Playarts Kai: Wonder Woman (Dawn of Justice)

Well, 2016 is a good year for imports for me! A second Playarts Kai and this time in the form of Wonder Woman in her cinematic appearance in Dawn of Justice! I had some doubt when Gal Gadot took the lasso and bracelet for the role, but I started really warming up when I saw images of her in the costume; then seeing her in action was definitely the seller. Dawn of Justice is not your Civil War caliber (DC is about 52% dislikes and 48% likes; I made that number up but it makes sense, right? 52? New 52. Get it?), but it still had some good things. Wonder Woman was definitely the 'good thing' for me. So how does her PAK version fare?

The box is a standard PAK box, though mine came in damaged, which was a bit of a bummer but nothing to gripe over.

The number "4", which we got Batman, Armored Batman, and Superman before her. I do hope there isn't a number 5 since the only other choices are "Doomsday(ABOMINATION)" and Lex Luthor. God no!

PAK's famous open book/window box case. At first, I thought it was missing it(thus the missing figure), which struck me odd. It wasn't until Wonder Woman was out of the box that this certain feature carried over to their Dawn of Justice figures. There is, of course, a bio, which you can't necessarily read with the shot I took. Buy the figure if you want to read it so bad! (advertisement, much?)

I mentioned how I really like the Cinematic take on Wonder Woman's outfit. If there is one thing I have to say is that they tried to really get the sexy, exposed, and very flaunting side of Wonder Woman's outfit but still managed to make it make sense. It has a very 'warrior-greek-roman' like look to it--something that pays homage to 'where' Wonder Woman came from mythos wise. The colors are darker than her original outfit, but it is still recognizable. The paint job did well to duplicate that. Flesh tones are done well of course. Playarts Kai is usually really good with the finer details of color.

Now as for the mold, Diana's playarts kai version has a few glaring mishaps. First and foremost, you can probably see it now from her profile; the armpit area doesn't do a good job hiding joints... and while Playarts Kai isn't known to hide joints well(knee joints), they're not usually horrendous; though the work on Diana over here kind of shows a different work of art. It's not bad, but you can't do a whole lot of 'overly' dynamic poses with her arms up. It just looks odd. I'm not sure how the Variant Wonder Woman was able to hide her joints, but I get the feeling it's not as bad as this. Also, I'm going to pick on this since it is based on an actress visage of an iconic comic book heroine: she looks nothing like Gal Gadot. It's almost like PAK TRIED their best NOT to make her look like the beautiful Gal. She's not ugly, but still, to make her look like Gal would have been nice since I am fond of that actress. Overall, her body isn't overly sexy but it isn't brute-like. Wonder Woman has always been your typical sexy and appealing type, but I do think she has to have some 'masculine' features; masculine, but still retain some sort of feminine sexiness. The figure does a good job of doing that despite the mold flaws.

Accessory wise, I think she comes with a passable amount. The sword and shield is highly appreciated, the variations on her hands is okay--could have more, but can't complain too much. Then of course we have her insipid lasso. For a weapon that she is well known for (both as a receiver and the giver), this one lacks in fun factor. Also, I do wish they have her some face variations. Definiltey not one of PAK's finest moments with Wonder Woman. Oh, we can't forget about the standard PAK stand, which I'm starting to slightly warm up to. If I get more PAKs, I might get used to this thing.

And as I said, The Golden Lasso of Truth is honestly a boring addition to Wonder Woman's Playarts Kai version. It doesn't do anything but just 'sit' there. With the bendy wire that can be applied to some of the figures these days (like Playarts Kai Supergirl's cape), one could definitely make an adequate Lasso for Wonder Woman and make her fun factor hike up. Unfortuantely, no. Still, glad she has it even if it's not exactly something that can be used. Also, while it's not an accessory of the figure, the bracelets are included with great details! Anoter Wonder Woman signature item (both the lasso and the bracelet used to be a major bondage icon for Diana as well!).

The shield is amazing. It has a metallic look to it, which makes it look like actual metal. It has 'battle wear and tears' on it, which makes it look even more realistic. It is obviously greek-roman like; reminds me of Perseus' shield from Clash of the Titans for some reason. Oh, it's a pretty decent size and she holds it decently enough. It's not exactly a tight fit, but it suffices.

The sword is pretty awesome; nothing too special, but it does its job well. It's not exactly a blade with the most grandeur design and it's not PAK's doing. The blade was pretty ordinary looking based on what I saw in Dawn of Justice. I think they might have a story to it; maybe.

Now going right into her articulation, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman retains most of what Playarts Kai is known for. You can get her into some decent dynamic scenes that are going to be sufficient for someone who spends a lot of time fighting with her blade and martial arts. Though as I mentioned before, some angles make her look too much like a 'toy', and while she is that, imports try their best to hide the joints to give a more realistic look; unfortunately PAK didn't do a good job, or didn't do the job at all when it comes to Wonder Woman's upper body. Her hair does not have the much desired hair articulation that we have seen before, but they did go with a shorter haired Wonder Woman; again, they were trying not to make her look like Gal Gadot for some reason.

Despite those, you'll get some good actions shots. Her stand helps out a lot to give her the flying, jumping, and all those dynamic in the air scenes. Heck, you might even be able to get her in a sitting position to imply that she is driving her invisible jet. I didn't try that, honestly.

Couldn't resist! Here is Playarts Wonder Woman in a classic pose, courtesy of Playarts Kai variant Batman.

And here she is with a personal favorite Playarts Kai Variant of mine, Supergirl. As you can tell, Kara's red is way more pronounced than Diana's.

Despite her flaws, I am pleased with this figure. Again, she could look more like Gal, could have better invisible joints, and some face variants would have done the trick. Her lack of articulated Golden Lasso took some points down too since that is one of her most prominent signature weapon. Sadly, with both Fran and Wonder Woman lacking that 'flare' that we would expect from PAK (especially for that price point), I might be a bit more hesitant with upcoming releases. There are some good characters coming out, but again, I have to be careful. Though I'd give this figure a "B", so it's more than passable. If you are a Wonder Woman fan and want a cinematic figure of her, this might be the only one we have that is in a decent price range(go for the hot toys one if you want). As a Wonder Woman fan, I chose this over her Hot Toy form but I think I might give that one a try.
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Remember ... Far Away Times ... Just Remember

Masterless: Remember the rage. Let it fester. Don't let it go. Remember it always for it will be the driving force of what will give you a definition for the next. Do not squander your purpose into the meaningless and empty promises of 'a better tomorrow'. Do not falter when someone offers their hand. Remember the pain. Feel the wounds inflicted on you by the very people that said they'll be there for you.

Remember the one who was supposed to guide you. The one who gave you life and held you. The one who was supposed to be there to teach you things that life can't teach on its own. Remember her betrayal, her lack of guidance, and her inability to cast her pride aside even just for a moment to give you her ears.

Remember your peers and how they mocked you. Do not let the memories of their cruelty slip pass your train of thought. Recall how they encumbered you with words of how much better they are. Do not forget that they always told you that you failed.

Remember the words given by blood on how you won't amount to anything. Do not let that lesson be for naught. They spent years abusing you, breaking your strength, and diminishing your confidence until you grew up with barely any. They are unkind and you cannot let that be forgiven.

Remember the one who vowed to you. The promises she made of how eternity would be yours. Always remember, drown, and suffer for what she has done. The fact that she couldn't fight for you, the fact that she is willing to walk away after everything, the painful thought that it all could have been rectified had she just tried to fix things with you. Do not let yourself believe again because what she offered, what she told you, what she promised, and how she said she loved you was just a fallacy... like the meaning of love itself. Always keep in your mind that while you struggled to find a meaning for yourself, she found another and moved on when you were trying. Another testament that only you are the one who tries... everyone else just gives false vows.

Remember the other who said the same word. Shared the same feelings. Remember how she moved on, how she forgot, and when you came back with nothing, she was unwilling to set aside her morals just to take pity while you bleed. She couldn't listen, didn't want to listen, didn't believe in you, nor wanted to. She made you look like a fool because she was so enthused with the idea of heroism. She made you look like a fool and has the audacity to tell you she loves you when she dares not lift a finger to fight for you. She might have suffered in your debacle, but faced with the same situation, she did the same thing--unable to let go for the sake of 'old times'. Allowing heroism to dismantle, ridicule, and spit at your worth while she turns her back and shrugs her shoulders.

Remember the hero and how he promised he'd fight with you. How he said he'd be the last when he himself walked away when you were suffering; he made his own salvation while you suffered and he smirked and laughed, and while you crawled, he sat there and challenged your ideals, your meaning, and continues to give false notions. Demanding change and playing the victim when he gives none in return to make things better. Let the events of his pride forever haunt you this lifetime.

Remember the one who gave you promises but constantly failed. The one who did it all for her second life and merely forgot you. Remember her pride, her inability to listen. her constant need to stumble and feel bad. You've given her a lot only to receive very little. She is but a fragment of the meaning but do not forget what lesson she taught.

Remember the individuals who continue to run about saying this and saying that, spewing out sentiments that they have your best interest at heart when in truth, they are guided by their own self-motivation. Remember their false guidance, their inability to tell the truth, and their lack of honor.

Remember everything. Remember all your life. When that is done, if you are able to hold on to the grief, the malice, and channel the rage, next life time, you will be you.

You will not wait for karma... you are going to be karma. You will be their distraught, their penance, and you will be the cold winds that will forever haunt them, remind them, and diminish their spirit. You will take everything, cripple foundations, and when they fall, you give them enough willpower to stand back up only to take it away... let them bleed. Let them remember. Let them feel how inadequate and incompetent they are when EVERYONE they thought should be there isn't there. Let them pay for their sins. Let them remember the meaning of despair.

Be the black wings that will carry them to their doom.

Let them remember that for what they have done, they will pay the ultimate price.

Remember. In those far away times, you will be harbinger of vengeance. As they make believe in a better tomorrow, you will reap the benefits of their past debacles.

You are the villain. Don't forget. 

Masterless: "To good Friends"

Masterless: When I was young I once had a dream that I would have a group of friends; friends who would walk the journey of life with me. Friends who would fight along with me. Laugh with me. Make me better. Friends who are real. Friends who don't use you for their own self gain. Friends who don't berrate you, or shun you down so that they may feel like heroes. Friends who don't abandon you. Friends who never grow apart with time but only grow stronger. 

Friends who will play the role of life with you.

Friends who will live and die with you. 

And when the Epilogue comes and the next lifetime is ready to take you to far away times... those friends, their legacy, their meaning, and what they stood for will remain with you. From one lifetime, to the next. 

Yes I once believed in fairy tales. I once thought that these people exist. I once thought love exists. But... I know when the Epilogue comes, I will remember the friends I lost, the friends I fought, the friends who fought me, and the friends who left. The friends who looked down on you and smirked, the friends who continued to remind you of your villainy...

Friends who aren't friends. 

When I leave this world behind, I will remember being alone. I will be the dark cloud that shall challenge the fools and their fallacies. I will be the one that they cannot and will not defeat. 

I will be the Villain this world made me to be. 

I wish I had good friends... friends who would fight for me. Try for me. Friends who would remind me that I am still worth something despite the cold and cruel fate that I hold. Despite the knowledge and irrefutable fact that burdens me....

Friends who will be there to far away times and at the end of it. Maybe if they were there, the Epilogue wouldn't be so bad. 

ML Juggernaut BAF: Kitty Pryde(Shadow Cat)

Another figure from the Juggernaut BAF that came out this year. Truthfully, I didn't think I would haver her in my collection but she comes with a particular accessory that is a must if I am to pull through on getting another BAF (more on this later). Regardless, let's review Kitty, shall we?

The new box of the Juggernaut BAF. Something I didn't add in the Iceman review is the logo of the X-Men symbol being on top to match the color scheme.

The rest of the box should be a familiar sight regardless of what 'team' or 'franchise' Marvel is highlighting. More of then than not, the figure is displayed in a rather lackluster position.

Now as the figure itself, it is definiltey hindered by the design of the character. Kitty Pryde has gone through some extravagant changes in her costume; some of these said changes she did on her own (look up Sprite or Shadowcat) and suffice to say, most did not really sink in well. This design is more or less a homage to the original outfit of the X-Men. The better of her costume, I'd say.

Getting right into the paint job, Kitty is a contrast of bright and dark. It's not a bad combo, but it definitley makes it easy for Hasbro to gloss over their paint budget. The mold is pretty good for a young woman. All comic book gals have to be fit, no duh. As for her visage, she's pretty plain jane; not a bad thing. While her ponytail look is not my favorite, I am glad that Hasbro went with this hairstyle just to add some variations in the styling of their Marvel gals in figure form.

Now Kitty only comes with one accessory: Lockheed, which is a staple partner that this X-(wo)Man is typically drawn with. An extraterrestrial dragon who exceeds Kitty's understanding of the worlds outside their own, apparently. I can't really think of what else they could have done with Kitty to make her powers work in the accessory form. Background with a built in 'phase in' limb? A transparent limb? This one has me perplexed so I am not griping about the lack of; I am however excited that she comes with TWO BAF pieces for TWO separate characters. That's right! TWO! I did not purchase the Red Onslaught wave, but I WILL buy that Onlsaught BAF without the characters. I have to have an Onslaught in his first form!

Now to talk about her articulation: this one is a tough one to judge. Sure it's easy to say that she lacks or she is standard. It's easy to complain about the lack of accessories. The thing is, Kitty Pryde's power is difficult to translate into figure form. Sadly, that leaves us with just a standing Kitty Pryde with a few dynamic scenes. Truly, it's hard to tweak the figure as if she is phasing in and out of a wall or the ground. Least she has the standard range of motions, though! Still, wish Hasbro would get into hair articulation!

If anything, she has her pal Lockheed to keep her company!

Or maybe her comic book boyfriend(at the moment), Star Lord, man! By the way, these two are not accurate when we are talking about height. Cinematic Universe seems to be smaller than comic book versions.

And a sexy Kitty Pryde to end it off. All in all, decent. I like having her in my collection, but I'm not thoroughly impressed with this figure. Again, a lot of that is going to be factored in to the character's power and how it is truly not Hasbro's fault. Though I'm sure the company could have found a way to be sneaky and impress... but we all know Hasbro won't go that route. With that said, my X-Men shelf is getting bigger! 

ML Juggernaut BAF: Iceman

I believe this is my first Marvel Legends in a long time; well, long for a collector's point of view. Then again, February(Absorbing Man) is a long time, considering! The BAF series has become so over populated as of late and it's been really hard to keep up with them; and honestly, it's not all about financial hinderance... for the most part, I feel as if the market is overdosed with too many and not enough "quality". What I mean is, some of them are just not that appealing despite. Well, I won't get too heavy in that now. Let's just get right into Iceman.

The Juggernaut BAF is probably the most anticipated wave out of the lot in 2016. That's a pretty big statement and I'm only saying that because it's been a while since we had an X-Men wave (Jubilee BAF being the last one). Avengers and Spider-Man get their fill, but because of Marvel Studios and Fox's heat, it seems that X-Men is getting some heat. But here they are with a brand new wave and with some really desired figures in the line up.

Brand new wave, brand new box design. They seem to go with the gold and yellow theme that can be applied to the X-Men uniform colors(Blue and Yellow are some of them as  well). But the box is obviously not the highlight of this figure.

The highlight is, of course, the figure itself... more specifically, his aesthetics! It's been a long time since we have had a great, much less, a decent Iceman figure and I say this one fits the bill. Hasbro made the skin look like ice and they went with the Iceman that has more definition rather than his 'ice cube head' look from his early days. I think it was when White Queen took over Iceman's body that his 'spiked version' emerged; he learned how to 'adapt' his body and use his ice powers to create armor and such to make him a more valid melee character. Eventually, the spiked hair emerged and gave him a hip and cool look!

His figure form is satisfying in terms of looks alone. Again it has a transparent form to him, which makes him look detailed in paint. Depending on how the light hits him, he does have different shades of blue and the sculpting on him is definitely something I appreciate. But probably the biggest qualm I have with the mold is how 'gummy' he feels. Because they had to make him look like ice, I think they had to go with the rubbery plastic which makes just holding him remind you of the 'articulated' figures of way back when with the rubber body and the bendy wire; as little softer too.

He does have details on his face and body. He isn't flat at all, which again, gave this figure a lot of fun factor. They went with mid 20s Robert Drake, which, I personally like. Though he falls short on some areas that I am about to get into.

Accessories. I could say that it's a domestic Hasbro retail figure so we shouldn't expect much on accessories, but that just isn't the case. Hasbro has turned their game up and delivered with some amazing figures with their own respected effects, weapons, etc. As for Iceman... Hasbro got cold feet in giving him something aside from his spikes on his back and Juggy's BAF arm. To be more specific, Ice effects and his SIGNATURE ICE 'road' are desperately needed!

As far as his range of movements go, he is pretty standard so that's good. He has the usual articulation we would expect from Marvel Legends and he doesn't fail at that in my opinion. Though I believe he has thigh rotations, it's just mine is stuck for some reason. Nothing to really gripe about since his other 'issues' are something that will take away from his fun factor.

This is more along the lines of accessories included gripe, or should I say: 'lack' of accessories. Iceman needs ice powers affect. Not only for his hands to assimilate him shooting down foes with his ice beams, but also for his signature travelling method! While we are used to having figures without beams or firepower coming out of their hands(Hasbro is listening though, they are providing some for characters like Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Dr. Strange, etc) but for someone like Iceman, a character with a unique ways of using his powers... the angles on his 'tradmeark' poses just doesn't come of as cool. He just looks like he is doing spider poses which... isn't Iceman's thing at all. Still, more power for this figure for being as flexible as he is. His 'gummy' plastic does make him a bit too frail and his legs give out here and there, but again, nothing compared to my main complaint.

Oh and for anyone to see what he looks like without those Ice Spikes. Those are for sure a must 'stay on'.

This figure's major downfall is the lack of accessories, other than that, I am really happy I finally have a modern Iceman figure. Definitley one of my favorite X-Men characters and this is my favorite version of him. Maybe Hasbro could have added those saccessories. Or maybe go with what toybiz did way back when and give him 'transformed' hands or such... without those, this figure doesn't quite hit it out of the park. Regardless, I still like him. And he is a fantastic addition to my X-Men collection!
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