Posted by Leah Bayer on January 13, 2013 |
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When it was first announced that a third female pilot would be joining the Evangelion gang, I think the fandom let out a collective groan. The assumption was that she was just eye candy there for merchandise potential, and would have no substance. Well, were we ever wrong! While my heart will always belong to Asuka, Mari skyrocketed up the list of my favorite characters even with her brief screentime.
But while Mari has gotten a ton of figures, almost all of them aside from the 1/10 Wave version have been in her pink plugsuit. She first appears in her green, and it seems to be the fan favorite (though personally I do prefer the pink!). It’s high time we got a full-sized figure of this version, and it’s no surprise that it was Kotobukiya who finally delivered!
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![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-42187 slb_group[42127] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/?attachment_id=42187"></a></p> <p>Kotobukiya’s Commander Shepard Bishoujo has certainly been a much talked about figure since she was <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/toy-fair-2012-kotobukiyas-mass-effect-bishoujo-shepard-art" target="_blank">first announced</a>. Usually a Bishoujo is shown off, we get the prototype shots, and eventually she is released. But Shepard seemed a constant buzz of activity! We got to take an up close look at her <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/nycc-2012-kotobukiyas-mass-effect-bishoujo-femshep-gallery" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/toy-fair-2013-kotobukiyas-mass-effect-bishoujo-commander-shepards-gallery" target="_blank">times</a>, she got <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-femshep-mass-effect-bishoujo-gets-an-exclusive-colorway" target="_blank">a recolor</a> right off the bat, and of course there are the much-discussed <a href="www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-bishoujo-femshep-gets-yet-another-update" target="_blank">changes to her face</a>.</p> <p>Even their <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/toy-fair-2012-kotobukiyas-mass-effect-bishoujo-liara-gallery" target="_blank">Liara</a> didn’t stir up as much controversy and intensity, but given her high-profile origin and the fact that, you know, she’s the main character I suppose that’s to be expected! But could the final release live up to the hype? Hit the jump to find out!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoFemShepReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s 1/7 Mass Effect Bishoujo Commander Shepard")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-40488 slb_group[40269] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/?attachment_id=40488"></a></p> <p>I’m sure by now you all know now much I love Yu-Gi-Oh. For a long time it had no figures to speak of, until Kotobukiya announced that they were taking on the series! It’s part of ArtFX J, a line dedicated to mostly male figures from older series. So far from Yu-Gi-Oh we have seen Dark Magician Girl, Yugi Moto (<a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-artfx-j-17-yami-yugi" target="_blank">review</a>) and Seto Kaiba (<a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-artfx-j-17-seto-kaiba" target="_blank">review</a>)–of course since DMG was first, I was expecting a Dark Magician next!</p> <p>Some people were less than pleased with the choice to go with <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-dark-magician-stirs-up-controversy" target="_blank">his card colors</a> for this figure. If you are one of those people, don’t worry, because he is getting <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-new-dark-magician-is-an-exclusive" target="_blank">a second colorway</a>! But personally, I like the stark contrast between the green skin and pink & blue armor, so of course I was looking forward to this version! Hit the jump to see how he came out.</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoDarkMagicianReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s ArtFX J Dark Magician")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-40304 slb_group[40267] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/?attachment_id=40304"></a></p> <p>Kotobukiya has a few different Bishoujo lines: the comic and game ones have been moving along at a rapid pace since they were started, with several franchises in each. But the Movie x Bishoujo is inarguably slower, with only two releases so far: Ghostbusters Lucy (<a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-movie-bishoujo-ghostbusters-lucy" target="_blank">review</a>) a year and a half ago, and Star Wars Jaina (<a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-17-star-wars-bishoujo-jaina-solo" target="_blank">review</a>) a few months ago. Now we’re getting the third release, who just happens to be from a third franchise: Agent G from Men In Black.</p> <p>From <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/nycc-2011-kotobukiya-announces-street-fighter-men-in-black-bishoujos" target="_blank">the first announcement</a>, this seemed like a rather odd collaboration. The <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/sdcc-2012-kotobukiyas-new-bishoujos-agent-g-and-chun-li" target="_blank">art</a> and <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-men-in-black-bishoujo-agent-g" target="_blank">sculpt</a> didn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but that seems like a general trend in the Bish line: nobody can agree on the art, there are usually complaints about the sculpt, but generally once they come out people have less to worry about and they sell well. So did Agent G follow the same path? Hit the jump to find out!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoAgentGReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s Men In Black Bishoujo Agent G")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-39321 slb_group[39280] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/toy-fair-2013-kotobukiyas-man-of-steel-artfx/attachment/toyfair2013kotomanofsteelheader"></a></p> <p>New comic movies means new toys, so is it any surprise that Kotobukiya will be doing a 1/6 scale statue from Man Of Steel? Well… nope, but that doesn’t make it any less cool! I’m not the biggest Superman fan in the world but I know a lot of people who are (or at least claim to be!) and considering how awesome the movie statues for Batman were I bet this will turn out awesome. His release will be this summer, so we should see a sculpt soon!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/ToyFair2013KotoManOfSteelHeader.jpg "Toy Fair 2013: Kotobukiya’s Man Of Steel ArtFX")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-37867 slb_group[37866] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-freeings-18-yukata-saber/attachment/freeingyukatasaberreviewheader"></a></p> <p>There are a lot of Sabers in the figure market. In fact, I think generally people would say there are <em>too</em> many–especially taking into consideration all her variations like Alter, Lily and Extra. Most of us do not have the money to buy every single Saber on the market, so we have to be a bit picky with our decisions.</p> <p>When FREEing announced <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/summer-wonder-festival-2012-freeings-saber-rin-sakura-illya" target="_blank">their Yukata <em>Fate/Stay Night</em> set</a> (which includes Saber, Illya, Rin, Sakura, and <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/freeing-adds-saber-alter-to-their-yukata-line" target="_blank">Saber Alter</a>) I don’t think this Saber was at the top of most people’s to buy list. But I am an eternal optimist when it comes to figures and I love yukata-clad girls, so of course we’re picking up the whole set.</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/FREEingYukataSaberReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: FREEing’s 1/8 Yukata Saber")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-37008 slb_group[36947] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/?attachment_id=37008"></a></p> <p>When it was first announced that a third female pilot would be joining the Evangelion gang, I think the fandom let out a collective groan. The assumption was that she was just eye candy there for merchandise potential, and would have no substance. Well, were we ever wrong! While my heart will always belong to Asuka, Mari skyrocketed up the list of my favorite characters even with her brief screentime.</p> <p>But while Mari has gotten a ton of figures, almost all of them aside from the 1/10 Wave version have been in her pink plugsuit. She first appears in her green, and it seems to be the fan favorite (though personally I do prefer the pink!). It’s high time we got a full-sized figure of this version, and it’s no surprise that it was Kotobukiya who finally delivered!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoGreenMariReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s 1/7 Mari Illustrious Makinami")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-36916 slb_group[36858] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-17-dc-bishoujo-huntress/attachment/kotohuntressreviewheader"></a></p> <p>As you may know by now, the Huntress is my absolute favorite comic character. She’s kickass, doesn’t take shit from anyone, and shoots people with crossbows. I know, right? So of course I was over the moon when she <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiya-shows-off-the-final-art-for-their-dc-bishoujo-huntress" target="_blank">got added to Kotobukiya’s Bishoujo line</a>, and <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/sdcc-2012-kotobukiyas-dc-bishoujo-huntress-gallery" target="_blank">at SDCC I fell in love with this figure</a>. Yes, even with the dreaded belly window. So how did the final product turn out? Hit the jump and let’s see!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoHuntressReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s 1/7 DC Bishoujo Huntress")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-36723 slb_group[36679] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-17-star-wars-bishoujo-jaina-solo/attachment/kotojainareviewheader"></a></p> <p>Kotobukiya has been making Star Wars figures for a very long time, so it’s really no surprise that the female cast eventually joined the Bishoujo series! However, I think their first selection came as a bit of a shock–Jaina Solo, a character from the extended universe, rather than Princess Leia who I am sure was what everyone expected.</p> <p>But her <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/kotobukiyas-movie-bishoujo-jaina-solo" target="_blank">art was gorgeous</a>, and <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/sdcc-2012-kotobukiyas-star-wars-bishoujo-jaina-solo-gallery" target="_blank">the prototype definitely delivered</a>. Even people dreaming of a slave bikini Bish seemed pleased with her! They also managed to keep her more, ah, clothed than many of the Marvel and DC girls, but would the final figure deliver to us a classy lightsaber-wielding lady? Hit the jump and let’s get started!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoJainaReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s 1/7 Star Wars Bishoujo Jaina Solo")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-36385 slb_group[32453] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/?attachment_id=36385"></a></p> <p>Luka Megurine has long been outshined in the figure world by Miku, the undisputed queen of Vocaloids. But Luka has a whole lot of fans, myself being one of them–she’s definitely my favorite of the vast number of singing robot girls out there! Sure, she’s gotten a figma and a Nendoroid, but what we were all waiting for was a scaled figure.</p> <p>As it often happens though, even fans weren’t entirely pleased when we <a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/max-factory-glorious-tony-taka-ver-luka" >finally got a figure of her</a>. Her face seemed to be he main issue, along with her unshaded bubblegum hair. But with Max Factory, often the final product is superior to their promotional shots. So did they manage to fix the issues with Luka, or did she wind up as a flop? Hit the jump to find out!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/MaxFactoryLukaReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Max Factory’s 1/7 Luka Megurine")
![<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-35326 slb_group[35000] slb slb_internal" href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-artfx-j-17-seto-kaiba/attachment/kotokaibareviewheader"></a></p> <p>My favorite Yu-Gi-Oh character is definitely Kaiba. Okay, that’s a small lie, it’s probably Pegasus. Because, you know, he’s just so fabulous! But Kaiba is a very close second, so it’s no surprise that he’s been my most anticipated figure in Kotobukiya’s ArtFX J Yu-Gi-Oh line. He’s rich, he’s stylish, he’s got a jet shaped like Blue Eyes White Dragon, but does he live up to the high quality we expect after Yugi (<a href="http://www.plastikitty.com/home/plastikitty-review-kotobukiyas-artfx-j-17-yami-yugi" target="_blank">review</a>)? Find out after the jump!</p>](http://www.plastikitty.com/wp-content/uploads/KotoKaibaReviewHeader.jpg "Plastikitty Review: Kotobukiya’s ArtFX J 1/7 Seto Kaiba")
