S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Agito Ground Form (2009)

Alright, let’s get it out of the way: Shouichi-kun doesn’t come with relaxed hands for his pre-kick pose(s). This never bothered me much because I’ve always had other figuarts with black hands to act as donors. He comes with some rather angry hands and a second faceplate with his crest splayed out for kicking purposes. That’s it. I know this disappoints a lot of people, but I like the figure, anyway. Burning and Shining weren’t out when I bought it and his main purpose is to be the official chef of the NegLiner. Ground Form it was meant to be. I bought him a bunch of 1:12 scale vegetables and you should too.

Additional information can be found below the cut.

4 Smiles to Warm Your Heart and Make It Grow Strong out of 5

DX Chalice Rouzer (2004)

Chalice’s belt is different than the other Riders’ in Blade for reasons that are partial spoilers. His belt is actually his Rouzer, or card scanner. You can do all of his combos, assuming of course that you have the cards necessary, because they certainly aren’t all included here. Because you can find the barcodes and print them yourself, however, I won’t penalize it for that. It can be removed from the belt itself and placed into the Chalice Arrow for attack purposes. A card holder is included and it’s nicely sculpted if not particularly useful to most collectors. Rouzing cards is a very kinetic action and I’m infinitely glad Chalice received such a beautiful and functional belt.

Comparisons of the various versions can be found below the cut.

5 Real Changes out of 5

The Ghost in the Shell Collection

Public Security Section 9 are a counter-terrorist unit that risk life and cyberized-limb in their daily dealings with specialised cyber-crime and data theft in a futuristic Japan. Each of the different versions is subtly different from the one that preceded it or came after, but they’re all 100% recognisable as GitS. The stories can sometimes be difficult to grasp, but they’re never wholly impenetrable. You can approach them from an action-orientated perspective, or you can delve deeper and engage with the philosophical questionings of self that underpin many of the situations. Either way, the team dynamic is ever-present, functioning as a stable point of reference.

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Ghost in the Shell Manga and Novels

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
02. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (2004)
03. SAC: Solid State Society (2006)
04. SAC: The Laughing Man (2007)
05. Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (2008)
06. Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain (2013)
07. Arise - Border 2: Ghost Whisper (2013)
08. Arise - Border 3: Ghost Tears (2014)
09. Arise - Border 4: Ghost Stands Alone (2014)

TV Series on Nut Box:
01. Ghost in the Shell: SAC (2003)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Ghost in the Shell OSTs.

Gosei Headder Series — Skick Brothers Set (2010)

Goseiger’s Headders are as niche a mecha convention as I’ve ever seen. I completely understand how they can appear underwhelming and pointless. However, they are an integral part of the genuine flexibility of the line as a whole. They allow far greater creativity than any other series’ mecha, that I’ve experienced. Ptera looks as fierce as Crow looks adorable and both of their mouths open for blasting purposes. They do bring this set down somewhat, though, because of the intended look for Skick Gosei Great. Taka Headder rivals Gosei Knight’s size and splits into a majestic…head for all manner of combination fun. Still, only get them if you’re getting all three sets or love Eri. You’d better.

Comparisons of the various versions can be found below the cut.

2 Hostile, Yet Gorgeous Hijackers out of 5

Land-Sea Buster Set (2010)

Straight up, this set is only worth getting if you’re after the Gosei Buster, in whole. You’ll need the Sky Buster to complete it. Hyde’s Seaick Bowgun is passable enough, even if the tip only moves back and forth when you pull the trigger. Mouné’s Landick Claw is decent, too. The Landick Axe, though… I’m so sorry, Agri. Usually it’s staff weapons suffering this badly.

With Sentai weapons, you have to place the heaviest value on the combined mode and the one here is…it’s damn impressive. It looks great without taking up too much room and is designed to be displayed tilted forward without damaging the soft plastic of the claw!

Comparisons of the various versions can be found below the cut.

2 is Better Than None out of 5

The HAMMER Dracula Collection

I confess that I really ought to have titled this a 'Vampire Collection' because, technically, while I consider them a part of the franchise, two of the films included (numbers 02 and 03) don't feature the Count, but I wanted very much to use the above picture and font, so logic be damned.

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. Dracula (1958)
02. Brides of Dracula (1960)
03.The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
04. Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
05. Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
06. Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
07. Scars of Dracula (1970)
08. Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
09. The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)
10. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)

Samurai Gattai Series 01 — Kabuto Origami (2009)

Kabuto and Kajiki origami are the hardest auxiliary mecha in the Shinkenger line to recommend on their own. Kabuto’s head rotates as you turn its disc (once you’ve unlocked the mechanism) for a spinning rail-cannon effect, both on and off of Shinken-Oh. In that particular regard, you really are just sticking a beetle on its head*. That, and shoving its legs on as a spiked-sleeve affair. Not impressive. As a wing of DaiTenkuu and part of the IkaTenkuu Buster, however, it shines. Plus, the disc is physically etched instead of having a sticker. Only purchase this individually if you’re a HUGE Chiaki (Mike) or Mako (Mia) fan.

*Yes, I am aware of the etymology and wordplay afoot.

Comparisons can be found below the cut.

 

This situation needs to be addressed. I finally did, here. Sentai is RIFE with this manner of mind-rending bullshit. Get out, now. Don't buy another thing.

2½ Snatch and Grabs out of 5

World Collectable Figure Kamen Rider Eternal and Joker (2011)

These WCF figures can be pricey to come across—possibly because of their origins—but they are remarkably nice if you can get lucky, or are just content to pay the piper. The heads are exaggerated in size somewhat, but even then they’re well done statues that are as accurate as they can be at this size. Some have compound eyes, to boot. My Eternal doesn’t have a cape, but there is one out there that does. I can fix that with a scrap of cloth and a few stitches if it ever bugs me enough, though. I can’t find any fault with Joker. Get him a 1:12 scale book to sit on his base like I did.

3½ Dollars Worth of Quarters Down the Drain out of 5

Climax Keitai Keitaros (2007)

The Keitaros phone admittedly has some flaws and shortcomings in build and function. The look of the phone is compromised by the clips that allow it to attach to the Den-O Belt and the outside appears unfinished for the same reason. It feels quite flimsy, so don’t stretch it beyond its engineered limits. The original version only has Momotaros voice clips and while I’d lose my shit over this with a (purely) Sentai toy, I can begrudgingly live with it, here, even if it should have clips from everyone BUT Momo. In terms of the henshin and hissatsu, it does its job. If you don’t want to break the bank on a Wing Form belt, but love Sieg, get this.

Comparisons of the various versions can be found below the cut.

3 Imagin Who Want to Reach Out and Tou…Possess You out of 5

The Judge Dredd Collection

Judge Dredd made his début in issue two of Britain's weekly 2000AD comic, back in 1977. Since then he's become synonymous with the title and it's impossible to think of one existing without the other.

The character has been used in the likes of RPG tabletop gaming, video games, novels and even audio dramas, but to date there's only been two films made and of those two there's only really one that managed to capture some of what made the character popular in the first place. You'll find them both below, with links to relevant posts on our other Nut sites.

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Judge Dredd Comics and Books
02. Judge Anderson Comics and Books

Films on In a Nutshell:

01. Judge Dredd (1995)

02. Dredd (2012)

03. Future Shock! The Story of 2000 AD (2014)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Dredd OST by Paul Leonard-Morgan.

Engine Gattai Series 08 — Engine Jetras (2008)

Jetras is rather sleek and organically joins the elite crew of archers who sharpen their bows into razor-edged melee weapons. Admittedly, Engine-Oh is better at attempting to draw it via perspective tricks than Toripter, but that’s appropriate in its own way because Jetras and Miu have combined with them on their own. In addition to activating the included Engine Soul, the side buttons double up as the firing mechanism for the two included missiles. They’re a crucial addition as they comprise one of Jetras’s signature attacks unlike with Kajiki Origami where they’re more of an afterthought. Jetras is also the strongest excuse for putting an Engine Soul into a flat-out incorrect Engine cast.

Comparisons between the various versions are below the cut.

4½  Warbled "V V"s out of 5

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider IXA (2010)

The absolute biggest strength of Kamen Rider IXA is that it could be any of eight characters. Characters that I mostly adore. Outside of Den-O’s Super Climax Form never have I witnessed such an economy of shelf space on display in a single figure. Every generically essential accessory seems to be present and you get heads for both Save Mode and Burst Mode. The articulation is exquisite, even in 2015.

At least one of the releases came with a stand bearing one of several quotes from Nago. Why not quotes from Yuri, Bandai?!?

5 Eternally Triumphant Souls out of 5

Sky Buster Set (2010)

The Skick Sword houses the electronics for this weapon set (as well as the full blaster, when combined with the Land-Sea Buster) and they’re everything you need and literally nothing you don’t. Eri’s Skick Shot looks really nice outside of taking one of the biggest hits in terms of scale. It rivals Agri’s Landick Axe, because it’s GIGANTIC, on screen. I will give Toei credit, the Sky Buster doesn’t appear until the very end of the series. That’s true restraint.

If you’re dying to have the Gosei Buster on your shelf, this set is fine, but know that even I had to be drunk to purchase it.

Comparisons of the various versions can be found below the cut.

2 Tribe Members A Cut Above the Rest out of 5

The Dune Collection

'Proper teaching is recognized with ease. You can know it without fail because it awakens within you that sensation which tells you this is something you have always known.' 

― Frank Herbert, Dune

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Dune (1965)
02. Dune Messiah (1969)
03. Children of Dune (1976)
04. God Emperor of Dune (1981)
05. Heretics of Dune (1984)
06. Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. Dune (1984)
02. Dune: Special TV Edition (1988)
03. Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

TV Miniseries on Nut Box:
01. Frank Herbert's Dune (2000)
02. Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)

Video Games on Nut Load:
01. Dune 2000 (1998)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Dune OST (1984) by Toto.

The .hack//Collection

The .hack// stories can be layered and engaging multi-part adventures or simplistic one-shots as plot-driven as a colouring book. That’s one of the potential consequences of spreading something over many different mediums. But if you’re a fan then you’re a fan and nothing anyone says will change your mind. I know that first-hand. All the Nuts have to offer about the World is linked below:

Video Games on Nut Load:
01. .hack//Infection//Mutation//Outbreak//Quarantine (2002-03)

Films and Shorts on In a Nutshell:
01. .hack//GIFT (2003)
02. .hack//G.U. Returner (2007)
03. .hack//G.U. Trilogy (2008)
04. .hack//Beyond the World (2012)

TV Series and OVAs on Nut Box.
01. .hack//Liminality (2003) (OVA)
02. .hack//Legend of the Twilight (2003) (TV Series)
03. .hack//Quantum (2012) (OVA)

Books on Nut Ink:
01. .hack//Manga and Light Novels

Go-Busters Sofubi Hero Series Powered Custom 01-03 and Beet & Stag Buster (2012)

Rest in Peace, Mizuki Ichiro-san.

Rest In Peace, Fujiwara Keiji-san.

These small-scale sofubi figures are typically given less paint than their full-sized counterparts and are seemingly made of even less vinyl than a straight-up proportional downscaling would dictate. You can see through them quite easily if you hold them up to a light. That said, this is the only way you’re going to get Powered Custom versions of Ryuuji and Yoko (other than keychains), as they only made Hiromu for the main Sentai Hero line. They’re perfectly serviceable even if fans are being backed into a wall. You can even get Jin and J at this scale and pose them all doing the Volcanick All Busters Attack.

3 Buddyroids Who Haven't Learned to Press Ctrl + C out of 5

DX Blay and Garren Buckles (2004)

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that Garren is flipping us off?

Straight gangsta, all day, every day.

Blade and Garren’s belts are so similar that they should have been a single piece with interchangeable suit plates for the flipping panel. The plastic colors and paint apps are different shades, but that could have been remedied by having the show props be identical. They’re made by the same organization, after all. The execution is screen-accurate, but it doesn’t translate well. Having to clip the belt in for the standby sound is cool when CGI is on your side, but not here. Shove a change card in, pull the handle, a panel flips. It’s a shame when amazing Riders get shitty belts. These are only necessary for a completist display and should be the first things skipped.

Comparisons and a list of the availability of DX rouze cards are located below the cut.

1 Lame Trick Pony, Twice Over out of 5