Kaiju Battle Review: Art Spirits Super Gekizo Series Kong 2021

Last year Art Spirits announced their Super Gekizo Series Kong 2021 from Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021), they have released a number of Toho/Monsterverse and Gamera figures in the past with positive reviews so we were looking forward to this figure. For those that don't know Art Spirits has two main lines, the Super Gekizo Series (Hyper Solid) which are approx. seven inch scale, and the Gekizo Series (Hyper Modeling) which are about half that size and are usually sold in sets.  Kong 2021, like many Art Spirits figures is in a dynamic pose with battle axe in hand ready to fight,  which I personal prefer, so here we go with this review.

​Packaging: The box for this figure is the usual fair, featuring typical style text for this film, it has a window on the front and smaller windows on the sides revealing the figure inside. The figure itself is package between two plastic bubbles that keep it secure with not much chance of damage in transit, which is a good thing. The figure comes in four parts, figure itself, base, and axe in two pieces all in there own spots within it.

​Sculpt and paint: The sculpt is excellent overall, very detailed fur and skin, excellent mouth, teeth, and face features, very similar to the better vinyl figures out there. The axe is very well done as is the base with plenty of small details, an example is the top end of the axe which gives the appearance like the bone it is made from was broken off much like you would expect a real bone to look (note the seam with the two halves of the axe is hidden in Kong's hand once joined). If there is one down side it is with the seams, most you do have to look for but they are there (not unlike the Ichibansho Godzilla 2021), the most noticeable is the neck seam but it is mainly noticed from one side, which you most likely won't be posing  at that angle with that showing. 

​The paint is excellent on the figure and axe, the figure features a nice blend of browns and grays with the skin being almost black but not too dark, the face and mouth are superb, far better than the Ichibansho Godzilla 2021 for sure. The axe is just as well done the blue of the axe borders on almost looking clear or iridescent, the detail is so good you can see the coloring difference between the fin and the material tying it to the bone, it looks very clean. If there is one downside it is the base, the coloring is very gray, there some very slight shading but they could have added a little more color. 

​Price/size: this is the biggest negative of this figure, unfortunately, retail is close to $200 plus shipping and considering the size at seven inches tall it will cause some to pass. Other figures like the previously mentioned Ichibansho Godzilla was $75 and is about eight inches tall, and the forthcoming X-Plus Kong 2021 27cm tall (approx. 10.6 inches) and retailing for 16,500 yen (approx. $144), can certainly make one question the price but this is as good a sculpt and definitely better paint than the Ichibansho. We'll judge the X-Plus against it once that is released but it does lack this figure's dynamic pose. The size does have a positive in that it won't take a lot of shelf space which can be at a premium for some collectors. 

Overall this is an excellent figure that I definitely feel no one should pass on base on the figure itself it is that good, not perfect but. It is just if one wants to spend a bit more compared to others and there are those that would and I can't blame them. We want to thank Art Spirits for the opportunity to review this figure and check out Tokyo Zerostar to order this figure.