The long wait is over! With SDCC News and updates out of the way it’s time for TokuNation to return to it’s regularly scheduled programming of new toy galleries! First up on the chopping block our long overdue look at the villain of the classic tokusatsu series Kikaider 01. The evil mastermind behind SHADOW, it’s S.H. Figuarts Gill Hakaider! Gill Hakaider is of course the second character to bear the Hakaider name. A new version of the cyborg created using the evil Professor Gill’s own brain, this creature would be the arch nemesis of Kikaider’s older brother Kikaider 01!
In figure form Gill Hakaider is very similar to the previously released Hakaider with a few key differences. Primarily newly painted face details as well as the Hakaider emblem emblazoned on his chest. Though the biggest differences would the inclusion of Gill’s mechanical mind controlling flute staff as well as his cape! Though the cape is more generally associated with his anime counterpart, it’s an incredibly cool bonus to get here.
While we’ve attached a selection of images to this post, check out over 50 images of S.H. Figuarts Gill Hakaider included several with his namesake Hakaider as well as the Kikaider brothers after the jump. We’ll revisit the Kikaider world again in the coming months with a gallery of Kikaider 01’s Double Machine!
TokuNation is taking a walk on the dark side again with this classic character. It's time for us to take a look at a recent Tamashii Web Exclusive from Kikaider 01!
S.H. Figuarts Gill Hakaider! Released as a companion piece to the recent S.H. Figuarts Kikaider 01, the evil android Hakaider was originally created by Dr. Komyoji to destroy Kikaider. Of course this was while under coercion from Professor Gill & DARK. Though Komoyoji built the Android known as Saburo his brain would later be implanted into it by Professor Gill, thus creating the original monster we knew. This figure specifically represents what happened after the fall of DARK, when Professor Gill successfully escaped his headquarters destruction by transplanting his own brain into the Hakaider body, creating Gill Hakaider! The villainous leader of SHADOW who would dog Kikaider 01 throughout his own series!
Packaging
The packaging is all business as usual. The Gill Hakaider's box is modeled specifically after Saburo Hakaider's but is in line with the rest of the Kikaider release. Very cool minimalist artwork with one dynamic box shot on the back, but nothing new to see.
Main Figure
After the extensive wait endured by many for an S.H.Figuarts Kikaider, a beloved hero by Japanese and western fans alike, the turn around to get his arch nemesis Hakaider was comparatively quick. Getting this repaint/slight retool of him however took longer. Despite the only differences really being some paint apps and some additional accessories, Gill Hakaider was release nearly 5 months after Hakaider. As a slight repaint a bulk of my review will be identical to Hakaider's.
As many recent sentai & rider S.H.Figuarts releases have done, Gill Hakaider features gorgeously sculpted in "fabric" details. The real suit was a bit of a leathery vinyl material and while that kind of look can't be entirely replicated in plastic, this is an excellent attempt to do so. Since Hakaider's primarily black as well there aren't very many paint apps to worry about, but what's there is done just right. The difference with Gill vs standard hakaider is the newly painted Hakaider emblem on his chest accompanied by 3 multi-colored stars. And the lines down his cheeks are of a thinner and altogether different design. The QC on these paint apps is just as top notch as the original release though.
The real excellence of this figure is all in the head though. Not only is Gill Hakaider's brain sculpted beautifully, the electrical wires are painted as well, and the skull cap is removable! And the brain is too! That's right, Gill Hakaider's brain is entirely removable to replicate any and all wacky mad doctor scenarios you wish! This is an incredible bonus feature of the figures design. Meanwhile the other incredible bonus of how the head is designed is that Hakaiders' eyes have incredible light piping. Since the skull cap is open and clear his eyes capture a ton of light and almost appear to glow artificially.
Perhaps the only complaint I can levy against the figure is the shoulder design. Though the shoulder pads are accurate to the suit, they are molded as one gigantic piece that stretches across the chest. It can angle upward somewhat on either side to give the arms a bit more room, but ultimately this shoulder/chest piece hybrid interferes with the arms movement a bit. But this is an issue I experienced with the original figure as well. Otherwise this figure is pretty excellent and a wonderful companion/rival piece to Kikaider 01 that's very much on par with his quality.
Accessories
Unlike the other releases in the Kikaider subline so far, Gill Hakaider boasts an impressive accessory selection:
4 - full sets of extra hands. Sadly they don't seem to be intelligent choices for hands though. As with Hakaider, Gill Hakider suffers from having only one left hand to hold his gun and no real right hand for it. And he includes a right hand to hold his flute staff but it doesn't very well and there's no left hand laternative.
1 - Hakaider Shot handgun. A beautiful silver chromed handgun that's as comedically long as it is in the show. It looks like something the Joker would be packing except Hakaider's gun is deadly and awesome. The next accessory is directly tied to the gun.
1 - replacement shin. This shin can be attached to by removing the previous one at the knee and ankle joints. The advantage of this one is that it has a built in holster for the Hakaider Shot. I love that this is included but my Hakaider is almost always holding the Shot so it's just a bonus to me. But a welcome bonus none the less.
1- cape/mantle. To use this simply pull Gill Hakaider's head off at the neck joint and pull his chest/shoulder armor off, swap it for this one and bingo you have an awesome cape. Sadly as is the case with practically all figuarts of characters who should have cloth capes, he does not. So it's statically posed and a bit back heavy. Not so bad that you can't pose Gill with it, but cumbersome. It still manages to give him a devilish and menacing look that I love. The cape itself is actually more associated with the animated version of Gill Hakaider from the Kikaider 01 OVA. But it's still a cool bonus to see here.
1 - flute/staff. Though we've seen several toku characters, mostly heroes, over the years use flutes Gill's is far from heroic. An evil staff that seems pretty ornate at first, it has a sharpened for skewering enemies and when played as a flute can control mechanical life forms, as it's been used to control Kikaider on more than one occasion. The toy version here looks great and even has small sculpted in finger depressions to replicate the flute playing. Though sadly he doesn't have a hand that's really designed properly enough to hold it correctly, you can still pull of some decent poses.
This release sets itself apart from all the other Kikaider releases so far. Not only does it have the most accessories quantity wise but it also has arguably the best selection generally speaking. Even going so far as to throw in something from the characters animated counterpart in the form of his cape.
Final Thoughts
While the sculpt and paint apps may not be as dynamic as either of the Kikaiders, the personality, functionality, and accessory count of S.H. Figuarts Gill Hakaider puts him far above his predecessor Hakaider. Though this is far from the last release in the line that Bandai has planned for Kikaider, this would not be a bad way to go out. Gill Hakaider is an excellent reuse of an already fantastic figure.
And all the rest!
Full Thread: S.H. Figuarts Gill Hakaider Gallery
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