Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraseven (The Mystery of Ultraseven)

Release Date: October 2023

RRP: $62

After Bandai Tamashii Nations surprised everyone last year with the first US-focused S.H. Figuarts Ultraman exclusive, they were quickly at it again for the 2023 New York Comic Con. Inspired by the new Ultraman comics from Marvel once more, this time it's Ultraseven's turn with S.H. Figuarts Ultraseven (The Mystery of Ultraseven). This version of the character is based on the third miniseries in Marvel's run of comics, released in 2022-2023 across five issues. Though the exclusive was initially released via NYCC, it has since also been made available at the Tamashii Nations Pop-Up Spot in Hong Kong.

Once again packaging turns out to be a big selling point on these convention exclusive releases, with the front of the box a windowless section based on the cover artwork for the first issue of The Mystery of Ultraseven. Granted the actual cover had Ultraseven about to punch Eleking whilst holding it in a headlock rather than him looking like he's about to punch the ground, but the intent is clearly there and looks brilliant – especially with the comic's logo just above the image of the figure itself. The sides of the box feature a few more images of the figure in various poses, and you'll find even more on the back alongside a window area showing off the figure inside. There, Ultraseven is neatly stored with his accessories on a moulded plastic tray.

Much like last year's Ultraman release, S.H. Figuarts Ultraseven (The Mystery of Ultraseven) is a repaint of the original Figuarts Ultraseven figure from 2016, giving the mould a complete overhaul in terms of deco. While it has the same blue highlighting on the silver areas that the Ultraman figure had, the rest of the colouring has also been changed significantly. The version uses a much deeper and bolder red, as well as a shinier silver and white lines running down the body as opposed to the original's silver. The eyes now use a brighter translucent yellow plastic (as opposed to the original's orange), and the rectangular grooves in the silver areas have been filled with a pale yellow. On top of all this the feel of the figure is completely different as well, with this version having a glossier look to it compared to the original's matte finish. It's a really good idea and look for an exclusive figure – different enough to justify a purchase but not so unique that collectors will feel like they're missing out if they decide to skip it.

A side by side comparison with the original release shows just how different the deco is. Whereas the original had a more washed out look that felt reminiscent of how Ultraseven would have looked onscreen in the 60s, this new version has a much bolder colour scheme more in line with the character's current look. As such this version would probably look much better in a line-up alongside more recent Ultraman characters, whereas the original is better reserved for an era-specific display.

Of course being fundamentally the same figure despite the stark difference in deco, this new Ultraseven is exactly the same as the original when it comes to engineering and articulation. Bare in mind that the Ultraseven mould is six years old now so it is a little dated compared to some of the newer Ultraman offerings (and it's surprising Bandai haven't churned out a Shinkocchou Seihou yet given we just celebrated the show's 55th anniversary), however it's still the kind of high quality you'd expect from an S.H. Figuarts release. Altogether it features; 

- Peg joint head 

- Ball jointed neck, torso, waist and wrists 

- Swivel hinge shoulders, hips and ankles 

- Butterfly joint shoulders 

- Double hinge elbows and knees 

- Single hinge toe sections 

- Thigh swivels 

Like the rest of the Showa era Ultras (and still some of the newer releases for that matter), Ultraseven lacks bicep swivels but has some degree of rotation just above the elbow joint to assist with some of the more iconic poses – the most notable one being the Wide Shot pose. As Ultraseven had much fewer re-releases and was also a much more solid mould in general, there's a lot less mould degradation here than there was with the Marvel Ultraman release. While there were a lot of questionable joint tolerances there, everything here feels much tighter. The ankle tilts aren't quite as good as they could be, but overall this is still a really solid body and the fact it hasn't changed that much in the past six years just goes to show that Bandai are prepared to stand by it.

While the improved decos on these NYCC/event exclusive Ultraman figures certainly make them a lot more eye-catching, the downside is that they're almost completely gutted of the original releases' accessories. Like Ultraman, Ultraseven has a fairly minimal parts count – consisting of four additional pairs of hands. These are all the same as the ones that came with the original, ranging from open and weapon holding hands to specific Emerium Ray and Wide Shot pose hands. The Beam Lamp, Emerium Ray, Wide Shot and spare Eye Slugger have all been removed. Thankfully the Eye Slugger that sits atop the head sculpt is indeed removeable, giving at least giving you the option of having Ultraseven wield his iconic melee weapon. It's a little disappointing that at least one beam part wasn't included, but not all that surprising since a precedent was set with Ultraman. Of course if you have the original release the parts will all still work with this release, but the colour of the hands won't match up.

S.H. Figuarts Ultraseven (The Mystery of Ultraseven) is an interesting release, easily surpassing the original in some areas but then equally falling short in others. A step up from the already visually impressive comic Ultraman, the bolder shade of red combined with the improved detailing and glossier finish make this easily the best S.H. Figuarts Ultraseven Bandai have released thus far. That said, the lack of accessories combined with its price tag and exclusivity (the original Ultraseven retailed for roughly around $40, and last year's Ultraman exclusive was $12 less) means it has a lot less to offer in those departments. Still, these comic-styled Ultraman figures have proven to be a real joy so far – not only giving the Ultraman range some global exclusives but also putting the spotlight on this additional piece of Ultraman media. While the Jack robot from The Mystery of Ultraseven seems unlikely since it would require a whole new mould, Ultraman Taro's inclusion in the forthcoming Ultraman/Avengers crossover mini-series suggests he may not be too far behind.