Gundam Converge #15

Gundam Converge #15 is the latest arrival in this long running figure series and was released in the end of May 2019. It is a rather unusual mix with several high profile suit from equally lesser known Gundam brands. Most notably half of the set is made up designs from the After War Gundam X saga which were hitherto few and far between in Converge.

At the heart of it, Gundam Converge #15 feels more a rank-filler than anyhing else, but let's take a closer look at what is going on here.
   

206 : RX-9/C Narrative Gundam C-Packs

The figure selected as face of Converge #15 is the recent and oddly named Narrative Gundam design from the film with the same name. We have previously seen the B-packs version in Converge and the A-Packs version is also scheduled for release later this year. The C-Packs version itself was recently released in its natural proportions in the Gframe series back in April.

The Narrative Gundam figure is of course looking great, coming with shiny red paint applications and some metallic style finish on its exposed joints as well as the beam rifle. Still I can't shake the feeling that this is a very anonymous design that practically screams Unicorn Destroy Mode all over.

Accessory-wise there is not a whole lot going on. The beam rifle and the shield are available and it is a nice touch that the rifle is molded separately from the hand which is not always the case in Converge.

Here the C-Packs version poses with the B-Packs Type from Converge #14.  I dunno... they just look so anonymous. The A-packs figure should shake things up a bit when it arrives as a large EX figure in October.
   

207 : GX-9900 Gundam X

Next up is the titular Gundam X from the After War Gundam X series. We have seen this face in Converge before, although it was a long time ago, September 2014 to be specific. The updated X takes advantage of the continued evolution of the Converge product line and is much more complex than the old version.

The X now sports its satellite cannon in deployed mode. This is a fairly complex concept which must have given the designers a few grey hairs, because the end result is rather finicky. You need to find the perfect equilibrium where the cannon slots successfully into the figure's hand as well as a peg on the backpack, and the backpack itself is inserted into the figure's back. I haven't been able to find that sweet spot myself, my figure is very prone to falling apart since the cannon keeps pushing the backpack out of its socket. I would expect individual figures to differ a bit in this regard.

The Gundam X comes with the aforementioned satellite cannon as its single accessory. While it would have been nice to get the cannon parts also in stowed away format I realize this is beyond the scope of a ¥500 candy toy. Similarly I kind of wish that the reflector panels had been given a nice metallic surface, but the textured plastic still does a decent job here.

Converge Gundam X as released in Converge volume 16 (September 2014), the limited color version from Converge Selection 2 (December 2017) and with satellite cannon deployed from Converge #15.

Luckily, if you have the old figure, you will also have just that. Because the old generation Gundam X features folded up reflector panels and a beam rifle as its main equipment. It could even hold the satellite cannon in its hand but it was not linked up with the backpack which of course is the signum of this new figure. I really enjoy that the two figures complement each other in this way.
   

208 : GX-9900-DV Gundam X Divider

Next up we have a variant of the Gundam X which follows a fine line of battle damaged machines brought back to life for a new fighting chance. After the X gets its satellite cannon damaged beyond repair (at the hands of the Bertigo no less) it receives a new Divider hand-held shield and a dual barreled beam machine gun in its place.

As you can see, this is pretty much the Gundam X figure all over again, although with some new equipment variations in place.

The trend with separately molded weapons continue, so you should be able to mess around a bit with the equipment loadout between the Gundam X figures although I didn't try it out myself (not wanting to touch and wear out the loose satellite cannon unnecessarily). Notice also the blue metallic finish on the beam rifle which is a nice touch. The only disappointment here is that the Divider shield is painted flat white on the back side but that is something we have to make do with in Converge.

The X-Divider is also a familiar face to veteran Converge collectors, It appeared back in Converge volume 18 in march 2015 and that version of the figure holds the shield in a more interesting deployed position. Other than that the new figure is clearly superior. Again I like the fact that we don't get simple rehashes of the Gundam X figures but that they differ a bit in what they are doing with their respective gear.
   

209 : RMSN-008 Bertigo

The last of the three figures from After War Gundam X this time is the first opposing force to be seen in Gundam Converge. The Bertigo is a machine designed for newtypes and is assigned to the Fort Severn Defense Force and as such it was produced in limited numbers. I don't think there are any official custom color variations which would have been something I would have enjoyed.

The figure itself has a bit in common with other unorthodox designs such as the Geymalk and the R-Jarja. They are quite intricately detailed but suffer from being more or less completely static. The Bertigo also suffers from being rather short and stumpy, with the FusionWorks designers giving it a very compact look. The Bertigo is supposed to be about one and a half meters taller than the Gundam X but in figure form it is the opposite (just like how they butchered the Asshimar and the Barzam...).

As far as accessories go... well, there are none. At least not unless you count the ugly white connector piece which is used to clip the figure to the base plate. This is something we have not seen in Converge before. Since the Bertigo's legs and feet are quite thin it is not suitable to drill a large hole into its foot. So instead the hole sits in a connector piece which clips around the left ankle. Why in the world it was done in a clear white rather than black (or at least in the pale violet tone of the Bertigo itself) I cannot really grasp.

Fortunately my figure can stand up unaided on its own, but with individual Converge figures often suffering from warped legs I can imagine that some buyers out there will not be so lucky.

The After War Gundam X line is slowly growing and we will get a new fresh adversary with Converge #16 and the bright red Gundam Virsago which I am really looking forward to. I would be really surprised if it is not immediately followed by the Gundam Ashtaron in volume #17, especially since the two are slated for a release in Mobile Suit Ensemble this September.
   

210 : RXF-91A Silhouette Gundam Kai

Leaving Gundam X behind I was delighted to see than Gundam F91 has not yet been abandoned. In fact there are still a further three brand new mobile suit designs to look forward to in this family once volume 16 hits the shelves in July. First up however we have the Silhouette Kai from the obscure manga series Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91.

I don't know all that much about this machine except that it is a Gundam F91 variation with beefed up chest armor and an improved twin VSBR system on its back.

The Silhouette comes armed with a beam rifle and one of those spiffy beam shields that most of the figures of the Gundam F91 era have. Notice also the wrist-mounted weapon on the right arm. The Gundam Wiki suggests that this is a twin heavy machine gun but I see only one barrel on the figure so I'm not entirely sure what is going on there.

Gundam F91 (Converge #12, October 2018), F91 Mass Production Type (Converge 12, October 2013), Gundam F90 (Converge #14, February 2019) and the new RXF-91A.

I love how the F91/Crossbone era has literally exploded with Converge figures over the last year. We already have strong line-ups for both E.F.S.F. and the Crossbone Vanguard and more figures are on the way. The next Converge set review should be pretty spectacular in bringing them all together. : )
   

211 : MSM-07S Z'Gok (Char's Custom)

The last face of this set is - finally - a classic design. This set has been full of less seen mobile suits but here is one which is no stranger to being selected for manufacture. This Z'Gok follows hot on the heels of the other recent Zeonic designs we have seen getting facelifts in the last months. It was preceded by the Dom and the Gouf most recently and is set to be followed by the Gogg.

The new version Z'Gok goes for rather strong colours which set it out from the old figure which was more of grey and light red. The overall proportions of several of its bodyparts have also been upsized a bit.

While the amphibious mobile suits from Zeon rarely come with accessories it is worth pointing out that the new hands are a real quality of life improvement. The old figure delivered the six claws on a sprue from where you had to cut them out and insert into the hand units. This is now greatly simplified although it also means that you will no longer be able to modify the claws into opening or closing poses.

The new Z'Gok figure is a marked improvement over the older design. The overall proportions have been beefed up and gone is the ugly seam line which cut the old figure's torso in half. The finicky hands have been drastically improved and the face now has a transparent visor just like the reanimated Dom from Converge #13.

However, not everything is rosy and dandy when it comes to the Converge Z'Gok. Come one Bandai, where is the blue mass production figure upgrade? The original mass production type Z'Gok is exceedingly rare and sells for around ¥5000-¥6000 these days. While Char's Z'Gok is making its third release in Converge #15 the blue version has only ever appeared as a 7-Eleven limited edition figure in September 2011. Give the collectors a break already!
   

Conclusion

No one will be surprised to learn that overall, Converge #15 is yet another excellent entry into the Converge reboot figure line. While there are the occasional minor issues such as parts not lining up properly or being a bit warped, all the designs have come out really well. They also do a good job of beefing up the various Gundam eras with their presence. Perhaps the only thing that stands between Converge #15 and complete success is that this set is more anonymous than for example Converge #13 and 14 which both featured very iconic mobile suit designs that would help draw in the collectors. Not sure if that is going to be the case here but I think the figures really deserve it.