KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #19: Nemhisto (EoF Edition)

Toy prototype details

Name: Nemhisto^TM (EoF Edition), aka Flashback Nemhisto

Subtitle: cruel warrior for hire

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 14 in the line.

Character details

Name: Nemhisto

Classification: human

Sex: male

Relationships: father of Demo-Rha and Modi-Rha; biological father of Wordron

Home: Tahron

Era: 50 years before Foundation
Affiliation: independent; CorpSTar (indirectly)

Rank: mercenary, bounty hunter, bodyguard and gladiator.

Background

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

Character summary: a young, ambitious mercenary with a ruthless heart, who crossed paths with a weakened Gladorr and his need to revive Silef's spirit. During a bloody clash, Nemhisto absorbed the remains of Gladorr's sloughed skin, granting him regenerative powers and a connection to the supernatural. Despite his newfound strength, Nemhisto's life eventually took a tragic turn as he was assassinated by a nobleman seeking revenge for a past betrayal. His legacy, however, lived on through his orphaned daughters, Demo-Rha and Modi-Rha, and illegitimate son, Wordron, who carried the bloodline of both human and otherworldly power.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: Caucasoid and albino features, characterised by pale white skin, long white hair and white facial hair (he sports a pair of Logan-style mutton chops that stretch down past the cheeks and into a moustache, but not on the chin... groovy!) streaked with yellow in the middle and on the sides of the hair as well as near the chin, eyes of a colour between blue and violet, and an evil smirk

Body: the exposed parts of his body, i.e., arms and parts of his legs and torso, show a very pale, white skin

Wearables: a golden shoulder/chest armour adorned with golden-yellow accents (including an engraved bat-shaped motif, two large studs, a series of rivets and a pair of ornamented spaulders) as well as dark-green details (including a pair of straps and a large emerald held by a set of ivory claws at its centre), two golden armlets studded with emeralds encircling the biceps, two dark-green cross-strap leather fingerless gloves paired with golden wrist guards, two dark-green cross-strap leather boots paired with golden shin/knee guards, a golden belt (which is embellished with three emerald-like studs, a pair of dark-green leather holsters and an ormurid skull-shaped buckle), a long dark-green leather skirt slit down the middle and adorned with Roman-inspired golden-yellow patterns, and a red cape whose collar is edged with the tawny pelt of a slain ormurid and secured by a rectangular golden-yellow-and-dark-green brooch. The wrist guards, shin guards and belt are all further enhanced by curved, raised golden-yellow bands, while the spaulders and knee guards each feature a curved spike.

Nemhisto's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents an emerald jewel.

Action feature

In the comics, Nemhisto's angelic facade masks a true nature of ruthless ambition (from the Foundation and Enmity series, we know that his sole redeeming quality is his love for his daughters—although the identity of their mother remains a mystery—, shattered when a rival ends his life, leaving them to navigate a world without his protection). The figure includes several alternate portraits, each wearing a distinctive headdress crafted from an ormurid skull. This skull exhibits a pair of relatively small water buffalo-like horns and an upper jaw featuring sharp teeth, while the lower jaw is absent. Two of these portraits show the skull covering Nemhisto's head down to his eyebrows, with his white hair peeking out from its base. The first portrait captures a combative expression, while the second depicts an older, clean-shaven lifeless visage, marked by trickles of blood and the blade of his own bronze-hilted sabre crossing his headdress and braincase. A third, particularly cool portrait displays the headdress lowered further, showing Nemhisto's eyes ominously cast in darkness through the skull's shadowed eye sockets. Additionally, the regular head can be adorned with an included gladiator's metallic dark-green headband. This sort of crown features a single prong at the front (bearing a golden stud at its centre) and a series of curved ivory horns that alternate between pointing upwards and downwards.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the various alternate heads (plus a headband), Nemhisto comes with a wealth of weapons. First up, there is his signature silver-bladed sabre with a basket hilt, which comes in two variations: a bronze-hilted version and a more weathered, greenish-hilted one that closely matches the sword crossing his head in the Foundation figure. There's also a loop on the back of the armour to hold either sword safely in place.

Additionally, the package includes an extra gladiator's sword and a shield reminiscent of Possessed Sei-Lha's accessories—the combined shape of the sword's bronze hilt and golden blade tip, resembling two small tridents, evokes the Chinese character for "out" (出), while the shield is a larger replica of the jewel on Nemhisto's chest plate, featuring a studded golden disc and a large emerald gemstone held in place by a series of curved ivory claws.

Finally, complementing his bladed weaponry are two dark-green derringers reused from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron, which can be holstered on the belt.

Final thoughts

Overall: Nemhisto's "alive" form's debut as an action figure prototype is a success in my opinion. His traditional warrior look coupled with a striking outfit and a unique headdress makes him a standout addition to the KR|EoF line. As the 200^th single figure in the KR universe, he's a testament to the series' enduring popularity and the growing quality of its prototypes

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #17: Krenodos (Enhanced)

Toy prototype details

Name: Krenodos^TM (Enhanced)

Subtitle: despotic Bogthropod overlord

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 13 in the line.

Character details

Name: Krenodos

Classification: arthropod with xiphosuran-like traits

Sex: male

Relationships: ancestor of Denortos

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod; Rexodon (temporarily)

Rank: emperor of Cereutis; army general.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #3 - The unforeseen fall of destiny (although he materialises at the end of KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos)

Character summary: the maleficent leader of the Bogthropods, who conquered Cereutis alongside Gladorr after Silef's spirit had merged with him, turning him into an even more monstrous and sinister entity. Presumed dead, he re-emerged on Tahron as the new leader of the Rexodons, driven by ambition to dethrone the Therioms. His evil actions ultimately led to his downfall at the hands of Masq-Lor.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a hinged lower jaw and a ball jointed tail.

Description

Head: elongated shape, blueish skin, a strip of spade-shaped imbricate shiny silver scales running centrally from the middle of the forehead to the back of the head (developing into a spiny cranial crest), two pairs of curved blueish spines pointing backwards where one would expect to find the ears, four orange eyes (two quite large lateral compound eyes topped by jagged brow ridges, and two smaller central eye spots), two large nostrils, and two rows of sharp, piranha-like whitish teeth lining the jaws. He also wears a removable helmet with a crowned, 5-horned design, which allows the "ears" to protrude from the back. Adorned with a dark green gemstone on the forehead and intricate wing-shaped ornaments at the rear, it bears a striking resemblance to Silef's helmet, though with a metallic light-green tint and lacking the half mask

Body: his blueish skin is stretched over a series of bony plates with spine-like tubercles, which are arranged in rings throughout his body, giving it a general segmented, armoured appearance. His limbs sport whitish-clawed extremities and large strips of spade-shaped imbricate shiny silver scales running down the sides (a similar stripe also extends from the nape of the neck, divides along the shoulder blades and continues along the back to the loin). Moreover, a long tail-spine emerges from his trunks and ends in a venomous sting

Wearables: an orange armour with light-green details, two orange copper wrist guards (each ornamented with tech looking parts, a light-green gemstone and a knuckle protector), two orange leather shin guards with turn-down tops, a double orange belt (composed of a larger copper belt bearing a blue gemstone carved with three vertical wavy lines, and a smaller loose fitting leather belt underneath), and light-green trunks. The armour shows some nice details such as tubes, battle dents and marks, as well as a metallic light-green emblem resembling a four-pointed throwing star with what looks like a trilobite embossed in the middle. This figure's attire is largely inspired by Krenodos's regular outfit, but features distinct enhancements, particularly the multiple angular ridges adorning the chest plate, spaulders, shin guards and trunks as well as the unique design of the wrist guards. Additionally, a broad, ankle-length light-green skirt with wide inverted U-shaped openings in the front and back adds a touch of regality. It has a ribbed texture and is covered in lots of intricate little designs resembling metal reliefs sewn onto the fabric. These are very impressive sculpted details reminiscent of the hieroglyphic-like patterns seen on Silef's armour, something that really adds an intriguing element to the costume and suggests hidden magical properties or sinister power. The shiny, metallic paintwork of the raised bands and little riveted plates added to the outfit, contrasting with the duller orange and light-green backgrounds, creates a visually striking effect and looks excellent alongside other figures in the collection. Finally, he wears a dark-orange cape that is draped around his neck, split into two parts down the middle and embellished with a motif made of two metallic light-green triangles joined base-to-base near each shoulder as well as a metallic light-green medallion resembling the chest emblem and hanging from a chain on the back.

Krenodos's stylised helmet.

Krenodos's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents a Cereutian symbol.

Action feature

In the comics, apart from having extremely accurate senses owing to his multiple eyes and chemoreceptors, Krenodos is shown to possess the ability to inflict ferocious bites on his enemies. This feature is wonderfully rendered thanks to the spring-loaded lower jaw, which can swing open and then suddenly snap shut like a bear trap.

Weapons and accessories

Krenodos comes with his signature multi-bladed light-green staff, characterised by two "stag beetle mandible"-shaped orange copper blades at the sides of each end. In the comics, this weapon is depicted as a double petrifaction-staff, an upgraded version of his original stick. However, unlike its predecessor, it no longer has the ability to transform into a three-section staff. This toy version of the weapon can still separate into three parts, but there's no metal chain to connect them.

Final thoughts

Overall: the Echoes of Future line continues to impress with its comic-accurate figures, and this Krenodos variant is no exception. While the regular version is already excellent, this one takes it to the next level with a striking new aesthetic and a wealth of intricate details. However, despite its eye-catching appearance, the figure falls short in terms of accessories - aside from the removable helmet, it only includes the standard staff with no change in deco or additional feature

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #16: Pang

Toy prototype details

Name: Pang

Subtitle: avian tech maverick

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 12 in the line.

Character details

Name: Pang

Classification: archosauromorph reptile with bird-like traits

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Interspecific Commission

Rank: consul.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: a brilliant technological genius with an inventive mind, whose lack of wings, despite his bird-like appearance, spurred him to create advanced aerial technology, initially using a jetpack for boosted hops and later developing solid energy wings for true flight.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description
Head: similar to a bird of prey, characterised by a pair of nearly human-like, piercing blue eyes, which are framed by khaki feathers (except for a pair of bushy, yellowish eyebrows), as well as a fairly large, yet short, yellowish beak with nares. Aside from having two subtle appendages on the sides (each resembling a mix of a pointy ear and a feathered wing), his bald (except for a widow's peak), vulture-like scalp allows him to wear an orange copper removable armoured helmet, which is ornamented with metallic light-blue details such as a 5-pointed, comb-like crest, two horns protruding laterally, a pair of goggles with large bird eye-like glossy dark-red lenses, and an embossed stylised motif of a feathered bird's head profile on either side (it reminds me a bit of the design of Rey Mysterio's masks)

Body: arms and legs covered with khaki feathers, scaly black hands and feet ending in pinkish talons (two of which point forward and two go backward in each foot, while a patch of khaki feathers covers the back of each hand), two orange fabric armbands knotted around the upper arms

Wearables: a metallic light-blue harness with orange details (including a leather shoulder belt with sculpted feathers, loops for grenades and a pocket), two studded metallic light-blue wrist guards, two metallic light-blue shin guards (each showing a wing-shaped ornament protruding outward), a studded metallic light-blue belt (the central stud, which is larger and serves as the buckle, is a gleaming blue gemstone), and a triangular orange fabric loincloth emblazoned with a light-blue pattern echoing the form of stylised feathers. The harness features a scale armour shoulder guard/chest plate that is studded and grooved with deep lines to resemble a ruff of pointed quills, and is equipped with a pair of epaulettes trimmed with orange feather fringes, while similar orange feathers lining the wrist and shin guards peek out subtly from their top edges.

Pang's stylised helmet.

Pang's stylised harness.

Action feature

In the comics, Pang cannot fly with wings (he doesn't have any) or magic (he cannot master it), so he relies on technology. The back of his harness is adorned with small tech greeblies, such as wires and circuitry, and includes an attachment point for a metallic light-blue jetpack. The jetpack features a single turbojet engine, a small tail assembly with additional thrusters, a longitudinal crest-like ornament, and what appears to be a laser cannon at the top. The jetpack plugs into two square sockets on the back of the harness via two tabs, and it latches securely in place. Additionally, there are multiple sets of energy wings for three different configurations or display options. These wings feature a mostly angular design, with deep grooves resembling feathers, giving it an aggressive and streamlined appearance. They are made of translucent light-green plastic, speckled with glittery flecks, giving them a neat, see-through effect that makes them appear as if they are made of solid energy. Fictionally, they are generated by an energy source that flows from the jetpack to the inner sides of the wrist bracers via a pair of detachable pliable tubes (which have metallic light-blue ends and translucent light-green middle portions). A pair of forearm wings plugs into the bracers and can rotate freely, allowing them to be positioned as desired. They are easy to pop on and off, looking impressive both as wings for flight and as weapons or shields - swing the tips forward and they look like dual energy blades. For a more comic book-accurate appearance with longer wings, you can add the upper wing portion to each arm. These attach to the armbands and connect to the shorter portions with swivel joints at the elbow area, allowing them to move while maintaining full arm articulation. Finally, there is also a piece composed of a pair of massive wings and a tail that stays securely attached when plugged between the back of the figure and the jetpack. These wings are intended to be used in place of the separate arm-wings. They can rotate in and out, allowing for various posing options, for example positioned behind him while standing, or spread and aligned with his arms pointing outward for more dramatic flying poses.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the jetpack and the various energy wing sets, Pang comes with a very peculiar orange copper gun. This weapon features a bird's body-like design, resembling a wingless robotic falcon. Subtle nods to the jetpack are incorporated through the presence of a crest and a tail assembly-mounted jet engine, while a single flexible tube, identical to those attached to Pang's wrist guards, connects the weapon's rear to the rocket pack. At the front, a handle shaped like a sort of feathery arm has a narrow portion that can be gripped, while in the back, a stirrup-shaped butt resembles backward-pointing grasping talons that clasp a perching rod. The weapon can be either stowed on the side of the jetpack, with the handle and rod clipping into designated slots, or held by the figure. The gun's barrel ends in a falcon head-shaped, laser-blasting muzzle, accompanied by two side launchers loaded with smoke grenades (in the comics, these are sometimes replaced with electric net grenades). Once a smoke screen is deployed, the robotic falcon-gun can serve as a weaponised drone for attack operations. This transformation is achieved by equipping it with energy wings and a tail, mirroring its owner's ability. So, the package includes a translucent light-green pair of wings and a long tail, which exhibit a slightly softer, more rounded shape compared to the sharp, geometric lines of the figure's add-ons. These accessories have three plug-in points: two on the sides (which provide some articulation) and one on the back (accessible after removing the tube).

Additionally, we get a propulsion-blast effect for the jet engine, and three accessories that, one at a time, are fictionally produced by a copper egg-shaped tech artefact stored in Pang's shoulder belt pocket: a pair of binoculars, a megaphone and a tracker pad/view-screen that lets Pang monitor the falcon drone's activity (any of these objects conveniently clips onto a loop on the figure's breast plate).

Finally, the package includes a powering perch, which features a tech-looking metallic light-blue stand topped with a translucent light-green crystal, where the falcon/drone can dock and recharge. While I would have preferred a flight stand for Pang, this accessory will work just fine.

Final thoughts

Overall: Pang might not be an instant classic, but he's definitely grown on me. His unique aesthetic, impressive array of accessories and various display options make him a solid addition to the series. While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, those who appreciate a figure that’s both visually striking and fun to play with will likely find a lot to love about Pang

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #15: Elibhurn

Toy prototype details

Name: Elibhurn^TM

Subtitle: fearless ligneous knight

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 11 in the line.

Character details

Name: Elibhurn

Classification: extradimensional elemental being

Sex: male

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Multiversal Balancers

Rank: knight companion.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: the creator of the Time Dice and a selfless fighter, who sacrificed himself in a daring act of heroism during a fierce battle in a mine controlled by the Multiversal Balancers. By trapping a multitude of Bogthropod enemies and setting himself ablaze, he saved his allies, although his brave action led to the collapse of the mineshaft. Despite the great sacrifice, this dramatic turn enabled Silef's forces to loot the precious metal essential for the Multiversal Squires' survival.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: similar to a bud with a leathery appearance and a greenish hue that has been given a brown wash. His face, kind of reminiscent of Groot, is characterised by a pair of bulbous black eyes and an overall serious but friendly expression, and is adorned with structures subtly resembling pointy ears and a goatee. However, the head is mostly concealed by a brown removable hood, finished with an off-white binding along its edge; this hood tapers off in a wizard hat-style, ending with a pointed shape reminiscent of a spider plant leaf at the back, and adding an air of mystery to the character

Body: cloaked from neck to toe. His arms are covered by long, wide off-white sleeves, while his hands show a sort of branch-like appearance, with greenish mossy backs and clawed brownish wooden fingers. Compared to the average figure, his arms are slightly longer and his hands are larger. His brownish feet, resembling more plant roots than toes, shyly poke out from under the robe he wears

Wearables: his long habit consists of several pieces, including a sleeveless soft goods robe draping to the ground and made of a coarse, rough off-white fabric (featuring a Velcro strip for easy dressing), as well as a seemingly hooded lamellar scapular designed to be worn over the robe, covering the shoulders. While the former item seamlessly blends in with the sculpted sleeves, the latter appears to be crafted from small rectangular brown leather scales laced into horizontal rows, and bordered with pearlescent white plates—it bears a resemblance to K'Ran's attire, with the addition of a pair of shoulder pads flanking the long central piece that hangs from front, reaching to the knees. Completing the ensemble is an off-white belt made of flexible plastic, designed to resemble a rope-like girdle, which secures the habit around the figure's waist (the scapular should be tied under the belt, but it can also be worn over the belt if preferred). The only issue with his outfit is that the “up” hood (added as a separate piece) and the “down” hood (sculpted on the back of the scapular) were combined into one solution. I'm totally OK with it, since the latter still works as additional folds of a larger hood.

Action feature

In the comics, Elibhurn displays sufficient strength to lift and throw massive wooden beams with ease, and possesses some degree of control over plant life, bending it to his will or accelerating its growth to attack his opponents. Additionally, he can regenerate damaged or severed body parts, as well as produce vine-like projections. To recreate this ability, the figure comes with two arm extensions, which fit onto his hands and resemble long clusters of twisted vines jutting out from his sleeves and ending in large claw-like structures.

Furthermore, by shedding his robe, he can unravel and dramatically expand his body, transforming into a large net made of a straw-like, yet highly resistant material, capable of trapping a large number of enemies. In the figure, this process happens in two separate stages. First, we can display Elibhurn as if he's starting to come apart, to simulate a mid-transformation phase. This is achieved by removing his outfit (belt, scapular and robe) and using an alternative head, a neck extension, a pair of full alternative arms and a torso covering with a pair of attachments. His undressed body shows an overall brownish woody appearance with patches of greenish moss-like wash here and there, a tree trunk-like torso and thighs, and large roots that make up his clawed feet. His alternative arms have translucent green leaves sprouting out of his shoulders, along with nets of twisted greenish-brown vines wrapping around the upper arms. The additional "harness" also looks like twisted vines running across his torso and has two attachments, each made of three large greenish-brown stalks cross-linked by smaller stems, which connect to the back. Furthermore, he "wears" double-layered, scaly brown bark-like wrist and shin guards with pointy flares at the elbows and knees, a brown belt made of carved wood, and a long green grassy/leafy loincloth. Finally, the alternative head, along with its vine cluster-like neck extension, is an unfurled version of the regular head. In this portrait, the bud scales are spread out and partially unravelled, forming a whorl of nets, which surrounds a brownish (with a greenish wash) woody skull with dark empty eye sockets emitting an eerie bright glow, and long teeth that create a menacing grin. This version appears much scarier and less friendly than the standard portrait. Next, to unleash Elibhurn's ability to ensnare his foes in his fully expanded form, there is an included greenish-brown soft rubber capture net, which looks like an arrangement of slender, woody intersecting vines and is seemingly covered with prickles. This great accessory is perfect for capturing multiple KR figures and creating dynamic action scenes. Unfortunately, in the comics, he doesn’t appear to be resistant to fire.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the many accessories that allow Elibhurn to recreate his vine-generation and body-unravelling powers, the figure comes with a cool looking double scythe. This weapon consists of a long, knotty brown wooden pole with two slightly curved silver blades bolted to its ends. In the comics, the blades, which point at opposite directions, have the ability to spread out like fans, transforming the weapon into a double adze with the blades' cutting edges perpendicular to the shaft. This functionality is replicated in the figure with two included fan blades that can replace the folded scythe blades. The great thing is that all four interchangeable blades can be wielded by Elibhurn as either swords or tessen (war fans), since the pegs that normally attach them to the wooden pole serve as convenient handles.

Lastly, two unique extras pay homage to the comic book lore: a nicely sculpted thick-billed raven that can be perched on either of Elibhurn's shoulder pads, and a beautiful black lily that is shown to grow at the location of Elibhurn's noble sacrifice.

Final thoughts

Overall: Elibhurn turned out to be a fun and solid figure to have. It’s not the best Multiversal Balancer figure ever, but it’s still pretty neat. The unique sculpt adds a lot to its appeal, and along with the detailed paintwork, it matches the comic book look well and captures the essence of the character

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #12: Gladorr (First Evolutionary Stage)

Toy prototype details
Name: Gladorr^TM (First Evolutionary Stage)
Subtitle: transformed reptilian schemer
Line: KR|Echoes of Future
Item type: action figure - Nº 10 in the line.

Character details
Name: Gladorr
Classification: 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; Reptonoid (temporarily)
Rank: mercenary.

Background

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

Character summary: while observing the escalating conflict between the reptilian and mammalian forces, Gladorr awaited the perfect opportunity to harness the mystic powers of the monstrous stony mask borne from the spirit of Silef. Transformed into a fearsome, hulking being by the mask's power, he emerged as a pivotal figure in the conflict, orchestrating alliances and battles with calculated precision, to annihilate the mammalian civilisation and fulfil his ultimate goal of reshaping the tides of history. Unexpectedly thrust into a distant future, despite his weakened state, Gladorr's determination remained unyielding as he sought to transfer his dark essence into a new host and ensure his own survival.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), plus two swivels on the tail.

Description

Head: similar to a captorhinid or a placodont, characterised by a broad, heart-like shape, a scaly, bumpy greenish skin, and a series of triangular off-white bony protrusions along its rear margin, two of which jut out like pointed ears. A short horn (or rather an ossicone) adorns the front portion of a longitudinal dark-green crest, while a pair of solid amber glowing eyes peer out from beneath a prominent brow ridge and are accentuated by dark-green underlinings similar to eyebags. His fairly long, beaked snout is equipped with two nostrils and terminates in a narrow, downward-curving rostrum lined with numerous sharp whitish teeth, including four large tusks, protruding from both the upper and lower jaws

Body: scaly, greenish skin featuring long, triangular off-white bony spines that emerge from the imbrications of his large scales (known as scutes). While most of these scutes are flattened and adorned with parallel ridges, the shoulder and thigh regions are covered with knobbly dark-green plates. Across his torso, the spines combine to form a series of bony ridges reminiscent of an exposed skeletal structure, which is accentuated by some effective off-white highlighting. His hands and feet are paddle-shaped, presumably adapted for swimming, although they have distinct fingers and toes equipped with large, sharp off-white claws. Naturally protected by a thick, rugged scaly armour, his back extends into a long, robust Stegouros-like tail that ends with seven pairs of off-white bony "blades" arranged along its sides, similar to a cutting weapon wielded by ancient Aztec warriors. Two midnight-blue straps around the thighs (probably bits of his powered exoskeleton components, which shattered during his metamorphosis) feature some nice realistic texture with scratches sculpted into it

Wearables: two studded midnight-blue bracelets, two laminar midnight-blue toeless boots (which expose the outward-protruding claws and are equipped with studded knee guards, sheens and vamps), a worn out off-white fabric (or maybe leather) belt and tattered midnight-blue trunks. While the bracers and boots exhibit a lining of off-white fur, the belt and shorts are shredded remnants of his original outfit.

Action feature

Similar to other tailed characters in the KR lore, Gladorr's most prominent feature is his threatening tail. The armoured back, to which the tail belongs, is a separate piece that securely attaches to the rear surface of his torso. The tail is designed with two articulation points, situated approximately one-third and two-thirds along its length. These two swivels provide ample flexibility for a variety of poses, making additional articulation unnecessary.

Weapons and accessories

Gladorr comes equipped with an array of accessories, the most notable of which is a double bearded axe. In the comics, he borrows this weapon from one of Bi-Harr's lizardy foot soldiers and uses it to slay King Tah-Ron. The axe itself is crafted from a long bone topped with an Ankylosaurus' skull (although it has a narrower, more elongated shape, and lacks the characteristic four horns) and is entirely painted in a nice ivory colour, with the addition of two rounded, chipped silver blades sticking out of the sides of the skull.

As described up to this point, the figure represents Gladorr in his initial state after donning the mask and transforming into a bulking bruiser. However, when equipped with some additional armour pieces, his appearance undergoes a striking shift, embodying the essence of a Reptonoid soldier with an imposing and distinct look. First up, there's an aggressive looking, angular harness/chest armour, which is painted in midnight-blue with off-white details, ranging from the weathered white of the leather straps and fur lining (which extends to form a pair of shoulder pads) to a white colour with a slight greyish tinge resembling tarnished silver found on numerous studs and rivets. A sculpted strap passing diagonally in front of the torso features a loop positioned near the right shoulder, which is designed to securely hold the blade of an included silver combat dagger (reused from the Reptonoid Troopers). Next, we get a Roman-inspired, off-white leather loincloth adorned with rivets, hanging from a midnight-blue belt with large diamond-shaped and oval studs (interestingly, the buckle looks a bit like an electronic device). Finally, there's a midnight-blue diadem with off-white details (including a metal crest and two large bull horns), which has a silhouette reminiscent of a Samurai helmet. It fits on the head really well and stays put thanks to two small notches on the figure’s face.

Speaking of headpieces, the figure also comes with an alternate head, featuring mostly the same sculpt, but with a more enraged expression, the mouth open slightly and a permanently attached diadem bearing just one horn (along with a stub on the other side) instead of two. This is the way he appeared in the comics after the Therioms pissed him off by damaging his headband during a fight in the Quartz Tower. Additionally, there's another alternative head with the monstrous mask on, which is designed to be used with the basic Gladorr figure, replacing the original domed head. This rendition captures the moment when he wears the mask, which resembles a stony captorhinid skull that is flattened to acquire a more vertical structure. Alright, but now what do I do with the "mushroom" head from the basic figure? Well, luckily the package includes a mass of scaly greenish tentacles intricately twisted together, seemingly merging into the head's stalk when this is attached at the top via a ball joint. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what this represents... perhaps it depicts an immature aquatic form of a creature from Gladorr's species before undergoing some sort of metamorphosis, but who knows? Personally, I don't mind it, but it seems more like a substitute for his cannon, which he still uses even in this form, but is not included with the new figure. I would have preferred to receive a replica of that weapon instead of this rather useless accessory.

Gladorr's stylised optional armour.

Final thoughts

Overall: this version of Gladorr truly nails the essence of the KR|Echoes of Future line. With its faithful rendition, great design and array of accessories, this prototype is an awesome representation of the character. The figure embodies sheer epicness, particularly with the optional armour, showcasing PoliganToys' exceptional work in this line. Surely, no KR fan should miss out on adding this formidable villain to their collection when he hits the shelves

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #11: Ramedras

Toy prototype details

Name: Ramedras^TM

Subtitle: unwavering leader after Sumyak

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 9 in the line.

Character details

Name: Ramedras

Classification: extradimensional elemental being

Sex: male

Relationships: brother of Thelioke, ancestor of Galamars

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Multiversal Balancers

Rank: grand officer.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: the creator of the Matter Prism and the resilient new leader of the Multiversal Knights after Sumyak’s demission. During his harrowing captivity at the hands of the Bogthropods, Ramedras’s fate hung in the balance until a daring group of heroes led by Masq-Lor orchestrated a high-stakes rescue. Freed from his confinement, Ramedras became a vital ally, revealing the grim truth about the Cereutian war's escalation caused by Gladorr and guiding the heroes toward a covert mission to confront Krenodos.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: like with Galamars, the most striking feature of this figure is the texture of his skin, which seems to consist of numerous little steel-grey blocks that are carved to represent diamonds. He wears a metallic light-blue helmet equipped with nape- and cheek-pieces as well as an interesting crown of pointed, translucent white quartz-like gems, which gradually increase in length as they converge toward the centre. This helmet evokes the style of those worn by the Multiversal Squires, but it incorporates some distinctive elements such as a half mask with orange glowing eye slits (or possibly goggles), an oval light-blue shining gemstone at the base of the quartzy crown, and two headphone-like pearlescent white side devices that project upwards in the form of angular aerodynamic fins. The helmet is removable, revealing, aside from some engraved lines on the forehead, a striking resemblance between this character and Galamars, which is particularly evident in the presence of a pair of white glowing eyes and a hairless look (although his protruding chin gives the impression of a beard-like structure)

Body: most of the figure's body shows the same diamond-patterned dull metallic skin seen on his head. The only exceptions are his bare, clawed hands and feet, along with his neck and shoulders beneath the armour, which display a kind of techno-organic appearance (i.e., a tangle of metallic muscle fibres, blood vessels and nerves) and impart a peculiar blend of human and unhuman characteristics. Additionally, his left arm wears a light-blue armband equipped with a short spike, while his legs are equipped with metallic light-blue armoured thigh guards with knife sheaths attached on the sides

Wearables: a pearl-white harness with metallic light-blue details, two white bracelets, two white shin guards, a white studded belt and a short tech-looking light-blue loincloth. The harness is characterised by a high neck and a pair of steel-grey rings encircling the armholes, which display indecipherable engravings; the back bears a structure that looks like an aerodynamic motorcyclists backpack, whereas the front presents a six-pointed star-shaped translucent red-orange gemstone (which is reminiscent of the Multiversal Balancers emblem carried by Sumyak) as well as a disc-shaped lenticular sticker that changes colour and pattern as it is viewed from different angles (it is fictionally a kind of visualiser that produces intricate Spirograph-like roulette curves). Each bracer and shin guard shows an armoured, tech-inspired aesthetic, and features a steel-grey ring encircling the cuff/top and displaying the same engravings found on the armholes. The belt sports a V-shaped buckle that looks like some sort of electronic device.

Ramedras's stylised harness; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents the lenticular disc.

Action feature

In the comics, Ramedras's body is covered by an organic-liquid metal alloy, which grants him several abilities. These include possessing superior strength and high resistance to physical injury as well as the ability to transmute metals by touch, changing one metal into any other. The same liquid metal also constitutes his blood.

Additionally, his skin can become incandescent, allowing him to generate extreme heat, project radiation, and possess powers such as thermokinesis (i.e., the ability to manipulate the temperature in the immediate vicinity) and pyrokinesis (i.e., the ability to generate fierce flames). To be endowed with these powers, he wears armour enhancements such as a chest plate that can shoot powerful light-like and fire-like blasts to blind, burn or even incinerate his foes. In the figure, the light- or fire-blasting chest plate is recreated by replacing the above-mentioned lenticular sticker with a white glow-in-the-dark disc or a fire blast effect, respectively. When Ramedras utilises these thermogenic powers, his skin changes colouration and, similarly to other figures in the various KR lines, this colour change feature can be achieved using warm water or a hairdryer, which will result in his body (and head) turning red-orange.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the various disc-shaped armour attachments, Ramedras comes with a metallic light-blue sceptre featuring a long, straight staff with a white leather strip wrapped around the grip. The top of the pole boasts an elaborate club/mace head, while the opposite end bears a single "stag beetle mandible"-shaped silver blade that resembles the head of a pick hammer. The mace head (which, at its base, carries a plate embossed with a six-pointed star-shaped metallic red-orange symbol) actually doubles as a torch that can be lit using a separate translucent orange flame piece. It's honestly a really neat accessory. The staff can split apart, becoming two separate weapons, perfect for close-quarters combat. Ramedras can store both halves of his staff on his back using two apt clips.

Additionally, we get two silver blades that can be either stowed in the leg sheaths or plugged into the inner sides of the wrist guards and ignited with two translucent orange flame-sleeves. That's a cool little design element that pleasantly surprised me.

Finally, the package includes an outfit item reminiscent of Ramedras's attire during the SpawnCrystals' creation briefly depicted in the KR|Emergence comics. This piece consists of two metallic light-blue armoured shoulder guards, which securely attach at the back via the above-mentioned clips, and a lengthy strip of red-orange cloth with one end draped diagonally from the left spaulder across the back, wrapping the waist to form a short, diagonal-cut skirt, while the other end extends diagonally in front of the torso and passes through the right spaulder. A blocky light-blue belt, adorned with a diamond-shaped white decorative element and a dangling star-shaped quartz jewel, secures the lower part around the waist, while the long end hanging from the back of the right shoulder functions as an asymmetric cape. The item has to be worn over the harness, but the disc needs to be detached first.

Final thoughts

Overall: Ramedras is a fantastic addition to the KR|EoF line, offering a variety of options for displaying him. Even the flame for his staff is a separate piece, allowing you to pose Ramedras with or without his torch lit, which is not something we've seen action figures come with very often. His sculpt is solid, his paint application is clean, and his design is faithful to Galamars's appearance while also incorporating some great new elements. I'm looking forward to seeing other Multiversal Balancers in the line soon

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #10: Ah-Rak (EoF Edition)

Toy prototype details

Name: Ah-Rak^TM (EoF Edition), aka Ginger-Bodied Ah-Rak

Subtitle: hideous warrior

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 8 in the line.

Character details

Name: Ah-Rak

Classification: arthropod with eurypterid-like traits

Sex: male

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod

Rank: colonel general.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Related character(s): Ah-Rak

Character summary: a cunning warrior skilled in survival, who eluded capture after the Grand Resistance's decisive victory over the Bogthropods. Centuries later, magically re-emerging in an altered form, he became a vital ally for the Destructomorphs in their ongoing conflicts with their sworn enemies, the Therioms.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a tail, which is a ball jointed separate piece (it features two articulation points, two swivels at about one-third and two-thirds of its length), and four ball hinged arms.

Description

Head: the head resembles the entirety of an arachnid's body and is composed of two parts: the upper part is a dark-blue (almost black) cracked shell/helmet, which carries four shiny dark-blue eyes in the front (two quite large lateral compound eyes and two smaller central eye spots; there are three more structures that look like eye spots, but they are completely black, so they might be different organs, such as chemoreceptors, or just bulges), an orange crest on the top and four pairs of orange spines (curved downward) on the sides; the lower part is orange with a bumpy texture and presents two chelicerae, which terminate in white venomous fangs, near the small mouth and two pretty large pedipalps, which terminate in scorpion pincers, more externally
Body: protected by a segmented orange chitinous exoskeleton with dark-blue (almost black) blotches. His limbs bear spinous ridges running down the sides and end with 2-clawed hands and feet. He also carries an extra chitinous neck piece that fits right on top of the body; this piece is glued on, but it might be possible to pry it off, if one had will to do so

Wearables: a dark-blue armour with metallic dark-blue details (including a Bogthropod emblem, which consists of what looks like a stylised trilobite crossed by three horizontal wavy lines, at the centre), two dark-blue bracelets, two dark-blue calf protectors (with metallised, armoured trimming on the bottom and top edges), a studded dark-blue belt, and a brand-new laminar metallic dark-blue loincloth with a fairly large piece that acts as a belt buckle (though it actually just rests in front of the belt).

Ah-Rak's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents a Bogthropod symbol.

Action feature

Like with the original figure, most of Ah-Rak's action is strictly related to his body structure, especially his back, which is covered by a chitinous carapace with a cracked and bumpy texture. The colouration of this shell is predominantly dark-blue (almost black) with orange spots along the edges (where it blends nicely with the metallic dark-blue edges of the armour), transitioning into a central area that features an orange hue with dark-blue/blackish blotches. The lower part of the carapace ends with an articulated tail, which terminates in an expanded and flattened structure (reminiscent of a double-bitted axe) with a serrated median keel running down its centre, as well as an elongated spike. The middle part hosts two pairs of additional arthropod-like limbs: the upper pair of these seemingly jointed appendages terminates in a single claw, while the lower pair is partly covered in spines and is modified into a swimming paddle. The uppermost part of the carapace ends with a sort of cannon that fictionally shoots a parasite-like grappling hook, which Ah-Rak uses for climbing or capturing his enemies; this is rendered using a black string, which bears a plug-in element at one end (connecting to the "cannon") and the arachnid looking orange parasite (with four equally spaced, hinged double-leg hooks) at the other end. The carapace can be removed together with the armour and used with most other KR figures, which is a cool display option.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the above-mentioned plug-in parasite/grapnel, Ah-Rak comes with four nicely designed large scimitars. Each weapon is a repaint of his Foundation sword and has a metallic dark-blue hilt (looking like a square-shaped spider whose back slightly resembles a human skull) and an ornately carved ivory (or maybe bone) blade; Ah-Rak's wrist and shin guards also exhibit a subtle hint of the same ornamentation, which I had never noticed on the original figure. I believe the original concept was for the swords to have off-white hilts and blue blades, but for some unknown reason the colours were eventually swapped. Unfortunately, there's only a small longitudinal slit in the centre of the carapace, accommodating just one stowed scimitar blade (alternatively, you can use the slit to wind the grapnel string around one side of the carapace). On the other hand, each handle was modified with a trefoiled handguard, enabling Ah-Rak to hold the weapon firmly with any of his six hands, regardless of whether they feature one or two claws or a broad, flat extremity.

Comic

Together with the action figure we get the first comic issue The secret origin of chaos. Millions of years ago, the Multiversal Balancers from the extra dimension of Cereutis intervened on the land that was later named Tahron, sending miraculous crystals to prompt evolution after the extinction of the giant reptiles. This led to the rise of intelligent, anthropomorphic beings from various species, coexisting harmoniously without conflict. Gladorr, a reptilian inmate with psychic powers, is manipulated by a reptilian faction on Earth's future to alter history. His mission is to empower reptilian civilisations, framing mammalians for a crime and destabilising the interspecific balance. Gladorr's plan begins to unfold successfully when Silef, a reptilian alchemist, becomes embroiled. Silef, influenced by Gladorr, disrupts peace, leading to conflicts and a war between reptilian and mammalian civilisations. The events develop with intricate alliances, battles, and personal vendettas. As the conflict reaches its peak, a resistance led by the brave warrior Catos fights back. Ultimately, after significant destruction, the resistance prevails. Silef, gravely injured, aligns with Gladorr's dark plan by ascending to a demonic form, leaving a lingering impact on both Tahron and Cereutis.

Final thoughts

Overall: this new version of Ah-Rak caters to a specific segment of the KR fandom, giving a cool twist to the original character. The orange hue might be overwhelming for some, but those who are into a hairless look will likely find satisfaction. The figure retains its original quality, but a bit more colour separation in his armour could have elevated its appeal. Still, if you're after something unique for your collection, this Ah-Rak version brings a whole new vibe to a character that's, at least in my book, pretty darn beloved

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #8: Krenodos

Toy prototype details

Name: Krenodos^TM

Subtitle: malevolent Bogthropod overlord

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 7 in the line.

Character details

Name: Krenodos

Classification: arthropod with xiphosuran-like traits

Sex: male

Relationships: ancestor of Denortos

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod

Rank: army general.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: the malevolent leader of the Bogthropods, who initially allied with Silef but ultimately fell under his influence when Silef's spirit merged with him, turning him into an even more monstrous and sinister entity. With twisted power at his command, Krenodos led the Bogthropods in an unrelenting war against the Multiversal Balancers, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a hinged lower jaw and a ball jointed tail.

Description
Head: elongated shape, greenish-grey skin, a strip of small rounded protuberances running centrally from the middle of the forehead to the back of the head, two pairs of curved greenish-grey spines pointing backwards where one would expect to find the ears, four orange eyes (two quite large lateral compound eyes topped by jagged brow ridges, and two smaller central eye spots; there is one more central bulge that looks like an eye spot, but it is silver-coloured and might be a different organ, such as a chemoreceptor), two large nostrils, and two rows of sharp, piranha-like whitish teeth lining the jaws
Body: his greenish-grey skin is stretched over a series of bony plates with spine-like tubercles, which are arranged in rings throughout his body, giving it a general segmented, armoured appearance. His limbs sport clawed extremities, while a long tail-spine emerges from under his loincloth and ends in a venomous sting

Wearables: an orange copper armour with light-green details, two orange copper wrist guards (each ornamented with studs and a light-green gemstone), two orange leather shin guards with turn-down tops, a double orange belt (composed of a larger copper belt bearing a four-pointed silver throwing star embossed in the middle, and a smaller loose fitting leather belt underneath) and a fringed light-green loincloth characterised by a porous texture. The armour shows some nice details such as tubes, battle dents and marks, as well as a Bogthropod emblem consisting of what looks like a stylised trilobite crossed by three horizontal wavy lines, whose vibrant blue colour contrasts beautifully against the light-green backdrop of the metal disc in the front.

Krenodos's stylised armour; the circle at the centre of the chest piece represents a Bogthropod symbol.

Action feature

In the comics, apart from having extremely accurate senses owing to his multiple eyes and chemoreceptors, Krenodos is shown to possess the ability to inflict ferocious bites on his enemies. This feature is wonderfully rendered thanks to the spring-loaded lower jaw, which can swing open and then suddenly snap shut like a bear trap.

In addition, this evil guy has the ability to exhale a gas that knocks his enemies unconscious. Since his appearance changes slightly when doing that, the figure comes with an alternative head. In this head, each pair of side spines is swung forward and spread out, forming a "bat wing"-shaped ear with a number of fissures, through which the gas is sprayed. Although this head lacks a hinged lower jaw, it stinks... literally! I don't know what the guys at PoliganToys added to the plastic to make it smell like wet soil, but if the intention was to replicate the knockout gas, well, they perfectly succeeded.

Weapons and accessories
Apart from his alternate head, Krenodos comes with a multi-bladed light-green staff. This is beautifully sculpted and has two "stag beetle mandible"-shaped orange copper blades at the sides of each end. In the comics, this pole can transform into a three-section staff, i.e., a weapon that is composed of a longer central stick and a shorter flail head on each end. The toy weapon can separate into three staffs, which are subsequently connected by two additional silver-coloured real metal chains.

Final thoughts

Overall: if you're not particularly fond of what looks like a faded version of Denortos, that's OK! This Cereutian creature remains an excellent prototype. If one happened to miss out on the Origin Denortos release, perhaps considering repainting this guy would help fill a slot in their collection. He's a solid figure with the extra bonuses of interchangeable heads and a transforming weapon, which add to his coolness. While he does have a few minor sculpt issues (for starters, I wish he had a bendy tail), I'm generally quite satisfied with him

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #7: Taragas

Toy prototype details

Name: Taragas^TM

Subtitle: respected commission head

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 6 in the line.

Character details

Name: Taragas

Classification: rodent mammal

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Interspecific Commission

Rank: first secretary.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: the charismatic and wise leader of the Interspecific Commission, who decided to retire after a lifetime dedicated to fostering peace and unity among diverse beings. While Veen-Ak appeared as the natural successor, Gladorr's influence on Silef brought uncertainty to the commission's future. During a fight with Silef in the Quartz Tower, Veen-Ak desperately tried to contain the damage by courageously deflecting a large quartz crystal shard, but Taragas was tragically killed in the process. From then on, he carried out his purpose as a divine presence.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of a pair of pivoting ears.

Description

Head: broad (sort of square-shaped) with a short muzzle, covered in short and shaggy greyish-brown hair that is grizzled with black and white. He has large, rounded ears that are positioned laterally on the head (pointing downwards by default, but can be oriented in any directions) and are covered in fine, pinkish hair, while his eyes are small and black, and are topped by bushy eyebrows. He also has long whiskers that grow from his cheeks as well as a very long, fine beard that is tied with a brown string near the tip. The upper incisors, which are sharp and yellowish, faintly project over the lower lip. I was bit worried that he would look like a cross between TMNT Splinter and Mickey Mouse, but thankfully he doesn't

Body: covered from neck to ankle with a very elegant kamishimo. His clawed hands and feet (the latter being longer, thinner and more robust, although mostly concealed by the garment) exhibit a grey-pink and hairless (except for a fuzz of greyish-brown hairs on the backs and insteps) complexion. Additionally, a lengthy tail, which is covered in greyish scales arranged in overlapping rings, emerges from under his hakama-like skirt (the non-articulated tail is actually part of the skirt's sculpt)

Wearables: a regal purple kimono accented by mid-brown leather collar, lapels, armbands, cuffs and hem, a light-brown hakama with purple trimmings towards the hem (designed with a central slit to allow for leg movement), and an open, dark-brown kataginu, i.e., a long sleeveless jacket with exaggerated shoulders pads (made from overlapping bands of leather). The thigh-length kimono is wrapped across the chest with the left side overlaying the right, and is tied closed by a mid-brown frog fastener; however, although the garment is secured by a purple waist sash, the lower torso remains uncovered, revealing a light-brown shirt adorned with a dark-brown shoulder belt that runs across the abdomen. Beneath the long, wide sleeves it's possible to glimpse two square metallic purple wrist guards (reused from K'Ran). Adding a touch of intrigue to his outfit, a silver key dangles from the right side of the belt (is it the key to the Quartz Tower?)

Weapons and accessories

While Taragas lacks an action feature (his sole strength appears to be his great wisdom), he does come with a cool staff-like accessory. The shaft is composed of four distinct metallic purple sections, interconnected by three mid-brown leather fittings (the central fitting serves as a comfortable grip). The lowermost section bears a resemblance to a painted wooden stick; the second section displays an arrangement of small prism-shaped elements in rows; the third section shows a unique construction, with two rods elegantly entwined; finally, the uppermost section features a double-bitted bronze battle-axe (with an interesting mechanised look), crowned by a spearhead crafted from quartz. Actually, a part of the final section (comprising the upper halves of the axe blades and the spearhead) can rotate 90°, forming a five-pronged head. This configuration represents the staff of authority and only transforms into a weapon when necessary.

Finally, the figure includes a separate crown that, in the comics, Taragas dons after raising to a divine form. This crown is a relatively simple bronze piece adorned with four prongs encircling a purple field (basically a tall cap) topped by a bronze spike. Although it doesn't fit tightly on the figure's head but simply rests atop it, the crown stays securely in place.

Final thoughts

Overall: Taragas is definitely an impressive figure. His attire is excellent and his sculpt is top notch, making for a fantastic looking figure. I can't help but wish that he featured an articulated tail though, as its absence restricts his ability to strike some cool dynamic poses, which is a tad frustrating. Nonetheless, he remains a standout in the line thanks to his exceptional quality and distinctive design

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #5: Veen-Ak

Toy prototype details

Name: Veen-Ak^TM

Subtitle: valiant shapeshifting fighter

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 5 in the line.

Character details

Name: Veen-Ak

Classification: mammal of uncertain group

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Interspecific Commission

Rank: envoy.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: one of the three commendable envoys of the Interspecific Commission and the likely successor to the ageing Taragas^TM, who was ready to pass on the leadership torch. When the evil forces led by the revengeful Silef gained control of Idakarr, Veen-Ak was unjustly imprisoned, while his companions secretly formed a resistance and eventually managed to set him free after years of conflict.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: human-like in appearance (although it reminds me of a mix of a Vulcan and a Klingon), characterised by a light-greenish hue to the skin, pointy ears, a series of horizontal ridges on the forehead and on the bridge of the nose between the eyes, long pearl-grey hair, arched and upswept pearl-grey eyebrows extending much beyond the eyes, pearl-grey facial hair suggestive of an Asian style (including long, thin moustaches), irregular and prominent teeth. His hair and facial hair (including the eyebrows) have black tips, while his eyes are deep blue and are said to possess an inner eyelid, which protects Veen-Ak's vision from bright light

Body: light-greenish skin, partially exposed torso and arms

Wearables: a short-sleeved orange vest with shoulder pads, double bracers and boots (each composed of a yellow-orange leather covering fastened with laces, and an overlapping brownish-orange copper wrist/shin guard ornamented with studs, engraved patterns and amber gemstones; interestingly, the shin guards predominantly cover the calves rather than the shins), a brownish-orange leather belt equipped with a metallic yellow-orange buckle, and a pair of off-white trousers. The vest falls just below the hips, features a stand-up mandarin collar and is open on the chest (although the two sides of the vertical opening on the front are loosely joined with an off-white leather string and secured by the belt at the waist), exposing a yellow-orange amber pendant on a brownish-orange leather string worn round the neck.

Action feature
In the comics, Veen-Ak is highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, enabling him to defeat even the most highly skilled fighters.

Additionally, he possesses a unique ability to transform rapidly into any mammal he is familiar with, although he tends to favour the form of a jackal. Surprisingly, his clothes are capable of shapeshifting with him, allowing him to morph effortlessly between animal and humanoid forms. While transformed into an animal, Veen-Ak gains all the physical abilities and characteristics of that species, while retaining his human-like intellect and memories, but losing the ability to speak. This remarkable body structure also enables him to heal from wounds, burns, and broken bones in a matter of seconds. The figure accomplishes this transformation feature with a separate jackal figure that is fully articulated (i.e., has ball jointed upper neck and tail, hinged lower neck, swivel shoulders and hips, swivel-hinged elbows and knees), plus some part-swapping. The base colour of the jackal's pelt is reddish-brown to tan, which is particularly pronounced on the flanks and legs. A buff-grey saddle intermixed with silvery hair extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail. Two long, dark-grey stripes extending along the flanks separate the saddle from the rest of the body. Two additional light-grey, almost silver stripes are present on the flanks, running from elbow to hip. The throat, chest, and inner surfaces of the limbs are also light-grey, while the bushy tail is black with a light-grey tip. His eyes remain blue regardless of the form he takes. An alternative head, a pair of full alternative arms and a pair of alternative lower legs (from the boot-cut down) can be used with the humanoid figure to simulate a mid-transformation stage. These body parts display a furry texture, a prognathous and toothed snout, and clawed extremities with colours that match the animal figure, although the alternate arms only have furry forearms (but no sleeves). After removing Veen-Ak's standard arms, the exposed arm-sockets allow for detaching the two shoulder pads, which partly fit in the sockets, and revealing a pair of tattered armholes. The jackal figure's tail can be detached and connected to the humanoid figure using a socket that is concealed under a flap on the back of the trousers. Originally, the plan was to include an overlay that would combine the partially transformed head and chest into a single translucent piece. This piece would then be placed over the figure's front upper body after removing the vest, simulating the early stages of the character's mutation. While it's unfortunate that there isn't an option to display the transformation of the torso, I'm pleased that the designers at PoliganToys chose to pursue the alternate head approach instead.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the alternate jackal parts and figure, Veen-Ak comes with his signature translucent white jian, a double-edged straight sword fictionally crafted entirely from a shard of milky quartz.

Final thoughts

Overall: Veen-Ak is set to make a lasting impact on fans and ignite countless discussions in the years to come, as his portrayal as the ultimate background character is quite extraordinary. It's evident that he was originally intended for further development, positioned as a devoted sidekick to his fellow envoys and the likely new leader of the Interspecific Commission. Personally, I appreciate his appealing look and abilities, and even if his characterisation may not resonate with everyone, he shines as a great warrior. Whether employed as a cunning spy thanks to his shapeshifting powers, a skilled melee fighter with his trusty quartz sword, or a humble counterpart to the confident Catos, this figure is a great addition to the line

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #4: Gladorr

Toy prototype details

Name: Gladorr^TM

Subtitle: scheming reptilian time-traveller

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 4 in the line.

Character details

Name: Gladorr

Classification: 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

Rank: mercenary.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #1 - The secret origin of chaos

Character summary: a grotesque 21^st-century reptilian inmate with psychic powers, native to the Great Lakes region of North America. After a supermajor energy company had stripped his homeland of its resources to fuel the world's largest hydroelectric dam, Gladorr joined a revolutionary movement against the construction of the facility. As a creature dependent on the native waters of the lakes, he could only survive in dry environments with the help of a containment/powered suit designed by the movement's leader. Eventually, Gladorr became one of the leader's most trusted warriors in their fight against the energy company. However, when the company's CEO began to manipulate the leader, he was forced out of the movement's inner circle. Feeling disillusioned, Gladorr turned to a life of crime to survive and spent a considerable time in prison. Facing a death sentence, he was given the chance to regain his freedom by working for the tech giant CorpSTar. Despite their questionable intentions, the company's promise to clear his name swayed Gladorr to join their cause and help them alter history. Sent to the past, he initially clashed with Silef, but later formed a tentative alliance with him, using his telepathic abilities to manipulate him towards his own goals. Despite Silef's demise, Gladorr continued to operate, using the former envoy's legacy to further CorpSTar's plans.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: his head has a peculiar appearance, similar to a fungal growth - it has a domed cap on a thick stalk, with a pair of ears shaped like bat wings extending from the cap and a large single eye in between the cap and the stalk. The skin covering this structure is scaly, bumpy and greenish, while the eyeball is painted in a glossy amber colour with a slit-shaped dark vertical pupil. He wears a glass-dome helmet fictionally filled with liquid, possibly to facilitate breathing

Body: scaly, bumpy/warty greenish skin, webbed clawed hands and feet. His slender limbs are supported by blocky midnight-blue components of a powered exoskeleton, which are adorned with white cables connecting the upper and lower parts of the limbs and transparent piston chambers seemingly containing a reddish liquid. These actuators run from the shoulders down to the forearms and from the thighs down to the calves. 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 scaly tentacles, possibly merging into the head's stalk

Wearables: an off-white (i.e., a white colour with a slight greyish tinge resembling tarnished silver) armour with midnight-blue details, two off-white bracers (each made up of three metal bands), two off-white shin/knee/instep guards featuring fins at the sides, an off-white belt and midnight-blue trunks. All these elements combine to create a cohesive, cyber/armoured look. The armour, which is really detailed and has some great paint applications, appears to function as a type of containment/powered suit, with the actuators fastening to various points on Gladorr's body, such as the shoulder, wrist, thigh and shin guards. On the back, the armour bears a backpack adorned with tubes (two of which seemingly connect to the armour near the flanks, while two others look like exhaust pipes), four white wires running to the actuators (they can be unplugged from the shoulders and thighs), and an offset tank, indicating that there is quite a lot of technology behind this creature's health maintenance. One thing I really like are the various thermionic valves here and there on the backpack, which are different sizes and filled with different little electrodes - they look great and really add a further dose of detail and coolness to the figure.

Gladorr's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Gladorr possesses limited psychic powers typical of his species, which include the ability to move objects with his mind as well as the ability to read the thoughts of others and communicate with them mentally, or even influence their thoughts and emotions to some extent. He can also temporarily weaken his enemies during combat by targeting their nervous system, causing dizziness, disorientation, or even paralysis for a short time. Additionally, his powered suit grants him superhuman strength, enabling him to lift heavy objects and hold his own against even the most powerful foes. The suit also provides Gladorr with enhanced durability, protecting him from physical harm.

However, his head is permanently encased in a glass dome full of the lakes' waters on which he depends to survive. The figure has a unique feature that allows you to fill its dome with water. The dome, which is securely attached to the armour with a screw cap mechanism to prevent any leakage, covers the head of the figure, which is connected to the armour by a ball joint. You can even add a few drops of an included colourant to the water, to achieve a comic-accurate pinkish hue. Of course, when the dome is fixed in place, it makes it impossible for the figure's head to move in any direction. Fortunately, the dome can always be easily unscrewed without affecting the figure's ability to hold water. It's worth noting that while the water feature adds to the figure's fun factor, it has the potential to damage the head's paint or leave limescale marks.

Weapons and accessories

Gladorr comes with an impressive cannon that fits snugly into his hands. This heavy, massive metallic midnight-blue firearm (with some white accents) features a fairly long rectangular barrel (which is taller than it is wide) ending in a squircular muzzle (complete with two fin-shaped axe blades on either side), which in the comics has the ability to shoot deadly blasts of plasma. The bulky, hi-tech main body of the weapon is equipped with a rear grip extending from the butt, an L-shaped fore grip (i.e., with a handle sticking off the side for two-handed firing), and a longitudinal drum magazine embedded in the rear part. Additionally, the cannon includes an attached tank, similar to the one on the backpack, that is connected to the barrel via a white tube. The barrel and the butt of the weapon are connected by a black pliable baldric that doubles as an ammo belt, retaining and feeding special yellow cartridges into the drum magazine (the plasma blasts are apparently created through the interaction between the content of the cartridges and the gas supplied by the tank). It is definitely an oddly shaped weapon, but it does add a cool extra element to Gladorr's hi-tech equipment. The ability to hold it in both hands also adds to its practicality, making it easier for the figure to carry it... it's clear that functionality was a top priority in its design, and that's something I can definitely dig.

The figure also includes an alternative portrait that shows a slightly different, angrier "expression" (in the comics, Gladorr speaks by moving his eye in a manner similar to that of a mouth).

Final thoughts

Overall: this figure is an impressive addition to the KR|Echoes of Future line, featuring a unique and detailed design that captures the essence of the character in the comics. Gladorr is a well-crafted figure that fans of the KR universe will appreciate for sure. However, the potential risks of damaging the figure when filling the dome with water may dissuade some collectors to use this feature altogether

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5