Several months ago, Toy Wizards announced the new Gundam Universe series of action figures (non-model kit toys) coming from Bandai/Tamashii Nations. Today, they are ready for preorder, with a very reasonable MSRP of $21-$24, depending on where you scoop them up from. They are 17cm tall, which is in the 7″ range.
All three will be released in October, 2019. Leading the first wave of them out are the:
RX-0 UNICORN GUNDAM 02 BANSHEE (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN)
XXXG-01D GUNDAM DEATHSCYTHE (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING)
SW-G-08 GUNDAM BARBATOS (MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS)
I am so excited for these figures in the very reasonable price range. It allows for casual Gundam fans and collectors who just want a little bit of shelf candy to be able to indulge in some Mecha Love. This kick off wave from Gundam Universe is a pretty good lineup!
But if that Deathsythe could come with some hell-wing add on, that’d be awesome, please and thank you.
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I just got the RX-78 Gundam from this line and it’s a huge step down from other Bandai releases. Articulation is limited to ninety degrees, paint is bare with only the major colors covered – no panel lines or thruster detail – and a sparse selection of accessories add up to a release that feels like it’s designed for a discount store.
The price is aimed to compete with similar lines like those from Hasbro, Neca or MacFarlane, but it actually manages to be of lesser quality. At a time when Western figures are approaching the quality of Japanese toys – which have long been considered the epitome of collector-focused toys – these do an injustice to the Bandai name.
For twenty or so dollars more you can get the Robot Spirits A.N.I.M.E. version which is the best Gundam figure you can buy in this format. Even the old Mobile Suit in Action toys were better than this release. It almost feels like these are intentionally mediocre to make their proper Japanese lines more enticing.
The only reason I could see somebody buying this is as a gift for a child that wouldn’t want a model kit or would destroy a Robot Spirits figure. As a new venture for Bandai to expand Gundam awareness, it does more to hurt it than help it.
THANK YOU FOR THIS!