15 Most Insane Play Arts Kai Figures Ever Made

What if you took classic comic book characters like Batman and Superman and put them in the world of Final Fantasy? That’s the big draw of the Play Arts Kai figures from Square-Enix. While they faithfully replicate their characters as well as the licenses they manage to acquire, they are not limited to just perfectly sculpting Ben Affleck’s Mecha suit from Batman V Superman. As a matter of fact, most of the licenses they acquire are then used to create original versions of familiar characters. As you might expect, this leads to some astounding results, featuring a series of figures that catches your attention as well as making you gawk for a long while.

RELATED: 15 Marvel POP!s You Never Knew Funko Made

We encourage you just to take a look at Square-Enix’s store to see all of the crazy figures they have there, because we certainly won’t be able to highlight them all. Instead, we selected the ones that we loved the most and will explain why. They are ultimate figures that would be worthy on any collector’s shelf (if you can afford the price tag). If you’re ready to get familiarity thrown out the window, then read on for the 15 craziest Play Arts Kai figures.

ROGUES GALLERY JOKER

Some of the characters that Square-Enix chose to make figures of have multiple variants. This version of The Joker immediately catches our eye because of its similarity to Batman’s look. Not only is Mister J sporting his classic smile and crazy eyes, but he is wearing a demented version of the Batsuit, complete with its own Bat symbol and torn cape.

It’s easy to see why we would put this one on our list, because we’ve never really seen what The Joker would like as the Dark Knight. He has always been a philosophical antithesis to Batman, but it hasn’t taken form in the physical aspect until now. There are other villains in this series who take Batman’s look, but none of them fit the mold as well as The Joker.

DEADPOOL

Jumping over to the Marvel side, Square decided to take a stab at Marvel’s mutant Merc with a Mouth, and the results are beautiful. Right away, Deadpool’s traditional suit is thrown out the window for a more mechanical interpretation, complete with holsters and scabbards so that he can carry all of his crazy weapons.

Despite being so functionally different, the iconic color scheme and design remain intact, but he looks a little more menacing now. This figure also comes with more weapons (including a massive gun) for Deadpool to hold, which is every bit as ridiculous and straight from the ’90s as we would were hoping for. For the real collectors out there, this figure also has an X-Force variant, where Deadpool gets his black and white suit.

WILD WEST BATMAN

Of all the characters who would receive the most attention, Batman was always going to be at the top of the list. Thankfully, Square-Enix didn’t disappoint in this department, giving us several different interpretations of the Dark Knight that hold to the classic design while still taking many creative liberties (and we mean that in a good way).

This design takes inspiration from the Wild West, and it’s hard not to be enamored by it. Never would we have thought that Batman and the West would mix well, but we love being wrong. He holds a Lone Ranger yet slightly steampunk vibe. His horns are instead replaced with a hat that has tips at the top, and the cape is more like a tattered cloak that goes over his shoulders. Any Batman fan would need this on their shelf.

VENOM

Due to having a deal with Marvel Comics, it was only a matter of time before we saw Spider-Man and Venom get their own figures from the company. When looking at both of them, it’s clear that Venom holds the superior design. Just look at that! We were unsure that they would find a way to make the character look different because he doesn’t have much of a suit, yet they continuously impress us.

The symbiote webs around Venom’s body look more like tendons now, giving him a much more grotesque and sinister appearance. Furthermore, they made the logo on his chest integrate better with his overall look, so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. The figure also comes with different hands and another head that has his infamous tongue hanging out.

MAGNETO

Magneto is the master of magnetism, and that was the primary goal when Square-Enix created this figure. Just take a moment and look at the cape. Notice how it looks like small metal fragments all melded together. That’s the kind of attention to detail we like in the Play Arts line, and it’s what makes this Magneto figure one of the best.

The greatness of the design doesn’t begin and end with the cape either, as the armor surrounding him looks much more refined as well. The helmet is also slimmed down and a little angular to make it feel more modern. Perhaps the part we love the most is the eyes. If you look, you’ll see a white shroud coming over them, which further accents his control over magnetism.

DARTH VADER

The greatest villain in the galaxy got a touch from Play Arts, and we couldn’t be more excited. One complaint we have with the original portrayal of Darth Vader is that we were never shown his amazing power. Yeah, he had a few lightsaber fights, but nothing on par with what he’s done in other media.

This figure communicates a different story. Featuring a slimmer and more agile Darth Vader, we could easily imagine him slicing up Rebels and hunting down Jedi. He looks like a futuristic samurai with a really cool belt buckle (or shawl buckle?), even with the red glow as he swings his lightsaber. The pointed cape is also a really nice touch, further accenting the subtle differences Square made to the design.

BOBA FETT

If you thought Darth Vader’s design was cool, then you’ll be blown away by Boba Fett. Square made many alterations to his design, making it seem much more thematic than the one that appears on screen. Combine all of the different colors with the small cape flowing behind him, and you’ve got someone who looks like he belongs in the Borderlands video games.

Boba Fett has always had a great design, but this interpretation really brings it out. His mask is trimmed down, his armor is more detailed, and he’s armed to the teeth with different all sorts of weaponry. He truly looks like a bounty hunter scavenging the barren wasteland of Tatooine, and we wouldn’t want to get on his bad side or meet him face to face.

CATWOMAN

When designing Catwoman, most people don’t reinvent the wheel. Injustice and the Arkham series both had designs that could’ve easily fit in the comics. Leave it to Square, then, to break the mold and create a character that is both recognizable and unique.

This Catwoman looks like she was ripped straight out of the Nier Automata video with the purple visor and slick armor over her body. Even with all the futuristic designs, she still manages to retain the classic thief look that we all know and love. Her whip instead functions as a tail, and she’s even packing a gun for when things get a little messier. There aren’t many times where we see a Catwoman so original, so get this one while you still can.

BLACK PANTHER

DC isn’t the only company who got a cool cat figure. Marvel joined the party as well when Square made their variant of the Black Panther. May we be the first to say that it is one imposing design. The Black Panther has always had an interesting costume, sometimes featuring a cape, and other times, being a little more refined.

This version goes all out though, ditching the cape for a more technology-based look (which is appropriate considering how advanced Wakanda is). This is one hero that you wouldn’t want to mess with. His hands are tipped with Vibranium claws, and he even packs a few knives. This Black Panther looks like a true protector of Wakanda, and even Ulysses Klaw would be afraid to fight him.

SPARTA BATMAN

Just when you thought he couldn’t get any cooler, Square released the Sparta version of Batman. This is a Dark Knight that fits in the Gladiator arena, or in the army with Leonidas. He looks like a one man army, and any emperor would either fear him or try to use him for sport.

It was likely no easy job incorporating the Batman design with ancient Greece, but it’s pulled off extremely well here. The Batman insignia is placed on the shield as well as the breastplate, but doesn’t look modern. The helmet sports the ears, but they have the trademark crests that are seen on most Spartan helmets. This time, he is sporting a dark red cape to fit in with the times as opposed to a black one.

CAPTAIN AMERICA

The Star-Spangled Avenger is a symbol of hope to the rest of the world that there are heroes ready to protect them. Being the fearless leader of one of the greatest superhero teams, Captain America has to be heroic, unwavering and full of the values he promotes to the world.

Thankfully, Square communicates all of this in his Play Arts Kai figure without letting him look cheesy (we’re looking at you, The Avengers). The design also looks a little more slick, like Tony Stark designed it rather than the writers wanting to make him look like the American flag and gone are the classic wings that are usually on his head. The shield also gets a raised pattern, which adds a bit more depth to a design that greatly needed it.

PREDATOR

The Predators are some of the most horrifying creatures in the universe, both having better hunting skills and attributes than any human ever could. Their iconic dreadlock and mask design makes them a force to be reckoned with on appearance alone, but Square has taken it a step further. They’ve taken a scary design and made it even scarier.

This variant of the Predator looks much more alien-like than its actual counterpart. The dreadlocks are a bit more fleshy, and its hands extend out to make massive claws. The mouth remains largely the same, but the eyes and the horns add just enough to make us want to wet our pants. If we had it our way, this is the Predator that would appear in movies from now on.

IRON MAN

Iron Man is a character who will constantly get redesigned. Tony Stark has more than enough spare time to keep building suits, each one with its own improvements and it makes sense that he would change up the look of each one. There have been some great-looking suits over the years, but none to the level of the Play Arts figure.

We’ve seen Tony sport red and gold armor before, but very seldom does he use black as the primary color. The arc reactor also looks more like a glistening diamond than a blue element, and it contrasts nicely with the mostly black design. The figure also comes with fire to emulate his flying and flaps that extend from the back. Marvel fans will go crazy for this one. Lord knows that we already are.

HARLEY QUINN

Harley Quinn is one of the craziest people in the DC Universe, and Square wanted to bring that to light with their version of her design. Instead of being a Harlequin, Harley is sporting an outfit that takes her previous occupation of a nurse and completely turns it on its head complete with a pole.

Right off the bat, the red and black blinds over her eyes raise some questions about how she can see and fight, but it looks amazing. She is still sporting her color scheme reminiscent of a deck of cards, but it’s used more thematically here. We also have to point that her hammer looks like a weapon taken straight from Kingdom Hearts, once again showing off Square’s legacy injected into their designs, and we’re not complaining a single bit.

THE JOKER

While Batman has seen multiple designs from Square, we really have to highlight their other interpretation of The Joker. What makes this figure so great is that it doesn’t just have one design — it has multiple. If you want a more classic take on the character, you can swap the parts out and go to town. If you want their version of the Red Hood (which is an excellent design), you can have that too.

The Joker is a villain that will exist throughout time, and this figure replicates that. There’s even a variant where he’s just an old crazy man in a wheelchair. Whichever version of the Joker suits you the best, you can set it up when you get this figure. It’s a celebration of everything DC has done and we love every inch of it.

 

The post 15 Most Insane Play Arts Kai Figures Ever Made appeared first on CBR.

via http://www.cbr.com/play-arts-kai-figures/
Joshua Olivieri

15 Marvel POP!s You Never Knew Funko Made

Funko POP!s are everywhere these days. When a new pop culture movie comes out, you can guarantee that you’ll see a line of big-headed figures on store shelves. They’re a phenomenon that’s here to stay, and it’s just a simple fact of life now (how many Star Wars figures do they have these days?). Due to the increasing popularity of superheroes, Funko has taken their time to create hundreds of different POP! figures based on Marvel characters. Whenever a new MCU movie comes out, you can bet that Funko is already on the job. They’ve also done a lot of work with heroes and villains strictly from the comics to create some unique and exclusive figures.

RELATED: Crisis of Infinite POP!s: 15 Batman Funko POPs That Never Needed To Happen

They have since put together a massive line of Funko POP! figures centered around Marvel Comics. While this had led to the creation of many different Spider-Man, Deadpool, and Wolverine figures, Funko has created some others that likely won’t ring a bell with you. Whether they’re different versions of established characters or figures that are so rare you haven’t even heard of them, we’ve crafted a list of 15 Marvel POP!s you never knew Funko made, so get ready for some adorable variants on some little-known characters.

DEEP SPACE SUIT IRON MAN

One of the first Marvel figures Funko made was Iron Man. Naturally, they were going to use him as a template to create figures of the other various suits. When it came time for Iron Man 3 to hit theaters, Tony Stark created a lot of different suits, which Funko used to create an equal amount of different Iron Man figures.

In the comics, this suit was designed for exactly what the name entails: traveling to deep space. The suit wasn’t as combat-ready as some of the others due to how much power it requires to sustain constant flight in the vacuum of space, but it was still fairly useful. Tony would later create a much more updated version that contained all of the features he needed.

SPIDER-MAN 2099

Spider-Man became much more than a kid bitten by a spider. He became a symbol for many of the weaker people in the world who wanted to do good. That’s why Peter Parker isn’t the only one to take up the mantle of the wall-crawler. In the year 2099, it would become Miguel O’Hara who would become the new Spider-Man.

Becoming one of the more popular variations of the Marvel hero, he would appear in a few different sources of Marvel media, like Ultimate Spider-Man and the upcoming LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2, but Funko also took notice of this character. They created a figure with that sleek blue suit. However, we wish that there were more physical distinctions with the red patterns on its body. It’s all one layer, and that’s a darn shame.

Grinning Ultron

This one is not on the list because there’s anything particularly special about it. It’s simply on the list because one would think that a simple expression wouldn’t be enough to constitute an entirely new figure. Nonetheless, we got it and the Grinning Ultron figure is on the shelves to buy. The design is from Avengers: Age of Ultron and the only difference is that his mouth is open, showcasing the red line that was classic in the comics.

While we wouldn’t necessarily say that Ultron is “grinning,” we do like the contrast of the red to the silver, and the overall detailed look of the character from the film. A figure based on the comic version would’ve been a little more welcome in this situation, but we’ll take what we can get at this point.

YELLOW DAREDEVIL

We all know Daredevil as the red-suited Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. However, he didn’t always wear that classic bright red costume. Back in the old days, he had a yellow suit, which was criticized by many until Jeph Loeb came on the scene with Daredevil: Yellow, which explained why Matt Murdock chose that costume. We won’t spoil it here, as we encourage you to read that storyline.

Of all of the costumes, Funko decided to pick the yellow Daredevil suit for a figure. It’s all too easy to imagine people seeing it and laughing at how ridiculous it looked. Clearly, it’s something that only

ANTI-VENOM

Eddie Brock is mostly known as the guy who became Venom, but that would not be the end of his legacy. When diagnosed with cancer (after no longer having the Symbiote), he was given a procedure by Mr. Negative. The man’s powers combined with the leftover pieces of the Venom Symbiote to create an entirely new entity known only as Anti-Venom.

Brock was in full control this time and could use this new body to cure diseases rather than destroy the world. But because of how little Anti-Venom appeared in the comics, we were shocked to see Funko make a figure based on the character. Having the jagged black and white design on store shelves made the character stand out in a crowd, and caught the eyes of many buyers walking around. He’s a Symbiote that we would love to display.

BATH TIME DEADPOOL

You never know what to expect with Deadpool. This guy is just eight levels of crazy and has the constant sporadic behavior to prove it. One minute, he could be fervently chopping up bad guys to save the day, and the next, he could be trying to catch all 151 Pokemon on his GameBoy.

Funko used these traits to their advantage, as they created several different Deadpool figures to reflect that. Among them was the Bath Time Deadpool POP!. It showed the Merc with a Mouth sporting a shower cap on his head and a rubber ducky in his hand. Why would Deadpool shower with his entire outfit on, you ask? Well, because he’s Deadpool, of course! Fans of the character would be remiss to not get this figure.

TASKMASTER

Taskmaster is another interesting Marvel character. After being injected with a special serum, he gained the ability to watch anyone’s fighting style and instantly replicate it, using it against his opponents to not only defeat them, but pretty much humiliate them too. There are few people who’ve ever been able to defeat him, and he remains one of the toughest characters in the Marvel Universe. He even started his own training academy.

Without a proper appearance in the MCU (his closest one being in Ultimate Spider-Man), few people would be familiar with this character. This didn’t stop Funko from putting together a figure for him, which could only be found at Walgreens. He keeps the trademark skull mask as well as his sword and shield. All in all, it’s an excellent figure.

SQUIRREL GIRL

Squirrel Girl is very much a hero who gained popularity just because of how obscure she was. It’s ridiculous to think that Marvel Comics would’ve created a fairly recent superhero who is based around animals that we regularly see stealing bird seed in our backyards. Nonetheless, with the character set to make her MCU appearance in the near future, it was only a matter of time before Funko got their hands on her.

Sporting all of the squirrely traits from the comics, the Squirrel Girl figure is every bit as cute and weird as you’d expect. Don’t expect to see it placed in Walmart or Target, though, because she was only available through the Marvel Collector Corps subscription service. If you like Funko and Marvel, we suggest you check it out.

U.S. AGENT

If you’re not familiar with U.S. Agent, raise your hand. If you haven’t raised your hand, you’re probably lying. It’s easy to tell by his design that U.S. Agent must have some connection to the Sentinel of Liberty himself, Captain America. Well, when Cap dropped the mantle for a while, it was military agent John Walker who stepped in his shoes. Instead of naming himself Captain America, he simply called himself U.S. Agent.

It’s hard to say what motivated Funko to make a figure of this character. Perhaps it was his inverse Captain America design or his relationship with the character. Either way, seeing a black Captain America costume is more than enough to get people interested, though we’re not sure that people would lose their minds over this figure.

JANE FOSTER THOR

When Marvel launched their “All-New All-Different” line, they changed a lot of conventions about their big and most popular characters. One character that received a big change was Thor. Instead of Mjolnir being wielded by the Odinson, it was instead held by none other than Jane Foster. This presented an interesting change for the future of Marvel Comics, and many people were talking about this new direction.

Despite many of the different characters introduced in this run, Funko only seemed to take Lady Thor into mind. Totally Awesome Hulk, the black-suited Daredevil, and more wouldn’t be around to see their own figures get made. However, seeing a woman version of Thor is different enough that people would be more motivated to add it to their Marvel collection.

BLADE

Blade isn’t nearly as popular as he used to be. Back in the early 2000s, he was one of the few superhero movie franchises, and the only one to go for an R rating. While the first film was a success, the series quickly went downhill and the character wouldn’t be heard from for a long time. We’re still unsure if Marvel has  movie plans for the character, but we do know he’ll be part of Spirits of Vengeance in the comics.

However, Funko still remembers the popularity this character once had in the mainstream audience and created a figure of him. Instead of just going with a blank expression, though, they smartly added him showing his teeth to signify his vampiric origins. That way when you see this figure with your friends, it’s not only the comic book lover who will know what Blade is all about.

FROST GIANT LOKI

Loki first appeared in Thor all those years ago, and part of his arc was that he was a Frost Giant rather than an Asgardian. This allowed him the power to use Frost Giant weaponry as well as try to destroy Jotunheim itself. His true parentage would lead him to become a much greater villain in the long run, always ready to stab Asgard in the back when he can.

While we always knew we would get a Loki figure, many didn’t expect to get a variant where he had the blue skin and red eyes of his Frost Giant form (when he gets close to ice that is). Most people still don’t know that it exists, because it was exclusive to New York Comic Con all the way back in 2014. If you’re enamored by this figure, good luck trying to get one for yourself.

COMPOUND HULK

When it comes to the Hulk, the only type of villain that exists is the one that has more power. Hulk vol 2 #30 involved a being named Xemnu who has come to Earth to challenge the Hulk, only to be faced by the Red Hulk. When the green Hulk joins the fray, Xemnu summons an army to fight them. However, the existence of the world is threatened as a result, so Xemnu merges the two Hulks to create the Compound Hulk.

This version of the Hulk has not appeared many times, and few people are aware of the character. Yet Funko likely picked this design anyway because of how unique it was. How often are you going to see a Hulk figure that is green on one side and red on the other?
fans of the character will want to have, and the rest of the “casual Marvel fans” aren’t going to give it a second thought.

STEALTH SUIT SPIDER-MAN

Spider-Man has received many different suits over the years, whether he designed them or got them from somebody else. One suit was the sleek stealth suit that was as functional as you’d expect. It allowed him to sneak behind enemy lines and stalk potential criminals. The black allowed him to sneakily operate at night while the neon green provided a nice contrast to look cool in each panel.

While there are many Spider-Man suits, the design of the Stealth Suit is easily why Funko picked it for a new figure. Fans of the character would go nuts over this look, whether they recognized it or not. Be ready to go to the mall, though, as the Stealth Suit Spider-Man is exclusive to Hot Topic stores only.

WEAPON X

Wolverine has received a lot of attention over the years, be it in the X-Men franchise or another form of Marvel media. It’s easy to see that Funko would create many different figures based around the character, considering the Canadian mutant’s immense popularity. We’ve seen his design from the films as well as the comics, but the one that many don’t remember is the Weapon X look as seen in Wolverine’s many origin retellings.

Sporting this fashionable psychedelic helmet, we can almost imagine the savagery that took place in Logan’s mind when he was being turned into a dark, admantium-filled killing machine. On top of that, we also get a lot of the cords and cables that allowed the scientists to test him, adding some color and detail to the bobble-head.

Are there any obscure Marvel characters or looks you wish were POP!s? Let us know in the comments!

The post 15 Marvel POP!s You Never Knew Funko Made appeared first on CBR.

via http://www.cbr.com/marvel-pops-you-never-knew/
Joshua Olivieri