Why P-Bandai, WHY?
HELLO! We are back!
In Today’s 277th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment, we will be taking a closer look at the last P-Bandai announcement that we deliberately missed on our previous blog post.
Time to now convey our feelings on this P-Bandai release.
So, without further ado, let us get into it, shall we?
MG 1/100 ZGMF-1001/M Blaze Zaku Phantom Rey Za Burrel Custom (MG)
MG 1/100 ZGMF-101/M Blaze Zaku Phantom (MG)
Release Date: June 2021
Estimated price: JPY 5,170 (MYR RM 196.65* / USD $ 48.50* / EUR € 40.18*)
*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation
This is one frustratingly good looking SEED Zaku variant
There is a good reason why it took us quite a bit to get to this announcement. Because previously, we thought that after seeing Lunamaria’s Zaku Warrior Launcher getting the Retail treatment, we were sure that we would be getting this as a Retail release.
So yeah, when we saw P-Bandai announced this version of the MG Zaku Phantom as a P-Bandai exclusive MG kit, we were all quite pissed.
Why wouldn’t we be? The Rey Za Burrel’s Blaze Zaku Phantom is, for one, is probably one of the most recognizable versions of the Zaku Phantom units in the anime. Which, also does share the same amount of screen time as Lunamaria’s Gunner Zaku Warrior. Honestly, it’s both hilarious and frustrating for us to see that this variant got the P-Bandai treatment here.
Why isn’t this get the same retail treatment as Lunamaria’s Zaku?
It almost looks like to us that Bandai didn’t even take the time to watch SEED Destiny before they decided to make this into a P-Bandai exclusive kit. Because if they did, they probably would’ve known that the Rey Za Burrel variant of the Blaze Zaku Phantom plays quite a significant role in the anime as the Lunamaria’s Gunner Zaku Warrior did.
If we could put it in a different perspective hypothetically, it’s like seeing Bandai release the MG Hyaku-Shiki Ver.2.0 as a P-Bandai release. Even despite the huge role that it plays in the anime.
What frustrates us more here is that Bandai probably knows that the Rey Za Burrel will be a kit that EVERYONE (in Malaysia at least) would be looking forward to getting. Why do we know this?
Because back when the MG Lunamaria’s Gunner Zaku Warrior was released last year, it took us a few months after its release to finally get one. The reason for that is because it kept going out of stock.
We can already hear the words “Sorry the PO’s is full” or “Sorry man this is out of stock” or “we don’t ship it to Malaysia”
Putting our raging emotions aside, we admit that we do like what we see here. Even though it is basically just the same recolored version of the previously released P-Bandai MG Zaku Warrior/Phantom kit (well, without the option to convert it to the Zaku Warrior variant, that is), but that is enough for us to consider getting it.
P-Bandai even went as far as to include the M68 “Cattus” 500mm Recoilless Rifle with this release. Which is, for now, exclusive for this P-Bandai release, but we suspect that we might be seeing more of it with future P-Bandai SEED MG GINN and MG Zaku variants releases.
That is one sexy Bazooka right there
So, with that all said, are we still keen on getting this? Well, since we are a fan of the series, we might. Although the real challenge is right now is to get it. Because through our previous experience trying to get Lunamaria’s Gunner Zaku Warrior, we know that this is not going to be an easy one to get.
And we are as well quite sure that we’ll see Dearka’s version of the Blaze Zaku Phantom comes as a P-Bandai release eventually. Which as well going to be an ass to get.
Anyways, that concludes our 277th edition of the Let’s Talk Gunpla segment. Finally, we managed to get this one off our chest. It took us quite a bit to get around to contextualize our feelings on this P-Bandai MG release. But it was a process that we do find to be quite fun all in all.
We are aware that P-Bandai isn’t the only one that announces a new MG SEED Zaku variant. Because Gundam Base as well announced their own Gundam Base Exclusive MG Zaku Warrior variant too.
We need some time to analyze the Gundam Base’s release, so we’ll probably cover that one in the next upcoming segment.
Anyways, we will be back again next coming Saturday (hopefully) with more Gunpla/ Gundam merch-related posts for this blog, so yes, please do look forward to that!
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Anyways, we shall see all of you again soon, and we as well hope that you all here have a splendid day and week ahead! Oh as well, please do have an excellent time building your awesome gunplas there and until next time.
Ciao!
Kimi The Builder 