[Updatedude takes us back to Japan for another "matter of import" review, this time of Super Reborn Chogokin's Ultraman Type A & B (whatever the heck that means!) I'll go ahead and turn it over to him, so enjoy! -TAO] As per popular vote, I'm reviewing
Ultraman. I was going to review just one for Articulated Discussion and
review the other for Turquoise Version, but due to lack of pics, I
decided to do a double feature for both sites.
Name: Ultraman Type A & B
Line: Super Reborn Chogokin
Manufacturer: Saiyudo
Scale: 7.00 in (estimate)
Accessories: 4 pairs of extra hands, 2 pairs of extra feet
Sponsor Listings: Amazon (Two Pack)-$35.19
Super Reborn Chogokin (SRC) are the cousins to Bandai's Super
Imaginative Chogokins (SIC). Whereas SIC feature Kamen Riders, SRC
feature the Ultraman franchise.
Yes, there is an Ultraman cash cow
franchise. No, it does not involve the Crime Syndicate of Amerika, nor
does he traditionally spot a big "U" on his chest. Unlike that EVIL
Ultraman, the Japanese version of Ultraman is a force of GOOD, who has
been saving earth on a weekly basis from giant monsters (Japanese
fellows in rubber suits) for decades. Also, Japanese Ultraman knows
kung-fu.
5 / 10 - Whoa there, hold your horses
buddy. Don't let the score fool ya. Both Ultramen look terrific.
Ultraman A is the slightly buffer one with more organic features. He's
more wrinkly and "battle damaged" and his fins have a pinched look to
them, like they grew out painfully. Ultraman B is the slim and sleek
version who looks very much like the suited version on TV, only as is
SIC/SRC convention, his musculature is evident. Showing that his "suit"
is in fact, his skin. Only downside is he has pointy Santa's Elves
feet, but luckily, you can bum off an extra pair of feet from Ultraman
A. Both versions look terrific. They
are great modern interpretations of the classic Ultraman design without
being overly stylized as is typical with their SIC cousins. And they
have glow in the dark eyes to boot! So why the middling score? Because
SIC figures are infamously fragile, and these SRC figures are no
different. I'm not sure why, but it seems the plastic used for their
joints are very VERY prone to breakage, especially in the knees. And by
VERY prone I mean they broke on mine... out of the box...
8 / 10 - There's not much paint on these
guys, but what is available is applied very cleanly. Their design makes
this easy, but on Ultraman A, there's a bit more "weathering", giving
the toy a more aged/yellowing look, while Ultraman B is more pristine.
7 / 10 - Lots of points of articulation,
just about everywhere you need them. The range of articulation is
decent, but as noted above, the joints are prone to breakage, so be
gentle. That said, these guys look great in just about any pose and can
strike their signature poses easily.
8 / 10 - The back of the box says that
these are NOT toys, that they are collectibles and is appropriate for
collectors aged FIFTEEN and up. But me still being me, I still play
with them. Their great looks and height make them great backdrop
character for smaller 3.75" figures or even army men.
3 / 10 - I got mine at an insanely cheap
price, so I have no regrets despite the fragility issues. But if you're
paying premium prices for these guys, then I can't recommend them in
good conscience. I'm sure mine were extra high risk, and there are many
SIC fans out there who never had any problems. But the potential for
breakage is still there. Get them if you see them on sale or clearance,
but otherwise, they're too expensive to take the risk.
Overall Score: 69 / 100 - This is an Okay Toy
I have no regrets getting these
Ultramen. They just look way too awesome and the price I paid was fair
despite the breakage. I personally love them. But they're not must
haves. There are other articulated Ultramen in the world who don't
carry the risk that these guys do.
-Updatedude
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