So I don't remember exactly when, but I did purchase the Medicos SAS Stardust Crusaders Kujo Jotaro reissue. I remember being disappointed with the final product - the articulation I could understand, being an older body and all, but the paint and that face just.. yuck.
Well it turns out that Medicos actually had two versions of that particular Kujo Jotaro - there was in fact a "Big" figure line up that had both him and Star Platinum. There just so happened to be a reissue of that figure too, so I decided to double down and hopefully get what would be the definitive Stardust Crusaders version of the character.
Without a sense of scale, you'd really not be aware this was in fact the larger figure. Packaging is effectively the same, save for some aesthetic things. I think the Big version has sparkly bits on the back that weren't present on the smaller one.
Contents wise, the Big figure strangely has fewer accessories compared to the small one. Missing are mainly a pair of closed palm hands and that "Yare Yare" speech bubble. I say mainly because the small one needed attachments to the pants to allow for the "hands in pocket" pose. The Big figure comes with a cavity already provided, so it is just a matter of swapping out the hands.
The stand itself is also difference, and features a metal dynamic arm as opposed to the typical waist grabber.
So just how Big is Big? At a glance, I'd say this is about 8 inches tall, whereas the original one is about 5.5 inches tall.
Unsurprisingly, the Big figure basically looks and functions identical to the smaller one. Unfortunately, that would mean this is a larger version of the 1.0 body, so it's still got those wonky shoulders those have.
The good news is, however, it doesn't suffer from the same issues with regards to proportions, especially the head. Further good news is that other than the shoulders, the 1.0 body actually had some pretty good articulation, including pull down hips to allow for better range of leg motion.
The design of the coat tails is different on the Big figure - the smaller one featured a single piece that pivots on a hinge. The Big figure has the ends in two pieces, each with individual hinges.
Overall, most iconic poses will be able to be replicated, which is really why you're here to begin with.
Paint work, mercifully, is improved on this Big figure. What was a splotchy paint application on the face is now nicely blended together, and there's no significant colour difference between the hands, face and neck. Other smaller paint applications continue to be good. Truly a significant glow up over the smaller release.
Build Quality is basically fine, or at least from a QC perspective. Parts fit together nicely, and joints will hold whatever position you put them in. The real flaw in this area is the finishes, specifically the finishes on the hands. I don't know what it is about this company ad the Jojo figures. Everything else is fine but then the hands often look like they came out of the same factory used by NECA. These cruder finishes are of course then further exaggerated by the paint work.
It's just so weird.
Having gone through the exercise, I would strongly advise any Stardust Kujo fans to simply skip the smaller one. Sure this one costs more, but the smaller one just looks so bad in comparison - unless you're a completist or NEED that "Yare Yare" in your life, you're better off going baller and getting the figure that actually resembles the character it is supposed to.
The question is do I try to hunt down a Star Platinum?
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