Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Zearth

Release Date: July 2026

RRP: 8800 yen

Given how many years it ran for there weren't a great of characters from the Ultra Series that the old Ultra-Act line missed out on (pre-Ultraman Ginga anyway), so every time Bandai Tamashii Nations announce something for the S.H. Figuarts line that wasn't previously covered it's particularly exciting - especially when that line is also quite extensive at this point. With a number of titular Ultras from mainline series still to be released, it's unlikely many were expecting an S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Zearth anytime soon - and yet here we are. The Ultraman from the Land of Bright in Nebula Z95 and star of two official parody films in 1996 and 1997 (the former of which was released in celebration of the franchise's 30th anniversary) arrives as a Tamashii Web exclusive, giving fans their first opportunity to own a high-end poseable figure of this rather unique Ultra.

S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Zearth comes in a box that matches the same design as the Heisei and New Generation era Ultraman releases, adopting a primarily yellow colour scheme which not only matches his vibrant eyes but also contrasts against the suit itself nicely. Being a Tamashii Web exclusive the box itself is windowless, instead featuring a nice big image of the Ultraman Zearth suit on the front accompanied by a smaller image of the figure itself behind. 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.

These days red-faced Ultras are quite the rarity they once were, but back in 1996 Ultraman Zearth was definitely rocking a look that didn't feel like your average Ultraman. While the design itself still feels quintessentially Ultraman, it just goes to show how much a slight shift in colour placement can make. Even if you didn't know that the Zearth movies were parodies, you'd only need to take one look at Zearth compared to other Ultras to know that something was different about him. Bandai have done a really great job with this figure - the red is suitably bright and vibrant, but it's the pearlescent shade of silver they've used that really brings the colour scheme together. On top of the unique colouration the head sculpt also has a number of other quirks, most notably the reverse-facing crest and (albeit less so) bright yellow eyes. Again yellow eyes aren't exactly uncommon but placed against that red face Zearth's feel all that more vibrant. It's a design that will instantly fit in with all your other Ultraman figures, but at the same time completely stand out.

Ultraman Zearth features the same articulation that's been seen across the Ultraman S.H. Figuarts range for some time now, altogether consisting of;

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

- Swivel hinge shoulders and ankles

- Butterfly joint shoulders

- Drop-down ball jointed hips

- Double hinge elbows and knees

- Elbow and thigh swivels

- Single hinge toe sections

Zearth is very much a case of a figure not breaking the mould when it comes to articulation/poseability, but pulling off everything it can do without any real issues. None of the tolerances are too loose or too tight, with the upper torso and shoulders having a particularly good range of motion. The same can be said of the hips, though as always you should be careful when posing the legs to ensure the silver paint on the sides doesn't get scuffed by the crotch assembly. Like most Ultraman figures Zearth has slight swivel motion built into the elbows, which while not matching what a full bicep swivel is capable of is still more than enough to get the signature beam pose just right. Zearth is a figure where good poses are key to showing off its personality, since slightly silly ones are just as important here as the heroic ones.

Zearth's accessories are the standard selection you'd expect to see on an Ultraman release, consisting of an alternate red Colour Timer, five additional pairs of hands and a Spachouchoura Beam effect part. The Colour Timer is a small diamond (and thus quite easy to lose so take care), but the way it protrudes out of Zearth's body means it's very easy to switch out with the standard blue one. The hand selection is also pretty typical of what you'd find with an Ultraman figure, including two pairs of open hands, beam pose hands, flight pose hands and a pair of relaxed open hands to accompany the default closed fists. It's a decent selection that allows you to pull off all of the standard Ultraman poses, as well as those important Zearth signature ones as well. Finally there's the Spachouchoura Beam, which on first glance doesn't look all that different from the usual Ultra Beam parts. However Zearth is one of the few Ultras that fires his beam from his left hand, and was also the first in Ultraman history to do so as well. The beam itself is moulded in translucent blue plastic, with its own unique moulding to stand out from all the various other Ultra beams. As is usually the case, the beam itself is permanently fixed to an additional hand for extra security/support. Overall it's a pretty standard selection of accessories, but exactly the kind of one you'd expect to get for a character like Zearth.

...or maybe not, because shortly after Zearth's release Bandai revealed that the forthcoming Ultraman Shadow would also feature a number of additional accessories for Zearth - including two new head sculpts and a new Cross Spachouchoura Beam effect. So technically you could argue that Zearth himself could have come with more, but it seems this release was mainly covering the basics/the first movie whereas Shadow throws in a few extras from Ultraman Zearth 2. This combined with how we're getting Zearth before certain other characters in the line shows that someone in Bandai Tamashii Nations must really love Zearth.

The release of S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Zearth was already a surprise, but what's perhaps even more surprising is just how much fun this figure is. Despite not really doing anything Ultraman Figuarts haven't been doing for years it just has so much personality, that unique design/colouration doing most of the heavy lifting but also just being a really great figure to pose as well. The basic accessory count does the job nicely for anyone just looking to pick up Zearth himself, but any bigger fans out there have the extra pieces Ultraman Shadow is coming with to look forward to as well. Ultraman Zearth is so much more than the fun oddity many might perceive him as.