Review 1: Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure

You can order this from Sideshow Collectibles

This was part of my last haul for June 2014 (posted HERE) and it's time to do a review with lots of pictures. This Storm Shadow sixth scale figure is only my second Sideshow G.I. Joe related figure. The other figure I got was also an enemy of G.I. Joe, a Cobra Saboteur who goes by the code name: Firefly (You can check out my review and pictures posted HERE, HERE and HERE).

Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is best known as the Cobra Commander's ninja bodyguard, and for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes. Throughout their history, he has changed sides several times; conflicted in loyalties between Cobra, G.I. Joe, and his blood brother, Snake Eyes. Storm Shadow is one of the most prominent characters in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero franchise, and has appeared in every series since its inception.

In his original A Real American Hero incarnation, Storm Shadow's real name is Thomas S. Arashikage (トーマス・嵐影) (Arashi meaning "Storm" and kage meaning "shadow" in Japanese), a Japanese American. Storm Shadow served in the U.S. Army special operations group along with Snake Eyes, and later invited him to train as a ninja with his family in Japan. The duo have been everything to one another from the bitterest of enemies, to the most loyal of friends, who would fight and die for one another.

This is the Storm Shadow Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin is based upon, not the live-action film version portrayed by Lee Byung-hun in the 2009 live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation. That one was released by Hot Toys.

Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.

The box packaging for Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure is pretty standard for all of their G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line, one of their most successful line to date, the other being Star Wars. The box shows off the preview / prototype pictures which sold me the moment I saw them being posted. We always knew Storm Shadow was a ninja and very skillful with the sword but forgot that he could be just as good with a bow, which was what this version of Storm Shadow tried to show.

The "classified" file for Storm Shadow. It states that he is now in semi-retirement at a remote mountain hideaway after having infiltrated COBRA to seek revenge for his uncle / mentor's murder and might join Snake-Eyes on special missions if he is asked "nicely". Yet on the same box cover, he is branded as "Cobra Enemy".

The cover flap opens to reveal 12-inch Storm Shadow figure in a window display style packaging with some of the 1/6 scale accessories he comes with. The other accessories are kept in another tray at the bottom of the box.

I liked that there's a drawing of this particular Storm Shadow featured inside the box that holds the figure and accessories.

Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure straight out of the box, outfitted in a winter camouflage suit and padded assault vest, Forearm gauntlets, Shin guards, Ninja Tabi boots and Balaclava concealed portrait.

I'm always curious to know what the figure is wearing underneath all the layers of clothing. And there's only one way to find out. This is only possible with figures that come with authentic fabric outfits / costumes than can be stripped off layer by layer. One of the joys of 1/6 scale collecting :)

Under the padded assault vest is actually two layers of Winter camouflage top that Sideshow Collectibles 1/6 scale Storm Shadow is wearing, a vest over a hooded top. The pictures below show the hooded top with vest and belt.

Pictures below show just the 1/6 scale hooded winter camouflage top that Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch Storm Shadow figure wears, minus the vest seen in the above pictures.

Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure also wears a white top under the winter camouflage. The sleeves end at the elbows and leave the forearms exposed, covered only by the Forearm gauntlets. The Shin guards are also removable. The pants are also removable and interestingly enough, the legs are white, not skin colored.

And here are the 1/6 scale clothing items removed from Sideshow Collectibles Storm Shadow

Also included with this Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure are lots of nice accessories, most of which are packed in the accessory tray placed under the main tray holding the Storm Shadow figure.

Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 12-inch Storm Shadow figure comes with the following 1/6 scale accessories: Compound Bow with four (4) arrows, Assault pack, figure display stand, katana (sword) with sheath, Two (2) Ninja Tonfas, Climbing rope, additional posed gloved hands including a clawed fighting hand and a hand holding a Shuriken.

Scroll down to see close-up pictures of the Assault pack, Compound Bow, four (4) arrows and Two (2) Ninja Tonfas, posed gloved hands including a clawed fighting hand and a hand holding a Shuriken, and katana (sword) with sheath. Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 12-inch Storm Shadow's 1/6 scale katana has some very nice detailing.

Check out the engraving on the metal sword / katana. They are Chinese characters by the way - Japanese has no genetic relationship with Chinese, but it makes extensive use of Chinese characters, or kanji (漢字), in its writing system, and a large portion of its vocabulary is borrowed from Chinese. The words from top to bottom seem to represent the values imparted in the Arashikage clan (just trying to interpret the meaning): Righteousness, Respect, Courage, Reputation, Compassion, Truth and Loyalty. This was something I totally didn't expect since it wasn't mentioned anywhere and it was certainly a pleasant surprise to find it included.

NEXT: Pictures of Sideshow Collectibles COBRA Ninja Assassin 1/6 scale Storm Shadow 12-inch figure wielding his sword / katana and tonfas.

You can order this from Sideshow Collectibles

Related posts:
April 11, 2008 - Storm Shadow, ninja warrior posted in my toy blog HERE
September 14, 2010 - Modern Ninjas 1+2+3 (pictures HERE)
January 5, 2011 - Arashikage Clan Warriors: Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow posted HERE
February 6, 2012 - Hasbro G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Storm Shadow COBRA Ninja Master Action Figure Review 1
February 7, 2012 - Review II: Hasbro G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Storm Shadow COBRA Ninja Master Action Figure