Background
Veggiesomething – also known as James Liu – has created the aptly named House of Liu series. Along with Crazy Label, they have released several different characters – including Mei Mei, Di Di, Monks, Soldiers and Pirates. One of the newest vinyl releases from the House of Liu is the one we'll be looking at here – the Qing Soldier.
Under the darkness of the night and on the orders of the Qing Emperor, a large Manchurian army was sent to ambush the House of Liu while the inhabitants were asleep. Even though the House of Liu had perfected the art of sword crafting and possessed unrivaled sword fighting skills, they were no match for the Qing soldiers due to the element of surprise and the vast numbers of the attackers. The soldiers also burnt the House down to the ground as they left with Di Di and Mei Mei being the only survivors.
The Facts
Qing Soldier
Series: House of Liu
Manufacturer: Crazy Label
Artist: Veggiesomething (James Liu)
Material: Rotocast vinyl
Dimensions: 8” tall
Points of Articulation: 5 points (neck, wrists and arms)
Accessories: Hand-weaved bamboo hat; Spear
Edition Size: 400 pieces
Packaging
The Qing Soldier comes packed in a black box with a small plastic window cutout. The box design features about four colors: the black background, gold, white and grey. Inside, the figure and accessories are secured within a pair of snapping plastic trays.
Our Opinion
I'm pretty sure that the Qing Soldier is the first figure reviewed on Plastic and Plush that includes its very own hand-weaved bamboo hat. That's really the focal point of this piece. The red and white hat features red tassels hanging from the top. It sets right down on the top of the soldier's head and is easily removable.
The other accessory is the plastic spear that can be placed in either hand. Watch out though, as the tip of the spear is rather pointy.
The vinyl figure features the normal House of Liu body style. I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of the body, since it resembles a slew of other platform toys out there. But the body is clearly not the focal point of this figure.
The Qing Solider design is fairly simple. There's the Chinese symbol for...well...something on his chest. The face is a simple white with a pair of asymmetrical eyebrows and eyes. (I like the simplicity of this look) And this soldier is rocking a bendable ponytail.
CHARACTER: The Qing Soldier fits in nicely with the rest of the House of Liu line. It adds on to Veggiesomething's characters with the bendable ponytail and removable bamboo hat.
SUMMARY: If you're a collector of Crazy Label's House of Liu figures, you'll probably need someone to protect little Mei Mei and Di Di. That's where the Qing Soldier comes in. At $59.99, the Soldier is $20.00 less than the more limited Qing Pirate (the other vinyl with a bamboo hat). And if you're looking for something to change up your vinyl collection, how about some hand-weaved bamboo?
You can pick one up at the following:
Crazy Label: $59.95
Qing Soldier Grades
Figure Quality: 8/10
Sculpt: 8/10
Paint: 8/10
Accessories/Outfit: 9/10
Packaging: 8/10
Durability: 9/10
Fun Factor: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Overall: 8.8/10
