Top 5 wanted S.H.Figuarts One Piece Summit War saga figures

The Summit War saga for One Piece was an absolutely insane stretch of connected arcs and storylines that truly paid off 500 episodes of story building, world building, and character development. Enies Lobby is still my favorite overall One Piece arc at this point in the show, but Marineford and the Summit War saga have joined it as some of my all time favorite anime arcs of all time. There are so many epic scenes, insane fight sequences, emotional moments, and outstanding characters introduced or returning that narrowing it down into a top 5 for my most wanted figures from S.H.Figuarts from this saga was tough. I have done so, and with the time skip on the horizon for me, let's take a look back at the insane arc that literally changed the world of One Piece and what figures from Tamashii Nations are an absolute must for their line. 

Honorable mention: Magellan

Starting off with an honorable mention, I wanted to like Magellan a lot more than I did. Impel Down was such a cool setting and concept for the One Piece world, and the massive warden with bat wings, fangs, and a slick black trench coat looks the part of a fierce and cruel foe. He even acts that part for several scenes in the arc; however, every other scene with him is a running gag about having diarrhea and is literally just poop humor which really negated his cool factor and was just too silly for me to take him seriously. 

5. Luffy

We had gotten used to Luffy changing his outfits every arc in some way, but the Summit War saga is really where things took off with Luffy wearing his same outfits in alternate colors. His look in Sabaody with the blue vest and the black shorts is a color combo I really like, and we haven't yet gotten a figure of him in his sleeveless vest with the buttons open on the front. The Island of Women saw him wearing a blue closed vest and red shorts which would be a very easy recolor of the existing Romance Dawn Luffy, with the added detail of the bracelet on his left arm that, if removable, would also make for a great accessory to go with a Buggy one day. Finally, Luffy's Marineford look is one I was initially super excited about because the shade of yellow wasn't that appealing to me, but as I got further into the insanity of Marineford his look in that arc became iconic and I now need it in the line. While I don't want the line to be inudated with Luffys (four already, although the Dragon Ball line holds nothing back with Goku releases), many of his looks would be easy repaints to get to fans. 

4. Jimbei

The final member of the warlords of the sea we are introduced to is Jimbei, the warlord who does not do the government's bidding. From the get go we see him with a connection to Ace, a history with Whitebeard, and throughout Marineford he becomes one of the paramount characters towards what happens, and Luffy's ultimate survival during the war. I believe he does come back in the series in a more central role so his possibility of getting a figure may be pretty high, especially with the line not shying away from larger characters. 

3. Hancock

Another warlord of the sea, and the Queen of the Amazon Lily island, Hancock was another instrumental character in the events of the Summit War Saga, aiding Luffy through Impel Down and during the war itself. The Variable Action Heroes Boa Hancock figure is a great depiction of how well this character can work in action figure form, and with the recent move towards softer goods for robes (in their Naruto line mainly) maybe it's possible to have the lower part of her robes be a softer material to make posing in wider leg stances easier. 

2. Kizaru and Akainu

We had met Aokiji a while back before Water 7, but the Summit War saga introduced us to the two other Admirals of the Marines who are easily two of the coolest villains in the series so far for me. Starting in Sabaody we met Kizaru who has such a nonchalant personality but takes his role so seriously when it comes down to it, its a fun dynamic and his facial expressions reminds me of my brother who I swear does that same odd mouth contortion all the time! Akainu is the exact opposite of Kizaru when it comes to personality, and he is undoubtedly one of the most evil characters in the series so far for me. His tactics in the war are effective, and in his mind he is fighting against villains; however, he is cruel, mean, and manipulative and the worst of the worst in the government's arsenal I believe. Both characters have very visually compelling powers, with Kizaru's light and Akainu's molten lava being two I would love to see done to perfection in the line!

1. Whitebeard

Heavy spoilers ahead for Marineford as I can't avoid talking spoilers when talking about this character. Before Marineford I had seen Whitebeard a couple of times but really hadn't gotten to know much about him or see him do anything of much importance; however, after Marineford he is one of my all time favorite characters in the whole show and I need an S.H.Figuarts release of him ASAP, or a rerelease of the Variable Action Heroes figure. After Roger he is without a doubt the greatest pirate of the old age, and even during the events of the show he is the strongest man in the world and his quest to bring back Ace from the government's clutches was an intense and passionate drive. He was wholesome, caring, unwavering, and his death scene brought me to literal tears which I did not expect. To his declaration in front of the world that the One Piece was real, to his heart stopping beating while he was still standing, to his back being revealed as devoid of scars because in his whole life he never ran from a battle, it all brought with it an overwhelming wave of emotion that had me crying. The old age of pirates had come to an end, and I immediately need a prequel of some kind with a younger Edward Newgate and Gol D. Roger facing Sengoku and Garp!