Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman

Release Date: July 2026

RRP: 8800 yen

Evil Ultramen have become a staple part of the franchise of the years, with the tradition going all the way back to episode eighteen of the original 1966 series "Brother from Another Planet", where Alien Zarab disguised himself as Ultraman and wreaked havoc across Tokyo in order to discredit him. With the episode also being among the ones adapted into Shin Ultraman, one would think that the original fake Ultraman would be a chief contender for an S.H. Figuarts release. Yet it wasn't until 2026 that S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman finally became a reality, released as an event exclusive to commemorate Tamashii Nations Live Action Figure Expo 2026.

S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman comes in the usual windowless box that one would expect from a Tamashii Web or event exclusive release, but it doesn't make any reference to the fact the figure was released to commemorate the 2026 Tamashii Nations Live Action Figure Expo. Adopting the same design as the previous Showa era Ultraman releases, the front of the box features a nice big image of the Imit-Ultraman suit as it appeared in the original 1966 show, with a coloured image of the figure itself just behind and the character name running along the bottom. One side simply features the character name and S.H. Figuarts logo, whereas the other features the stylised bookend-style image featured across the whole Ultraman range. On the back of the box is a selection images showing the figure (and accessories) off in a variety of poses, and then inside everything can be found neatly stored on a moulded plastic tray.

Much like the suit itself, Imit-Ultraman is a remould of the S.H. Figuarts Ultraman (A-Type) figure - which in turn was a remould of the original S.H. Figuarts Ultraman (based on the C-Type suit). The figure uses the same dark silver colouring as the A-Type figure, with new feet based on the B-Type suit and a new head sculpt. The new parts are definitely appreciated in the name of screen-accuracy, but are surprising given that there isn't an S.H. Figuarts version of the B-Type suit (and given the mould's age, there's unlikely to be one at this rate). In addition to the new pointed orange eyes which immediately give the suit a more sinister edge, Imit Ultraman also features new black sections around the torso and waist. As a disguise Zarab isn't really fooling anyone who compares the two (as opposed to the Shin Ultraman version where the differences really are miniscule), but the original definitely makes for a much more distinct and arguably iconic design.

While I don't own a copy of the A-Type figure, direct comparison with the C-Type figure (or any of its various re-releases, in this case the Rise of Ultraman comic version) shows the level of remoulding the figure has. However comparison with the Shinkocchou Seihou Ultraman also shows highlights just how dated the figure is beginning to feel as well. The original S.H. Figuarts mould is now a decade old (having been originally released in celebration of the franchise's 50th anniversary), so getting a new version of it now when there's also a five-year-old Shinkocchou Seihou on the market feels a little weird. Many (myself included) simply assumed that at this point if they did an Imit-Ultraman figure they'd just rework the Shinkocchou Seihou rather than go all the way back to the original release. One can assume they didn't because it would require more work (not just in terms of moulding, but also proportions given the line is supposed to match the suit actors), but given they've slightly bent the rules of the line in the past it wouldn't have been a complete stretch for them to do it again. 

Using the same body type as the original Ultraman S.H. Figuarts releases means the articulation is also identical, and the mould is definitely showing its age a bit ten years later. Altogether Imit-Ultraman features;

- Peg joint head

- Ball jointed neck, torso, waist and wrists

- Butterfly joint shoulders

- Swivel hinge shoulders, hips and ankles

- Double hinge elbows and knees

- Single hinge toe sections

- Thigh swivels

The most reassuring thing about this release is that clearly the A-Type suit remould hasn't aged quite as badly as the original C-Type figure, because whereas my Rise of Ultraman figure had joint tolerances that were all over the place (stiff shoulders, floppy hips etc.), everything here moves just as it should - nothing is too tight and the hips aren't floppy at all. So structurally it's great, but the decade-old articulation does feel like a bit of a downgrade when compared with some of the newer Ultraman figures. Bicep swivels are still a rarity on the standard Figuarts releases, but Imit-Ultraman doesn't even have the swivel movement in the elbows. Granted a good Specium Ray pose isn't a necessity here the same way it is with the actual Ultraman, but the figure definitely suffers from having that slightly less arm movement. Given its age it still isn't that bad of a figure, but as previously mentioned it does feel a little weird getting released again all these years later.

Imit-Ultraman comes with a relatively small selection of accessories, consisting of five additional pairs of hands and an additional left hand holding Isamu Hoshino dangling from a rope. Whilst a lovely inclusion that references an iconic scene from the episode, the execution of the part does leave a lot to be desired - especially when compared to the Ultra-Act release from all the way back in 2014. Whereas the Ultra-Act featured a near-identical accessory with a fully painted Hoshino, the Figuarts version has been left in the same yellowish brown as the rope - obscuring a lot of the detail on the mould. Given that it wouldn't have taken much for Bandai to paint the accessory and the fact this is double the price of the Ultra-Act (although prices have significantly shifted in the 12 years since) it feels like a pretty big oversight, ruining the presentation of an otherwise fun accessory. The hand selection includes all the usual favourites like a closed fists, a selection of open hands, knife-strike and accessory-holding hands - giving Imit-Ultraman plenty of options when it comes to posing.

The pair of accessory-holding hands are included so that Imit-Ultraman can be displayed wielding the Giga Battlenizer, referencing its appearance in Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy: The Movie where Zarab (disguised as Imit-Ultraman) breaks Belial out of prison. Given how the Ultraman S.H. Figuarts usually only reference a specific appearance of the character (in this case being the original series) it comes as a bit of a surprise, but a very welcome one and something that was very easy for Bandai to do given all they had to do was include an extra pair of hands. The Giga Battlenizer itself is not included with the release however, so one has to be borrowed from any of the several releases of Ultraman Belial that have been released over the years.

S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman is a figure that should have come out years ago, so while it finally getting released is sure to please a lot of collectors at the same time it does feel a bit like a case of "too little, too late". Getting the original S.H. Figuarts Ultraman mould again ten years later feels like a step backwards, particularly when there's a Shinkocchou Seihou version of the A-Type suit coming soon that Bandai could have made similar edits to. And while there's nothing wrong with the figure coming with minimal accessories, the very least Bandai could have done in which case was fully paint the ones it did come with. Being as iconic as it is though, it's still a great feeling for this to finally be released - even if I fully expect Bandai to follow it up with a Shinkocchou Seihou version in a much shorter space of time just to spite everyone who's waited all these years for it.