Review: Kotobukiya Axl White Version

The Mega Man X series is famous for many things, but one of the most distinctive elements is the variety of Armors worn by its characters. X is the face of this tradition, though Zero, Vile, and Sigma have each sported multiple designs over the years. Then there’s the most enigmatic member of the cast: Axl. In Mega Man X8, Axl received a mysterious upgrade known only as “???”—better remembered by fans as White Axl. For over two decades, this design has gone without a proper figure, until now. To my surprise, Kotobukiya has finally answered the call. We know their track record speaks for itself, but just how impressive is this release? Let’s take a closer look!

Review sample provided by BigBadToyStore.

"I might just steal your spotlight."

White Axl has been one of my most-wanted kits in this line. Seeing a hero character take on the colors of a villain is such a cool concept, and I'm happy to report that these colors pop in person. One of the more unusual aspects of this release is that it combines an X8 design with the X7 body. In X8, the characters were slimmed down and streamlined, and White Axl was unique to that entry. Seeing that look adapted onto the bulkier X7 frame is actually a clever touch, though it does raise some concerns that Kotobukiya may be shelving the X8 body designs for the time being. Perhaps they’ll revisit them once the X1–X7 lineup is fully realized.

"With this power, I'll never lose!"

White Axl's body is exactly the same as the previous Axl release, now with a spiffy new coloring! As such, the articulation is identical to that kit, so please see our previous Axl review for the specifics. In short, the updated arms and legs really add a lot to the structure and stability of the kit. One thing about this kit that is completely different is White Axl's face. Like in X8, when Axl dons the White Armor, his facial scar vanishes. This detail was missed by the only other White Axl merchandise (that I know of), so it's nice to see it accurately represented here. The build was really easy, aside from the tiny gems in his ears, be careful not to lose those. Aside from that, the build was a wonderful experience.

Accessorize!

For this review in particular, I feel that we should cover the accessories as a whole before we talk about the rest in detail. White Axl includes four faces: stern, smirking, big mischievous smile, and shouting. This kit has a lot of hands: the standard fist, splayed open, and grabbing hands, along with a left and right hand intended to hold each of his weapons (six weapon hands in total). Axl's wings come in both extended and retracted styles. Lastly, White Axl includes three different weapon types: two Axl Bullets, two Ray Guns, and one Blast Launcher. With so many accessories, your sense & skill will be put to the test, so do your best to make White Axl really stand out on your shelf!

YOU GOT: Ray Gun

While White Axl himself looks great out of the box with no paint, the same cannot be said for the Ray Gun weapons. They look good on their own, but if you look at the box art, you can see that there really is a lot of color missing from these. It's nothing that some paint and a steady hand can't fix, but it's still a bit of a bummer. The Ray Guns themselves look just fine, all the details are there, they are just lacking the color to make them properly stand out. It's a bit of a shame, but nothing worth being too upset over, if you ask me.

YOU GOT: Blast Launcher

The other new weapon is the Blast Launcher, and it’s an absolute powerhouse. Unlike the Ray Guns, this one comes fully colored, and it looks fantastic. Featuring an extendable back piece, the weapon has an imposing presence—but that size comes with a minor drawback. Fitting it into Axl’s hands without clashing against his armor can be a little tricky (though that might just be me). Still, the extra effort is more than worth it, as Axl looks downright unstoppable once he’s equipped with it.

Old reliable

As far as I can tell, the Axl Bullets seem to be exactly the same as the Axl Bullets that came with the original Axl kit. They are missing a touch of color on some of the smaller details, but it's nothing that really takes away from the look. I'm glad these were included, it's great for anyone who missed out on the original Axl kit, but prefers these weapons.

Ultimate

That about does it for Kotobukiya's White Axl kit. Overall, this is a fantastic kit with a couple minor blemishes with the accessories. I would absolutely recommend this kit. The look pairs so well with Black Zero and Hyperchip X. Maybe one of these days, Kotobukiya will announce X's Ultimate Armor to properly complete the trio. Was it worth waiting 20 years to have this design brought to life? That's hard to say, but I think the final results speak for themselves. Since this kit is an exclusive, be sure to get it while you can. Once they're gone, who knows when they will get re-issued!

Be sure to get yours at BigBadToyStore using our link so they know we sent you!