Packaging - ***
This packaging has some really big pluses and a few negatives that hold it back. On the plus side it is a very unique design and looks like an old book. I would guess this in keeping with the Monkey King’s literary origins. And rather than using Velcro (or Sideshow’s lovely magnets) they actually use 2 fabric buttons to hold the front flap closed. It’s a very visually striking design and really stands out among the “boxes” that other figures come in. It’s also pretty collector friendly: there are some twist ties, but you can discard those quickly and just use the plastic trays to protect the figure and accessories. The style of packaging appears to be consistent across the Code of Myth series and each figure is individually numbered.

On the negative side, the images and graphics of the box leave something to be desired. The style of art is a bit too modern and sketchy which doesn’t really work with the style of packaging. Also the graphics are just big stickers, (1 on front and 1 on the spine) which cause them to look even more out of place. I think the packaging would have faired much better if they had used images more in keeping with traditional Chinese art.

Sculpting - ****
Hanuman sports some amazing sculpting. I’m going to limit sculpting to the main head and hands at this point, and I’ll address the accessories later. The main head sculpt which is an anthropomorphized Monkey head is absolutely fantastic! The detail, style and execution of the head sculpt all work together perfectly. The features are all very well defined, but there are also a number of lines and indentations across the face to simulate his fur which works really well with the paint apps. His hair is sculpted in a dynamic blown backward pose that works for action and stationary poses. The hands are pretty standard and nothing to get too excited about.

Paint - ***1/2
Across the board this figure sports great paint applications. The majority of the paint apps are on the 3 (that’s right 3) included heads and really brings out the small sculpted details. And equally important all the applications are neat and clean. Of particular interest are the whites of the monkey-head’s eyes… they are very large, but clean and crisp with no transparency or consistency issues. There are some nice washes on the heads, but they aren’t overdone and really bring out the details nicely. The hands are painted as well; again the hands are neat and clean, but only one color and nothing to write home about.

Articulation - ***
As far as I can tell this is on a Dragon-style base body. I’m not brave enough to remove his clothing to find out for sure who the maker is, but the articulation and feel of the body seems to be consistent with my other Dragon figures. And while not offering as nice a range of motion or realism as say a Medicom, it gets the job done and isn’t hindered by the outfit. Also on the plus side the joints are nice and tight and hold poses well.

Outfit - ****
This is hands down one of the coolest looking and best executed 1/6 outfits I’ve ever seen. If you like this scale you are probably aware that until recently there has been little available in quality 1/6 Samurai outfits, but this effort is absolutely breath-taking! The most noticeable part of the outfit is the lacquered armor portions. The armor piece that covers his chest and back are a leather-like material with an embossed swirled design. There is darker color on the raised section and it’s trimmed in a black vinyl. The shoulders, wrists, hip and shins are covered in the same material, but this time in a woven pattern that is so convincing you have to look very closely to tell it’s actually embossed. An additional impressive detail is that the shin and wrist guards are actually held on with laces. 

Underneath the armor Hanuman has a red long-sleeved robe/shirt and a pair of rust-colored pants. Both the pants and robe are made from a material that looks like a fairly heavy/coarse fabric, but at the same time is very convincing in the 1/6 scale. He also sports a pair of sculpted shoes that fit nicely with the rest of the outfit. And as an added bit of flare, he comes with what could best be described as a neckerchief.

Accessories - ***1/2
Hanuman has more accessories than most 1/6 figures, especially from smaller/independent manufacturers. In total you get 2 alternate heads (a human and cartoon style), 3 extra sets of hands and a die cast staff, medallion and crown. The heads are a very nice addition that add a lot of display options. Also, while doing research for this review I found out that the human head sculpt was actually based in Steven Chow’s (Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle) portrayal of the Monkey King in the film “Chinese Odyssey” and it’s a spot-on likeness to the role! There is also a metal pin included, and I’m not sure what it is exactly , but according to the story of the Monkey King his staff is magic and can change size and shape (insert joke here)… so my only guess is the pin is a miniaturized version of his weapon?

Overall this is another great category; however there is one major issue that holds the Monkey King from a perfect score. The problem is that some (not all) of the hands are too small/out of scale for the figure. What’s most upsetting about this is that the hands I most wanted (in the Ohm position) were among the tiny ones. If this scale issue hadn’t been present this would have easily been a **** category.

Fun Factor - ***
Now this is a tough one… I don’t think too many kids are familiar with Chinese Classical literature (I sure as heck wasn’t). So I don’t think this will be a figure many kids will be asking for around the holidays. But, it is a samurai monkey and that’s got to count for something. He’s definitely as sturdy as any 1/6 figure out there, and could be used as a toy, but given his price and limited numbers I’d be hesitant before letting little Johnny or Susie play with him.

Value - **1/2
I paid about $90 shipped for this particular figure. And he seems to consistently sell on eBay in the $100 range (but you may pay more for overseas shipping). To me this figure was a no-brainer… it combined 2 of my favorite things, monkeys and samurais. If you are like me (and my condolences if you are) this price will be more than justified and you will be ecstatic with the figure. 

But, in the grand scheme of 1/6 figures this price is a bit high, especially when you can get a licensed Star Wars figure from Sideshow for about half the price.

Things to watch out for-
Not much, this is a solid figure and I’ve had no problems with mine. However, you will most likely be buying one blind off the internet and I have no idea what the quality control from Jason Ng/Tao. But, small numbers typically translate into higher quality.

The one caution I would offer is that there appear to be two versions of this figure, the one I own and a badly recasted copy. If you ever have any questions which version someone has up for auction compare the head sculpt paint and quality to my pictures. The knock-off version has a thinner looking head and somewhat dopey-expression.

Overall - ***1/2
What can I say, I love this figure. He has a few short-comings like the small hands and high price tag. But at the end of the day this is an amazingly well made figure and one that will surely stand out amongst a sea of collectibles. 

And while he may not be every collectors cup of tea, for the 1,000 people who own one I think Hanuman will surely be a king among your 1/6 figures.

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - ***
Sculpt - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***
Outfit - ****
Accessories - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to buy-
Sorry to say it, but eBay seems to be your best/only bet these days. These were only offered for sale in Hong Kong during Toycon and you’d be hard pressed to find one Stateside.