S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Baron Lemon Energy Arms Gallery – Toku Toy Box Entry!

The Kamen Rider franchise in S.H. Figuarts has always been a popular pick-up for toy collectors. Add in a new contingent of fans from the hit series Kamen Rider Gaim, then release some S.H. Figuarts of the characters, and then make the upgrade form of arguably one of the most popular characters from the show a Japanese convention exclusive with no web shop release, and you have the joy (and the pain) of S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Baron Lemon Energy Arms.

Released as part of the exclusives at the Tamashii Nations Winter Event, this figure was only available to those who either knew someone going, purchased a pre-order from one of the many hobby shops going, or for those lucky enough to pick it up via Mandarake. A fourth option was available too - a web shop lottery exclusive - and that has yet to be finalized in terms of who gets it and who doesn't. Either way - this figure started around the $75 mark before the show and is now over the $100 mark online. So for those who have interest in this figure you might have to wait until your tax return or start saving pennies now - it's going to cost you.

But let's get in to the review!

PACKAGING
This is pretty much a let down except for the sexy cover of the packaging. The two sides and the back are boring and the sides mirror each other. Needless to say, except for the front of the packaging, there's nothing to write home to about this one.

THE FIGURE & ACCESSORIES
Your standard S.H. Figuart body with interchangeable hands (3 sets plus fists), two versions of the Sonic Arrow (blade and bow-string pulled), as well as a closed Lemon Energy Lock Seed. The figure comes with the open and removable Lemon Energy Lock Seed. The real beauty of this figure is the three piece cape. The cape itself is articulated (see images). This allows for some awesome set-ups of the figure in mid-air or striking some awesome pose with the cape flowing in the background (flowing is unfair, these are like 'wings' and are supposed to represent a cloth-like cape in the show). The main point I'm trying to get at is this - if you picked up S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gaim Kiwami Arms you will ask yourself how the hell they dropped the ball so badly on that figure and knocked it out of the park on this one.

The "bubble" detailing on this figure is another great piece of work. Like S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin, the bubbles add to the overall character without taking away from the overall look and feel. They are nicely done and just add the cherry to the top of this figure.

The only issue with this figure's accessories is that the open Lemon Energy Lock Seed doesn't want to attach securely to the Sonic Arrow, meaning you have to get creative and make it the last piece you put on else as you move the figure around it will fall off. Whether or not that is just my figure's problem or is a running problem is unknown (I didn't research because I honestly didn't care, it's such a minor flaw).

There are reports as well that some of these figures really are lemons (lolz) - some people report really poor paint jobs or globs of silver paint on the red legs of the figure. I was fortunate enough not to have this problem.

Time for the list!

PROS!

• Such a beautiful figure!
• Cape works great and is articulated
• Captures look of the show flawlessly

CONS!

• The price
• Potential quality issues - you might get a lemon! (ba dum ching)

CONCLUSION!
If you're a fan of Kamen Rider Baron then this figure is a must-buy for you. The sheer fact that he spent arguably more time in this suit than his original suit should be enough reason to grab it. On top of that - it's beautiful. The details are great and the poses are way too much fun. Another home run for the Kamen Rider Gaim line of S.H. Figuarts characters. Pick this figure up immediately if you find it below $100 - and if you can't, save up some money and buy it. This goes great with the other figures and should be a staple in any fan's collection!

Awesome as Baron is, I'm at peace not having this one.

Besides, Duke pulls it off better.

I'd get it but I'm far too cheap Normal figuarts are too expensive, let alone Super-lottery exclusives, even if they look beautiful.

Baron lemon energy arms aka Baron with cat ears.

It's surreal how this suit was thrown together at the last minute because of Kaito's well earned popularity and yet it turned out quite well both in show and in Figuart form.

Ironic how Kiwami was a lemon, yet Baron's wearing a lemon themed armor piece and is a much better figure, QC issues aside. The red and yellow look well together with the silver detailing, plus it looks like a good solid toy to have for a collector. A shame about how pricy this sucker is though.

Thinking back to when Gaim was airing you're right KB; he did end up wearing this more than Banana and Mango, which is a pity since the aforementioned Arms have cooler weapons than the Sonic Arrow.

To wrap this up Baron Lemon Energy is a sweet deal for those who were lucky enough to own such a fine addition to the Figuarts line.

EDIT: Talisman does bring up a good point with Duke's color scheme. Red and yellow look good but blue and yellow are great together if you can match up the right shades.

More or less this, but this one does have more hands then duke so that's nice.

Yeah the more I look at it, the more I see the improvised design with the "horns" that would attach to Duke's crown and the pipes that now just hang there and look like a bad wig. I still love Baron Lemon Energy, but I'm getting Duke and that's it. Not spending that much money on this, just to have another Baron with an arms that another figure already wears better.

I wasn't even that enthused with this version of the character on the show, but once I got the figure I was in lurve! It's a mighty fine looking translation and looks gorgeous among some of the other Gaim releases. I'm really surprised at how easy he seems to be to find, proportionally, and little he's gone up so far. I see the Magma effect far less often and usually at a much larger markup.

As always, Kickback, a great looking gallery to showcase the figure!

So he's a... Banyana.