Toy prototype details
Name: The DeityTM (Emergence Edition)
Subtitle: supernatural arbiter
Line: KR|Emergence
Item type: action figure - Nº 10 in the line.
Character details
Name: The Deity
Real name: Kai-Xi (originally Wēn Kǎi xī)
Classification: spirit (formerly human)
Sex: female
Home: China
Era: 3 years before Foundation
Affiliation: neutral (formerly belonging to the Theriom faction)
Rank: divinity.
Background
First appearance: KR|Emergence #3 - The war of all against all: Part II – Rise
Brief bio: once a member of the Therioms who played a significant role in trapping Bi-Harr's mental powers beyond the multiversal walls, Kai-Xi raised to a powerful divine form after her own demise and chose to be tasked with maintaining neutrality throughout Tahron. Although she could no longer take part to the war, the constant struggle over the Key often called her to preserve the balance between good and evil forces.
Articulation
Standard, except that the wrists are ball jointed and there is no hinged abdomen.
Description
Head: Asian features, cream white skin, hazel eyes; she wears a complex headgear composed of a headcloth and a helmet. The orange cloth covers the nape of the neck, extending a little way down the back and allowing her black hair to emerge a bit from under it. The helmet looks like a Chinese dragon's head, similarly to Dragon Shiryū's helmet, and seems to be made of four pieces of dark-green metal, two of which (forming the snout of the dragon and including two orange glowing gemstones that represent the eyes) are somehow connected in the middle leaving a visible gap between them, while the other two pieces (including two "feathery" cheekpieces) are attached externally reinforcing the crown on the sides. The helmet bears various orange copper ornaments that resemble teeth, whiskers, crests, ears and antlers. Additionally, the rear part of the helmet's skull extends down the neck forming a laminar nape guard, while a semi-circular bar that surrounds the nape is connected by three points to the skull (one on the back and two on the sides)
Body: covered from neck to toe with a tight scale armour light-blue bodysuit, which shows two narrow, flat vertical reinforcing strips of metal on the front of the thighs. She also wears two metallic dark-green armbands (a wide one on the left arm and a narrow, riveted one on the right arm) as well as a wide band on the right thigh; each of the larger bands shows a cyber design characterised by an orange glowing strip and a dark-green wire running around the respective limb
Final thoughts
Overall: The Deity’s general look is like a space-age techno-amazon, and I love it. She certainly does not look out of place in the KR|Emergence line. Despite taking cues from her original concept art, perhaps the design choices made by PoliganToys won't be everyone's cup of tea, but the toy looks good enough to overcome that hurdle of being very different from her previous versions. Having this figure in-hand has definitely convinced me that it’s one of the best females in the line!
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5
Name: The DeityTM (Emergence Edition)
Subtitle: supernatural arbiter
Line: KR|Emergence
Item type: action figure - Nº 10 in the line.
Character details
Name: The Deity
Real name: Kai-Xi (originally Wēn Kǎi xī)
Classification: spirit (formerly human)
Sex: female
Home: China
Era: 3 years before Foundation
Affiliation: neutral (formerly belonging to the Theriom faction)
Rank: divinity.
Background
First appearance: KR|Emergence #3 - The war of all against all: Part II – Rise
Brief bio: once a member of the Therioms who played a significant role in trapping Bi-Harr's mental powers beyond the multiversal walls, Kai-Xi raised to a powerful divine form after her own demise and chose to be tasked with maintaining neutrality throughout Tahron. Although she could no longer take part to the war, the constant struggle over the Key often called her to preserve the balance between good and evil forces.
Articulation
Standard, except that the wrists are ball jointed and there is no hinged abdomen.
Description
Head: Asian features, cream white skin, hazel eyes; she wears a complex headgear composed of a headcloth and a helmet. The orange cloth covers the nape of the neck, extending a little way down the back and allowing her black hair to emerge a bit from under it. The helmet looks like a Chinese dragon's head, similarly to Dragon Shiryū's helmet, and seems to be made of four pieces of dark-green metal, two of which (forming the snout of the dragon and including two orange glowing gemstones that represent the eyes) are somehow connected in the middle leaving a visible gap between them, while the other two pieces (including two "feathery" cheekpieces) are attached externally reinforcing the crown on the sides. The helmet bears various orange copper ornaments that resemble teeth, whiskers, crests, ears and antlers. Additionally, the rear part of the helmet's skull extends down the neck forming a laminar nape guard, while a semi-circular bar that surrounds the nape is connected by three points to the skull (one on the back and two on the sides)
Body: covered from neck to toe with a tight scale armour light-blue bodysuit, which shows two narrow, flat vertical reinforcing strips of metal on the front of the thighs. She also wears two metallic dark-green armbands (a wide one on the left arm and a narrow, riveted one on the right arm) as well as a wide band on the right thigh; each of the larger bands shows a cyber design characterised by an orange glowing strip and a dark-green wire running around the respective limb
Wearables: an orange copper armour with dark-green details, two orange copper bracelets (the right one is embossed with a dragon's head design and has a double-ringed top, while the left one has a knuckle guard as well as a small removable shield attached to the wrist guard and embellished with a green glowing gemstone), two elaborate orange copper knee guards (each ornamented with a dragon's head design and lined with dark-green fur), two orange copper boots (the right one has a double-ringed top, while the left one has a V-shaped top), an orange copper tasset belt (whose buckle shows a winged motif, a green glowing gemstone and a claw-shaped dangling ornament, while the three attached tassets have elaborate dragon's head designs and green glowing gemstones), and a dark-green high-low scaly skirt (which is short and pleated on the front). The armour, which mixes a medieval design with technological elements, bears a high neck, a pair of triple-layered spaulders, and a triplet of green glowing gemstones on the chest plate. Additionally, she wears a short translucent white (with a greenish tinge) cape that connects directly around her neck by means of a detached orange copper choker lined with dark-green fur (this collar includes two high standing translucent greenish "fins" at the sides, which are supposed to be the two corners of the cape's upper portion).
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| The Deity's stylised armour. |
Action feature
In the comics, the Deity's cape can expand into a pair of wing-like structures that project from both sides. In fact, when she appears to Fai-Rha, she is depicted with those wings spread out. The figure's cape does include two flat extensions, which are cast in the same semi-transparent plastic and have two hinges in the upper portions, so that they can spread and contract. With each feather-like feature lovingly captured, the detail is excellent. It is worth noting, however, that in the comics these wings seem to have a cosmetic function only, as the Deity's ability to fly is mystical and not the result of her cape's construction.
Weapons and accessories
Weapons and accessories
The Deity comes with a staff topped with a pattern that resembles the Chinese character 龙 (dragon). I like that the sceptre's translucent green plastic makes it look like an energy creation, or maybe it just covers itself with energy, since she can stow it in a loop on her winged cape (although the cape itself is probably made of energy as well). There is also a peculiar holder for the energy staff, which is basically a terracotta ceramic vase on a greenish wooden base.
It is obvious that this incarnation of The Deity looks very different from her previous versions. I initially thought that since in the Emergence comic books The Deity appears to Fai-Rha, who is also characterised by a dragon theme, perhaps she wanted to create a connection by showing a similar essence. In truth, this figure has a kind of controversial history. When The Deity first appeared in the rough draft of the first KR|Foundation comic issue, she looked more like a dragon-themed goddess. It turns out that there were two different pitches for this character back in 2015 - in the end, one became the basis for the more traditional, phoenix-inspired figure we are used to, while the other one never went anywhere (until now). Eventually, the dragon-like concept was intended to be recycled into Lín sài (or Lynn-Sei), Kai-Xi's and Khon-Uhr's daughter, but, again, that character never made it to the comics. So, this figure is a tribute to both mother and daughter, having its main look based on Kai-Xi's discarded concept art as well as some add-ons that can make it echo Lynn-Sei's never before seen appearance. The first and most necessary accessory is an alternative head, characterised by Asian features, cream white skin, hazel eyes, feline-like pointy ears and long green flowing hair partly arranged in a number of braids; she also wears an orange copper tiara that recalls Kai-Xi's dragon-headgear (with reversed colours, including two green glowing gemstones that represent the eyes) and incorporates a removable translucent green visor, which stays on securely and can be easily taken off if you don't like it. Furthermore, the package contains a spectacular orange copper armoured glove that resembles a dragon's head and has dark-green details, including four vicious teeth/claws. This dragon gauntlet has a ball joint that plugs into the figure's left wrist after you remove her hand, and also features a slot where a dagger can be stored; on top of that, it has a tab that allows it to peg onto an additional loose fitting dark-green leather waist belt. The separate bladed weapon has a copper hilt, which is shaped like a dragon's head mirroring Lynn-Sei's tiara, and comes in both compact and extended versions: the dagger-sized version's blade is also made of copper, while the full-sized one gets two translucent green energy blades (one long replacing the dagger blade, and one short emerging from the opposite end of the handle). There's even a third version that corresponds to the dagger transformed into a ray gun.
Comic
Together with the action figure we get the second comic issue The war of all against all: Part I – Breach. Lor-Drek decides to attack the Rexodon's headquarter, in order to defeat his rival Bi-Harr. He sends his new soldier Noctylius to Rokang Tar on a reconnaissance mission, during which the bat warrior engages in a fierce mid-air fight with Alatryx and Torp-Tor. Having come out on top, Noctylius finally faces Bi-Harr, but is struck with a powerful blow. Yet, refusing to give up, Noctylius keeps assaulting his opponent. Taking advantage of the situation, Lor-Drek orders his men to break through the gates of the main building, and then, aiming at challenging Bi-Harr himself, he reaches Noctylius. Suddenly, due to a malfunction Noctylius's navigation drone attacks and weakens Lor-Drek, who doesn't have a chance against Bi-Harr and is knocked out. Afterwards, Bi-Harr attempts to charge at Noctylius, but discovers that many members of the Unnamed Clan have come to their fellows' aid. However, no matter how hard they fight their adversaries, Lor-Drek's soldiers never manage to gain the upper hand, and, being outnumbered, they are all taken prisoner after a while. The Unnamed Clan has been beaten at last.
Comic
Together with the action figure we get the second comic issue The war of all against all: Part I – Breach. Lor-Drek decides to attack the Rexodon's headquarter, in order to defeat his rival Bi-Harr. He sends his new soldier Noctylius to Rokang Tar on a reconnaissance mission, during which the bat warrior engages in a fierce mid-air fight with Alatryx and Torp-Tor. Having come out on top, Noctylius finally faces Bi-Harr, but is struck with a powerful blow. Yet, refusing to give up, Noctylius keeps assaulting his opponent. Taking advantage of the situation, Lor-Drek orders his men to break through the gates of the main building, and then, aiming at challenging Bi-Harr himself, he reaches Noctylius. Suddenly, due to a malfunction Noctylius's navigation drone attacks and weakens Lor-Drek, who doesn't have a chance against Bi-Harr and is knocked out. Afterwards, Bi-Harr attempts to charge at Noctylius, but discovers that many members of the Unnamed Clan have come to their fellows' aid. However, no matter how hard they fight their adversaries, Lor-Drek's soldiers never manage to gain the upper hand, and, being outnumbered, they are all taken prisoner after a while. The Unnamed Clan has been beaten at last.
Overall, the only really remarkable aspect of this comic is that the rivalry between the reptilian factions is depicted magnificently!
Final thoughts
Overall: The Deity’s general look is like a space-age techno-amazon, and I love it. She certainly does not look out of place in the KR|Emergence line. Despite taking cues from her original concept art, perhaps the design choices made by PoliganToys won't be everyone's cup of tea, but the toy looks good enough to overcome that hurdle of being very different from her previous versions. Having this figure in-hand has definitely convinced me that it’s one of the best females in the line!
Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5
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