With the popularity of the S.H. Figuarts Dragon Ranger still as high as expected, a new month has rolled around and Bandai have graced us with a second Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger figure. This time it's none other than Tyranno Ranger - team leader and adopted Yamato tribe prince Geki. Of course, if you're a Western fan reading this and are unfamiliar with Super Sentai, you'll be recognising this figure as the original Red Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As such US Tamashii Nations distributor Bluefin have also released the figure in exclusive Power Rangers packaging, which does not include the bonus Akibaranger pieces that come with the Japanese release.
Following a similar theme to what we saw with Dragon Ranger, Tyranno Ranger's box has the ancient Zyuranger-feel, only replacing Dragon's green and gold with equally fetching red and silver colouring. The box does a good job of displaying Tyranno Ranger with all of his accessories (he does come with rather a lot), and the Akibaranger windows still stick out like a sore thumb. Once again Bandai are using a smaller top tray to keep the figure contents in place, which leads me to suggest that this is the style of inner-packaging we'll be seeing from now on.
While Tyranno Ranger may not have the gold chest shield and armbands that were so visually striking about Dragon Ranger, that doesn't make his sculpt any less impressive. Though the Zyuranger suits are arguably among the most simple Super Sentai designs, they are still one of the most visually striking and that detail has been perfectly recreated in figure form. The weird glove-cut present on Dragon is still here to make the joint accessible, but due to the more basic colourscheme its much less noticeable here.
The only little oddity with the sculpt is how the diamond/teeth pattern extends onto the shoulders pieces. Since these need to be moved about to achieve certain poses, you could end up with an obviously contorted suit pattern. Luckily the shoulder pieces are really easy to move around, so after you've moved them to position the arms you can tweak them again to line the suit up properly.
Where do we start when it comes to accessories? Tyranno Ranger comes with pretty much everything a fan could want from a Zyuranger figure, and Power Rangers fans might even be hard pressed to remember one particular accessory. Included are a total of 10 hands (sadly no open palms, but there are ones to reproduce his role call pose), the Ryugekiken (or "power sword" for you PR fans), the Ranger Stick in both sword and blaster formation, the Thunder Slinger and then Ranger Stick/Thunder Slinger combo - the Ranger Slinger. While the Thunder Slinger was seen a few times in Zyuranger, from memory it only popped up in one memorable episode of MMPR and then was never seen again!
The detail on these weapons is fantastic, with even little details like the Tyrannosaurus emblem on the sword present. Once again Bandai not only prove that they can include everything a figure needs, but make them look damn good at the same time.
Of course, as this is the Japanese release of the figure it also comes with bonus Akibaranger parts seen in the second season of the show (where he and his brother made an appearance). Like Dragon Ranger, Tyranno Ranger comes packed with the American flag belt and neck pieces to turn him into the hilarious stereotypical "Powerful Ranger", from a delusion where Super Sentai is an adaptation of an American-made show. While it isn't pictured, the holster from the standard belt can be unclipped and added to this one.
Team him up with Powerful Green Ranger for a good dose of 'Murica!
You probably predicted this was going to be the verdict anyway, but Tyranno Ranger is another real winner for both Figuarts and Super Sentai/Power Rangers toys as a whole. Though the basic Zyuranger lacks that extra "umph" (for want of a better word) that Dragon Ranger has, Tyranno Ranger makes up for it by not only including a ridiculously impressive amount of detailed accessories but by also making sure every the figure itself looks the best it possibly can. With two fantastic figures in a row (among the best of my ever growing Figuarts collection) this makes me really excited for the rest of the Zyurangers. Ptera Ranger is coming in October, and the rest will soon follow. For the strictly Power Rangers fans, there's also the White Ranger coming in September and even a Western exclusive female-body Yellow Ranger.
Between Akibaranger's celebration of all things Sentai and the 20th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise, it's a damn good time to be a fan.
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