Review of Psylocke Bishoujo statue - X-Force Ninja outfit

Introduction

The mutant Psylocke has seen her share of costumes since her comic book debut in 1976, but the most recognizable is her 'ninja' outfit, sometimes called her Ninja Bathing Suit. Kotobukiya already released a version of Psylocke in their Bishoujo series, but that statue has gotten to be pretty expensive on the secondary market. It's also a little too small, a bit out of sorts with the 1/7th scale that the newer releases are in.

To address both problems, Kotobukiya has released a new version, this time in the black X-Force version of her Ninja Suit. This is a bit of an early review, but the statue should hit retailers before the end of the month.

This price on these statues has remained a real bargain compared to other statues in this scale. Psylocke is just $55 or so at most retailers, compared to the $85 - $100 of the recent DC Collectibles lines.

Packaging - ***They are using a nice window box, which allows you to see what you're actually buying before you leave the store. It also keeps her quite safe in the plastic tray, with small strips of plastic in place to avoid paint rubs.

It's completely collector friendly too - no need to tear it up to free her from her plastic prison.

Sculpting - ****
As I said, Psylocke is about 1/7th scale here, although because of the very deep stance, the overall height of the statue is a bit less than the others. All the way to the top of the outstretched hand she's about 8", but from the bottom of the base to her head she's closer to 5".

She'll look right at home with the other recent releases, and I love the deadly yet sexy pose they came up with. With her sword raised and left leg fully extended, she has a cat-like appearance. The pose is very dynamic, from the blowing purple hair to her flying white belt. It can be very risky to try a highly dynamic pose like this, as they often come off cartoony or silly, but they've really done a bang up job with this one.

Part of the reason is because her foot is off the base. I've mentioned before that I like it when the design recognizes the fact that the base is a finite size, and allows the character to break free from that restriction.

I also like the translucent plastic used for the ends of her hair, which allow the light to pass through and show off the cool purple color.

The proportions are also very good here, with nothing over done or too comic book. While the beautiful face has that Manga style to it, it's still human enough to keep things real.

The figure and base are one piece, and of course this statue is made from the plastic material Kotobukiya always uses. But the fine detail of a high end statue is there, as is the smooth lines and sharp contrasts.

The sword is a separate piece, and it slips inside her hand quite easily without fear of damage to the hilt or the paint.

Paint - ****
Wow - look at those eyes. How could you not fall under her spell? The paint work is pretty much flawless, from the deep black costume to the slightly translucent skin tone.

That slight translucence gives the skin a beautiful, smooth, creamy appearance, and it's a gorgeous contrast to the jet black, skin tight outfit. But it's the work on her face - the eyes, lips and eyebrows - that really makes this one pop on the shelf.

Value - ***1/2
Getting a statue this beautiful - and in this scale - for just $55 is a damn good deal. Kotobukiya should be commended for doing their best to keep prices in line, allowing their fans to complete their collections without breaking their bank account.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing!

Overall - ****
I haven't reviewed a lot of the Bishoujo line this year, but I have to say that this one is really outstanding. I've liked most of the line, particularly the more dynamic and fierce poses that they've done (some are a tad too cheesecake), and I think this version of Psylocke is just the right combination of sexy and deadly. Throw in an outstanding paint job and a great price point, and you have a real winner for Marvel fans.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is at just $55.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Bishoujo reviews include Jaina from Star Wars, Huntress, Power Girl, Poison Ivy, Harley, the black costume Batgirl, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Phoenix and Rogue.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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