There were very few unexpected Marvel toy developments at New York Comic Con 2014 last October, but one announcement that did catch me totally off-guard came from the Square-Enix booth, where Square-Enix quietly announced the Play Arts Kai Marvel Variant figures line! There was only one prototype figure on display at the booth, and we’ve had to wait quite a while to see finished photos, but the time is now upon us: the Marvel Play Arts Kai Iron Man figure is now up for order!

Me and the Square-Enix Play Arts figures line go way back. Believe it or not, my first exposure to Play Arts figures was actually because I was seeking Kingdom Hearts Play Arts figures around a decade ago to feed my appetite for toys based off the Final Fantasy/Disney video game series. At the time, I was astonished by the paint quality, articulation and sculpting details of the Square-Enix line of action figures.

Play Arts figures have changed a lot over the years–gaining tons of new licenses, getting larger and way more expensive–but the outstanding quality of the toys remain. And now Square-Enix is setting their sights on a license that’s (obviously) near and dear to my heart: Marvel Comics!

Before I start talking about the Play Arts Kai Marvel Variant series, let me clear something up about the name of the line for those unfamiliar with Square-Enix collectibles. These aren’t “variant” figures like we’re used to from Marvel Legends–the “Variant” descriptor attached to each Marvel Play Arts Kai figure (and the line in general) refers to the fact that all of the figures produced in the line are artist/sculptor interpretations of the characters.

Sometimes there are true paint variant figures released as part of a Play Arts Variant series–but the regular mass-release figures in the line will still have a “Variant” attached to their name. Confusing? Well… yes. But just assume that, unless you hear otherwise, each figure that Square-Enix releases in the series is a mass-release, non-limited edition figure.

One aspect of this line that I expect will really surprise non-Play Arts Kai collectors is the size of the figures that get released in it. Forget any conceptions you have about 1/6 or 1/8 or 1/12 scale figures, because the Play Arts Kai line won’t fit any of those scales. Instead, the Iron Man Play Arts Kai action figure stands 270mm–about 10.6″–tall.

So while these Marvel Play Arts figures are still a bit smaller than Hot Toys, they won’t really fit in scale-wise with anything else in your Marvel collection.

As with all Play Arts Kai figures, the Iron Man Play Arts Kai figure will be super-poseable and come with a flexible display stand so that he can stand, walk, jump or fly in whatever position you like best.

Iron Man will also include a generous amount of accessories, including multiple sets of interchangeable hands, attachable missile effects pieces for Iron Man’s legs, optional back flaps and leg jet exhaust ports.

While Square-Enix isn’t the master of effects pieces that Bandai is, the repulsor blast effects and attachable missiles on this Iron Man action figure do look pretty slick.

On the downside, Square-Enix has chosen the most over-exposed Marvel character of the modern age for their first Marvel Play Arts Kai variant figure. While the black/red/gold color scheme is new, an unbelievable number of high-end Iron Man figures have been released in the past few years.

No slight meant to Square-Enix–I bet this Play Arts Iron Man will be excellent–but my home is already bursting with recent Iron Man figures as it is. As much as I love Iron Man and Play Arts Kai figures, I’m probably going to pass on this unique Variant Iron Man Play Arts Kai figure and wait for the second figure in the line (the Play Arts Kai Spider-Man that the concept art was shown for at NYCC 2014) instead.

The other aspect of this figure I expect to scare off many collectors is the price. Play Arts Kai figures are not cheap, and with a Japanese MSRP of 12,960 yen, I wouldn’t have been surprised at all to see this Square-Enix Iron Man figure retailing for $110 in the United States–but it’s actually even more, being priced at $119.99. High-quality 10″+ figure or not, that’s quite a bit for a reimagined artist interpretation of a character.

The Play Arts Iron Man figure is now up for order, with an expected arrival date of June 2015. I don’t believe that Square-Enix has the license to release Marvel figures in the United States themselves, so Iron Man will likely only be released via import stores such as BBTS.

What do you think of the first figure in Marvel Play Arts Kai Variant line, Marvel collectors? Does this $100+ Iron Man figure have your attention, or will you be sticking to more canonical high-end Iron Man action figure lines?