Review: Kotobukiya Axl

The X series has brought us plenty of fun and unforgettable characters over the years—whether it’s Gate’s over-the-top personality, Berkana’s striking design, or the enduring legend of Green Biker Dude. But while the series is packed with fantastic characters, if you’re not X or Zero, getting merchandise is pretty unlikely. That said, since 2003, there’s a third major character who hardly ever gets the spotlight... until now.

Kotobukiya has thrown their hat into the ring by finally bringing us the first new character in their Mega Man X  line: Axl. Is this kit worth the wait? Stick around, and we’ll dive into everything it brings to the table!

Review sample provided by HobbyLink Japan. Go check 'em out!

"Let's work together!"

Axl is the best kit that Kotobukiya has produced for the Mega Man X series. I know I tend to say that every time, but that goes to show how each new kit improves on the previous releases. Axl is on an entirely new level due to the brand-new engineering. Despite being a more complicated design when compared to vanilla X or Zero, this kit turned out to be a much easier build than expected. This is largely thanks to the brand-new engineering behind the kit. With all the innovations under the hood, it’s easily one of the sturdiest kits in the lineup! There’s plenty to unpack here, but before diving into the details, let’s take a closer look at how the kit shines when fully assembled.

"Call me with the L2 button if you need a hand."

This is the Axl figure fans have been waiting for. The likeness is spot-on, making him a must-have for any Maverick Hunter collection. From his signature cocky smile and spiky hair to his Axl Bullets, this kit delivers the definitive Axl experience. Straight out of the box, with no additional paint, Axl looks fantastic. While a few small areas could use a touch of extra color, the figure still impresses as-is.

"Ready when you are, X."

Engineering is the name of the game here. Most, if not all of the inner skeleton has been changed, and for the better. Everything just feels better, but the best examples are the elbows and knees. The elbow parts were designed in a way that goes all the way through the lower arm and connects to the hand. This makes the arm a lot more sturdy and less prone to coming loose while posing. 

Similarly, the knees are attached to a sturdy internal piece within the leg, ensuring they stay secure unless the entire assembly is taken apart. A common complaint with previous kits has been the way the feet connect to the legs. Thankfully, it seems Kotobukiya took that feedback to heart—this time, they’ve replaced the traditional pegs with rods. The result? The feet are holding up far more reliably than ever before!

"Tough luck, chump!"

Accessorize!

Axl comes with a good amount of accessories. This kit comes with four face options: stern, shouting, smirking, and smiling. Axl also comes with an array of hands. Aside from the usual sets, this time, we get a set of hands specifically made to hold the Axl Bullets. The guns can be removed from his hands after splitting the hands back apart. Lastly, Axl comes with his wings in both short and long varieties. These accessories allow you to get Axl in a variety of fun and iconic poses and situations. If that isn't enough for you, Axl is compatible with the older kits' accessories, so let that sense & skill run wild. Note that the new arms are constructed, getting Busters to attach isn't going to work out unless you change out Axl's elbow part with X's. Alternatively, you can balance the Buster on the arm and use creative angles to create the illusion.

"Oh, with this power, I'll never lose!"

With the release of Axl and the reveal of Sigma, so many new doors have been opened for the Kotobukiya Mega Man X line. If we are lucky, we may start to see other characters alongside the various forms of X and Zero. Personally, I am hoping for a kit of Vile mk-II from Mega Man X3. We are already getting a White Axl kit in the hopefully near future, so anything is possible.

Are you planning to get Axl? What are some other characters you'd want to see made? Be sure to sound off! Bass.EXE recently went up for pre-order, so be sure you secure one of those while you're able.