Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Wingman

Release Date: August 2025 

RRP: 12,100 yen 

One of the surprise tokusatsu hits of 2024 was the live-action adaptation of Wingman, based on the 1983 manga by Masakazu Katsura. Like the manga itself the 12-episode series was a love letter to all things superhero and tokusatsu, with plenty of references and homages to classic series. Main character Kenta Hirono was even played by Maito Fujioka, son of original Kamen Rider Hiroshi Fujioka. Despite seemingly like the kind of show that could easily come and go without any merchandise, Bandai Tamashii Nations pulled out the biggest surprise of all by announcing a S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Wingman figure! A very rare example of the line moving outside of long-standing franchises (with the exception of perhaps Gridman, and even that’s grown into a franchise in recent years), Wingman was released as a Tamashii web exclusive.

Despite being the first Shinkocchou Seihou figure not to come from an established franchise, Wingman’s packaging doesn’t feature any unique flourishes. Of course it’s the usual two-piece box we’ve seen on every Shinkocchou Seihou figure since the line started, but it’s also using the same colour layout as the Kamen Rider releases. On the lid of the box is a big (textured) bust image of Wingman against a white backdrop, the sides featuring “Wingman” in silver foil lettering on a black background. The underside the box gives you a better look at the figure, showing it off in various poses along with all its accessories. Inside everything is neatly laid out on two moulded plastic trays – one for the figure, and then a second for the accessories. Instructions on how to use the accessories/swap the various parts are printed out on a separate paper leaflet.

Wingman's original manga (and subsequently anime) design wasn't changed too much for the 2024 series, with any updates that were made (such as the sculpted body suit) purely adding more to the tokusatsu feel. Katsura's inspirations definitely shine through in the same way so many classic tokusatsu superhero suits remain timeless today - with a simple design that places emphasis in certain places. In Wingman's case it's definitely those blue armour pieces, some of which (such as the shoulder pads, chest piece and head crest) have been done here in painted blue plastic for extra effect. The "true bone carving" sculpting method is on full show here, with the figure not only sporting realistic body proportions but also ones that feel befitting of a high school student. While the blue sections may be the ones that immediately catch the eye the silver parts are equally sharp, particularly the belt buckle with its three metallic coloured buttons. While there is moulded detail running all along the black body suit (as well as fabric folds in specific areas), it's the back particularly which really shows off the additional detailing on suit itself. While the suit isn't instantly recognisable from a specific franchise in the same way Kamen Rider, Super Sentai or Metal Heroes suits are, it's true to the character in that it very much feels inspired by them.

Any sort of S.H. Figuarts release would have been a joy when it comes to posing, but Wingman coming as a Shinkocchou Seihou figure is definitely an added bonus for the articulation. Altogether the figure features;

- Ball jointed head, neck, torso, waist and wrists

- Swivel hinge shoulders and ankles

- Butterfly joint shoulders

- Double hinge elbows and knees

- Drop-down swivel hinge hips

- Single hinge toe sections

- Bicep and thigh swivels

Additionally both the shoulder pads and sword holsters are attached to the figure via ball joints, allowing them to move independently of the body and (most importantly) move around it whilst posing. One particularly unique aspect is that the top corners of the chest emblem (which sit behind the centre piece) are also separately articulated to aid the butterfly joints. While it might be out of the ordinary to see drop-down style hips on a Shinkocchou Seihou figure Wingman's body type definitely makes it work, with no visible gaps thanks to the black suit and an unencumbered range of motion. The simplicity of the Wingman suit definitely works to the figure's advantage too, as there's very little to get in the way of articulation anywhere. As a character that likes to pull off a lot of extravagant role call poses, good articulation was a must on this figure and it doesn't appear to disappoint.

If there’s one thing that’s generally true for S.H. Figuarts across the board it’s that the longer a range goes on, the less accessories they seem to come with over time. Even some Shinkocchou Seihou releases can feel like they come with less than they were back in the line’s early days though. Wingman however is a release that really feels like it justifies its (relatively high) price tag, with an incredible number of accessories that feel just like the good old days. Right off the bat Wingman comes with 17 swappable hands – eight identical pairs and then an additional right hand. These hands cover pretty much every scenario you could expect – from generic pairs like closed fists, open and accessory holding hands to specifically posed ones unique to the character. And of course no Wingman figure would be complete with a rendition of the Dream Note, which has been replicated here to magnificent detail. As well as screen-accurate sculpting and paintwork on the cover, it even opens up to reveal Kenta’s notes and drawings that bring Wingman’s powers to life. The Dream Pen can even be removed from the spine (be very careful not to lose this as the accessory is tiny) and placed in that extra right hand so that you can pose the figure scribbling in the book itself!

As far as weaponry is concerned Wingman has both his Spiral-Cut and Chrome Raybar attacks represented, each in a number of different forms. The Spiral-Cut sees Wingman remove his head crest and throw it like a boomerang (akin to an Ultra’s slugger), with the alternate parts here including an upside-down version of the crest, a removed version that can be held and alternate head sculpts to properly display the crest removed. Caution should be taken when removing the crest as it’s made from fairly thin translucent plastic, but after a bit of careful prying it should switch out easily. Bandai have even included a Tamashii Stage adapter piece so that the removed crest can be displayed mid-air as if it has been thrown. Moving onto the Chrome Raybars, these are Wingman’s twin swords that holster on either side of his hips but extend when being used. The holstered versions are attached to the figure straight out the box, but can be removed for accuracy when the larger versions are being held. The swords are a simply but quite unique design, painted entirely in silver with a touch of metallic blue on the hilt. They fit in the designated hands nicely, and together with the figure’s excellent range of articulation you can get some great poses.

The final accessories are the largest and perhaps best of all, even if they’re the ones that appear in the show least of all. Rounding off this incredible set of parts is a full-sized set of wings – featuring two large wings and then two smaller ones underneath. The wings are moulded in transparent blue plastic, and attached to a separate backplate which needs to be switched out onto the figure. Each wing is connected to the backplate via a rotating hinge joint, so can be posed however you wish. Although the wings may only appear during his transformation and special attack sequences, these really do feel like an integral part of the character – his name is “Wingman” after all. Tokusatsu heroes with elaborate wings are few and far between, and adding these onto the figure gives it some real display presence. Even half of the accessories included here would have made it a great release, but Bandai put their all into this figure and it shows.

Wingman getting an S.H. Figuarts release, let alone a Shinkocchu Seihou one was a huge surprise, but dear god were Bandai cooking on this one. S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Wingman is almost like a reminder of the Figuarts of old, back when they came with all the accessories needed to be considered the definitive version of that character. Wingman is undoubtedly this (even if a lack of competition certainly helps), combining that incredibly “true bone carving” quality sculpt and articulation with more optional parts than you could ever need. A show as great as Wingman deserved this, and clearly its fans thought so too with how quickly Bandai needed to put out a second run on the Tamashii web store. The Shinkocchou Seihou range very rarely disappoints, but more wild card releases like this is EXACTLY what it needs.