S.H. Figuarts Orochimaru - Seeker of Immortality

 Orochimaru is one of my favourite villains in the Naruto series. He has the mad scientist-type vibe and has no qualms about experimenting on people and killing those who stand in his way. He is based on a Japanese myth with a character of the same name, a robber who was blessed with snake magic that allowed him to spit venom at his victims. He is in love with Tsunade, the slug princess, who is Jiraiya's bride. A lot of names were taken in by the show! 

Orochimaru plays a fairly big part in part 1 of the show, being the main antagonist for a good chunk. He has acquired a ton of ninja techniques but is often seen using summons and powers involving snakes and poisons. Early on, he takes on Sasuke and Naruto in the Forest of Death and sinks his fangs into Sasuke, giving him the Curse Mark. This painful seal allows him to draw on power from outside his body but causes transformations of his physical body into something a bit more sinister. The sub title of the figure is Seeker of Immortality, but I'm not sure he isn't already. As long as he has access to a new body to inhabit, he continues living. Maybe it's a pseudo/viral type of immortality. 

Given that I didn't know this figure was coming (I was expecting maybe some of the other Konoha 12 from part 1), it's pretty cool that there's another villain! The figure is pretty great, and if you're waiting for me to put one of these figures on blast for something it's probably not going to happen. I love the accessories and completely forget it ALSO included another faceplate for Sasuke! A part of Sasuke's curse mark 1! The figure is very well articulated, and even the back of the hair flips up on a hinge to allow some movement. The only odd thing I could say here is there is some messy shading on the front and back of the bottom robe, but nowhere else. It's a little visually off. 

S.H. Figuarts Kid Sasuke Uchiha - Ninja Prodigy of the Uchiha Clan Bloodline

 The way Sasuke is written in Shippudden leaves a lot to be desired. I understood his character a lot more in Part 1. He wants vengeance on his brother, he's an emo kid who doesn't want anyone to truly understand him or be his friend. I get it! Despite that, Naruto perseveres in trying to make him part of the ninja family that Naruto has built up over the series. 

This figure is once again very well executed. The sculpt and engineering are great, allowing a wide range of flexibility. The accessories are almost everything you would want from his combat in Part 1minus his transformation into Curse Marks 1 and 2.  To get that done though it feels like you'd need a fully different sculpt for the wing hands, and a distinct head and face plate. Even if you wanted to execute Curse Mark 1, the arms legs and face would also need a switch. This figure definitely covers his moves including and past the Chunin exams.