That's almost one year and a half! One year and a half of monthly action figure prototypes (actually, more than monthly) and for the very first time we're getting a character that has never appeared in the regular series. So exciting!
GalamarsTM is the third action figure prototype of the KR|Origin lineup and a prominent character in the comic book series, appearing in all three episodes.
Details
Name: Galamars
Subtitle: alien locksmith
Classification: uncertain
Sex: male
Relationships: in the KR comic double-issue The Cereutian menace, it is mentioned that Koptros is the descendant of an ancient engineer, who masterminded the construction of the multiversal walls; several elements suggest that this ancestor may be Galamars (that being the case, Koptros would actually have alien roots)
Home: Cereutis
Era: 520 years before Masq-Lor's time (now renamed Foundation)
Affiliation: Theriom
Rank: craftsman.
Background
First appearance: KR|Origin #1 - An arduous venture
Brief bio: a brave knight from beneath the surface of Cereutis, Galamars was tasked by the Multiversal Balancers to protect Wen Kai xi, destined to become the Deity, and persuade her to journey to Tahron. Finding Denortos threatening the young scientist's life, Galamars carried out his masters' assignment by fighting his Cereutian enemy tenaciously. He turned the tide of the events when he used the power of the Antikythron to travel back in time, convincing Kai xi to follow him. In due course, they both joined up with the Therioms, to continue the noble fight against the reptilian forces. Utilising Cereutian technology, Galamars was instrumental in creating the multiversal walls, beyond which Bi-Harr's mental powers were eventually trapped. In particular, using a mysterious alloy (partly derived from his mercury-like blood), he forged the legendary key to unlock the two portals, which was divided into four parts for safekeeping, as well as the four prodigious helmets conceived for the chosen protectors of the Key.
Articulation
Standard, except that the left wrist is ball jointed.
Description
Head: the most striking feature is the texture of his skin, which seems to consist of numerous little steel-grey blocks that are carved to represent diamonds; this kind of surface appearance personally reminds me of the facade of a Renaissance palace located in the Italian city of Ferrara, called Palazzo dei Diamanti. Besides having this peculiar skin, Galamars' head appears to be hairless, although his protruding chin makes me think of a beard-like structure. He is also characterised by the presence of a pair of white glowing eyes and a purple diadem that extends from the forehead (with an oval red shining gemstone in its centre) towards the ears (which are not really visible). I would say that his look is vaguely reminiscent of Vision
Body: most of Galamars' body shows the same diamond-patterned dull metallic skin seen on his head. The only exceptions are his neck and shoulders, which display a kind of techno-organic appearance (i.e., a tangle of metallic muscle fibres, blood vessels and nerves) once the armour is removed
Wearables: a pearl-white harness with purple details, two white gloves, two white boots, a white studded belt and a long tech-looking purple loincloth. The harness is characterised by a high neck and a pair of shoulder pads topped with two curved steel-grey plates displaying indecipherable engravings; the back bears a structure that looks like an aerodynamic motorcyclists backpack, which is concealed by a purple removable cape, whereas the front presents an oval red shining gemstone, which is similar to the one on the forehead, and a bright white glow-in-the-dark disc. Each glove-cuff and boot-top has a V-shaped notch that accommodates a diamond-shaped purple decorative element, while the belt sports a V-shaped buckle that looks like some sort of electronic device.
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| Galamars' stylised harness; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents the GITD disc. |
Action feature
In the comics, Galamars has several powers, including the abilities to relieve psychological traumas and to transmit the knowledge of any languages; that's how Kai-Xi handles the pressure of travelling to the past, hanging out with an unknown civilisation and taking her rightful place helping to maintaining neutrality. But most of all, Galamars can use different kinds of energy manipulation to battle his enemies. He's able to absorb, convert, emit and deflect both mechanical and electromagnetic energy, either for defence (for example to create an invisible shield around his body or an optical effect that gives him a different appearance) or attack (for example to produce shock waves, heat flows, flashes of light and radio interference). To possess this power, he wears armour enhancements originally created by the ancient forefathers of the Multiversal Balancers. Specifically, his chest plate can project powerful energy blasts to stun or even disintegrate those who confront him. In the figure, the energy-blasting chest plate is recreated using the above-mentioned GITD disc, which can also be replaced by an alternative disc that presents a mirror-like reflective surface.
Additionally, when Galamars utilises his energy-controlling powers, his "skin" changes colouration. Similarly to other figures in the line, this colour change feature can be achieved using warm water or a hairdryer, which will result in Galamars' body (and head) turning brass-yellow.
Finally, to further mimic Galamars' abilities to manipulate energy against his foes, the figure comes with two interchangeable left hands and related accessories: an open hand that generates a spherical shock wave (in reality a clear orb that fits perfectly in the hand) and a clenched hand with a large light-energy construct shaped like a cannon (actually a translucent yellow, spring-loaded missile launcher that clips on the wrist but looks like materialising from his fist).
Weapons and accessories
Apart from the two interchangeable hands, energy ball and light cannon, Galamars comes with a few accessories, including a sceptre and a shield. The purple staff's head is composed of a GITD disc (slightly smaller than the armour's one) and a series of silver spinning blades around the circumference, while at the other end of the pole there is a larger flat silver blade with up-stretched sides that somehow reminds me of a shovel. The back of the head displays a spiral galaxy motif and an oval red shining gemstone in the centre. Like with the armour, the GITD piece can be replaced by an alternative disc with a mirror-like surface. The upper blades spin for real and are reminiscent of the "stag beetle mandible"-shaped blades seen on Denortos' petrifaction-beam gun; fictionally, Galamars' sceptre has an analogous power, although it turns enemies to a material similar to pyrite rather than mere stone... probably, weapons are all very much alike on Cereutis.
The shield is an entirely new piece (i.e., never shown in the comics) that fits in with the sceptre theme, meaning that it is surrounded by the same kind of silver blades (not turning, though) and holds the two unused discs (either GITD or reflective) on its egg-shaped purple plate. It's a nice touch and I like to imagine that this shield can also be used to light the way.
Additionally, we get a small accessory to complement Galamars' look, presumably for highly formal occasions, even though this requires the cape to be taken off. The enhancement comes in the form of a purple shoulder-sash that extends in a long strip of cloth worn over Galamars' left arm.
Last but not least, we get a huge and very welcome accessory, which is Galamars' inter-dimensional shuttle-pod. This is basically a single-seat shuttle-craft, characterised by a transparent canopy on the front (which is hinged at the top, so it can open by folding forward and up, allowing Galamars to sit in the throne-like cockpit), twin GITD headlights at the base, two pivoting fins at the sides and a hatch on the back (which gives access to a compartment where Galamars' weapons can be stored neatly).
Overall, I’m probably a little biased because this is the first completely original character (i.e., not based on previous KR characters) in the Origin series, but I really like Galamars. He's a good solid figure that adds to the main cast and his own unique personality helps him stand out in the lineup. His character design didn't allow for an easy transition to plastic at all, but the folks at PoliganToys nailed it as always. My only nitpick is that, since I'm not a fan of the colour change feature, I'd rather they had given us a repainted version of the figure in addition to the regular one. Now I have to figure out how to make room on my shelf for the shuttle-pod...
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