[Toys] SH Figuarts: Kamen Rider Kabuto

So, right, this is from my birthday in 2010. Took me long enough to review it, haha.

Time to walk the path of importing... 

Kabuto was what made up a majority of the Figuarts line when it first started. Beginning with KickHopper and PunchHopper who never had proper Souchaku Henshin figures, it branched off into doing every Rider from Kabuto, as well as the ZECTrooper and much later, Hyper Kabuto. Still no Hyper Gatack or Masked Forms for any of them, but otherwise, they did everything they possibly could. Let's begin.

Kabuto here stands proudly in Rider Form with a very vibrant red. Metallic, sparkly up close, it's just beautiful - and impossible for my camera to really show in all its glory. He comes with a small amount of accessories and hands, but when it comes down to it, Kabuto is godmode on his own; weapons are overkill.

Once more I point out the red and try to show off the look of it here. The paint is really fantastic. The suit has a fairly simple mixture of only three colors, but it uses them so well.

And of course, what bugman would be complete without the bug eyes? The lens effect on these figures is gorgeous. There's a definite logic to how it's pulled off, and the end result is really nice.

Included with him is the Kabuto Kunai Gun, a weapon more frequently used in Masked Form. I am a sucker for this weapon because while it is simple (and admittedly generic in design), it brings me back to Power Rangers with the Power Axe. Why?

BAM! Multi-purpose weapons are the best. The barrel of this gun can be held to use the weapon like an axe. It looks best when used this way I think.

The Kunai Gun is called this because the barrel of it is pulled off to reveal a dagger, or kunai. It's what Kabuto's Rider Form is more often seen using. Because of how big the blade gets, it's a separate piece from the Kunai Gun, so you get two weapons technically. Despite being separate pieces, the handle is absolutely identical on both pieces, which I find impressive.

He comes with only a few pairs of hands. Fists, item-holding hands, and splayed open ones for fighting poses. But the extra hand is the one that matters. This is the trinket they toss in that fits the character. The hand that points to the heavens.

A lot of Riders have some kind of gimmick or quirk, a gesture or a pose, and in Kabuto's case, he declares himself the man who walks the path of heaven and rules over all. His skill, much like his ego, is unmatched. He is the best and he knows it.

The Souchaku Henshin figure for Hyper Kabuto included an alternate hand that had this gesture, but this is the first time it has been available for the regular Kabuto. Finally, he would be able to do what he does best. I really like that they included this alternate hand, because it shows how detailed Figuarts can be. They know the character they're making a figure of.

(Incidentally, his evil counterpart Dark Kabuto, despite being a carbon copy of this whole set, lacks this alternate hand. Which makes sense really, as Dark Kabuto didn't have his gimmick. The more you know!) 

30 hours in GIMP. Ironic Lens Flare powers activate!

So, overall... Kabuto is awesome. I think he's worth it if you have a love for the character like I do. He was the first Kamen Rider I watched in action so of course he has a special place in my heart, I'm glad to own a figure of him. He may not come with much, but he has all that he needs. He should be fairly easy to come across as well, as I've heard from others.

Here's hoping 2012 brings us more reviews! Cheers!