Since the third volume is nearing its release, why not a quick review on the second one?
Echidna, Veteran Mercenary
Figure Information
Original Design: F.S
Sculptor: PROGRESS
Source: Queen’s Blade (Visual Combat Book) [cover]
Scale: Non-scale (Aprox. 10 cm)
Material: PVC, ABS
Release Date: November/2008
Production: Medicos Entertainment [link]
Character Introduction
Echidna is a character from the Queen’s Blade series of “Visual Combat Book” (gamebook). Her book was released on June 2006. Here’s the information about her background, published at Queen’s Blade Official Homepage [link]:
Echidna is an elf who already lived past 500 years and is a veteran mercenary. She’s not an elf from the same Elf Forest of the Forest Guardian Nowa, but from a rare tribe of elves from a southern forest known as Wild Elfs. She possesses extraordinary self-confidence, superhuman agility and unique combat techniques and is also invincible in individual matches. She was once the leader of the infamous “Assassins of the Fang” but now is just known as a go-getter lone-wolf mercenary. She looks after those she likes and even taught Irma’s fighting skill as her master. Usually she is cold and ruthless, but she keeps a weak and pure-maiden-like side to herself. Maybe she would cry when cornered…
No one knows who hired Echidna to participate in Queen’s Blade. But the truth is she is a serious candidate for victory even though she has no interest for the Queen’s Throne.
Review
After I bought the first volume with Reina, Risty and Nowa, it didn’t take long for me to order the second one. This volume is composed of Tomoe, Echidna and Menace and the sculptor is not the same from the first.
Usually trading figures come in closed boxes so there’s no way to know what’s inside until they’re opened. I ordered the sealed box of 8 even though there’s a chance that I don’t get all the characters. Some stores sell the set of characters (1P or 2P colors) but there’s a “secret” version that’s usually not sold.
Each box (the small ones) measures 8,5 (W) x 11,5 (H) x 7 (D) cm.
I still haven’t opened all the boxes. The figure I got for this review was the first one. It’s fun to take the time to open one every day or so, but I’ll probably despair if I don’t get at least one version of each character…
The figure comes disassembled and each part is inside small plastic bags. There is no instruction in the box (Leina had one), but it’s not hard to assemble the figure.
Even though it’s a small figure, it’s very detailed and well painted. Echidna’s eyes are a bit strange, but it’s probably from the size.
Some parts don’t fit very well like the shoulders, but it could be just this one I got (after all it’s mass produced). Of course, since it’s Queen’s Blade, the figure is castoff-able but I don’t think it’s possible to remove the armor completely without damaging it.
Medicos Entertainment did a great job with this series of trading figures. It’s not the cheapest but the quality justifies the price.
The third volume is also sculpted by PROGRESS and the lineup is very enticing (in many ways) with Airi, Nanael and Melona! Got your favorite yet?
Cya!
Echidna by F.S
Tags: Echidna, Figure Review, Figures, HobbyLink Japan, Medicos Entertainment, Queen's Blade, Review
