This page will have their 2021 / 2022 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 2021 or 2022. 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 *
This is a factory photo that was released in spring 2022, when the figure is not yet out on store shelves. This should be at Target and Walmart upon release. It looks like they've done their usual excellent job from the single photo so far. The face looks good, the wings seem the right size and the expression seems normal. She comes with a unique accessory, but it and the pose for her hands/boots will take more photos to determine how they did with it. Is the body too small? Did they give her elbow or knee joints? Entry will be updated once more is determined
Picking at it a bit aside, this is an all right idea to cater to mint in the box collectors. The boxes are somewhat modular (as you can see in the factory photo here), and it looks like they're cubic so you could stack other boxes on top of them.
The interesting thing about this figure is that he is depicted as smiling, which actually looks very nice and cool on him. Because he is the 'silent ninja type', most figures/media will have him frowning, so it's good to see a change of pace here.
He is on the wave with many-release modern Sonic/spring bumper, modern Tails/ invincibility stars container & the Egg Robo/Egg Blaster. DO buy him! As is the usual with characters who don't appear as often, he may become rare.
*I wouldn't complain about the accessory if everyone just had generic stuff like the stage pieces or emeralds etc. but they DO go out of their way / prove they CAN---it's the same reason I always knock the figures about "no elbows" because their movie line figures the SAME size DO have elbows yet they "claim" these are too small to do it.
On the Fall Season 2022 wave of 5 inch figures Jakks Pacific releases this quite-cheerful looking classic Sonic with spring accessory. The mouth and eye shape combine to make him look very pleasant and happy. Notice his hand though, one is a fist but the other is clearly meant to hold something.
But what?
None of the figures other than Amy have ever seemingly (up to this point) come with something they can hold onto, so why keep doing it with the hand pose?
Normally I wouldn't buy yet another classic Sonic figure.
However, this one IS actually quite charming looking, and it was enough to sell me on getting him again.
While it is important to include badnicks on the line for play, it's kind of surprising to see this one before Blaze the Cat or someone more popular than one of Eggman's cannon fodder type goons. Either way though, this one has had a good job done for it, as it DOES have bendable elbows, knees, the ankles turn and you can balance it with the gun to do multiple poses. You can also turn the dome head.
The Bottom Line:
DO buy this figure! Badguys are seldom repeated things, so if you want an Eggrobo for your display, get it while you can or risk paying too much later. The big gun of course adds to the play value, as does the many points of articulation. Because all their stuff is derived from the models in games, it of course is accurate and the paint is good. Maybe even get more than one to stage a battle area or something.
He looks quite decent! Interestingly, the figure makes him more appealing even than some of the art. Obviously because both he & Mighty were extremely simplistic sprite-knockoffs of Sonic, he's "way too Sonic like" in his design simply being yellow Sonic with spikes deleted and tail added. Maybe some data or history can be filled in, but the Arcade 3/4 view game
This line has chipper classic Sonic, a repeat of Amy (which is good), and also Vector who is new. He should appear next.
The Bottom Line:
I am not a big Ray fan because they don't seem to do a lot with his character and of course the lazy design (whether it was on purpose or they just needed 'other colors of Sonic' to shove cheaply into the arcade game and it was a stumbling-block of tech capability at the time not withstanding....) but this figure was clearly done by someone who cares a lot. There IS genuine effort here to make him appealing. I'm glad this is his first figure, and glad to have it. As for characterization: still no- the box back says he is friendly and loves adventure which is generic.
Other brands took a while to release him in super form, but they're getting right to it, much to the delight of fans. With him, that's all 3 super Hedgehogs being available on the 5 inch line. To go further and make it more desireable, he comes with the first instance of the white / clear chaos emerald. The other emerald colors have been released/re-released, so if you want to complete all 7 colors, you'll need this figure.
Rarity Warning:
If you see this just buy it, even if you're not a big Silver fan. Him being super and having a new emerald is likely going to amount to this being uncommon or expensive in the future.
The in box photo looks good, if they kept his shoe detail & the joints hold up/feel correct this will be a good figure. BUT: Why that gripping hand again? Of all characters he HAS the sculpted gloves/unique hands give him more telekenesis hand poses! Don't just shovel on the grip hand when no accessory is hold-able AND you've got the telekenetic character. Oy.
He may be a re-release, but the accessory is all new. It has been labeled as 'gizmo' on a few places but it is the Wisp Translator from Sonic Colors that Tails built to try and understand (at first) Yakker, then other Wisps too so that the plot of Colors could be complated. The box itself also just calls it 'accessory', but it's obvious what this is from like any screen shot.
It sure does look like it has a grip-able handle though, doesn't it? Finally here might be something a figure can hold onto. Opened box/testing info pending being added to this entry.
This time it's Classic Sonic again (but you can't tell his expression with this factory photo angle) However, his accessory is a new one that hasn't been released before: The 'speed shoe' / 'speed boost' power up monitor from the classic games. It is pixelated and everything, and it is about the right size to go with this scale of figures.
Jakks Pacific does have a habit of re-releasing/re-combining figures and accessories...so this may end up with a different figure later. Buying recomendations are up to you--if you already have a classic Sonic you may not need to buy him again just to get this accessory if they add it to a pack, or a different figure you don't own later on.