Hello, and welcome to All Your Monies, where The Glorio Blog’s resident toy and figure collecting crew (and Aquagaze) will run down the last week’s new pre-orders, turning a loving or scathing eye over what’s been put out for you to spend your hard earned cash on. After skipping a week due to lack of stuff, we’re back to a strong lineup.

Dark Angel Olivia (Rage of Bahamut)
Kotobukiya, March 2014, ¥11,800

Zigg: This is without a doubt one of the most stunning figures we’ve featured in AYM in quite some time. I know absolutely nothing about the source material but I know a fantastic design when I see it, and this is definitely one of those. Kotobukiya have given it the five star treatment too – that great crystal base, the incredible detail on the jewelry, the amazing shading on the wings – it all adds up to a figure I think any collector would want.

Jel: This is pretty stunning, for all the reasons Zigg mention. I’d like to point out I like the color scheme, particularly the bold choice for the wings. It’s a pretty stellar design too, with her intricate outfit showing just the right amount of skin. No complaints here except maybe the price, but even that seems fair for the level of quality you’re getting.

Aqua: Most definitely the best headliner we’ve head in quite some time, Olivia’s stunning design, wonderful colour palette and stunning craftsmanship are all well worth the heftier price tag. It’s simply quite stunning, with a highly detailed outfit, graceful pose and jaw-dropping crystal base. It’s hard to be stingy with the superlatives.

figma Eren Jaeger (Attack On Titan)
Max Factory, April 2014, ¥4040

Zigg: We were very up on figma Mikasa and Eren displays a similarly high level of quality. That 3D Maneuver gear continues to look absolutely ace and all in all these are some of the best figmas in quite some time. Worth pointing out as well that figma Mikasa got a second wave of releases to coincide with Eren, so if you hunt around she may still be out there.

Jel: I will just reiterate what I said with Mikasa and say figmas are the way to go for your Attack On Titan figure fix. Now if only they would make some kind of rooftop playset thing for them to leap on, you’d be all set.

Aqua: Attack on Titan characters are at their best in figma form, allowing for a wide variety of acrobatic poses and melodramatic facial expressions. The sad thing is, that with every character wearing the same uniform and using the same equipment, a lot of these figmas will have very little distinct about them. With his generic main character look, Eren already looks inferior to Mikasa — who at least had a scarf — but if you have her already, it makes only sense you’ll get her significant other as well.

Nendoroid Mayoi Hachikuji (Bakemonogatari)
Good Smile Company, January 2014, ¥3110

Zigg:I don’t particularly like Mayoi but even I have to admit she makes an absolutely adorable Nendoroid. Sure, she’s a little accessory light, but then it’s not a bad price and the design is the real draw here. Despite schoolgirl Nendoroid fatigue I don’t mind making an exception here.

Jel: Let’s be honest, Mayoi pretty much IS a nendoroid, so it’s not surprising she looks great in the transition. Not a lot of accessory choices, but the face options are spot on. I’ve been resisting the Monogatari figmas and nendos so I don’t fall into the “Gotta Catch Em All” pitfall, but this is another reminder I’m probably missing out.

Aqua: Mayoi’s default face looks a bit creepy, but her other two expressions look fine and dandy. As usual with nendoroids, we get a lot of pint-sized cuteness and great craftsmanship, yet the lack of accessories is a pity. I wouldn’t really know which accessories to give her, but… Hey, that’s not my job!

Momiji (Binbougami ga!)
FREEing, March 2014, ¥7200

Zigg: Well it’s certainly distinctive. Joking aside though, this looks to be a really good figure. there’s some great cloth texture on the skirt and the stockings, that hair is fantastic and generally it’s sexy without being gratuitous or gross. Binbougami‘s continuing popularity through figures is entertaining but has produced some fine stuff.

Jel: Meant to be posed with the Ichiko figure from a couple weeks back, I find myself disappointed that of all the possible Binbougami outfits that could have gotten the figure treatment they picked some of the most boring ones. Even their normal clothes are more colorful and interesting than generic gym clothes/slutty nurse costumes. Still, I’m glad to see the series get some more figure love and Momiji appears to be on the good end of FREEing’s hot and cold scale of quality. Now let me get out before I demand my Winter Uniform Ichiko again.

Aqua: I’m not a big fan. Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing to complain about as far as the actual quality of the figure is concerned. Even Momiji’s messy hair looks great. It’s just the combination of the generic “sexy nurse” outfit and the uncomfortable boobs-and-butt pose that irk me. And she’s not even supposed to be the fanservice character of the show. I admire the effort, but I’m getting quite tired of stuff like this.

G.E.M. Tai & Agumon/Matt and Gabumon (Digimon Adventure)
Megahouse, January 2014, ¥3730JPY each

Zigg:I’m super disappointed that these guys are only 1/10 scale – such iconic designs deserve full size figures. But aside from that it’s pretty difficult to criticise them. The colours are bright, the poses excellent and the design very faithful to the original. I think it’s really great that the Digimon are bundled alongside the boys and that the poses take advantage of that. Very tempting indeed.

Jel: Hey look, they made some toys based on Fake Pokemon! Why does the one on the left have a Charmander that looks like a T-Rex? My money is going to the one with the Tiger Seal Unicorn thing.

Aqua: Shut up, Jel, even a kid can tell the obvious differences between Pokémon and Digimon! Oh, right, plastic. What’s there to say about these two? Tai and Matt look great even on such a small scale, and I love how Agumon and Gabumon are integrated. Great quality for a great price.