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This is definitely
not the kind of action figure I had when I was a kid. My feelings are
mixed at the moment, but I suspect this is the kind of thing that one
has to get used to, and I think, ultimately, I like it.
Admittedly, this figure is clearly not about painting and detailing like less active figures. What it is all about, however, is poseability. The famous revolver joint, with which the spirited ganmen is veritably riddled, allows for a stupendous range of poses, as the early reviews of the Wonder Festival version indicated. The joint is stiffer than I expected, however, and since both ends of it moreover can rotate within the parts it connects, posing the figure takes a good bit of finagling, the trade-off for its impressive range. Not that it's a meaningful comparison, but I'd say contemporary Master Grade kits (like the Hi-Nu Gundam and ver. 2.0 Zaku IIs) actually have a slightly greater range of motion in certain respects; they just haven't as many points of articulation. Additionally, of course, this Revoltech didn't take a week to build. Moreover, while I can't say I'd turn down an MG-equivalent Gurren Lagann line, this figure has a more organic feel which much better suits the mecha in question. Anyway, enough blabber, and on the the photos.  Handsome packaging. From the Japanese, of course, I'd expect nothing less. Giant space Katherine has dinner in the background.  The backside of the inner packaging. Very sculptural.  Levitation master Gurren Lagann includes an extra, grimacing head; a bare chestpiece to switch in when he's wielding the oversized blade glasses (see below); a total of three pairs of hands (fists, closed grips for the glasses, and an open left hand and pointing right hand); and a 1/1 scale core drill, which can also be swapped in for the giga drill.  Nobody does combative sunglasses like Gurren Lagann. A word of advice: use extreme care when removing the normal, bespectacled chest piece. I had to get out the superglue less than five minutes after opening the box.  The drill that will pierce the heavens.  Giga... Doriru...  ... BUREKAA! Forgive me. Anyhow, a closer look at the alternate, more expressive head.  A top-rear view. Fortunately the Gurrendan-emblazoned shoulder shields rotate on their pegs, so there's just about always a way to keep them from getting in the way of a pose.  Ben's figure in mid-strike.  "Who The Hell Do You Think We Are" kick.  Just break the roof, and you'll see the truth.  The Gurrendan has grown weary of the loudspeaker carts' endless racket.  Soaring, regardless of the ganmen flight pack (annoyingly) not having been included with this figure. Note the not-quite-level horizon. The table is actually quite flat, but Katherine's old camera is, well... old. Good thing she got a fancy new one and left me with this one.  Having taken care of the loudspeaker carts, GL unexpectedly encounters... Gee, what's the next Revoltech going to be again...?  Not entirely clear about his flight pack being incomplete, Gurren Lagann takes off to fly through the heavens...  ... But, lacking wings, instead eats a particularly nasty face-plant. No doubt there will be words with Lazengann about this... Back |