Our final pair of reveals for the 2018 Statue Awards, and we close off with a bang! These are the nominees from two of the most popular categories; Best Large Statue and Best Gaming Statue! Voting will go live tomorrow, January 7th, only at Bmutha.com. Stay tuned for the event, and be sure to vote for your favorites!
Check out all of the nominees and event rules here! Get ready to vote tomorrow!
Best Large Statue
We feel it is safe to say that, although it is now being strongly challenged by the other categories, the Large Statue category (featuring 1/5 and 1/4 scale statues) is a fan favorite. A perfect blend of size, detail, and presence give these statues a museum quality and feel. Here are the nominees for Best Large Statue (from left to right on the banner above):
1. Thanos on Throne Maquette by Sideshow Collectibles
Sculpted by: Will Harbottle & Justice Joseph, Design by: Sideshow Design Team, Retail Price: $1,200 USD, Approx. Size: 21.5″ tall
Why we chose it:
A masterful hype campaign orchestrated by an industry giant certainly
got the fans excited, but it also put a world of pressure upon their
shoulders. The Mad Titan is perhaps at the height of his popularity
right now thanks to the success of Infinity War, so needless to say,
collectors were salivating over the release of this piece…and it
delivered. Quickly vaulting to the status of flagship piece, Sideshow
collectibles has produced a collectible worthy of wielding all of the
Infinity gems. View the photo gallery and watch the full review here.
2. Gul’Dan by DamToys
Sculpted by: Park.Zhi, Design by: Niuyuan, Retail Price: $1,400 USD, Approx. Size: 31″ tall
Why we chose it:
Not only an accurate representation of the villainous movie character,
this statue has arguably has the best utilization of mixed media in
2018! Damtoys combined Romney wool, hemp rope, and real leather straps
to produce Gul’Dan’s absolutely incredible clothing. In addition, they
used an experimental hair planting process to add a lifelike beard to
his face…oh, and he also has light-up eyes! This statue is a
remarkable achievement.
3. Majin Vegeta HQS+ by Tsume-Art
Sculpted by: Pierre Marie Albert, Maxime Roudaut, & Christophe Sperto, Design by: Tsume Design Team, Retail Price: 699 Euro, Approx. Size: 21″ tall
Why we chose it:
An iconic moment for an iconic character from an iconic series. Majin
Vegeta from Tsume is the complete package of sculpt, paint, presence,
quality, and technology (it has several light and sound effects built
in). Dragon Ball Z fans around the world are going Super Saiyan for this
statue, and for good reason, as it is possibly one of Tsume’s crowning
achievements. We have a full review and photo gallery for your viewing
pleasure here.
4. Guts, the Black Swordsman by Prime 1 Studio
Sculpted by: Alessandro Baldasseroni, Design by: Prime 1 Studio Design Team, Retail Price: $999.99 USD, Approx. Size: 36″ tall
Why we chose it:
No one has consistently packed as much detail into their statues the
past few years better than Prime 1 Studio. With this Museum Masterline
statue based on the beloved Berserk manga, Prime 1 is continuing with
that trend. At a whopping 36″ tall, Guts impressively stands atop a
horde of slain enemies. With a base that is every bit as impressive as
the figure itself, this statue will dominate the attention for your
collection! StatueReview has a complete unboxing experience for you here.
5. Red Sonja, Queen of Scavengers by Sideshow Collectibles
Sculpted by: Steve Lord, Design by: Sideshow Design Team, Retail Price: $550 USD, Approx. Size: 20.5″ tall
Why we chose it:
This statue is the third Red Sonja premium format figure from Sideshow
in a relatively short amount of time, but it is arguably the best of the
bunch. The Scavenger Queen masterfully blends beauty and badassery
standing with a battle axe on her shoulder and sword casually skewering
an unlucky foe’s head…all while dressed in her trademark chainmail
bikini…because, erm, she needs that freedom of movement on the
battlefield! This statue is another outstanding addition to anyone’s Red
Sonja collection. Our good friend Gina B has an great review of this
statue here.
6. Capcom’s Morrigan by Hand Made Object
Sculpted by: Mufizal Mokhtar, Design by: HMO Design Team, Retail Price: $699 USD, Approx. Size: 24″ tall
Why we chose it:
With each new release, HMO strives for innovation. With their patented
“Real Eyes” technology, we believe they found something very special.
Using a gel encasement technique, HMO has managed to give their Morrigan
statue an incredibly lifelike look, with eyes so deep and realistic,
you’d swear she was a real…erm…succubus. Couple the original Artgerm
artwork with a glowing skin effect, a stellar James TCE paint design
(check out those french tip finger nails!), and a creative parallax
skull for a base, and you end up with something very special! We have a
complete review and photo gallery for your enjoyment here.
7. Hulkbuster by XM Studio
Sculpted by: Kucharek Bros., Design by: Studio HIVE, Retail Price: $2,500 SGD, Approx. Size: Huge
Why we chose it:
A monumental undertaking by a company not afraid to take risks, XM
Studios has an absolute home run with their Hulkbuster statue. The
Kucharek Bros. absolutely killed this sculpt…and we truly we mean they
slayed it! Details on top of more details, even the cockpit interior
received their meticulous attention. Team that with the herculean task
of engineering and production, meticulous quality control, and bomb
proof package design, and XM has a statue for the ages. Oh, and it comes
with a 1/4 scale Iron Man that can be displayed bursting forth from the
cockpit or alongside the Hulkbuster. Truly amazing. We got an early
look at this monstrous statue at STGCC 2017.
8. Devilman vs Amon by Figurama Collectors
Sculpted by: Caleb Nefzen, Design by: Jarold Sng, Retail Price: $810 USD, Approx. Size: 29″ tall
Why we chose it:
Figurama Collectors are bringing a fresh approach to their business
(did you see they gave away TWO free trips to their Tokyo Ghoul
unveiling in Thailand earlier this year?), and they did not pull any
punches with their first ever shipped statue. Devilman vs Amon is a
masterful production. An innovative paint scheme (look at the
faux-translucent effect on Devilman’s wings), incredible quality, secure
packaging and top notch presentation…and, not to mention a brilliant
sculpt from one of the industry’s brightest stars, Caleb Nefzen. If this
is the bar set for future Figurama releases, then get excited, people,
get very excited! We have a complete review and photo gallery for you here.
9. Spider-Man 2099 by Prime 1 Studio
Sculpted by: Bernardo Cruzeiro, Design by: Rodrigo Windt Idalino, Retail Price: $699.99 USD, Approx. Size: 27″ tall
Why we chose it:
It is probably safe to say that when Prime 1 Studio announced their
Marvel license, no one expected them to lead off with a niche version of
the friendly neighborhood webhead. But, in a crowded collecting market,
this approach was truly a breath of fresh air. Blending masterful
anatomy with perfect usage of texturing on the suit and a suitable
futuristic base, this Spider-Man 2099 statue belongs in any Spider-Man
collection. You can watch our review and view the photo gallery for this
statue here.
10. Scorpion by XM Studios
Sculpted by: Caleb Nefzen, Design by: Studio HIVE, Retail Price: $990 SGD, Approx. Size: 28.5″ tall
Why we chose it: We mentioned above that XM Studios is a company not afraid to take risks. Sometimes that means tackling characters that other companies are afraid to take on, and that sentiment holds true for this old-school Spidey villain. Another piece sculpted by Caleb Nefzen, this statue captures the animalistic nature of the character, as his deadly tail is ready to strike! Incredible use of texture, perfect anatomy and proportions, innovative armor plating (allowing for both a classic and modern display), and superb paint along with a super small 300 edition size make this statue extremely sought after by collectors. Check out the complete review and photo gallery for this statue here.
Best Gaming Statue
As a kid (or maybe still as an adult), there is a good chance that you spent at least some of your free time gaming, Chances are your parents stood around and wondered how long it would take for these “darn games” to rot your brain. But, video games have evolved into an art unto themselves since those days. The characters and stories of these games have become meaningful parts of many people’s lives…that’s why these statues deserve special recognition. Any size of statue from any type of video game (PC, PS4, Nintendo, SEGA, XBOX…any platform) is eligible to take home this award. Here are the 2018 nominees for Best Gaming Statue (from left to right on the banner above):
1. Akuma by PrototypeZ
Sculpted by: Erick Sosa, Design by: Erick Sosa, Retail Price: $669 USD, Approx. Size: 26″ tall
Why we chose it:
With Erick Sosa’s traditional hyper-muscular style, comes Akuma,
legendary warrior from the Street Fighter series. The statue comes with
two heads and two torsos, so he can be displayed with or without his gi
top. The statue has a powerful yet simple pose that captures the evil
essence of the fan-favorite character.
2. Ken Masters Ultra by PCS Collectibles
Sculpted by: Unknown, Design by: PCS Design Team, Retail Price: $424.99 USD, Approx. Size: 26″ tall
Why we chose it:
In a contrast to the PrototypeZ Akuma, PCS Collectibles’ Ken Masters is
full of action from top to bottom. This statue captures the world
warrior in an acrobatic kick, in fact, his kick is so powerful it caused
spontaneous combustion of the air around him! The statue is also
customizable with long or short hair, as well as a yellow or brown glove
option. For a character from a fighting series known for its over the
top action, we feel that this piece fits the bill.
3. Overwatch: Mercy by Blizzard
Sculpted by: Dominic Qwek & Taso Gionis, Design by: Arnold Tsang & Laurel Austin, Retail Price: $175 USD, Approx. Size: 13.75″ tall
Why we chose it:
Blizzard has consistently put out statues that have incredible value
for the price, and Mercy is no exception. This piece captures every
detail of the Overwatch hero in her signature Valkyrie suit, complete
with Caduceus Staff. Dr. Ziegler will have to be her own guardian angel,
though, as she’ll be flying solo in this competition. Can Mercy earn
Blizzard its first Statue Award?
4. Solid Snake by First 4 Figures
Sculpted by: Tushank Jaiswal, Design by: F4F Design Team, Retail Price: $524.99 USD, Approx. Size: 17.5″ tall
Why we chose it:
First 4 Figures have made the impossible possible with the first statue
in their Metal Gear line. Solid Snake’s pose perfectly blends with the
environmental base to showcase the former Green Beret’s sneaking skills!
F4F carefully considered every aspect of the statue (look at the
realistic grip on the gun) to bring the highest level of game accuracy
to collectors! Can Solid Snake sneak away with this award?
5. Lady Maria by Prime 1 Studio
Sculpted by: Nillo Samyr, Design by: Prime 1 Design Team, Retail Price: $599.99 USD, Approx. Size: 20″ tall
Why we chose it:
Lady Maria sits deathly still in the Astral Clocktower, but don’t let
that fool you, she moves with deadly speed when she is awoken! This
statue from Prime 1 Studio captures that fearful, anxious moment before
Lady Maria springs to life to attack. Painstaking details bring such
accuracy, you may be scared to touch her yourself!
6. Capcom’s Morrigan by Hand Made Object
Sculpted by: , Design by: , Retail Price: , Approx. Size:
Why we chose it:
So nice, we had to nominate it twice! Also a contender in the Large
Statue category, but we simply could not leave Morrigan out of the
running for 2018 Best Gaming Statue. We discussed her many virtues above
already, but, we’ll say it again, those eyes are spectacular!
Everyone’s favorite friendly neighborhood succubus is vying for two
awards this year, but she can only do it with your votes!
7. Bioshock: Big Daddy – Rosie by Gaming Heads
Sculpted by: , Design by: , Retail Price: , Approx. Size:
Why we chose it:
Bioshock was a truly innovative game for its time, and had a tremendous
non-linear story. Roaming the dark, dingy confines of Rapture, these
near unstoppable hulking behemoths known as Big Daddy brought fear to
the hearts of the players! Gaming Heads have meticulously recreated
these memorable monsters, bringing all the details from the game to life
for your display, including the color switching light up feature for
the helmet!
8. Killer Croc by Prime 1 Studio
Sculpted by: Unknown, Design by: Prime 1 Design Team, Retail Price: $1,399.99 USD, Approx. Size: 35″ tall
Why we chose it:
The second statue to receive dual nomination, what more can we say
about Prime 1 Studio’s gargantuan Killer Croc? One of the company’s best
in the ever expanding Arkham based series of statues…can it take home
multiple awards this year?
9. Sonic, 25th Anniversary by First 4 Figures
Sculpted by: Manish Nautiyal & Angad Singh, Design by: F4F Design Team, Retail Price: $384.99 USD, Approx. Size: 13″ tall
Why we chose it:
It is hard to believe that the original Sonic the Hedgehog game was
released on the Sega Genesis over 25 years ago! Who can forget speeding
through the Green Hill Zone, collecting rings, bonking various
mechanical animals back into their natural form, and battling the
dastardly Dr. Robotnik’s various mechanical robots? Classic gaming at
it’s best! F4F have captured the care-free nature of the thorny blue
hero, with his feet a blur as he blazes past a spinning level
checkpoint! The positive nostalgia ingrained in this statue practically
slaps you in the face as you behold it, and that is all due to the hard
work put in by First 4 Figures during the over 2 years of development!
10. Mega Man X by Hand Made Object
Sculpted by: Mufizal Mokhtar, Design by: HMO Design Team, Retail Price: $599 USD, Approx. Size: 20″ tall
Why we chose it: The Mega Man (or Rock Man if you are more familiar with the Japanese games) franchise holds a special place in man gamer’s hearts. In 1993, Mega Man got a major facelift for the 16-bit era, which was the start of the new Mega Man X series. HMO has grabbed a piece of that gaming history by presenting the blue blaster wielding hero atop a precious upgrade module. HMO infused some of their signature ingenuity to this statue by adding tear away armor, so you can see the inner workings of the robot construction! In our opinion, this was a genius way to bring the retro character to life in 1/4 scale. Check out our review and photo gallery here.
Giveaway!
Don’t forget we have a MASSIVE giveaway planned! FOUR awesome statues up for grabs…all you have to do is vote, and you will be taken to the Giveaway page!
Best large statue: XM Hulkbuster
Best game statue: HMO morrigan