S.H. Figuarts Spike Spiegel - Cowboy Bebop

I've already written a full Gemr Guest Blog post which you can find here about our friend Spike:
Figure Review: Spike Spiegel

As per the new rating system, see his rating here!

Sculpt/Paint: 4/5 I think they did a great job with realizing the facial features, body form and overall paint of the figure. One thing that sticks out like a sore thumb involves the waist/diaphragm. Functionally it's fine, but the plastic for the upper torso is a notably lighter blue and looks like it was moulded with a bit of translucency. Add to that it is an ugly joint that could have done with better engineering.

Articulation: 4/5 (28 points) He's got a decent amount of joints, but there are some range of motion issues here that make it slightly harder to pose that you would expect from a high-end SH Figuarts figure. Is it the single jointed elbows and knees? Not surprisingly they have enough range given how little the sculpt interferes. The ankles! They are far too limited in range to create a good ankle rocker. Add to that the waist joint isn't spectacular. The rest of the figure does really well though, despite balance issues (though that has more to do with how the character design, not the fault of the joints/engineering).

Accessories: 4/5 He comes with enough! His pistol, 3 faces (smoking, grinning, grimacing ) and a few sets of hands. Nothing to sniff at, but a few extra episode pieces like a broomstick, maybe a bell pepper bowl or some other accessory could have completed it.

Fun Factor: 4/5  I definitely did not expect a Spike Spiegel figure to be made so out of the blue! I love having him in the collection and he adds some style and a variation to my overwhelmingly Naruto only Figuarts collection. His posing is very dynamic but really needs a stand due to his top-heavy weight and spindly legs.


Verdict: 16/20 Great Despite some minor things, he is a good figure and a really cool representation of Spike. I can't wait for the Vicious figure to be released. He pops with his animation colours and style, and looks great on the shelf. Any Cowboy Bebop fan or old school anime fan should have this. Now time to dive into some more anime.