KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #31: Liorak

Toy prototype details

Name: Liorak^TM

Subtitle: armour-disguised temporal agent

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 25 in the line.

Character details

Name: Liorak

Real name: Sajron

Classification: human with one-quarter primivod genetic material

Sex: male

Relationships: son of Desion (Masq-Lor) and Sei-Lha

Home: Tahron

Era: 25 years after Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: warmaster.

Background

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

Character summary: a mysterious, heavily armoured warrior wielding a horn-mounted blaster capable of firing powerful energy beams, whose courage during a critical battle turned the tide by confronting Gladorr head-on. Initially believed to have sacrificed his life after being violently struck by the blast that seemingly annihilated Gladorr, Liorak was later revealed to be Sajron, Desion’s and Sei-Lha's son from the future. Driven by duty and a determination to change destiny, and protected by an exosuit forged from the fusion of his mother’s old armour and the Antikythron’s technology, Sajron travelled to the past to alter the outcome of that fateful battle. Proposing uneasy truces, luring enemies into traps and accepting great personal risk to ensure Gladorr’s final defeat, he ultimately survived and returned to a restored timeline where Tahron was saved.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: protected by a full-face silver helmet accented with golden-yellow details and a black glass visor. Like Combat Sei-Lha’s helmet, the design blends hints of Boba Fett, Iron Man and G.I. Joe’s Cobra Commander, but somehow it all comes together. Atop the helmet sits a silver protrusion that fictionally houses the Antikythron's working components, which is shaped like a thick horn with a four-pointed ridged star-shaped, glowing yellow emitter at the front; the star points are uneven: the two side points are the shortest, the bottom point is the longest and the top point falls in between, resembling, in my opinion, Ultraman Edo’s mask in his Zetton suit. The helmet also features a removable faceplate whose interior reveals an impressive amount of sculpted detail, giving it a convincingly high-tech feel. Beneath the helmet, Sajron’s face is only partially exposed, since only his eyes, one green (left) and one blue (right) surrounded by olive brown skin, are visible, while the rest is concealed by a golden-yellow mouth-and-nose guard with breather slits and studs, crossed by a silver bar that runs between the eyes and connects to the forehead section
Body: encased from neck to toe in a silver armoured suit adorned with golden-yellow accents. The armour displays an impressive amount of intricate decorative features across its many components, with very few areas left untouched by sculpted tech-mech embellishments, such as cables and tubing, bolts and pistons, gauges and switches. Despite this dense level of detailing, the overall design looks cohesive and does not feel overly busy

Wearables: the non-removable chest armour vaguely recalls the design seen on Combat Sei-Lha, with golden-yellow accents jutting sharply from the silver chest plate, while the armholes are styled to resemble ammo belts. He also wears silver gauntlets (with removable golden-yellow wrist guards, more on this later) and silver boots equipped with fin-shaped control surfaces and repulsors meant for long leaps; a silver belt, also evoking the look of an ammo belt, wraps the waist, paired with a golden-yellow crotch piece. Altogether, the armour is packed with crisp, well-executed cyber detailing throughout.

Liorak's stylised chest armour.

Action feature

In the comics, the front part of Liorak's “horn” functions as an emitter capable of firing concentrated bursts of energy and, alternatively, producing a force field for levitating and moving objects. So, after removing the standard-looking emitter described above, an included snap-on piece, featuring an energy blast effect moulded in translucent orange plastic, enables recreating the character’s ability to unleash powerful energy beams.

Weapons and accessories

Liorak's suit of armour incorporates six pairs of extendable weapons, a feature that, in my opinion, strongly evokes the Libra Cloth and its weapons from Knights of the Zodiac. Under Liorak's command, any one (or two) of twelve tech-mech components can be ejected from the suit, and each is capable of producing its own weapon through laser-like energy extensions. This process seems to be linked to the Antikythron mechanism housed within the helmet's cyber-horn, suggesting that the colours and shapes of the weapons are inspired by the six SpawnCrystals. So, apart from the above-mentioned energy beam, the figure includes six pairs of detachable golden-yellow pieces mounted at various points on the armour, along with additional or alternate parts representing the deployed weapon forms. Specifically:

• Boot-mounted swords - two hilts attached to the sides of the boots can be extended with broad, translucent yellow blades, each terminating in a pointed tip
• Tonfas - two sticks, each with a short perpendicular grip positioned about one-third down its length, are attached to the sides of the thighs; these can be upgraded with translucent magenta front heads featuring an ovoid design
• Three-section flails - two folded triple handles mounted on the belt can be removed and replaced with flexible weapons, each consisting of three sticks linked by translucent green, bendable cords and capped with translucent green cube-shaped ends
• Shields - two pieces on the sides of the arm bracers can detach, allowing two round shields with translucent dark-blue discs to be attached before the pieces are resecured; the result gives the impression that each wrist guard has unfolded into a fan-like laser shield, expanding its diameter with an additional outer ring (these shields are also designed to be launched as projectiles)
• Nunchucks - two folded dual handles attached to the upper arms can be swapped out for two nunchucks, each composed of two sticks ending in pointed translucent cyan tips and joined by a short translucent cyan, bendable cord
• Back-mounted spears - two long shafts stored on the back can be extended with translucent red bipyramidal spearheads.

Final thoughts

Overall: this is an incredible new take on the Combat suit of armour, and Liorak is a great addition to the KR|EoF line. With impressive sculpting, fantastic weapons and genuinely fun features, this action figure stands out as an epic toy. While it risked coming across as a more masculine variant of Combat Sei-Lha, it instead shows everything the line is capable of. In fact, it feels like a true evolution of the Sei-Lha figures, offering, with a version in his “normal” look also on the way, a bold and refined alternative take on Sajron’s design

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Horizon Review #34: CoBoN Mark III

Toy prototype details

Name: CoBoN Mark III

Subtitle: levitating armoured battlecraft

Line: KR|Horizon

Item type: vehicle - Nº 2 in the line.

Character details

Name: CoBoN Mark III

Classification: fighting vehicle

Home: Tahron

Era: 15 years after Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: transport.

Background

First appearance: KR|Horizon #1 - The Destructomorph legacy

Brief bio: after sustaining severe damage to its Mark II components during the final battle against Deptilion and his army, CoBoN was rebuilt into a levitating train-like vehicle. Its new form was propelled by a unique power unit, granting it enhanced mobility, access to powerful advanced weaponry, and an impressive range of defence configurations.

Concept
As explained in the CoBoN 3.0 review, this new incarnation of CoBoN is a silver-painted, levitating train-like combat vehicle with a revolutionary design, and like its previous versions, it is powered by a classified energy source and controlled by an advanced AI. Similarly to its predecessor, the Mark II, this model is composed of multiple modular units; when needed, these modules can deploy or separate as individual vehicles, each equipped with powerful jet engines and capable of transforming into other types of attack craft or even robots. There’s a clear influence here from late-70s Japanese TV shows such as Dinosaur Expedition Born Free, Dinosaur Great War Izenborg, and Dinosaur Corps Koseidon, all of which placed a strong emphasis on modular and combining vehicles.

Description
This set consists of a monorail system featuring a motorised train-like vehicle inspired by CoBoN Mark III, which runs on a track surrounding up to four Tahron playset parts. Just like with earlier versions, while this comic incarnation of CoBoN is very large and can carry many characters, the toy version is much smaller and not to scale with the KR figures, being able to only fit a few.

The system includes 13 pieces of monorail track (made slightly translucent to mimic the appearance of an energy beam), 20 support arms, and a set of four carriages connected by universal joints and designed to run along the track. The monorail track attaches to either four or five arms of each type (i.e., industrial looking blueish-grey metal, greenish-brown wood, carved gold, and reddish-grey stone) mounted on up to four towers or extension pieces. The track can also be shortened to operate around as few as one playset piece. A power unit, shaped like a pair of long, high-tech jet engines, houses a small battery-powered motor and features pivoting side guns; it can attach to any of the four modules (by default the second, which acts as the locomotive, while the others have clear passive "hangers") and powers them along the monorail track. This of course limits operation to either a series of carriages or a single carriage at a time. I wish the set had included a second power unit to allow for more play options, even if not comic book accurate. All the modules feature blocky, sci-fi shapes, with ladders, tanks, antennas and navigation lights, as well as panel lines, vents and hatches suggesting complex internal systems.

1 – Leading module
This module has been described extensively in the CoBoN 3.0 review. The toy version fatefully reproduces its basic form, except that it can only seat one figure. It features a large (spanning nearly the entire top surface of the module’s front part), partially transparent canopy (its clear panels are tinted orange and detailed with sculpted circuitry patterns) hinged at the front so it swings forward to open, while the rear section of the cockpit cover slides backward allowing a lying figure to fit inside (the two small cockpit seats serve as footrests for it). It is also equipped with wheels that enable it to function as a ground-travelling vehicle.

Additionally, the leading module can connect to the top of the ground base station, attaching to the augmented robot’s forward-tilted head with its rear/side section deployed as a gunner drone, forming an even larger turret.

2 – Locomotive

Positioned behind the leading module, this unit includes, from top to bottom, the engine room (i.e., the above-mentioned power unit), the bridge for crew operations, and a lower cargo area. The three sections can be separated and used in different combinations; for example, the power unit can be paired with the cargo section alone or with any other module. The bridge section features a wide, partially transparent front-facing viewport that, like the canopy on the leading module, has orange-tinted clear panels detailed with sculpted circuitry. Once the power unit is detached, we get full access to the main control area: the front window panel flips up, the side panels open, and the entire roof lifts up (and, if needed, detaches). When fully opened, it reveals seven crew spinning seats: two for drivers, four for support terminals (comms and weapons) and one for the commander, all at a much smaller scale than the KR figures. Fortunately, the set includes seven mini figures modelled after some key KR characters (Masq-Lor, Fai-Rha, Herrion, Sei-Lha, Xonedar, Mor-Rak and Sajron; each figure features ball jointed hips and shoulders, an ab crunch, hinged knees and elbows, and has magnets on the bottom of the feet, allowing you to recreate a variety of action scenes), which is a very nice touch! There's a really great level of detail in this area, with control panels on the front, as well as maps and charts along the back and side walls. It's also customisable, as the seats and handrails are movable and can be arranged in various configurations. The captain’s chair, however, is locked in place because it’s tied to a fun gimmick. The chair is normally positioned to look through a clear, blue-tinted targeting screen, but if you turn a dial hidden behind two small opening hatch doors at the very front of the module, the screen lowers and the chair raises simultaneously, presumably to give the captain a better command view. Another cool gimmick is the bridge elevator on the back wall. It has a small gate that opens and closes, and when you turn a dial at the upper back-right corner of the bridge, the elevator lowers and pops out from the bridge floor, allowing a crew member to descend into the cargo area or, if that section is detached, to venture outside and explore the surroundings; turning the dial the opposite way raises the elevator again. When the bridge section is detached from the cargo and two side wings are flipped down and extended, it can function as an independent command aircraft. Its design resembles a Cereutian ship from the KR|EoF comics and even reminds me a bit of the Marvels’ Hoopty. It can also rest on sturdy little landing stands that tuck away when it’s in full flight mode.

The lower cargo section features a large wheel-like ornament on either side, which are intended to become the shoulders/helipads of the augmented robot/ground base. These are magnetically attached, allowing them to rotate, which adds another layer of playability. This section can be used independently of the upper bridge section to transport a single lying regular figure or other “cargo” by opening a barred door hinged at the front, just above the joint with the leading module. It includes a trigger mechanism (i.e., a radar dish-shaped rear tab that rotates 90 degrees upward from a horizontal rest position and can swivel in either direction) which, when engaging with an apposite hook clipped to the track, opens the bottom door to drop its contents.

Additionally, the combined upper and lower sections can connect to the front port of the ground base station by opening the two upper-torso hatch doors, lifting the chest reactor that functions as a locking tab to secure the unit in place, and lowering the lower-torso hatch door to serve as a support. Once attached, the unit transforms into the base’s bridge (although it's not comic book accurate), and opening the bow doors reveals, as before, two floors: an upper control area and a lower cargo area. The front door of the cargo room can drop and extend to form a hinged platform that lowers to the level of the base's front runways, allowing for cargo loading.

3 – Snowhawk transporter

This module is essentially a rectangular box topped with an orange-tinted dome on the upper right surface, which splits open when the side walls swing outward on long hinges. The large fold-out panels themselves house piping running along the length of the interior, ladders, fuelling and maintenance stations, control panels and consoles, as well as service platforms for the mini figures. In the centre, a launch track supporting a transport can be raised to a 45-degree angle. All of this brings back memories of imaginative concepts from my childhood, such as G.I. Joe Defiant and Faitus-1 from Dinosaur Corps Koseidon. This carriage can connect to either the toe or the heel of either foot of the ground base station.

The module contains a pearlescent white aircraft designed for operation in snowy environments. It features a retractable cockpit that telescopes forward to seat up to three minifigures beneath an orange-tinted clear canopy hinged at the rear. It also includes twin nose-mounted guns, a rear inverted T-shaped hydrofoil with deployable continuous tracks, and a front fin keel (or rather a centreboard, because it's retractable) with an added central monoski that allows the transport to slide smoothly along the launch track. Access to the three-seat cockpit is provided by a pair of boarding ladders, which fold upward to become small front wings equipped with laser guns at their tips. At the rear, a pair of folded wings expose impellers as well as racks for two bombs on their undersurfaces; when folded down, these wings reveal two side-mounted hideaway missile launchers attached to the hull, which can swing up and "fire" detachable missiles. The vehicle is intended to operate either in jet mode for high-altitude bombing, with the wings extended and bombs carried for release (either bomb can alternatively be mounted under the main body) or in snowmobile mode for streamlined reconnaissance, with the wings retracted and treads and ski deployed.

Additionally, by flipping up a second U-shaped hydrofoil-like structure from the top of the main body and attaching the power unit to it, the aircraft can "fly" along the track. Alternatively, by attaching the power unit to the lower hydrofoil and rotating the aircraft upside down, the transport can function as a jetpack fighter, allowing a regular figure to lie prone with their hips resting in the newly deployed hydrofoil structure while gripping the laser guns on the smaller wings (now folded in the opposite direction), creating the impression that the figure is flying and blasting as the vehicle moves along the track. Finally, when not motorised or suspended, the aircraft can attach to the top of any one of the carriages, transforming into a sort of gun turret.

4 – Tidebull carrier

Like the previous module, this one is essentially a rectangular box, this time with some orange-tinted windows on the two-seat rear side. The side panels swing open to reveal interior play features, including a repair bay with a robotic arm, a radar unit, fold-up cannons/missile launchers, coil-like electrical generators and a launch platform for a small land vehicle, while a rear wall folds down to form an extendable ramp. Again, these elements strongly evoke some imaginative play concepts I remember from childhood, particularly Diaclone Cosmo Roller and Diaclone Battle Convoy (later reimagined as Optimus Prime in Transformers G1). This carriage can connect to either the toe or the heel of either foot of the ground base station.

The included small, anthracite land vehicle is packed with features, starting with large exhaust pipes on the sides, opening gull-wing doors, a rear door that folds down, and an asymmetric windshield (the right side is recessed and fitted with a targeting scope, along with a swivelling gun mounted on the left side of the hood, which can also be opened to access the internal engine). Up front there’s a winch line with a hook, and headlights that—at least fictionally—are meant to conceal either a pair of laser cannons or launchable spiked balls on chains. A rotating roof turret carries twin cannons that pivot up and down, while a pair of rear-mounted guns, also able to pivot vertically, are positioned on the sides. The interior detailing is excellent, featuring seats for three mini figures (with the rear passenger even getting a small table), a futuristic looking dashboard and compartments for storing weapons and repair tools. Removing the turret allows a roof hatch to flip up, revealing a cluster of twelve missile launchers. In the comics, this vehicle is capable of separating into two parts: the bodywork, by flipping its left and right halves 180 degrees and deploying a flip-up propeller, becomes a jet-ski/hovercraft-style vehicle, while the chassis compresses side-to-side and front-to-back to form an attack bike, each being chock-full with weaponry. Unfortunately, this split-mode feature isn't actually included in the toy.

Finally, with the roof turret removed, the vehicle is designed to function as the lower half of a standard robotic-style figure, with the figure’s upper body intended to plug onto the roof to form a combined robot mode (if you remember the Beast Machines from Power Lords, you'll know what this looks like).

Final thoughts

Overall: this new incarnation of CoBoN is an outstanding set and a fitting highlight to wrap up the Horizon segment of the KR line. With its striking sculpted details, clever modular design and sheer play potential, it manages to feel both substantial and imaginative despite its intentionally (and necessarily) downsized scale. The sturdy build, excellent paintwork and overall versatility make it endlessly fun to play and display. It’s a welcome addition to any KR collection, especially for fans who value ambitious design and dynamic play. In short, this is a visually impressive and highly enjoyable set that feels like a true celebration of what the KR line has achieved over the last decade

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #30: Aktrodon & Selahgorn

Toy prototype details

Name: Aktrodon^TM & Selahgorn^TM

Subtitle: double menace in piracy

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: multi-pack (2-pack) - Nº 5 in the line.

Characters details

Names: Aktrodon and Selahgorn

Real name: Anfis

Classification: archosauromorph reptiles

Sex: males

Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: Rexodon

Rank: flotilla admiral and commodore, respectively.

Background

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

Character summary: an alternate reality version of Bi-Harr, who had been separated into two independent, yet incomplete entities by the sorcerer-scientist Ophidok. They served as the Reptonoid and Rexodon original command until they were overthrown by the time-displaced warlord Krenodos. Reassigned as leaders of a proxy force of pirates, they were ordered to steal a powerful weapon for their new master. Though skilled enough to assault the transport ship carrying the weapon, they were ultimately defeated by the Spektrosaurs, assisted by Masq-Lor, during an ensuing boarding action.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a ball jointed neck extension for both figures, hinged knees capable of bending forward and backward for Aktrodon, and a ball jointed tail for Selahgorn.

Concept

The designs of these characters suggest that they are both variants of Bi-Harr, who, in an alternate timeline, was split into two separate individuals and was never killed in the battle against Masq-Lor and the false Loghar. It’s fascinating to see how each has adapted to a bipedal stance despite lacking legs. Below is a detailed look at both figures.

Aktrodon

Description

Head: similar to a Pachycephalosaurus, characterised by wrinkled dark-blueish skin, a large bony dome atop the skull, and a pair of large amber eyes with vertical black pupils. The muzzle ends in a closed, pointed reddish beak, and a slightly long, thick neck is achieved through the use of an extension piece. The rear side of the dome is edged with yellowish bony bulges, which extend toward each eye, forming a sort of bumpy eyebrow, while several short yellowish bony spikes project upward from the snout, the most central one being covered in skin. Despite this head is a completely new sculpt, it remains nearly identical to previous versions and is instantly recognisable

Body: his upper body, covered in wrinkled dark-blueish skin, retains its original arms, while his lower half is replaced by a striking pair of high-tech prosthetic legs. Several yellowish bony protrusions jut from his arms, while his hands end in sharp, claw-like fingers. Below the chest, his body transitions into a copper-toned bionic structure displaying a huge amount of cyber details: the abdomen houses an octagonal, bright magenta core (possibly a power reactor), while the pelvis appears to be built from a series of side-by-side, vertically aligned cogs. The metallic legs gradually shift from copper to bronze as they descend, ending in large, clawed feet with three toes pointing forward and one backward

Wearables: a bronze chest harness adorned with embossed round motifs and accented with silver details, two brownish leather fingerless gloves streaked with yellowish highlights, a bronze belt (somehow reminiscent of a chastity belt...) decorated with round studs and bordered by a visible lining of silver chain mail, and a brown fabric wrap skirt, cut in a high-low design with a pointed hem that falls longer in the back. The armour is interlaced with circuitry components, seemingly part of the mechanism that powers or controls his bionic enhancements; these intricate circuits extend beyond the armour, tracing across his exposed body parts like veins of light. Over his shoulders, he wears a cape that matches the skirt in colour and texture, and has the upper half heavily layered with tawny fur, lending some regality to the garment. The cape fastens loosely at the neck with an orange copper collar embossed with round motifs, its centre adorned by a skull-shaped goldish ornament featuring an elongated lower jaw.

Aktrodon's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Aktrodon's bionic legs allow him to run at high speeds, leap with great agility and deliver devastating kicks. He can also unleash powerful headbutts by rapidly extending his neck. To reflect this ability, the figure includes a fairly long neck extension piece that can be used either in place of or in addition to the standard one. This makes me very happy, because this half of Bi-Harr can finally put his bony dome to good use!

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the extra neck extension, Aktrodon comes equipped with two bronze mechanical clawed appendages reminiscent of scorpion pincers. Each appendage is segmented into two bulbous sections that evoke the body and head of a robotic creature, complete with a swivelling, extendable neck and hinged jaws lined with teeth. These claws are normally stored on Aktrodon’s belt, which features two side pegs where the pincers can attach, but when needed, they can serve as vicious arm extensions—simply remove his hands and insert the claw pegs into the wrist sockets. Opening the jaws reveals a small built-in cannon inside each pincer, which is a nice touch. The figure also includes two extra pairs of small robotic legs modelled after Aktrodon’s own bionic limbs. These can attach to the sides of the pincers, transforming them into independent, articulated mini-figures with hinged ankles and swivel hips (they remind me of the Mousers from TMNT). Additionally, the lower jaw from either pincer can detach and serve as a mouth guard for Aktrodon, fitting securely onto two bumps on the sides of his head (the other can be used with Selahgorn in a similar way). Although they don’t appear in the comics, these last two features are a fun and playful bonus.

Additionally, the package includes an alternative head. The only difference from the standard version is that this head features a wide-open mouth, revealing small, sharp yellowish teeth along the edges of the jaws.

Selahgorn

Description

Head: vaguely similar to an Apatosaurus (or a similar sauropod), characterised by scaly reddish skin, a large brown cranial crest, and two short ossicones covered in skin. It also features a pair of large light-blue eyes with vertical red pupils and an almost completely closed mouth, which reveals just a hint of the sharp white teeth lining the jaws. A fairly long, thick neck (longer than his counterpart's standard one) is created with an extension piece. Like with Aktrodon, although this head is a completely new sculpt, it remains nearly identical to previous versions and is instantly recognisable

Body: a bizarre fusion of flesh, prosthetics and the remains of another creature, with one of his original arms serving as a leg (I wonder how that functional adaptation could be feasible). On the right side, the arm, leg and torso are covered in scaly reddish skin; both the arm and the leg (which end in a clawed hand and foot, respectively) are lined with large brown ridges running down their sides. The left side features a brown half-plastron partly covering the shoulder, chest and abdomen, which is attached crudely to the original body via short leather straps stitched into the torso. This plastron is adorned with trapezoidal markings that have yellow outer edges and orange interiors, and is complemented by an arm and a leg covered in scaly moss-green skin. These transplanted limbs are augmented with brass prosthetics: a high-tech mechanical extremity encased in an oversized wrist guard, and a below-knee peg leg shaped like a cylinder covered in silver spikes. At the rear, he bears a large, flat carapace evocative of a sea turtle or horseshoe crab, similar to a Psephoderma. This shell is divided into two parts, both marked by three longitudinal crests formed by protruding expansions of the ribs and vertebrae: a broad dorsal shield covering the back, and a smaller shield extending over the base of a long, thick armoured tail that ends in three radially arranged fins and a tuft of spines. Both shields are made up of partially fused brown bony plates (or scutes), roughly pentagonal, hexagonal or circular in shape (featuring decorative patterns that echo those on the plastron) and are edged with triangular bony protrusions that give the carapace a jagged appearance

Wearables: an asymmetric brass chest harness with embossed diamond motifs and accented with silver details, a brass armband encircling the right biceps (where the ridge dips into a shallow trough), a brass bracelet on the right wrist, a brass boot on the right leg, a brass belt adorned with diamond studs, and a scale armour loincloth crafted from overlapping orange copper plates laced together. The bracelet, armband and boot are all intricately engraved with arabesque patterns, while the belt features two tassets and a skull-shaped goldish buckle with an elongated lower jaw. The armour is interlaced with circuitry components, seemingly part of the mechanism that powers or controls his bionic enhancements; these intricate circuits extend beyond the armour, tracing across his exposed body parts like veins of light. A cracked brown thigh pad is secured with two straps on the left leg; this pad bears small triangular protruding plates that match his carapace. Finally, a large brass pauldron adorned with diamond-shaped bolts connects to the bionic wrist guard via three silver pliable tubes twining around the left arm, seemingly linking the prosthetic extremity to a power source (indicated by an octagonal, bright magenta core) within the shoulder plate.

Selahgorn's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Selahgorn's bionic forearm houses a wide array of built-in tools, and his “hand” can transform into various weapon configurations. To mimic this, the figure comes with a set of interchangeable weapons: a large pirate’s copper hook that can be launched using a winch mechanism (in reality, the hook detaches from its base and stays connected by a string that normally coils around it), a trident (with slightly curved copper outer prongs, while the central prong has angular edges) that can extend thanks to an additional piece resembling his peg leg, and a large circular, three-clawed blaster that can spin and be equipped with an included translucent magenta blast effect (fictionally, the three radially arranged copper claws function as electrodes that generate a ball of plasma before firing it from the muzzle); alternatively, the blast effect can be plugged into the open “mouth” of one of Aktrodon’s cybernetic appendages.

Weapons and accessories

Aside from his many cyber-attachments, Selahgorn comes equipped with a copper-bladed hook sword featuring a distinctive “horned” silver crossguard and a brown leather-wrapped hilt, which can even fit snugly into his bionic forearm.

Additionally, the figure includes an optional diamond-studded brass gauntlet for his left arm, a detail never seen in the comics, but a welcome addition.

Finally, the package includes an alternate head. Like with Aktrodon, the only difference from the standard version is that this head features a wide-open mouth, revealing sharp white teeth lining the jaws.

Comic

Together with the action figures we get the third and final comic issue The unforeseen fall of destiny. Fai-Rha and Herrion tell Masq-Lor that they have received a long-preserved message from Cereutis, kept for over five centuries by the Multiversal Balancers. The message warned that if Tahron ever faced destruction, the Multiversal Balancers were to come to the Therioms' aid. That danger arose when Gladorr, after using a space-time portal, appeared in Cereutis and forged an alliance with the tyrant Krenodos. Under their rule, the Bogthropods conquered Cereutis’s surface, forcing the Multiversal Balancers underground and prompting a chain of events that now threaten to bring catastrophic consequences to Tahron. The heroes activate a new space-time portal to travel to Cereutis and rescue Ramedras, the Multiversal Balancers’ captured leader. After freeing him, they infiltrate the Bogthropods' palace, persuading Krenodos that Gladorr is an opportunist who will eventually betray him. Krenodos agrees to a truce and together they attempt to take Gladorr prisoner, but a group of loyal soldiers ambushes the group and a violent clash results in Masq-Lor and Krenodos being thrown from a collapsing bridge, while Fai-Rha and Herrion are captured. Masq-Lor survives by escaping through another space-time portal, returning to Tahron only to be captured by the Spektrosaurs and recruited to stop Rexodon pirates from delivering a devastating weapon to a mysterious warlord. The mysterious buyer turns out to be Krenodos, who survived by following Masq-Lor through the space-time portal but became stranded in an earlier era; Masq-Lor ultimately kills him. Returning home, Masq-Lor finds himself in an alternate timeline, in which he is presumed dead. Twenty-five years later, the spirit of Silef manipulates Fai-Rha into attacking her brother. Masq-Lor frees her from possession and destroys Silef, but the spirit’s final warning precedes a Bogthropod invasion. Two powerful soldiers leading the assault are revealed to be alternate, enslaved versions of Fai-Rha and Herrion, whose subsequent deaths trigger the resurgence of Gladorr in a new threatening form. Unable to fight, Masq-Lor sends his son Sajron into the past using a modified suit infused with the power of the Antikythron. Sajron lures Gladorr’s past self into a decisive battle, annihilating him and restoring the original timeline. Far in the future, the remnants of Gladorr inspire the eventual invention of space-time teleportation.

Final thoughts

Overall: what a cool pair of figures, and an even cooler concept! Both sculpts are impressively faithful to their comic-book designs, with standout detail work that fans will instantly appreciate. This duo is sure to be a hit with collectors, and the wide assortment of accessories adds a ton of play and display value

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #29: Geel-Ber (EoF Edition)

Toy prototype details

Name: Geel-Ber^TM (EoF Edition), aka Comrade-In-Arms Geel-Ber

Subtitle: barbaric warlord turned ally

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 24 in the line.

Character details

Name: Geel-Ber

Classification: human

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom (formerly belonging to the Destructomorph faction for a limited period of time)

Rank: paladin (formerly leader of the Gunlars, a barbarian tribe, and monstrous re-embodiment of Deptilion).

Background

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

Character summary: a once-possessed young barbarian leader who, beneath the guise of Deptilion, had concealed a troubled soul manipulated by dark forces seeking to alter the history of Tahron. Separated from the monstrous entity that controlled him, Geel-Ber shifted from adversary to reluctant ally of the Therioms, slowly recovering fragments of his lost memories. Though initially defiant, he evolved into a key figure in the battle against Gladorr, driven by a desire for redemption. His final act, fighting bravely alongside Masq-Lor, sealed his transformation, and in his dying moments Geel-Ber found peace, grateful for the chance to right his past wrongs.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: pale white skin, a blond mohawk that stands fairly tall, blue eyes, a narrow nose, and a series of intricate silver and golden markings adorning his face (along the forehead, beneath the eyes, on the chin, and extending to the sides of his head); whether those markings are tattoos or ceremonial war paint is unclear, but they lend him an air of mystique. He also wears a pair of short feather earrings with an ethnic, Native American-inspired design as well as three golden rings stacked around his neck

Body: pale white skin, exposed arms and legs (with the former wearing two armbands made of golden plates laced together, which are reused from Al-Mih-Tek)

Wearables: a silver armour with black leather details, two studded silver bracelets, two silver boots with black leather fringes around the tops, and black leather trunks. The sleeveless outfit resembles a tabard and consists of a single, long strip of combined laminar and lamellar armour with an opening for the head, covering the front and back of the body but left open at the sides, and secured at the waist with a silver belt (the loincloth-like piece below the belt, covering the trunks, looks like an extension of the armour's central strip).

Geel-Ber's stylised armour.

Weapons and accessories

To reflect his prowess as a skilled warrior, Geel-Ber comes equipped with a menacing halberd, a hybrid weapon combining elements of a spear, battleaxe and sledgehammer; it features a silver axe blade on one side and a hammer head with vicious meat tenderiser-like teeth on the other, topped with a silver spike mounted on a black shaft. The halberd includes interchangeable short and long handles, evoking the feel of a Mjolnir-/Stormbreaker-like weapon.
Additionally, the figure includes a double-edged straight sword that is a replica of Veen-Ak's signature jian, except that it is cast in a nice shiny golden plastic. But my favourite accessory on this figure is a boot dagger! This first showed up in early Geel-Ber concept art and even made it into Dawn of a new past, but it was "cut" before the Foundation toy was produced. Now we finally get it, and it's awesome! The knife really looks like it's tucked into Geel-Ber's right boot, and it's fully removable. I love that the blade and handle are two different colours, silver and black, respectively. It makes for a great accessory for Geel-Ber to tote around, especially since this is the same knife he uses to cut his hair and maybe even to tattoo his face in The dark powers of dominion.

Finally, the package includes an alternative, pre-haircut/warpaint head with long, slightly wavy blond hair and a combative expression.

Final thoughts

Overall: Geel-Ber may not be the most essential figure in the KR|EoF line (he's not drastically different from the Foundation version) but die-hard collectors will appreciate his sharp, mean-looking design and commanding presence. No longer just a minor villain, his expanded backstory adds depth to his character and offers a fresh perspective on his motives. While not entirely new, this figure, with its refined look and solid accessories, feels rewarding for longtime fans and tempting for newcomers who missed the original

Rating: ☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #28: Gladorr (Second Evolutionary Stage)

Toy prototype details

Name: Gladorr^TM (Second Evolutionary Stage)

Subtitle: transformed reptilian schemer

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 23 in the line.

Character details

Name: Gladorr

Classification: techno-mutated reptile of uncertain group

Sex: male

Home: North America

Era: Earth's 21^st century (later transported to ancient Idakarr - 570 years before Foundation)

Affiliation: CorpSTar; Bogthropod (temporarily)

Rank: mercenary.

Background

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

Character summary: after developing a statue-like shell during a fierce battle with Masq-Lor, Gladorr emerged as a powerful metallic being, his body forged from a fusion of Cereutian technology and experimental enhancements, possibly linked to Silef’s past body modifications. Coldly pragmatic, he eventually allied himself with the tyrant Krenodos, aiding the Bogthropods in their conquest of Cereutis and the banishment of the Multiversal Balancers. When the Therioms exposed Gladorr as a calculating opportunist, one who had manipulated both enemies and allies across space-time in pursuit of his own hidden agenda, Krenodos agreed to a temporary alliance to eliminate him. Though captured, Gladorr was soon rescued by loyal soldiers in a brutal assault, reigniting his campaign to alter history. Through mind control and merciless tactics, he turned the captured Fai-Rha and Herrion into living weapons, ultimately absorbing the power of their helmets to evolve further. During a subsequent attack on Theriom City, he revealed his new terrifying, nearly unstoppable form, enhanced by the strength of the fallen siblings. Driven by dangerous long-term ambitions, Gladorr’s ensuing theft of the Theriom’s halberds marked not only a shocking and devastating outcome, but the beginning of a far more ominous plan: to conquer the mysterious powers locked behind the multiversal walls.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: much like in his standard form, his head resembles a fungal growth, with a domed cap perched on a thick stalk, a single large, mean-looking eye set between them, and a pair of ears shaped like bat wings extending outward. In this version, however, the organic look of this structure has been replaced with a robotic finish, adding a more menacing edge; the metallic "skin" is silver-coloured (with a two-tone sheen) and detailed with ridges and rivets where separate plates seemingly meet, while the eyeball is cast in translucent dark-amber plastic (with a slit-shaped, dark vertical pupil appearing fuzzy within) and the ears are sharp and blade-like

Body: his torso and limbs are slender, resembling an écorché in which the exposed muscle fibres have been transformed into bundles of wires and cables, all sharing the same two-tone silver, metallic finish as the head. Within the chest, glimpses of a hybrid interior are visible, like an organic core (perhaps a heart) encased in a lattice of moving cogs. The arms and legs are further detailed with etched circuitry, and end in webbed, clawed hands and feet. Additionally, he carries an extra neck piece that fits right on top of the body (it is glued on, but it might be possible to pry it off if one had will to do so) and looks like a tangle of steel tentacles, possibly merging into the head's stalk

Wearables: none, this is how he emerges from the hardened shell of his previous form, likely the result of some kind of blood poisoning caused by the metal-coated tail tip present in Silef’s spirit, or perhaps a remnant of his past exoskeleton.

Action feature

In the comics, beyond the basic look described above, this version of Gladorr takes on different appearances depending on the point in the story. All of these variations can be recreated using some cool accessories included with the figure. To replicate his appearance during the time he co-rules Cereutis with Krenodos, the accessories include pearlescent white pairs of armbands (each ornamented with a four-pointed throwing star symbol), narrow bracelets with knuckle guards, and clawed boots, as well as a large pearlescent white tasset belt featuring a round buckle (which bears a blue gemstone carved with three vertical wavy lines) and central midnight-blue Roman-style studded lappets hanging in the front. The most striking pieces, however, are a midnight-blue cape fastened at the front with a pearlescent white emblem shaped like a four-pointed throwing star (featuring what appears to be a trilobite embossed at its centre), and a hooded, masked head. The pearlescent white mask and the midnight-blue hood are actually separate pieces; the mask can be removed, revealing Gladorr's standard "face" beneath, and replaced with an included translucent blueish face shield, mimicking the scene from the comics where the mask is summoned and materialises seemingly out of nowhere. The mask's sculpt itself is well done, featuring a cross-shaped, blueish-grey steel ornament riveted to the faceplate: the horizontal bar serves as a visor, with two menacing, dark-amber glowing eye slits, while the vertical bar bears a silver frontal crest (whose shape is very similar to that of Xonedar's helmet) and ends in a toothed air intake that covers the mouth area. Completing the look are a pair of curved steel horns extending from the temples, along with two similar shorter pairs protruding from the cheeks. This mask has several design elements that remind me of Megatron from the "Bayformers" movies and Ultron from the MCU.

Finally, to replicate his appearance during the assault on Theriom City and the multiversal walls, several additional pieces of pearlescent white armour (all accented with angular, metallic midnight-blue trimmings and embellished with small exposed tech-mech elements) are included, such as two rerebraces (each worn via an armband, and fitted with an oversized studded pauldron bearing a translucent CorpSTar symbol—a crescent arc-shaped rising sun with a seven-pointed star beneath it, symbolising the dawn of a new reptile-lead civilisation—and various battle dents) and laminar forearm guards that connect to the rerebraces via swivel joints at the elbow, allowing for movement while maintaining full arm articulation. The arm armour is complemented by matching laminar, strap-fastened shin guards equipped with large studded knee guards. Finally, the set is completed with a cuirass and a new helmeted head. The cuirass is not a completely new item, as it is partly reused from Combat Deptilion. It's a two-piece (back and front) armour that features a new back plate with a hemispherical, bright central structure that may serve as a sort of power generator, a newly added turning control hub in the abdomen, where Gladorr can tap into different abilities (more on this later), and a resonance display on the chest plate, which shows glowing waveform visuals when he speaks and functions like the above-mentioned Deptilion figure, where the armoured chest panels swap out. Gladorr has three newly made lenticular panels, each depicting a different rippling waveform style (i.e., bars, lines and areas). The head is an enhanced version of the previously described masked design. Now helmeted instead of hooded, it features riveted blueish-grey steel ornaments made up of three bars: the horizontal bar still functions as a visor, but with four eye slits (two on each side); the vertical bar includes two silver frontal crests inspired by Herrion's helmet, and ends in a more streamlined mouth plate; a new crossbar spans the sides of the head, with attached silver side and top crests reminiscent of Fai-Rha's helmet. Completing the look are the two short pairs of curved steel horns extending from the cheeks. The overall aesthetic of this head gives me some Infinity Ultron vibes, but I wish the face plate could be flipped up. It’s important to note that in the comics, this final armoured form originates from the suits of armour worn by older, brainwashed versions of Herrion and Fai-Rha; these suits were created by Gladorr's body after it absorbed the power of the siblings' helmets, and are later shown transforming into liquid metal, one becoming Gladorr's endoskeleton, and the other immediately after forming his outer shell.

Gladorr's stylised cuirass.

Weapons and accessories

In addition to all the parts needed to recreate Gladorr's various appearances during the events featuring his second evolutionary stage, the figure includes an extra set of accessories tied to the abilities granted by the turning control hub housed in his cuirass. Notably, the six coloured markings that characterise this dial suggest it operates using the power of the SpawnCrystals. When the pointer aligns with the red or yellow markings, Gladorr gains the ability to attract machine parts and convert them into wrist-mounted weapons, such as the included metallic midnight-blue flamethrower (accompanied by a translucent red-orange blast effect) and rotary multiple-barrel ray gun, both of which can be attached to his wrist bracers. The light-blue and dark-blue markings allow Gladorr to transform his hands into weapons; the package includes two interchangeable metallic midnight-blue pieces that can replace his hands, namely a cannon with a canister-style magazine (very reminiscent of his signature bazooka, with the canister resembling the tank and connected to the barrel via a white tube) and a crossbow-shaped weapon (whose limbs are joined at both ends by, instead of a string, what looks like a stream of water, which is converted into sharp, bladed ice-bolts by the central barrel). The mauve marking enables Gladorr to generate electromagnetic pulses from his hands, which he uses to steal the four halberds from the Key defenders; this ability is recreated thanks to a pair of wispy, tendril-like effects cast in translucent lavender plastic that attach to his wrists, seemingly tracing the movement of his attraction powers. The four halberds are also included, but while the shapes of their heads remain identical to the original versions that we all know, each blade now features circuitry-like accents in yellow, red, green and blue, respectively; additionally, the handles are significantly shorter, allowing them to plug into four slots arranged in a double-V formation on Gladorr’s back, making him the Key himself. Finally, the green marking allows Gladorr to transform his fingers into slender, flexible mechanical appendages that interface with the slot atop the pillar used to open the portals of the multiversal walls; to reproduce this, the figure includes two alternate hands featuring trailing tentacle-like extensions.

Final thoughts

Overall: like many figures in the KR|EoF line, this new version of Gladorr might not grab attention at first, but the more you engage with him, the more you appreciate his subtle complexity. From his sturdy build and solid articulation to the impressive sculpt and array of accessories, Gladorr is a great figure that does more than just look good... he invites play! There's something satisfying about holding a figure that’s both detailed and highly playable. Here’s hoping future releases follow this path, where form and function meet, and every figure feels as thoughtfully crafted as this one

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #27: Uhlu (10th Anniversary Exclusive)

This post marks a major milestone—10 years since I launched this blog!!

While the very first review didn’t drop until September 2015, August was when it all began with an introduction to the world of Key Raiders and a lot of excitement for what was to come.

And what better way to celebrate a decade of reviewing than with a figure I’ve been waiting on for years, one that harks back to the original Foundation line... well, sort of.

Toy prototype details

Name: Uhlu^TM

Subtitle: honourable sentry across timelines

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 22 in the line.

Character details

Name: Uhlu

Classification: carnivoran mammal

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: divisional general.

Background

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

Character summary: a noble-minded elite private of Theriom City, trained in advanced combat and capture techniques to defend Tahron with honour in the original timeline, and the savage yet loyal general of a feral warrior division in an altered, ravaged reality. Serving the exiled Therioms with a commanding presence, Uhlu fiercely protected their sacred forest, one of the last strongholds of the mammalian people amid the war-torn remnants of Tahron. Renowned for his strength and unwavering will, he remained a devoted champion of the Theriom’s cause, guided by a sharp tactical mind and unshakable faith in the deity Tah-Ron.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: similar to a cave bear, characterised by a sculpted crown of long, reddish-brown hair that cascades into a thick mane, a pair of piercing blue eyes beneath a heavy brow, and large, sharp teeth (including two elongated, razor-sharp fangs protruding from the upper jaw) that give him a ferocious edge. Encircling his face is a squarish, studded orange copper diadem, with two points rising like short canine teeth at the lower corners. Adding to his already intimidating appearance is a removable cap fashioned from a wild boar's head with its lower jaw stripped away; this cap is covered in "real" dark, grizzled fur, with long, off-white tusks on the sides, which extend downward before gradually curving upward

Body: he features the bulkier sculpt previously used for figures like Grabtrak, characterised by dense reddish-brown fur, oversized hands with sharp claws, and clawed feet. He also comes with a removable reddish-brown furry vest designed to replicate his actual torso fur; this soft, fuzzy separate piece includes a particularly pronounced hump that gives him a hunched look. I know some collectors aren't fans of soft goods on their action figures, but if that's the case for you, removing the vest still leaves him looking great; the sculpted torso hair underneath is detailed enough to maintain his wild, ferocious look, even without the extra fur

Wearables: a harness made of orange leather straps, each studded with orange copper rivets, equipped with a gunmetal grey Theriom emblem (i.e., a seven-pointed star with the two side points elongated) at the centre of the chest piece and two removable orange leather spaulders, each featuring a triplet of large, curved orange copper spikes; these spaulders are not connected to the harness, instead, each is secured to the upper arm with a matching copper-studded leather armband, also adorned with a small gunmetal grey Theriom emblem. He also wears a pair of narrow copper-studded orange leather bracelets, a thin black leather band wrapped around his left thigh, two orange leather shin guards (each featuring a pair of large, curved orange copper spikes and a small gunmetal grey Theriom emblem near the top), and a removable copper-studded orange leather belt with a round buckle, supporting a layered loincloth made of “real” dark, grizzled fur and a rugged, battle-worn copper plate adorned with off-white bones and teeth.

Uhlu's stylised harness; the oval at the centre of the chest piece represents a gunmetal grey version of the Theriom symbol.

Action feature

In the comics, Uhlu possesses great physical strength and wears two metal battle gauntlets, each featuring three large razor-edged claws. So, the figure comes with a hollow left-right pair of armoured clawed gloves that clip directly over his hands, not the wrists or bracers. These gauntlets fit reasonably well, and are finished in a gunmetal grey paint that matches the Theriom emblems on his armour.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the pair of battle gauntlets, Uhlu comes with a sceptre topped by a large clawed, forward-facing bony hand clutching a cave bear skull, and a bearded axe whose blade is crafted from an animal’s jawbone. These accessories are incredibly cool, some of the best in this line to date. Both feature orange copper hafts, with the bony parts secured by leather straps and decorated with scrimshaw-like engravings on their surfaces. The harness includes two loops on the back, allowing the figure to stow and tote around these weapons.

Additionally, Uhlu comes with a set of accessories and alternate parts to recreate his Theriom Trooper appearance from the Foundation comic books after removing his regular head, furry vest, harness, spaulders, bracelets, lower legs and belt-plus-loincloth. It's about time this figure became a reality... I've been waiting and asking for it since 2017! The set includes an alternate head sculpt resembling a brown bear with a pronounced furrowed brow and a pair of upward-protruding sharp teeth. A removable silver helmet with gold detailing fits over this head and comes equipped with a clip-on translucent orange visor and a right-side plug-in headset that combines an earphone, antenna and microphone into a single piece. He also comes with a gold armour accented with silver details, a pair of golden wrist guards that replace the default bracelets, a matching pair of golden boots that swap out the standard lower legs (I think these have a more tactical, armoured look than those seen on earlier Theriom Troopers figures), and a single piece combining a golden belt and a silver groin protector adorned with a golden Theriom emblem. All these parts are intricately sculpted with electro-mechanical details, giving the figure a distinctly cyber-like aesthetic. Complementing the outfit are grey clip-on arm and thigh armours, each marked with a diagonal blue stripe. The backplate supports a pack that features a bright central circle and four cables running to cuffs placed around the bracers and boots. Fictionally, this backpack may function as a portable reactor designed to power servomechanisms attached to his limbs. Private Uhlu is also armed with a large silver capture weapon, which is highly detailed and technological in appearance with sculpted wires, gears and side-mounted mini-cannons. At its front is an orange copper bear-trap mechanism shaped like a stylised animal snout, featuring two articulated gripping jaws lined with spiked protrusions to clamp an opponent. Finally, the package includes a futuristic silver taser-like device shaped like a half-ring or pincer. This weapon features a socket that allows one of the backpack’s cords to connect for power, and a glow-in-the-dark effect that attaches to its ends and mimics an electric arc between its two electrodes.

Final thoughts

Overall: Uhlu turned out far better than I ever expected. He's fun, well accessorised and nicely modelled after his different comic book depictions. The figure comes with some awesome-looking fur and a great selection of accessories, making it a standout addition to the series that should please long-time fans of this character. The two head sculpts are especially well done, truly perfection! I'm undecided between the alternate, savage EoF version and the Foundation version: the former has better accessories and the fur addition, while the latter has a more classic-looking head sculpt and outfit. Luckily, having both means I don’t have to choose

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Horizon Review #33: CoBoN 3.0 (SDCC 2025 Exclusive)

Toy prototype details

Name: CoBoN 3.0

Subtitle: armoured fighting robot-base

Line: KR|Horizon

Item type: large scale figure - Nº 5 in the line.

Character details

Name: CoBoN Mark III combining mecha

Classification: mobile suit

Home: Tahron

Era: 15 years after Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: transport component.

Background

First appearance: KR|Horizon #2 - In the eye of the storm

Brief bio: after sustaining severe damage to its Mark II components during the final battle against Deptilion and his army, CoBoN was rebuilt into a levitating train-like vehicle. Its new form was propelled by a unique power unit, granting it enhanced mobility, access to powerful advanced weaponry, and an impressive range of defence configurations.

Concept

This prototype represents only a fraction of the incredible machine that is CoBoN Mark III. Still, it’s worth taking a moment to talk about its overall appearance in the comics, especially since I wouldn’t mind seeing the full version realised as a toy someday.

This incarnation of CoBoN is a silver-painted, levitating train-like combat vehicle with a revolutionary design, and like its previous versions, it is powered by a classified energy source and controlled by an advanced AI. Similarly to its predecessor, the Mark II, this model is composed of multiple modular units; when needed, these modules can deploy or separate as individual vehicles, each equipped with powerful jet engines and capable of transforming into other types of attack craft or even robots. There’s a clear influence here from late-70s Japanese TV shows such as Dinosaur Expedition Born Free, Dinosaur Great War Izenborg, and Dinosaur Corps Koseidon, all of which placed a strong emphasis on modular and combining vehicles.

Leading module

The front section features the signature black, nose-mounted scanner bar with red and yellow patterns (i.e., two lines that sweep horizontally and a central pulsing "eye" that allows CoBoN to "see"), while the two-seater cockpit sits beneath a partially transparent canopy (the clear areas have an orange tint). Behind the cockpit, an aerodynamic structure houses large air intakes and outlets. The vehicle is equipped with four powerful jet-engine nacelles, two mounted on the sides (each ending in a pair of missile launchers on the front) and two on the underside (each terminating in an array of five guns). At the rear, a cluster of four exhausts serves as the connection point to the second module when in fully assembled mode.

After separating from the rest of the machine, the leading module transforms into a combat aerial vehicle. The front part flips upward to form a nose cone vaguely resembling a bird's head (this also includes the distinctive scanner bar), while the cockpit slides forward, extending the fuselage and triggering two winglets to swivel outward from the sides. A pair of main wings, hinged at their centres, unfold from the rear sections of the side nacelles; each wing is equipped with a launcher capable of hurling circular saw blades. At the back, the sides of the main body pivot upward to form a T-tail configuration, with a pair of rotating laser guns mounted on either side.

When necessary, the aerial vehicle can convert into an attack mech. The cockpit retracts into the bodywork, forming the robot’s pelvis. The side nacelles swing downward on double-hinged joints to become the legs, with the feet rotating 90 degrees into position and retaining their original function as missile launchers, while the wings fold at their midpoints and flip upward (maintaining the ability to deploy the circular saw blades if needed). The lower nacelles pivot forward to form the arms, while the fingers preserve their built-in weapon capabilities, doubling as gun arrays. The chest plate/viewport (originally the aerodynamic structure) slides downward as the T-tail swings back to become a pair of rear winglets (the laser guns convert into booster rockets in the process), simultaneously revealing the head (reminiscent of CoBoN 2.0's, with the black scanner bar as a visor on the upper part and a "mouth" shield below), after which the chest plate returns to its original position.

The two transformations bring to my mind some old toys of the Diaclone series, particularly Dia-Train and Dia-Attacker.

Locomotive

Positioned behind the leading module, this module houses the engine room and the bridge for crew operations, and features a lower cargo section that can be deployed, transforming into a suit of armour capable of enveloping the attack mech to enhance its power.

The transformation happens in two stages: first from the hold into a structure resembling a gigantic gun, and then from the gun into the exo-armour configuration. The upper beams flip downward and slide forward to form the dual barrels, while the rear sections pivot inward to form the gun’s grip. Then, the grip straightens, extends and splits apart to form the legs, while the dual barrels separate and swing outward to become the arms (one transforms into a standard arm, while the other becomes a cannon arm). After combining with the attack mech, a new, larger head takes shape, featuring face protectors that extend outward to form distinctive radar-like ears and long antenna-like horns.

This transformation reminds me of some old Transformers G1 toys, specifically Ultra Magnus and Megatron.

I'll cover the two remaining modules in a future post, since they're not relevant to this review.

Description

This review focuses on the toy version of the augmented robot, which is fictionally formed by the leading module and the locomotive's cargo section, and referred to by the working name CoBoN 3.0. This huge figure stands 46 cm tall (around 18'') and features articulation on par with the standard KR figure, allowing for excellent movement and a wide range of dynamic action poses. Its body is packed with fine details while remaining true to the design of the vehicle parts it transforms from. The paintwork is impressive, with silver colour used on the bodywork components, and black (along with blue accents) on the sections revealed during transformation. The articulated head is a larger, more detailed version of the attack mech’s head.

Action feature, weapons and accessories

Apart from large faux tank treads beneath its feet, which conceal functional rolling wheels, its armament includes the following (listed in the order they appear in the comic book battle scene with the Combining Goblin):

1. a rotary-barrel cannon emerging from the lower torso through an opening (by flipping down) front hatch;
2. two three-clawed, grappling hook-shaped assault drones launched from the sides of the lower legs, each equipped with a laser rope (represented by an additional flexible, neon-green string) capable of ensnaring targets; the front of the lower legs features two multi-barrel cannon assemblies, with each barrel capable of rotating independently from fully lowered and flush with the leg, to fully raised to target a threat;
3. two laser cannons that deploy from the pivoting horns on its head when the face protectors are shut, accompanied by a gold-coated visor (to protect against the intense laser radiation, which is kind of hilarious when you think about it) that lowers via a lever during operation;
4. a punch-support thruster integrated in the left forearm for additional melee functionality;
5. a deployable freezing ray blaster housed in the left arm’s fist, which pops up and rotates into position, and features a light-piping effect; the hand itself is fully articulated, with individually jointed fingers and thumb (plus splaying index and little fingers) and can detach via a side-mounted release button;
6. four missile launchers concealed within the upper torso, revealed by two hatch doors that flip open above the shoulders; each rocket is shaped like a drill bit, featuring a blade-like tapered screw thread, and partially ejects revealing a blast effect extending from its tail when pulled (it can also be fully removed for play or display); a subtle light pipe shoulder detail adds visual depth to the chest reactor placed between the two pairs of missiles;
7. a powerful, massive plasma cannon replacing the right arm and featuring a sliding ribbed panel that extends the barrel tip and a number of side hatches; an integrated light-piping feature gives the appearance of it "firing" when deployed.

Furthermore, in the comics, following an intense battle, the augmented robot (or rather the full CoBoN vehicle) must recharge using geothermal, solar and wind energy before it can resume operations. To achieve this, the robot transforms into a ground base station, allowing the other modules to connect and collectively gather sufficient energy. This transformation is also replicated in the toy and unfolds through multiple steps.

First, each leg splits from the knee down into front and back sections as the robot lowers itself into position, deploying some sturdy support stands (which are supposed to be geothermal probes) near the central hinge. The front panels on the thighs swing forward to form ladders leading to the two multi-barrelled cannon assemblies that rotate side to side (with each barrel independently able to tilt up and down) on the front sections of the lower legs. Additionally, the unfolded feet can deploy two tunnelling drones (each consisting of an included tracked body connected to one drill-missile and resembling the side modules of CoBoN Mk2) through opening hatch doors: each foot has two side doors that swing outward (each revealing six red-painted missiles on its inner side), while a front tab flips downward to complete the play feature. The sides of the lower legs are also equipped with the above-mentioned rotating grapnel-drones, each mounted on a side hatch that flips up to reveal two 3×3 missile clusters pointing sideways, along with a front-and-rear rotary gun system. Alternatively, the lower legs can unfold to create dual runways for the two grapnel-drones, which are detached and converted into jets with a few twists (two variable-sweep wings, each equipped with a hook at its tip, are formed by flipping down the sides and swivelling the attached flukes outward, while the top fluke swivels backward to form a sort of tail; this design is slightly reminiscent of the central module of CoBoN Mk2). Each cannon array must be rotated backward, after which the runways (originally folded in half) are unfolded; the cannons are then slid beneath the runways to lock them in place. A dial under each runway activates a flight deck lift system, allowing the drones to be stored and deployed from internal hangars. The rear sections of the lower legs feature two aft hangars, each with a heel-mounted door that opens downward and has a ramp that slides outward to allow another tunnelling drone deployment.

The upper limbs reconfigure by rotating the arms backward and bending the forearms 180 degrees forward. In this configuration, the shoulders function as helipads for the two grapnel-drones converted into helicopters (this time, the side flukes swinging back to form the tail boom, while the top fluke unfolds to become the rotor), each capable of 360-degree rotation and forward-backward sliding. Each upper arm features a lift-up panel revealing an integrated hangar system that deploys or retracts a drone to and from the helipad using a tab-operated eject/retract mechanism. The left hand retracts by rotating into the forearm through an opening panel on the sleeve, while the outer punch-thruster pivots forward to reposition as a secondary cannon.

The rear features an infantry section composed of interconnected platforms, stairs, ramps, rotating guns and satellite dishes, as well as solar panels and wind turbines, all of which can fold in and out from the base's walls. A manually operated lift platform (mounted on a shaft that rests vertically against the back in robot mode and extends diagonally in base mode) raises a figure into position at the back of the head, which tilts forward, with its horns reconfigured into independently rotating twin cannons forming an anti-aircraft gun turret. The platform is normally stored in a rear compartment, accessible through a double sliding door that can be opened by pulling two tabs once the lift shaft has been positioned diagonally. In addition, when the shaft is repositioned horizontally, opening its front hatches reveals a hidden, giant rear cannon. A section of the head, including parts of its back and sides, can also be deployed as a gunner drone, with its wings formed by flipping the horns/cannons side panels upward (this small aircraft is reminiscent of both Tang-Lha's little head-spy drone and the rear module of CoBoN Mk2).

The entire robot-to-base transformation reminds me of some classic toys from the Diaclone series, particularly Great Robot Base and Robot Fortress X. It also appears that the slots at the front, back and top of the ground base are designed to accommodate future attachments. We'll see!

Final thoughts

Overall: I absolutely love this figure. As many know, the KR|Horizon line has been on a mecha kick with recent releases, and this one delivers in full. It's big, shiny, heavy with die-cast, and a ton of fun! Sure, it doesn't quite fit the typical KR play pattern, and even other high-tech looking figures would struggle to interact with it. Still, I see it as a key step toward the eventual release of a super-droid figure in the KR|EoF line (I know it's coming). It’s pricey (probably $500), but with a little wallet courage, I’ll be picking this up at SDCC.

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5