Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Akiba Blue (Season Tsuu Ver.)

Tamashii Nations must be pretty bold when it comes to the Akibaranger S.H. Figuarts. Not only are the original Akiba Blue and Yellow figures the only Sentai girls to have received a mass release in the line, but almost a year later they're getting released again. They aren't quite the same figures though, as these are in fact Season Tsuu (or 2 depending on your opinions on Japanese puns). So you're not buying another Mitsuki Aoyagi, in fact you're getting the first S.H. Figuarts representation of Luna Iwashimizu!

Since it's Akibaranger merchandising the packaging is all sunshine and rainbows (well, the latter certainly) - a colourful explosion with Luna displaying one of her trademark idol-in-training poses on the front. The window features more Japanese writing, different from that included on Super Akiba Red's packaging. Unfortunately I still have no idea what it says - maybe I'll work it all out in time for the S2 Akiba Yellow review!

So here we are again - another year, another Akiba Blue. The overall sculpt hasn't changed in any way at all save for the few minor changes I'll go into in the next paragraph, but at least this one came assembled properly in the box. The translucent blue on the chest looks as good as ever, and the combo of blue, white and black really works for a striking colourscheme. And with the cut-off skirt means all that glorious leg articulation isn't in any way hindered.

Of course, Bandai aren't so heartless to make you buy the same figure twice so there are a few cosmetic differences between the season 1 and 2 Akiba Blues. The most obvious of these is the helmet, with the hair section now fashioned into a single ponytail. The bear print pants are now gone too, replaced with black suspenders running up the thigh area. Sexy.

And of course, to further differentiate Luna from her predecessor this Akiba Blue also comes with a new set of accessories. We have a total of 14 different hands, 2 mufflers and the MMZ-01 in both gun and doll modes. So that means she's beating the original in the hand department by two, and omitting one muffler in exchange for the wonderfully detailed MMZ doll is a very fair trade off. Of course, if you have the original Akiba Blue, her unique pieces will also work here for even more variety.

With the official Super Sentai heroes coming with their own Akibaranger goodies related to the stories they appeared in, Bandai have changed things up a little when it comes to the inordinate powers. To make sure fans are willing to shell out for the same two figures (with minor changes) once again - the three inordinate powers for the season have been split between the Akiba girls. For whatever reason (I like to think it's because she's the new character), Blue is the one that comes with two - in this case the Zyuranger Buckler and Hurricane Ball. There isn't a whole lot to say about the Buckler other than it's a giant belt that can clip onto any of the three Akibarangers via the holes in their belts, but the Hurricane Ball is a much more interesting piece.

Surprisingly, the Hurricane Ball comes on a real metal chain, which is long enough to reproduce some pretty good action shots. Better still, the Tamashii stand claw can wrap around the ball nicely to keep things stable.

Aside from the fact that this release comes with two inordinate powers, I wasn't expecting a lot from this iteration of Akiba Blue. After all, I already have the first release right? I don't know if it's because Luna eventually turned out to be the better character, but somehow I just found myself having so much more fun with this release. To sweeten the deal, the accessories are far more impressive even without the inclusion of the powers. So while I can't give the new improved Akiba Blue full marks because it IS the same figure, it deserves the same because it tried damn hard to make it hard to pass on it.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Akiba Blue

A female Sentai Figuart that isn't a Tamashii web exclusive? That's crazy talk!

But believe it or not, Bandai has gone and surprised us all with the Figuarts Akibarangers, which just goes to show how much they seem to be pushing this series in terms of merchandise. After Akiba Red's release at the end of June, the end of July saw Akiba Blue aka Mitsuki Aoyagi hit retail in figure form. They were joined earlier this month by Akiba Yellow (who's currently on her way to me), rounding off the three main Akibarangers.

Much like her predecessor Akiba Blue's packaging is a rainbow explosion of anime-esque proportions, with the unofficial stamp now blue rather than red. The box shows the figure in a variety of (fairly simplistic) poses, but unlike Akiba Red lacks any reference to the Inordinate Powers sold separately with the other Super Sentai Figuarts. This is a shame because Bouken Red's Bouken Scoop is a weapon I more closely associate with Blue, but I can see the logic in not advertising an accessory that comes with a figure that doesn't come out until the end of September. In case you were wondering, the box still says "simple style and HIROIC action" too.

Akiba Blue is a rather different to the traditional Super Sentai female hero design, but perhaps not quite as radical as Akiba Red was. The suit is a much smoother design than Red, although the figure still has some nice detailing on the boots and some panel indentation on the blue leg sections. The breasts have same translucent plastic over sculpted detail look as Red, which works great as a draw to the figure even if it does mean you're staring at her breasts for the most part. The white is also a slightly off shade which gives the sections a nice gleam against the flat matte blue sections. Her soft plastic skirt doesn't fully cover her legs so the figure can still pull off a full range of motion (no need for alternate skirt parts like with the Shinken or Gokai girls) and in answer to the most important question of all - yes, the underwear does indeed include the bear print.

That being said I do have a few minor qualms with the sculpt. The first might just be a problem with mine, but her neck wasn't assembled properly when I took it out of the package meaning her head was incapable of moving. An easily fixable problem, but giving the head movement made me realise how scared I am that the ponytail pieces might snap off if a little bit of pressure went the wrong way. Its the kind of problem that could be solved by simply being careful, but I might feel a little safer if the ponytail was able to pop off if any pressure was wrongly applied.

Akiba Blue's accessories are exactly the same as Akiba Red's - ten extra hands, MMZ-01 and alternate muffler/scarf pieces, only for some reason Blue comes with three mufflers rather than two (the extra one being the two sections spread even further apart). While Akiba Red got away with the lack of accessories a little more because his first run came with three stands (which I'm still impressed with), its a lot more noticeable and frustrating with Blue. I'm still not sure what else she could have come with beside a figure-mode MMZ, but I certainly don't feel spoilt in terms of accessories like I do with most Figuarts.

Akiba Blue is an great figure, but while I was completely blown away by Akiba Red she feels much less special. All the detail that made Red so great is a lot more minimal in Blue's design, and moments like being afraid of breaking her head and realising she doesn't come with all the much have dampened my love for her a little. Still, you can't argue with Bandai's decision to put out all three Akibarangers at retail, meaning you can get the whole team for just over what it costs to buy one exclusive. That's a pretty great reason to love Akiba Blue in itself.