Kotobukiya Megaman X have survived long enough until they deem to be ready for this point. I think it is almost 30 years since Megaman X4 and at long last the Megaman X series waifu, Iris is released as model kit! Despite her brief appearance in X4 and Xtreme 2, Iris managed to secure a place in the hearts of Megaman X fans and in some way Kotobukiya tried to fulfill the sense of longing with releasing her plastic model kit. Scheduled for May 2026 release, Kotobukiya 1/12 Iris will be sold for 8200 Yen.
In Mega Man X4, Iris is a female Reploid who serves as Zero’s support character and gradually becomes his love interest after he saves her in a fateful encounter. Despite her gentle appearance, she is actually the sister of Colonel, one of the key commanders of the Repliforce and one of Zero’s major rivals in the game. Iris’s relationship with Zero ultimately ends in tragedy: devastated by her brother’s death, she loses control, transforms into an ultimate weapon, and forces Zero to fight and ultimately defeat her.
Kotobukiya’s Iris Model kit is definitely an oasis of her character merchandise drought. Despite her relative popularity among Megaman X fandom, Iris barely get any merchandise over past 30 years. Iris was popular enough that she got several variants in now defunct Megaman X Dive gacha game but it takes almost 30 years for some sort of decent physical representation for her.
I used to take quite a liking for Iris due to being Megaman series token waifu character though over the time I preferred Iris design on Megaman Battle Network series appearing on MMBN6. Iris MMX4 design definitely didn’t age well given 30 years gap but her archetype remains appealing. With Iris being released, I wouldn’t be surprised if MMX characters like Colonel or Alia might get model kit by Kotobukiya someday.
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