[Den-O]

"I can't see much, but I get by."

As we approach the theatrical release of the hotly anticipated Kamen Rider Amazons film we're back to take a look at the latest, and currently last, release for this series. S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Amazon Alpha (2nd Season Ver.) represents Jin Takeyama's more broken form after years of battle with Haruka. Badly scarred, and now blind, Alpha is a wild animal with the sole purpose of destroying every Amazon that crosses his path. Including his son, Chihiro.

Packaging
Season 2 Alpha comes in much the same style of box we've come to know from the Amazons line up. Though in particular I really love the shot they've used for the front facing character portrait this time. The figure and accessories are mostly packed in one tray identical to the original Alpha releases. A small additional tray that fits under the main one is included to house the Amazon Heart.

Main Figure
This portion consists of text largely taken from my review of the original Amazon Alpha release. This is a physically identical figure just with a few new paint apps for me to gush about. If you've checked out that review from last year then you mostly know what to expect. Amazon Alpha is a design that more closely resembles the original Showa Amazon, while Omega had a similar color scheme. It's clear though that Alpha has always been meant to be the more direct homage. In fact, specifically, Alpha is based on the S.I.C. Hero Saga exclusive form of Pre-Amazon.

As for the figure itself, Alpha (as with any Amazons release thus far) is just a solid release. I do still have some issues with Alpha's leg design though. Sadly Alpha has some weirdly stunted ankles that can't quite bend back. The very tip of his heel points upward and impacts the fins on the back of his legs, making it difficult to balance him on occasion. The hips do feel a bit more free on this Season 2 version than the original release however. Where Omega looked like he was wearing a diaper but had functional legs, Alpha is visually better looking but his hips do still impact the waist a little too soon to be truly dynamic. The Amazons Driver is once again gorgeous with this release. The paint wash applied to the Season 2 Version of the Driver gets it a little closer to the used and scraped look it has in show. It approximates that worn damage but does miss the mark a little. The right grip on the driver is removable like Omega's, though Alpha includes no Battler Grip weapons.

When you get to the torso you'll begin to see some significant additional paint apps that really make all the difference for the Season 2 version. The torso overall is dark with a black tinge painted over the silver. The scars molded into the chest have also had a deep paint wash applied to bring out all of their edges and show that Jin has suffered some terrible injuries in the years since season 1. In his first Season 2 appearance Jin is also particularly savage. Far more so than he'd even been before. He is literally bathed in Amazon blood when he defeats one. The figure has what at first seems to be a random application of dark black paint in various areas that on closer inspection is clearly intentional. This figure is blood-splattered in Amazons Blood. A small number of these blood stains are present on the legs and arms as well, but the majority of the rest are present on Alpha's head.

Alphas' Arms are designed a bit better than Omega's in my opinion as well. Omega had this pesky habit of his shoulder pads popping off when you stretched the arm out too far, and they were on a friction tab that moved so getting them back was difficult. Alpha's shoulder pads are on ball joints making matters much more manageable. You get the same great range out of the elbows, though the wrists are a bit limited because the balljoint sits a tad too deep in the arm.

Finally, Amazon Alpha's head is just spot on. I loved the bright green eyes of the original release, but this go around the compound eyes are now pale white. While that seems like an odd way to represent an injury, it goes back to a flashback battle Jin & Haruka had between seasons in which Haruka's Violent Slash destroyed Jin's vision. This blindness is also an homage to a brief stint from the original Showa Amazon television series, when Amazon lost his own sight. These milky white eyes, combined with the Amazons Blood splatter give Season 2 Alpha a truly haunting look.

For a straight up repaint, Alpha Season 2 Version is well worth it for the new paint apps alone. I would love to see battle damaged repaints like this, for Omega & Neo as well.

Accessories
The basic accessories with this release are identical to the original version"

4 - sets of hands. That's 2 types of open hands, and two sets of "holding things" hands that can be used for something I'm sure. But Alpha doesn't include any Battler Grip weapons, and doesn't ride a Jungraider in show. So really the holding hands are superfluous here.

1 - Violent Slash effect part. It clips right on over the forearm blades on either arm and can be a little snug. So just be careful when removing it.

1 - Amazons Heart. The only new accessory for this release, this morbid accessory goes well with the distinctly more savage Season 2 version of Jin. Taking into account this accessory, the blood splattered on this version of Jin is even more perfect. I really love this accessory, though it would make more sense for Jin to have ripped it out of a generic Amazon of either generation, one such figure doesn't exist. So for this galleries purposes, he's ripped it out of Chihiro.

Final Thoughts
Kamen Rider Amazons has been my jam for two years now. I've been thoroughly pleased with every release from it frankly. There are still several more things I'd love to see make it to market as well. Evolved Mole Amazon, Iyu/Crow, and in particular the new Neo Alpha from the upcoming movie. I'd love to have them all. And if getting things like that means I have to buy some minor repaints with a few new bells & whistles like Season 2 Alpha, then I will happily do so.

"Believe in Amazon."

[Den-O]

Part 2
-.... Chihiro

[Kiwami]

I do like the new detailing but I for one would’ve rather lived with the inaccuracy of the body and just had the blind head included as an accessory with Neo.

But for people who really like their Amazons, getting a new figure is the better deal. I hope we get more; I really would like to see Crow Amazon getting made.

Thanks for the pictures; you did a beautiful job with the fighting scenes.

[Annuga]

White eyes look better than I thought they would

[AkibaSilver]

This guy looks amazing. And that shot in the grass... I can't tell if it's real or not, but it looks amazing. Kudos, Den.

[Den-O]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkibaSilver

This guy looks amazing. And that shot in the grass... I can't tell if it's real or not, but it looks amazing. Kudos, Den.

It actually is real. I recently managed to find something called "sheet moss" at a hobby store in town. It's just a pack of sheets of actual moss bagged together. Makes a huge mess to use them but the effect of it's perfect.

[Librarian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

I do like the new detailing but I for one would’ve rather lived with the inaccuracy of the body and just had the blind head included as an accessory with Neo.

But for people who really like their Amazons, getting a new figure is the better deal. I hope we get more; I really would like to see Crow Amazon getting made.

Thanks for the pictures; you did a beautiful job with the fighting scenes.

Crow better get made! She was the real star of season 2 with that entire PTSD story and her character growth out of it. Including that moment when she finally reached her trauma realization and feeling it and coming to that full emotional impact of what she's been through of trauma on top of trauma by corporate insensitivity and arrogance.

That was some powerful stuff in season 2. Really made the show seem like Neo was background and setup for her story, because the rest really seemed to be emotional builds off of that like she was the audience prep spot for the reveals at the end. Crow is what made season 2 work so magnificently.

[KaijuUltraFan]

agreed a Crow SHF would be great.

Alpha S2 looks great! I wish BBTS would hurry up and get it in, I've had it on pre-order for months and I'm really anxious to finally get it.


edit: spoke too soon, checked my personal email account after work and BBTS had charged me and put it in my pile of loot.

Sweet! And these awesome pics make it even sweeter and more exciting.
Always such great pics here.

[Shame08]

Some how such a small change makes for a completely different looking suit in my mind

[GurrenPrime]

One of my favorite rider suits and the blind eyes make it even better to me. Would look really great in more beastly poses.