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S.H. Figuarts Eleking



First announced in late March of this year, S.H. Figuarts Eleking was a figure I have been looking so forward to. My pre-order just arrived this last week, and this goofy space eel kaiju is everything I had hoped for (and had wanted to be released in this line for a long time). Let's check him out.











Bandai Tamashii Nations did a fantastic job in capturing Eleking's appearance, from his white body with black markings that resemble cracks and spots, to his mouth that appears to be shaped in a goofy smile with some type of grill in it, his antennas on top of his head (they also act as eyes), and his very long tail. The sculpt is accurate to his appearance in Ultraseven, something that various sofubi figures have not always gotten correct over the years (the original Bandai vinyl was rather stiff). The paint job is also very nice. He sports a light streak of dark paint running down his back and all along his tail, and several wash highlights on his neck, arms and legs. I'm very pleased with the way he turned out. The only accessory he comes with is an alternate curled tail, which can be used to wrap around his enemies and deliver an electric shock. The end of this piece is a softer plastic, making it easier to wrap around various Ultra and kaiju opponents. You simply pop out the tail at the 5th segment and replace it with the curled one. It swaps out easily, and has a thick ball joint, so you need not worry about breakage. I'm satisfied with this accessory, though they could have given him some energy discs or electric bolts that he shoots from his mouth, or some that shoot from his atennas. At least Eleking got something, considering most Godzilla figures in the MosterArts line only come with the sole figure.










Eleking's articulation includes head on a ball joint, 2 ball joints in his neck, swivels at his antennas, allowing them to spin fully around, ball joint upper torso and waist, ball joint shoulders and thighs, single jointed elbows, a ball jointed knee, ball joint wrists and ankles, and multiple ball joints on his very long tail. What I love about it is that you can pose and curl the tail in many different directions, and nothing pops off. That was something I was slightly worried about, but thankfully, Eleking's tail is solid. So good in fact, that it makes Bandai's decision to give their previously released Golza a bendy wire tail that more perplexing. Eleking's awesome tail engineering is a sad reminder of what could have been for Golza. Anyway, he can do a variety of kicks, one-legged stands and crouching poses, and he holds them all well. I had a lot of fun posing this cool electric eel monster.











Eleking is one of Tsuburaya's most popular kaiju. From his debut in episode 3 of Ultraseven, he went on to become a fan favorite, re-appearing in various Ultra series throughout the years (the most recent being Ultraman Decker). The reason why I have always loved Tsuburaya kaiju is because of how unusual and odd they are. Most American monsters were either dinosaurs or giant insects, but the creatures that appeared in Ultraman shows were oftentimes distinctly weird, and Eleking fits that category, looking like a mix of dinosaur, eel and space monster, with his spinning antennas and bizarre mouth. Tamashii Nations released a fantastic Eleking in their now defunct Ultra Act line, and for several years, I considered biting the bullet and getting me one. The high price is what stopped me, so I was thrilled when it was announced that he would be released in the Figuarts line. I wonder if the price of the Ultra Act will now drop, as it is no longer the only highly articulated Eleking available?








S.H. Figuarts Eleking is another fantastic release from the Ultraman line. The sculpt and paint are great, the articulation kicks ass, and the extra wrap around tail is an essential part of his character. I can now mark him off my list of kaiju that were on my Figuarts wish list. He's an example of what Bandai Tamashii Nations can do when they put effort into making a figure impeccable. They knocked this release out of the park. Eleking absolutely soars.









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