New Banpresto Releases - DragonBall Kai High Spec Coloring Figures
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This series consists of four all new releases focusing on the current episodes of DragonBall Kai airing in Japan. These figures are set for an August release and retail for around 900 yen. It’s refreshing to see Banpresto focusing on the villains for a change as opposed to releasing only Super Saiyans. We now have both Cell’s first and final forms, missing only his second form and between series 15 and 16 all the Androids are now finished. The younger, Cell arc Super Saiyan Gohan is also a strong addition and I’m sure we see him rereleased in the near future in both his normal and Super Saiyan 2 forms.
This series once again consists of four all new releases based on the Andorid/Jinzouningen arc of DragonBall. These figures are set for a December release and retail for around 900 yen. In addition to completing the Androids, this series also gives us (the rarely released) future Gohan. We are also getting a long hair Trunks in his Saiyan armor. A regular capsule corp Trunks was already released way back in Series 3 of the HSCF so it’s nice to see Banpresto going with logical variants as opposed to any rereleases.
Bookmark this entry | June 23, 2010 | Michael Lubow
New Banpresto Releases - Soft Vinyl Freeza Figures
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Sharing a near simultaneous release with Banpresto’s DX HQ Freeza figures are these soft vinyl releases. Series 1 featured Freeza’s first and second forms and series 2 goes on to finish Freeza’s third and final form. Series 1 is out now while series 2 is set for a July release. These figures retail for around 1450 yen (~15.79). The sofubi (Soft Vinyl) figures tend to be less detailed and more “cartoonish” when compared to Banpresto’s DX HQ series but are still accurate and great looking sculpts nonetheless. Both this series and Banpresto’s DX HQ series are non-articulated so essentially both sets of figures are statues and not playable or poseable action figures.
Bookmark this entry | June 14, 2010 | Michael Lubow
New Banpresto Releases - DragonBall Kai DX High Quality Figures
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This series consists of two all new releases, Freeza in his second and fourth forms. These figures are set for an August release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). I personally can’t wait for the second form Freeza in this series. The sculpt is simply phenomenal.
This series consists of one all new release, Freeza in his third form and a reissue of Freeza in his fourth form from the previous series. These figures are set for a November release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). With this series every one of Freeza’s forms except for Cyborg Freeza is now finished in the HQ DX series.
This series consists of one all new release, Broly and two reissues. These figures are set for a July release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). This seems to be a special release focusing on the movies and thus is not a numbered series. The Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks is a reissue (possibly with some minor paint scheme changes) of the Gotenks in DBZ HQ DX series 6. The Bardock is a reissue (possibly with some minor paint scheme changes) of the Bardock from DBZ HQ DX series 7. This Bardock does feature an all new head sculpt however. This one features an open, screaming mouth while the original had a clenched teeth appearance. A minute change but a difference nonetheless.
Bookmark this entry | June 10, 2010 | Michael Lubow
New Banpresto Releases - DragonBall Creatures
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Series 08 features an all new Zarbon figure and a reissue of the previous Dodoria figure. These figures are set for a June release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). The Dodoria figure will likely have some sort of minor paint scheme changes from the original release such as a darker color palette or metallic paint. From the looks of the Zarbon figure thus far, it seems a very strange choice for the Creatures series. He has a skinny and lanky appearance but there are no discernible “creepy” or “monstrous” elements as all the other figure have had.
Series 09 features two all new figures, Cell in his second form and an Android 18 figure. These figures are set for a September release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). The Cell figure looks to be a strong addition to the line with an exaggerated and monstrous appearance, complete with a snarling tongue. The Android 18 figure is somewhat of an oddity in that it is more of an add-on for Cell than a figure itself, despite being sold separately. You can switch the tails on Cell so that it looks like he is absorbing 18. At this time, it is unclear if the 18 is removable from the tail.
Series 10 features one all new figure, Dr. Gero and a reissue of the Cell from the previous series. These figures are set for a December release and retail for around 1450 yen (~$15.79). Once again it is likely that the Cell will differ from the Series 09 one by some minute paint differences. The Dr. Gero figure features a removable hat which showcases his brain. Aside from that there doesn’t seem to be too much of creepy reimagining for this figure. I personally find that somewhat disappointing as there are still tons of other monsters and creatures from the DragonBall series who would be prime candidates for this series.