Gundam Epyon

Original MSRP: 4,500
Toy Number: 130

The Gundam Epyon (OZ-13MS) the personal mobile suit of Treize Khushrenada. It was built on the data that OZ had captured from the other Gundams’ many fights.   The Epyon represents Treize’s vision of a perfect mobile suit.

Straight out of the box, the Epyon looks really good. It actually looks better than I remember it looking in the show. The wings on the back add volume to the design and make it look more imposing. Like many of the Robot Spirits mecha, the Epyon lacks panel lines to really make it pop. However, there is enough color on this toy to overshadow this shortcoming.

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The Epyon is a deadly close-ranged mobile suit designed to fit the needs of man who fights with honor. So you will find no cowardly long-ranged weapons on this Gundam. The Epyon does however sport a tentacle heat rod that is attached to the shield, which it usually carries on the left arm.
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The tentacle is nice and fun to pose, as most of the segments on the heat rod are individually moving pieces that are connected via ball joints.

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Segments of the tentacle can be removed to give the tentacle whatever length you desire, even if it is just tucked away into the shield .

The Epyon also packs a beam saber.
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This is pretty standard for a Gundam, except that this one is wired directly into the generator of the Epyon.
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 This results in a beam saber that would make Tim “The Toolman” Taylor proud because having the beam saber directly plugged into the power source for the whole mobile suit gives beam saber “MORE POWER!!” Insert grunting noises here.
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So the Epyon’s beam saber is able to create a blade that  is as long as the Epyon is tall. At least in toy version, thanks to a second longer beam energy piece for the saber. I think in the show it was actually able to output a much larger blade.

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This does, however, make you question Treize’s notion that is a gentleman’s mobile suit.  On the one hand, he says that long-ranged weapons, such as guns, are for cowards. On the other hand, his beam saber has about twice the reach of a normal beam saber.   I think somebody is fudging the rules of gentlemanly conduct a bit.

The cable for the beam saber is a piece of wire covered in plastic.
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The only issue I had with this is that that after several times of handling the wire piece, it came of the hilt of the beam saber.  I just hope the wire does not snap at some point down the line, as it sometimes bends when I am trying to attach it back onto the beam saber.

The Epyon also comes with a beam saber without a cable. It can be attached to the holster to simulate the cable being retracted.

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The Robot Spirits Epyon has a lot of great articulation. Taking a knee is no problem for this Gundam.
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In fact, taking a knee is nothing compared to the fact that the Epyon can do the splits!  

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The Epyon is able to stretch his legs out like this thanks to the articulation in the skirts. The side and front skits raise up, while the rear skirts fold out.Since we have the Epyon in this position, I would like to mention that the feet are made of two pieces, each of which can move independently.

Besides the standard double-jointed knees, the fin in the knee moves independently for extra freedom of movement for the legs.
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The wings of the Epyon also have their share of articulation points.  

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The wings can be spread out, since each of the wing panels moves on it own. There is also an extra wing piece that pops out of the middle wing panel.  The thruster on the wing also move independently of the wings an is attached to the backpack of the Gundam by a ball joint that is connected to a swivel in the backpack.
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Similarly, the ball and socket shoulder joints  are attached to a panel that extends forwards.

Besides the usual closed and splayed hands, the Epyon comes with two sets of hands for holding the beam saber- one set for holding it over the head and one for holding it regularly- and also a “thumbs up” right hand.

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Wait a tick, there is a hole in that hand. It looks like it needs something to hold.

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‘Doo doo doo doo, doo-doo, do-Wah!’

It doesn’t matter what comes, fresh goes better in life, with Mentos fresh and full of life!

Or I guess you could use it to hold the beam saber.

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The Epyon was one of the few transforming mobile suits in Gundam Wing. The Robot Spirits Epyon delivers on this Gundam’s ability to transform. The transformation is fairly simple. The rear skirt panels open up and allow the legs of the Gundam to go over the back of it. A booster piece is attached to the part where the waist of the figure used to be. The shield with tentacle heat rod is attached to the bar between the legs. Finally, the forearms and feet need to be swapped out for the ones specially made for this mode.

Voila! You have the Epyon in I want to say Object Mode… No that can’t be right…that is Saint Seiya… This is the Epyon in its mobile armor mode, which allows it to fly at higher speeds.
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This is supposed to represent a double headed dragon. To me, however, it always looked more like a weird stingray.  I have never been a big fan of this transformation, as it is fairly simple and looks kind of half-assed. With both of the legs spread apart like that on top of the Gundam, I feel like the Epyon is saying: “Check out my Gundam junk”

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To which I just want to say : “Close those legs up! We try to keep it PG-13 around here!”
As untrue to the sources material as it may be, I think it actually looks much better with its legs together. Aesthetically it just looks more neat and focused.
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As a bonus, Bandai has included a separate chest piece for the Epyon, so that it can be mounted on a Tamashii Stand.
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Also included is a clip that can be used to attaches to the back of the Epyon to a Tamashii Stand. So you can  put it into aerial poses in the much cooler looking Gundam mode.

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All in all, this is a great release in the Robot Spirits line and a great action figure in general.  Sure the mobile armor mode is merely the result of folding the Gundam in half and it could have uses some panel lines. However, it does have a great amount of articulation and attention to detail. So for that I would say this definitely a great buy, especially for fans of Gundam Wing who still hold the series in a special place in their heart.

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