Marvel Bishoujo from Kotobukiya in 2011

Wonder Woman and Rogue Highlight some amazing Kotobukiya 2011 statues

Coming next year from Kotobukiya are a few very, very sweet Marvel, DC and Star Wars figures. These are incredible statues, not action figures, but pieces to display. Enjoy the images below and check out the following product details. I’ve reviewed these in the past and am amazed at the quality and materials used.

DC Comics Wonder Woman Bishoujo Statue

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! Celebrating this year’s 75th Anniversary of DC Comics, the DC Comics Bishoujo Collection (combining DC’s super heroines and villains with traditional Japanese styling’s) continues with the prettiest member of DC’s “Trinity” Wonder Woman! Since her comic book debut in 1941, Princess Diana has been an icon of female power, intelligence, and grace. Arriving in “man’s world” from the Amazonian island home of Themyscira, Diana donned a red, white and blue costume to protect the world as Wonder Woman! The timeless character appears for the first time in the Japanese bishoujo (pretty girl) style inspired by Japan’s renowned illustrator Shunya Yamashita.

Joining the Gotham City duo of Batgirl and Catwoman in the DC Comics Bishoujo Collection, Wonder Woman is truly a force to be reckoned with. The every-dynamic Amazon stands surrounded by her full panoply of weapons and equipment, ready to face any threat. Dressed in her iconic and colorful costume, the muscular and buxom Wonder Woman shows plenty of skin and looks sexier than ever! Diana holds her magical Lasso of Truth in both hands, ready to capture you and force you to tell her all your secrets. As with her compatriots, Wonder Woman has an incredible Bishoujo-styled face which is framed perfectly by her flowing long black hair and tiara.

Wonder Woman is constructed of high-quality PVC plastic and stands just over 9 inches tall (in the magnificent 1/7 scale) atop an exclusive Amazonian base complete with her spears, shield, cape, and helmet! No Bishoujo collection will be complete without her. Available in May.

X-Force X-23 Fine Art Status

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! X-Force is the hottest mutant team right now in the Marvel Universe, with the current launch of Uncanny X-Force burning up the shelves everywhere. Teaming up the most vicious and morally flexible heroes, Wolverine leads the ultimate strike force willing to do anything, at any time to protect the world’s mutant population. Kotobukiya is proud to present the first member of an all-new X-Force lineup of Fine Art Statues, X-23! Appearing first in the television series X-Men: Evolution in 2003, X-23 was later introduced to the Marvel Comics universe. She is no less than a female clone of Wolverine, created to be a deadly weapon and outfitted with adamantium-coated claws in her hands and feet! After discovering her true identity and joining the good guys, Laura has become a key member of X-Force.

The deadly mutant is mission-ready, scouting out her target before a precision strike. Standing ever alert, X-23 wears her current X-Force uniform complete with skin-tight suit (that leaves her midriff bare), belt, bracelet, and intricately laced boots. Laura’s trademark weapons, her claws, are unsheathed; two stand out from each hand while a solitary spur extends from her left foot. The ultra smooth adamantium blades stand out in stark contrast to the intricate sculpting and texture of her body, complete with musculature and clothing effects. The expert tracker comes with two heads so you can display her as you prefer: wearing her mask and a teeth-baring grin or sans mask and a more serene look on her face!

Sculpted by Erick Sosa, X-23 stands approximately 11 inches tall (1/6 scale) perched atop a New York City building rooftop. Catch her now, because she is just the first a new X-Force series bringing your favorite mutants to life! Available in May.

X-Men Danger Room Sessions Rogue Fine Art Status

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! The amazing X-Men Danger Room Sessions Fine Art Statue series continues with its fourth member and one of the most powerful mutants in existence, Rogue! Born Anna Marie in Mississippi, the young girl’s mutant powers first manifested during a kiss with her childhood boyfriend. Suddenly she found herself absorbing his life energy, and subsequently ran away, taking the nickname Rogue in the process. When touching a mutant, she absorbs powers in addition to memories and skills, making her incredibly powerful and incredibly dangerous. During her early career she battled the current Ms. Marvel and seemingly absorbed her flight and super strength permanently. She has been a steadfast member of various X-Men teams for years, and of course that means she’s spent quite a bit of time in the Danger Room. Ever since the early days of Marvel Comics’ mutant adventures, “X” teams have trained together in the ultra high tech facility known as the Danger Room, equipped with state of the art adaptive combat and athletics routines that challenge each participant in unique ways. The training facility has been featured prominently in X-Men comics over the years, as well as in various cartoons and the third X-Men film.

Based on a concept from the artistic pair of Manuel and Leo Silva, Rogue embodies both power and beauty. The spirited mutant is posed dynamically flying in the air, with one foot barely resting on the smashed face of her previous opponent. Meanwhile, Rogue wields a chunk of the Sentinel’s brain as a weapon, preparing to hurl it into the next one to challenge her. The mutant hero’s classic costume is beautifully recreated, with the bright green and yellow of the bodysuit standing out within her dark brown jacket. Always enthusiastic in the heat of battle, Rogue’s face is perfectly sculpted to show off her fighting spirit!

At nearly 12 inches tall, Rogue is perfectly in scale (1/6) with the other Danger Room Sessions members Wolverine, Psylocke, and Sabretooth. Sculpted by Erick Sosa, the X-Man is completed by her amazing Sentinel face base on top of a mechanical projector. Every mutant in the Danger Room Sessions series is mounted on a unique Danger Room holographic environment with translucent parts that glow with a built-in LED light in the base. Available in July.

Marvel X Black Cat Bishoujo Statue

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! Joining the rest of the amazing beauties of the Marvel Comics universe in the revolutionary Marvel X Bishoujo Collection (combining iconic super heroines and villains with traditional Japanese stylings) is the sexy sometimes ally and girlfriend of Spider-Man, Black Cat! A cat burglar by trade, Felicia Hardy has gone in and out of a life of crime to fight true evil on many occasions, including with the new Heroes for Hire. Black Cat comes to life in the Japanese Bishoujo (pretty girl) style based on original character art by illustrator Shunya Yamashita, and is the first in the series to be enlarged to the 1/7th scale.

Black Cat is one of Marvel Comics' most beloved beauties, first appearing in the pages of the Amazing Spider-Man in 1979. She is captured here in mid-leap across the skies of New York, a sultry combination of her comic book look and the bishoujo style. Leaning on one leg, Black Cat twists and balances herself in an alluring pose made all the better by her skintight costume complete with fringes at the neck, elbows, and knees. Her incredible mane of white hair flies out beside her in long tendrils that only slightly cover her striking Bishoujo-styled face (complete with authentic mask)!

Black Cat stands just over 9 inches tall (in the new Marvel x Bishoujo 1/7th scale) atop an exclusive display base consisting of a miniature building in deep perspective and an adorable plush Spider-Man. Sculpted by Takashi "GILL GILL" Tsukada, Black Cat is taking this Bishoujo line to all new heights!

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader ArtFX+ Status

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! The hit line of smaller scale Star Wars ARTFX+ Statues continues with more of your favorite heroes and villains from the original films in the all new Saga Collection! Joining the initial releases of Boba Fett and the Stormtrooper 2-Pack comes none other than the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader!

Ruthless and powerful, Darth Vader stands at the ready with the knowledge that his mastery over the Force can overcome any enemy. His classic armored suit has every detail you’ve come to know and love since Empire Strikes Back was first released 30 years ago. Intricate sculpting brings out the different parts of his chest piece and belt module, while his gloves are accurately textured. Of course, the most attention to detail was put into recreating Vader’s helmet! Darth Vader has a standard stance standing tall with his hands at his belt, though he does come with bonus arm parts for alternate poses. And, like the other ARTFX+ Statues, he has magnets in his feet for display on the included base!

ARTFX+ Statues are fun-to-assemble pre-painted snap-fit kits that can be easily put together in seconds without glue or modeling skill. Darth Vader stands approximately 8 inches tall (1/10th scale) and is the perfect centerpiece for your Saga Collection! Available in May.

So there it is, some very fine looking ladies and one dark and dreary guy to light up collectors shelves everywhere in 2011. Very excited, check out more at kotous.com.

Evangelion Asuka and Rei Maid Statues from Kotobukiya

Neon Genesis Evangelion stands as one of the greatest anime of all time. Even with its controversial ending fans embraced it when anime was still trickling into the states and on the expensive VHS format. FUNimation is in process of releasing an updated Neon Genesis Evangelion and with their deep download to own and rent FUNimaiton is making anime easier for PlayStation 3 owners to get into. Gamers love a good action figure be it Master Chief or Kratos so why not something a bit prettier to decorate the ol’ gaming shelf or home office? Say hello to Rei and Asuka, the two female Eva pilots who fans know and love and gamers need to meet.

Kotobukiya has made great strides into the US marketplace with their English website as well as their Marvel and Halo product lines just to name a few. Their craftsmanship is excellent and beautiful and well worth checking out. Want to see a product in person, then check out specialty stores such as Anime Sekai in Leesburg, VA. This brings us back to the matter at hand, two new additions to Kotobukiya’s Eva lineup that puts both Rei and Asuka in maid outfits and fulfills a guilty pleasure of gaming and anime fans everywhere. Don’t believe me, check out the various anime cuties downloads on PSN. What makes these figures so special, let’s take a look.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Rei Ayanami Maid Ani*Statue – The first child is first. No need to take her out of her case as it’s a design worth of display. Rei comes in a seated position with a fairly detailed chair, even sows wood design on the bottom. The cushion is crafted to fit her … backend with easy and keep her in position. Rei’s uniform is her signature blue with a yellow scarf and a great amount of detail in the lining an apron with bows. The frilly stockings and short skirt is what will give many a fan their guilty pleasure and the creators sure took a fair amount of time on Rei’s panties. All about fan service. Rei has a very serene, peaceful look on her face, not often seen in the anime. Her hands are gently in their appearance and the tea cup she holds look real enough to spill. The materials will hold up well as it’s not a very breakable material. A fine figure right down to her red eyes and blue hair. Rei does well by herself sitting in her chair but she has a partner we need to look at.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Sohryu Asuka Langley Maid Ani*Statue – The second child is second. Asuka was always the more extravagant of the two pilots but she is given a run for her money by Rei in this set. As Rei shows a rare peaceful look, Asuka shows a joy not seen too often either. First off Asuka comes with a white stand marked with the Nerv logo and has space for Rei’s chair, so both are needed for this set. The dress follows the same style as Rei but in Asuka’s red with a slight change to her choker and of course her panties show a bit more as she’s standing and prancing around. The tray she carries comes with a detailed tea pot, the compliment to Rei’s tea cup and the cake she carries is ready to eat with Asuka having a piece prepped on fork already. While both figures are almost identical in body and dress its Asuka’s prancing position vs. Rei’s sitting that highlights the personality difference in these two (and makes it tougher to put Asuka on your office desk).

Overall what these two figures highlight is the craftsmanship that buyers get with Kotobukiya and it’s worth noting the sweet Halo figures they have. Yes, these images may appeal to the guilty side of most readers but the end product cannot be denied. Far easier to display than the Lolita versions, these two figures show how timeless and classy an anime series can be. Check out more from FUNimation on PSN then check out not only these but other figures tied to your favorite video games. Visit a local specialty shop and see for yourself. These are the types of gifts that will surprise and delight and are just a few button presses online.

Kotobukiya Halo 3 Steel Spartan Images

Kotobukiya has long been known for mega-detailed statues and figures spanning Star Wars to Ninja Gaiden, Dragon Quest, Marvel, Batman and Halo ... just to name a few. Well Halo fans are about to get a very special treat and with Halo Wars right around the corner it's time to bust out the Halo 3 Steel Spartan Field of Battle Limited Edition ArtFx Statue. While I've not seen this figure in person yet I can most def vouch for the work Koto does (I reviewed their Star Wars Vader vs. Luke figure a while back and will be posting that review again here as it appeared in Comics Alliance). Anyway, check out these images, they do look really hot, good times. Oh, click images below to see even more detail

Final Fantasy IV Trading Arts Mini Set Impression

Later this month gamers will get a nice treat, the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV, in full 3D. To help celebrate and feed the true fan-boy lust in each of us Square Enix homers you’ll soon be able to purchase a few FFIV characters of your very own. That’s right; we are getting a set of Trading Arts Mini’s for Final Fantasy IV, a set that includes Cecil, Rosa, Cain, Edge and the tiny Rydia. How’s the detail you ask … lets see …

Cecil – Noble and menacing all at the same time (bad guys have white hair right?). Cecil is armoured and colored in shades of blue that fad and dither nicely with an intense look of determination highlighting his serious posture, clenched fist and highly detailed cape and clothing. A fine piece of work for something so small.

Rosa – What would a trading arts set be without a lovely lady, nothing I say, just nothing. Rosa will delight any fan with innocent look, green eyes, flowing blond hair twisting in the not-there wind along with her pink and purple cape. Her green cross pendant stands out on her yellow harem-ish outfit with a pink bandanna and purple crown atop her head. She is the picture of elegance with a bit of shazam thrown in for any desktop.

Cain – If Rosa is the tranquillity of the set then Cain is the rage. Menacing blue and black armour is adorned with a long spear and soulless dragon helm. There is not soul in this figure, just a menacing solider ready to dispense with anyone in the way.

Edge – Not that far off from Cain, Edge also has a major … well edge to his stance and look. The green eyes relay a man deep in thought about his next action with a flowing cape and very colourful belt. Edge screams action but in a smooth and masterful way that is not overly complex.

Rydia – The other trading arts sets have four figures, this one has a bonus with the tiny Rydia included. She is half the size of other figures, by far the cutest and most innocent with colourful greens, purple, blues, reds and oranges mixed into an outfit any rainbow would be proud of. Her hair and hip sash flow in the wind as she stands on the precipice of adventure. A classic end to a great set of figures.

Overall the set is solid and fans will dig this title specific collection that gives a taste of the characters in all their 3D glory. A treat and a great price point. Keep an eye out, they’ll be hitting online soon for ordering.

Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini Impression

I'll never hide the fact I love Square Enix, their games, their music ... pretty much everything they have to offer. I've recently had a chance to get my hands on Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini Set Vol. 1 and Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini Set Vol. 2 from the Square Enix Store and I must say, for under $20 these sets of four figurres are to die for. Pictured is vol. 2, but I'd like to touch on both sets at once. Each set contains four semi-deformed (cartoon looking) characters, one each from Final Fantasy VII, VIII, X and XII.

Final Fantasy VII - Cloud in vol. 1, Tifa in vol. 2. Hands down Cloud is the reason to buy this set. Sword in hand, hair on point and not an ounce of mopiness around. Tifa is a nice addition, but me want Sephiroth. The detail on each is outstanding for such a small figure, something I will say applies to every figure in these sets. Cloud looks good anywhere you put him and all of Tifa's assets are here to enjoy.

Final Fantasy VIII - Rinoa in vol. 1, Squall in vol. 2. Rinoa has always been one of my favorite female characters in any FF and having her figure with Squall just fits. Squall is even more special due to his appearance in Kingdom Hearts which is just sweet. Like Cloud and Tifa the pairing of Squall and Rinoa is just perfect for any collection. From Rinoa's highlights to Sqall's scar the detail I mention above is seen here.

Final Fantasy X - Yuna in vol. 1, Auron in vol. 2. Ok, Yuna is kinda a cheat since the figure is from X2 and not her look in X. She looks great, but I'm not sure why she is the X2 version. Now Auron, he is just a badass that could very well be the greatest figure in any of these sets. He's large and in charge on my work desk and just reminds me of the ending of FFX, him and Tidus ... damn that was good.

Final Fantasy XII - Vaan in vol. 1, Ashe in vol. 2. It's the latest title, but one full of memorable characters. Vaan in volume one is a stretch, he grew on me in the game, but I want ... I don't know something more manly in the first set. Ashe just knows she's cute and is posing like it. She has some great detail and color in her figure down to her necklace.

All together having one character each from such beloved series will make you want to collect every volume that comes out. At a nice price point and with great detail there is no reason not to pick these up. I highly recommend them and it's not often you have a chance to get affordable goodies for a series such as Final Fantasy.