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Quick Verdict: Both look great, but the new neck joint is fiddly.
Another year, another release of Goku and Vegeta.
Bandai has revisited two of Dragon Ball Z’s most iconic characters with updated S.H. Figuarts releases; Goku (Kind Hearted Saiyan) and Vegeta (Dangerous Pride). Both figures bring some revisions and new option parts with them, making them an interesting pickup whether you’re upgrading from older versions or coming in fresh.
Details
- Manufacturer: Bandai Tamashii Nations
- Scale: 1/12
- Line: S.H. Figuarts
- Accessories included:
- Goku — alternate hair, multiple hand pairs, additional face plates.
- Vegeta — folded arms, alternate hair, additional face plates, yellow-tipped boots, multiple hand pairs
- Price point and availability: Budget general release (around $40-50USD/£40-50/4,000yen)
- Available from:
Packaging
Both come in standard, modern S.H. Figuarts packaging featuring large window boxes giving a clear view of the figure and option parts for those who keep things sealed. Each box features a character portrait on the front, spine art on the sides, and posed shots on the back. Clean, functional, and consistent with the line.
The Figures
Goku feels notably stockier and beefier than previous SHF versions. The neck in particular looks thicker and the overall build feels more substantial. Even the material feel in-hand is different this time, feeling soft and matte. The alternate wind-swept hairpiece is a highlight, adding real character to posed shots. Paint shading on the trousers is a nice touch that doesn’t always make it into budget releases, and the flexible areas of the body (sash, shoulder “straps”) allows for improved range of motion compared to earlier versions.
Vegeta is shorter than Goku, as he should be, and looks genuinely great, though he’s not as obviously different to the previous version (which I have, but didn’t get around to opening!). The main differences are the hair sculpt and colour, with this version featuring matter, gradient application. One thing worth noting is a potential gap between the hairline and face plate on some units due to the way they’ve developed the heads/faces this time.
Both figures have modified the way the head/hair attaches to the neck. Previously, it was a logical hair piece that plugged straight in. Now, it’s awkwardly angled to the back of the hair piece. Genuinely, I don’t like this new method…
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Accessories & Option Parts
Goku comes with five pairs of hands including martial arts posing hands and Kamehameha charging hands, alternate hair, and additional face plates. Vegeta adds crossed arms, alternate hair, yellow-tipped boots alongside the standard white ones, and his own set of gloved hands and face plates. The boot swap is a nice period-accurate detail for those that lap up slight arc variations. They’re budget releases so we don’t get any blast effect parts here.
Posability & Handling
Articulation is generally strong across both figures with your iconic poses easily achievable, from Kamehameha, aerial martial art poses, bends and twists ‘n all. Goku does feature new leg construction, making it look like chaps. Personally, I don’t feel it is a huge change in what the standard display poses will do, so at the time of writing, I think I’d be just as fine if they kept it as-is. Vegeta’s ankles are slightly improved but still feels a little restricted.
As mentioned above, both have that awkward head/neck joint, and for my Goku, if I moved his head back to look up, it’d pop off the joint with some regularity. So yeah, I hope they modify this back.
Worth Picking Up?
As budget general releases, both are pretty great value, especially if you don’t already have Goku or Vegeta in your collection. The head connection quirk is the main caveat, but it may also be a non-issue for some fans.
I’m looking forward to finding out which characters they’ll update in the future.
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