Review of Wonder Woman ArtFX Statue

Introduction

It's shocking to most comic fans that Marvel Studios can find a way to bring a talking raccoon to the big screen, and yet DC is unable to find a smart way to present one of their most famous, longest running, iconic superheroes on screen - Wonder Woman. We finally get to see her appear in the new Batman Vs. Superman flick coming this spring, and it's been a hot topic around the nerd cooler.

There's plenty to discuss, from the actress portraying her to the costume she'll wear, and geeks everywhere are already arguing over every detail. I tend to wait til I actually see the final product before I comment, but I'm going with guarded optimism right now.

Kotobukiya knows how much we love the Amazonian, and has released their latest ArtFX statue based on the Jim Lee style, with some heavy Asian influences. This is in their larger 1/6th scale series, perfect to sit alongside the Killing Joke Joker or Batman himself.

You can expect to pay around $110 - $120 for her, depending on the retailer.

Packaging - ****
The bright red box is very sturdy - no flimsy cardboard here. The exterior has a number of die cut windows, allowing you to see the majority of the statue before you buy. It's also completely collector friendly, requiring no damage in getting the statue free, but still packed safe and sound.

Sculpting - ***1/2
As I mentioned, this Wonder Woman is part of the larger traditional ArtFX series, which have been 1/6th scale in the past. She comes in at just under 11 1/2", and fits in nicely with other releases in this scale from Kotobukiya.

I'm really loving the dynamic yet subtle pose. Rather than go crazy with any one aspect, they've combined the flowing hair, billowing cape, and shifting skirt to give her a determined, confident striding pose. It's dynamic without being goofy, and really works well for me.

You attach the statue to the WW base, but you don't have to - the figure does stand on its own thanks to the cape. It looks better on the base, but you have choices.

The face is beautiful, and exhibits some Asian style influences. This certainly isn't a bishoujo style, since this is a more mature look than traditionally captured that way, but some of those design aspects are clearly affecting the final look.

My only real nit is the mold lines on the arms and legs. They aren't extreme, but they are noticeable, running the length of the limbs.

Paint - ***1/2
Kotobukiya has demonstrated their ability with paint on statues like the Bishoujo series, but it's always nice to see that level of quality and consistency continue.

The work here is beautiful, from a consistent, even skin tone to the bright, metallic gold accoutrements. Almost every line and edge is crisp and sharp, and the eyes are clean and straight. 

There's a slight slip here and there - the gold under the the breast plate slips a bit onto the red, and the bright, sexy lips aren't quite as clean along the top edge as I'd like - but these issues are truly minor compared to the overall quality.

Value - **1/2
Regular readers know that an average value here is **1/2, and that it doesn't raise or lower my Overall.  That's pretty much what you're getting here - at $100 to $120, this statue is in line with the other Kotobukiya releases, as well as other statues from companies like DC Collectibles. You won't feel like you got an amazing value, but you won't feel like you've overpaid either.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ***1/2
This is truly a beautiful statue, particularly for the price. While it's entirely PVC rather than a resin or poly-resin, I think the overall quality out paces the current work we're seeing with similar lines like Bombshells or Cover Girls. 

The larger scale is nice too, allowing you to place her with your sixth scale heroes. That's a market where poor Wonder Woman has been sadly neglected, and unless Sideshow announces something soon as part of their DC line, it's not likely to change any time soon.

This is also a great addition if you already have the ArtFX Batman and Joker in this scale. While I love the smaller scale stuff Kotobukiya has been doing (and appreciate the lower price point), it would be nice to see us get a broader set of statues in this Jim Lee style.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ****
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is at $120.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Don't forget to check out the Joker and Batman also done by Kotobukiya in this line.

And for other great Wonder Woman statues, check out the DC Bombshells version, the first Cover Girls release, the latest Cover Girls version, the Bishoujo release, and the Armored Cover Girls version.

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