King Sphinx Is A Pretty Fly Guy

 

With a little Christmas gift card money, I picked up the MMPR Lightening Collection version of King Sphinx. I had completely forgotten this toy was coming out, but jumped on him immediately. King Sphinx has always been one of my favorite monsters from MMPR. He was heavily featured on merchandising in the series since he was in the unaired pilot. However they called him Fly Guy in that pilot and frankly, I don't 100% hate that.

In Zyuranger he was known as Dora Sphinx. The differences from Super Sentai to Power Rangers is really clear in these episodes. King Sphinx is a big threat for the Rangers, but an even harder obstacle in Zyuranger. I'm not saying one is better than the other, that's up to personal tastes. I find the differences very neat.

Despite being all over the place merchandise wise, he's only in his particular episode and I've always been a little let down by that. King Sphinx is just so cool looking, I've always wanted him to be a regular character. He's paired with Goldar during the big fight of his episode and they make a good team.

This figure is pretty nice like most Lightening Collection figures are. He has articulation in ways that never would have occurred to me before. The arms just don't rotate or swivel and the shoulder, but they also move outwards. Fancy figures with a billion points of articulation are hardly a new thing, but I'm still a little amazed by them sometimes. 

You've probably noticed just how good looking this figure is from the pics. Or you're looking at my living room closet door. We keep our jackets in there. King Sphinx is better sculpted and painted than the actual costume used to portray him in his episode. I said what I said. The paint job is downright immaculate and I'm still blown away by the details. The toy is around $30 at Target, but looks like it should have cost way more.

King Sphinx comes with his scepter and one of those special effect thingies. The special effect represents his magic spell and fits over the scepter nicely. It has question marks which work well to represent his riddles. I literally have nothing bad to say about this figure. It's freaking awesome.

Wicked. Ass. Pumpkin.

It's the first week of January, hard to believe it's already Halloween time. No it's not, this is Zone Base where everyday is Halloween! Speaking of Halloween, boo! Another of the Christmas gifts from my wife (there is going to be a bit of these posts for awhile) was the new Pumpkin Rapper figure from the Power Rangers Lightening Collection. I probably don't have to tell you this but, I've always liked him.

Pumpkin Rapper hails from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Which as boring as that may be to some Power Rangers fans, is my favorite era of the show. However the character isn't from original Super Sentai footage. Instead from the new footage Toei had made for Saban as they had burned through Zyuranger episodes and needed more content.

Like Frankenstein, Pumpkin Rapper is another Halloween episode monster... and the coolest one in my opinion. He appeared in two different Halloween episodes. In 'Trick or Treat' as the main villain and returning in 'Zedd's Monster Mash' which takes place in a haunted forest!

There's been a few figures of the guy. The newest being this Lightening Collection figure, which is a super nice representation. In the box you get the Rapper, three pumpkins, two vines, a magic doo hickey, and 2 sets of hands. One set can hold things, like the vines. The other is in dramatic positions for dramatic posing with one hand in a fist and the other open. Dramatically.

The two vines can be held as weapons to be used a whips and lassos. The pumpkins can be placed over the heads of Rangers or the Putty Patrol to recreate the big battle in 'Trick or Treat'. The magic doo hickey can be placed over his arm to show him casting those spooky spells. You can put a pumpkin in it as well, it's neat.

The figure is very well articulated with all sorts of joints that move all sorts of ways. I think the only thing keeping you from putting him into any pose possible would be that giant noggin.

It's an awesome higher grade figure of one of my favorite Power Rangers monsters. I love a pumpkin headed freak and he fits the bill with that specific flair that comes from a Japanese production.

From various shows, cartoons, and games, I've always loved the Japanese style of portraying monsters. That specific style on something that represents my favorite time of year is impossibly irresistible.

Halloween is quite a ways away, even with the way I celebrate it. Throughout the year I'll watch random specials and commercials, because I just love it in general. Something like this is another fun way to experience the season all year long. It doesn't hurt that it's a excellent figure either.

Ooh, you Rangers make me mad; waking me up with a rap that bad.

Power Rangers Lightening Collection news

Hasbro’s Power Rangers Lightning Collection Figures Revealed https://t.co/h41u7G08dc pic.twitter.com/GlRFgHzXHK

— TokuNation (@TokuNation) November 17, 2018

Lord Zedd? Well, I'm there.