First 4 Figures Red-Eyes Black Dragon PVC Statues Open for Preorder

June 21, 2023 at 12:00 pm | Posted in Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! | Leave a comment
Tags: first 4 figures, licensing

First 4 Figures began accepting preorders on Tuesday for its fourth Yu-Gi-Oh! monster statue: the long-awaited and much-demanded Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Joey Wheeler’s signature monster lives up to its description — “A ferocious dragon with a deadly attack” — and arrives with an astounding four editions, each more complex and lavish than the last. Fans can also choose from two color variants, black and purple.

Check out F4F’s YouTube video showcasing the features of all eight REBD figures, and keep reading for a summary of each.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Standard Edition

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Standard Edition, the most basic version of the product, comes with a PVC figure and base and measures approximately 13 inches tall. REBD rises up ferociously in a cloud of smoke, looming above an environment of fire and lava. The patterns on the sides of its base are reminiscent of ancient Egyptian times and are similar to those seen on the base of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon: Standard Edition.

Each figure comes in a collector’s box and includes a leaflet with reward points redeemable on F4F’s website.

Look for these Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Standard Edition figures at your favorite online or local hobby shop where they will be available for preorder for a suggested retail price of $139.99. First 4 Figures does not sell this Standard Edition figure on its website.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Exclusive Edition

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Exclusive Edition includes the same PVC dragon figure as the Standard Edition but features an upgraded electronic base with a rechargeable battery (included). While this base might look the same as the Standard Edition’s, internally it is outfitted with LED lights that illuminate the lava. A “static” mode keeps the lava permanently lit, while an “animated” mode gives the lava a dangerous, pulsating feel. Every base has a unique limited edition number on the bottom.

Each figure is housed in a collector’s box and includes a leaflet with F4F reward points, an authentication card, and a charging cable.

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Exclusive Edition figure is available now for preorder only on F4F’s website for $154.99 each.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Exclusive Black Edition

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Exclusive Purple Edition

If you submit your preorder before July 24, you will receive a $10 early-bird discount, dropping the price to $144.99.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Definitive Edition

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Definitive Edition gives the PVC dragon a completely different base to play on. Crafted from resin, this larger, more intricate base features bigger smoke clouds; a pit of fiery, splashing lava; and The Black Stone of Legend. Powered by a rechargeable battery (included), the LEDs of the base light the lava up in “static” and “animated” modes. The front side of the base has seven illuminated level star orbs while the back has REBD’s attack and defense values and an illuminated Dark Attribute orb.

The base, which is numbered on the bottom, and the dragon figure together measure nearly 15 inches tall.

This figure comes in a larger collector’s box and includes a leaflet with F4F reward points, an authentication card, and a charging cable.

The Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Definitive Edition figure is available now for preorder only on F4F’s website for $389.99 each.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Definitive Black Edition

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Definitive Purple Edition

Preorder before July 24 and you’ll get a $25 early-bird discount, making the price $364.99.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Ultimate Edition

For the first time ever, F4F is introducing an Ultimate Edition figure, which is even more elaborate than the Definitive Edition and includes numerous extra parts for the most diehard fans.

The resin base of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Ultimate Edition presents the same light-up environment as the Definitive Edition, complete with The Black Stone of Legend. The difference is that the Ultimate Edition’s base can be manually rotated, allowing you to display REBD with either the left side or the right side of its body facing you.

Naturally, this also means that REBD comes with an extra head/neck sculpt where it is turning the opposite direction as the regular head/neck.

But that’s not all. There are also another two head/neck parts, each turning in opposite directions, that have LED light-up functionality for an Inferno Fire Blast effect. And, REBD’s claws can be replaced with Dragon Nails gauntlets.

So, each Ultimate Edition figure includes four head/neck parts and four claw parts.

Like the Definitive Edition, the entire sculpture stands almost 15 inches tall and features a base with limited edition numbering on the bottom.

This figure is housed in a large collector’s box and also comes with a leaflet with F4F reward points, an authentication card, and a charging cable.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Ultimate Edition figure is available now for preorder only on F4F’s website for $449.99 each.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Ultimate Black Edition
* Red-Eyes Black Dragon: Ultimate Purple Edition

Get your preorders in by July 24 and F4F will give you a $35 early-bird discount, bringing the price down to $414.99.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon Combos

For fans who can’t decide between the black and purple variants, First 4 Figures has your back. The company is offering special combos of each edition in both colors. Each figure is individually packaged so you still receive two separate boxes, authentication cards, etc.

The Exclusive Edition combo is $299.99, or $274.99 if you preorder before July 24.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon Exclusive Black and Purple Edition Combo

The Definitive Edition combo is $749.99, or $694.99 if you preorder before July 24.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon Definitive Black and Purple Edition Combo

And the Ultimate Edition combo is $849.99, or $769.99 if you preorder before July 24.

* Red-Eyes Black Dragon Ultimate Black and Purple Edition Combo

These combos are available only on F4F’s website.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon’s Development

Yu-Gi-Oh! fans played a big role in development of Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Early in the process, First 4 Figures asked fans which color they wanted REBD to be painted. It is thanks to the voices of numerous fans that these black and purple options were selected.

Looking back at all those different color choices now, you might notice that the shape of REBD’s wings back then were completely different than the version presented in today’s catalog photos. This change was also thanks to the input of fans in the First 4 Figures Official Collectors Club Facebook group. Originally, the wings looked more like those of Blue-Eyes White Dragon’s except with different colors. In one of F4F’s teasers posted last week, an unpainted, complete sample of REBD is seen with those old wings.

But keen-eyed fans know that REBD’s wings and BEWD’s wings aren’t the same shape.

F4F CEO Alex Davis told fans in the Official Collectors Club that he was motivated to go back and change the design thanks to their input. (Note: Admin approval is necessary to view this group.)

Davis also considered how the wings would be displayed when REBD is placed on a shelf. Some fans had criticized BEWD for its massive wingspan, which made exhibiting it difficult due to its space requirements. But REBD, when compared to BEWD, is more compact. This was an intentional design decision.

“Yes the wing span/angles was something we paid particular attention to for red eyes!” said Davis in the Official Collectors Club.

A few fans were puzzled about the purple color choice and wondered when REBD was ever presented as purple. Davis directed those fans to the “Legendary Monsters – Red-Eyes Black Dragon” video uploaded to the official Yu-Gi-Oh! YouTube channel. The monster is, in spite of its name, more purple when presented in the anime, Davis pointed out.

Even now, F4F continues to listen to the opinions of fans in the Official Collectors Club as they discuss the release of REBD’s catalog photos. One fan asked Davis if it would be possible to add some purple LEDs into The Black Stone of Legend to make its illumination more similar to that seen on its card art and help it better stand out from the lava. Davis said that he would look into it, opening the possibility that REBD could see further changes before it goes into production.

What do you think of First 4 Figures’ Red-Eyes Black Dragon? Will you purchase one of these figures? Are there any improvements that F4F can make before production begins? Join the F4F Collectors Club on Facebook and share your thoughts!