KR Review #45: Ultra Deptilion

Since I reviewed Ultra Masq-Lor, I've strongly hoped to get this version of Deptilion fairly soon and PoliganToys didn't disappoint my expectations, producing its prototype very quickly.

So, let’s take a closer look at this 35^th action figure prototype from PoliganToys - Ultra Deptilion^TM!

Details
Name: Ultra Deptilion

Real name: ***SPOILER WARNING (to read, select the following text)*** Ir-Ash

Subtitle: monstrous enemy

Classification: uncertain

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Affiliation: Destructomorph

Rank: chief marshal.

Background

Like in the case of Ultra Masq-Lor, Deptilion's only appearance with his Ultra equipment takes place in a KR comic issue that hasn't been printed yet, but I had the chance to preview. After being rescued by Bi-Harr following his nearly deadly defeat in the Bay of Sortok and foreseeing a betrayal by the Rexodon leader, Deptilion magically escaped in the extra dimension of Cereutis^TM. There, his crumbling skeleton was upgraded by technological parts via a nano-metal coating. Now back on Tahron, a regenerated Deptilion leads his all new group of Cereutian aliens against the Therioms and, after decimating most of Tir-Hing's army, succeeds in conquering the Key. However, his plans of supreme power are interrupted when he is confronted by his old enemy Masq-Lor in an arena between the multiversal walls. Although both are enhanced by the power of the Key transferred into the prodigious Trinergon^TM weapon, only one will be victorious in this climatic duel.

Articulation
Standard.

Description

Head: like with Ultra Masq-Lor, this figure's head takes a turn in terms of look from other variations of Deptilion. It still displays dried-out livid skin and two whitish tusks that look like a handlebar moustache, but, unlike previous versions, a silver skull (rather than bony) with some cyber details is visible in the spots where the flesh is worn-out, especially on the left side of the face. Additionally, the empty eye sockets look a bit wider and their usual red glow is due to two pieces of translucent plastic glued on instead of the application of fluorescent paint, while the orange teeth seem to protrude even more from his diabolical mouth, giving a general creepier appearance. He also wears a broad-brimmed black hat (something between a sorcerer's, a cow-boy's and a gangster's hat), through which his two whitish horns emerge. The hat can be removed thanks to two slits in the brims (which allow the horns to slip through), revealing that the top portion of the head is cut open. The exposed inside of the skull shows the same silver cyber make-up seen on the face and a multitude of dark-green snakes, which are fictionally the same that come out from Deptilion's eyes, mouth and neck in the regular release, and are now just crowded together in his seemingly empty cranium

Body: his arms, legs and torso show livid skin, but in some spots, especially on the left side of the body, the flesh is worn-out and, like with the face, his silver cyber-skeleton loaded with wires and tubes becomes exposed. He also exhibits, apart from claw hands and feet, his two signature dark-green snakes wrapped around the right calf and the left forearm. This time, however, the snakes are smaller than usual and are not separate pieces; instead, they are sculpted and painted on his boot and gauntlet respectively and only have their pliable neck and head portions detached from Deptilion's body towards his knee and elbow

Wearables: a black harness with vac-metal copper details, two black gauntlets, two black boots, a black belt and a porous-texture black loincloth. The two-piece snap-on harness is identical to Ultra Masq-Lor's one, but features a different shiny reddish Key-inspired symbol on the front; the gauntlets, the boots and the belt have various orange techno-embellishments here and there, such as on the knuckles and around the wrists, on the instep and knee guards over the boots, and on the buckle of the belt (the latter looks like a long-toothed robotic skull). The right arm is protected by a two-piece clip-on armour, which is cast in translucent red plastic and decorated with a few solid orange circuitry patterns. On the back of the harness, UD carries a technological backpack, which is identical to Masq-Lor's one. The right side of the pack has a holster to store Deptilion's trinergon weapon, which looks like a metallic-orange rifle with two translucent blue blades at the end of two opposite sides of the barrel; the blades, like the harness symbol, resemble two of the four components of the Key. The weapon has a cord that runs to the backpack where it is permanently attached.

Ultra Deptilion's stylised harness.

Action feature

Well, there's actually no need to get into the details of the action feature, since everything works exactly like with Ultra Masq-Lor. The only addition is that I can finally try the infrared battling gimmick, which, I've to say, works great!

Weapons and accessories

Also in this case, if you're not a fan of the bulky battery-operated gear, there is a great set of accessory to display this Deptilion variant differently. The set includes an alternative armour, a shoulder guard and several weapons.

Despite being completely black, the demon-faced armour looks stunning, also thanks to a ton of very detailed sculpted cyber-ornaments. The shoulder guard seems mainly made of leather and is decorated with a number of whitish spikes that resemble Deptilion's horns and tusks, and a shiny blue Destructomorph symbol at the centre. It also has a black cape attached to the back; the two sides of the cape's upper portion slide through the shoulder guard and tie at the neck with a big knot.

Masq-Lor must be jealous, because UD's weapons are a lot! First, there is a sabre, which is an all-translucent red version of the weapon that came with Deptilion's regular release; the hilt resembles the Destructomorph symbol and the slightly curved blade can be inserted in a loop on the back of the shoulder guard. Then, he has a leg holster designed to accommodate for a pistol and a loose fitting belt where he can hang a large submachine gun with a round drum magazine. All these are separate black pieces that can be repositioned to our liking; the leg-strap also works as a bandolier and has visible power bullets ready for reloads. Finally, there are two silver bladed knives that can be stored into two loops on the front of the armour at the level of the abdomen.

Additionally, like with Masq-Lor, we get the nice-to-have loose translucent blue energy double-blade, which is supposed to be thrown by the trinergon.

Ultra Deptilion's stylised alternative armour and shoulder guard; the oval at the centre of the shoulder guard represents the Destructomorph symbol.

Overall, the sculpting and attention to detail of this figure are amazing. But it's the IR fighting gimmick that makes both Deptilion's and Masq-Lor's Ultra variants awesome. It is so well-realised that it would negate any potential design flaws. For the moment, the Ultra figures are just an interesting footnote in the KR line’s progression and, finally, an interactive toy... we only need a comic book with their story!