It’s throwback ’70s month here at the Fwoosh. Bandai has been releasing characters that pop right out of ’70s manga and anime, and I am so excited to be able to review another classic character: Tiger Mask. Arriving on the scene in 1968, Tiger Mask is a classic cult character that continues to draw interest.
Tiger Mask is the story of Japanese wrestler who fought in the U.S. and was a heel. But after learning he was inspiring children in Japan to be heels, he returned to Japan and became a hero. The manga, along with the original anime, ended in 1971, but it was revived in the ’80s and again in 2013. I don’t remember reading the manga or seeing the anime as a kid, but I do remember a number of model kits, statues, and toys gracing the pages of Hobby Japan. I love the character for the Tiger Mask and that he was a wrestler. He popped on the pages.
And so does the action figure. Bandai’s Tiger Mask action figure is an amazing work of art. It utilizes the basic frame of the Kinnikuman action figures; it’s beautiful engineering and there’s a ton of great fun in posing the figure. There’s even a little notch in his back to make use of stands for more poses.
The articulation is off-the-charts amazing. Yes, there is a lot of standard S.H. Figuarts goodness in there, but the way it is put together with the sculpt to bring out the best of the wrestling? Just amazing.
I love the sculpt. Yes, it screams “modern Tiger Mask,” but it retains the “classic” ’70s feel in the simplicity of the mask design. I love it. It’s also tall for a Figuarts and stands eye-to-eye with a Marvel Legends Daredevil.
The figure comes with a cape and an extra set of hands. The extra hands are articulated, but they aren’t strong enough to hold another figure, though they still allow for some dynamic posing.
This is a niche figure and one that most people could skip. The character is a long-forgotten cult manga character that maybe a handful of people know about. I don’t recommend the figure for everyone in that regard. But I do recommend this figure for anyone interested in super-articulated action figures, especially wresting figures. This is a great figure, and even if you don’t care for Tiger Mask, the figure will find some spot in your displays.
You can order him today here:
