When we first saw her in prototype at Wonder Festival last summer and later learned of her castoff potential, a preorder was mandated by some sort of federal law. With two of the top figure makers in the business collaborating on the project and a price that shouts rude epithets at the rising cost of oil (not to mention her demonic good looks), who could possibly resist Shizuka’s allure? Not me, which is why I am making this post:
- Product Title: エクセレントモデルCORE クイーンズブレイドEX 甲é”å¿è»é é ˜ã‚·ã‚ºã‚« – Excellent Model CORE Queen’s Blade EX Koumaningun Touryou Shizuka (Superior Demon Ninja Warchief Shizuka)
- Original Design: Eiwa
- Sculptor: Tanaka Touji (B.M.W)
- Source: Queen’s Blade Bitoshi Gaiden #1: Musha Miko Emaki (picture book / drama CD)
- Scale: 1/8 (22 cm tall)
- Option Parts: detachable dagger and scabbard, rotating left arm and wrist joint, castoffable top and skirt
- Materials: PVC
- Release Date: April 29th, 2008
- Production: Alpha Omega (Alter/Megahouse)
- Price: 5,775 JPY (tax included)

Shizuka is described on the official Queen’s Blade site as:
The genius ninja leader of the Koumaningun (“Superior Demon Ninja Army”), the most feared ninja clan on Hinomoto [ed. the Queen’s Blade universe equivalent of Japan]. She was trained in the highest ranks of a ruthless combat style that gives no regard to the life of oneself or ones’ enemy, but at heart she’s more pragmatic than evil.
As a character she appears exclusively in the Tomoe-centric Queen’s Blade Bitoshi Gaiden: Musha Miko Emaki (“Queen’s Blade Beautiful Warrior Side Stories: Warrior Priestess Picture Scroll”). There are no plans to produce a Shizuka-themed Queen’s Blade combat artbook at this time.


Original Bitoshi Gaiden figure source images
Sculpt
Tanaka Touji is a veteran sculptor who has produced several fine kits in the past, including Alter’s powered-up Masane and their recently released swimsuit Nagato Yuki. It comes as little surprise therefore that the sculpting work on his rendition of Shizuka is first class, and indeed an astoundingly accurate rendition of the original Eiwa illustration upon which it is based. While her design isn’t my personal favorite, as a fan of both Eiwa and Tanaka’s work I can’t help but admire the artistry present here – there’s really no criticism to be had beyond issues of pure aesthetic preference.
Production
There are only two flaws I could find in the kit’s production following a standard inspection, so I’ll get those out of the way first: there’s a hairline seam that extends away below her right breast (visible here), and some slightly dodgy trim work on her underwear (visible here).
Otherwise the quality is near perfect, much in keeping with previous Megahouse Queen’s Blade releases. An examination of the kit makes me wonder just how much Alter was involved; the packaging is conceptually identical to Megahouse’s QB releases, as is the figure’s execution – the choice of paint finishes and the casting technique seems pure Megahouse. It may be that Alter simply lent out their sculpting staff for the project and otherwise left well enough alone. Regardless of their level of input, the result is pretty damn awesome.
Conclusion
I have to thank the new holy alliance that is Alpha Omega for making the job of a reviewer so damn easy, as it’s simple as putting two and two together to recommend their Queen’s Blade Shizuka PVC figure to just about any collector on the market. While the design doesn’t quite click with me personally it’s still very solid, with impressive levels of artistry on display that show through unimpeded by significant flaws in the production process (beyond the two mentioned). Combined with the very reasonable price this is a figure that makes a compelling argument even without knowledge of Shizuka’s background, and for a Queen’s Blade fan… well, I’m preaching to the choir.
Overall Score: 9/10
If you’d like to support HD with your purchase Shizuka is still available at J-List! She’s at YesAsia, though I can’t recommend their prices. You can also go to the source at J-List for both the Musha Miko Emaki and Tomoe Queen’s Blade books; other Shizuka retailers are listed at the top of this post.
a very nice piece, I almost regret not preordering.
Thanks for the review shingo, though I had her pre-ordered, I canceled it in the end due to money shortage! Anyway, this review would sufficed for now…
I came
Keeping my preorders on hold while holding out for cheaper prices, but still I came
That gal is in my sights! I have a real fondness for Tanaka Touji and this one halted me in my ample preordering tracks – Banzai to the AlphaOmega alliance!!!
I really love this figure and am waiting for mine to arrive.
Though the production is first class I can’t stop noticing two issues: the paint has a lot less shading than the prototype and the hair is less sharp.
While these are usually the rule in final PVC products is the first time that a Queens Blade figure doesn’t looks exactly like the prototype (as an example the lovely Equidona is a perfect match to the original version if not for the base color)
Some are surprisingly still available at Hobby Search
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10065994
And HLJ still has a preorders up
http://www.hlj.com/product/MEG71138
Great great figure…I have to say that I think the queens blade figures are consistently well done and I wish I could ge them all- they would be a great collection to have…..
great body, i’m glad i ordered her.
i’m a fan of megahouse EMC product.
too baaad i couldn’t get Koyori, hope they would read this and re-issue her :p
Had mine on pre-order from Play-Asia since they opened, still hasn’t been dispatched yet though :(
Very good review, anticipation for her is even greater now.
Great review and excellent photos. It’s always nice to hear your opinion on a high selling figure. Though you could have written “It’s Queen’s Blade, just buy it” and I would have completely agreed.
awesome!!! waiting for mine. there’s also a special version. any words on that?
>>tijoh06
I make it a policy to provide listings at both HLJ and Hobby Search with every figure review I write (if the item is listed there); they can always be found listed at the top of the post under “Current Availability”. Hope that helps!
>>Gandolf
The special version was a Hobby Japan mail order exclusive. According to the Hobby Japan mail order news site it’s scheduled to ship in May. If you’re looking for any other details regarding the figure let me know and I’ll see what I can dig up.
mine got sent today ^___^
I saw at least 10 of them at Asobit City Chara Shop last night.
Mezzo, mezzo… Although I have her on preorder, it’s for a friend of mine, I’m only lending him my international credit card. If she really pleases me when I have her on my hands, I’ll consider purchasing one for myself. My enthusiasm was greater with Queen’s Blade Elina (alredy purchased but not arrived). But I agree that this Shizuka is another top class figure and I really like Mega House products standards. Shizuka also resembles a real warrior (from an eroge point of view, more exactly), this can’t be said of many of the Queen’s Blades…
[…] Excellent Model Core 1/8 Queen’s Blade Shizuka. Another great cast-offable unit (top, bottom) and see Shingo doing what he does best HERE […]
Hot damn, I’m glad I got the play-asia preorder for the Limited Edition when I did! I’m not crazy about cast-offs but this figure is one fine piece of work. Federal law indeed!
Great work on the photos Shingo, whilst having the Limited on order I feel compelled to get the standard edition as well XD Something tells me though that this isn’t gonna be hanging around by the time I scrape together some more cash. Just a hunch :p