This page will have their 2022 / 2023 articulated larger-5 inch size figures only. They have both modern and classic license, so any figure that falls in the "Articulated Action Figures" category will be on this page if it was in 2022 or 2023. Bendy type figures, deluxe figures & small line or car-figures will go onto a separate page. But if it's by Jakks Pacific and it's an action figure, check them out here.
UK NEWS: These & other JP figures CAN be at Smyth's Stores!
Sonic Gear Main Merchandise Page * Jakks Pacific Deluxe Figures * JP 5 Inch Page 2 *
Jakks Pacific will release another modern Knuckles at the 5 inch size in late summer or possibly fall 2023. This one has a different expression, the mouth is more 'yeah lets go' cheering type than the usual serious expression that he had before. This version will come with the yellow spring bumper.
It's not a huge difference by any means, but if you weren't able to get him earlier/missed his re-release wave, this is a good opportunity. This is a factory photo.
Better late than never though, because this is a cool figure that gets the details right. There's the textured furry glove cuffs & socks, the overcoat looks good, and they got the splits in the hair tips too. Her color and expression are good,
HOPEfully everyone can get him, or they re-release him because complaints have come in that the wave is not being distributed quite right and has way too many of Skateboard Sonic on there and not enough of Cream or him. Watch out for this that it doesn't become rare.
And, they introduce it with this Mecha Sonic figure. The difference here seems to be the paint, which is now genuinely metallic, as well as the box format. It still has the usual accessory, in this case the 1 up monitor, but the box is now a full box instead of a bubble card. It has a front and top window, with a simpler, logo-free design that really features the character name & doesn't have Sonic pictures all over it. Notice they did their own Jakks logo in gold down there too.
Is this a good idea?
Probably, but...where are they selling these? The first one, Classic Sonic with a skateboard and odd self-shaded paint job was on Walmart but wasn't always labeled 'gold series' or having something to distinguish it or that it would be part of a line. There's also Super Sonic but he's kind of white with a gradient and Metal Sonic with shinier paint. Price information and more photos are pending because Jakks didn't really broadcast about these and even Gamestop doesn't seem to know.
Look at the expression & the mouth, it's textured in and painted perfectly so it gives the appearance
What's this called? Econo-box? Jakks Pacific doesn't seem to have a name for it other than 'set'...which is unfortunate becuse this package is a really good idea. Rather than buying bubble carded figures, this pack lets fans have another chance at figures for a lower cost.
The signifigant thing about this for collectors is that these are coming out AFTER the wave is gone from stores so the all-important 2nd chance to grab figures of characters you missed is great with this. Especially because they seem to be short-packing EVERY character except Sonic (and sometimes Knuckles) so there's like 15 of him on shelves and 0 of anybody else because no one is buying 5 Sonics for themselves every time he comes out. By all means rush onto Amazon and pick up these Economy Sets of any character you didn't get in 2023! These aren't the only 2/you have to do searches.
He was also released bubble carded. As you can see this is the side smile/teeth version of his head, he has one hand to hold something and the other is the first hand. The board has his name in a stripe on the underside (which is never visible in any packaging format) Here, the belly-dot paint looks slightly thin, so it's a tad dark applied over his dark blue plastic, but it's nothing terrible. A peg holds his shoe nicely to the board, so you can slide it along surfaces.
It would be assumed that for their figures, Jakks just keeps making the same head/body and then slightly changing something like the paint for the expression, or the hands that they give each re-release of a character. But a sharp eye catches these 2 releases of classic Sonic having 2
This is not something that's bad or good, but it IS something that shows that the figures aren't all the same mold with minor changes and it shows that they are experimenting with what they are doing, even if the end result is really similar. Why are they doing this though? It remains a mystery.
The issue is that this wave didn't seem to have that great of distribution. It was really scarce in some areas and more abundant in others. Jet the Hawk was especially uncommon. Part of the problem seemed to be another classic Sonic on the wave that everyone already had too many of. The Tails at least has an all new accessory (The Wisp translator machine from Colors) to warrant maybe buying him again. Hopefully he will get re-released in the future so all fans who want him, can have him.
With these angles, you can see the determination expression, that the shoulder/back fur is actually lifted up in the back as well, and that the 'bangs' area spikes are all integrated nicely. His paint application is all very good as well. He holds poses decently, and the upturned spikes seem to actually make him a little more stable.
Do you notice 1 missing thing that Jazwares never forgot but Jakks did? It's the paint detail in the hexagons under his boot soles. The hexagons are textured in, but they missed painting them. It's not a big deal at all, but it does show a difference between the 2 companies still. Also, there goes those holes for a base in the heels of the shoe, but nothing for these guys ever has a base. Also the white emerald is difficult to photograph.
They'll add him to the 5 inch line of figures in early 2024, and, it does look good/it looks like the games. The arms are clearly reinforced/different than the Eggrobo, and it does come with the gun accessory (but its kind of hidden what it is behind the sticker) You can tell this is a prototype boxed one though, because he's on the classic packaging when this is a modern only bad guy.
It's good to see that they're still adding enemies as they do a good job every time, and it is important to displays and play to have both sides. Photo by Jakks Pacific
The 5 inch size Mephilies figure. This noseless footless badness comes with the purple bad energy base thing as the accessory. And hopefully it comes with plenty of the actual figure sent to stores! As a big-time antagonist, collectors and fans are going to want this, and their previous 4 characters that were non-STK were extremely troublesome for many fans to find. (Jet, Vector, Cream, Infinite)
From their photo, he looks really good so far, with the white/light details and jagged edges. He clearly has no nose, but you can't really tell what's going on with the non-feet. (Maybe because he has no feet that purple thing will make him stand) This entry will be updated whn more photos are available.
The Sonic figure is great, as is their usual, the paint is very solid everywhere/no oversprays or issues, he stands up pretty well despite the big/heavy classic head, and the expression is also good. There's that mysterious 'holding hand' again, but it looks fine as a fist without anything to hold. If you didn't alraedy have him, this is a good one to pick up.
