Review: Large Monster Series Ultraman C-Type Appearance Pose Vinyl Figure By X-Plus

1/8/2016

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FIGURE SPECS

大怪獣シリーズ「ウルトラマン Cタイプ」登場ポーズ

JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: APRIL 2015

SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES

MATERIAL: VINYL

FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, 1966-1967

HEIGHT: (ARM TO FLOOR) ABOUT 10.75 INCHES / 27.3 CM

HEIGHT: (HEAD TO FLOOR) 10 / 25.4 CM

FIGURE WEIGHT: 3 OZ / 85 G

ARTICULATION: ANKLES

REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

X-Plus has provided Ultraman fans with multiple releases of the original 1966 titan of light from Nebula M78. Each release featured our hero in a different iconic pose. The wrestling pose, a standing pose and, of course, the Spacium Ray pose. For years I wondered when the hell were they going to get around to the Appearance Pose?

It finally appeared in February 2015 as a pre-order and hit shelves a month later. And it’s freaking awesome!

THE BOX

This figure comes in the standard Large Monster Series Ultraman 1966-1996 Collection off white window box. Ultraman figures from shows post ’96 come in a darker box (blue, I think). As usual, the figure is wire-tied into a plastic shell inside. (I’ll try to add a photo of the box later!)

SCULPT

As usual, X-Plus Ultraman vinyls have super realistic and accurate sculpts that set them well apart from vinyls from most other companies. And this figure is no exception.

I’ve always been amazed at how good these things look. And, while X-Plus makes the same attempt at realism with their Godzilla and Kaiju figures, extra credit must be awarded for accomplishing that with Ultraman. There’s just a lot less room for error when it comes to this guy. And, X-Plus comes through and EXCELS with it. In my earlier reviews, I was fond of saying that X-Plus figures look like they literally walked off the screen. I find the need to say it again with this figure. If you were to light it just right, photograph it and composite it into a photo, it really would be difficult to tell if you were looking at a vinyl or the real thing.

Always a nice touch on X-Plus Ultras: the eyes are molded in translucent plastic which is segmented on the outside and painted white on the inside. This allows the light to create patterns of refraction on the inner, painted surface. The effect looks great!

The ridge running down Ultraman’s back (which hid the suit’s zipper from view) is reproduced so faithfully on this figure. This is actually one of my favorite details to look for on new X-Plus Ultraman figures.

Ridges for the zippers on the suit’s boots are also found perfectly sculpted on this figure.

One minor downside to the sculpt on this figure (as on all X-Plus Ultras) is the lack of individually sculpted fingers. When compared to the attention the rest of the figure has received, the hands are not as impressive. I think it would have been a nice touch if X-Plus had applied a darker wash into the groves between the fingers to help out in this, this only weak area of the sculpt. But, NOT complaining at all. I’m still floored that we can get Ultraman figures with such a super-high level of accuracy.

As usual, X-Plus Ultraman vinyls have super realistic and accurate sculpts that set them well apart from vinyls from most other companies. And this figure is no exception.

POSE

For those who are not blessed (cursed?) with an obsession for the original Ultraman, this is his appearance pose.

Science Patrol member Shin Hiyata would reach into his breast pocket with his right hand and pull out the beta capsule, hold it up in the air and transform into Ultraman. When he appeared, he would be in the same position with his right hand in the air. Unlike Hiyata, Ultraman also has his left arm curled upward as if flexing a muscle.

Preparing to battle kaiju, Step One: Intimidation. Show off that bicep.

JOINTS & SEAMS

Seams. Yes, ouch. Unfortunately there are always clear seams on the shoulders of every X-Plus Ultraman figure. We’ll just have to look past that. It is a vinyl, after all.

Other than that, nothing really noticeable. Ever. On any of them.

I should point out that the ankles have articulation as do all X-Plus Ultraman figures. This is really helpful if you plan to have your figure stand on its own instead of using the accompanying base. A slight twist on each ankle is very helpful when trying to find balance.

Finally, there is what appears to be a faint seam running around the waist. But hold on there. That was etched into the sculpt in order to reproduce a real seam on the real suit. X-Plus’ attention to accurate detail never fails to amaze.

PAINT JOB

There’s not much going on here since Ultraman is basically just silver and red. And in the case of this particular figure, those colors are noticeably brighter than on previous X-Plus Ultraman figures. The red is “redder” and cleaner. And the silver is brighter and shinier. Why? Because this is the appearance pose. He’s only just arrived and has no dirt or debris over him yet. That logic doesn’t really work very well, since the suit got beat up as the episodes went on. I just like to consider this figure the “first” appearance of the C-Type suit.

The only other color on this figure comes from the molded blue plastic color timer on his chest and the translucent eyes I mentioned earlier.

If you were to light it just right, photograph it and composite it into a photo, it really would be difficult to tell if you were looking at a vinyl or the real thing.

SIZE COMPARISONS

Here, Ultraman stands among some of his foes. A selection of Ultra kaiju from X-Plus’ Reborn flavor. Left to right: Large Monster Series Red King Reborn, Bemular Reborn, Baltan 1 Reborn and Gomora Reborn.

Reborns are newer sculpts to replace previous X-Plus releases. They are larger than original sculpts, yet still no match for Ultraman’s taller and out-of-scale height. I just don’t get why X-Plus does this. Apparently, they think our hero needs to be taller than the bad guys, and taller than he was on the show.

Ultraman seems like a good fit for this selection of Toho Large Monster Series figures. Left to right: Godzilla 1968, Mechagodzilla 1975, Godzilla 1966 and Hedorah (Landing Stage). Even though he looks good on the shelf besides these, technically he’s a bit taller to be in proper scale with them.

Here is a size comparison with other figures which were released around the same time as this one (left to right): The 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modelling Collection Godzilla 1991, Large Monster Series Mothra 1964 and the 30cm Series Godzilla 2014. He actually looks to be in scale with that ’91.

If you’re new to X-Plus but already an Ultraman collector, here’s the figure with some figures from other lines you may already have. Left to right: Ultra-Act Ultraman (the new one), a Bandai and the CCP Type C. (By the way, if you ever order an Ultraman figure from CCP and you get a choice to go for Orange or Red, get the Orange. Their red is too dark while the orange looks perfect.)

FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELF

This figure barely even has a footprint. Unless you use the base which seems to be wider than it need be. Making room for this guy on the shelf: not a problem.

RIC BOY EXCLUSIVE

The Exclusive Ric Boy version of this feature comes with a light gimmick which make the figures eyes glow white, and his color timer blue. Usually, Ric Boy’s come with two modes for the color timer: steady blue and blinking red for when his power is running low. This figure, however, only comes with the steady blue. Which, if you think about it, makes perfect sense seeing as how he’s only just “appeared”. He hasn’t even had a chance to run low on power, so no blinky blinky on this one.

While Ultraman gets his power from Earth’s sun, the figure gets it from the base. A port under the figure’s right foot let’s it step onto the plug on the top of the base. A switch on the back of the base controls the light.

SUMMARY

This figure has an amazing, accurate sculpt, great paint applications and features the second most famous Ultraman pose of all time. How could you not be excited about this one? Four and a half rads on the Rad Meter!

MORE INFORMATION

Diego Doom Reviews the Large Monster Series Ultraman C-Type Appearance Pose.

X-TRAS

By John Stanowski Originally posted January 8th, 2016 on Kaiju Addicts.

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