KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #29: Geel-Ber (EoF Edition)

Toy prototype details

Name: Geel-Ber^TM (EoF Edition), aka Comrade-In-Arms Geel-Ber

Subtitle: barbaric warlord turned ally

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 24 in the line.

Character details

Name: Geel-Ber

Classification: human

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom (formerly belonging to the Destructomorph faction for a limited period of time)

Rank: paladin (formerly leader of the Gunlars, a barbarian tribe, and monstrous re-embodiment of Deptilion).

Background

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

Character summary: a once-possessed young barbarian leader who, beneath the guise of Deptilion, had concealed a troubled soul manipulated by dark forces seeking to alter the history of Tahron. Separated from the monstrous entity that controlled him, Geel-Ber shifted from adversary to reluctant ally of the Therioms, slowly recovering fragments of his lost memories. Though initially defiant, he evolved into a key figure in the battle against Gladorr, driven by a desire for redemption. His final act, fighting bravely alongside Masq-Lor, sealed his transformation, and in his dying moments Geel-Ber found peace, grateful for the chance to right his past wrongs.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: pale white skin, a blond mohawk that stands fairly tall, blue eyes, a narrow nose, and a series of intricate silver and golden markings adorning his face (along the forehead, beneath the eyes, on the chin, and extending to the sides of his head); whether those markings are tattoos or ceremonial war paint is unclear, but they lend him an air of mystique. He also wears a pair of short feather earrings with an ethnic, Native American-inspired design as well as three golden rings stacked around his neck

Body: pale white skin, exposed arms and legs (with the former wearing two armbands made of golden plates laced together, which are reused from Al-Mih-Tek)

Wearables: a silver armour with black leather details, two studded silver bracelets, two silver boots with black leather fringes around the tops, and black leather trunks. The sleeveless outfit resembles a tabard and consists of a single, long strip of combined laminar and lamellar armour with an opening for the head, covering the front and back of the body but left open at the sides, and secured at the waist with a silver belt (the loincloth-like piece below the belt, covering the trunks, looks like an extension of the armour's central strip).

Geel-Ber's stylised armour.

Weapons and accessories

To reflect his prowess as a skilled warrior, Geel-Ber comes equipped with a menacing halberd, a hybrid weapon combining elements of a spear, battleaxe and sledgehammer; it features a silver axe blade on one side and a hammer head with vicious meat tenderiser-like teeth on the other, topped with a silver spike mounted on a black shaft. The halberd includes interchangeable short and long handles, evoking the feel of a Mjolnir-/Stormbreaker-like weapon.
Additionally, the figure includes a double-edged straight sword that is a replica of Veen-Ak's signature jian, except that it is cast in a nice shiny golden plastic. But my favourite accessory on this figure is a boot dagger! This first showed up in early Geel-Ber concept art and even made it into Dawn of a new past, but it was "cut" before the Foundation toy was produced. Now we finally get it, and it's awesome! The knife really looks like it's tucked into Geel-Ber's right boot, and it's fully removable. I love that the blade and handle are two different colours, silver and black, respectively. It makes for a great accessory for Geel-Ber to tote around, especially since this is the same knife he uses to cut his hair and maybe even to tattoo his face in The dark powers of dominion.

Finally, the package includes an alternative, pre-haircut/warpaint head with long, slightly wavy blond hair and a combative expression.

Final thoughts

Overall: Geel-Ber may not be the most essential figure in the KR|EoF line (he's not drastically different from the Foundation version) but die-hard collectors will appreciate his sharp, mean-looking design and commanding presence. No longer just a minor villain, his expanded backstory adds depth to his character and offers a fresh perspective on his motives. While not entirely new, this figure, with its refined look and solid accessories, feels rewarding for longtime fans and tempting for newcomers who missed the original

Rating: ☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #28: Gladorr (Second Evolutionary Stage)

Toy prototype details

Name: Gladorr^TM (Second Evolutionary Stage)

Subtitle: transformed reptilian schemer

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 23 in the line.

Character details

Name: Gladorr

Classification: techno-mutated 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; Bogthropod (temporarily)

Rank: mercenary.

Background

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

Character summary: after developing a statue-like shell during a fierce battle with Masq-Lor, Gladorr emerged as a powerful metallic being, his body forged from a fusion of Cereutian technology and experimental enhancements, possibly linked to Silef’s past body modifications. Coldly pragmatic, he eventually allied himself with the tyrant Krenodos, aiding the Bogthropods in their conquest of Cereutis and the banishment of the Multiversal Balancers. When the Therioms exposed Gladorr as a calculating opportunist, one who had manipulated both enemies and allies across space-time in pursuit of his own hidden agenda, Krenodos agreed to a temporary alliance to eliminate him. Though captured, Gladorr was soon rescued by loyal soldiers in a brutal assault, reigniting his campaign to alter history. Through mind control and merciless tactics, he turned the captured Fai-Rha and Herrion into living weapons, ultimately absorbing the power of their helmets to evolve further. During a subsequent attack on Theriom City, he revealed his new terrifying, nearly unstoppable form, enhanced by the strength of the fallen siblings. Driven by dangerous long-term ambitions, Gladorr’s ensuing theft of the Theriom’s halberds marked not only a shocking and devastating outcome, but the beginning of a far more ominous plan: to conquer the mysterious powers locked behind the multiversal walls.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: much like in his standard form, his head resembles a fungal growth, with a domed cap perched on a thick stalk, a single large, mean-looking eye set between them, and a pair of ears shaped like bat wings extending outward. In this version, however, the organic look of this structure has been replaced with a robotic finish, adding a more menacing edge; the metallic "skin" is silver-coloured (with a two-tone sheen) and detailed with ridges and rivets where separate plates seemingly meet, while the eyeball is cast in translucent dark-amber plastic (with a slit-shaped, dark vertical pupil appearing fuzzy within) and the ears are sharp and blade-like

Body: his torso and limbs are slender, resembling an écorché in which the exposed muscle fibres have been transformed into bundles of wires and cables, all sharing the same two-tone silver, metallic finish as the head. Within the chest, glimpses of a hybrid interior are visible, like an organic core (perhaps a heart) encased in a lattice of moving cogs. The arms and legs are further detailed with etched circuitry, and end in webbed, clawed hands and feet. Additionally, 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 steel tentacles, possibly merging into the head's stalk

Wearables: none, this is how he emerges from the hardened shell of his previous form, likely the result of some kind of blood poisoning caused by the metal-coated tail tip present in Silef’s spirit, or perhaps a remnant of his past exoskeleton.

Action feature

In the comics, beyond the basic look described above, this version of Gladorr takes on different appearances depending on the point in the story. All of these variations can be recreated using some cool accessories included with the figure. To replicate his appearance during the time he co-rules Cereutis with Krenodos, the accessories include pearlescent white pairs of armbands (each ornamented with a four-pointed throwing star symbol), narrow bracelets with knuckle guards, and clawed boots, as well as a large pearlescent white tasset belt featuring a round buckle (which bears a blue gemstone carved with three vertical wavy lines) and central midnight-blue Roman-style studded lappets hanging in the front. The most striking pieces, however, are a midnight-blue cape fastened at the front with a pearlescent white emblem shaped like a four-pointed throwing star (featuring what appears to be a trilobite embossed at its centre), and a hooded, masked head. The pearlescent white mask and the midnight-blue hood are actually separate pieces; the mask can be removed, revealing Gladorr's standard "face" beneath, and replaced with an included translucent blueish face shield, mimicking the scene from the comics where the mask is summoned and materialises seemingly out of nowhere. The mask's sculpt itself is well done, featuring a cross-shaped, blueish-grey steel ornament riveted to the faceplate: the horizontal bar serves as a visor, with two menacing, dark-amber glowing eye slits, while the vertical bar bears a silver frontal crest (whose shape is very similar to that of Xonedar's helmet) and ends in a toothed air intake that covers the mouth area. Completing the look are a pair of curved steel horns extending from the temples, along with two similar shorter pairs protruding from the cheeks. This mask has several design elements that remind me of Megatron from the "Bayformers" movies and Ultron from the MCU.

Finally, to replicate his appearance during the assault on Theriom City and the multiversal walls, several additional pieces of pearlescent white armour (all accented with angular, metallic midnight-blue trimmings and embellished with small exposed tech-mech elements) are included, such as two rerebraces (each worn via an armband, and fitted with an oversized studded pauldron bearing a translucent CorpSTar symbol—a crescent arc-shaped rising sun with a seven-pointed star beneath it, symbolising the dawn of a new reptile-lead civilisation—and various battle dents) and laminar forearm guards that connect to the rerebraces via swivel joints at the elbow, allowing for movement while maintaining full arm articulation. The arm armour is complemented by matching laminar, strap-fastened shin guards equipped with large studded knee guards. Finally, the set is completed with a cuirass and a new helmeted head. The cuirass is not a completely new item, as it is partly reused from Combat Deptilion. It's a two-piece (back and front) armour that features a new back plate with a hemispherical, bright central structure that may serve as a sort of power generator, a newly added turning control hub in the abdomen, where Gladorr can tap into different abilities (more on this later), and a resonance display on the chest plate, which shows glowing waveform visuals when he speaks and functions like the above-mentioned Deptilion figure, where the armoured chest panels swap out. Gladorr has three newly made lenticular panels, each depicting a different rippling waveform style (i.e., bars, lines and areas). The head is an enhanced version of the previously described masked design. Now helmeted instead of hooded, it features riveted blueish-grey steel ornaments made up of three bars: the horizontal bar still functions as a visor, but with four eye slits (two on each side); the vertical bar includes two silver frontal crests inspired by Herrion's helmet, and ends in a more streamlined mouth plate; a new crossbar spans the sides of the head, with attached silver side and top crests reminiscent of Fai-Rha's helmet. Completing the look are the two short pairs of curved steel horns extending from the cheeks. The overall aesthetic of this head gives me some Infinity Ultron vibes, but I wish the face plate could be flipped up. It’s important to note that in the comics, this final armoured form originates from the suits of armour worn by older, brainwashed versions of Herrion and Fai-Rha; these suits were created by Gladorr's body after it absorbed the power of the siblings' helmets, and are later shown transforming into liquid metal, one becoming Gladorr's endoskeleton, and the other immediately after forming his outer shell.

Gladorr's stylised cuirass.

Weapons and accessories

In addition to all the parts needed to recreate Gladorr's various appearances during the events featuring his second evolutionary stage, the figure includes an extra set of accessories tied to the abilities granted by the turning control hub housed in his cuirass. Notably, the six coloured markings that characterise this dial suggest it operates using the power of the SpawnCrystals. When the pointer aligns with the red or yellow markings, Gladorr gains the ability to attract machine parts and convert them into wrist-mounted weapons, such as the included metallic midnight-blue flamethrower (accompanied by a translucent red-orange blast effect) and rotary multiple-barrel ray gun, both of which can be attached to his wrist bracers. The light-blue and dark-blue markings allow Gladorr to transform his hands into weapons; the package includes two interchangeable metallic midnight-blue pieces that can replace his hands, namely a cannon with a canister-style magazine (very reminiscent of his signature bazooka, with the canister resembling the tank and connected to the barrel via a white tube) and a crossbow-shaped weapon (whose limbs are joined at both ends by, instead of a string, what looks like a stream of water, which is converted into sharp, bladed ice-bolts by the central barrel). The mauve marking enables Gladorr to generate electromagnetic pulses from his hands, which he uses to steal the four halberds from the Key defenders; this ability is recreated thanks to a pair of wispy, tendril-like effects cast in translucent lavender plastic that attach to his wrists, seemingly tracing the movement of his attraction powers. The four halberds are also included, but while the shapes of their heads remain identical to the original versions that we all know, each blade now features circuitry-like accents in yellow, red, green and blue, respectively; additionally, the handles are significantly shorter, allowing them to plug into four slots arranged in a double-V formation on Gladorr’s back, making him the Key himself. Finally, the green marking allows Gladorr to transform his fingers into slender, flexible mechanical appendages that interface with the slot atop the pillar used to open the portals of the multiversal walls; to reproduce this, the figure includes two alternate hands featuring trailing tentacle-like extensions.

Final thoughts

Overall: like many figures in the KR|EoF line, this new version of Gladorr might not grab attention at first, but the more you engage with him, the more you appreciate his subtle complexity. From his sturdy build and solid articulation to the impressive sculpt and array of accessories, Gladorr is a great figure that does more than just look good... he invites play! There's something satisfying about holding a figure that’s both detailed and highly playable. Here’s hoping future releases follow this path, where form and function meet, and every figure feels as thoughtfully crafted as this one

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #27: Uhlu (10th Anniversary Exclusive)

This post marks a major milestone—10 years since I launched this blog!!

While the very first review didn’t drop until September 2015, August was when it all began with an introduction to the world of Key Raiders and a lot of excitement for what was to come.

And what better way to celebrate a decade of reviewing than with a figure I’ve been waiting on for years, one that harks back to the original Foundation line... well, sort of.

Toy prototype details

Name: Uhlu^TM

Subtitle: honourable sentry across timelines

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 22 in the line.

Character details

Name: Uhlu

Classification: carnivoran mammal

Sex: male

Home: Tahron

Era: Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: divisional general.

Background

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

Character summary: a noble-minded elite private of Theriom City, trained in advanced combat and capture techniques to defend Tahron with honour in the original timeline, and the savage yet loyal general of a feral warrior division in an altered, ravaged reality. Serving the exiled Therioms with a commanding presence, Uhlu fiercely protected their sacred forest, one of the last strongholds of the mammalian people amid the war-torn remnants of Tahron. Renowned for his strength and unwavering will, he remained a devoted champion of the Theriom’s cause, guided by a sharp tactical mind and unshakable faith in the deity Tah-Ron.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: similar to a cave bear, characterised by a sculpted crown of long, reddish-brown hair that cascades into a thick mane, a pair of piercing blue eyes beneath a heavy brow, and large, sharp teeth (including two elongated, razor-sharp fangs protruding from the upper jaw) that give him a ferocious edge. Encircling his face is a squarish, studded orange copper diadem, with two points rising like short canine teeth at the lower corners. Adding to his already intimidating appearance is a removable cap fashioned from a wild boar's head with its lower jaw stripped away; this cap is covered in "real" dark, grizzled fur, with long, off-white tusks on the sides, which extend downward before gradually curving upward

Body: he features the bulkier sculpt previously used for figures like Grabtrak, characterised by dense reddish-brown fur, oversized hands with sharp claws, and clawed feet. He also comes with a removable reddish-brown furry vest designed to replicate his actual torso fur; this soft, fuzzy separate piece includes a particularly pronounced hump that gives him a hunched look. I know some collectors aren't fans of soft goods on their action figures, but if that's the case for you, removing the vest still leaves him looking great; the sculpted torso hair underneath is detailed enough to maintain his wild, ferocious look, even without the extra fur

Wearables: a harness made of orange leather straps, each studded with orange copper rivets, equipped with a gunmetal grey Theriom emblem (i.e., a seven-pointed star with the two side points elongated) at the centre of the chest piece and two removable orange leather spaulders, each featuring a triplet of large, curved orange copper spikes; these spaulders are not connected to the harness, instead, each is secured to the upper arm with a matching copper-studded leather armband, also adorned with a small gunmetal grey Theriom emblem. He also wears a pair of narrow copper-studded orange leather bracelets, a thin black leather band wrapped around his left thigh, two orange leather shin guards (each featuring a pair of large, curved orange copper spikes and a small gunmetal grey Theriom emblem near the top), and a removable copper-studded orange leather belt with a round buckle, supporting a layered loincloth made of “real” dark, grizzled fur and a rugged, battle-worn copper plate adorned with off-white bones and teeth.

Uhlu's stylised harness; the oval at the centre of the chest piece represents a gunmetal grey version of the Theriom symbol.

Action feature

In the comics, Uhlu possesses great physical strength and wears two metal battle gauntlets, each featuring three large razor-edged claws. So, the figure comes with a hollow left-right pair of armoured clawed gloves that clip directly over his hands, not the wrists or bracers. These gauntlets fit reasonably well, and are finished in a gunmetal grey paint that matches the Theriom emblems on his armour.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the pair of battle gauntlets, Uhlu comes with a sceptre topped by a large clawed, forward-facing bony hand clutching a cave bear skull, and a bearded axe whose blade is crafted from an animal’s jawbone. These accessories are incredibly cool, some of the best in this line to date. Both feature orange copper hafts, with the bony parts secured by leather straps and decorated with scrimshaw-like engravings on their surfaces. The harness includes two loops on the back, allowing the figure to stow and tote around these weapons.

Additionally, Uhlu comes with a set of accessories and alternate parts to recreate his Theriom Trooper appearance from the Foundation comic books after removing his regular head, furry vest, harness, spaulders, bracelets, lower legs and belt-plus-loincloth. It's about time this figure became a reality... I've been waiting and asking for it since 2017! The set includes an alternate head sculpt resembling a brown bear with a pronounced furrowed brow and a pair of upward-protruding sharp teeth. A removable silver helmet with gold detailing fits over this head and comes equipped with a clip-on translucent orange visor and a right-side plug-in headset that combines an earphone, antenna and microphone into a single piece. He also comes with a gold armour accented with silver details, a pair of golden wrist guards that replace the default bracelets, a matching pair of golden boots that swap out the standard lower legs (I think these have a more tactical, armoured look than those seen on earlier Theriom Troopers figures), and a single piece combining a golden belt and a silver groin protector adorned with a golden Theriom emblem. All these parts are intricately sculpted with electro-mechanical details, giving the figure a distinctly cyber-like aesthetic. Complementing the outfit are grey clip-on arm and thigh armours, each marked with a diagonal blue stripe. The backplate supports a pack that features a bright central circle and four cables running to cuffs placed around the bracers and boots. Fictionally, this backpack may function as a portable reactor designed to power servomechanisms attached to his limbs. Private Uhlu is also armed with a large silver capture weapon, which is highly detailed and technological in appearance with sculpted wires, gears and side-mounted mini-cannons. At its front is an orange copper bear-trap mechanism shaped like a stylised animal snout, featuring two articulated gripping jaws lined with spiked protrusions to clamp an opponent. Finally, the package includes a futuristic silver taser-like device shaped like a half-ring or pincer. This weapon features a socket that allows one of the backpack’s cords to connect for power, and a glow-in-the-dark effect that attaches to its ends and mimics an electric arc between its two electrodes.

Final thoughts

Overall: Uhlu turned out far better than I ever expected. He's fun, well accessorised and nicely modelled after his different comic book depictions. The figure comes with some awesome-looking fur and a great selection of accessories, making it a standout addition to the series that should please long-time fans of this character. The two head sculpts are especially well done, truly perfection! I'm undecided between the alternate, savage EoF version and the Foundation version: the former has better accessories and the fur addition, while the latter has a more classic-looking head sculpt and outfit. Luckily, having both means I don’t have to choose

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|Horizon Review #33: CoBoN 3.0 (SDCC 2025 Exclusive)

Toy prototype details

Name: CoBoN 3.0

Subtitle: armoured fighting robot-base

Line: KR|Horizon

Item type: large scale figure - Nº 5 in the line.

Character details

Name: CoBoN Mark III combining mecha

Classification: mobile suit

Home: Tahron

Era: 15 years after Foundation

Affiliation: Theriom

Rank: transport component.

Background

First appearance: KR|Horizon #2 - In the eye of the storm

Brief bio: after sustaining severe damage to its Mark II components during the final battle against Deptilion and his army, CoBoN was rebuilt into a levitating train-like vehicle. Its new form was propelled by a unique power unit, granting it enhanced mobility, access to powerful advanced weaponry, and an impressive range of defence configurations.

Concept

This prototype represents only a fraction of the incredible machine that is CoBoN Mark III. Still, it’s worth taking a moment to talk about its overall appearance in the comics, especially since I wouldn’t mind seeing the full version realised as a toy someday.

This incarnation of CoBoN is a silver-painted, levitating train-like combat vehicle with a revolutionary design, and like its previous versions, it is powered by a classified energy source and controlled by an advanced AI. Similarly to its predecessor, the Mark II, this model is composed of multiple modular units; when needed, these modules can deploy or separate as individual vehicles, each equipped with powerful jet engines and capable of transforming into other types of attack craft or even robots. There’s a clear influence here from late-70s Japanese TV shows such as Dinosaur Expedition Born Free, Dinosaur Great War Izenborg, and Dinosaur Corps Koseidon, all of which placed a strong emphasis on modular and combining vehicles.

Leading module

The front section features the signature black, nose-mounted scanner bar with red and yellow patterns (i.e., two lines that sweep horizontally and a central pulsing "eye" that allows CoBoN to "see"), while the two-seater cockpit sits beneath a partially transparent canopy (the clear areas have an orange tint). Behind the cockpit, an aerodynamic structure houses large air intakes and outlets. The vehicle is equipped with four powerful jet-engine nacelles, two mounted on the sides (each ending in a pair of missile launchers on the front) and two on the underside (each terminating in an array of five guns). At the rear, a cluster of four exhausts serves as the connection point to the second module when in fully assembled mode.

After separating from the rest of the machine, the leading module transforms into a combat aerial vehicle. The front part flips upward to form a nose cone vaguely resembling a bird's head (this also includes the distinctive scanner bar), while the cockpit slides forward, extending the fuselage and triggering two winglets to swivel outward from the sides. A pair of main wings, hinged at their centres, unfold from the rear sections of the side nacelles; each wing is equipped with a launcher capable of hurling circular saw blades. At the back, the sides of the main body pivot upward to form a T-tail configuration, with a pair of rotating laser guns mounted on either side.

When necessary, the aerial vehicle can convert into an attack mech. The cockpit retracts into the bodywork, forming the robot’s pelvis. The side nacelles swing downward on double-hinged joints to become the legs, with the feet rotating 90 degrees into position and retaining their original function as missile launchers, while the wings fold at their midpoints and flip upward (maintaining the ability to deploy the circular saw blades if needed). The lower nacelles pivot forward to form the arms, while the fingers preserve their built-in weapon capabilities, doubling as gun arrays. The chest plate/viewport (originally the aerodynamic structure) slides downward as the T-tail swings back to become a pair of rear winglets (the laser guns convert into booster rockets in the process), simultaneously revealing the head (reminiscent of CoBoN 2.0's, with the black scanner bar as a visor on the upper part and a "mouth" shield below), after which the chest plate returns to its original position.

The two transformations bring to my mind some old toys of the Diaclone series, particularly Dia-Train and Dia-Attacker.

Locomotive

Positioned behind the leading module, this module houses the engine room and the bridge for crew operations, and features a lower cargo section that can be deployed, transforming into a suit of armour capable of enveloping the attack mech to enhance its power.

The transformation happens in two stages: first from the hold into a structure resembling a gigantic gun, and then from the gun into the exo-armour configuration. The upper beams flip downward and slide forward to form the dual barrels, while the rear sections pivot inward to form the gun’s grip. Then, the grip straightens, extends and splits apart to form the legs, while the dual barrels separate and swing outward to become the arms (one transforms into a standard arm, while the other becomes a cannon arm). After combining with the attack mech, a new, larger head takes shape, featuring face protectors that extend outward to form distinctive radar-like ears and long antenna-like horns.

This transformation reminds me of some old Transformers G1 toys, specifically Ultra Magnus and Megatron.

I'll cover the two remaining modules in a future post, since they're not relevant to this review.

Description

This review focuses on the toy version of the augmented robot, which is fictionally formed by the leading module and the locomotive's cargo section, and referred to by the working name CoBoN 3.0. This huge figure stands 46 cm tall (around 18'') and features articulation on par with the standard KR figure, allowing for excellent movement and a wide range of dynamic action poses. Its body is packed with fine details while remaining true to the design of the vehicle parts it transforms from. The paintwork is impressive, with silver colour used on the bodywork components, and black (along with blue accents) on the sections revealed during transformation. The articulated head is a larger, more detailed version of the attack mech’s head.

Action feature, weapons and accessories

Apart from large faux tank treads beneath its feet, which conceal functional rolling wheels, its armament includes the following (listed in the order they appear in the comic book battle scene with the Combining Goblin):

1. a rotary-barrel cannon emerging from the lower torso through an opening (by flipping down) front hatch;
2. two three-clawed, grappling hook-shaped assault drones launched from the sides of the lower legs, each equipped with a laser rope (represented by an additional flexible, neon-green string) capable of ensnaring targets; the front of the lower legs features two multi-barrel cannon assemblies, with each barrel capable of rotating independently from fully lowered and flush with the leg, to fully raised to target a threat;
3. two laser cannons that deploy from the pivoting horns on its head when the face protectors are shut, accompanied by a gold-coated visor (to protect against the intense laser radiation, which is kind of hilarious when you think about it) that lowers via a lever during operation;
4. a punch-support thruster integrated in the left forearm for additional melee functionality;
5. a deployable freezing ray blaster housed in the left arm’s fist, which pops up and rotates into position, and features a light-piping effect; the hand itself is fully articulated, with individually jointed fingers and thumb (plus splaying index and little fingers) and can detach via a side-mounted release button;
6. four missile launchers concealed within the upper torso, revealed by two hatch doors that flip open above the shoulders; each rocket is shaped like a drill bit, featuring a blade-like tapered screw thread, and partially ejects revealing a blast effect extending from its tail when pulled (it can also be fully removed for play or display); a subtle light pipe shoulder detail adds visual depth to the chest reactor placed between the two pairs of missiles;
7. a powerful, massive plasma cannon replacing the right arm and featuring a sliding ribbed panel that extends the barrel tip and a number of side hatches; an integrated light-piping feature gives the appearance of it "firing" when deployed.

Furthermore, in the comics, following an intense battle, the augmented robot (or rather the full CoBoN vehicle) must recharge using geothermal, solar and wind energy before it can resume operations. To achieve this, the robot transforms into a ground base station, allowing the other modules to connect and collectively gather sufficient energy. This transformation is also replicated in the toy and unfolds through multiple steps.

First, each leg splits from the knee down into front and back sections as the robot lowers itself into position, deploying some sturdy support stands (which are supposed to be geothermal probes) near the central hinge. The front panels on the thighs swing forward to form ladders leading to the two multi-barrelled cannon assemblies that rotate side to side (with each barrel independently able to tilt up and down) on the front sections of the lower legs. Additionally, the unfolded feet can deploy two tunnelling drones (each consisting of an included tracked body connected to one drill-missile and resembling the side modules of CoBoN Mk2) through opening hatch doors: each foot has two side doors that swing outward (each revealing six red-painted missiles on its inner side), while a front tab flips downward to complete the play feature. The sides of the lower legs are also equipped with the above-mentioned rotating grapnel-drones, each mounted on a side hatch that flips up to reveal two 3×3 missile clusters pointing sideways, along with a front-and-rear rotary gun system. Alternatively, the lower legs can unfold to create dual runways for the two grapnel-drones, which are detached and converted into jets with a few twists (two variable-sweep wings, each equipped with a hook at its tip, are formed by flipping down the sides and swivelling the attached flukes outward, while the top fluke swivels backward to form a sort of tail; this design is slightly reminiscent of the central module of CoBoN Mk2). Each cannon array must be rotated backward, after which the runways (originally folded in half) are unfolded; the cannons are then slid beneath the runways to lock them in place. A dial under each runway activates a flight deck lift system, allowing the drones to be stored and deployed from internal hangars. The rear sections of the lower legs feature two aft hangars, each with a heel-mounted door that opens downward and has a ramp that slides outward to allow another tunnelling drone deployment.

The upper limbs reconfigure by rotating the arms backward and bending the forearms 180 degrees forward. In this configuration, the shoulders function as helipads for the two grapnel-drones converted into helicopters (this time, the side flukes swinging back to form the tail boom, while the top fluke unfolds to become the rotor), each capable of 360-degree rotation and forward-backward sliding. Each upper arm features a lift-up panel revealing an integrated hangar system that deploys or retracts a drone to and from the helipad using a tab-operated eject/retract mechanism. The left hand retracts by rotating into the forearm through an opening panel on the sleeve, while the outer punch-thruster pivots forward to reposition as a secondary cannon.

The rear features an infantry section composed of interconnected platforms, stairs, ramps, rotating guns and satellite dishes, as well as solar panels and wind turbines, all of which can fold in and out from the base's walls. A manually operated lift platform (mounted on a shaft that rests vertically against the back in robot mode and extends diagonally in base mode) raises a figure into position at the back of the head, which tilts forward, with its horns reconfigured into independently rotating twin cannons forming an anti-aircraft gun turret. The platform is normally stored in a rear compartment, accessible through a double sliding door that can be opened by pulling two tabs once the lift shaft has been positioned diagonally. In addition, when the shaft is repositioned horizontally, opening its front hatches reveals a hidden, giant rear cannon. A section of the head, including parts of its back and sides, can also be deployed as a gunner drone, with its wings formed by flipping the horns/cannons side panels upward (this small aircraft is reminiscent of both Tang-Lha's little head-spy drone and the rear module of CoBoN Mk2).

The entire robot-to-base transformation reminds me of some classic toys from the Diaclone series, particularly Great Robot Base and Robot Fortress X. It also appears that the slots at the front, back and top of the ground base are designed to accommodate future attachments. We'll see!

Final thoughts

Overall: I absolutely love this figure. As many know, the KR|Horizon line has been on a mecha kick with recent releases, and this one delivers in full. It's big, shiny, heavy with die-cast, and a ton of fun! Sure, it doesn't quite fit the typical KR play pattern, and even other high-tech looking figures would struggle to interact with it. Still, I see it as a key step toward the eventual release of a super-droid figure in the KR|EoF line (I know it's coming). It’s pricey (probably $500), but with a little wallet courage, I’ll be picking this up at SDCC.

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #26: Neloht

Toy prototype details

Name: Neloht^TM

Subtitle: ravenous multi-mawed predator

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 21 in the line.

Character details

Name: Neloht

Classification: arthropod with pentastomid-like traits

Sex: hermaphrodite (but he vaguely appears as male)

Home: Cereutis

Era: 50 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod

Rank: squadron leader.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #3 - The unforeseen fall of destiny

Character summary: a monstrous creation of Bogthropod science, armed with multiple butchering, life-draining mouths for shredding foes with relentless hunger. Fiercely loyal to Gladorr, he unleashed terror upon Cereutis through savage ferocity. As Raftok’s successor, he led one of the dreaded Dreanog squadrons into a climactic battle against the Therioms and the Multiversal Balancers.

Articulation
Standard, with the addition of a fully articulated leg and two hinged parapodia.

Description

Head: at the front, his elongated, dirty-yellow (#cdc50a) head resembles a sort of beak arranged in a pentaradial symmetry. This structure projects into five hooked, bony jaws, each slightly parted and painted in a dark-grey colour. At the back, the head extends into a tapering shape accented by wrinkled fins or folds, from which short, brownish spines jut out irregularly. Protruding from the central space between the jaws are four serpentine dirty-yellow tentacles, each ending in a small, monstrous head (this reminds me of the Graboids in Tremors). Each of these heads bears a single bulging, solid purple eye under a jagged, bony brow ridge that enhances its sinister look; flanking the eye are a pair of pointy ears, while below is a hooked, brownish horny beak with the upper jaw ending in a sharp ivory fang and the lower jaw featuring two upward-curving side fangs (these elements are reminiscent of Mal-Ah-Kros’s stalked eyes).

Body: his dirty-yellow skin is stretched over a series of chitinous plates with spine-like tubercles, which are arranged in rings throughout his body, giving it a general segmented, armoured appearance. In fact, most of his body parts are reused from regular Krenodos, except for the forearms and lower legs, which seemingly split into three diverging segments (each with subtler segmentation) below the elbow and knee, respectively, before re-converging at the wrist and ankle. Another unique feature compared to other figures is that Neloht has three legs, which required a modified pelvis. I also noticed that the extra leg has a different shape, as it is rounded on both sides at the thigh, whereas the legs of the KR figures are normally only rounded on the outer side. His webbed hands and feet each have five long, radially arranged dirty-yellow slimy fingers or toes that end in dark-grey claws on the dorsal side and adhesive pads on the ventral side. Due to the webbing, each splayed open hand and foot appears to feature a suction cup-like structure, which is reddish and lined with rows of small, sharp ivory teeth on the inside. On his back, he has a pair of wing-like, dirty-yellow lateral fleshy protrusions reminiscent of the parapodia found on certain marine gastropods, which are capable of flapping.

Wearables: a purple armour with dark-blue details, two narrow purple bracelets, three narrow purple anklets, a wide, studded purple belt (fastened with a large pentagonal buckle shaped like an upside-down house), and a laminar dark-blue loincloth made from horizontal overlapping bands of armoured plating. The armour appears to be constructed from interlocking plates, giving it a carapace-like look, while the collar features a segmented structure reminiscent of the jointed parts of an arthropod. Additionally, the left shoulder is guarded by an oversized, removable laminar dark-blue pauldron adorned with spikes and secured around the arm by a studded purple armband (the pauldron is not attached to the armour). Finally, two flexible silver tubes extend from an apparatus on the back of the collar to two sockets on either side of the rear of his head.

Neloht's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Neloht's beak-like face spreads open (much like a Demogorgon’s) into five fairly triangular, hooked lobes that are reddish and lined with rows of small, sharp ivory teeth on the inside. The central space between the five lobes, somewhat resembling an open mouth with a tongue, contains five small, monstrous heads: four on extended stalks, as previously mentioned, and a fifth that remains retracted. Near the tip of each lobe is a forward-facing protuberance bearing a crown of blade-like metallic teeth that encircle a radiodont-like mouth composed of radially arranged yellowish tooth plates. These five protuberances are actually extendable proboscises normally retracted within his head. Such elongated, prehensile appendages can stretch to great lengths and are used to capture and shred enemies into pieces. Each tentacle-like, warty dirty-yellow proboscis terminates in a mouth equipped with multiple rows of rotating sharp metal teeth, ideal for chopping up any material, and is adorned with four horn-like brownish projections. So, the figure comes with an alternative unfolded head (it is necessary to unplug and reattach the two tubes) and two sets of five mouths (one retracted and one extended), which are all separate plug-in pieces that can be interchanged easily. The extended mouths feature bendable wire tentacles and spinning crowns of blade-like silver teeth.

Additionally, he comes with two pairs of alternative hands: one with the fingers pinched together, and one open featuring dirty-yellow bendy tentacles (one per hand) extending from the centre of the inner surface and resembling those on the head, with each ending in a smaller, whitish-clawed hand.

Weapons and accessories

Apart from his alternate head and hand parts, Neloht comes with a unique metallic dark-blue shield that has a large spiked boss in the centre and seems to be made from two mismatched halves: one half is round, featuring a smooth surface and evenly spaced round studs along the rim, while the other is fairly polygonal, with a rough surface and diamond-shaped studs. The two halves are joined by an irregular zig-zag seam, appearing crudely fused together with rough welding and oversized staples. This asymmetrical shield can clip onto the figure’s forearm, and it’s also designed to be throwable—an optional silver rigid chain can be connected between the clip and the shield to simulate a hurl-and-retract action.

Finally, for those who aren’t fans of the third leg, the figure includes an alternative tail piece. This replacement looks fantastic, resembling a segmented, dirty-yellow chitinous scorpion tail adorned with spine-like tubercles and dark-grey bony spikes. It ends in a bulbous structure featuring not one, but two arched, brownish side-by-side venomous stings. Thanks to its downward-curving shape, this tail still serves as a functional support for balancing the figure, much like the original leg.

Final thoughts

Overall: Neloht is an outstanding addition to the KR|EoF line, perfectly capturing the essence of the comic book design. With a great head sculpt, two portraits and plenty of interchangeable parts, he provides some solid play options. The included weapon is a welcome bonus too! Thanks to his larger head, third leg and "wings", his unique size and striking presence make him a fantastic, must-have figure and a worthy fit for the Bogthropod army

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #25: Lugos

Toy prototype details

Name: Lugos^TM

Subtitle: justice-wielding forest sentinel

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 20 in the line.

Character details

Name: Lugos

Classification: lagomorph mammal

Sex: male

Home: Idakarr (Tahron's former name)

Era: 570 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Kimarhan (a tribe of forest warriors who eventually form the Grand Resistance to oppose the rising reptilian authority)

Rank: tribal warrior.

Background

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

Character summary: a vigilant forest guardian, wielding twin batons to uphold justice. Roaming the tribal lands with quiet resolve, he confronted threats with precision and strength. Driven by a deep sense of duty, Lugos stood as a true-hearted protector of peace.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme).

Description

Head: he wears a large dome-shaped, brimmed hat made of woven straw, which conceals most of his face and is kept on the head by a brown fibre chinstrap. The lower portion of his head sculpt is similar to a jackrabbit, characterised by short dark-buff fur, a slightly prominent face (subtly flattened to give it a more humanoid appearance) and large upper incisors protruding from the jaw. The hat bears an indigo-painted depiction of the Kimarhan/Grand Resistance insignia (i.e., a laterally stretched, 14-rayed Vergina Sun symbol, from which the Theriom emblem derives) on the front, and has two openings through which a pair of long, elliptical black-tipped ears rise upright

Body: thick dark-buff fur (peppered with black), five-fingered hands and long four-toed feet with strong dark claws protruding from brown fibre-strap hand/foot wraps, and a short bushy black tail seemingly projecting through an opening in his skirt. The fur on the insides of his limbs and on the underside of his tail is sandy grey to creamy white, while the black dorsal surface of the tail continues up the spine to form a black stripe

Wearables: a metallic light-blue armour with golden-yellow details, two metallic light-blue bracelets, two metallic light-blue shin guards, an elaborate metallic light-blue belt with a pair of short tassets, and an ankle-length sarong made of straw-coloured fabric with pleats in the front. The belt, sarong and non-articulated tail are actually a single removable piece, and the sarong features slits on the sides to allow for greater leg movement.

Lugos's stylised armour.

Action feature

In the comics, Lugos is portrayed as an extremely skilled martial artist, thanks to his powerful legs that enable him to leap great distances, run at incredible speeds and deliver devastating kicks.

Additionally, he can use his straw hat as both a shield and a deadly weapon. As a defensive object, its metal lining beneath the wickerwork layer provides protection against blows and projectiles; as an offensive weapon, when hurled, it is capable of slicing through bodies and obstacles with its razor-sharp rim and return to its thrower (this reminds me of Mortal Kombat's Kung Lao). So, the figure includes an alternative head not wearing the hat, as well as a separate hat that can be displayed as a shield. Without the hat, the face sculpt is very well defined, with large amber eyes and an overall bold expression that suggests both intelligence and confidence, while the shield can be held firmly by the chinstrap attached to its copper-like inner side (which features an intriguing motif—engraved with a rounder version of the 14-rayed emblem, the centre of the design appears to reveal a mysterious face emerging from it, with the two ear openings resembling a pair of eyes).

Weapons and accessories

Apart from the alternate head and shield, Lugos comes with a new weapon consisting of two golden-yellow batons fictionally connected by an extendable rope, with each end shaped like a rabbit paw. In the comics, this weapon can be adjusted to function as a single combined eskrima baston, a nunchaku/manrikigusari-like weapon, or dual batons for independent close-combat use. Each baton also conceals a chamber that can nebulise harmful substances, deliver electric shocks, or combine both to shoot flames from the paw ends. So, along with the two connectable batons, the set includes two lengths of rope (one shorter and one longer, both moulded from a very pliable plastic) and an assortment of attachments designed to fit over the paw ends: two smoke plume effects, one glow-in-the-dark electrical discharge effect (a "net"-like pliable piece that attaches to both batons) and two translucent flame effects.

Additionally, the figure comes with two amusing accessories: a basket filled with grass, carrots and berries, and a bowl of herb purée complete with an attached spoon. This inclusion is a bit silly and unnecessary, but undeniably fun!

Finally, and this is definitely the most exciting addition, we get a set of alternate parts that allow us to transform Lugos into a completely different character, essentially getting two figures in one! To do so, you’ll need to remove Lugos's head, armour, hands, and the belt/sarong/tail piece (revealing a plain light-blue belt and a straw-coloured furry loincloth underneath). The new figure is an insectivore-like warrior named Sunok^TM (from the Theriom feral warrior division led by Uhlu in an alternate version of the Foundation reality), who, in the comics, has a coat with defensive spines and is able to roll himself into a spiny ball for attack. The set includes a hedgehog-like head with fur matching the body and blueish-grey earrings, armour similar in design to Lugos's but in golden-yellow with blueish-grey accents and spikes protruding from it, two hands equipped with spiked golden-yellow knuckledusters, and a couple of weapons. The first weapon is a sort of leash made of semi-flexible plastic and consisting of three parts: a sculpted rope segment with a loose loop near the "handle" that wraps around the wrist, a short section of chain, and a spiked manacle for seizing an opponent's arm or leg; the manacle features a metallic blueish-grey paint finish and opens with a peg closure. The second weapon is a long, wavy spined blueish-grey steel blade that can either plug into the back of his armour to resemble a comb of spines running from behind the head down into a tail-like shape, or be held in his hands by the long two-handed hilt towards the "tail" section.

Final thoughts

Overall: while Lugos may not be the most standout release in the KR|EoF line, he’s still a solid addition that fans will enjoy. His vibrant design, fun accessories and the clever inclusion of parts to create an even more obscure figure show real appreciation for characters who appeared in just three comic panels. He may not be the most appealing figure on the shelf, but he's still a unique and worthwhile piece

Rating: ☺☺☺☺ / 5

KR|"Echoes of Future" Review #24: Raftok

Toy prototype details

Name: Raftok^TM

Subtitle: battle-forged weaponsmaster

Line: KR|Echoes of Future

Item type: action figure - Nº 19 in the line.

Character details

Name: Raftok

Classification: arthropod with onychophoran-like traits

Sex: male

Home: Cereutis

Era: 50 years before Foundation

Affiliation: Bogthropod

Rank: squadron leader.

Background

First appearance: KR|Echoes of Future #3 - The unforeseen fall of destiny

Character summary: a hardened warrior with a mysterious past and unmatched tactical instinct. Once an unreliable ally of the Bogthropods, he eventually rose to lead a squadron of Dreanogs with ruthless conviction. A fateful clash with the Therioms and the Multiversal Balancers ultimately led to his downfall.

Articulation
Standard (new scheme), with the addition of two ball hinged arms.

Description

Head: insectoid-like, characterised by a scaly black hood that blends into a purplish face. It displays a pair of long, tubular purple antennae extending forward from the brow, two fairly large, bulbous bulging yellowish eyes with small black pupils, an aggressive looking mouth lined with sharp whitish teeth, and a jagged chin accentuated by two elongated, curved serrated jaws made of a black, chitinous hardened material. The position of the head is unusual compared to the standard figure, since it features a socket at the back, designed to connect to a ball joint that extends forward from the top of the chest plate (more on that later)

Body: the surface of his purplish skin is densely covered with numerous fine papillae (which are also visible on his face); in the comics, these structures are described as serving both sensory and respiratory functions. His primary limbs feature subtle cyber-enhancements, such as silver wires and connectors, while his secondary, smaller arthropod-like arms extend from the sides of his abdomen and end in single sharp, crescent-shaped black chitinous claws (which are homologous with his jaws). Finally, he has a short two-pointed tail (like a swallow forked tail) emerging from his trunks

Wearables: a yellow armour with golden-yellow details, a yellow belt, and a scale armour loincloth made of several large, pentagonal golden-yellow plates. The belt buckle is shaped like an insectoid face, complete with a humanoid, gaping mouth lined with sharp teeth, from which two serrated, white-painted mandibles protrude; word is, this was the original design for Raftok's head, but they ended up swapping it out for the one described above—nice Easter egg!

Raftok's stylised armour.

Action feature

Raftok's most striking feature is the massive, high-tech armour he wears, dominated by a towering, heavily weaponised structure mounted on his back (hence the unusual placement of his head). Atop this structure sits a rotating turret outfitted with six guns, arranged in pairs across three levels (viewed from above, these guns align with the angles of a hexagon); in the comics, these guns expel an adhesive slime to create sticky nets that immobilise enemies, but unfortunately no blast effect mimicking this ability was included with the figure. Flanking the structure, just above the shoulders, are two pivoting side cannons, each topped with a smaller blaster; these cannons fictionally fire laser-tethered (rendered with orange strings) silver mechanical grabs with three articulated gripping jaws on the left side and four on the right, and each is equipped with a knob to manually reel the string back in. Completing the arsenal are four powered, flexible steel cables, which extend from an emblem-like element (i.e., a silver-coloured symbol resembling a four-pointed throwing star with what looks like a trilobite embossed in the middle) on the back of the structure to the golden edges of his oversized hand- and foot armour. Yes, let's talk about that. His primary limbs are equipped with massive silver-coloured (with a dark sheen) gauntlets and boots, each detailed with rivets, spikes and tech-mech elements. In the comics, these enhancements enable Raftok to lift, punch and kick with the force of several tons, as well as scale vertical surfaces and ceilings with ease. Additionally, both the gauntlets and boots feature four claws, the middle two of which are oversized and designed to appear as if they can retract and, most importantly, shoot (on the boots, the dorsal section can even lift to simulate an aiming mechanism). However, the "shooting" claws, much like the above-mentioned grabs, are not actually functional projectiles in the toy, they are simply detachable.

Weapons and accessories

The figure comes with a pair of golden laser blasters that attach to designated sockets on his gauntlets.

Moreover, for an alternate display option, you can remove the bulky armour, gauntlets and boots to reveal a more streamlined body underneath, featuring a regular torso, forearms and shins. The head has a second socket on the bottom, allowing it to connect to a standard neck ball joint, while the exposed rear socket enables a light-piping feature that makes the eyes glow. The transformation is completed with swappable standard-sized hands and lower legs wearing yellow gloves and boots. The gripping hands can hold the two blasters via the same pegs that normally connect to the gauntlets. Additionally, the blasters can house either the detached shooting claws or grabs (the latter are reversed, resembling grappling hooks) in their barrels. They can also combine side by side to form a threatening two-handed weapon.

Final thoughts

Overall: this is without doubt a well done prototype with an impressive head sculpt, noticeably huge armour and fine accessories. PoliganToys puts quite a bit of value in their KR|EoF figures, and this line continues to impress. This particular figure really stands out and is a lot of fun to play with! The massive weaponised armour alone makes it worthwhile, and the additional body parts are a welcome bonus

Rating: ☺☺☺☺☺ / 5