Hero Factory 2012

[Bfahome]

Probably just to make the distinction between "gun arm" and "arm holding a gun".

[Aanchir]

Probably just to make the distinction between "gun arm" and "arm holding a gun".

On that note, it's still uncertain how it will be portrayed in the TV episodes. They'll probably give him a hand, which I don't mind too much, but I'm afraid that means they'll downplay the Hero torso shell used on his lower arm the same way they did with the shoulders of Stringer and Stormer 3.0. While I can understand the logistical reasons behind making such a decision (armor that bulky would probably make certain scenes more difficult to animate), I wasn't a big fan of that decision as IMO it lessened the characters' uniqueness, and I would be even less of a fan in Evo's case if it turns out to make his arm-cannon feel less cohesive.

Edited November 13, 2011 by Aanchir

[Studs Not On Top]

It's possible though. Fire Lord's hand was ripped off in Ordeal of Fire. So blowing an arm off doesn't sound too violent for an HF episode.

I forgot about that scene-- I was actually surprised they did that. This also reminds me of Fire Lord wiping the "oil" (blood) off his hand after beating up Furno in the comics.

[MrSebi]

Regarding the hand...

Personally, I don't mind the concept of a blown off arm, I even made a MOC of Evo a while back based on that concept. What does bug me is that the yellow color seems to be Keetorange again, kinda bums me out since it means it won't be as compatible with the current Evo color.

[Mesonak]

The color isn't keetorange, it's the same color that Evo 2.0 used earlier this year.

I will admit though, the recent CGI picture of Evo does make it look like the keetorange color. But the rest of the pictures released thus far, combined with the pieces released in the set (size 4 yellow armor only, hand) are already available in normal yellow, but not in keetorange.

Regarding the whole gun arm conversation: I prefer the arm as it is designed now, because it symbolizes to me that it is an entirely robotic arm complete with launcher in place of hand, not just bulky armor and a hand holding a gun.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Mesonak

[Front]

Evo did not change colour since last year, if I rotate my head 90 degrees I'm looking at him

[Omicron Squad Leader]

Evo did not change colour since last year, if I rotate my head 90 degrees I'm looking at him

You love to tease us don't you? GIVE ME IT!

[Jouster]

You love to tease us don't you? GIVE ME IT!

Be patient...You will get the 2012 sets before I do anyway. #IHateMyLife #TheLuckyOne #HoorayForMe

[Kalhiki]

I was going to say that the gunmetal color would make sense if it was a replacement arm.

But since they're robots, Evo could've just gotten one in yellow.

Then I got to thinking. If you look at Furno 1.0 being assembled in one of the animations, he's grey and only gets his color when his Core gets started. Perhaps the Quaza gives the Hero their color (if you want to take everything in that animation as canon). Which would mean if Evo were to get a new arm, it would be grey since it wasn't part of his body during his initial Core charge.

If that makes sense.

Kalhiki

[Pro_Ice]

It looks like Hero Factory sets are made in Mexico too!

I found one quite interesting lot on the same site where Superheroes pics came from. Even though I'm not sure the sets are built correctly, here are 2 first real-life pictures of Toxic Reapa and Jawblade:

[Jouster]

Honestly, I do like them. Jawblade's helmet is pure win. Toxic Reapa's decent enough.

[Mr. Gundam]

Hmmm, I think Reapa is build correctly (minus the hero badge on the chest)

Its a bit disappointing how thin he looks tho, but man even if Jawblade isnt build right. I like the way he looks.

[Dorek]

I'm less than enamored with Toxic Reapa, but Jawblade still has some potential if he isn't posed retardedly. Not a fan of the lower jaw being fixed, but if the head unit has enough flexibility, it should be a good set. The lower jaw looks a lot bigger than it does in the CGI; I know the CGI is designed to hide various flaws, but it seems like they focused a lot more on covering stuff up this time around =P. Ah well, I'll still want a lot of them, and most of the humanoids are looking a lot better.

[Vinyl Scratch]

WHY DON'T I LIVE IN MEXICO.

I live on Argentina.

*sniff*

So close yet so far.

Well, Toxic Reapa sucks, but why does he have a Hero Core?

And Jawblade looks delicious. But the colours look... Dull. Maybe it's the camera.

[Mesonak]

I'd be lying if I said I was impressed by either of them, but I still do have reserved hope due to the fact that the posing (and lighting) in these pictures is sub-par at best. I think Reapa will actually look very good when posed correctly (hunched, not straight) and without the obnoxious white hero core.

Jawblade, sadly, has not caused my opinions toward him to shift. Ever since the first pictures were released I've praised his design (albeit very cluttered), but lamented the lack of recolored/new pieces and the dull color scheme. Looking upon the finalized set, my opinions haven't changed, though I do spot the recolored Furno blades and red sockets. There's not enough there to catch my interest, but as usual, I'm going to wait to have the sets in-hand (or for decent pictures to surface) before I condemn anyone.

[Aethersprite]

Jawblade looks terribly posed, but seeing Reapa's face in real life - AMAZING. Looking forward to better posed pics.

Anyway, I should think Jawblade's lower jaw is movable - after all, it's attached by 2 ball joints. I'm just disappointed at his lack of lower body armour.

[Kalhiki]

They don't look all that great, but I'll make my decisions once I see more pics. Reapa's got potential. I was losing faith once we saw the newer CGI pics. Jawblade... Eh. I still want to build a pair of legs for him just because.

The round shoulder armor looks kinda small. It looked like it'd be bigger judging by other pics, but that could just be the angle. And I was hoping Jawblades swords would trans red instead of solid. Oh well.

EDIT: Looking at Jawblade, I would have much rather have preferred the fin to be on his back rather than on his helmet. Having an assembly similar to Bulk's weapon would be fine.

Kalhiki

Edited November 15, 2011 by Kalhiki

[Darth Nihilus]

Ew. Somebody took Toxic Reapa's lower leg armor off during the design process and nobody noticed. Now I know where my money's going. To get two Toxic Reapas so I can fix one and scrap the other. Jawblade is much better than the box pic, though. I'm going to be getting him, if only to replace Furno's spear launcher ( ) with a more character-appropriate weapon.

[Studs Not On Top]

Jawblade looks like a nice set. He's skinnier than I expected, but for $8 you get a cool build. I really wish his swords were trans-red, though.

Reapa is still my favorite villain. I expected his shoulder armor to be larger, and i thought his chest armor covered his entire torso; but I think he looks neat, and he'll make a great little brother for Corroder!

[Aanchir]

Ew. Somebody took Toxic Reapa's lower leg armor off during the design process and nobody noticed. Now I know where my money's going. To get two Toxic Reapas so I can fix one and scrap the other. Jawblade is much better than the box pic, though. I'm going to be getting him, if only to replace Furno's spear launcher ( ) with a more character-appropriate weapon.

Ummm... what? Toxic Reapa never had lower leg armor, even in the preliminary pics we had seen. I agree that his legs seem terribly, terribly under-armored (along with the rest of his lower body), but keep in mind that he's built wrong in these pics. He shouldn't have a Hero Core, and his upper-leg armor should be facing forward rather than to the sides. The official pics may be just showing him off from his best angle, but that's not the only reason they look better than these out-of-box pics.

TLG really needs to design an armor piece that covers the crotch area on figures with non-standard upper torso armor designs. After all, if the center ball on the torso is used to connect armor for the upper body, it's difficult to cover the lower torso unobtrusively. It's a problem I had to cope with on Sophia Blaze, and I'm not even entirely happy with the solution I arrived at.

[Rocketbilly]

Hmmmm...Jawblade doesn't look great from that angle. I'll reserve most of my judgement on it until I see better pictures, though but honestly I'm not too sure about it now. Partly it's the tail and the way it's built; doesn't that mean that one of the fins will stick out more than the other?

On the other hand, Toxic Reapa looks as good at the prelim pictures suggested.

Maybe whoever built him didn't add the leg armour for some reason? after all, he's got a Hero Core in that picture too and since nobody seems to be able to confirm how this person got the sets, there might be a chance foul play is involved - remember those Friends keyrings that turned up a while ago with the mismatched logos and things? stuff that turns up out of a factory when it's not supposed to seems to be shoddily assembled. Might be a case of that.

EDIT: Nevermind, Aanchir just jogged my memory about the leg design. I should really have look at those pictures to make my own judgment

Since he's got a Hero Core, though this must mean that whoever has the sets has a Hero! perhaps.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Rocketbilly

[nuparu51]

Reapa doesn't look as good as I thought he did before. Jawblade is now a must buy, though.

[Mesonak]

The good thing is, regarding Reapa's lower legs, it's not that difficult to fix. I plan on adding his lower arm armor to his lower legs using the two of that piece I picked up from Drilldozer. I think it will improve his overall look.

Also, a theory of mine regarding Reapa's hero core is that since the codes for the "Breakout" game are printed on the back of the hero cores, perhaps all of the villains (who have points for said game advertised on their packaging) contain a hero core in order to have their points? It would make sense.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Mesonak

[Rocketbilly]

Also, a theory of mine regarding Reapa's hero core is that since the codes for the "Breakout" game are printed on the back of the hero cores, perhaps all of the villains (who have points for said game advertised on their packaging) contain a hero core in order to have their points? It would make sense.

Good point, though I'm not sure how likely that could be. I suppose it's a possibility, and if nothing else gains us an extra piece with every villain.

[SpiderSpaceman]

This is what I see looking at Reapa : Squash.

I've built the frames for reapa, jawblade, and batman, just as exercises in the HF building system. I actually like reapa's build a lot. Mesonak's 'match the legs to the arms' sounds like a fantastic idea to me but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. And to Aanchir, would we not be able to gird reapa's loin outward with one of the shortest socket to ball pieces, since the rest of his armor already juts forward that far?