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Perfect Cell? Just About:
Irwin's Dragon Ball Z Series 6
Action
Figure Review by: Troy
Brownfield
More
info:
www.irwintoy.com,
www.dragonballz.com
 Ever
since Irwin Toy began producing original sculpts in their
Dragon Ball Z line (as opposed to recasts of the less articulated
Japanese figures), the outcome has been nothing short of incredible.
The latest series, just in time for the holidays, delivers
some of their best work yet.
Overall
Notes: This five-figure assortment reflects characters and
situations from the Android and Cell sagas. Each figure comes
with a medallion depicting a scene from the anime, as well
as three Dragon Balls. A new feature that I noticed is the
use of darkened lines to make details pop out visually in
select places (a technique not dissimilar to Gundam panel
lines).
Super
Saiyan Goku (in Saiyan Armor): Being the hero of the Dragon
Ball universe, Goku's inclusion is really no surprise. At
least when Irwin does a character that they're already done,
they draw upon a version that actually exists in the framework
of the anime and manga's continuity. This version of Goku,
in his blonde, bulked Super Saiyan form, wears the Saiyan
armor that he donned to train in the Time Chamber. Granted,
it's a minor piece of the larger story, but completists should
be pleased. The figure is articulated at the neck, shoulders,
hips and knees.
Super
Saiyan Trunks (in Saiyan Armor): The first thing you notice
about Vegeta's son in this form in his hair: it's enormous.
The crazy follicles and the spread-armed pose give this one
an instantly distinctive look. Trunks has the same articulation
as Goku. While Trunks doesn't spend a whole lot of screen
time in this form, his assault on Cell with his new power
buys Vegeta, Goku and Gohan critical time. It's a cool one
to have.
Android
16: I'm very pleased with the treatment that the quietest
(and tallest) android got. Initially developed to kill Goku,
he winds up on the side of the Z-Fighters as they battle Cell.
The character's arc is very interesting, and he translates
into a very cool figure. Among the tallest figures in the
whole line, 16 showcases some well-crafted hair and an implacable
gaze. The left hand also detaches. 16's articulation matches
that of Goku and Trunks, with the extra of a moveable waist.
One minor complaint: it would have been great for the figure
to have a detachable head, mainly because I enjoy the scene
where the decapitated 16 urges Gohan to embrace his anger
to defeat Cell and save his friends (take that, Lucasfilm).
Android
19: The bloated candyass of the android clan is a surprisingly
fun figure. First off, he's fat. Fat figures=hilarity. Second,
every time I picture this guy, I think of his running from
Vegeta like a schoolgirl until Vegeta dismembers him. It's
a relatively minor character in the Dragon Ball pantheon,
but again, completists will dig him. This tub of guts is articulated
at the neck, shoulders, wrists, and hips. I don't think that
there's a knee joint big enough for him.
Perfect
Cell with Cell Jr.: This is the jewel of the assortment
right here. Among the most despicable characters in the DBZ
universe, Cell is the energy-sucking, android absorbing powerhouse
that nearly smokes everybody. He's packed in with one of the
midget duplicates of himself that he creates to hold the Z-Fighters
at bay (it's essentially an unarticulated PVC, but what a
great additional detail). Cell's sculpt is very impressive.
The wings look just right and his retracted stinger protrudes
from his back (too bad that couldn't make the stinger an extendable
mechanism). Sheer look coupled with narrative importance make
this one a must-own. Cell is articulated at the neck, shoulders,
waist, hips and knees.
Once
again, Irwin has elevated their craft. Each passing assortment
gets better. Though I'm drop-dead curious as to when we'll
finally see Tien and Yamcha, I trust Irwin will make all of
our DBZ favorites. And in grand style.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. He also
thinks that a figure of Frieza in his floating chair would
be killer.
Email him at psikotyk@aol.com.
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