I don’t normally show off new acquisitions until I’ve had a chance to review them, this new playset I got from PHAT! and Good Smile Company is so awesome, I just had to show it off.  Plus, Yotsuba kinda demanded that I show off her fancy new crib (sshhh, no one tell her I also have the other playset that goes with this one still boxed up in the corner…I don’t want her to get violent again… =^_^;;=). 

Oh, and the final reason for today’s pic was that it provided me with a chance to test out the new top light I bought for the light box.  I swore I’d never buy a CFL because of the mercury, but I decided to compromise for now due to none of my local retailers selling high wattage daylight quality LED bulbs.  Booo!  Long live LED bulbs!!!!

More Info:

• Nendoroid Play Set A Japanese Dining Set (Amazon)
• Yotsuba Manga and Toys (Amazon)
• LED bulbs (Amazon)

Keeping it simple again this week because 1.) it was too hot to go outside and 2.) I just got a fancy new light box that I wanted to try out.  I decided to test it using this Lupin the 3rd statue/pen holder I keep on my stereo receiver most to the time. The statue’s got a lot of nooks and crannies on it  and I didn’t have to spend a lot of time posing it (cause I’m feelin’ tired and lazy right now :P) So far the test shots are looking pretty good, so hopefully this you folks will soon be able to see a noticeable improvement in the quality of my figure photos.  =^_^=  

Hmmm…that reminds me…I need to get the backdrops for the light box ironed because they’re all wrinkly. Since ironing falls under the general domain of “woman’s work,” I think I’ll palm that job off on my wife :P

More Info:

• Lupin the 3rd wiki
• Lupin the 3rd (Amazon)

I’m keeping it simple with just one image for today’s installment of LWT.  I figured this was best since the Green Goblin isn’t really one for having the paparazzi get all up in his face after long day spent duking it out with Spider-man.  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a pumpkin-flavored muffin he’s got in left hand… =^_^;;= 

Sadly, I had originally planned on doing a classy pic involving Abomination, but I didn’t have a chair/table combination big enough.  Also, I don’t know how to fold a regular size tie after all these years,so the thought of attempting a make a minature one just sort of seemed like a losing proposition… =^_^;;=

More Info:

• Green Goblin – Marvel Legends 6
• Professor Layton Revoltech figure (coffee cup, table and chair)
• Starbucks Miniature (background)

Okay, I have a confession to make: I’ve never purchased a figma figure before this review. Oh sure, I have a Yuki Nagato figure up on my shelf, but I’ve never taken her out of the package. Up until this point, my entire experience with Max Factory’s figma line has been limited to a brief play session with my friend’s Konata figure at a convention a several years ago. When I saw this cute looking Marisa Kirisame figma come up for preorder several months back, I just knew that it was the right time for me to take the plunge in the world of figmas.

Marisa’s packaging is pretty nice, if not very distinctive. Before I even took her out of the package though, I did notice a couple of problems with this figure right off the bat.

The first problem I noticed was that Marisa appeared to have a large gap between her neck and her chin. Not only was it rather ugly looking, but it also gives her a hunched appearance. Considering the figma line’s reputation for quality, I find this flaw in her design to be rather disconcerting.

Secondly, if you look closely at the packaging (I know the pics are bad, I’m sorry =T_T=), the slot holding her broom has a noticeable curve to it. Anyone who has been collecting PVC figures for a while knows that this does not bode well for the item enclosed inside.

Just a quick back shot of the packaging. Not much to see here other than the fact that it shows Marisa with a broom that looks a lot different from the one included in the packaging.

I believe this some sort of papercraft extra that you can use in conjunction with the figure. The instructions didn’t have much to say on the matter, but I wasn’t going to rip apart the packaging to find out if my hunch was right.

Complete list of parts:

• 3 x Faceplates: 1 x standard, 1 x shouting, 1 x grinning
• 11 x different hands, including:
  • 1 x hand with teacup,
  • 1 x hand with saucer,
  • 1 x hand with open book
  • 1 x hand with magic box
• 1 x broom
• 1 x witch hat
• 2 x pairs of shoes:
  • 1 x pair with clips
  • 1 x pair without clips
• 1 x Figma stand

Straight out of the package, I was immediately impressed with my Marisa figma. She’s surprisingly heavy considering her small size and most her parts have a smooth, almost fragile, feel to them. Her clothing and accessories are nicely detailed as well.

Most pleasing of all were her numerous body joints, all of which moved easily and with a greater range of movement than many of the Revoltech figures I have played with in the past.

Here’s a back shot of the figure. Love the adorable ribbon tied around her waist. I did notice that the hole in her back for the figma stand was a bit raggedy around the edges.

Changing faceplates is a pretty simple affair. Her front bangs remove easily and the faceplate pops right out.

Ta-da! See what I mean? Wait, why is does she look so angry about it?

Since I didn’t have much experience with figma joints, I thought it would be worth taking a few pics of them to show folks what they look like. Flatter and rounder than Revoltech joints, figma joints seem to work exactly the same way. I did notice that they seem to bend a bit farther than standard Revoltech joints though, which allowed me to create some poses that I’ve never been able to accomplish with any of my Revoltech figures (with the exception of maybe the Queen’s Blade ones).

Another look at the figma joint, except from the opposite side. The way her forearm is molded around the joint probably helps add to flexibility.

Up until recently, if you had asked me what the best type of hand joint was for figures like these, I would have immediately replied that stick joint that Max Factory uses on all its figmas were the best. Alas, times have changed.

The Queen’s Blade figures from Revoltech have proven that have an actual joint like the ones used in the figures elbows are a much better choice.

Still, the stick joints get the job done, but they don’t provide nearly as many posing options as I would like. All the hand joints had bits of plastic flash on them. It would have been nice if a bit more effort had gone into removing some of these raggedy bits.

A closer look at the hand joint. As you can see, the joint is rather noticeable and can only move ninety degrees up or down.

Along with the plastic baggy (not pictured), I thought it was pretty cool of Max Factory to include a holder piece for all the different hands. Very nice.

Okay, here’s where we start to get into the stuff I didn’t like about the figure. First up is this ugly neck joint. Look at how huge that gap is between the end of her chin and her neck joint. Most of the time, the gap is not noticeable, but it is a real eye sore when it is visible.

In addition to the gap, her hair causes her head to shift forward a bit which gives her a bit of a hunch. It’s not “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” bad, but it’s pretty annoying.

Another look at that gap from a different angle. Out of curiosity, I tried comparing the Marisa figure to the unopened Yuki I have on my shelf. The Yuki figure’s faceplate does a much better job of filling in the gap. In my not-so-humble opinion, this is just plain shoddy craftsmanship on Max Factory’s part.

View of Marisa’s hunched neck from the back. Sadly, the inflexibility of her long hair really limits her ability to turn her head without causing her head to be cocked at awkward angles.

When not wearing her witch hat, Marisa has a hair plug for this hole.

Close up of Marisa’s witching hat.

If you flip the hat over, you can see the little plug that you use to attach it to her head. Thank god, hats don’t work like this in real life =^_^;;=

There we go. She’s all witchified up now with her big black hat and magical broom. Don’t be fooled by the apparent straightness of her broom though. Thanks to the magic of 2D, I can make it look a lot straighter than it really is.

See what I mean? Since it was packed into a curved slot for some unknown reason, it has a permanent droop to it. Unfortunately, I don’t think they sell Viagra for brooms…

Holy Crap! It’s a super upskirt shot of Marisa’s bloomers. Hurray! Somewhere, some old people are totally scandalized.

This is where we come to my second biggest complaint with the figure. ( Yes, yes, I know she’s missing her feet at the moment, but ignore that for now.) If you look at Marisa’s dress length versus her leg joints, it quickly becomes obvious that poor Marisa can never sit down…ever. She can’t sit on her broom, she can’t sit on a chair while drinking from her teacup and she can’t sit down on a toilet. Ever.

I realize Max Factory was probably trying to keep costs down, but the fact that my witch figma cannot sit on her broom and ride it in the traditionally witchy way, really bugs the crap out of me. Grr.

Anyway, now that I have that off my chest, back to her missing feet. The answer is actually pretty simple. Marisa comes with two pairs of shoes. One for normal poses and one with clips on the bottom so she can stand on her broom since it’s impossible for her to sit on it.

Foot clips. Just like I said.

Just slide the broom through the clips and there you have it, a broom surfing witch.

Here’s a shot of the figma stand I used to support her while she riding her broom. It took a bit of fiddling to get the balance right so she wouldn’t immediately tip over, but it the stand gets the job done. With its limited joint movement though, the figma stand is decidedly inferior to the ones employed on more recent Revoltech figures.

Rargh! I will blast you with my awesome magic box!

Is it me or does she look like she’s throwing a hadouken in this shot?

Close up of Marisa’s severed hand with magic box still attached.

Another severed hand plus a book.

Don’t make her cast as spell on you!

Close up of her teacup and saucer set.

Now we come to the real reason I bought this figure. I just love her grin!

After a long day sweating under hot LED lights while some internet critic guy points out all your faults, there’s nothing better than a relaxing cup of tea with a weird looking British dude.

Marisa really seemed to hit off with the Professor and it wasn’t long before they decided to start a book of the month club.

I pretty much got bored with them around this point and left to them boring talks about Charles Dickens and Jane Austin. I mean seriosuly, they’re all like BFF’s and stuff. It’s kinda of annoying. I mean, it’s not like I’ve got better things to do after all, like maybe finishing this review or something.

Bottom Line:

The Marisa Kirisame figma is a decent figure with some annoying design problems, though I admit that some of the problems I mentioned (like her inability to sit) will bother some people more than they will bother others. Despite my complaints, I must admit that Marisa is a fairly well made figure with a lot of nice detailing. I am quite pleased with the quality of the materials used in her construction and her flexibility from the waste up is some of the best I’ve seen on a female figure. If you enjoy collecting rare figures or you’re a serious fan of all things Touhou Project related, I think you will be extremely pleased with this figure. On the other hand, if you a picky jackass like me, you may want to rethink your purchase once you take into account her rarity and higher than average price point.

Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: No. 69 Marisa Kirisame figma from Touhou Project

(psst! Hit the jump for the rest of the comic)

———————————–

Today’s LWT starred:

Yeah, I know.  I’m supposed to be impartial when reporting the news, but seriously, the new Rei figure from Revoltech you will leave you hard pressed to come with a good reason to buy.  It’s unimpressive and despite having been spawned from a brand new mold, it varies very little from the previous Fraulen release. Also, it has the added benefit of lamer accesseries. My old one comes with the Lance of Longinus.  All this one comes with is a cellphone, some bandages and Gendo’s glasses… =>_<=

Kaiyodo’s complete failure in the creativity department with their new Rei figure is especially noticable in light of the amazing accessories that come with the new Mari Makinami figma.   The Mari figure comes with a FREAKIN’ EVA COCKPIT for her to sit in.   How AWESOME  is that? It’s a wet dream come true!  That’s how awesome it is!

Hit the jump for more info about both these figures.

Product Name:  Mari Illustrious Makinami: New Plugsuit ver.

Series:  Rebuild of Evangelion

MSRP:  3200 yen ($35)

Release Date:  2010/10

Description:  Painted ABS&PVC posable figure, not to scale, stand included, approximately 140mm in height. Comes with three faces, FREAKIN’ EVA cockpit, and multiple other accessories.

Sculptor:  Masaki Asai – Max Factory

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  AmiAmi (21% off!) / Otacute

Product Name:  Fraulein Revoltech No.019 Evangelion 2.0 Rei Ayanami Ver.2.0

Series:  Rebuild of Evangelion

MSRP:  2900 yen ($31)

Release Date:  2010/10

Description:  150mm (appx. 1/10 Scale).  22 poins of articulation.  Includes 10 Revolver Joints and 2x stick-type joints.

Additional Pics/Info: HobbyStock blog page (special thanks to Umar Farouq for the tip!)

Pre-order:  AmiAmi (21% off!) / Otacute

Good Smile Company was on a role this past week with a series of product announcements that were guaranteed to set fanboys a drooling and reaching for their wallets.  The announcements included a new vehicle accessory for figma collector’s, a pair of gorgoues statues, a new Nendoroid figure and a nifty little keychain accessory for fans of the Fate/Stay Night series.

For more details and pics, hit the jump.

Product Name:  Yui Inaba

Series:  Flyable Heart

Price 7800 yen ($85)

Release Date: August

Description: Painted PVC statue, 1/8th scale, approximately 200mm in height

Sculptor Hajime Kaiya (Acetone)

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  AmiAmi (19% off!) / J-List

Product Name:  Black Rock Shooter -animation version- Series Black Rock Shooter

Manufacturer:  Good Smile Company

Price: 9800 yen ($110)

Release Date: October

Description:  Painted PVC statue, 1/8th scale, approximately 200mm in height

Sculptor: Ken Kawanishi (Grim Rock!)

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  AmiAmi (19% off!) / J-List

Product Name:  Nendoroid Rinko Kobayakawa

Series:  Love Plus

Price:  3500 yen ($38)

Release Date:  September

Description:  Painted ABS&PVC posable figure, not to scale, stand included, approximately 100mm in height.  Includes four facial expressions and a variety of accessories.

Sculptor:  Maruhige

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  AmiAmi (21% off) / J-List

Product Name:  ex:ride ride.008: Three Wheeler

Series ex:ride

Price Each 2480 en ($26)

Release Date; August

Description: Painted ABS product, not to scale, approximately 180mm in height. Available in red, brown and black color schemes.

Sculptor: FREEing

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  Otacute / Ami-Ami

Product: Name Fate Metal Charm Collection 08: Sword of Rupture, Ea

Series: Fate/stay night

Price: 3300 yen ($35)

Release Date:  August

Description: 105mm brass charm with a 25mm x 15mm Command Spell Motif included

Additional Pics/Info: GSC product page

Pre-order:  Only available via the Animate webstore.  If your looking to pick it up, I suggest talking to this guy.  It won’t be cheap, but he’s pretty good at his job based on what I’ve heard.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I decided to purchase my first Queen’s Blade figure. I’ve never played the game that the series is based on, but I have seen enough screenshots of the anime adaptation to know that the show has a well-deserved reputation as a trashy smutfest filled with more boobs and vaginas than a gynecologist’s waiting room. Despite my misgivings, when I saw Alleyne for the first time on the Otacute website, I just knew I had to have her. She was just so cute looking that I thought that she surely couldn’t possibly be as naughty a girl as her compatriots. Boy, was I wrong on that one… =^_^;;=

To see this figure in all her glory and read the full review, just hit the jump. I warn you though; this review is extremely NOT SAFE FOR WORK. You have been warned!

The rich deep green of the packaging and stylish layout make this figure look good even if all you do is just sit her up on a shelf. Since my picture-taking skills were not up to the task of highlighting just how good the packaging for Alleyne is, I guess my word on it will have to suffice. Sorry =^_^;;=

The Alleyne figure comes with the following accessories:

• 2 x Faces – 1 x standard expression (S mode), 1 x sexy face (M mode)
• 1 x torn shirt
• 1 x torn skirt
• 5 x hands -3 x right, 2 x left
• 1 x spear
• 1 x figure stand
• 1 x revolcontainer
• 1x revolchip

Considering just about everything Alleyne is wearing is removable, it could be said that everything she’s wearing is an accessory, but I don’t feel like typing up a list that long :P

Right out of the box, I was completely blown away with just how beautiful this figure is. Her clothing is covered in intricate designs and the paint job is simply fantastic. It’s especially breathtaking when you realize that the majority of her clothing is either poseable or removable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a figure that offered me this freedom of play.

Alleyne’s boots are the only parts of her costume that aren’t removable. They’re stylish though, so I don’t mind. It’s also worth noting that when she’s fully dressed, you will have to use the included figure stand to keep her upright. Her cloak makes her too top heavy otherwise. Thankfully, the base is as stylish looking as the rest of the figure and can easily be added into photos with it being obtrusive.

I was very surprised when I discovered that Alleyne’s beret is secured to her head using a Revoltech joint. I’m very glad that she doesn’t sport peg horns like my Professor Layton figure does. It’s a small touch, but it makes me happy.

The giant seam on her head is actually a joint that allows her hair to lift up and down for easy face removal. This is another nice touch since it means you don’t have to take her head of completely just to change out expressions. I did take a picture of her with the hair flipped up so you could see what she looks like in between faces, but it was so Cthulu-esque looking that I just couldn’t bring myself to post it. You can check it out here if you really want to see it, but I warn you it’s pretty creepy looking. Brrr! =^_^;;=

Close up of Alleyne’s beret. I didn’t realize how big it actually was until I took it off her. It’s practically a small shield!

Alleyne’s cloak is actually three separate pieces. The piece that wraps around around her neck doesn’t move, but the ends hanging from her back do. Each back piece has two joints that allow for a huge number of potential poses, such as the one above.

I was very pleased with Alleyne’s overall poseability. Alleyne sports an amazing 16 separate Revoltech joints (21 if count her cloak and hat) which makes for her an incredibly flexible young lady. I was also very pleased that tiny Revoltech joints were used for her wrist joints instead of a simple stick joint or peg. Thanks to the numerous Revoltech joints and the careful attention paid to her design, you can pose her in just about any position you want and have it look natural (or at least more natural than most other figures).

Of course, all of that poseability comes at price. When you look at Alleyne from behind, she has an awful lot of extra holes. (Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, I know you’re thinking something dirty about that last comment!) Thankfully, since her hair is poseable too, you hide most of them if you need to.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that in addition to the massive spear she’s now holding, I removed her bracers. I really liked how she looked without her bracers on. Not sure why… =^_^;;=

It was around this time that Alleyne decided to show off her l33t spear wielding skill. I tried to catch some of it on film, but alas, I was too busy try to look up her skirt during some her more energetic movements.

Oh good, I love this pic. She looks so damn cute!

This is one of the first poses I had trouble with. I was trying to place the spear across her shoulders, but this turned out to be one of those poses where the limits of her body’s design finally caught up with her.

She was kind of sad that she had disappointed me, so I gave her a couple of cherries to cheer her up…

Apparently, she REALLY likes her cherries. I mean, like OMG in a sexual way… =^_^;;=

After she finished eating, she was so turned on, she started touching herself in all sorts of interesting ways.

Being the trained professional that I am, I made sure to photograph everything I could. I must admit though that I was bit surprised when she started ripping her own clothes off in a fit of horniness.

She does have some nice boobs though. The paint job is very subtle and delicate. Very nice.

It soon became apparent that the show wasn’t when she started ripping at her skirt and playing with her downtown woman parts. It’s around this time, I began to realize that I my cute little Alleyne might be every bit as dirty a girl as her fellow Queen’s Blade companions.

Once she got her panties off, I was certain that she was indeed a very, very dirty girl…

…and this is when I realized that I’m probably closeted pornographer.

So yeah, I’m a dirty pervert, but she’s just as bad for putting on a show for the whole world to see.

What? Don’t look at me like that. She’s the one showing off her vagina! Seriously. I didn’t make her do all this stuff. It was totally her decision. I swear!

Thankfully, after she finally reached the big O, she settled down a bit. Since all her clothes were shredded by this point, she just stood there looking up at me with those big blue eyes with a sort of “Did I please you, master?” look on her face.

Bottom Line:

Alleyne is a fantastically designed Revoltech figure that really pushes the limits of what a Revoltech figure can be. She’s beautifully sculpted and extremely flexible. Although I wish her leg joints were a bit better looking, they are still significantly better looking than those of the pre-Queen’s Blade era females. Add in the all the accessories (including all her removable clothes) and Alleyne is a real bargain for the price that will provide hours of fun for serious collectors and closeted perverts alike.

Final Score: 5 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Revoltech Queen’s Blade No. 07 – Alleyne

In what I hope will become a weekly article, I’m posting my first installment of “Sunday Sales.” These articles will highlight particularly good deals that I hear about throughout the week and that I hope will be of use to the folks who read this website. I not going to deny that buying items through these will help me out financially, but that’s not the main reason I’m doing it. I’m doing it because I love bargain hunting and getting the most for my money. Even more importantly, these are companies that have treated me very well in the past and I trust them to provide me with quality service as a customer.

In the coming weeks and months, I hope you find something useful to you and that you’re able to share the savings with your friends.  In fact, if you should happen to hear about a good deal, I encourage you to share it with me so that I can pass it along to others!

Okay, enough rambling out of me.  On to this week’s deals!

Right Stuf 40% Off FUNimation Sale

Right Stuff is currently running a 40% off sale on all FUNimation titles. This sale includes all Blu-ray and DVD titles as well as other related collectibles (like lithographs, t-shirts, etc.) This means that pre-orders, special orders and backordered items are covered under this sale. The FUNImation sale runs through June 3rd and can be activated by using the coupon code: alchemist during checkout. The code is reusable, so don’t sweat it if you forget to add something when you order. It’s also worth nothing that shipping is free on orders totalling $50 or more =^_^=

• FUNimation 40% Off Sale 

Massive Amazon Videogame Promotion

Amazon is currently offering a bunch of newly released titles for $10 to $15 off MSRP in addition to including a $10 to $20 game credit that’s good toward to the purchase of another game in the future. The amount of the discount and the inclusion of game credits various from title to title, with some titles only having one or the other. Many of the titles also include a $5 download credit, but again this is not a universal offer. Lastly, I also found some unadvertised discounts that only show up when you put them in your cart. At this time, I have not heard when these promotions will end.

Here’s a short list of some of the more noteworthy titles that are currently a part of this promotion:

• Super Street Fighter IV – $10 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3)
• Halo Reach – $20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360)
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops – $20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Mass Effect 2 – $15 off MSRP + $10 game credit (Xbox 360, PC)
• Singularity -$20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit + free graphic novel (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• God of War III – $15 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (PS3)
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction – $15 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 – $20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Wii)
• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars – $5 off + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Wii)
• Red Dead Redemption – $10 off MSRP + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3)
• Alan Wake – $10 off MSRP + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360)

You can also check out a complete listing of of all the products that are currently a part of this promotion here or by scrolling through this spiffy widget I made below :P  (Please note that I’ve included all the titles I know about, but feel free to let me know in the comments section if I missed anything important.)

Set to drop in October, this adorable goblin girl is a must have for both Nendoroid fans and folks who hate books alike. Based on the main character from a Japanese light novel series, Bungaku Shoujo, which follows the life of a high school girl/book devouring demon who discovers a new type of delicacy when another student asks her to help him write a love letter. The first novel in the series was originally released in 2006 and has since spawned a manga, a forthcoming animated film and now, an adorable Nendoriod figure.

Preorders are open at all major Japanese retailers and many sites still have slots available. I personally recommend either J-List or Otacute for preordering items from Japan as both sites have provided excellent service to me in the past. Should you turn up empty handed at either of those sites, you may want to try HLJ, Ami-Ami, or Hobby Search.

More Info:

• Good Smile Company product page
• Bungaku Shōjo wiki
• Bungaku Shōjo novel on Amazon (a.k.a Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime)

More pics after the jump.