Figuarts ZERO - Monkey D. Luffy (Battle ver.) and Hordy Jones Preorder Announcement

Preorder information has been announced for these two Figuarts ZEROs - Monkey D. Luffy (Battle ver.) and Hordy Jones. It will be on Friday, 1st of March 2013 at 16:00 (JST). As earlier announced, these two is set to be released on June 2013.

I believe that there will be a preorder battle for these two figures (specially for Luffy) on the Japanese online shops. If you're after the Japanese distributions from Amiami, HLJ, and Hobby Search, make sure to be ready with your fingers on the F5 key of your keyboard and keep refreshing browser as soon as the clock tick 16:00 (JST) on that day. But in case you just after the international distributions, you can just relax and wait for your favorite retailer to offer them.

Update (2013-03-01): These two figures are now up for preorders at Amiami [ Luffy | Hordy ], HLJ [ Luffy | Hordy ] and Hobby Search [ Luffy | Hordy ]. Declared sold out at exactly 16:16 (JST) at Amiami though.
Update (2013-03-04): The Japanese distributions are now available for preorder at Figmation  [ Luffy | Hordy ]

POP Neo-DX - Shanks Preorder Announcement

The preorder schedule has been lifted for POP Neo-DX Shanks and it will start on Wednesday, 6th of March 2013 at 18:00 (JST). As announced during the Wonder Festival 2013 Winter event, this POP will retail for 8,400 yen and will be released on July 2013. Same month as POP SA-Maximum - Armored Franky

Most of you are probably complaining about MegaHouse's decision of releasing it on the same month as Franky. But since Franky is still being treated as Limited release, it's apparent that there will be a regular POP release for that month. That's how it works normally. Megahouse has a separate release plans for POP regular and limited editions. Limited editions are usually offered earlier than regular releases. So if they offered a limited POP which is scheduled to be released on a certain month, there is still a possibility of one or two regular POP release on the same month.

This is generally not much of an issue since this has already happened a number of times in the past. The problem we are dealing with right now is that Armored Franky is so much expensive enough to have another POP release within same month. I think you already got my point.

Anyway, we're still happy for this release, aren't we?
No official promo images yet, so just check out these photos from Wonder Festival 2013 Winter.

New Release Photo Review: Figuarts ZERO - Jewelry Bonney

Following the release of Figuarts ZERO - Killer a week later, Figuarts ZERO Jewelry Bonney has been released last Saturday, 23rd of February 2013. As usual, we got some early shots of the retail figure courtesy of blog.livedoor.jp. From what I'm seeing here, it's just an ok release. It's nothing special nor it isn't also too bad.

The overall look is just how it looks like in the promo images. Though there's some paint imperfections which are common to most figuarts ZEROs, it isn't a horrible looking figure. The only thing that annoys me is the hair color on the alternate head. The pink paint coloring on it's two halves of the hair is not even.

It's just a plainly simple looking figure and I can't say more. For the price of 2,940 yen, there are a lot more better Figuarts ZEROs you can get for that price range. But if you are going to complete the eleven supernovas on Figuarts ZERO, or you're just simply a fan of Jewelry Bonney, this could be worth getting.

Two New Figuarts ZEROs from Film Z Announced

A surprising news that there will be two new Figuarts ZERO based from One Piece Film Z will be released. These two figures are Figuarts ZERO - Aokiji Kuzan (Film Z ver) and Figuarts ZERO - Nami (8 year old Film Z Battle Costume ver). No images for these figures available yet but the info tells that preorders starts 1st 7th of March 2013 and will be released on September 2013. We should be seeing images for these two soon.

It will be sold individually, but there will be a two-set option for Aokiji and Nami just like the three-set options for the previously announced limited edition Figuarts ZERO Film Z. So unfortunately, this must be another Bandai Tamashii web exclusive. That will be uncool, Bandai!

Details for these two figures are as follows:

Figuarts ZERO - Aokiji Kuzan (Film Z ver)
Price: 4,200 yen
Release: September 2013

Figuarts ZERO - Nami (8 year old Film Z Battle Costume ver)
Price: 3,150 yen
Release: September 2013

One Piece FILM Z set (Aokiji Kuzan, Nami)
Price: 6,930 yen
Release: September 2013

Be sure to keep an eye on this site or on my Facebook page for further details on these figures.

Update (2013-02-28): Preorders starts 7th of March 2013. Below is the teaser banner from Premium Bandai Web shop

Another Lovely Misty

Remember the recently announced Misty (Mistral Nereis) from Alter. If that one isn't up to your taste and budget, here's another one from Kotobukiya. She's also a 1/8 scale figure but with a lower price tag of 9,200 yen. She has and interesting  pose standing on one feet while winking at yah. The design looks totally attractive but I'm afraid of that hair strands that's floating in mid-air. It might droop down after some time. The base isn't as interesting as Alter's but it isn't boring with those stars which is actually pretty.

She is a July 2013 release... wait what?!! That's the release month of POP Armored Franky, and probably POP Shanks too! That means I won't be able to get her again as my priority would be POPs. Oh, well. So much for this. I'll just drool on these photos and wait for my chance to get her whenever my wallet allows me. I may just be interested with her because she's a pirate and I really love sexy female pirate :) 

If you're also interested, she's now up for preorder at Amiami, Hobby Search and HLJ. As for me I'll still try to resist her.

Gomu Gomu Nooo... Red Hawk!!!

Figuarts ZERO June releases has now appeared on the One Piece Tamashii official website. It's finally the battle version of Luffy which is totally wicked. And along with him is the main villain of the fishman island arc, Hordy Jones.

I'm surprised that the battle version of Luffy is a based on his post timeskip appearance. It is unlike the previous battle ver. characters whereas all of them were in their post timeskip appearance. I'm actually expecting Jet Pistol or Jet Gatling attacks, but since it's post timeskip, he is posed in his cool and awesome Red Hawk attack. An attack that pays tribute to his brother Ace. This is a great release by Bandai. It actually looks like an Attack Motion release. I really hope that the final retail release will look as great as these promo images.

On the other hand, Figuarts ZERO - Hordy Jones isn't really a battle ready version, but they made him look really cool here. This is his appearance during the time when he just took a lot of energy steroids that made him transform in this massive form. It will be uncool if they made a Hordy Jones in his original beer belly appearance, right? I guess these two were made to relive the final moments of the fishman island arc, so these to should come together.

See the details of these two figures below:

Figuarts ZERO - Monkey D. Luffy (Battle ver. )

• Price: 3,360 yen
• Release: June 2013
• Height: 140 mm

Figuarts ZERO - Hordy Jones

• Price: 3,675 yen
• Release: June 2013
• Height: 170 mm

No preorder schedule announced yet, so keep yourself locked to this site or on my Facebook page and wait for further announcements.

Update (2013-02-28): Preorder for these two figures starts Friday, 1st of March 2013 at 16:00 (JST).

I Can Only Dream...

As an avid fan of Star Wars, I always wanted to get me a Darth Vader statue. But the ones that I wanted were the ones that I cannot afford. Like this new Darth Vader Mythos, from Star Wars Mythos product line of Sideshow Collectibles.

It isn't just another Darth Vader statue but a totally unique look of this Sith Lord. It's a battle damaged version if I may say. With a realistically torn cape and body armor, it's like he's just got his butt kicked but emerges victorious in the end. It was based on this artwork below.

New Release Photo Review: Figuarts ZERO - Z (Zetto)

The main villain of One Piece Film Z, Figuarts ZERO - Z (pronounced as Zetto) was released last 26th of January 2013. I can't call this early shots anymore since it has already been three weeks since it's release, and most of you who preordered might have received the figure already. But there are probably some who hasn't really decided to get this one already, like me. So this is a great chance for us to inspect these clear shots from the retail release courtesy of blog.livedoor.jp.

Well actually, I have managed to see it with my own eyes on a local hobby shop. At first I didn't really planned to get this, nor any of the Figuarts ZERO Film Z character designs because I'm actually planning to get all of them in POPs. But for some reason, I wasn't able to resist getting Monkey D. Luffy (Film Z Kessen Costume ver.), Ain and Tony Tony Chopper (Film Z Opening Costume ver.). Probably because of my addiction kicking in.

I have all those three non-limited Film Z character designs except for Zetto. I'm still trying to resist getting him. First because he's an expensive huge Figuarts ZERO. He stands about 200 mm by the way. And second, there would probably be a POP version release and I don't need more than one Zetto's in my display shelf. But when I personally see this guy, I told myself that I maybe wrong for not getting this one and I will regret it someday. And now, seeing these photos, I really am convinced that he will definitely be on my Figuarts ZERO collection.

New Release Photo Review: Figuarts ZERO - Killer

Just released last Saturday, 16th of February 2013. Bandai's Figuarts ZERO Killer just hit the store shelves to add to your Figuarts ZERO One Piece Supernovas collection. This will be the fifth Supernova if you will count the earlier released Luffy and Zoro (the other two are Trafalgar Law and Eustass Kidd). Here are some early shots of the retail release for you to see what you will get if you have preordered or just planning to purchase one.

You may hate me when I say I never liked this release. Eiichiro Oda may not have thought too much about the name given to this character, but I believe he has a reason why he named him Killer. And this figure is not really a "killer". It's a "caller", or a "model". Look how lame is that pose. It's like he's modelling for some clothes, or calling someone from his custom blade-phone. C'mon Bandai, Killer is supposed to show some scary bad-ass pose. 

Some Muv-Luv Alternative Love

Yes, it's now obvious that I'm in-love with the Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse girls, specially the rivals Yui Takamura and Cryska Barchenowa. I fell in love with them even before I've seen the anime and my love for them gets deeper now that I have finished watching the series. Who won't be falling in-love with them? Yui and Cryska are both sexy and gorgeous well-endowed women that can pilot and fight with huge awesome mechas. Yes, these ladies aren't just for looks,... they are fearsome warriors.

And what's best to show my love for them is to own them. Yes, own them and lock them on my shelf. Well, what I mean is get some Yui and Cryska anime figures and display them on my display case so that I can cherish them forever and immortalize my feelings for them :)

There are already a number of Yui and Cryska figures out there. Most of them are sexy looking figures. I already featured Kotobukiya's Yui Takamura (Plugsuit ver) & Cryska Barchenowa (Plugsuit ver) and Hobby Japan's Yui Takamura. And there are few more past releases like Kotobukiya's Yui Takamura ~Gekka~ Ani Statue, Cryska Barchenowa ~Guren~ Ani Statue and some more Alphamax Lingerie ver. Choosing which figure to get is quite hard as they all look nice and lovely. But what actually hits the sweet spot are these figures.

One Piece Figuarts ZERO Pamphlet Scans

I just got a hold of a One Piece Figuarts ZERO Pamphlet that is being given away for free by Bandai Tamashii Nations South Asia. Well this is nothing that you haven't seen before actually, just product release guide of every One Piece Figuarts ZEROs (excluding Bandai web exclusive items) which you can always see from the One Piece Tamashii Figuarts ZERO site. I scanned every page of this pamphlet anyway for those who are curious about it.

At Last, GSC's Lucy Heartfilia in Full Color

At last, I've been waiting ages for this. The first Fairy Tail character to be produced by Good Smile Company is now revealed in fully colored prototype during the recently held Wonder Festival 2013 Winter. And all I can say is.... it's incredibly awesome!

The eyes are so alive. Cool colors with yellow hair, white dress with blue trims and the skin tone is perfect. It's really is a sight for sore eyes. We have seen this great sculpt earlier during the Wonder Festival 2012 Summer and now we are looking at a completed and totally high class figure that can only be produced by none other than Good Smile Company. I really am excited to get my hands on it but no price and release date announced yet. I hope preorders will start soon.

It's really great that GSC picked up the Fairy Tail license and I hope they will continue with more character figure from the series. I'm thinking Juvia, Mirajane, Cana or Erza with all those elegant equipment/outfits. Please GSC, please!

Wonder Festival 2013 Winter - POP

One of the biggest events for anime figure industry was held last Sunday, 10th of February 2013 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition, Chiba City in Japan. As usual, fans of MegaHouse's POP was waiting for new product prototype unveiling, but unfortunately, there were no new surprises aside from those previously announced but now colored prototypes.

It must be expected I suppose, since it was just less than two months ago when MegaHouse revealed these new prototypes during the Jump Festa 2013 event. So let's just check out what POPs MegaHouse have brought to the event.

Official Photos: POP SA-Maximum - Armored Franky

It's ironic that POP SA-Maximum - Armored Franky was initially announced as LIMITED edition release and Japan-only exclusive. It turns out not only it has international edition releases, but international distributors started offering preorders for this POP more than a week earlier than the official Japanese preorder schedule (see the preorder announcement here). It is being offered along with the preorder of POP Edition-Z Nico Robin.

Up until now there's no word from MegaHouse yet if there will be a difference between the Japan and international version (aside from the TOEI sticker of authenticity of course) because they haven't started announcing anything yet if they changed the LIMITED classification for this POP yet,... for Japan at least.

Having international versions means that it won't be too expensive for us living outside Japan. I already saw a lot of offers for international release below 15,570 yen. For this expensive POP, collectors who are after it will tend to look for the lowest price offer. It may still be unaffordable for some, but at least its price won't skyrocket up high for about a year or so. 

And to celebrate for that, here are the official images of POP SA-Maximum - Armored Franky (notice the absence of the word "LIMITED" now) and all I can say is Suuuupperrrr!!! I'm lost for words now so I'll just let these images do the talking. I hope MegaHouse will be able to cope up with the production for the high demand of this POP and meet the promised release date.

Scheduled to be released on July 2013 for 15,750 yen. Preorders are already being offered at discounted prices at Figmation, Animarket, Hobby Frontier and other international distributors. I preordered mine at Figmation as I find it the lowest price offer in town.

Update (2013-02-16): Amiami, HLJ and Hobby Search did not offer a preorder for SA Franky. It seems to be totally limited/store exclusive in Japan. It's quite confusing that this item (international version) is available on most POP retailer outside Japan while it is being kept limited within Japan.

Update (2013-03-11):  I just discovered that in Taiwan Megahobby site, SA Franky tells that it is non-limited in Taiwan as an exception. This is probably the reason why MegaHouse can offer a non-limited international release of SA Franky to the rest of the world.

Official Photos: POP Edition-Z - Nico Robin

Official promo images of the POP Edition-Z - Nico Robin appeared on the Mega Hobby Station just before preorders for this lovely POP is about to open. A lot of distributors for the international release has already offered preorders yesterday (along with POP SA-Maximum - Armored Franky), but as usual, Japanese retailers will be on time with MegaHouse's official timing (see the preorder announcement here)

These promo images are as lovely and sexy as the figure. She does not come with much accessories though. Only a removable cowboy hat, a sword and a rifle that she can hold in her right hand. But anyway, I believe every figure collector will fall in love with her. Some are actually complaining that this POP doesn't look much like Nico Robin. Well, the same can also be said to the POP Sailing Again - Nico Robin, right? It's really hard to capture Nico Robin's face in 3D figures and I haven't really seen a lot of figures that looks totally like her, most specially in her timeskip appearance. So I don't care, I'm still getting this beauty and will probably get all the Edition-Z POPs.

Slated to be released on June 2013 for 7,770 yen (tax included).

Update: Preorders are now open at Figmation, HLJ, Hobby Search, Amiami, Animarket and Hobby Frontier

ArtFX Iron Man 3 Mark XLII

Iron man 3 will hit the theaters three months from now. As usual, product merchandise based on the film will flow non-stop on store shelves. Hot Toys already revealed some product lines based in Iron Man 3. Now Kotobukiya answers with their ArtFX Iron Man 3.

If you're into Iron Man 3 but find Hot Toys pricing too steep, you might wanna take a look at this figure. It isn't a huge and shiny as the Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Mark XLII 1/6th Scale Power Pose series, but this one is a lot cheaper, considering that both are non-articulated figures. In my opinion, the pose of this figures looks a lot better than the Hot Toys one. The base is also unique making the Mark XLII seems like hovering over the water. The proportion and the details looks accurate to the actual armor. If my budget allows me, I might consider getting this one.

Slated for July (US)/June (Japan) 2013 release. No pricing announced yet but I will update this post as soon as this information becomes available.

Update (2013-04-18): Priced at 13,440 yen (tax included). Preorders are now available at Amiami, Hobby Search and HLJ.

Hot Toys: Iron Man 3 - 1/6th Scale Mark XLII Power Pose

Hot Toys just announced Iron Man Mark XLII for it's 1/6th scale collectible under "Power Pose" series. Yeah, you might say "there's a lot of Hot Toys Iron Man already, what's so special about this one?" Well, its the Mark XLII (42) from the latest Iron Man movie and its the first one under the series called "Power Pose".

It looks incredibly detailed and looks very close to the design of the original armor from the movie. The only problem is that being under Power Pose series, it has zero articulation. Not so bad though, since I'm actually not a huge fan of articulated figurines (except for Gundam models of course). But If they are going to release an articulated Mark XLII (just like the previously released Iron Man Mark VII), and it will look as awesome as this, I might as well consider waiting for it.

According to the official site, it will be a second quarter of 2013 release. No pricing details announced yet but If you're a Hot Toys follower, I think you have a good idea on how much it will cost. Preorders may start anytime soon so get ready for this.

Plex - D.P.C.F. Haruno Sakura

The official images and release information of the DPCF Haruno Sakura has appeared on the on its official website. This is the follow-up to the DPCF Uzumaki Naruto that was released last December.

The figure looks really nice and captures the artwork where it was based from (Naruto manga chapter 15 colored spread entitled "The Sharingan Revived!"). I love the how the hair was blown by the wind, the metallic appearance of the chain, and those huge axes. These images show Sakura in all possible angles. Looks incredibly detailed. 

New Release Photo Review: POP Sailing Again - Perhona

Released this week, 28th of January, POP Sailing Again Perhona has arrived on on the shelves of most hobby shops and is probably on its way to your doorstep if you had already her preordered. Here we have some early shots of one of the retail copy. As usual, MegaHouse delivers once again with this figure. Whatever we have seen on the promo images and early prototypes is what we will actually be enjoying on our display cases for years.

That's what I love about MegaHouse. They stay true to what they promise to give us. It's so amazing to think that even they mass produced thousands of figures, they made each piece very much identical as much as possible to the promo images. Yeah, there as few hiccups here and there but there ain't really something that is actually a total disappointment.

Based on these images, the overall quality of POP SA Perhona is excellent. It justifies the "Excellent Model" tag for the product line. Paint was applied with high precision and you barely see any flaws. Unlike the POP Neo-DX Perhona that was released before, the two horo horo ghosts can now be mounted at the base at the same time. The hat is removable and no hole or peg attachment is visible on the head or the hat. My only complain is that it didn't come with any option parts like an alternate face expression just like the DX version. Well anyway, Perhona looks very lovable on this figure and I can't wait to get my hands on my own copy.

If you happen to miss to preorder this POP, she's still available on most hobby shops. If you're still undecided to get her, these images below may help you.