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Sentai Announces April 2023 Anime Home Video Release Slate

Anime News

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March 23, 2023

Sentai Announces April 2023 Anime Home Video Release Slate

Sentai Filmworks is bringing four new hit anime series to blu-ray for a home video release. From survival dramas to sci-fi to magic to quirky comedy, fans are going to receive three titles with English dubs while one will be available in its original Japanese audio with English subtitles. All of these anime are available on the HiDive streaming service.

They revealed their list on the Sentai website:

Gate

Available on April 25, 2023, “The nightmare descends on Tokyo’s prestigious Ginza shopping district without warning as a dimensional gateway opens, unleashing an army of monsters and armored men upon the panicking crowds! One man, though, is slightly better prepared than anyone else: Yoji Itami, a Defense Force reservist and a rabid comic and sci-fi fan who’s seen this scenario played out in countless fantasies. That’s just enough edge to help rally the police and first responders, turning back the invasion! And for his quick actions, he’s rewarded with a promotion, restoration to active duty, and thrown right back into the fire with the vanguard team charged with exploring beyond the portal! But even as he’s facing off against elves, beast men, and other fantastic creatures, the worst danger of all is lurking behind him, on the human side of the GATE!”

Ya Boy Kongming!

Released on April 18, 2025, ” In the year 234, a dying Zhuge Kongming’s thoughts wander over his life as one of China’s greatest military strategists and statesmen, wondering what might have been had he been born in less turbulent times. Inexplicably, Kongming finds himself in a younger body in a very strange land! But why has a master of feudal diplomacy and the art of war been brought to modern Japan? He seems overqualified for flipping burgers, but then destiny calls in the entrancing voice of aspiring singer Eiko Tsukimi. Learning of her troubles in becoming a professional, Kongming’s quest is secured: applying his formidable craft, intellect, and bag of ancient Chinese secrets to the task of making Eiko a star! Pity now the executives of the Japanese music industry, for they are but mere men, and they face the promotional assault of a legend reborn: YA BOY KONGMING”

To Love Ru

Available for purchase on April 11, 2023, “Statistically, bathrooms are the room where accidents are most likely to occur, but even so, who could ever anticipate the odds of an alien princess splashing down from space while you’re in the bathtub? Yet, as astronomically small as the chances are, that’s exactly where Rito Yuki is, rub-a-dub-dubbing and thinking of the girl he secretly adores, when the alignment of the planets, a slight misunderstanding of intergalactic etiquette, and an unfortunate placement of hands all combine to change the course of interstellar history! Because now Rito is married to the very sexy but also devil-tailed Princess Lala of Planet Deviluke, and rival suitors, rogue assassins, and Lala’s even more devilish royal father are only the first of the many titanic trials this literally star-crossed young couple will have to face in this astounding multi-series complete collection of TO LOVE RU!”

Fantasista Dolls

Coming April 4, 2023, “At the age of 14, Uzume Uno is an excellent card player who has already won a major tournament. Perhaps that’s why fate has chosen to deliver a very special deck of cards to Uzume’s hands; a deck that can summon, equip and control five artificial warriors known as Fantasista Dolls! And this is not a game played for fun against other masters. There is a great danger approaching that only the Fantasistas can deal with, a danger that threatens the Earth and everyone on it. And Uzume is far from ready to play her part. Now she must push herself to the utmost, honing her skills and abilities to their sharpest edge, even as other Card Masters challenge for dominance. Because this magical card game is all too real, and she’s playing for our future in FANTASISTA DOLL!”

‘Fantasista Dolls’ is only available in Japanese though English subtitles will be available as well.

This Fan-Made ‘War of the Worlds’ Game Looks Interesting

Video Games

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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This Fan-Made ‘War of the Worlds’ Game Looks Interesting

Fans of Universal’s 2005 War of the Worlds adaptation have been working on an open-world horror survival game for some time. This past week, the team uploaded a new 4K gameplay video and addressed some of the potential copyright issues that have been looming. The 25-minute video shows the Martian tripods roaming the Earth, player interactions with NPCs, and some weapon inventory footage.

Like a lot of other survival games on Steam, players need to manage various meters, like hydration, hunger, health, and sleep. Being on the run from Martians that want to eat you and use your blood to feed the red weeds will probably take a lot out of you. However, there appears to be some form of combat against the invaders and other humans.

If you’re familiar with the film, the Tripods have a shield that cannot be brought down by conventional weapons, not even the military’s. It’s unclear when you’ll be able to take the fight to the Martians. Perhaps after they start to suffer from the common cold, like in the movie? A majority of the firearms combat will probably be against the aliens once they’ve left their war machines, would be my guess.

For a preview of the survival gameplay aspect, check out the video below.

The team behind the game did give some forethought to the possibility that Universal may go after them for using the Tripod designs from the 2005 film:

“We know most of you are all fans of the look of the tripod’s in the movie and should we need to change it for our own imagining, we wanted to make sure the tripod still gave off the same biomechanical aquatic three legged hooded machine feel and that it could still use the same rig and animations as the movie accurate model. This will end up saving hundreds of development hours from needing to re-rig and reanimate an entirely different machine. It will use most of the same animations and be based on the same AI. The switch between either or will be as simple as flipping a switch. There are many unique differences between the designs that differentiate it enough from the movie’s design to avoid issues.”

I have no doubt that the studio will slap them with a cease and desist. Would you reconsider purchasing the game if the tripods didn’t look like the film versions? Let us know below.

There’s no date yet, but you can keep up with the game’s progress via Discord. As of now, there are over 2,000 active users.

Here are the expected system specs for War of the Worlds:

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM:

- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i3 or Equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1060 mini 3GB or higher
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 42 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD highly recommended to improve load times.

RECOMMENDED:

- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or Equivalent
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 or Equivalent
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 42 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD highly recommended to improve load times.

If you prefer your open-world games to be more fantastical, check out our Hogwarts Legacy review.

New Wave Toys Reveals Ghosts ‘N Goblins & Ghouls ‘N Ghosts Cabinets

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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New Wave Toys Reveals Ghosts ‘N Goblins & Ghouls ‘N Ghosts Cabinets

Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts are New Wave Toys’ latest 1:6 scale arcade machine replicas! The classic Capcom series will also host several new features in the Replicade line of mini-cabinets.

Both cabinets capture much of the same stuff seen in the full-size originals, but now with even more accuracy! In addition, New Wave Toys has added a working coin-op feature. Insert the mini-coins, and the machine registers them as credits! Inside each GnG machine is a coin collection box, and a faux power cable has been added.

New Wave Toys is also creating a unique CRT effect with these two cabinets. Called CRT-FX 2.0, the new lens has “a reduced curvature plus added an anti-reflection surface coating to reduce distortion, glare & ambient light reflections.”

Both cabinets can be ordered as a pair for $311.99, and they’re expected to ship out by Halloween 2023. The Replicade machines are also available individually for $159.99 apiece.

New Wave Toys Replicades — Photo Credit: New Wave Toys

Replica Ghosts’ n Goblins and Ghouls’ n Ghosts HS1 arcade machines in 1/6 scale (12inch)
Plays both Ghosts’ n Goblins + Ghouls’ n Ghosts arcade ROMs
NEW! Coin Op Feature (Insert mini coins to add credits)
NEW! CRT-FX2.0 with Reflection Reduction Tech
Arcade Operator’s Menu with customizable dip switch and cabinet settings
Miniaturized control panel featuring Micro-Micro Switch ball-top joystick
Plug ‘n Play HDTV and USB controller connectivity
Hand crafted cabinet from traditional materials including wood, metal and plastic
Illuminated marquee and cabinet accents
RepliCade signature amplified mono audio reproduction with volume control and pad lock prop
High-resolution cabinet art reproduction on quality 3M vinyl overlays
Diecast metal coin doors with lower cash box storage compartment
High score saving with non-volatile memory
Built-in, high-capacity rechargeable battery
Premium LCD color screen 4:3 aspect ratio (horizontal orientation)
Officially licensed by Capcom
100-Day New Wave Factory Warranty

This announcement is a huge step up from the previous Q*Bert release. No offense to the little orange buy, but Ghosts’ n Goblins and Ghouls’ n Ghosts are far more fun to play.

[Source: New Wave Toys]

Check out Mai Shiranui’s Life-Size Bust? Yes, Please!

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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Check out Mai Shiranui’s Life-Size Bust? Yes, Please!

Fatal Fury’s Mai Shiranui can be all yours. Well, from the waist up, anyway, if you order this life-size bust from Queen Studios. The company known for creating ultra-detailed statues and busts has brought the Fatal Fury star to life.

The bust features hair that has been individually rooted, glass eyes, and skin made of “platinum silcione.” I’m pretty sure the company means platinum cure silicone rubber. It is a rubber that supposedly does not shrink as much over time. But, wait… does this mean she may appear to age as the years go by?!

Is she anatomically correct? Possibly. I’m sure Mai Shiranui is fully sculpted under her sleeveless red uwagi. But am I a big enough fan of King of Fighters ’97 to find out for sure? I totally would, except for one problem.

As per usual, when it comes to Queen Studios, the Mai Shiranui bust is not available in the U.S. Only 300 lucky people in mainland China will be able to pick up the SNK beauty.

A: Rooted Hair

B: Platinum Silcione Skin

C: Detailed Base

“Mai Shiranui is a female ninja descended from the Shiranui ninjas. “The Alluring Ninja Girl” wears a red and white Kunoichi dress, with circular white ropes around her shoulders. As one of the founders of the Women Fighters Team, she poses devastating skill and power to take down her enemy, while she carries her iconic white Kacho Sen (Butterfly Fan) as her primary weapon.”

If alluring ninja girls aren’t your thing, why not check out Queen Studios’ bust of Henry Cavill’s Superman?

[Source: Queen Studios]

Super7’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Ultimates Honor Tommy

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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Super7’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Ultimates Honor Tommy

Super7 has just announced the 4th Wave of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers action figures. This wave consists of only three figures, but one of them honors a dearly departed franchise staple.

Wave 4 includes Madame Woe, the White Tigerzord in Warrior Mode, and the iconic Tommy Oliver as the White Ranger. Each figure is priced at $55 and is expected to ship in mid-February 2024. Pre-orders will only be taken up until April 21st.

Jason David Frank, one of the most established actors in Saban’s version of Power Rangers, passed away in November 2022. Jason’s turn as the Green and White Rangers was a fan favorite. In a way, he was the face of the franchise in the U.S.

Super7 Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers ULTIMATES! Wave 4 — Photo Credit: Super7

The ultra-creepy Madame Woe is light on accessories:

6x Interchangeable hands
- 2x Claw hands
- 2x Flat hands
- 2x Open hands
6x Interchangeable hair braids
- 2x Hair braid extensions
- 2x Hair braid loops
- 2x Hair braid ends
Soft goods dress

Tommy Oliver, the White Ranger, comes packed with all of these heroic accessories:

3x Interchangeable heads
- 1x Helmet head
- 1x Ponytail head
- 1x Long hair head
10x Interchangeable hands
- 2x Fist hands
- 2x Open hands
- 2x Gripping hands (vertical)
- 2x Gripping hands (horizontal)
- 2x Martial arts hands
Saba
Saba laser eye head
Toy-inspired saba
Sword of Light
7x Tigerzord power orbs

Warrior Mode White Tigerzord comes with the following:

4x Interchangeable Hands
- 2x Fist hands
- 2x Gripping hands (vertical)
1x Mighty Morphin White Ranger mini-figure
1x Sword
1x Fireball effect
1x Tigerzord power coin

If the price tag for a Ultimates figure is too much for you, check out the $20 White Ranger ReAction figure. Those are available right now!

Who was your favorite actor from Saban’s series? Let us know in the comments section below!

[Source: Super7]

Director Gerard Johnstone Dishes On His Potential Justice League Dark Film

Jacob Airey

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March 22, 2023

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Director Gerard Johnstone Dishes On His Potential Justice League Dark Film

Many film projects adapted from DC Comics were lost in the shuffle when Warner Bros. Discovery decided to clean house at DC Films when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over. This included a crossover between ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Man of Steel’ as well as the canceled Batgirl movie. One of the films put on hold was ‘Justice League Dark,’ a film potentially directed by Guillermo del Toro and co-written by ‘M3GaN’ director Gerard Johnstone.

There have been no concrete updates since 2020, but during an interview with ScreenRant, Johnstone revealed that he had worked extensively on the script and dished on some key plot points.

“The status is mainly that IMDB just hasn’t updated that page yet. I was on Justice League Dark,” Johnstone explained. “I’m a big fan of James, and while I was working on Justice League Dark, I was watching Guardians of the Galaxy a lot. Because tonally, it was really similar to what I wanted to do, but also it was a movie that introduced a bunch of new characters in a movie that’s worked.”

When speaking about a potential story arc, Johnstone said he turned to Justice League Dark member John Constantine for some inspiration.

“I had to give myself an education on those comics. And so I did a massive deep dive on all the DC comics, and Constantine [and] all the Hellblazer,” he said. “It’s so funny because they just wanted a script really quickly, but I was like, “I’m just having too much fun reading these comics.” I was getting into the Brujería; the weird little Patagonian cult. And I was like, “I want to do something with the Brujería. These guys are really strange, and weird, and they live in a cave in Patagonia, how cool is that?” I had taken on a script that was really fun, but I think no writer had really been able to invest the necessary time on it to just make it work.”

He also stated that Batman ally Zatanna Zatara would have been the focal point of the film and the main driver of the team.

“But I really was just halfway through the script writing process with that one. But yeah, it was a fun pitch. So Deadman, Swamp Thing, Constantine, Zatanna. I felt like Zatanna was actually the main character, and there was a lot of the conversations and jostling I had with the guys, because they were like, ‘Constantine’s the main character.’ I was like, ‘No, Constantine’s kind of the coolest character. But Zatanna is really the main character.’ Because she’s discovering her magical powers for the first time. But it was fun, man. The characters all went to hell to get Zatanna’s dad,” Johnstone continued.

He concluded by saying he would love to hand it over to James Gunn to add it to the new slate of DCU films.

“I gotta dig it up,” he added. “But it was fun. I had blast writing it. But no, it’s an unfinished work, for sure. I would love to meet James Gunn. I would love to sit down with James Gunn and talk about it, for sure.”

‘Justice League Dark’ was adapted into a 2016 animated film as part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies and would receive a 2019 sequel ‘Justice League Dark: Apokolips War’ which served as the finale for that franchise.

Anime Adventure Film ‘Suzume’ Announces English Dub Cast

Jacob Airey

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March 22, 2023

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Anime Adventure Film ‘Suzume’ Announces English Dub Cast

The 2022 adventure anime film Suzume made a splash at the Japanese box office when it was released. Following its debut in the United States, it has been announced that Bang! Zoom Studios will produce an English dub version that will hit North American theaters.

Crunchyroll released the cast list on their website:

Suzume Iwato voiced by Nichole Sakura (Superstore, Shameless)
Souta Munakata voiced by Josh Keaton (The Spectacular Spider-Man, Voltron: Legendary Defender)
Tamaki Iwato voiced by Jennifer Sun Bell (Genshin Impact, TrollsTopia)
Tomoya Serizawa voiced by Joe Zieja (Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Ascendance of a Bookworm)
Daijin voiced by Lena Josephien Marano
Suzume (Young) voiced by Bennett Hetrick
Chika Amabe voiced by Rosalie Chiang (Turning Red, American Born Chinese)
Minoru Okabe voiced by Roger Craig Smith (Resident Evil, Sonic the Hedgehog)
Rumi Ninomiya voiced by Amanda C. Miller (BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, Sailor Moon)
Miki voiced by Mela Lee (Apex Legends, The Owl House)
Hitsujiro Munakata voiced by Cam Clarke (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bleach)
Tsubame Iwato voiced by Allegra Clark (JUJUTSU KAISEN, The Promised Neverland)
Aya voiced by Abby Trott (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Mob Psycho 100)
Mami voiced by Jennie Kwan (Summer Time Rendering, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf)
Shige voiced by Jake Eberle (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Hunter x Hunter)

Directed and written by Makoto Shinkai, the character designs were done by Masayoshi Tanaka, the animation direction was handled by Kenichi Tsuchiya, and the art direction was led by Takumi Tanji. Bill Millsap works as the English voice director.

You can watch the trailer below:

The original Japanese voice cast includes Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu, Shota Sometani, Sairi Ito, Kotone Hanase, Kana Hanazawa, Akari Miura, and Ann Yamane.

MyAnimeList describes the synopsis as follows,

“Suzume, a 17-year-old girl who lives in a quiet town in Kyushu, encounters a traveling young man who tells her “I’m looking for a door.” She follows after him and discovers a weathered door in the ruins in the mountains, as if it were the only thing left standing from a collapse. As if drawn by something, Suzume reaches for the door…

Before long, doors begin to open one after another in various parts of Japan. As disasters come from the far side of the doors, the open doors must be closed. The stars, the setting sun, and the morning sky—in that place she wandered into, there was a sky that seemingly blended all of time together. Guided by the mysterious doors, Suzume’s “door-locking journey” begins.”

The anime film was number one at the Japanese box office when it premiered in cinemas on November 11, 2022.

NECA Announces Two New Elvira Figures

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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Who would have thought that an obscure horror movie hostess would become a franchise powerhouse that’s lasted over four decades? And it all started with a casting call for Movie Macabre. Elvira, the Mistress of the Dark, has outlasted nearly every other horror movie host by becoming a pop culture icon. And with that honor, we’re seeing more Elvira merchandise being announced.

NECA is continuing its line of Elvira figures with two new entries. The first is a new version of her 8″ tall action figures. Named the Red, Fright, and Boo figure, this Elvira is decked out in a shiny red version of her iconic and revealing dress. She’s light on accessories, but who needs them when you’ve got a great set of cans? Expect this one out in September.

However, if you’re looking for Elvira in her classic outfit, the hostess with the mostess is also available in a Toony Terrors boxed set. The set features Elvira lounging on her sofa in her black outfit, and Gonk is included, too! The exact size of this figure isn’t clear, but

NECA's Elvira Figures — Photo Credit: NECA

“The devilishly delightful Cassandra Peterson has played the part of Elvira for more than 40 years with grace, humor and more than a little camp. NECA is proud to present this positively patriotic figure of the Mistress of the Dark in a sparkling red dress for your horror collection.”

Red, Fright, and Boo Elvira comes with the following:

Winking head
Skull and snake candle holder
Chalice
Figure stand

I wasn’t kidding when I said Elvira’s merchandise is still popular. Over the past couple of years, I’ve covered several collectibles, including the republication of her comic book. Other items we saw were a doll and an excellent statue from Mezco.

Unfortunately, I can’t ignore when Cassandra Peterson called fans trash on Twitter.

[Source: NECA] [Source: NECA]

Judge Tosses Gamers’ Microsoft Activision/Blizzard Lawsuit

Video Games

Mike Phalin

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March 22, 2023

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Judge Tosses Gamers’ Microsoft Activision/Blizzard Lawsuit

A class-action lawsuit filed by a group of gamers has been dismissed from a California court this week. The suit alleged that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision/Blizzard would have anticompetitive effects on the industry.

The lawsuit’s key point was that Call of Duty could be chained to Microsoft’s consoles and PCs. Considering this major semi-annual series sells well across most major platforms, it is concerning that PlayStation owners may be cut out of the mix. However, would Microsoft be willing to miss out on the revenue to spite Sony? Doubtful.

Regardless, the Alioto and Joseph Saveri Law Firms out of San Francisco claimed that the merger would violate the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914: “This is a private antitrust action seeking an order of the Court prohibiting the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. by Microsoft Corporation as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. § 18). The threatened loss or damage to the Plaintiffs and to the public at-large by the merging of two giants in the video game industry is extensive and broad.”

GameSpot linked to the dismissal documents, wherein North District of California judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said the class-action suit “does not plausibly allege the merger creates a reasonable probability of anticompetitive effects in any relevant market.”

However, Jude Corley does state that it is entirely possible that Microsoft could make Call of Duty or any other acquired IP exclusive to its platforms, but there was not enough evidence to show this was a certainty, “they do not make any factual allegations that support the conclusory incentive assertion. Why would Microsoft make Call of Duty exclusive to its platforms thus resulting in fewer games sold? What is it about the console market or PC games market and Microsoft’s position in those markets that makes it plausible there is a reasonable probability Microsoft would take such steps.”

It will take an entity more prominent than the customer base to derail the Activision/Blizzard buyout at this point.

[Source: GameSpot] [Source: Document Cloud]

Ya’ll Got Battletoads? PCS Has Some In Statue Form!

Mike Phalin

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March 21, 2023

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Ya’ll Got Battletoads? PCS Has Some In Statue Form!

Hey kids! Remember Battletoads? Remember when Microsoft dug them out of the grave and delivered a mediocre beat ’em up with a de-sexified Dark Queen? Nope, me neither. It never happened.

However, if you want collectibles based on the glory days of Rare’s iconic series of slimy hopping heroes, check out statues Premium Collectibles Studio announced this week!

Although Pimple, Rash, and Zitz can be purchased as individual statues, the best way to go is with the Battletoads Brawler Collection. The collection features all three Battletoads and includes interchangeable parts for Pimple and Zitz:

Swap-Out Right Arm for Zitz with Battletoads Logo
Swap-Out Left Hand for Zitz with Rodent Enemy
Swap-Out Right Hand for Pimple with Pig Enemy

The individual Battletoads statues are limited to 350 pieces each, but only 300 copies of the Brawler Collection will be made. Expect the warty warriors to ship between September and November this year.

The combo statue is $1,800. Rash and Pimple are each $550, and Zitz is $650.

“The Battletoads Brawler Collection features all three heroes of the mutant space warrior squad: the leader Zitz, the muscular Pimple, and the cool cat Rash. When assembled as a collection with the Battletoads cover art title, the statue set measures 22″ tall, 21″ wide, and 19″ deep. Each character in the statue set is fully sculpted with amphibian textures and vibrant colors that bring their original two-dimensional designs to life in three-dimensional form. Their proximity bases can be displayed alongside one another to create one cohesive scene.”

Are you looking for more Battletoads collectibles? Then, check out the action figures being made by Premium DNA.

[Source: Premium Collectibles Studio]

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

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