Welcome to the article that shoots your bank account dead, Go For Broke!

In my time doing this article, I've been seriously wanting to focus on more than just PVC figures of underage girls in provocative positions. In fact, I've been wanting to include figures of the mechanical variety.  Unfortunately, I lack any sort of qualification in talking about robots, giant or real. Because of this sad fact, I asked Chris Guanche, webmaster of MAHQ and overall Mecha God, to come and drop some science on a line of Gundam 00 figures called MSiA. Here's what he had to say:

"Since its launch in 1999, Bandai's Mobile Suit in Action!! line of action figures has become one of the favorite items of Gundam freaks everywhere. Smaller than a 1/144 scale model kit, the MsiA series has grown over the years to cover nearly every Gundam anime series. It has also spawned two sub series, the short-lived Advanced MsiA and the extra detail Extended MsiA. More recently, Bandai has introduced In Action!! Offshoot, a line dedicated to non-Gundam series like Dunbine and Code Geass."

Follow us after the jump to find out more about Bandai's MsiA offerings for the show of the week, Gundam 00!
 

GN-001 Gundam Exia

Chris says:"The star mecha for the first half of the series, the Gundam Exia certainly lives up to its in-series developmental codename “Gundam Seven Swords.” This figure comes complete with an arsenal of stabby weapons, including beam sabers/daggers, two solid swords and a combination gunblade. The Exia is great for making poses, but you have to be careful because the beam weapon handles mounted on its shoulders and butt can fall off easily. The hip swords are also a bit delicate. Like any other MsiA, the Exia comes with pairs of extra hands, and the Gundam 00 line includes a standard “MsiA Data Collection Sheet” with fun facts in Japanese."

Pedro says: Being the Gundam nooblet that I am, the only Gundam I know by name is the RX-78, only because that (to my untrained eye) most of the main Gundams following the original show resemble the old classic a little too much. Thankfully, the Exia is dynamic enough in its design and execution to warrant me remembering its name. The Exia is the mech that I desire most besides the Gurren Lagann machines.

Release Date: November 2007

Is it available?  My god is the Exia hard to find. That shouldn't be surprising considering it was released 10 months ago, but I seriously had a bitch of a time finding a link for the article. I'm linking to a shop called 'Gundam Store and More', which I have never ordered from, but I've heard nothing bad about them, so order from them if you need your Exia fix.

Price: $18 – 23

Available @  Gundam Store and More

Chris says:"Whereas the Exia was all about melee combat, sniping is the specialty of Gundam Dynames. There's obvious design similarities between both Gundams, but Dynames kind of stands out with its big butt thrusters. For accessories, this figure includes a sniper rifle, beam sabers, attachment parts for the GN Full Shield and the standard extra hands and data sheet."

Pedro says: Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Dynames. If the focus weren't on 00, I wouldn't really mention it. However, the mech is redeemed by having the biggest bad ass of the show as the pilot, Lockon Stratus. After all, they don't call the man GARlockon for nothing!

Release Date: December 2007

Is it available?  Much easier to find than Exia, that's for sure.

Price: $23 – 28

Available @  Hobby Link Japan  Gundam Store and More

GN-003 Gundam Kyrios

 

Chris says:"As the only transforming Gundam used by Celestial Being, the Kyrios has been jokingly called 'orange Zeta Gundam' by some fans. As is the case with all modern MsiA, the Kyrios can fully transform into its flight mode. The Kyrios features several accessories, including a beam submachine gun, a shield/claw, beam sabers, extra hands and a data sheet."

Pedro says: This is more like it! Besides having the novelty of transforming and being piloted by quite an interesting character, the Kyrios has an absolutely bitchin' design. The colors make it bright and interesting, both forms of the mech feel new and unique, overall it's a pretty awesome Gundam unit.

Release Date:  December 2007

Is it available?  You can easily find it online.

Price:  $24 – 28

Available @  Hobby Link Japan  Gundam Store and More 

 

Chris says: "The bulkiest Gundam of the bunch, the Virtue packs a heavy punch with its BFG. The heavy assault Virtue is loaded with two shoulder-mounted cannons, a large bazooka, beam sabers, extra hands and a data sheet. If you've seen the show, you know the Virtue hides a secret underneath its heavy armor, which isn't reproduced here. More on that below."

Pedro says: Ah yes, the Virtue. Despite being the mech of the aloof and obnoxious Tieria, the Virtue is a hell of a machine. It reminds me of the Heavy from Team Fortress; a massively powerful and slow unit capable of tearing down an entire squadron of foes. Definitely one mech to watch out for, especially if he sheds his armor.

Release Date:  December 2007

Is it available?  You can easily find it online.

Price:  $28 - 33

Available @  Hobby Link Japan  Gundam Store and More 

 

Chris says: "Beneath the heavy Virtue lies the “semi-nude” Gundam Nadleeh. In the anime, the Virtue can cast off its heavy armor to become the Nadleeh, and it can use its shoulder cannons as hand held weapons. I'm somewhat disappointed that Bandai chose to make the Nadleeh a separate figure. Several years ago, they released an MsiA for the Nu Gundam Heavy Weapons Type, which took the basic Nu Gundam figure and added removable armor pieces. The same could've easily been done here, but if you want to get that anime experience, you'll have to shell out for both figures. Full details on the Nadleeh's accessories aren't available since it hasn't been released, but it'll probably include a beam rifle, shield, beam sabers and the standard extra hands and data sheet."

Pedro says: So this is what lies underneath the Virtue. Though it looks unimpressive (especially compared to the Virtue), it is perhaps even more dangerous than any of the other Gundams. I agree with Chris here in expressing disappointment that Bandai didn't incorporate the Nadleeh into the Virtue. It would've been sweet to have it transform like the Kyrios.

Release Date:  late September 2008

Is it available?  Preorders are up and ready to rock.

Price:  $22 - 23

Available @  Hobby Link Japan

Chris says: This is just the tip of Gundam 00's MsiA selection, and with the second season starting in Japan in October, you'll be broke again soon enough.

Too true Chris, too true. I'd like to give a big thank you to Chris for taking time out of his busy schedule to write up a couple of blurbs about the delicious Mecha you see above. Give the man some love by visiting his website, MAHQ, or listening to the podcast he's on, Gundamn! Have a broke one!