KR Review #77: Pterajet

At the end of 2016, PoliganToys sent me its last Key Raiders prototype. I kind of knew that was coming, but there were so many other characters and accessories that are part of the KR universe and that I hadn’t seen in prototype form. Then, Key Raiders: Origin started, but that's a slightly different story.

Out of the blue, PoliganToys made me aware that I was going to get one of those missing prototypes from the regular series - the Pterajet^TM aircraft with its pack-in transporter! Needless to say, I was looking forward to getting this vehicle, since it was the item that I placed in the fourth position of my creatures and vehicles wish list.

Hopefully, this piece is not meant to be the old lineup’s swan song. After all, the Pterajet can also be considered part of the KR|Origin series, since in the comics the Reptonoids are shown to use it during their ancient battles. However, it does give me a nostalgia for my blogging days during 2015 and 2016 (when I was based in a different part of the world), making me remember all the excitement and happiness with the regular KR series and what could possibly be accomplished if that line ever hit the market. The Pterajet really embodies everything that I love about Key Raiders: getting a high quality gadget, seeing an item in plastic form that I thought I’d never see, and the risk involved in making toys for a potentially large, yet niche fan community.

Details

Name: Pterajet

Subtitle: sky and ground combat machine

Classification: aircraft and land vehicle

Home: Tahron

Affiliation: Rexodon

Rank: transport.

Description

The Pterajet is a three-fuselage, four-engine multi-role aircraft designed to excel both as a supersonic pursuit jet and as an attack bomber. Thus, this vehicle is capable of carrying Bi-Harr's army to the skies at extremely high speeds as well as gliding over the battlefield to attack the mammalian enemies.

The paint is very nicely executed, showing mostly glossy black fuselage and lifting surfaces with the addition of lots of bolted trapezoidal golden elements that give the jet a “bird” theme with a sculpted feather motif. The main body features a partially clear canopy that is hinged at the back, so it can open by folding up and backward to reveal a double-seat cockpit equipped with a dash board (which bears an array of sculpted dials and switches mounted on either side of a centrally placed monitor) and two 2-point safety belts. Like with other vehicles of this line, in the comics the Pterajet is proportionally bigger and can carry a large number of characters, while this toy version, despite being huge and having an impressive wingspan (68 cm, almost 27''!!), only fits two figures.

The airplane is equipped with an additional smaller fuselage (whose cockpit fictionally also serves as an independently launchable flight pod) halfway down each wing, making it look like a flying version of a trimaran. While the side fuselages are equipped with sculpted front guns, four nozzles are visible at the ends of all three tail assemblies, indicating the presence of four turbojet engines: two buried within the main body and one in each of the side fuselages.

Action feature

The front of the Pterajet exhibits a pretty long, triple-jointed side-to-side scan-action "neck" that ends with a bird head-shaped nose. The neck-component situated nearer to the main body is topped with a rotating sighting device, while the part placed away from the hull incorporates two "eyes" (which work as a combined navigation/attack radar that simultaneously conducts fully automated terrain-following for low-level flight operations and scans for targets) and an opening "beak" (which exposes a disc launcher that in the comics is capable of hurling bladed discs in both single and rapid shooting modes). The component in the middle displays an ornament similar to a crest on the top and two pivoting pieces (which are reminiscent of the folded wings of a bird) on the sides. Two spring-loaded guns (also pivoting) are mounted to the inner sides of the folded-wing structures and, thanks to the double-pivoted mechanism, can be positioned either near or far off the craft's head, while the top part of the neck piece conceals a pop-up missile launcher revealed by an opening panel. A similar hideaway feature makes it possible to reveal two pairs of cannons from the inner parts of the craft's wings.

The outer parts of the plane's wings are characterised by a variable geometry, allowing for minimal drag, great effectiveness and stealth flight at both high and low speeds during supersonic pursuits and low-level strikes respectively. The angle of each wing in relation to the nearest fuselage can be altered thanks to a hinged joint. Moreover, by pulling the tip of each wing, this springs open in a clamshell fashion and shows an array of three missiles mounted to the inside (the gimmick only works when the wings are completely spread out).

Finally, two pairs of swinging legs (each seemingly having three points of articulation) can fold out with a ratchet feature for multiple purposes, such as working as a short-field landing gear, grabbing a figure or releasing a bomb. While the front legs display structures that resemble talons (two on the front and one on the back), the hind legs are more similar to hydrofoils.

Weapons and accessories

The Pterajet comes with a small set of add-ons and one big accessory. First are a few plug-in components for the various weapons mounted to the craft's head and neck: a bladed disc for the front launcher, a three-headed missile for the top cannon (neither can be fired) and two missiles for the side guns.

Furthermore, when the legs are folded out, a bomb can be released. The bomb, which connects to the plane's belly, is designed to separate into two parts that attach to either side of an additional blasting effect, so as to simulate the action of blowing up on impact.

Last but not least, a black&silver crawler-transporter allows the Pterajet to perch and roll into battle on land. The jet (with the legs folded up) can be mounted to this hi-tech tracked carrier in two different positions: horizontally, for attack mode, or aiming high, as if the aircraft is ready to take-off from the base and fly.

Overall, I think this set is great. To me, it is worth it for the aircraft alone, because the Pterajet is so amazing. The carrier is pretty good too, but is not without its (mainly paint) issues. In general I love the vehicles in the KR line, so I really hope I can get at least the Rotakord^TM before all is said and done for the regular series. However, I will gladly take the Ceratank^TM, Pyrosaur^TM, Baryanoid-Cart^TM, or anything else they throw at me.

KR|Origin Review #11: Elykta (Origin Edition)

Elykta^TM is closing out May in the KR|Origin line as the second monthly prototype. Yes, I'm pretty excited. I had been waiting for long to get an evil version of this character, who is a favourite of mine.

Ultimately, this ninth action figure prototype of the Origin lineup looks quite similar to the regular edition of Elykta, but she does have a number of things going for her. For example, she allows us to display an unhelmeted versions of the character, she has some newly moulded components, she includes a new set of accessories (kind of), and the shadow-demon that she comes with is made in an arguably better way than the one that came with Demo-Rha.

Details

Name: Elykta (Origin Edition)

Subtitle: reptilian sorceress

Classification: archosauromorph reptile

Sex: female

Home: Tahron

Era: 520 years before Masq-Lor's time (now renamed Foundation)

Affiliation: Reptonoid

Rank: captain; enchantress.

Background

First appearance: KR|Origin #2 - Battle for Tahron: Part I – The journey begins

Brief bio: originally an impulsive young member of a reptilian nomadic clan, Elykta was banished by her family to a monastery, where elder wizard-priests attempted to teach her responsibility. She fell under the tutelage of the powerful sorcerer Sphenorat^TM, from whom Elykta learnt to master many forms of witchcraft, including dark magic and clairvoyance, and acquired the shadow-cape. In addition to her magical skills, her comprehension of military strategy and tactics earned her a post on Bi-Harr's army, where she rose through the ranks quickly and became the first female Reptonoid to assume the position of captain. Soon after, Elykta began to question Bi-Harr's brutal methods of conquest and eventually rebelled against her leader.

Articulation

Standard, excluding hinged abdomen.

Description

Head: Elykta's face slightly resembles the visage of Dale Russel's Dinosauroid, with greenish skin and pink eyes, even though she looks fairly more pleasant; she wears a helmet which is shaped like a complete head of Parasaurolophus (or a similar "duck-billed" hadrosaurid) - it's difficult to figure out whether this helmet is a real head or is artificial, since some details, such as the eyes and part of the muzzle and of the crest, look like made of metal, while other details, especially the nape/cheek protector, look like made of real yellowish scaly skin. Apart from the different material of the metallic features (silver instead of copper), the helmet shows several dissimilarities from the headdress seen on regular Elykta, such as more noticeable metallic fangs, two orange amber gemstones on the cheek protectors connected by a curved linear copper inlaid piece on the nape protector, the inclusion of the three-spiked upper motif of the armour and, above all, the possibility to be removed. To achieve the latter, it is necessary to separate its back portion, which plugs into the crest, from the front one, which snugs around the face. Once stripped of the helmet, Elykta's head displays a bald look, two very subtle cranial crests, a darker wash above (and two almost unnoticeable curved linear dark marks below) the eyes and a V-shaped copper decoration (similar to a widow’s peak) with a blueish glowing gemstone worn on the centre of the forehead

Body: arms and legs show greenish scaly skin, as well as 3-claw hands and feet; unlike her regular counterpart, this version of Elykta is barefoot and has large sickle-shaped claws on the second toes

Wearables: an orange armour with scaly yellow details (the upper part features a decorative lace-up detail on the front and a series of golden discs laced together along the neckline), two orange copper bracelets (reused from Kai-Xi's enhanced form, and decorated with arabesque patterns and yellow sapphire gemstones), two plain orange copper armbands around the biceps, two orange copper calf protectors (with coiled snake-shaped knee guards), a belt made of several orange copper discs laced together (the central one of which is shaped like the Reptonoid symbol, i.e., a reptile eye, and displays a non-forked reptile tongue extending downward), a long triangular yellow fabric loincloth ornamented with copper rivets and a black cape with a jagged design.

Elykta's stylised armour; the greyed out pattern represents the part that in this version is attached to the helmet and doesn't belong to the armour. 

Action feature

In the comics Elykta can transform into a shadow-demon thanks to her shadow-cape, which would eventually be used by Demo-Rha in the regular series. This feature is brought to reality by equipping the figure with the shadow-demon and a clear stand to display it. The demon is very nicely sculpted and looks even cooler than the regular version included with Demo-Rha. Besides, it's finally large enough to appear proportionate to the figure.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the above-mentioned demon that represents Elykta's converted form, the figure comes with a wooden staff topped with a fork-like ramification, which, unlike the regular weapon, doesn't hold any stone. I wonder what the story behind that rock is.

Additionally, since Elykta is highly skillful in the practice of sorcery, the figure includes an alternative head that is an exact replica of the standard unhelmeted piece, except for the fact that the eyes are pupil-less and painted in a glowing purple colour, making her look as she's casting a spell.

Finally, we get a repaint of Zor-Kan's normal form with a small translucent yellow perch. In this version of Elykta's faithful bird of prey, the wings are completely blue (in different shades) and not red tipped, and the ruff is scarlet instead of light-orange.

Comic

Together with the action figure we get the second comic issue Battle for Tahron: Part I – The journey begins. After a long prologue that recounts Bi-Harr’s origins, the Theriom’s Royal Council of Thinkers is shown to discuss possible strategies to limit the reptilian leader’s dangerous mental abilities. These powers are recognised to be the reason behind the Reptonoids’ quickly growing dominance across Tahron. In the end, the Therioms decide to create two multiversal walls, beyond which Bi-Harr's powers must be trapped. In the meantime, the reptilian forces led by Bi-Harr capture King Khon-Uhr^TM while he’s on a diplomatic mission and subsequently the Council sends a group of valiant warriors to Rokang Tar, the Reptonoid home base, in order to rescue him. Bi-Harr and his minions are in the middle of interrogating the king when Denortos, looking for an alliance with the Reptonoids, breaks into the fortress and literally lands on them, giving Khon-Uhr a chance to escape and reunite with his men. The Theriom warriors explain to the king their plan to steal Bi-Harr’s mental faculties using newly built prodigious weapons and he chooses to join them, even if this means going back from where he just fled. On the way, they are ambushed by two lackeys of Bi-Harr’s. Using the power of their magic helmets, the Therioms easily overpower the reptilian enemies and continue their journey towards hope.

Overall, Elykta is a decent figure. If you made me choose amongst the Origin series figures, she would be at the low end, but the whole line is so far beyond my expectations that she’s nowhere close to being an unwelcome addition. Plus, PoliganToys outlined early on that the Origin Edition variants would be made from reused parts and that makes it inappropriate to have expected her to look much different from the regular figure.
About the comic, as an intermediate issue between the introduction and the conclusion, this one is quite good, although not too exciting.

KR|Origin Review #10: Elkymor

The KR|Origin line keeps expanding by adding another new dual-action figure prototype (the eighth of the series) in the mix - Elkymor^TM!

A few words of explanation are necessary at this point. Both Elkymor’s and Myneran's origins come from the earliest days of Key Raiders. There were some drawings that accompanied the original idea, including a couple of sketches for what would later be Masq-Lor. Those Masq-Lor's preliminary designs featured many familiar themes, such as his signature helmet, the barbarian look of his first appearance and the more formal outfit of his Apprentice Minister variant, but they also featured a full-body suit of armour.

I'm very happy that PoliganToys’ upper management decided that Myneran and Elkymor had to be separate marketable parts of the KR universe, instead of being prototypical variants of Masq-Lor. Being distinct characters and having their own back story, these figures are ten times cooler!

Details

Name: Elkymor

Subtitle: deer-horned warrior

Classification: human

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Era: 520 years before Masq-Lor's time (now renamed Foundation)

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: service warrior.

Background

First appearance: KR|Origin #1 - An arduous venture

Brief bio: already a skillful hunter and fisher at a very young age, Elkymor learnt a different ability from each member of his tribe, and became a master of many combat techniques and weapons. When the word about his talent spread from the southern territories to the rest of Tahron, he was chosen by King Khon-Uhr^TM to help vanquish the reptilian army. Although his training among the Theriom ranks was relatively short, he quickly became one of the greatest of Khon-Uhr’s service warriors, battling the Reptonoids in any environment at any time and protecting the mammalian people from Bi-Harr's cruelty. Shortly after the king's and Kai-Xi's deaths, he joined his close friend Myneran in attempting to establish diplomatic relations with the reptilian enemies.

Articulation

Both figures have the standard articulation.

Description

In the comics, Elkymor wears a magic helmet that in certain situations gives him incredible abilities and changes his look. Despite the two figures represent the same character, they render the two alternative forms and appear very different. Although it's not clear whether these figures will be released individually or in a 2-pack, I'm going to describe them separately.

Normal form

Head: Eskimo features, light brown skin, longish black hair, brown eyes

Body: the arms are exposed and show light brown skin, while the legs are covered with brown furry trousers that display dark stitches at the sides

Wearables: a harness made of dark-blue leather and whitish bony elements (with the right shoulder-brace enhanced into a shoulder-protector), two metallic dark-blue bracelets, two brown leather armbands around the biceps, two dark-blue leather boots trimmed with white fur and two knee-length U-shaped front and back white fabric flaps joined by two series of silver discs laced together. The harness, which is retooled from regular Masq-Lor, carries a small bony inuksuk at the centre of the chest piece, an attached dark-grey fur covering on the back (seemingly connected to the front upper straps via two alternating light and dark brown ringed raccoon tails fastened with two long sharp teeth) and a large metallic dark-blue belt that fastens on the front with a skull-shaped buckle. The belt, which is actually attached to the cape, has some interesting details, with a flask filled with seal oil, a hook to retrieve game from the water and a pouch hanging from the sides.

Enhanced form

Head: similarly to Kai-Xi and Myneran, Elkymor wears one of the silver magic helmets, which in certain circumstances produces a copper half mask (or visor) and gives him incredible physical and mental powers, changing his appearance significantly. The figure comes with an helmeted head, characterised by the copper visor activated, fierce eyes and light brown skin around the mouth. The helmet also features two long yellowish antlers at the sides

Body: covered from neck to toe with a dark-blue&white armour, whose most components are reused from Myneran's suit

Wearables: a metallic dark-blue cuirass with pearlescent white details, two metallic dark-blue gauntlets, two metallic dark-blue boots with knee guards, two criss-crossed studded metallic dark-blue belts and two medieval-style pearlescent white armoured tassets. Besides these basic components, he wears various dark-blue&white pieces of armour to protect the rest of his body, such as shoulder guards, rerebraces and thigh guards. There is an impressive amount of intricate decorative features all around the various components of this protective covering; I especially like the small gem-ornamented Theriom emblems on the wrist and knee guards, and the little gaps here and there that reveal silver chain mail details beneath the armour. The cuirass displays a few inuit-inspired decorative patterns and a golden Theriom emblem on the breastplate. Elkymor also carries a translucent red cape, which fastens at the cuirass by two white leather straps next to the collar and sports a cool stencil-like dark version of the Theriom symbol on its surface.

Elkymor's stylised helmet with frontal crests.

Elkymor's stylised cuirass; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents the Theriom symbol.

Weapons and accessories

Like with his pal Myneran, neither of Elkymor's forms has any action features. So, I directly jump to the accessory section. Elkymor includes three items: a unaq (i.e., a hunting/fishing tool), a halberd and an alternative head. The unaq is meant for the figure's normal form and is probably my favourite among the three accessories. It's a spear/harpoon with a long spiralling wooden shaft and a pointed bony tip; the tip is attached to a long rope (a string in reality), whose other end can be held by Elkymor's left hand. This weapon looks particularly nice when it's stowed in a loop on the back of the loincloth.

The enhanced form is equipped with a silver halberd, which is one of the four components of the Key (the one whose sawtooth blade is curved inward) and a shinier version of the halberd that belongs to Deptilion in the regular series.

Finally, there is an alternative head that displays a daring expression and wears the inactive helmet, i.e., with neither the copper visor activated nor antlers. This head works as the necessary bridge between the unhelmeted and the helmeted-with-visor heads.

Overall, Elkymor kicked off May with a bang. I’m a little disappointed with the total lack of action features, but that doesn’t interfere with my appreciation for this dual-figure. He is just too well done. The sculpt of both forms, even if with so much reuse, is spot-on and the paint applied over that is fantastic. I look forward to the future of the line - I want King Khon-Uhr! If he's going to be as good as Elkymor, that’s a win for all the potential collectors of this line.