Original Figure Review - Sideshow Collectibles Knifehead Statue

Written by Arlo Hansen

I have had Sideshow Collectibles' Knifehead statue since last September, but I am just now getting around to reviewing it. No, it was not procrastination that has prevented me from sharing my reflections on this piece. I've contemplated for months whether or not to review this and the other Pacific Rim statues I have. I was not keen on doing anymore figure reviews on video, because it was just not my sort of thing. However, since I am going through a little bit of a dry spell, I thought this would be the appropriate time to review them. So far I only have three of the four released statues: Knifehead, Gipsy Danger and Slattern. I will pick up Striker Eureka eventually, but with me currently out of a job, I will just have to be patient for a little while longer.

Knifehead was the first of the Pacific Rim statues that Sideshow Collectibles released. The statues were sculpted with assistance and guidance by designers who actually worked on Pacific Rim (2013) including director, Guillermo Del Toro. In the movie, Knifehead was a Category III Kaiju that was the first to demonstrate intelligence in battle. It successfully killed one of Gipsy Danger's pilots, Yancy Becket, before being killed by a lone Raleigh Becket before he struggles to get the Jaeger back to the Alaskan shore. Since the film came out, Knifehead has become one of the few Kaiju to really stand out. Of all the Kaiju in the film, Knifehead has received the most figure treatments from tiny Gashapon figures from Kaiyodo, deluxe action figures from NECA, and an upcoming Large Monsters Series vinyl figure from X-Plus. However, by far one of the more impressive pieces of Knifehead released so far has to be this Sideshow statue. Let's take a closer look! 

X-Plus Large Monsters Series Leatherback

WHOOOAAA!!!

Look at that. X-Plus has unveiled their prototype for their upcoming Large Monsters Series Leatherback figure. It was teased a while back that X-Plus would be tackling Knifehead and Leatherback, and now we are seeing one of the two promised figures.

Personally it looks absolutely amazing. The pose alone makes it very intimidating and powerful. No word yet when it'll be released exactly, but it is definitely slated for within this year. I am certainly adding this ferocious beast to my collection!

UPDATE: Based on the title card along with the figure, it seemed that Leatherback was slated for a May 2016 release. However, a blue pen mark over the date may suggest it has been pushed back to at least July... Looks like it'll be a busy month since a majority of my preorders this year release in that month. Must prepare thy wallet!

Photo Source: Dengeki Hobby Web

Original Figure Review - NECA Pacific Rim 7" Figure Series Striker Eureka [Ultimate Edition]

Ever since NECA gave us a brand new sculpt for their Knifehead figure [Battle Damaged Knifehead/Deluxe Knifehead] back in early 2014, they have been steadily coming around producing brand new sculpts for their older Series 1 and 2 figures. Gipsy Danger received a brand new sculpt with the Hong Kong Brawl Edition, released late 2014 [with multiple variations following,] and as of this summer it too will receive the "Ultimate Edition" treatment. Right now, however, we are blessed to have got an updated 7-inch Striker Eureka. A couple years ago, I reviewed the original figure and gave it a thumbs up... I take ALL that back! Because, ever since then it has been the most problematic Jaeger figure that I've ever bought from NECA! I've went through three figures since that review and all of them had broke, and I barely handled them roughly. So I am hoping that NECA's second attempt at a 7-inch Striker figure comes out good.

Other than its sculpt and detailing, is this figure an improvement over what came before?

Let us take a look at it now!

NECA Pacific Rim Ultra Deluxe Hardship Officially Announced

Straight from NECA:

From the epic Pacific Rim movie, our next boxed, ultra-deluxe kaiju action figure is Hardship!

This deadly kaiju was one of the earliest to come through the breach, and was ultimately defeated by Romeo Blue. At over 8” tall and over 6” wide, Hardship is massive. This movie-accurate figure utilizes new tooling, features over 30 points of articulation, and is to scale with our Jaeger action figures.

Read more...

Hardship is slated to be released June 2016.

Photo Source: NECA

NECA Classic Godzilla Series Godzilla 2001 & Ultimate Gipsy Danger specs

NECA was unable to showcase their prototype for their next Godzilla figure, but that did not stop them from sharing it via Twitter! The next addition of their Classic Godzilla line is none other that Godzilla 2001. I know, right? Just after Bandai announced their MonsterArts Godzilla 2001? It is just a crazy coincidence. Still, there is no denying that after their Godzilla 1954, NECA has been stepping up their game in regards to sculpt. Take note of the appropriately proportioned dorsal plates and longer tail length.

NECA's Godzilla 2001 will go up for preorder towards the end of the month. No release date and price have been given at this moment.

Photo Source: NECA via Twitter

Along with that, NECA also shared specs on their Ultimate Gipsy Danger figure. The sculpt will be the same as their Hong Kong Brawl Gipsy Danger, but with one notable change. The Reactor Core will now feature an LED light-up effect! WOW! Right?! It will also come with multiple option hand parts, a chain sword, a reactor blast effect part, and a pair of plasma cannons, one for each arm. The light-up gimmick is what sold me on this one. Even though I have like a gazillion Gipsys already, this is pretty much the definite one to go for. Ultimate Gipsy Danger and the Ultra Deluxe Hardship are expected to go up for preorder very soon.

Photo Source: NECA via Twitter

Toy Fair 2016 - NECA Ultimate Gipsy Danger, X-Plus Godzillas, & More!

Toy Fair is currently underway in New York right now, and we were treated to some very new unveils!

From NECA, nothing majorly new was shown. A new Godzilla prototype was to be revealed, but NECA didn't get Toho's permission in time (more on that in the next post!) However, we were treated to views of NECA's Pacific Rim Ultra Deluxe Mutavore and Hardship Kaiju figures and their Ultimate Striker Eureka, which was recently released. There is also another Gipsy Danger as well. Do not be fooled, the sculpt may be the exact same as previous NECA offerings, but this is in fact NECA's next figure in their Ultimate line of Jaegers. More info in an upcoming post, but both Ultimate Gipsy Danger and Hardship are expected to go up for preorder very soon!

Photo Source: Ultrazilla via Facebook

From Bluefin Distribution, along with the displaying of the upcoming S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla [2001] there was also one other giant monster, the X-Plus Toho Large Monsters Series Biollante. For those unaware, Bluefin Distribution has the rights to release reissues of X-Plus figures from the Toho Large Monsters Series [25cm scaled]. The only ones they have shown off so far have been Biollante and King Ghidorah 1968. However, apparently they have access to more sculpts from the line. No release date nor price have been announced for Biollante yet.

Photo Source: ToyArk.com

Then finally from Diamond Select, we are treated to a series of upcoming X-Plus Toho 30cm Series reissues. Displayed we see the 30cm Gigan 1972 and Gigan 2004, along with new unveils of North American reissues for the 30cm Godzilla 1984 (with a closed mouth this time,) the Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1989, and Godzilla 2004 figures. All look very awesome! No price and release date have been given yet for the Godzilla reissues. Both Gigans, however, are currently available for preorder.

Photo Source: Vampire Robots via Facebook

Winter Wonderfest 2016 Report

As of right now, Winter Wonderfest 2016 is at full steam in Japan. We have scoured the web for whatever is new in the Kaiju realm and here is what we've found:

Images courtesy of Jamie Davis via Facebook.

X-Plus - Nothing new Kaiju related was shown at X-Plus' table except for the event exclusive reissue of the Toho Large Monsters Series Megalon and Gigan 1972 set along with the TLMS Godzilla 1973 and Jet Jaguar... Perhaps implying a future RIC Boy reissue?

Also from X-Plus, via Yuji Sakai, we are also getting a new addition to the Gigantic Series line in the form of the Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1954. It's been claimed that this figure will be around 18 inches tall. Be sure to look out for it later this year! I know I will be.

Update: The Gigantic Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1954 is slated for an early summer 2016 release.

Kaiyodo - Aside from the already released Revoltech figures from the Gamera series that Kaiyodo has released years ago, there is also a placard that teases an imminent release of figures from Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys. So a Revoltech Gamera 1999 and Irys may be on the way pretty soon!

Max Factory - A couple years ago, Max Factory teased a plastic model kit for Gipsy Danger as well as an implication of more Jaegers to come. Well, they unveiled their sculpt for Cherno Alpha, which will include light-up features! No word yet regarding the release of their Pacific Rim Jaeger plastic model kits. But the tension builds and even though I am not into building models, these might be an exception!

Bandai Tamashii Nations - Other than the S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla [2001] displayed at Yuji Sakai's table, there is not a lot new shown at Wonderfest. However, the next addition to the Ultra-Act x S.H. Figuarts Manga Ultraman line has been unveiled: Ultraman Suit ver. 7.2. It is slated for August 2016.

We will keep you updated as new information presents itself!