The end of the year is approaching, so that means it’s time to list off my 10 favorite figures of the year. I had a lot of great ones to choose from, but ultimately, these are the ones that made the cut.
10. S.H. Figuarts Pac-Man
This one took me by surprise. Who’d have thought that a ball with arms and legs could be so much fun, especially in articulated form? But Tamashii Nations pulled it off, making an extremely engaging figure that could achieve many expressive poses. This articulated Pac-Man ate up a lot of his competitors to get the number 10 slot.
9. S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla Ultima
This is another one that surprised me, in that one of the issues that sometimes plague the MonsterArts line, the tendency of joints to easily pop off, especially on their larger figures, was not present here. His 18” tail could twist and turn in many directions and remain intact. The sculpt is fantastic, the paint is good, and he looks great, easily standing out among a sea of similar Godzillas. His accessories, mainly those laughable tiny Jet Jaguar figures, are a letdown, but the main figure more than makes up for it.
8. Mafex Infinity War Captain America
Mafex was late to the game, releasing their IW Cap several years after the movie’s release, but boy, did they more than make up for their tardiness. While S.H. Figuarts rushed to give us their Cap to capitalize on the newness of the movie, that effort was atrocious. Mafex gave us everything we needed and then some! 2 sets of Wakanda shields, multiple hands, 2 different Black Order spears, a great face sculpt and excellent articulation made bearded Steve Rogers worth the wait.
NECA gave us various versions of their classic King Kong. I picked up the one with an articulated mouth and some dinosaurs. Once I got him out of the box, he was so much fun to pose. NECA gave the 8th Wonder of the World much respect, and the result is a figure that’s a must-have for any Kong fan.
6. Tie: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Z Original and Ultraman Leo
This was a hard choice, as both these figures were the best of their Ultraman line, and I loved them equally, so they took their spot on the list together. Both had great articulation and a ton of accessories to make them rise above the rest. Whichever of these you pick up, you’ll be satisfied.
5. Minipla Plastic Model Sevenger
This lovable robot was one of my favorite characters form Ultraman Z, and this last year, I purchased 3 different releases of this guy. Unfortunately, only this plastic model kit was the one that kicked ass. The Figuarts version came very close, but then they had to fuck it up with those wobbly legs that make him a pain to stand up without falling over. Not so with the Minipla. Despite having to assemble him (it was actually easier than I thought it would be), once put together, he’s simply awesome! His impressive articulation, coupled with extra hands and eyes make him so expressive and lovable. If you only get one articulated Sevenger, THIS is the one to get.
4. S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla 1989
Considered by many fans to be one of the best suits, Tamashii Nations delivered by giving us a highly detailed and screen accurate version of BioGoji. This guy is simply beautiful, and is easily one of the best Godzilla figures they’ve given us. Predictably, they did not include any extras, which would have made this release score higher on my list, but the attention to detail they gave him makes him one of my absolute favorites. Once in hand, 1989 Godzilla was love at first sight.
3. S.H. MonsterArts King Kong 2021
This guy turned out to be one of Tamashii Nations most fun, kick-ass releases. Wonderfully expressive articulation and a nice set of extras make him an absolute blast to own. He can achieve so many cool poses that the sky’s the limit on how you can display him. When taking action figure photos, I find myself reaching for this Kong more than others, he’s simply that great.
2. Mafex Hush Batman Black Version
Mafex releases some of the best comic book versions of DC and Marvel characters, and this Batman is a stunning example. A fantastic sculpt, great articulation and an awesome set of accessories make this dude soar high above others. This is another action figure that I find myself reaching for more often, he’s just that much fun. There have been MANY Batman figures released, but this is the one that made me pull the trigger on buying one, and he’s absolutely worth it.
1. S.H. MonsterArts Gigan Great Decisive Battle Version
Holy Space Chickens, this guy is fucking awesome! I’m SO glad that Tamashii Nations decided to re-release this stunning figure, with added extras. He was pricey, but worth every last cent. A highly detailed sculpt, nice articulation and impressive accessories make this the definitive Final Wars Gigan to own.
Tamashii Nations made it very easy to swap out his claws and head so as to switch him from his first look, to his upgraded, chainsaw appearance. And with his beam and shooting cables, you can just about duplicate any scene from the film, or just have a blast posing him and taking photos, as I did. Due to the multiple spikes on his body, he can be a challenge to grasp onto, as you’ll easily get your fingers poked if handling him wrong, but he’s absolutely worth it.
S.H. MonsterArts made this cyborg kaiju so amazing and fun, he’s one of the best releases from this line, period! I’m so happy I had the opportunity to finally add him to my collection, he’s that excellent. I’ll leave with a final, stop motion clip to demonstrate his awesomeness.
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