Hello, and welcome to All Your Monies, where The Glorio Blog’s resident toy and figure collecting crew (and Iro) will run down the last week’s new pre-orders, turning a loving or scathing all-seeing eye over what’s been put out for you to spend your hard-earned cash on. This week we’re offering waifus both new, old and rubber suited.

Yotsugi Ononoki DX ver. (Monogatari)
Good Smile Company, June 2017, ¥14,630

Zigg: My dislike for the Monogatari franchise remains as sterling as ever but it’s really hard to deny that Good Smile’s work on the series has produced some of their finest figures ever, and this happily sits up there alongside them. Yotsugi herself is wonderful obviously, all poofy clothes and glass eyed stare, but it’s probably the base that steals the show. Not only do you have the wonderful aged stone but all those cuddly animals are so beautifully crafted too. Just top notch stuff.

Iro: Are we sure this isn’t a dot Hack character? There are fluffy MMO creatures and everything.

Timmy: GSC has had a history of producing some pretty stellar bases for this line, but the one that comes with Yotsugi might be the best one yet. And of what little I know of her this seems to be the perfect pose and expression for her as well. A pretty great figure all around, and while I do appreciate a budget version being available if you are going to pick this up I say go big or don’t even bother.

Hatsune Miku: Two-Dimensional Dream Fever Ver. (VOCALOID)
Alphamax, January 2017, ¥12,800 

Zigg: Miku is as predictable as the day is long these days, which is why I was intrigued enough to include this different take. Trying to produce flat-shaded figures can backfire spectacular but this produces an intriguing look that meshes well with the stark colours of the design. Even the base lands on jsut the right side of tacky to add

Iro: The boob tattoo is dumb as hell, but this costume isn’t too bad otherwise. I appreciate the weird transparent laser hair, which would actually make some amount of sense for a virtual idol.

Timmy: An interesting take on Miku, and I like it. The neon hair, the pink cords, and the hollow discs on the base base all work well to give her a neat futuristic look. A refreshing different look from a character we have see a thousand times before.

figma Dark Magician Girl (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Max Factory, December, ¥6,000

Zigg: Dark Magician Girl is still as cute as a button, and her design is practically conservative compared to a lot of the stuff you see these days. The spellbook is a lovely accessory, though I’m bummed out at the lack of a dizzy or goofy face considering how much potential there is for comic posing. As ever with figmas these days there is the question of value (especially since some extremely good statics of the character have been made) but it’s tough to ding the figure itself.

Iro: Seeing as DMG is the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise’s top waifu, I shouldn’t be surprised that this exists. Honestly though, this might have been relevant something like 10 or 15 years ago, but is there anybody who cares about this now?

Timmy: Not really that into Figmas these days but I guess this seems fine. Having two different expressions with only her eyes focused on different thing seems a little weak, but at least the smiling expression is adorable.

Nendoroid Elise (Fire Emblem Fates)
Good Smile Company, January 2017, ¥5,370

Zigg: Elise herself is great – I’m always amazed how Nendoroid designers somehow translate the most impractical hairstyles ever into the format – but let’s talk about that Nendoroid sized horse! This is exactly the kind of dumb addon that makes people buy Nendoroids they aren’t necessarily attached to, and it commands a surprisingly low premium considering the size and detail. Definitely a standout.

Iro: I didn’t get too far in Fire Emblem: Fates, but this seems cute enough. Really, we just need more goofy nendo accessories like the pony here.

Timmy: Speaking of adorable there some good stuff going on here. Elise is cute, especially with her pouty face, but the horse is what is going to probably sell this for a lot of people. Seems like a fair enough price for it too.

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Drive Type Tridoron Taiyakakima Set (Kamen Rider Drive)
Bandai, January 2017, ¥9,000 (Exclusive)

Zigg: Type Tridoron is one of the more cohesive ultimate forms we’ve seen in recent years and I continue to like it’s design, especially the awesome looking helmet. Yet again though Bandai has fenced this off behind the barrier of P-Bandai exclusivity, and even worse this Taiyakakima set is a full ¥2,000 more than the base version, for which you’re getting a bunch of effects parts that should be in the base release already. I’d not be averse to adding this but the cost and inconvenience are just ludicrous at this point.

Iro: My only experience with Kamen Rider Drive is its (terrible) crossover with Shuriken Sentai Ninninger, and I’m pretty sure this form didn’t show up in that. I guess it’s pretty cool if you like dudes who look like cars?

Timmy: Not really my thing but I guess this is kinda interesting, if a little over the top. I like the racing stripes and all the weird car themed stuff going on with his mask.