Like all expensive collectable items, the price went up far more than any sane person should pay. We're talking $400-$1,000 ranges. Needless to say, after King Ghidorah, Destoroyah and Kiryu, Biollante was next on my "Please Bandai, do a rerelease!" list.
And thank Godzilla they did!
When you open the box, you'll immediately notice this figure requires a bit of maintenance. Instructions are included to show how to attach Biollante's massive tendrils to her base. Attach them as indicated and you've got yourself an indestructible super plant with an incredible presence.
I do not think I'm over selling it when I say that this figure looks AMAZING! The lush, plant like body of Biollante is sculpted very nicely. Now in the movie, Biollante is made by combining plant cells with Godzilla scales and looking at Biollante's neck, I think this was the first time I noticed Godzilla-like skin (and on the head)
What really adds to this figure's already impressive shelf presence are Biollante's tendrils. We have 4 big ones, there were more in the movie but adding more may have been overkill. Also, there's a chance that more tendrils would jack up the already HUGE price tag this figure has.
The first thing I thought about when looking at the tendril's was a rose stem, with some small thorns and some small overlapping vines.
Each tendril has a small venus flytrap head on the end which look great. They may be small but the detail and paint are very nice. The heads do have tongues, but they are sculpted into the jaw. If there's any SHMA figure that could've benefited from having an articulated tongue, I think it would be this one. I feel like that would give them a lot more character. But alas, the way the mouth was engineered wouldn't allow it.
As with most re-releases, this SH MonsterArts Biollante figure is the Special Color Version.
Obviously, I've never owned the original Biollante figure so I can only go off of pictures comparing the two figures.
From what I can tell, the paint on the Special Color Version is a mixture of brighter and darker green on the body. There's also some brown shading to give it a more earthly look, especially at the base of the figure. Looking at both side by side, I think I prefer the Special Color Verison.
The colors also closely resembles her game model from the PlayStation 4 Godzilla game.
One notable feature of Biollante is her large orange sac in her belly. It's detail is pretty good and resembles a brain.
This sac is made of translucent plastic which ties into a major feature of this figure.
You'll notice there is a switch on the bottom of the figure which lights up the sac. push the switch to the right position (one dot) for an orange light, the right position (two dots) for a more reddish light and back to center to turn it off.
Luckily batteries are included.
Despite being a mostly stationary lady, Biollante still has some impressive articulation.
Biollante's head can look up/down and can move side to side a little bit. Her mouth can open super wide, if you use a little bit of force it can open a bit more. Don't force it too hard though!
The neck is made up of 4 segments which allow for even more up/down and left/right movement.
Also, the drosal fins are a whole piece attached to the back which can move up and down, allowing for even more possibility for the neck.
In order to keep continuity with figures pose, this piece of her chest that can move up and down and blend into Biollante's neck.
The real fun part about this figure is messing around with the tendrils.
Starting at the bottom of the figure we get some forward/backward movement.
Each tendril has a large number of segments attached to ball joints which lets them move pretty freely, so you can get very creative with Biollante's posabillity.
And the mouths on the ends can open and close. Don't be afraid if any parts pop off, they can be easily reattached to their ball joints.
From what I've seen, there is supposed to be a new SHMA 1989 Godzilla figure that's basically the Kou Kyou Kyoku figure, but more in scale with a regular SHMA Godzilla figure and without the lights and sound, to act as a companion piece to the Biollante figure.
I might pick it up, we'll see.
This Biollante is figure is just a phenomenal piece that any collector should have. I cannot stress enough how imperative it is to snatch these things while they're available but of course I sympathize with those who are hesitant to purchase it given it's price, especially since this is now the most expensive figure, surpassing the original Biollante figure.
The real fun part about this figure is messing around with the tendrils.
Starting at the bottom of the figure we get some forward/backward movement.
Each tendril has a large number of segments attached to ball joints which lets them move pretty freely, so you can get very creative with Biollante's posabillity.
And the mouths on the ends can open and close. Don't be afraid if any parts pop off, they can be easily reattached to their ball joints.
Unfortunately, no accessories to go with this nearly $300 figure.
From what I've seen, there is supposed to be a new SHMA 1989 Godzilla figure that's basically the Kou Kyou Kyoku figure, but more in scale with a regular SHMA Godzilla figure and without the lights and sound, to act as a companion piece to the Biollante figure.
I might pick it up, we'll see.
That being said, I still give this a high recommendation even with it's high price tag and I bought 2 of these things! (One for myself and the other was a Christmas present for my buddy Kaiju Kidd that me and my other friends pitched in for.)
Save up and keep an eye out for any sales or deals that may come up is the best advice I can give.
Till next time, I have been your host Gryphon
and thank you for joining me here in my lair.
So long...
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Thanks for reading!
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