Black Getter

Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

Oppenheimer thought these words from the Bhagavad Gita as he witnessed the first test of the Nuclear Bomb.

These words echoed through my head as I shot pictures of the EX Gokin Black Getter Ryoma Mode Repaint Version Changing Set in front of a fire we had in the backyard of my house. Perhaps a tad bit dramatic? If you were there and you saw that silhouette against the roaring hot fire, I think you would have agreed it appropriate. If this thing was real, it would have been feared more than any atomic weapon.

The original EX Gokin Black Getter was the first EX Gokin, released back in 2006. It was a limited release affair, and aftermarket prices quickly shot up to over five times its retail value. If you didn’t get one then, it was unlikely you would get another unless you paid out the big bucks.

The core design was used twice again – in both a Getter 1 and Getter 1 Renewal version.

Fewture, recognizing the fans desire to own this elusive Black Getter, decided to re-release the original toy with a few changes to make it different enough from the original.

The Black Getter Ryoma Mode Repaint Version Changing Set comes in the typical EX Gokin slipcase, with the heavy duty cardboard box inside. No, I didn’t take a picture of it, sorry.

It’s been a while since I handled a true EX Gokin figure. The weight and metal content is staggering. So heavy in fact that it comes with an addendum to the instruction sheet that tells you to always lift the toy by the waist, not by the chest, else the bottom could separate due to the weight.

The finish is glossy and near-perfect. With any EX Gokin there always seems to be one or two imperfections. With mine there is a slight bit of glue near one of the rings around the forearm. It is minor, and easily cleaned off.

First up let’s look at Black Getter without all his accoutrements.

The core figure is menacing and nearly identical to Getter 1. The only difference (aside from paint) is the new faceplate and the magnetic parts attached to the legs. 

The faceplate is clear rubber with paint applications. Mine was a little warped in the box, but it quickly took shape when applied to the head.

The chest plate is removable, and is still the one sore spot of the whole figure. It does not stay on worth a damn. Some people say you can get it to stay if you can wedge the bottom in under the next plate, but I can’t get mine to do that.

The lower plate is removable as well, and this one stays in place.

In the torso is a removable Getter core and below that a small door can open. Inside is a purple boost cylinder with either a cap only, or an extended version.

With the chest plates removed the figure can take advantage of the cool shoulder joints that it can’t otherwise use without popping the chest plate off.

This should also give you a good idea about the great arm articulation. In addition to the shoulder hinges, the shoulders also click and rotate. The textured gear on the bicep spins, and then the elbows rotate and bend. The hands are on pegs and can be swapped out with open hands.

Each hand has a joint at the knuckles that enables them to open and close.

The signature cloak and weapons really are what make this Black Getter unique. To add them, you have to remove the head and one of the medallions on the back. 

While these look great, there are a few problems. The neck cowl makes it hard to push the head all the way back on, and if you do get it on you lose most movement.

The figure still manages to look even more dynamic with the cape and weapons.

In the right hand are Wolverine-like claws that attach to the closed fist called the “Claw of Death”.

On the other arm there are three elongated blades that plug into the forearm.

It really looks amazing.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE.

This version of the Black Getter comes with extra parts to also make a BLACK version of the regular Getter 1!

Confused?

See, Black Getter is a Separate character from Getter Robo, not just a repaint. However, in the fine tradition of other Japanese toys, Fewture has also given the parts to make a Black repaint version of the original Getter Robo.

Included extra parts are the Getter 1 head and faceplate, cape, arm blades, axes, medallions, and even a black GetMachine Eagle.

The GetMachine Eagle comes with its own stand and has a large amount of diecast. The arms move, the cover is removable, and it has its own medallion.

There’s also a display stand that connects securely to the figure. It’s sturdy and a must have if you don’t want to risk a shelf dive from this.

Black Getter is an impressive, imposing figure. The earlier releases of the Getter mold had some shortcomings which Fewture claimed to have refined on this release. Supposedly they tightened the joint in the waist and improved the movement in the head with the cloak on. While the waist is definately tighter, I couldn’t move the head much when the cowl was on (unless it was popping off).

Although it is a slightly flawed toy, it’s awesome weight and presence more than makes up for any shortcomings.  As with all Fewture EX Gokin releases it will cost you. This one retails at about $380 USD and is bound to increase in price as time goes on. Get one while you can, or regret paying the markup later.