From the ”Kamen Rider My-Th” series, ”Kamen Rider Maou”, who leads the Zodiac Alliance, is lined up in S.H.Figuarts. While it has a grand presence just from its name, looking at its actual appearance, that impression goes beyond simple ”strength”. With a jet-black bodysuit as the base, crimson armor is positioned to cover the entire body. This combination of black and red creates a sense of tension like quietly stalking prey from the darkness. What's more, considering its position as the leader of the Zodiac Alliance, the interesting part is that rather than making a flashy statement, you can feel an aura that seems to make surroundings submit just by standing there. Even though it is a palm-sized figure, it is a piece that firmly lets you feel its prestige as a character.

The motif for Maou is a cat, but if you imagine a so-called adorable cat, you might be surprised by the gap. Two sharp armors extending upward from the head evoke cat ears, while the face line is kept thin and sharp. Therefore, when viewed from the front, it has a strong, fearless impression, and when changing the angle, you can also see a sharpness like the moment a carnivore captures its prey. And another point symbolizing the cat motif is the tail. Because it is equipped with a tail similar to Kamen Rider My-Th, its distinct individuality compared to general Riders stands out even just by looking at the silhouette. Rather than finishing elements like ears, face, and tail in a literal animal-like way, incorporating them into a hero-like armor design gives Maou its unique cool factor.

What particularly catches the eye with this figure is undoubtedly the coloring. With black as the base tone, the crimson armor stands out even more vividly, providing plenty of contrast when viewing the whole body. A red Kamen Rider itself is not a rare existence, but in Maou's case, in addition to the contrast with black, it is combined with an angular sculpting evocative of a cat, giving off a somewhat dangerous aura. While one might think, ”Wouldn't a leader have a heavy design?”, Maou actually has a sleek, agile silhouette instead. Yet there is no weakness, and even its quietly posed stance carries an intimidating feel. It can be said to be a design that visually satisfies both the suppleness of the cat motif and the dignity of the one uniting the Zodiac Alliance.

Speaking of S.H.Figuarts, posing using articulation as well as sculpting is one of the pleasures. Maou is an easy-to-handle size with an overall height of approximately 150 mm, and comes with 2 types of interchangeable wrist parts for each left and right side. You can enjoy its characteristic appearance just by standing it up and looking at it, but by adding your own movement—such as a low stance evocative of a feline animal or a pose measuring the distance from an opponent—the impression seems likely to change. If displayed with awareness of the whole body lines including the sharp head and tail, you might be able to create a ”Maou-like moment” different from a simple battle pose.

What cannot be missed among the accessories is the interchangeable Ride Ex. This can be exchanged with the Ride Ex attached to the belt, broadening the range of play despite being a small item. It is a welcome point that gimmicks are prepared for such equipment rather than completing it with just the figure body alone. Composed of ABS and PVC, because it is a simple set including interchangeable wrists and Ride Ex, it has content that lets you thoroughly enjoy Maou's own sculpting and posing at the center.

There might be a difference in a good sense between the image that comes to mind when hearing ”a Kamen Rider with a cat motif” and the actual Kamen Rider Maou. A head evocative of cat ears, a sharp face, a tail giving a supple impression, and a intense contrast woven by jet black and crimson. By unifying each feature into a single form, a wild yet commander-like presence is born. If you welcome the leader of the Zodiac Alliance into your collection, eyes are likely to be drawn naturally even when lined up with other characters. Whether to have it stance quietly or make it look as if it's about to pounce at any moment. Making even the time spent thinking about how to display it enjoyable—isn't that the charm of S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Maou?