Next in the series of Bishoujo (Pretty girl) style, 1:8 scale line of statues based on the ladies of Marvel Comics by Kotobukiya is Black Widow.

Black Widow is next in the series of Bishoujo (Pretty girl) style, 1:8 scale line of statues based on the ladies of Marvel Comics by Kotobukiya as interpreted by the talented Shunya Yamashita.

Yamashita is one Japan's most famous and talented Bishoujo artists with a wealth of material available in the form of art books, video game work, as well as many of his illustrations being the basis of statues and action figures. If you have been paying any sort of attention over the past 6 months you know I am an enormous Yamashita fan.

Black Widow is a “sometimes” villain from the Marvel Comics Iron Man franchise and has an incredibly long and complex history. Feel free to check the link for a complete breakdown from wikipedia.

The figure comes in a very neatly designed window box decorated with artwork by Yamashita...

...the same artwork the sculptor, Koei Matsumoto used to bring this beauty to life.

And beauty is indeed the word that comes to mind. Black Widow is gorgeous. Suitably voluptuous and dangerous looking while being sexy and demure like most of Yamashita's work.

And of course she has the signature “yamashita eye's” that pull you in and make you melt...

The sculpt detail is excellent and precise. The paint detail is flawless. No under/over-spray anywhere. Honestly I expect nothing less from Kotobukiya's well-earned reputation for craftsmanship.

I particularly like the pedestal display for the base elevating it from just sexy girl statue to art piece.

I am only a casual marvel fan (if that) but a huge Yamashita fan and I am happy to add her to the collection.

With a $59.99 price tag you are certainly getting a quality piece at a great price. Any Marvel or Yamashita fan would do well to get one while you can. Kotobukiya now has their own on-line store and you can be sure to get one there.

I think I finally figured out what it is that makes a Yamashita design/illustration so... “Yamashita.” It's the eyes. They just make you melt and feel like they are looking right at you.

Rogue is the first in a new series of Bishoujo (Pretty girl) style, 1:8 scale line of statues based on the ladies of Marvel Comics by Kotobukiya as interpreted by the talented Shunya Yamashita.

Yamashita is one Japan's most famous and talented Bishoujo artists with a wealth of material available in the form of art books, video game work, as well as many of his illustrations being the basis of statues and action figures. If you have been paying any sort of attention over the past 6 months you know I am an enormous Yamashita fan.

Rogue is a staple of Marvel Comics X-Men franchise and has an incredibly long and complex history. Feel free to check the link for a complete breakdown from wikipedia.

The figure comes in a very neatly designed window box decorated with artwork by Yamashita...

...the same artwork the sculptor, Koei Matsumoto used to bring this beauty to life.

And beauty is indeed the word that comes to mind. Rogue is simply stunning.

I think I finally figured out what it is that makes a Yamashita design/illustration so... “Yamashita.” It's the eyes. Sure, his women are sensual, shapely and stunning but it's the eyes. They just make you melt and feel like there looking right at you.

The sculpt detail is excellent and precise. The paint detail is flawless. No under/over-spray anywhere. Honestly I expect nothing less from Kotobukiya craftsmanship. Their reputation is well deserved.

I particularly like the pedestal display for the base elevating it from just sexy girl statue to art piece.

I am only a casual X-Men fan but a huge Yamashita fan and I am happy to add her to the collection.

I must say even though I knew they where in the 1:8 scale, I was a bit surprised at how small they are in person. However with a $59.99 price tag you are certainly getting a quality piece at a great price. Any Rogue or Yamashita fan would do well to get one while you can. Kotobukiya now has their own on-line store and you can be sure to get one there.

Saeko Busujima is the token “bad girl” from the 2006 manga Gakuen Mokushiroku, which translates as Highschool of the Dead. Saeko is “extremely skilled with a bokken and close combat” and describes herself as “…a sadist who enjoys inflicting pain on those weaker than her.” As a result, Saeko gets a lot out of killing zombies. Go figure.

Character Background: Saeko Busujima is the token “bad girl” from the 2006 manga Gakuen Mokushiroku, which translates as Highschool of the Dead. Highschool of the Dead is about a bunch of Japanese high school kids who are caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. According to Wikipedia, Saeko is “extremely skilled with a bokken and close combat” and describes herself as “…a sadist who enjoys inflicting pain on those weaker than her.” As a result, Saeko gets a lot out of killing zombies. Go figure.

Saeko is a 1/8 PVC statue made from Chara Ani and is about 9 inches tall.

Review/Features: The statue has no posability and comes in a full window box.  Saeko comes with cast-off clothing and two alternate aprons as well as two sets of arms that allow for different poses. The statue comes with a full packaging plus brief set of instructions to show how the castoff pieces switch out. Accessories include a sword, the scabbard and bokken.

Sculpt is good. Not perfect-but the pose captures the attitude of the character and has definite personality. A lot of good features-the full apron, for example, has some nice detail to allow detail from the breasts to show through and the face has just the right attitude in the eyes.

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Minor quibbles include the bikini bottom, which seems flush with the statue (although the knot isn’t bad) with some minor imperfections around the buttocks and on the arms. But these are barely noticeable.  Some minor imperfections with the paint job as well with minor discoloration anywhere there is a black band. This includes the arms and the thong around the abdomen.

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Two alternate cast-off aprons result in two different poses. Aprons fit on over the removable head and around the arms, which are also removable. The arms switch out right at the armbands where the small knives are attached.  The arm connections aren’t as snug as I would like and I wonder about how they’ll hold up over time.

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Full apron pose- This is the default. Arms are straight to hold weapons. Apron covers front but allows for breast outlines to be seen.

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Sexy apron pose- This is the alternate. Arms are bent and posed so that Saeko is lifting the apron, which is uplifted. The apron shows Saeko’s breasts through the front.

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Full nude. Either of the aprons can be completely removed with any mix of the arms. The straight weapon arms make the best sense with the full straight nude mode, since the bent arms mode goes along with the uplifted half-naked apron.

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The accessories (bokken, sword, scabbard) fit well into the arms but even new, aren’t perfectly tight. This is always a difficult feature to work in-but the plastic on these is soft, so in the long term probably not going to be one of the more enduring features.    

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The stand is actually bolted to the foot of the statue itself, which suggests its not intended to come off.  This makes it quite stable.

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I have a great fondness for the ‘bad girl’ statues-the attitude, the swords, and the switchable castoffs were all pluses for me. Although no socks to complete the whole outfit-Saeko really has a great pose and works well among my other statues.

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Yak! Deculture! It's Ranka Lee!

I got the whole prize set from Angolz.

Ranka here is from the Banpresto produced prize items for Macross Frontier. Ichiban KUJI Premium Macross Frontier is sold in convenience stores across Japan as a lottery. Customers buy a 800 YEN ticket you pull from a blind box with a letter on it telling you which item you have won. It's completely random on what your end up with for your hard earned YEN. Available in the set of Premium goods are...

• A. Klan Klang (Melatrandi Pilot) 25cm tall
• B. Sheryl Nome (Finale Concert Dress) 22cm tall
• C. Ranka Lee (Kira Pose) 20cm tall
• D. Nyan Nyan Bowl
• E. Sport Towel Set (Monster Girl, VF-25, Kabuki Alto)
• F. Super Deformed Character Figure Set (Ranka, Sheryl, Klan, Alto)
• G. Super Deformed Mecha Set (VF-25F Alto Battroid, VF-25S Ozma Armored Gerwalk, VF-27 Brera Battroid, Klan Queadluun-Ray, Raramia Queadluun Ray)

This is prize item C and apparently in Japan is the most sought after and difficult to get of the Ladies of Macross Frontier...

Ranka Lee is Macross Frontier's Lynn Minmay. A young lady with dreams of singing her songs for people leads her down the road of rising Pop-star. Much like Minmay's songs took away the Zentradi will to fight; Ranka's seem to passify the newest alien menace, the Vajra.

In Episode 12 (“Fastest Delivery) Sheryl arrives on Galia 4 to give a concert to the 33rd Navel/Marine Zentradi Fleet (which features Zentradi that are the spitting image of classic characters from the original series.) but falls ill. This leads some of the rowdier Zentradi to start a revolt and take Sheryl's entourage hostage, which includes Ranka's crush and our main character Alto Saotome.

So what's a young lady to do? Why, she puts on her best dress and puts on a show! The S.M.S. Slap funky disco speakers to a VF-25 and fly Ranka in to save the day with an impromptu concert! And it works like a charm.

And this is the moment Banpresto choose to capture for there statue of Ranka in their fantastic line of prize items and I think it was a good choice. Let me just say this up front, I am more a Sheryl kind of guy myself. I don't mind having a nice statue of Ranka for the Macross display but I won't be buying and reviewing multiple versions of Ranka in different swimsuits, waitress or maid outfits. Sheryl on the other hand... but I digress.

With that said this is a stunningly beautiful piece and a great embodiment of the characters signature cuteness.

The package for this prize item is a Shadowbox with windows on the front and sides. Photos of the statue decorate the back while hand drawn stars and her signature decorates the yellow background behind the figure on display in the box.

The box sports a hefty die-cut handle so you can carry your newly obtained Ranka on the train during rush hour with ease. Now that's classy.

Assembly is easy. Just attach Ranka and her pet Vajra – Ai-Kun to the supplied base (an S for the S.M.S. logo) and your done.

Like I've said with the other two gals from this lineup - Technically you could have pulled a 800 YEN ticket with the letter C on your first try. Which means you could go home with this piece for the equivalent of $8.00 to $10.00 US which, in my opinion, is a steal.

Paint and sculpt detail is top-notch, easily on par with an $80 to $100 release. Everything is flawless on this release with painted detail for Ranka's dress and skin done in all flat colors and the microphone in glossy.

Like the other releases there are no cast off parts (and if your looking for that in a Ranka figure you need some help... .)

So each of the ladies in this trio have a base that makes up 1/3 of the S.M.S. logo.

So when you arrange them correctly they not only make the S.M.S. logo they look beautifully arranged.` A very nicely thought out touch.

So the reality that your getting this for $8.00 to $10.00 is pretty slim, especially considering how Ranka has an almost cult like status in good ol' Japan.

Average after-market price on this piece is $100 and even at that price is a steal so grab one while you can my fellow Macross Frontier fans. Because this was an extraordinarily limited run prices are bound to triple as time goes on and you will kick yourself later for not scooping one up while you could.

I got Ranka as part of the full set thru Angolz but as of this article she was still available individually.

It's the Klan Klang statue the fans really want.

I got the whole prize set from Angolz.

Klan Klang is from the Banpresto produced prize items for Macross Frontier. Ichiban KUJI Premium Macross Frontier is sold in convenience stores across Japan as a lottery. Customers buy a 800 YEN ticket you pull from a blind box with a letter on it telling you which item you have won. It's completely random on what your end up with for your hard earned YEN. Available in the set of Premium goods are...

• A. Klan Klang (Melatrandi Pilot) 25cm tall
• B. Sheryl Nome (Finale Concert Dress) 22cm tall
• C. Ranka Lee (Kira Pose) 20cm tall
• D. Nyan Nyan Bowl
• E. Sport Towel Set (Monster Girl, VF-25, Kabuki Alto)
• F. Super Deformed Character Figure Set (Ranka, Sheryl, Klan, Alto)
• G. Super Deformed Mecha Set (VF-25F Alto Battroid, VF-25S Ozma Armored Gerwalk, VF-27 Brera Battroid, Klan Queadluun-Ray, Raramia Queadluun Ray)

This is prize item A and definitely one of the more sought after pieces in the set and the first toy incarnation of Klan in her full Maltrandi size...

... and I gotta say, she is a looker.

Klan Klang is from the latest incarnation in the Macross franchise, Macross Frontier. She is a Meltrandi and Captain of the S.M.S. (Strategic Military Services) Queadluun-Rea Battalion, Pixie Squad.

Klan is an interesting character in the series. She has a problem with her genetics, in her full grown Meltrandi state she looks like a full grown woman (a really full grown woman if you get my meaning... .) When she miclones herself to a smaller human scale size she looks like a wee little lass, certainly a problem when trying to date human sized guys her own age.

She represents the extremes of female characters in anime without actually "behaving" as such. From mini, lolicon cutie to full grown and shapely woman. Her story is one of unrequited love and the path not taken. It's very touching actually.

It's the usual packaging for a fixed pose figure, a shadow box with windows on the front and sides to see the figure on display. On the back of the package are photos of the figure. On the top of the box is a handle (to make it easier to carry your prize item home on the train.)

Klan is pretty much assembled right out of the box. You just add her feet to the base and put the helmet in her hand (sadly the helmet will not fit on her head...) and your good to go.

So as for the figure itself, all I can say is Wow! This is a stunning piece. It's a dead-on likeness of Klan from the show and the detail is just fantastic.

Again, keep in mind that technically you could have pulled a 800 YEN ticket with the letter A on your first try. Which means you could go home with this piece for the equivalent of $8.00 to $10.00 US which, in my opinion, is a steal.

She definitely has the curvy shape that has made her an Otaku favorite early on. I am personally not a fan of Triple Z boobs myself (As a matter of fact I very much dislike the G-taste style of character design that is popular in the anime figure market) but I do very much like the character and they have captured her anime look here.

Sculpted detail is excellent and very generous. Lines of the flight suit are sculpted with precision, giving the suit a great level detail. Her flight suit is painted in a glossy shine with her skin and hair being done in flat paint/materials. Again the color choices and material used really add to a piece that looks and feels far more expensive than the 800 YEN it could go for.

This figure features no cast off pieces (you dirty perverts, she's practically nude with a flight suit painted on her. Isn't that enough?)

Klan is a heavy, solid piece and in no way feels like a cheap “prize item” but a high end collectible.

When you collect all three of the ladies offered in this Macross lineup, there designed to be placed together.

Creating a dynamic display and forming the S.M.S. logo for a base.

So for 800 YEN, yes you should be tripping all over your self to get this piece if your a Macross Frontier fan... Now is this worth the average after market price of $100.00? If your a fan of Macross Frontier or a fan of fixed pose girls this is an absolutely top notch release and given it's relative low production run well worth the after market prices. I got mine in a set with all of the other Prize items from Angolz.

Finally a Shana WITH melon Bread! Today we look at the Figma release of Shakugan no SHANA.

Review sample provided by Angolz.

All right class, pay attention, I'm only going through this once!

Shakugan no Shana started as a series of light novels released in Japan in November 2002, the manga series was created in February 2005 (again in Japan). The Anime version was adapted and aired in Japan between October 2005 and March 2006. A second anime series was aired in Japan in October 2007, titled Shakugan no Shana Second. Viz Media released the English translations of both the light novels and the manga series beginning in April 2007. Geneon Entertainment licensed the American anime tv series and released the first DVD in September 2006. They then withdrew from the American market, causing the DVDs to go out of print. Genon signed an agreement with with Funimation Entertainment in July 2008 to distribute select titles in North America. This series also boasts; two video games (one ps2 and one DS,) an OVA, an animated film and action figures.

Blah blah blah.... moving on.

Shana is the flame haze contracted by Alastor (a Crimson Lord) to hunt down the crimson denizens (bad guys) abusing their power and causing the world to distort. This no nonsense tough girl calls it like she sees it without pulling her punches for anyone. She has a habit of saying "Urusai! Urusai! Urusai!"to Yuji (translates "shut up! shut up! shut up!") because he often says things that challenge her view and perspective. Her only softness lies in her love for melon bread and a fondness for Yuji.

In an effort to humanize her, Shana is given her name by Yuji Sakai (the main character of the series) when he discovers she doesn't really have a name but is differentiated from the other flame haze by being called "Nietono no Shana" (the name of the longsword she carries.) The sword she received in her first battle as a flame haze against a mistes named Tenmoku Ikko.

Shana was orphaned as an infant and adopted on a whim by Wilhelmina (another flame haze) and Alastor. Raised in a Tendou-kyu (road to heavenly place) she was trained to fight by Shiro (skeleton dude who has history with Alastor's previous flame haze. She extracts three promises from him after defeating him in battle.) [This story is told in anime season one in episode fourteen through episode sixteen.]

Shana does not leave the Tendou-kyu, but whenever Wilhelmina goes out she brings back a package of melon bread for Shana as a treat. She has become quite the connoisseur of melon bread and is often critical of improper handling (whether in the baking or consumption.) When it comes to teachers she has no problem speaking her mind or standing up for herself.

The package is a basic shadow box showing - figure, alternate expression, melon bread, Nintono No Shana, one of the alternate pairs of hands and the arm of the stand. The front and four sides have a shower of sparks in the background similar to Shana's aura.

The more I play with her, the deeper I fall in love. For best results when posing her, use the little piece that attaches to the arm of the stand that looks like a shaving cream can with a long nozzle. It allows the arm to fit under her hair. If you then position the arm directly behind her and a smidgen to the left (from the front) you will find that the arm slides conveniently between two sections of hair (this is important, if you don't want her to be looking down all the time.)

True to life, (I know from personal experience) Shana's long hair is beautiful, elegant, and a total pain in the butt. Even with the articulation on the sides (yes you can pose her hair too!!! ) it never seems to do what you want or stay where you put it and it seems to get stuck on everything form her sword to the arm of the stand. However it adds such life and realism to the figure that I wouldn't change it, just be prepared to be frustrated (and watch your fingers, her luscious locks are sharp.)

What I really like about this version of Shana, is that she is done to scale. Her sword is "As long as the girl was tall." Also she is small and young in appearance "couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve years old." [The Girl With Fire in Her Eyes, pg.23]

But that's only the tip of the ice burg. This Shana comes with six pairs of hands to help you capture every possible pose form the anime or manga imaginable. There is one set of open hands with fingers together (great for holding yummy melon bread!), one set of open hands with fingers splayed, one set of closed fists, and two sets for holding her sword.

*** check carefully, one of the sword holding sets of hands has a bigger more oval hole in the back (by the pinkie finger) than the front (by the thumb) this set is for holding her sword backwards, if you try to insert the sword from the front, it won't work. This set is the one visible in packaging but not attached to the figure. This is not made obvious as there is no pictures on the package with her actually holding the sword backwards, but trust me, it works. ***

This pair is the most critical for getting poses that look like she just popped off a page of the manga, as Shana usually holds her sword behind her in either a high crossed forward, or a straight arm reversed grip.

OK, you had to know this was coming and it has to be said, I don't like the fact that they left out her coat. "On her shoulders hung a weathered black cloak still fluttering in the wind from her recent attack." [The Girl With Fire in Her Eyes page 21.] Shana is rarely seen fighting without her cloak on, it's her magical weapon closet so to speak. Shana receives her cloak from Alistor (made from a piece of his wing) right after she becomes a flame haze and just before she wins her sword from her first fights as a flame haze. [Episode Sixteen of the first season of the anime.] Somehow without the cloak she is less "bad ass", more "Hey, look at the cute girl in the school uniform - sweet panty peek!"

Having said that, They did include the melon bread.(although she has brown hair whenever eating melon bread) And she doesn't eat melon bread while wearing her cloak, so it does make a weird form of sense.

I think this is a great figure. It is highly poseable, easy to play with (almost Siren proof!), and true to the character. As a visual representation of the series it is a stunning piece.

Review sample provided by Angolz.

Klan Klang in SD style. Like she wasn't cute enough in her micloned form already...

Klan Klang is from the Banpresto produced prize items for Macross Frontier. Ichiban KUJI Premium Macross Frontier is sold in convenience stores across Japan as a lottery. Customers buy a 800 YEN ticket you pull from a blind box with a letter on it telling you which item you have won. It's completely random on what your end up with for your hard earned YEN. Available in the set of Premium goods are...

• A. Klan Klang (Melatrandi Pilot) 25cm tall
• B. Sheryl Nome (Finale Concert Dress) 22cm tall
• C. Ranka Lee (Kira Pose) 20cm tall
• D. Nyan Nyan Bowl
• E. Sport Towel Set (Monster Girl, VF-25, Kabuki Alto)
• F. Super Deformed Character Figure Set (Ranka, Sheryl, Klan, Alto)
• G. Super Deformed Mecha Set (VF-25F Alto Battroid, VF-25S Ozma Armored Gerwalk, VF-27 Brera Battroid, Klan Queadluun-Ray, Raramia Queadluun Ray)

I got a complete set thanks to Angolz. They do also offer smaller sets and individual pieces as well for those on a more discerning budget.

This review we take a look at the Super Deformed/Chibi style Klan Klang. Klan is done up in the large head/small body style of fixed pose figure and stands about 3 ½ inches tall on the included base.

Klan is a Zentradi pilot for the S.M.S. in Macross Frontier and the leader of Pixie Squad. Klan has a problem with her genes. When in her full size she looks a full grown woman and when micloned (human size) she looks a wee bit underage. This is a SD version of Klan in her micloned form.

Paint detail is neat and clean and for an inexpensive prize item I must say I am impressed.

The figure comes attached to a small base (decorated with the F logo from her headband) and includes a thin brace to attach to the base to provide additional support. I did not find that the braces where really needed but the figures are so top heavy I suspect they would warp and possibly fall over, over time. I suggest using them.

Klan is suitably cute and adorable and while I normally don't collect the chibi/super deformed/nederoid style of figures I got the entire Banpresto Prize set as a package (I was after the bigger, fixed pose ladies – to be reviewed soon) so I am happy to add her to the growing display of Macross in my collection. Fans of the cute/super deformed style who like Macross F are sure to enjoy it as it is a top quality collectible.

Macross Frontier Ichiban KUJI Premium goods can be gotten at Angolz.

Alto Saotome (Super Deformed) dreams of flying in a real sky. It's another adorable, super cute SD figure.

Alto Saotome is from the Banpresto produced prize items for Macross Frontier. Ichiban KUJI Premium Macross Frontier is sold in convenience stores across Japan as a lottery. Customers buy a 800 YEN ticket you pull from a blind box with a letter on it telling you which item you have won. It's completely random on what your end up with for your hard earned YEN. Available in the set of Premium goods are...

• A. Klan Klang (Melatrandi Pilot) 25cm tall
• B. Sheryl Nome (Finale Concert Dress) 22cm tall
• C. Ranka Lee (Kira Pose) 20cm tall
• D. Nyan Nyan Bowl
• E. Sport Towel Set (Monster Girl, VF-25, Kabuki Alto)
• F. Super Deformed Character Figure Set (Ranka, Sheryl, Klan, Alto)
• G. Super Deformed Mecha Set (VF-25F Alto Battroid, VF-25S Ozma Armored Gerwalk, VF-27 Brera Battroid, Klan Queadluun-Ray, Raramia Queadluun Ray)

I got a complete set thanks to Angolz. They do also offer smaller sets and individual pieces as well for those on a more discerning budget.

This review we take a look at the Super Deformed/Chibi style Alto Saotome. Alto is done up in the large head/small body style of fixed pose figure and stands about 3 ½ inches tall on the included base.

Alto is Macross Frontier's central character. Born in space on a galactic convoy he dreams of flying in a real sky. He comes dressed in his school uniform holding his paper airplane and sporting a truly goofy smile.

Paint detail is neat and clean and I must say for a “prize item” I am impressed.

The figure comes attached to a small base (decorated with the silhouette of him in his Kabuki outfit) and includes a thin brace to attach to the base to provide additional support. I did not find that the braces where really needed but the figures are so top heavy I suspect they would warp and possibly fall over, over time. I suggest using them.

Alto is suitably cute and adorable (though his grin is a bit goofy) and while I normally don't collect the chibi/super deformed/nederoid style of figures I got the entire Banpresto Prize set as a package (I was after the bigger, fixed pose ladies – to be reviewed soon) so I am happy to add him to the growing display of Macross in my collection. Fans of the cute/super deformed style who like Macross F are sure to enjoy it as it is a top quality collectible.

Macross Frontier Ichiban KUJI Premium goods can be gotten at Angolz.

It's Volume 2 of the Shunya Yamashita Character Series and I must say Nasca is a cutey.

I am a fan of pin-up art. I have been for many, many years. From classic old school Vargas to the more modern and fantastical Olivia, I have always enjoyed the style and look of the pin-up girl. Japan’s own Pin-Up Master Shunya Yamashita .

Shunya Yamashita does the naughty and nice thing very well with his girls and if you enjoy the pin-up genre you should head over to Shunya Yamashita’s Official Website and take a look at his gallery. You might be surprised how many of his art pieces end up the basis of a fixed pose statue likes Nasca here and given the chance I will get around to collecting and reviewing them all.

Today I am taking a look at Art Storm’s second release in the “Shunya Yamashita Character Series”, Vol. 2 Nasca. Nasca appears as an illustration in his art book, Wild Flower.

The figure comes in what seems to be the default packaging for items like this. Die-cut windows on all sides giving you a chance to see in detail what you are getting before you buy it.

Sadly, the plastic they wrap around the figure does abscure being able to see any actual detail. I guess it's the thought that counts.

Once unpacked, you attach the "arm" to the base, remove Nasca's backpack and attach. Place the backpack back on and you are good to go.

Nasca is a perfect three-dimensional representation of the Yamashita illustration. Attached to the base she is approximately 10 inches tall so despite floating in mid air she has the same presence on the shelf as other 1:6 scale figures.

The paint application has a glossy sheen to it making it feel more like an art piece than an animated character if they had gone all flat like some statues. It’s just the right amount of shine.

Detail is very good but not flawless. When you get very close you can see some under spray, particular in the finer lines of detail. It’s very subtle and not obvious so it shouldn’t deter you from considering one. Also upon close inspection you can make out the seams where the figure was assembled, again you have to get very close to notice it and really doesn't detract from the look of the figure.

I have had a tendency to ignore the whole girl statue-market-thing but now that I realize some of Yamashita’s art is being realized so well in 3D I will keep my eye out for more. I look forward to more releases based on his artwork. If you like the Pin-Up style of Shunya Yamashita then you will enjoy this...

Personally it was a no-brainier.. Wings, check. Sexy woman, check. Shunya Yamshita, check. I love the unusual floating pose and I am happy to add it to the growing collection of fine art/soft-core pornography that is amassing on the top shelf. You might want to consider getting one too.

Next up from the Macross Frontier Ichiban KUJI Premium set is the super adorable version of my favorite fictitious pop-star, Sheryl Nome.

Sheryl is from the Banpresto produced prize items for Macross Frontier. Ichiban KUJI Premium Macross Frontier is sold in convenience stores across Japan as a lottery. Customers buy a 800 YEN ticket you pull from a blind box with a letter on it telling you which item you have won. It's completely random on what your end up with for your hard earned YEN. Available in the set of Premium goods are...

• A. Klan Klang (Melatrandi Pilot) 25cm tall
• B. Sheryl Nome (Finale Concert Dress) 22cm tall
• C. Ranka Lee (Kira Pose) 20cm tall
• D. Nyan Nyan Bowl
• E. Sport Towel Set (Monster Girl, VF-25, Kabuki Alto)
• F. Super Deformed Character Figure Set (Ranka, Sheryl, Klan, Alto)
• G. Super Deformed Mecha Set (VF-25F Alto Battroid, VF-25S Ozma Armored Gerwalk, VF-27 Brera Battroid, Klan Queadluun-Ray, Raramia Queadluun Ray)

I got a complete set thanks to Angolz. They do also offer smaller sets and individual pieces as well for those on a more discerning budget.

This review we take a look at the Super Deformed/Chibi style Sheryl Nome. Sheryl is done up in the large head/small body style of fixed pose figure and stands about 3 ½ inches tall on the included base.

The larger than life pop star comes dressed in her signature Captain's outfit from her performance of “Sagitarius 9PM, Don't be late.”

The hat is removable.

Paint detail is neat and clean and I must say for a “prize item” I am impressed. The figure feels like a nice solid, well made piece not a cheaper lottery/prize item.

The figure comes attached to a small base (decorated with the Sheryl's Fold Quartz earring) and includes a thin brace to attach to the base to provide additional support. I did not find that the braces where really needed but the figures are so top heavy I suspect they would warp and possibly fall over, over time. I suggest using them.

Sheryl is suitably cute and adorable and while I normally don't collect the chibi/super deformed/nederoid style of figures I got the entire Banpresto Prize set as a package (I was after the bigger, fixed pose ladies – to be reviewed soon) so I am happy to add her to the growing display of Macross in my collection. Fans of the cute/super deformed style who like Macross F are sure to enjoy it as it is a top quality collectible.

Macross Frontier Ichiban KUJI Premium goods can be gotten at Angolz.