorders are already up at Amiami, HLJ, Hobby Search and Otacute at their respective discounted prices. How I wish that somebody would give her to me as a gift.

Ani*Statue - Cryska Barchenowa (Plugsuit ver)

Kotobukiya's follow-up to Ani*Statue -Yui Takamura (Plugsuit ver) is Cryska (or Kriska) Barchenowa. And like the former, she looks gorgeously sexy in her plugsuit. But unlike Yui Takamura, she is posed in a sitting position like a pin-up girl while holding a gun on her left hand. I love that color scheme and that diorama style base. She looks absolutely fantastic specially when paired up with Yui Takamura (and the planned Inia Sestina)

My only problem is that my budget is fully occupied by POPs and I can't manage to get other figures aside from those. Well, that how is works. Get the priority figures first and just drool at the photos of these lovely figures.

To be released on May 2013. Preorders are now up at Amiami, HLJ, Hobby Search, Otacute at their discounted prices.

Official Photos: ArtFX+ Cyborg (The New 52 Edition)

Cyborg, the last addition to the Justice League ArtFX+ The New 52 Edition has been revealed and he looks well... shiny metallic. Not so special since all the previous announcements were all shiny. It looks nice but there's something that tells me that it's lacking in details. The sculpt is great but the plain monotonous silver color applied on all parts of the body does not appeal to me. It may look a lot nicer if they put different tones of metallic colors (close to silver) on different areas of the armor to liven up. Like glossy white on legs and shoulder armour. Yeah, there's some black shading on some areas, but I think it's not enough.

Just like I have said about Wonder Woman, if you're going to collect all of them (The New 52 Editions), you'll also have to include this one in your list. It isn't too bad though, it just looks... lifeless.

Set for a US release on July 2013 but probably a month earlier in Japan. This completes the ArtFX+ Justice League The New 52 Edition series.

Official Photos: POP Sailing Again - Trafalgar Law

Preorders for POP Sailing Again - Trafalgar Law has finally opened and as usual, Hobby Search and HLJ has already stopped accepting reservations shortly after it went online. Amiami's web store is unresponsive, meaning, there is a website refresh battle going on and their site can't handle it. These POPs are really a pain for those online hobby shops everytime they offer preorders. Anyway, it's not like these Japanese online market are the ones offering preorders. There's lot of online hobby shops out there that offers international POPs if you're not into Japanese versions.

Here are the official images of this popular POP release. Very awesome with all those alternate parts to be displayed in different facial expression and poses. For those who already placed their preorder, you can sit back, relax and enjoy these photos to get very clear image of what you will be expecting and decide on what pose and facial expression you are going to use to display it when it arrives. For those who haven't decided yet, these photos will definitely help you. I've already placed my preorder, you should too.

To be released on May 2013 for 8,400 yen. Preorders have already opened (or closed) at Amiami, HLJ, Hobby Search, Animarket and Figmation. Most japanese online shops have probably stopped accepting preorders already by this time, but who knows, you might be in luck and they would accept preorders again for this POP.