Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Figures
4.5" Action Figures
from Bandai
Review
by : Troy
Brownfield
Some of
you may be wondering why I’m reviewing something that’s been
out a while. Frankly, I’m a completist. And if I acquire enough
of something, I write about it. Also, with the growing presence
of anime related reviews on our site, I thought that it was
only right that I should write up the extremely popular Gundam
Wing 4.5” figures. To top that off, Bandai will soon be releasing
Original Mobile Suit Gundam figures, and I want to make sure
that we’re up to date. Are we all clear on that? Good. On
to the stuff.
Gundam,
that insanely popular giant-robot genre from Japan, has attained
massive popularity in the U.S., thanks largely to the Cartoon
Network. With its Toonami block, the ‘toon Net’ has made anime
accessible to a cadre of new converts. Among the most popular
of their translated programming is Gundam Wing, one of the
many Gundam TV series. Bandai has logically been marketing
Gundam Wing items to go along with the show’s popularity.
While
there are several very fine model kits out, I’ll be focusing
on the 4.5” figures. They are fairly inexpensive, come pre-assembled,
look great, and are very playable for the younger fans. The
4.5” figures break down into three groups; these are the Basic
assortment, the Deluxe, and the Deluxe Endless Waltz assortment.
On with it:
The
Basic
There
are ten figures in the basic grouping. They cover the five
main Gundams, and their five frequent antagonists.
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Wing Gundam ©
Bandai
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Wing
Gundam: This is the basic Gundam, the linchpin eponymous
robot of the show. Equipped with a beam sabre, buster rifle
and shield, he’s a particularly striking little guy. He’s
very articulated, and Wing Gundam’s name-appropriate wings
are poseable as well.
It also
worthy to note right away that all of the figures are constructed
of a softer, more malleable plastic than a lot of other figures.
It makes them more resistant to rough play from younger collectors.
Also, nearly every limb or weapon will pop right off and pop
right back on. These things are very tough to permanently
break via conventional play. I spoke to a woman with a five-year
old son, and she loves them because if an arm snaps off, he
snaps it right back on and keeps going. Spawn, he noted wisely,
just breaks.
Gundam
Deathscythe: While the basic figure looks very nice, the
Deluxe version and Deluxe Endless Waltz version beat it cold.
It’s good for completists, but if you want one version of
Deathscythe, grab one of the others.
Gundam
Heavyarms: Almost ditto. The basic one is cool and colorful,
but it’s got nothing on the weapons-laden bad-ass that is
the Deluxe Endless Waltz version.
Gundam
Sandrock: Now here’s a basic figure that I believe supercedes
the Deluxe treatment. Sandrock comes with a shield, an extra
interchangeable hand for gun-toting, a machine gun, and his
signature weapons, two huge Energy Sickles. Even though all
the Gundams have that particular “robo-samurai” look, I find
Sandrock to be particularly effective. The black-and-yellow
prominent colors look very cool.
Shenlong
Gundam: Here’s another basic that is followed up on by
two Deluxe versions. Still, Shenlong has some cool features.
The removeable shield and beam glaive are nice-looking accessories,
but this neatest part of Shenlong is the extending Dragon
Claw arm. I love figures with “power-actions” that don’t impede
the look of the piece, and this is one of those.
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Leo ©
Bandai
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Tallgeese
and Tallgeese II: This figures are virtually the same
in terms of construction and accessories. Completists may
want both, but the casual fan will probably only want one.
Still, the stark white of the first Tallgeese contrasts nicely
to the more colorful nature of the rest of the line.
Gundam
Epyon: This is one of my favorites. With its bat-like
wings and especially distinctive sword and whip, Epyon looks
dramatically different from the other Gundams, and that’s
before totalling in the impact of its burned-red color scheme.
My wife probably likes this one the best too; it’s a sharp
looking machine.
Army
Mode Leo and Space Mode Leo: Like the Tallgeese, these
two use the same basic body. However, the Army Mode Leo comes
in drab olive green and the Space Mode Leo is a bright purple.
While their bucket-shaped heads aren’t particularly exciting,
their variety of weapons and the fact that they are the “cannon-fodder”
of the series make them great parts of the line. The Army
Leo has a great machine-gun and flight accessory, but the
color of the Space Leo really jumps out. They’re both solid.
The
Deluxe
There
are three “non-Endless Waltz” Deluxe figures: Wing Gundam
Zero, Gundam Deathscythe Hell, and Altron Gundam.
Wing
Gundam Zero: The punched-up version of Wing Gundam really
jumps out at you. With two buster rifles (that can be combined
into one huge one), a beam sabre, a shield, and foldable,
multiple-part jet wings, the figure on the card looks almost
secondary to the sheer amount of accessories. However, the
figure has an impressive look in its own right, especially
the colorful shoulder pads.
Gundam
Deathscythe Hell: Probably the best feature of this figure
is the folding armor. It presents a nice visual. In addition,
the double-bladed scyhte looks especially wicked. However,
it’s still the second-best version of Deathscythe.
Altron
Gundam: The next step in the evolution of Shenlong, Altron
comes loaded with gear. It’s got a trident, a shoulder-shield,
and a winged jet-pack with a “dragon-mounted” cannon that
reaches up over the figure’s head. Altron also goes Shenlong
one better by having two extendable Dragon Claw arms. Very
nice.
Deluxe
Endless Waltz
Drawn
from designs for the Endless Waltz film by Hajime Katoki,
these are truly impressive.
Wing
Gundam Zero Custom: It’s gotta be the wings. The feather-like,
stylized four-part set of wings just scream cool. This Gundam
has such a unique look that it demands to be displayed in
a place of honor. It also comes with the requisite beam sabre
and pair of rifles.
Gundam
Heavyarms Custom: Talk about firepower. Heavyarms here
comes with a dual-gatling gun for each arm, plus unfolding
weapons sections on the shoulders and chest. All told, there
are a whopping 96 barrels and/or launch tubes on this figure.
Outrageous, over-the-top, and utterly cool.
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Deathscythe ©
Bandai
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Gundam
Deathscythe Hell Custom: The king of the Deathscythe figures
is also one of the best in the whole line. Enormous, unfolding
bat-wings that can double as a protective shield coupled with
a huge version of the namesake weapon make this one an absolute
treat. This is the kind of figure that makes even non-fans
stop and say, “Whoa! What the hell is that?!”
Gundam
Sandrock Custom: Though I’m partial to the basic Sandrock,
this one has some great touches. For one, the big cloak is
cool. For another, the two HUGE sickles really make him stand
out visually.
Gundam
Nataku: The final version of Shenlong/Altron still has
the trident, but the Dragon Claw arms have been blown up to
exaggerated, almost mythic proportions. It really must be
seen to be believed. Very cool.
As a whole,
Bandai has managed to turn out some really, really impressive
work here. While I look forward to the Original Gundam Series
figures, Bandai could mine Gundam Wing for some great designs,
like the Serpent or the Aries. I guess that’s the highest
compliment: Bandai’s Gundam Wing figures leave you wanting
more.
Troy Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. If he owned a
life-sized Gundam, he can think of a couple of ex-bosses that
he’d like to visit.
Email him at psikotyk@aol.com.
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