KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #23: Bhuba

Toy prototype details

Name: Bhuba^TM

Subtitle: horned lightning-bearer

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 18 in the line.

Character details

Name: Bhuba

Classification: artiodactyl mammal

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Kimarhan (a tribe of forest warriors who eventually form the Grand Resistance to oppose the rising reptilian authority)

Rank: deputy commander of the Feline Combatants.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: Dakaram’s second-in-command, who was once a fearsome tribal chief known for his brutal raids but later turned his strength toward protecting the innocent. With his legendary horns and the ability to harness electricity, he courageously fought against the threat of Silef's oppressive rule.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a ball jointed tail.

Description

Head: similar to an African buffalo, characterised by black hair, two large curved brown horns with a rough texture, a pair of funnel-shaped ears, a silver nose ring, and gnashing teeth. The horns, which sweep outward, then curve upward and inward with their tips pointing forward, join at the forehead to form a cephalic shield; each horn is adorned with a series of studded off-white (i.e., a white colour with a grey tinge that resembles tarnished silver) rings that culminates in a sharp tip. He also carries an extra shaggy-haired, dark-brown woolly neck piece, which fits right on top of the body and gives him a humpbacked look

Body: thick burnt-brown (almost black) coat, his bare hands and feet bear worn out fingernails and cloven hoof-like toes, respectively. He also features a fairly long, slender tufted tail and wears light-brown leather bands on his upper arms and thighs

Wearables: a dark-green armour with off-white details, two pairs of narrow studded dark-green bracelets (with some of the silver studs replaced by small creamy-white claws), two dark-green leather calf protectors (each featuring a turndown top and a silver-jewelled tongue), a studded dark-green belt (secured by a buckle that is decorated with two crossed, curved white bull horns), and a loincloth made from pale cream-coloured fur that is brownly marked with blotches and stripes. The armour is mainly made of leather and metal, with the exception of the chest piece, which appears to be crafted from grass.

Bhuba's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Bhuba is shown to use his massive horns to bulldoze through opponents and obstacles. Additionally, he is portrayed as a master of electricity, wielding a sort of Van de Graaff generator pack strapped to his back, which powers his pointed horns and a menacing war club. This device consists of a worn out brownish belt fictionally moving over two rollers, which are positioned horizontally parallel to his back, and a hollow metal cap on top, aligned with his shoulders. Four sculpted ropes anchored to his arm and thigh bands are connected to the lower roller, providing the mechanical force needed to rotate it through his motion; as the roller turns, it drives the belt, causing it to move in a continuous loop and consequently accumulating a massive, potentially lethal charge. In the figure, the bottom of the removable backpack is connected via pliable, silver plug-in wires to the lower strap of his harness, which has a lever that can slide left and right. Bhuba can use this "discharge lever" to deploy electrostatic energy as lightning arcs from his arms and charge nearby vegetation, creating a temporary barrier of static electricity and causing shocks to anyone who tries to pass through, or to charge conductive projectiles (like sharpened metal tips) and throw them at an attacker, delivering a shock upon contact. To mimic these abilities, the figure comes with two flexible, translucent blueish-violet electric arm wraps. Finally, he can use his pointed conducting horns (fictionally linked to the generator) to deliver painful shocks to his adversaries. This ability is rendered thanks to two translucent blueish-violet lightning bolt horn attachments.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the removable backpack, electric arm wraps and horn attachments, Bhuba comes with a cool brown wooden battle club. This weapon features a handle ending in a hooked creamy-white horn (attached to the club via a silver ring and designed for hanging it on the side of the backpack) and a head reinforced by a ring of greenish stone slabs. A series of five creamy-white, claw-like extensions, perhaps small horns (with one replaced by a miniature horned bull's skull), emerge from the stone ring, securing a glass plasma orb partially embedded within the wooden head. A pliable, silver plug-in wire, running from a socket on the front-right of his harness to the hooked handle of the club, enables Bhuba to channel the generator's power and produce dramatic flashes of light from the plasma orb, to blind and frighten away enemies. Furthermore, the top section of the club is detachable, making it possible to extend the club's reach by adding an included middle wooden piece equipped with creamy-white protruding spikes. Alternatively, the detached top piece can be connected to the side of an add-on silver hammerhead, which then attaches to the club. This hammerhead features a vertically positioned ring with a double-pronged top and two stylised bull horns protruding from its perimeter perpendicularly to the striking faces (the face opposite to the glass orb tapers into a prominent point). This configuration transforms the club into a fearsome war hammer.

Final thoughts

Overall: Bhuba’s striking appearance, newly sculpted parts and impressive accessories perfectly capture the essence of a fierce warrior. With his buffalo-like head and powerful build, he’s a standout figure. His backstory is also compelling—once a ruthless warrior, Bhuba underwent a remarkable transformation, gaining a pure heart and a sense of justice; now, he uses his intellect to master electricity, protecting the forest and his tribe

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #22: Astral Wraith Silef

Toy prototype details

Name: Astral Wraith Silef^TM

Subtitle: revengeful reptilian spirit

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 17 in the line.

Character details

Name: Silef

Classification: spirit of a reptile of uncertain group

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)
Era: 570 years before Foundation
Affiliation: independent

Rank: demonic presence.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #3 - The unforeseen fall of destiny

Character summary: a mysterious and relentless spectre, determined to sow chaos and psychological torment to achieve his goals. Driven by vengeance following his separation from Krenodos, Silef's spirit possessed the power to induce nightmares, twist emotions and manipulate minds, even using Rhadiel as a pawn to turn her against her brother Desion. Despite his ultimate defeat at the hands of Masq-Lor, Silef’s cryptic final words hinted that his influence may not be fully extinguished, leaving an unsettling sense of a greater, impending threat lingering over Tahron.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), plus a hinged lower jaw, a pair of removable ball hinged wings and a tail that features two swivels at about one-third and two-thirds of its length. Additionally, the hip joints are simple front-to-back swivels, lacking hinges.

Description
Head: similar to a Spinosaurus skull, but with a more dragon-ish look, characterised by a long and narrow snout, a creamy-white ivory colour and large, sharp steel-coated teeth along the edges of the jaws (interestingly, the inside of the mouth is painted in a pinkish colour). He wears a crowned, five-horned golden helmet with an elaborate half mask, a dark-green gemstone on the forehead, slits for his solid amber glowing eyes and for the curved pointed horns (whose colour fades from grey-brown to creamy-white) extending from the rear, and some crazy cool wing-shaped ornaments in the back, which resemble his own wings. While echoing the helmet that came with regular Silef, this version has several differences: 1) it features nicely detailed riveted strips, including those along the rim portion and a central one running from front to back; 2) it is adorned with several distinct horn types, namely two large, segmented horns projecting forward (reminiscent of those of the black chromatic dragon from D&D), two curved, snake-shaped horns converging at an orb suspended above the helmet, and a prominent, barbed horn, shaped like a cobra poised to strike, rising from a front crest and ending in a small lizard skull; 3) it is equipped with a bevor, a piece of plate armour designed to protect the neck (basically, the snout protrudes from the space defined by the helmet's rim and the upper edge of the bevor). Lastly, his head rests on a neck of ghastly, swirling translucent chartreuse energy, giving the impression of floating ethereally (the extra removable neck piece fits right on top of the body)

Body: his torso and limbs (the latter displaying large ridges that run down the sides and equipped with narrow studded golden arm and thigh bands) are made of a slush-cast clear plastic with a faint pinkish tinge, which reveals a fully sculpted, creamy-white ivory skeleton within. There is a cool design etched on his chest, which resembles the Interspecific Commission emblem, i.e., a misshapen concave-sided lozenge symbol, but just the outline, rendered in a vibrant chartreuse colour; his arms and digitigrade legs are also partly marked with veins of the same ghastly yellowish-green. In contrast, other parts are cast in creamy-white plastic with painted black details to create the effect of negative space: 1) the spiked elbow and knee joints, which slightly -and strangely- resemble horned human skulls; 2) the massive five-digit hands, each with two oversized fingers, and feet, each with three prominent toes (two forward and one back), all ending in steel-coated claws; 3) a comb of extended neural spines and two additional pairs of large, claw-thumbed bony limbs (supporting a pair of chartreuse wings that, though bat-like in general shape, resemble butterfly wings and are riddled with holes where the original membrane has presumably rotted away) virtually projecting from his backbone through openings in the armour's back; 4) a long, thick bony tail emerging from beneath his skirt and extending from his spine to end in a zigzagged steel-coated point flanked by two barbed tines, like a trident

Wearables: a metallic dark-green harness with golden details, pairs of metallic dark-green wrist and shin guards shaped like reptile skulls (which are worn over tattered brown bandages wrapped around his forearms and lower legs), and a removable waste/groin piece consisting of a belt of linked metallic dark-green discs with a short U-shaped chain dangling in front, a dirty-yellow (defined by the hex triplet #cdc50a) furry loincloth and a skirt of loosely wrapped tattered brown bandages. The harness features a dragon skull-shaped chest plate, similar in concept to the outfit included with standard Silef, but with distinct differences; these include subtle tech-tube detailing (perhaps a reference to Krenodos's armour), a central emblem depicting a demonic visage with pointy ears, a long brown beard and a decaying greenish face (reminiscent of the Dark Legion symbol), and massive, reptile skull-shaped shoulder armours displaying a pair of long U-shaped real chains dangling in front and a translucent chartreuse energy flame effect erupting from behind the figure's head. The lower strap is secured by a bronze buckle that is decorated with a complex heraldic design, i.e., a large dragon skull with two pointed bones crossed behind it on a web-like background; from this strap hang two tassets made of overlapping horizontal strips of dirty-yellow fur, along with a pair of U-shaped dangling real chains and five long, torn golden-yellow Roman lappets studded with skull-shaped silver discs and hanging down in front. The two side straps extend and cascade down as ankle-long, dangling tassels, seemingly tucked beneath the lower strap; these tassels are made from a bendy wire rubber and are adorned with intricate designs resembling metal reliefs sewn onto them. The rear part of the harness has slots for attaching the spinal frill and the wings. His shoulder, wrist and shin armour pieces resemble the flattened captorhinid skull-shaped mask that was donned by Gladorr in The dark powers of dominion, and boast yellowish-green glowing eyes as well as large clear crystal blades (reminiscent in shape of Shredder's armour).

Astral Wraith Silef's stylised harness.

Action feature

In the comics, Silef in his Astral Wraith form possesses several supernatural abilities, including mind control, levitation and teleportation. While the figure understandably can't replicate these powers, it does boast some impressive features of its own. The most striking is its glow-in-the-dark skeleton, which includes the bones embedded in the translucent, slush-cast body parts (torso and limbs) as well as those that are separate (head, elbows, knees, hands, feet, spine frill, wing limbs and tail). The ghoulish, greenish glow of this spooky spectre is quite strong and well visible even through the figure's "ethereal" skin/aura.

Next up, he comes with two interchangeable hands, both featuring mystical, translucent chartreuse energy effects: a left hand displaying swirls of energy around it, forming a sort of dark-magical ball with extending energy claws, and a right hand from which an energy skull projects, ready to strike a devastating blow.

Finally, the package includes a set of additional parts (i.e., a pair of alternate arms, an extra neck piece and auxiliary body armour) that allow Silef to be configured in a cool quadrupedal beast mode distinct from his standard humanoid form. First, the harness (with wings), energy neck piece and waist/groin covering are removed. The long bony neck piece, which is identical to the mid section of the tail, is then inserted between the torso and head (the latter has a second socket on the back that allows Silef to look forward when in its four-footed posture). Next, the regular arms are replaced with the alternative forelegs, which wear cannon bone protectors matching the shin guards. The final step is adding the body armour piece; this sits on top of a dirty-yellow furry blanket or robe of some sort and has a fantastic design, featuring metallic dark-green barding accented with gold detailing, a strap with a bronze buckle (similar to that on the standard harness) securing across the stomach, a pair of shield-like covers embossed with demonic visages protecting the hips, and a pair of U-shaped real chains as well as tattered golden-yellow tassels tipped with small pointed bones dangling from the saddle. The shoulder areas are equipped with slots for connecting the wings once they are detached from the harness; each wing has a really great range of movement despite the presence of only one swivel/hinge point of articulation.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the alternate body parts and additional body armour, Astral Wraith Silef comes with a double sided poleaxe that is similar in design to the weapon included with the standard figure. It consists of a long golden shaft fitted with a GITD spear tip, two blades mounted on both sides, and a pointed, zigzagged GITD counterweight fixed to the other end of the shaft. The spearhead loosely resembles Silef's head, while the two side blades, mirroring the shape of his wings, are wreathed in eerie chartreuse flames. This weapon is also modular, transforming, by splitting at the midpoint of the shaft, into a separate axe and a bizarrely bladed baton.

Additionally, there is a set of translucent chartreuse effects that attach to various parts of his body, such as a sort of electric arc for his spinal frill (giving the impression that the neural spines crackle with energy), a pair of interchangeable flames that plug into the back sockets when the wings are detached, and four ghostly flaming foot effects that enhance his quadrupedal form.

Finally, the package also offers an alternative unhelmeted head for the regular version of Silef. This portrait features translucent chartreuse flames erupting from the head, a visual representation of his spirit leaving his body as shown in the concluding moments of The secret origin of chaos.

Final thoughts

Overall: Astral Wraith Silef is a highly impressive figure. His transparent skin revealing his skeleton and his ability to transform into a beast make him a valuable addition to the line. If you missed the regular figure or are simply a devoted fan of the character, this version offers a fantastic representation and delivers a striking presence with its novel design and glowing features. Astral Wraith Silef stands out as a truly cool and epic figure worthy of a place in any collection

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #21: Lemu-Rha

Toy prototype details

Name: Lemu-Rha^TM

Subtitle: arboreal maiden warrior

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 16 in the line.

Character details

Name: Lemu-Rha

Classification: primate mammal

Sex: female

Relationships: partner of Catos, mother of Tah-Ron and ancestor of the Amhalgaard family
Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Kimarhan (a tribe of forest warriors who eventually form the Grand Resistance to oppose the rising reptilian authority)

Rank: forest shield-maiden.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: a skilful, athletic young Kimarhan amazon. As the conflict between the remnants of the fallen Interspecific Commission and Silef's hegemonic, philo-reptilian faction escalated, a resistance movement, bolstered by the Kimarhan forest tribe and led by the valiant warrior Catos, prepared to fight back. During this tumultuous period, Catos and Lemu-Rha fell in love. Amidst the growing threat, their love culminated in the birth of their son, Tah-Ron, who was entrusted to the care of the Kimarhan tribespeople to protect him from the dangers of the impending final battle.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a ball jointed tail.

Description

Head: similar to a ring-tailed lemur, characterised by a fox-like muzzle that ends in a dark-greyish/black, hairless snout and is surrounded by light, off-white fur extending to the throat, cheeks and relatively large ears, while two bright yellow-orange eyes are encircled by black patches. She also wears a studded silver choker

Body: dense fur ranging from off-white on the front to pale-grey and rosy-brown on the back. She features a long, bushy non-prehensile tail, which is ringed in alternating black and white transverse bands and ends in a black tip

Wearables: a form-fitting, golden-yellow armour (resembling a corset) accented with shiny gold details, two golden shoulder pads (each topped with a silver stud and edged with grass fringes), two golden-yellow bracelets (each with a subtle fin extending outward and a protective guard for the back of the hand), a pair of loose-fitting, white detached sleeves (secured by studded golden bands around the upper arms and the aforementioned bracelets), two armoured golden-yellow knee guards (extending partially up the thighs; one is engraved with the Kimarhan emblem, i.e., a laterally stretched, 14-rayed silver Vergina Sun), two armoured golden-yellow anklets, a golden-yellow belt with a large, round golden buckle featuring two pairs of silver points projecting from its sides, and a tapering golden loincloth adorned with a design of two swan heads facing each other, their necks extending downwards in jagged, lightning bolt-like patterns.

Lemu-Rha's stylised armour.

Weapons and accessories

In the comics, Lemu-Rha is portrayed as exceptionally agile, mainly thanks to her long, powerful legs that allow her to leap rapidly from tree trunk to tree trunk. However, the figure does not have any action features. On the other hand, she is also depicted as a talented musician, capable of performing enchanting melodies on her kitharp, a unique stringed musical instrument blending elements of guitar and harp. The golden kitharp, which is included with the figure, consists of a roughly triangular frame resembling a small harp with a compact sound box at the base, which replaces the traditional harp's pedestal. The sound box projects into an intricately ornamented fingerboard, acting as an extension of the harp's column (or pillar). A series of six strings, fixed to an extended headstock (i.e., a horizontal bar at the top of the fingerboard), are fictionally played by plucking with the fingers. The top end of each string is secured on the headstock with a knot, then runs down to the sound box before stretching to the harp's harmonic arch (or neck), where a tuning peg is used to adjust its pitch. The headstock, fingerboard and column are sculpted to resemble a stylised swan’s head, gently sinuous neck and wing, respectively, while the harp’s body, which would typically be straight and include a soundboard, is replaced by a crossbar that curves slightly inward. But there's a twist! When needed, the instrument transforms into a surprising weapon: the strings retract, the column reveals a silver axe blade, the harp's crown (or head) forms a small studded silver mace head, the harp's knee (or shoulder) produces a sharp silver tip, and the headstock generates three silver spikes that protrude downward from the swan’s bill. So, the figure comes with an alternate weaponised kitharp, which can also split at the midpoint of the fingerboard/haft to form a separate axe and a toothed kama-like weapon. Unlike the instrument version, the weapon form of the kitharp lacks a guitar strap.

Final thoughts

Overall: Lemu-Rha really turned out to be a nice figure. I mean, that's not crazy surprising as PoliganToys seems to be putting a lot of effort and thought into the KR|EoF line, so kudos to them for another solid release. If I had a complaint, it'd be that I think she could have come with a stand to recreate her arboreal leaps. Everything we get here is excellent, though, and it's exciting that we are getting closer and closer to finishing the roster of The secret origin of chaos

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Emergence Review #28: Emergence Expansion Kit for Tahron

Continuing our annual holiday tradition, this December PoliganToys sent me their prototype of the fifth and final expansion kit for the epic Tahron playset/game. Inspired by the 2021 KR|Emergence line, this kit brings exciting upgrades to Artelon^TM Tower and Rokang Tar^TM Tower for a fantastic new playing experience!

Description

The KR|Emergence Expansion Kit includes:

• 24 booster tokens for the game

• Two additional sections for Artelon Tower and a Doom Factory vehicle/playset to accompany Rokang Tar Tower, each with many features and accessories

• A bag with 75 translucent purple chips that are shaped like Antikythron crystals (or rather SpawnCrystals shards, as they are now referred to).

Except for giving an exhaustive description of the Artelon and Rokang Tar supplementary parts, I'm not going to detail these components and the game rules with the expansion pieces. You can find all this information in my post about the Origin Expansion Kit. I only need to remark that besides the usual properties, i.e., class, faction, strength, agility, and in some cases a special ability or limitation, each expansion piece is also characterised by a particular era (in this case Emergence) and a number of accumulable credits. The credit-chips included in this expansion kit are translucent purple, and spending 50 of them allows a player to recover up to six bricks, which were previously removed from the paying player’s wall, and reattach them on the same wall. In limited cases (i.e., primary era variants), expansion pieces present no credit, but are characterised by additional strength values and/or different agility patterns compared to their primary counterparts.

List of Emergence expansion pieces and their properties.

List of possible primary pieces variants in the Emergence Expansion Kit (only one piece is included in the kit).

Artelon Tower additional sections

Like with the original tower, these grey-and-ochre sections are loosely modelled after the monumental buildings carved out of rock in the ancient city of Petra. Each section's frontage is a labyrinth of ledges, steps and vine-clad walls, adorned with reptilian carvings and punctuated by windows of diverse shapes, some barred and some not.

Section 1 (placed to the left of Artelon Tower) - exterior: this section connects to Artelon Tower's base via a stone arch, creating a small cavity to shelter the turtle figure that came with the original set; the rear of the cavity is closed off with a metal grate. The lower level features a revolving structure that mimics the secret entrance to a cavern housing either a weapons chamber (perhaps a training room or a blacksmith forge) or an underground laboratory. This structure is composed of a cavern-like backdrop wall and two curved rock-like panels arranged in a "(–•–)" shape when viewed from above. When the wall aligns parallel to the façade, the weapons chamber side displays a snake-adorned wooden rack (equipped with a surujin—comprising a chain with a spiked ball and a sickle blade tied to either end—, a square-headed battle axe—with barbed double bits, a spiked handle and a studded guard—, and a large trapezoidal wooden shield—strengthened with a riveted metal rim, and equipped with spiked studs and a narrow T-shaped slit for looking through, reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron—), while the lab side shows a scientific workstation with sculpted items such as a microscope, a Bunsen burner, vials and other glassware, safety goggles and a couple of weighty tomes. Conversely, when the wall is positioned perpendicular to the façade, either curved rock surface creates the illusion of sealing the cavern entrance. The upper level is characterised by the presence of a ledge, which is formed by the projecting "roof" of the rotating structure underneath and whose sides extend beyond the U-shaped outline (when viewed from above) of the lower level. While the right side features a pair of functional shackles hanging from its base, the left side bears three loose stepping stones on which a figure can stand. This platform functions as a catapult-like trap, which will be explained in more detail later. Additionally, there is a wooden shutter topped by a stone arch on the right, which can be flipped upwards to reveal a poseable crossbow-like weapon pivoting up and down on a horizontal metal axis. The section culminates in a volcano-shaped structure, which, unlike the cross-sectional design of the rest of the building, forms a complete circle when viewed from above. The volcano cone features three rattlesnake statues evenly spaced across its front slope, each exhibiting a scaly body in a slithering posture and seemingly moving upwards through the rock (only the tail end and head end are visible from outside). Each snake statue has a rotating head and an open mouth housing a trigger mechanism—by pressing up the lower jaw, it launches a forked-tongue missile. The cone is topped with a pliable greenish fluid cap, which can be removed to allow for additional play features. For instance, an included landing pad for the Serporcraft can be placed atop the volcano; this visually striking piece features diagonal wooden braces, skull-like ornaments adorning its outline, and three interchangeable accessories for the central area of the stone platform: a ball jointed flight stand, a rotating radar dish and a pivoting cannon (a bazooka reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron). I'm sure that many details here draw inspiration from the design of Spaceship Himika in Kotetsu Jeeg!

Section 1 - interior: the inner side of the lower level mirrors the revolving feature of the outer side, converting the cavern into a weapons chamber, a bunker lab or a sealed-off space, depending on the orientation of the rotating structure. A number of stalactites hanging from the roof/ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor (some of which can be swung down for improved playability) further enhance the cave-like ambiance. The upper level showcases a wall adorned with a blind arcade design and features a pressure-sensitive slab on the right side of the floor—when activated, for example by a figure stepping on it, the catapult-like trap outside is triggered, causing an invader to fall and the stepping stones to scatter. On the left side, there is a removable parapet displaying an Unnamed Clan insignia (i.e., a light-green snake emerging from an upright, spirally coiled conic dark-green shell on a dark-red background) and a poseable carbine—with a scope and a flashy magazine, reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron—mounted on it; a position for a warrior to operate the crossbow at the window is also present. Moving upward, the previously hidden portions of the snake statues are now visible, while the edge of the volcano crater is equipped with a tapering rock structure projecting horizontally (this piece can be used to anchor a string for a zipline feature, which will be described later). The design of the floor between the lower and upper levels accommodates a circular central opening that incorporates a vertical rail extending from the base to the crater. This rail, equipped with a treadwheel mechanism positioned at its top and two interchangeable accessories, can be used either to lift a warrior in a wooden cage-like cabin, making them emerge from the crater, or to lower a prisoner, secured to a platform with foot manacles, into the ground level, where they will be confined within an iron maiden with two doors hinged on the rail.

Section 2 (placed to the right of Artelon Tower) - exterior: this section connects to Artelon Tower's base via a rugged, rocky ridge piece, while a sloping, suspended stone ramp edged with battlements links the section's peak to the middle level of the central building. A metal and timber bridge on the lower level leads to the opening of a mysterious chamber that extends forward beyond the building's frontage. This chamber is enclosed by a thick wall exhibiting an arched window with iron bars on the left and a winding stone stairway, which leaves space for a narrow "basement" window, on the right. The chamber's true purpose as a dungeon is revealed by a human skeleton leaning against the inner right wall and a grating of crossed metal bars on the floor. Lifting the grate exposes a pit seemingly filled with a greenish fluid as well as horrifying sculpted details such as a writhing mass of monstrous lizards (and their eggs), scattered bones and an assortment of old lost weapons. An enticing treasure chest atop a weathered wooden post outside the chamber's left corner triggers a trap, making the bridge swing up and locking an unwanted visitor inside. When closed, the bridge resembles a battered, riveted steel-plated door with a horizontal loophole and an embossed Unnamed Clan emblem. Climbing the stairs to the upper level, the façade shows from right to left: a wall carved with a menacing, Gorgon-like axe-wielding sculpture, surmounted by an overhanging turret with a wooden shutter plus crossbow feature matching the other section; a taller tower with a metal gate featuring two skull-topped hinged leaves, and covered by a tiled hip roof; an even taller tower, ominously topped with a swivelling reptilian eye encased in a boulder. The projecting ceiling of the dungeon underneath forms the floor of this level, composed of a grating of parallel wooden bars framed by a brick border and further reinforced by an outer perimeter of stone. Tilting the monstrous stone sculpture's metal axe forward triggers the collapse of the wooden grate, making a figure fall into the dungeon. The set also includes two separate snakes that can be positioned in various ways, such as hanging from the wooden bars of the upper grate or peering out from beneath the lower metal grate.

Section 2 - interior: the lower level reveals the rear dry stone wall of the dungeon, interspersed by a number of viewing gaps. A breakaway mechanism, activated by moving a ceremonial burning bowl atop a stone pile on the left corner, causes the wall to split open and expel small, pre-positioned stone fragments, creating an escape passage. The upper level is partitioned into three distinct sections by two dividing walls. The central section, designated as the entrance hall, is bookended by the metal gate on the outside and a narrow, arched stone passage (which is removable) on the inside. A lethal trap lurks between these two points—an additional mechanised spiked wall, activated from the left side, can crush an unsuspecting visitor. The left section contains the mechanism controlling the deadly spike-wall (i.e., a manually operated lever hinged on a horizontal wooden sliding beam) as well as a position for a warrior to operate the crossbow at the window. The right section incorporates a more futuristic design with plenty of tech-infused details. A periscope system, linked to the eye-boulder on the tower's top, allows for remote observation of the surrounding area. By manipulating the periscope, the observer can either turn the eye-boulder left and right or (by pulling the tube down) trigger its detachment, sending it rolling down the external ramp to crush any potential invaders below. Finally, the design of the floor between the lower and upper levels integrates a hidden, pull-out "rope" ladder (actually a retractable piece made of rigid plastic, but with the ability to swing back and forth) as well as a horizontally projecting wooden beam adorned with a carved twining snake motif. This brings us to the above-mentioned zipline feature, created by stretching a string between the bars projecting from the two sections, allowing a figure to slide down using the suspended cage-like cabin (a reference to the system of cabins suspended on moving ropes as seen in the comics).

Doom Factory

The Doom Factory is a massive, tank-like mobile industrial facility operated by the Rexodons. It has a distinctive Brontosaurus-like shape, characterised by an ovoid main body and an elongated neck.

Exterior: its weathered bronze-and-steel surface exhibits a textured appearance reminiscent of scales mixed with tech-mech components. Its large, egg-shaped main body tapers to a short, thick tail section, and has a surface that is densely punctuated with tubes, armatures reaching to the sky, chimneys and other industrial details; additionally, a sort of spine sail (which reminds me of the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House) protrudes from the domed upper covering. The rear side of the main body features a posable double cannon, while two additional laser guns and a communication antenna can be plugged into various slots. The construction possesses a long, seemingly segmented (i.e., consisting of a series of conical tubes, each fitted into the top of the one below and tied together) mechanical boom that curves upwards, resembling a dinosaur's neck and head; this structure is actually a bucket chain excavator for surface mining and dredging operations. It employs a series of buckets mounted on a flexible revolving chain, similar to a chainsaw blade. As the chain rotates, powered by a large wheel located in the "head", the buckets attached to it dig into the ground or collect scrap metal. The scooped material is then transported along the chain inside the neck, until the buckets reach the end of their cycle, where they empty their contents into a skip bin. The discharged material is subsequently processed within the factory. The neck has three sturdy points of articulation, allowing it to move both vertically and horizontally, and supports the power wheel that houses a rounded cockpit, reminiscent of iconic vehicles like the Rimfire from Spiral Zone, the G.I. Joe Buzz Boar or other similar toys. The cockpit is designed to seat one figure and is adorned with intricate details, including tooth-like motifs, pairs of hinged control levers and pedals, and two ball-jointed cannons that mimic the eyes of the Brontosaurus. Originally, the design included a flexible, moving belt driven by a manually operated treadmill; however, to reduce costs and enable the neck and head articulation, this feature was ultimately abandoned and replaced with a turning bucket wheel (simulating the end of the bucket chain) and a slot allowing three included pieces of junk to slide down a chute within the neck. The main body is supported by eight massive tracks, two on each corner (the treads don't actually roll here, but each pair of tracks is mounted on a wheel underneath), resembling the bent legs of a crouching dinosaur. This crawler-transporter enables the factory to move slowly across the mining site, and is equipped with a pair of large auger drill bits located at the front, which rotate as the toy is rolled forward or backward. Both the neck and tail sections are hinged at their bases, allowing them to be raised; this reveals the front entrance of the main body, accessible via a retractable ramp, and a rear drainage channel outlet.

Interior: the primary feature of this set is its opening mechanism to expose the interior of the factory, inspired by the iconic designs of the TMNT Technodrome and He-Man's Nordor playsets. The rear and top sections of the main body swing upward, creating a tall wall. The side sections then pivot outward, each stabilised by a dinosaur leg-shaped armature that rotates downward and secures the structure to the ground. Finally, two platforms, initially positioned vertically against the inner central section, fold down and spread out in a fan-like manner, connecting with the side sections; the upper "fan leaf" of each platform carries a hinged panel that can flip up, while the lower one features a large slot that mimics a floor hatch leading to the mechanical systems below. When opened, the interior is characterised by a network of exposed pipes, cables and circuitry, and each section is divided into two or more levels. The lower level of the left section displays a storage room for raw materials, while the corresponding platform is characterised by a flip-up control panel and a transparent-walled melting tank plugged into the slot. The upper level houses a fabrication area equipped with lathes, milling machines and presses. A hinged manhole with a ladder attached horizontally to its underside provides access to the storage area below when flipped down. Additionally, a gunner position with a swing-down window allows for the attachment of a poseable laser gun (one of those deployed externally). The lower level of the right section showcases a conveyor belt equipped with a pivoting quality control scanner, while the corresponding platform serves as an assembly area, characterised by a flip-up tools rack and a rotating half-bust robotic trooper on a pedestal plugged into the slot. The upper level contains a command pod, furnished with a computer and chair, as well as another gunner position with a swing-down window that accommodates a poseable laser gun (the second one of those deployed externally). Finally, the lower level of the central section is dominated by a large, articulated robotic arm that can be manually controlled. The arm's grab (a mix of a clamshell bucket and on orange-peel grab) can clutch a piece of junk, which was previously slid down the external chute and deposited into the factory's skip. The robotic arm can then swivel and drop the collected piece directly into the melting tank. The upper level incorporates a large control screen on the wall, which can be customised with two interchangeable image display options. This screen has a kind of otherworldly appearance, resembling an interdimensional mirror-portal encased in an elaborate, close-fitting bronze frame. Additionally, an optional curved metal bridge with railings can be plugged in, to connect the two upper side levels. This bridge is carefully notched to avoid interfering with the robotic arm's movement, and its barrier features a poseable ooze pipe that feeds the melting tank below (a pack of orange slime is included). An even higher level has a platform for a gunner to control a poseable double cannon (the same cannon that is located on the rare part of the main body when the set is closed) through the wall. The initial design for the set also featured a semi-buried duct piece connecting the Doom Factory to Rokang Tar Tower; however, this element was ultimately removed from the final plans.

The KR|Emergence Expansion Kit is fully compatible with the previous Tahron board game sets, including the KR|Origin, KR|Enmity, KR|Dimness and KR|Horizon Expansion Kits. Overall, this kit is a real treat for any Key Raiders fans! The included playset parts are incredible and finally provide the long-awaited expansions for Artelon and Rokang Tar towers. While I still hold out hope for more KR playsets in the future, completing the original Tahron set (and game!) feels like the perfect capstone to a truly special collection. It's hard to imagine another toy line ever capturing the same magic.

Happy holidays!!!

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #20: Dakaram

Toy prototype details

Name: Dakaram^TM

Subtitle: ground-shattering commander

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 15 in the line.

Character details

Name: Dakaram

Classification: catlipomor* mammal

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Kimarhan (a tribe of forest warriors who eventually form the Grand Resistance to oppose the rising reptilian authority)

Rank: commander of the Feline Combatants.

*Catlipomors^TM are fictional rare intelligent hybrid mammals, composed of the parts of several animals.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: a centaur-like warrior born and bred in the wilds of the Northern Forest, who possessed extraordinary abilities such as a formidable strength that allowed him to wield a colossal ball-and-chain flail and a flexible neck that could stretch to incredible lengths. As a Kimarhan tribesman, Dakaram defended his arboreal community alongside the Feline Combatants and, eventually, his prowess marked him as a natural leader, earning him the mantle of commander.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme) in the human upper body, with an additional hinged, pivoting lower abdomen; in the quadrupedal lower body, besides a ball jointed tail, each leg features three swivel-hinge joints: at the shoulder/hip, at the knee/hock and at the fetlock.

Description

Head: similar to an Irish elk, characterised by light brown hair, massive palmate (i.e., flat and broad) antlers, long ears and a pair of brown eyes with horizontal oval dark pupils. His mouth is slightly open, exposing some angrily gritted teeth and suggesting that he is ready to attack. He also carries an extra furry dewlap piece (representing a growth of skin hanging from the neck), which fits right on top of the body and shows a dark "collar" on the throat

Body: centaur structure, light brown coat with a few dark blotches on the human upper body, the arms seem a bit longer than the average length. The quadrupedal lower body bears a large slate grey stripe running along the back, a blotchy, dark stripe on either side from shoulder to haunch as well as a dark hump on the withers (between the shoulder blades), and shows features that are typical of different ungulates, e.g., a deer (even-toed hooves), a giraffe (fairly blotched coat) and a horse (general shape)

Wearables: his armour is a patchwork of mismatched larger golden-yellow plates and smaller dark-green leather scales, held together by silver rivets; its worn surface is heavily detailed with dents and battle damages, and is intentionally asymmetrical, mimicking the appearance of numerous cracks that are worked into all of the armour bits (perhaps a reference to his ground-shattering power). His left forearm bears a narrow studded golden-yellow bracelet with a large wrist guard that has the same cracked, battle-worn appearance as the armour, while the right arm has a silver spaulder and two narrow studded golden-yellow bracelets on the wrist. Additionally, he wears a golden-yellow belt constructed from three concentric metal rings and embellished with a deer skull-shaped buckle, and a Roman-style dark-green loincloth/peytral made of leather lappets ornamented with silver studs. The forelegs carry two heavily armoured, golden-yellow knee/cannon bone protectors, while the hind legs show two golden-yellow guards on the gaskins (with the same crack detailing as the armour and secured by dark-green tubular straps) and two dark-green leather cannon bone protectors each featuring a turndown top and a silver-jewelled tongue.

Dakaram's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Dakaram can stretch his neck considerably, getting a more giraffe-like look. This neck elongation skill has two purposes: either to deliver powerful headbutts and break through obstacles or to raise his head and see further. So, the figure includes a number of accessories related to these action features. Bellius was the first figure of this type to allow for some lengthy neck extensions (up to 15 cm), but Dakaram is even more complex. He has five separate 4-cm blotched neck extensions that can be stacked to lengthen his neck, and each piece has a barbell joint on top, so there's lots of room for additional movement, making the extended neck very flexible and poseable. It is worth noting that the hinged lower abdomen allows Dakaram to pose like he is using his body as a battering ram. Then there is a unique artefact that is a curious blend of a war hammer and a spyglass, to help keep an eye on the enemies. This is crafted from a long, weathered greenish wooden staff with a grip wrapped in dark-green leather to offer a secure hold. The lower end of the shaft terminates in a golden spike, which is crowned with four splayed, outward-facing ball-tipped prongs. The top end presents a golden ring, from which four small antler-like protrusions extend. Atop these rests a cubic golden hammerhead, its top face marked by a domed, bumpy surface, while its two lateral faces are embellished with large diamond studs. The remaining two faces hold a pair of conical, seemingly telescopic optical tubes: one, bearing the objective lens, slightly expands outward, while the other, the eyepiece, tapers inward. This ingenious design allows Dakaram to both peer into the distance and deliver crushing blows (although I'd be very concerned about extensive damages to the optics). The overall sculpt is a bit chunky but nicely ornate and detailed, and one could imagine that some of the geometric, angular shapes on the sides of the optical tubes/striking faces are actually buttons, wires and panels that activate hidden functions.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the five neck extension pieces and the war hammer/spyglass, Dakaram comes with his trusty ball-and-chain flail, ready to unleash powerful strikes that can shake the very ground beneath his hooves. This long three-section weapon is composed of two greenish wooden grips wrapped in dark-green leather, a massive metal striking ball and two (real) connecting chains. The silver sphere's surface is uneven and pitted, as if roughly hammered into shape, while a series of raised reinforcing ribs traverse it from pole to pole. In the comics, Dakaram, with a simple twist of the weapon's grips, can make the ball's hemispheres separate slightly, causing three deadly axe blades to deploy from the gap. So, the toy sphere splits into two halves (one remains attached to the chain), revealing the intricate inner mechanism that triggers the blades' deployment. The painted details of the gears and levers inside are quite colourful, making this a very impressive accessory overall. This makes it possible to plug an included bladed piece into the central hub of one hemisphere, before reassembling the ball and locking the blades securely in place. The triple-edged golden axe piece, featuring two large jagged-edged blades flanking a smaller fan-shaped blade at the top, looks fantastic. In addition, the half-sphere with the chain can be swapped for an identical piece with a rigid, wavy plastic chain, allowing for a wider range of dynamic poses.

Finally, the figure includes an alternative portrait inspired by earlier character designs. This is a replica of the standard head, but with branched deer-like antlers instead of the palmate moose-like ones, which is meant to be used without the extra dewlap piece.

Comic

Together with the action figure we get the second comic issue The dark powers of dominion. Initially set 40 years after the events of the first episode, the story begins by following the conflict between the Therioms, led by King Tah-Ron, and the Reptonoids, commanded by Bi-Harr. Gladorr, while observing the hostilities, dons a mystical stone mask imbued with Silef’s demonic powers, transforming into a monstrous figure to infiltrate the Reptonoid army. In a fierce forest battle, Gladorr kills King Tah-Ron, securing Bi-Harr’s favour as a strategist, but failing to alter the course of history. Over five centuries later, the deity Kai-Xi warns the Therioms of potential catastrophic changes in their timeline. Using the Antikythron, they travel back 521 years to stop a mysteriously revived Deptilion and his ally, Gladorr. Despite their efforts, the Therioms are defeated, forcing them to regroup in the present, now ravaged by war. They return to the past once more, this time determined to prevent their enemies' strategies and ensure the restoration of the timeline. A climactic battle occurs at the Quartz Tower, where Masq-Lor, empowered by Lor-Drek's amulet and aided by a mysterious knight, defeats Deptilion (who is actually Geel-Ber) and forces Gladorr to retreat. With the mysterious knight joining the Theriom's cause, Masq-Lor and his allies of the past succeed in battling Gladorr, culminating in his apparent death. Eventually, aiming to return to their own time, Masq-Lor and Geel-Ber find themselves stranded 50 years earlier than their intended destination, where they discover Gladorr alive and seeking a new vessel for Silef’s spirit, aligning with a young mercenary named Nemhisto. A final confrontation ensues, during which Gladorr transforms into a new form and Nemhisto gains part of Silef’s mystical remnants, leading to Geel-Ber's death. Nemhisto escapes and Gladorr activates a new time portal before vanishing. Masq-Lor, now trapped in time, is unexpectedly joined by his siblings to face a new dangerous mission.

Final thoughts

Overall: I’m really impressed with Dakaram, he’s another fantastic addition to the line. I’ve been waiting for a new catlipomor figure to join the KR series for quite a few years and now that he’s here, I couldn’t be more thrilled. Dakaram is a fun figure with excellent sculpting, vibrant paintwork and some great accessories

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #19: Nemhisto (EoF Edition)

Toy prototype details

Name: Nemhisto^TM (EoF Edition), aka Flashback Nemhisto

Subtitle: cruel warrior for hire

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 14 in the line.

Character details

Name: Nemhisto

Classification: human

Sex: male

Relationships: father of Demo-Rha and Modi-Rha, biological father of Wordron

Home: Tahron

Era: 50 years before Foundation
Affiliation: independent; CorpSTar (indirectly)

Rank: mercenary, bounty hunter, bodyguard and gladiator.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #2 - The dark powers of dominion

Character summary: a young, ambitious mercenary with a ruthless heart, who crossed paths with a weakened Gladorr and his need to revive Silef's spirit. During a bloody clash, Nemhisto absorbed the remains of Gladorr's sloughed skin, granting him regenerative powers and a connection to the supernatural. Despite his newfound strength, Nemhisto's life eventually took a tragic turn as he was assassinated by a nobleman seeking revenge for a past betrayal. His legacy, however, lived on through his orphaned daughters, Demo-Rha and Modi-Rha, and illegitimate son, Wordron, who carried the bloodline of both human and otherworldly power.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: Caucasoid and albino features, characterised by pale white skin, long white hair and white facial hair (he sports a pair of Logan-style mutton chops that stretch down past the cheeks and into a moustache, but not on the chin... groovy!) streaked with yellow in the middle and on the sides of the hair as well as near the chin, eyes of a colour between blue and violet, and an evil smirk

Body: the exposed parts of his body, i.e., arms and parts of his legs and torso, show a very pale, white skin

Wearables: a golden shoulder/chest armour adorned with golden-yellow accents (including an engraved bat-shaped motif, two large studs, a series of rivets and a pair of ornamented spaulders) as well as dark-green details (including a pair of straps and a large emerald held by a set of ivory claws at its centre), two golden armlets studded with emeralds encircling the biceps, two dark-green cross-strap leather fingerless gloves paired with golden wrist guards, two dark-green cross-strap leather boots paired with golden shin/knee guards, a golden belt (which is embellished with three emerald-like studs, a pair of dark-green leather holsters and an ormurid skull-shaped buckle), a long dark-green leather skirt slit down the middle and adorned with Roman-inspired golden-yellow patterns, and a red cape whose collar is edged with the tawny pelt of a slain ormurid and secured by a rectangular golden-yellow-and-dark-green brooch. The wrist guards, shin guards and belt are all further enhanced by curved, raised golden-yellow bands, while the spaulders and knee guards each feature a curved spike.

Nemhisto's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents an emerald jewel.

Action feature

In the comics, Nemhisto's angelic facade masks a true nature of ruthless ambition (from the Foundation and Enmity series, we know that his sole redeeming quality is his love for his daughters—although the identity of their mother remains a mystery—, shattered when a rival ends his life, leaving them to navigate a world without his protection). The figure includes several alternate portraits, each wearing a distinctive headdress crafted from an ormurid skull. This skull exhibits a pair of relatively small water buffalo-like horns and an upper jaw featuring sharp teeth, while the lower jaw is absent. Two of these portraits show the skull covering Nemhisto's head down to his eyebrows, with his white hair peeking out from its base. The first portrait captures a combative expression, while the second depicts an older, clean-shaven lifeless visage, marked by trickles of blood and the blade of his own bronze-hilted sabre crossing his headdress and braincase. A third, particularly cool portrait displays the headdress lowered further, showing Nemhisto's eyes ominously cast in darkness through the skull's shadowed eye sockets. Additionally, the regular head can be adorned with an included gladiator's metallic dark-green headband. This sort of crown features a single prong at the front (bearing a golden stud at its centre) and a series of curved ivory horns that alternate between pointing upwards and downwards.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the various alternate heads (plus a headband), Nemhisto comes with a wealth of weapons. First up, there is his signature silver-bladed sabre with a basket hilt, which comes in two variations: a bronze-hilted version and a more weathered, greenish-hilted one that closely matches the sword crossing his head in the Foundation figure. There's also a loop on the back of the armour to hold either sword safely in place.

Additionally, the package includes an extra gladiator's sword and a shield reminiscent of Possessed Sei-Lha's accessories—the combined shape of the sword's bronze hilt and golden blade tip, resembling two small tridents, evokes the Chinese character for "out" (出), while the shield is a larger replica of the jewel on Nemhisto's chest plate, featuring a studded golden disc and a large emerald gemstone held in place by a series of curved ivory claws.

Finally, complementing his bladed weaponry are two dark-green derringers reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron, which can be holstered on the belt.

Final thoughts

Overall: Nemhisto's "alive" form's debut as an action figure prototype is a success in my opinion. His traditional warrior look coupled with a striking outfit and a unique headdress makes him a standout addition to the KR|EoF line. As the 200^th single figure in the KR universe, he's a testament to the series' enduring popularity and the growing quality of its prototypes

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #18: Feline Combatants

Toy prototype details

Name: Feline Combatants^TM

Subtitle: cat-like defenders of the forest

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: multi-pack (army builder 5-pack) - Nº 4 in the line.

Character details

Name: see descriptions below

Classification: carnivoran mammal

Sex: male or female

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Kimarhan (a tribe of forest warriors who eventually form the Grand Resistance to oppose the rising reptilian authority)

Rank: forest fighter.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: a group of strong Kimarhan fighters living in the Northern Forest, protecting it from evil. The Feline Combatants possessed a unique blend of cat-like traits, including exceptional reflexes, strength and agility. Their ability to extend and retract their sharp claws provided them with a formidable offensive and defensive advantage. Also, their superior night vision allowed them to navigate in low-light conditions, while their acute hearing enabled them to detect even the faintest sounds. These formidable warriors rode massive deinotheria, elephant-like creatures equipped with distinctive downward-curving tusks and outfitted with armoured saddles, protective helmets and foreleg guards. Their home was a sprawling settlement nestled among the treetops; this high-perched arboreal community was connected by a network of ladders, bridges and even a stone staircase leading to an enigmatic ancient sculpture at the centre of a sacred fire pit, perhaps a relic of a forgotten civilisation.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a ball jointed tail.

Description
All figures of this multi-pack have the following characteristics in common:

Head: they possess large, rounded ears with a subtle point. Their eyes are relatively large, and their canine teeth are notably long and pointed

Body: their lithe and muscular bodies are covered in fur, with particular emphasis on the forearms, shins, back of hands and insteps. They have five clawed fingers on their hands and four clawed toes on their feet, which are typically bare unless otherwise specified

Wearables: their outfits are predominantly dark-green (including green-tinted leather), and a laterally stretched, 14-rayed silver Vergina Sun emblem (from which the Theriom symbol derives) is often featured on their attires.

Weapons and accessories

Each figure comes with a fire lance, a primitive rocket-propelled weapon combining the features of a polearm and a firearm. Each spear consists of three sections: a long olivewood shaft, a hollow bamboo tube filled with a charge of gunpowder, and a pointed tip affixed to the end. A strip of hemp fibre cloth soaked in a flammable substance is tied between the tube and the point, serving as a fuse. When lit, the burning cloth would ignite the gunpowder, propelling the spearhead forward with explosive force. Additionally, the male figures come with alternative heads and accessories to create different characters.

Kiam (male character)

Head: similar to a sabre-toothed tiger, characterised by yellow-brown fur striped with black, a strip of bony protuberances covered in skin running centrally from the middle of the forehead to the back of the head, and a pair of massive curved upper canine teeth (or fangs)
Body: a yellow-brown coat marked with ocelot-like black-and-tawny bands. His chest has some scars on its left side
Wearables: a removable harness featuring a shoulder vine-strap that connects to the right side of a leather waist belt, a studded oxidised bronze bracelet on the left wrist, two ornate laminar armour shin guards, and a narrow birch bark belt with stitched ends, holding a grass skirt and a tattered hemp loincloth adorned with semi-circular white patterns. The shoulder strap includes an olivewood spaulder and, at the centre on the front, a sheath for a sculpted wooden-handled knife as well as an additional leather strap that attaches to the opposite side of the waist belt and holds three smaller knives. Two loops on the sides of the waist belt are designed to stow a pair of gauntlets (more on this later)

Powers and abilities: he is an exceptional fighter and a brilliant tactician, known for his deadly precision in throwing projectiles, particularly knives. His combat prowess is further enhanced by his unique physiology—a past wound infection has caused his skin and muscle tissue to fortify, granting him nigh-invulnerability and rapid recovery from injuries

Weapons: lance with an iron point featuring multiple additional curved side blades pointing upward. He also wields a pair of massive gauntlets shaped like tiger's claws, forged from an extremely durable alloy. These gauntlets possess a gold-and-black striped surface and serve multiple purposes, acting as shields capable of deflecting even the sharpest weapons and as tools for slashing and climbing. In the toy, the gauntlets are designed to replace his hands, covering the entire arms up to his elbows, while when not in use, they rest on his belt, doubling as sheaths for two additional removable daggers (the paint highlights on these are really great and blur the lines on whether the blades are metal or stone)

Alternative portrait (Ki-Marr): similar to a lion, characterised by light-buff fur (almost giving the impression of hairlessness), bushy eyebrows and a flowing tawny mane. This portrait corresponds to the character Ki-Marr, the elder leader of the Kimarhan tribe. Distinctive rust-coloured war paint markings streak diagonally across his face, while a scarred left eye (which, in the comics, he often covers with a patch) and a broken right fang protruding from his upper jaw enhance his rugged, battle-worn appearance

Alternative outfit: a harness consisting of two leather straps equipped with rows of long, wavy horny spikes, lined with "real" moss and adorned with an assortment of three animal skulls hanging from the front. The straps extend over his shoulders and converge in the front and back at a wide scale armour (the scales are made of seed shells) tasset belt, which is secured by a large Kimarhan emblem-shaped buckle and features a convenient loop for carrying his spiritual whip. Arm, wrist, knee and shin olivewood guards heavily armoured with short, curved bony spikes further enhance his intimidating image

Alternative weapons: a shamanic bone whip (with three rope ends terminating in colourful feathers) and a ceremonial paw-shaped wooden sceptre with a flame attachment (allowing the creation of a blazing version of this artefact, which symbolises Ki-Marr's status as a leader and his connection to the spiritual world).

Akat (male character)

Head: similar to a cheetah, characterised by pale-fawn fur covered with solid black spots, and a pair of tear-like black facial streaks running from the corners of the eyes down the sides of the nose. His rounded head appears nearly bald on top, contrasting with a rugged strip of long tawny hair that extends down his neck and upper spine. He dons an elaborate, removable oxidised bronze "flip-up" helmet adorned with spikes; when closed, the helmet transforms into an animalistic visage, featuring a half mask with a striking bird-of-prey design and glowing orange eye slits (it evokes a blend of the Masters of the Universe Battle Cat's mask and the arena helmet from Thor: Ragnarok)

Body: apart from the above-mentioned "mane" between the shoulders, a pale-fawn coat marked with clouded leopard-like irregular dusky-grey blotches bordered by looped black stripes

Wearables: some birch bark strips wrapped around the forearms, two mossy calf protectors secured with vine straps below the knees and above the ankles, a knotted rope belt, and a pair of short, torn hemp trousers. The lower body is further protected by two lamellar armour thigh guards made from small rectangular plates of leather laced into horizontal rows, and a laminar (the lames are made of oxides bronze) loincloth

Powers and abilities: his mental instability—or his exceptional skill at pretending to be so—adds an unpredictable edge to his abilities. For example, he can control the fears of his opponents, turning their own anxieties against them in battle. Also, through his mystical mask, he has the ability to communicate with his deceased ancestors and conjure up their spirits by reanimating the long-buried skeletons of mysterious creatures. These beings manifest as large cat-like golems with energy-green claws and spines, and they possess the power to summon energy tentacled horrors from within their forms as well as to grow in size and shapeshift at will

Weapons: lance with a triangular bone point

Alternative portrait (Yuraq): similar to a leopard or a snow leopard, characterised by an angular shape, pale-fawn fur covered with small, densely packed black-and-brown rosettes, two pairs of broken-up stripes running from the corner of the eyes over the cheeks and from the corner of the mouth to the neck, a pair of tusks protruding up, and a removable orange copper kabuto adorned with a pair of large curving horns and a full mask

Alternative outfit: a hemp tunic topped with a lamellar armour cuirass adorned with jade accents (its layered spaulders are a combination of grass, leather, tortoiseshell and bony spikes), two laminar arm pads, two oxidised bronze bracers equipped with knuckledusters, and a leather belt featuring two lamellar tassets with jade accents

Alternative weapons: an orange copper sword that fits into a sheath attached to his cuirass and an orange copper shield featuring the face of a ram-horned, jade-eyed creature intricately sculpted on the disc to resemble his kabuto mask.

Vasak (male character)

Head: similar to a lynx, characterised by fulvous fur marked with dark-brown streaks and spots, black-tufted ears, and solid yellow glow-in-the-dark eyes

Body: a fulvous coat marked with large, jaguar-like black-and-brown rosettes with central spots. His tail is relatively short, while his arms are completely wrapped in hemp straps, though loosely, with plenty of gaps in between

Wearables: a removable silver necklace featuring a Kimarhan emblem-shaped medallion (designed to be shared with Akat), two leather armbands (each featuring a single bony spike), two leather gloves, two leather boots with grass fringes around the middle of the shafts and tattered turndown tops, a hemp sash round the waist, and a long torn skin loincloth

Powers and abilities: he is a smooth-talking fighter with a supernatural edge. An energy-manipulating entity resides within him, granting him a range of extraordinary abilities. This spirit enables him to absorb, transform and redirect various forms of energy—he can, for example, bend light for enhanced stealth, convert the kinetic energy of shocks into concussive blasts, generate intense radiation from his eyes, manipulate gravity to perform powerful leaps, and unleash a devastating sonic roar

Weapons: lance with a diamond-shaped flint point

Alternative portrait (Plowan): similar to a cougar, characterised by plain fulvous fur and a long, silver-grey beard arranged into three separate braids. Atop his head, he wears a removable headgear made from the upper part of a cream-furred, one-horned ormurid-like animal's head with the lower jaw removed
Alternative outfit: a harness featuring two leather shoulder armours that wrap around the arm sockets, partially covering the chest and back. These are adorned with large pyramidal oxidised bronze spikes and connected at the front and back by chain straps (the chest strap has a buckle in the form of a Kimarhan emblem-shaped medallion). Lined with a sculpted cream-coloured fur that resembles a mane and is darkly marked with both large blotchy spots and wide stripes, the harness is further enhanced by two imposing, skull-shaped spiked pauldrons. Additionally, he dons two mossy bracers outfitted with forward-pointing claws, and a leather belt featuring a large buckle adorned with four bony protruding spikes (the belt is complemented by a pair of laminar tassets and various bony and metal implements hanging from it)

Alternative weapons: a fearsome pair of clubs crafted from the halves of a massive animal’s jawbone (possibly the same creature used for the headgear), with their rugged surfaces and exposed teeth adding to their menacing presence.

Alaja (female character)

Head: similar to a black panther (i.e., a melanistic leopard), characterised by black fur, solid white eyes and a cascade of long black hair tied into a topknot, flowing high ponytail. Additionally, she wears a fearsome, full-face olivewood removable mask, carved to resemble a predatory cat with elongated fangs

Body: a black flocked coat. The colour looks great, while the flocking seems evenly applied and does simulate velvety fur nicely

Wearables: a one-shoulder mini dress, two narrow tubular oxidised bronze bracelets, two narrow tubular oxidised bronze anklets ornamented with layers of plant fibres, and a leather belt equipped with a little skull buckle and a small horny scabbard on the side for a sculpted dagger with a short curved blade. The dress seems to be made of two pieces that are stitched together: the top piece—perhaps originally part of a bikini-like outfit—is made from pale cream-coloured fur that is brownly marked with blotches and stripes, while the bottom one, ending in a tattered skirt, is made from hemp

Powers and abilities: due to her blindness, her remaining senses are heightened to extraordinary levels, allowing her to navigate the world with exceptional awareness. Additionally, she possesses a unique telepathic ability to control birds; these feathered allies serve as her eyes, providing her with a bird's-eye view of her surroundings and enabling her to gather information from afar. Furthermore, she has a limited ability to influence the local weather, manipulating elements like wind, rain and temperature within a specific area

Weapons and accessories: lance whose copper head is separated into a split point. Additionally, she comes with a crow wing-inspired black cape featuring an emerald-jewelled Kimarhan emblem at the collar, two tortoiseshell bracers equipped with short, curved bony spikes, and a sculpted paw-shaped wooden baton in a birch bark holster that can be attached to her lower leg (in the comics, this baton has multiple functions, such as delivering electric shocks, extending into a grappling hook, and separating into a paw-shuriken and a throwing knife)

Qora (female character)

Head: similar to a white tiger, characterised by white fur striped with black, differently coloured eyes (one a vibrant blue and the other a warm amber), and a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead (like bangs)
Body: a white coat marked with black stripes

Wearables: a sleeveless halterneck leotard, two studded leather armbands, two silver "gloves" ornamented with thin black stripes and grass-lined cuffs, two leather calf protectors, and a belt made of several oxidised bronze discs laced together. The leotard is primarily made of hemp and is adorned with semi-circular white patterns; a leather strap secures it around the neck, while a V-shaped leather brief section covers the upper thighs

Powers and abilities: her enhanced intelligence grants her exceptional proficiency in herbal medicine, trapping and pyrotechnics. Born with congenital hand deformities, she relies on cybernetic hand enhancements, which feature retractable and extendable steel claws embedded in the fingers, as well as deployable spikes from the knuckles

Weapons and accessories: lance with a lanceolate obsidian point. Additionally, she comes with a broad, usekh-inspired collar, composed of rows of claws, stones and shells, and complemented by a necklace featuring a Kimarhan emblem-shaped medallion. Finally, the set includes a birch bark waist satchel containing a number of rudimentary tools, a pair of red-lensed goggles, and an amappo hunting trap (i.e., a crossbow set at the top of a tree stump, featuring a tripwire release mechanism and a bolt coated with a lethal poison; the crossbow piece is reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron)

Final thoughts

Overall: this massive KR|EoF set delivers on both fan service and quality. The Feline Combatants 5pk is a fantastic nod to the saga's mythos (the three siblings in the Foundation series get their powers from cat-like spirits), and the set's overall design and execution are impressive. While some minor nitpicks exist, the new tooling and design are top-notch. This set is a must-have for hardcore fans, but casual collectors may find it excessive

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5