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|Horizon Review #30: Combining Cyborg (SDCC 2023 Exclusive)

The Combining Cyborg made its debut in the first issue of the KR|Horizon comic book series as a transitional character, introducing fans to the mecha-centred atmosphere of that line. When combined, the Cyborg itself takes on the appearance of a mecha and consists of three individual characters: Xonedar, Tang-Lha and Wrapthur.

Now, fast forward to the present time, when PoliganToys has decided to release a large-scale Combining Cyborg action figure at SDCC 2023! Up until this point, we only had the three separate figures I mentioned earlier (with only a few Horizon-accurate alternative parts for Xonedar). Having put my hands on this new figure, I can honestly say it is i-n-c-r-e-d-i-b-l-e!

Toy prototype details

Name: Combining Cyborg

Subtitle: hyper-technological giant warrior

Line: KR|Horizon

Item type: large scale figure - Nº 3 in the line.

Characters details

Names: Xonedar, Wrapthur and Tang-Lha

Classification: partially humans

Sex: males and female

Home: Tahron

Era: 15 years after Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: colonel and lieutenant colonels.

Background

First appearance: KR|Horizon #1 - The Destructomorph legacy

Brief bio: two former Troopers who had displayed unwavering loyalty to Senior Minister Tir-Hing, Tang-Lha and Wrapthur were among the most valuable members of the Theriom Armed Forces thanks to their intelligence and incredible fighting skills. Always eager to carry out their mission without question, the two soldiers were seriously injured and almost killed during the first battle of Ra-Hal. They were eventually healed by their mentor and, in a way, adoptive father Colonel Xonedar, who transformed and grafted their bodies with cybernetic parts by encasing each of their cells into a microscopic robotic structure, a technology previously invented by and applied to Xonedar himself. By adjusting the properties of those techno-elements in their bodies, Tang-Lha and Wrapthur gained the ability to shape their physical forms into a plethora of highly advanced devices for use in battle. Equipped with multi-optic visors that could effortlessly see through any structures and a wealth of built-in capture weaponry that could subdue any adversaries, the two warriors were soon back in the forefront of the defences of the Republic of Tahron, now providing an outstanding service to Senior Minister Desion. When confronted by particularly tough opponents, Tang-Lha and Wrapthur could even merge with Xonedar to form a towering mecha endowed with tremendous robotic strength, which would allow the Therioms to win in any combat situations.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

With an adequate height of 30 cm (approximately 12''), this figure displays an extraordinary construction that incorporates numerous die-cast metal parts. Its articulation is equally remarkable, allowing for seamless movement and posing to recreate a wide range of dynamic battle scenes, giving the figure a lifelike appearance.

Speaking of meticulous attention to detail, this figure takes it to a whole new level. Every inch of its body is adorned with intricate sculpting and impeccable paintwork. From the amazingly designed circuitry patterns on its limbs to the prominent bolts accentuating its shoulder and elbow articulation, this figure captivates the eye with its awe-inspiring look. It faithfully replicates the appearance of the three individual figures that serve as its components (a detailed description of how they combine is in my review of Tang-Lha & Wrapthur), featuring armoured forearms, thigh pads and lower legs complete with knee guards. The paint job is also exceptional, with metallic red coating on its legs, glossy black on its abdomen and arms, and metallic blue on its head and chest. The addition of silver accents throughout (mostly on the mid torso, hips and the above-mentioned armoured parts) further enhances its visual appeal, adding a touch of brilliance to this already impressive masterpiece.

The figure's ball-jointed head draws inspiration from the iconic mouth-shielded face of Xonedar, but with a more mecha-like twist. Borrowing elements from CoBoN's robotic head design, this portrait exudes a coolness factor, complete with a crown of silver horns that make a bold statement.

Action feature

In my previous review, I described how the three cyborg characters, Tang-Lha, Wrapthur and Xonedar, combine to create this ultimate mecha warrior (their fusion reminds me a lot of Saikyo Robo Daioja). When they merge, their respective chest reactors are placed in unique positions: Wrapthur 's reactor finds its place on the waist/groin area, Tang-Lha's one is split into two parts, positioned on the inner sides of the feet, and Xonedar's one dominates the chest region, its appearance enhanced by its larger size. The real showstopper, though, is the amazing light-and-sound feature embedded within this large chest reactor. Powered by a battery and activated by a button on the back, the Combining Cyborg comes alive with dazzling red-and-green lights and futuristic blasting/whirring sounds. For those who prefer a different experience, the cyborg comes with the option to replace the LED chest reactor with an inactive one, featuring a lenticular sticker instead. The process is simple - by detaching the chest plate, you'll unveil an internal arrangement of colourful non-moving parts such as gears, turbines and tubes, and will be able to disconnect the electronic assembly and attach the alternative piece.

Weapons and accessories

Similarly to its smaller counterparts, the Combining Cyborg also includes multiple silver-coloured (with a dark sheen) interchangeable weapon attachments that can replace its left hand. These consist of a rocket-shaped cannon, a grabber with four gripping jaws arranged in an X shape, and a cylindrical drill bit. It also comes with two handheld weapons such as a sort of trident-halberd, which is made up of a long dark-blue shaft and a double bitted silver battle-axe topped with a silver spear spike, and a round, fan-like laser shield with a mostly translucent yellow disc, which is seemingly produced by the unfolding silver blade of a machete-like sword. All these accessories are reminiscent of some of the weapons that came with Tang-Lha & Wrapthur, but they are of course much larger and more detailed.

Last but not least, there's an alternate faceplate that bears an exposed steel mouth, i.e., without the regular mouth shield. Replacing the faceplate is a piece of cake, but popping off the head from the ball joint takes a bit of effort. Even though all these pieces are included, most of them are never seen in the comics.

Final thoughts

Overall: this is an exceptional toy, a true marvel of engineering and design. Standing tall and boasting awesome articulation, sculpt and paint job, the Combining Cyborg is a must-have for any KR collector or fan. This figure seamlessly combines the best of three characters into a masterful creation. The light-and-sound feature elevates the play experience to another level, and the ability to switch to an alternate chest reactor is a thoughtful addition. Update: I heard rumours that there may even be a rare chase variant with switched colours of the chest and legs (inspired by the incorrect colour scheme appearing in a concept design), making this collectible even more desirable!

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #6: Dreanogs

Toy prototype details

Name: Dreanogs^TM

Subtitle: lethal techno-invertebrate annihilators

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: multi-pack (army builder 3-pack) - Nº 1 in the line.

Character details

Name: unknown

Classification: arthropod with tardigrade-like traits

Sex: male or female

Home: Cereutis

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod

Rank: frontline soldier.

Background

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

Character summary: a swarm of techno-invertebrates deployed by Silef and Krenodos^TM, the masterminds behind the Multiversal Balancers' demise. These agile soldiers crawled as lookouts and guides for their masters, delivering punishment to the people of Cereutis and Idakarr. Equipped with built-in tech armour and a deadly arsenal of laser blasters, orientable cannons and heavy clubs, they fearlessly carried out any order, even resorting to self-destruction, making them relentless frontline combatants.

Articulation

The Dreanogs' articulation scheme differs from the standard one significantly and is the following:

• shoulder (ball hinged, x4)
• elbow (ball hinged, x2)
• wrist (swivel + hinged -for left wrist front-to-back movement and right wrist side-to-side movement-, x2)
• waste (swivel)
• hip (ball hinged, x2)
• knee (swivel, x2)
• ankle (double hinged -for both front-to-back and rocking movements-, x2)
• tail (swivel)

Description

Each Dreanog features a spheroidal body, which is small in size, yet infused with menacing elements.

The head/torso is enclosed in a striking tech armour, predominantly flat red with metallic accents, showcasing a futuristic design. Standing out prominently at the centre of the armour's front opening is a large, dark-green chitinous face (bearing numerous details such as cracks and bumps), which surrounds a single circular dark-red structure resembling a compound eye, giving it a frightening and otherworldly aura. At the heart of this eye-like structure lies a tubular mouth equipped with ten small, sharp whitish teeth, ready to deliver a fierce bite. At the centre of the action figure's "forehead", sits a headband that features a prominent Bogthropod emblem consisting of what looks like a stylised trilobite crossed by three horizontal wavy lines, and whose vibrant blue colour contrasts beautifully against the red backdrop of the figure's armour. The three longitudinal lobes of the symbol, whose lengths vary (with the central section being the longest), are embossed onto the surface of the headband and symbolise power, agility, and a relentless spirit.

Three pairs of stocky limbs and a stubby tail protrude from the armour, all covered in segmented, spiny dark-green chitinous plating. Apart from the two main arms and the two legs, the figure boasts two additional smaller arms that end with sharp, barbed whitish blades, perfect for close combat encounters.

Adorning the main arms are eye-catching red shoulder pads, while the hands and feet display pairs of red armoured, robotic gauntlets and boots, which feature spiked cuffs and tops, and are equipped with eight digits each (divided in two groups of five and three long sharp claws respectively, giving each extremity a grapple rake-like appearance). One distinct feature of the Dreanog's outfit is its red waist-belt, which includes a cool rectangular lenticular sticker (giving an illusion of coursing sound waves) on the buckle, providing the figure with an extra touch of technological sophistication and suggesting its ability to analyse and interact with its surroundings.

Action feature

The Dreanogs bring an array of exciting features to our playtime adventures. First, each figure's face is ingeniously designed to spin vertically - the dome-shaped armour effectively conceals the mechanics responsible for this face-switching action, but there are visible knobs on the sides, where the arm holes are located. By turning these knobs, you can seamlessly switch between different face options. Apart from the regular face with the compound eye, there is a large human-like bloodshot eyeball with a red iris and a black pupil, while the third portrait is a cool robotic face; the last features a sleek silver panel adorned with intricate copper highlights resembling circuitry patterns, at the very centre of which is a circular white structure reminiscent of a cluster of photo detectors; this eye-like structure opens into a triradiate, Y-shaped aperture that reveals a black background, at the core of which lies a round blue hollow similar to the lens of a camera.

Furthermore, the three Dreanogs are designed to connect with one another to create different combat formations. They can be joined front-to-back, utilising two ball jointed connection pieces seemingly derived from the extending robotic faces, to form a centipede-like configuration. Alternatively, they can be connected top-to-bottom, using the same pieces that in this case replace the fictionally retractable lower body and form some sort of counter-gravity field generators, to construct an impressive living tower.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the two extra connection pieces, the Dreanogs come with four accessories that can be used across the three figures. First and foremost, a formidable mace can be wielded to deliver devastating blows to their adversaries. The mace features a reddish-brown wooden head reinforced by metallic red tech parts, such as spikes and a side axe blade. The combination of the organic material and technological enhancements creates a striking visual contrast, highlighting the Dreanogs' unique blend of monstrous and futuristic elements.

Additionally, an alternative snap-on emblem that fits perfectly on the "forehead" of any one of the three figures provides us with even more display options. After removing the standard-looking crest described above, the second one enables us to recreate the character's ability to unleash devastating energy beams. This accessory features an energy blast effect moulded in translucent blue plastic, accentuated with orangish-yellow paint applications at the end.

Finally, we get a pair of long silver bendy appendages that resemble mechanical tentacles, seemingly emerging from the figure's back (where in fact they plug into two well-suited quadrangular sockets). Each appendage ends in a gun with a rectangular barrel (which is taller than it is wide), designed to surprise enemies and keep them at bay.

Final thoughts

Overall: the Dreanogs 3pk is an absolute must-have for potential collectors and fans of the Echoes of Future line. These soldiers may be small in size, but they pack a punch with their unique design, intimidating presence and a fun action feature

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. This weapon, much like its wielder, is capable of shapeshifting—it can re-crystallise into a variety of forms, including a shield, jō and club, all made of quartz (the shield is a cool brand new piece, while the jō and club are translucent white versions of the staff and mace from the Enmity Expansion Kit for Tahron).

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 (a skill that grants him the potential to communicate across timelines and dimensions), 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

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #3: Catos

Toy prototype details

Name: Catos^TM

Subtitle: brave resistance leader

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 3 in the line.

Character details

Name: Catos

Classification: human

Sex: male

Relationships: father of Tah-Ron and ancestor of the Amhalgaard family

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: a respected member of the Interspecific Commission and a skilled archer, swimmer and inventor. After becoming the brave leader of the Grand Resistance, he fell in love with Lemu-Rha^TM and had a son named Tah-Ron, whom he entrusted to the Kimarhan^TM tribe for his safety during the war against Silef.

Articulation

Standard (new scheme), except that the right hand is especially engineered with a hinge to hold an arrow.

Description

Head: light brown skin, green eyes, and a black stubble in which the moustache is disconnected from the lower beard line. He wears a pair of golden earrings and a turban-like white headdress secured with a colour-changing gem in front (this is normally golden-yellow, but if you dip a finger in warm water and then touch it, the gem will become purple). The daring expression on his face emphasizes his resemblance to Masq-Lor

Body: light brown skin, partially exposed torso and arms. He wears a taupe necklace with a gold medallion resembling the Interspecific Commission emblem, i.e., a misshapen concave-sided rhombus. His arms are partially covered by wide white sleeves (each has a slit that goes from the cuff all the way up to the elbow, exposing the forearms completely), while his legs are covered by wide white trousers tucked into the boots (each leg is adorned with an intricate golden side band reminiscent of traditional oriental motifs)

Wearables: a pearlescent white vest (whose edges are adorned with oriental-inspired, flowing line golden patterns) worn with the front open, two wrist guards consisting of multiple brown leather straps that are stitched together and secured by golden buckles, two dark-grey boots (each featuring a turndown top, a golden-jewelled tongue, brown laces and intricate brown stitches at the welt), and a zebra-like (i.e., with taupe-and-gold stripes) sash round the waist. It looks like the material used to make the vest is distinct from the material used for the sleeves, suggesting that the vest is worn over an unbuttoned shirt. The figure also wears a removable brown leather harness composed of two shoulder straps that converge on the right side of a waist strap; the back includes a rucksack, a quiver with sculpted arrows, two straps that secure a sculpted rope, and a clip for stowing a separate bow, while the front features a sheath holding a sculpted horn-handled knife on the larger shoulder strap, as well as two pouches for storing small tools on the sides of the waist strap.

Action feature

In the comics, Catos is accompanied by a snake-like golden underwater robotic beast of his own creation (unofficially named Kimaerha), which has a slender, elongated body, a bulbous snout with white glowing eyes, a long whip-like tail, and a set of fin-like structures: two dorsal fins spaced widely apart (a large triangular first dorsal fin with an erect spine on the front edge, and a low rectangular second dorsal fin), two pectoral fins (large enough to generate lift), two smaller pelvic fins, and a caudal fin divided into two lobes, the top one being larger, tapered and inclined upwards. When Catos is in danger, the creature activates (an act usually accompanied by purple light emitted by the jewel on Catos's headdress, hence the colour-changing feature), emerging from the water and dismantling the forepart of its body, to generate a high-tech suit of powered armour around Catos's body: the snout becomes a full face, seemingly flip-up helmet, the neck splits into two spaulders, the chest becomes a cuirass, the pectoral fins break down into rerebraces and gauntlets, and the first dorsal fin produces a longbow, while the rest of the creature incorporates Catos's lower body from the waist down. When in use, the suit grants Catos several abilities, and can reconfigure itself to produce a wide array of weapons; the most common functions consist in super-fast swimming by generating waves that travel the length of the tail fin, increased strength and endurance, energy shield generation, blasts/beams creation via the gauntlets, enhanced senses via the helmet, and production of a set of trident-shaped powered arrows (which can be shot with the longbow) via the spaulders. On dry land, the lower part of the suit can free Catos's legs while equipping them with thigh guards and shin guards. So, the figure comes with a plethora of extra pieces for changing Catos from his basic look to his enhanced form. Firstly, there are two alternative heads with the golden helmet closed and open. When closed, the helmet bears a fin-like crest from front to back, a chin bar and a face shield for absorbing impacts, and resembles a humanoid face (with purple glowing eyes) framed by what looks like the robotic creature's mouth. Its chin bar and face shield can be fictionally pivoted upwards to reveal most of Catos's face, as in an open-faced helmet. His battle outfit comes in the form of a cuirass (replacing the removable vest and harness) and two alternative armoured arms. The golden cuirass with pearlescent white details is not a completely new item, as it is mostly reused from Combat Masq-Lor. It's a two-piece armour that features the Kimarhan/Grand Resistance symbol (i.e., a laterally stretched, 14-rayed golden-yellow Vergina Sun symbol, from which the Theriom emblem derives) and functions like the above-mentioned Masq-Lor figure, where the armoured chest panels swap out. Catos has three newly made panels, the second of which depicts purple cracks forming across the symbol (indicating energy shield/blast projection), while the third one features some damage across the emblem. The arms, on the other hand, are reused from the enhanced form of Myneran and display various golden-and-white pieces of armour such as spaulders, rerebraces and gauntlets. Finally, there are two alternate lower sections that replace the regular legs and attach to the upper body by a peg at the waist: one with the robotic tail fin and one with armoured legs. The tail fin has amazing tech-mech details, golden paint deco, and articulation in three parts (hinged crotch, swivel-hinged "knees" and swivel-hinged tail fin). The second type of armoured lower body is human-like and is reused from Myneran too. It features two criss-crossed studded belts as well as pairs of tassets, thigh guards and boots with knee/shin guards, all with the same golden-and-white colour scheme and intricate decorative details as the upper limbs. The small gem-ornamented Theriom emblems on the wrist and knee guards have been retooled into Kimarhan symbols, while the little gaps here and there reveal pearlescent white chain mail details beneath the armour.

Catos's stylised alternative cuirass; the oval at the centre of the breastplate represents the Kimarhan symbol.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the wealth of interchangeable parts, Catos comes with two longbows. The first one is for his basic form and consists of a large, nicely shaped brown wooden cable-backed bow with off-white leather strips wrapped around the grip and the ends of the limbs, and a taupe bow string. This bow is reinforced with a brown tensioned cable along the face of it, and is complemented by a long brown wooden arrow with off-white fletching and a pointed dark-grey head. The second longbow is for Catos's enhanced form and consists of a beautifully sculpted golden bow (with a white "energy" string) fictionally derived from the spined dorsal fin of the robotic creature, and is accompanied by a golden arrow whose head has protrusions on the sides, giving it the look of an H-shaped trident (the arrowhead is flanked by two barbed prongs extending side by side with both the central pointed tip and part of the shaft).

Furthermore, we get a translucent purple blast effect for Catos's enhanced form, which is attached to an alternative open hand that replaces the default bow-drawing hand.

The final accessory is the robotic creature's foremost body! Made from the same golden-painted plastic and equipped with white glow-in-the-dark eyes, this piece attaches to the tail fin, to assemble the full Kimaerha figure. Also, included with the figure is the water-looking, articulated posing stand that was used for Xehrea. It has a sort of clamp for the robotic tail, which allows either the creature or Catos to be displayed in a few different swimming poses.

Final thoughts

Overall: Catos is simply epic! He's a really cool looking figure that is tons of fun. Lots of accessories, a great action feature, and plenty of play value. However, there are two areas where the toy could be improved, both of which were featured in the comics. I would have loved to see an additional head with Catos's thick black hair exposed, or perhaps a removable turban on the regular head. Also, it would be great if the trident-arrow could attach in some way to either shoulder pads. Despite these minor shortcomings, I'm really excited to see what this line has in store for us in the future

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5