Vault Review:
S.H. MonsterArts King Kong

Vault

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Another problem that pops up on this figure is that his joints can easily pop out of place.  This is a pretty common occurrence in the Monsterarts line, and one I wish would get fixed.  I’m not going to stop buying the figures over it, but I do think it’s a problem that shouldn’t exist in a line that’s this expensive.

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Aside from the alternate faces, Kong comes with a bevy of replacement hands as well.  You get a pair of open, holding, fists, and knuckles to the ground.  There’s also an additional right hand that is clutching a little Ann Darrow.  The little figure has a minimal amount of design which really contrasts with Kong’s figure, making her stand out nicely.

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Kong also comes with a small stick to beat a dino with.  And unlike most MonsterArts, he also gets a stand.  It’s one of the large circular ones used for Pokemon, but with a larger “C” clip that can actually fit around the character.  Unfortunately the figure is fairly heavy and I found it difficult balancing him just right so the arm would hold him up.

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Aside from a few minor complaints, I’m really happy with this figure.  Kong’s lifelike detail really allows him to stand out on a shelf full of imaginary kaiju and his alternate faces and upper body articulation give the figure a great amount of personality.  Kong and Godzilla aren’t technically the same size, but the two figures look fantastic sparing with each other in epic battle.  That’s the one thing I was really looking for in this figure.

-Vault

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26 thoughts on “Vault Review:
S.H. MonsterArts King Kong”

  1. Of course you realize what they must make now.

    Mecha-Kong!

    OK, it’s a stretch as Bandai hasn’t seen fit to release any Showa-era Kaiju in the Monsterarts line to date. Have they?

    Another outstanding review, as always. 🙂

    1. Thanks Steve! Mecha Kong would be funny.

      I was going to say that there is a Showa Godzilla coming, but I see you’ve already found it. 😀

      1. You know what they would do with Mecha Kong? His bombs and his hypno-beam thingie would be Tamashii Web exclusives and cost almost as much as the figure.

        But the bombs would all be separate devices and each would have removable pins and there would also be the camera/speaker ear clip things for Japanese Kong and maybe some glowing ‘Element X’ rocks. Stuff so cool you’d have to have it.

        And of course THEN we need Japanese Kong (Toho Kong?)…

  2. They have the Showa-era Godzilla coming out the tail end of summer. He’s the guy I grew up on, so I have him pre-ordered on Amazon.

    Another great review, Vault! I didn’t get monkey-boy, but he really is a beautiful figure.

    1. Wait, what WHAT?!

      *clik clikclikclick*

      Sink me! My Godzilla! *wishlist*

      But damn, they do bone on the pricing. crap crap.

        1. I think part of the problem, at least this specific case (’64 Godzilla), if I read the solicitation right this was/is a Tamashii Web exclusive.

          I KNOW, RIGHT? How stupid is THAT?

          Bandai aggravates me so. Yet they always find a way to make me HAVE to buy something. That Godzilla may well be my birthday present to myself. Dammit. 🙂

          1. Yeah, I don’t really get why they make common items web exclusives over there. The good news for us is that Bluefin is bringing him over and you can just order him from Amazon. So at least there’s that.

            1. It makes sense if the goal is to drive traffic to Bandai’s Tamashii Web store, because Bandai can then charge full retail (or more!) for a product that they would normally only get a fraction of the sell price via the seemingly complicated Japanese Retail Distro system.

              But it’s ALSO a way to throw the finger to anyone outside of Japan who has a love for this stuff. I have met people, and know others who have met people in Japan, particularly executives, who are absolutely gobsmacked that a gaijin like me not only knows about this sort of thing, but has ‘otaku depth’ knowledge. Bandai wants American money but doesn’t want their goods (toys, models, DVDs) to sell at American prices. They still think it’s 1982 and a 200% markup over wholesale cost (F.O.B. Japan) is not only acceptable but mandatory.

              But then again, they have Matty Collector as a guidepost, don’t they? *sigh*

  3. Eyeballing these all the time but, price is the big turn down. I would like to own a couple though. Saw Destroyah last year. That box was huge the price just as.

    This Kong looks just as cool as that site. I have to say the “Ooh ooh” look I don’t recall ever seeing in the film. Looks perfect with the Ann hand.

    I second a Mecha Kong. They are doing a 1964 Godzilla, saw in May previews, it maybe possible to see now.

    1. Nuts had wrong email in here. Anyway an add on to my comment. How does Kong look next to Grodd and Mallah?

    2. Yeah, they’re definitely expensive. Usually around Christmas time you can find some really good deals on them at Amazon.com though.

      I’m not exactly sure where my Grodd and Mallah are at the moment. Let me look around and see if I can’t get a picture taken for you.

  4. I knew one day this review would come and bring me to tears for not having it. That pic of him laying down staring at the tiny dino is classic.

  5. Ahem. Kong does not always die. I would point to the cinematic masterpieces “King Kong Escapes” and “King Kong Lives” as proof of that.

    I’d have been all over a classic Kong ‘Arts figure, but the newer take on the character, while an entertaining flick, doesn’t hold the same place in my heart as his predecessor.

    1. lol, not sure if those two movies really follow the same spirit as the original.

      I’ll be curious to see if they do make a classic Kong figure. I’d definitely buy him if they do. He’d go great with the original Godzilla.

  6. Neat! Well-sculpted, if not perfectly functionally executed. Great review, good pics, but I still think I’ll pass on this one. Crunch time is coming up, and they always seem to release 80% of the year’s toys in the same 2 months.

    1. Thanks, Beedo!

      Yeah, I know what you mean. Seems like all the new toys are hitting shelves just after SDCC.

    1. Yeah, it’s really my biggest complaint about the line. It mostly happens with the ball joints but not all of them, it’s usually only one or two on a figure and it tends to be the longer appendages like tails or necks. You can easily pop them back in and they’ll hold their pose, but when moving them around they tend to pop out again.

  8. I wish I had the funds to collect this line. They’re so amazing. It will do to enjoy the awesome pics of them, though. 🙂

  9. Hey Vault, would be great if you could post a comparison pic with a DCUC or a MOTUC fig.
    🙂

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