S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gridon Donguri Arms Gallery

Donguri Arms! Never Give Up!

Our Gaim celebration continues today with a few posts dedicated to the Nut Bros of Kamen Rider Gaim. And this one's dedicated to S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gridon!

**Note: Post #2 contains additional images.

Packaging
As I've said in many reviews recently, Tamashii Web Exclusives & Premium Bandai Exclusives tend to all come in windowless boxes now and Gridon is no different. Not much to say about this since it's more or less becoming standard. But it is a pretty damn nice looking box this go around.

Main Figure
As with the previous Gaim Figuarts releases, S.H. Figuarts Gridon is gorgeous at even a basic level. As figures from the same lines generally do, these figures share some design elements at a basic level as well. Though this isn't nearly as apparent as it was for say the Arms Change line of figures. Though as with the Arms Change, much of the basic sculpt for Gridon comes from Baron.

Also much like Baron, Gridon has some pretty big shoulder pads to work with. Though here they function much better. The cutouts on the underside of them allow his arms a bit more freedom and flexibility compared to Barons. And because they aren't as cumbersome and large they angle up much more. From there on Gridon has a pretty fantastic range of movement much like Gaim's. Though he doesn't have a Muso Saber on his hip like Gaim to hinder anything so really it's almost like this figure has an even better range. This excellent freedom of movement truly helps capture the funny spirit of Gridon as he can really pull off some great poses.

It should also be mentioned that the colors on Gridon are also spot on. In particular the visor on his helmet is really well done. Much more so than Arms Changes, the Figuarts of these characters really capture the inset visor details. Gridon's almost looks like a honey comb it's so nicely sculpted and painted. Also the Donguri Lock Seed on his belt is removable like previous figures in this line and it along with the Gridon rider indicator face plate are magnificently detailed for things at this scale.

Accessories
As is often the case with Web Exclusives, Gridon is a bit lite on the accessories. He comes with:

2- pairs of alternate hands. Not a wide variety here but enough to get the gist of some of Gridon's more comedic moments
1- Closed Donguri Lock Seed. I always apprecaite these closed Locks being included but I have to say I never do much with them except take a few in hand shots. For me at least it's just one more tiny accessory to lose.
1- Donkachi hammer type weapon. This thing is gorgeous. Like all the SHF rider weapons released thus far the Donkachi looks perfect. Compared to the Donkachi included with AC Gridon this one blows it out of the water. All the details are there, even down the grip of the hammer. With this Gridon is ready to whack some moles! And Invess.

So although the selection seems sparse, nothing really comes to mind that this figure should have included that it doesn't have. Maybe an alternate silver belt strap? But that's more of a nit pick non-essential. It's got the essentials at least, and for me that's good enough.

Final Thoughts
In closing, it's wonderful to have another Gaim rider to add to the collection. As the Arms Change line progressed we were all enamored with the ingenuity put into those figures. Now we marvel at the the intricate detail of their SHF counterparts. Initial images of this figure had me skeptical of it, but in hand it really is great. And it's nice to have another brown rider, there are very few of them and this color really works. Each line, AC & SHF, has it's fans and critics but I've gotta say that in my book S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gridon Donguri Arms is another winner.

Post #2

Additional Images!

Horse?

I got it from a Lord of the Rings two pack with Aragorn. It's just about the right scale with SHF's.

Stop! Hammer Time!

I find it odd that there are so few hammer type weapons in toku. And even fewer high end collectors figures with them.

What's more awesome than a weapon you use to cave in someone's skull?

Oh! You need a tiny powdered wig and Judges' bench! The People's Court with Judge Gridon!

I often wonder about that myself.

Hammers are cool weapons, but swords tend to be the clear cut winners for tokusatsu heroes and villains. Are hammers just not popular with the audience?

Gridon Thordori arms... Oh boy.

It's a cultural thing. Swords tend to evoke the warrior castes of times long past- samurai, knights, so on. Hammers... well, they aren't exactly elegant. Certainly more versatile, but just not as flashy.

And if there's one thing that is the lifeblood of Toku, it's flash.