Joy Man Toys takes the Monkey King back to his literary roots. The studio’s JM009 Monkey King Wu Kong (斗天猿圣) is an original-design 1/12 interpretation of Sun Wu Kong drawn from Journey to the West — no film-game tie-in, just the Tang-dynasty armored sage with a full accessory loadout.

Joy Man Toys JM009 Monkey King Wu Kong 1/12

The package

The figure wears a full set of Tang-style carved armor over an ancient-costume lining, finished with a traditional head decoration. Three interchangeable head sculpts carry the whole arc of the character: calm, eyes closed in meditation, and furious. Twelve swappable hands cover wielding, casting and gesture poses, with a spare pair of feet and a display stand in the box.

The weapons read straight from the legend: the extendable Ruyi Jingu Bang (金箍棒), a sandalwood staff, and the little bottle gourd (葫芦) — plus a monkey mask for alternate display. The body is a fully articulated 1/12 frame in ABS, POM and PVC built to hold the armor without tipping. Reviewers noted that the armor is worn over a soft-goods inner costume, which keeps the plating seated in deep stances — a welcome touch at a scale where hard armor often gaps at the waist and shoulders.

What sets JM009 apart from most Wukong figures on the shelf is restraint: the design stays with the classic Journey to the West silhouette rather than chasing any single game’s visual overhaul. The three faces do the expressive work instead — collectors can stage the quiet meditating sage, the calm guardian, or the battle-ready king without changing a single armor piece.

Why it matters

JM009 landed around US$62–110 depending on the retailer — Bombusbee moved it at $61.74, while shops like Sugo Toys, NZ Figuarts and Hsunnytoy listed it at the $110–130 equivalent. Nearly every regular channel now shows sold out, and the only listings still moving are secondhand (a Carousell seller in Singapore was asking S$100, noting eBay asking prices near $190–200). The run appears to have closed with its 2024 release, and no reissue has been announced.

For collectors of Chinese mythology in 1/12, the options are thin: Journey to the West is one of the most requested sources, and an original-design Wukong with this much sculpted armor at this scale is rare. If Joy Man Toys revisits the mold, expect demand — the first run didn’t linger.

JM009 alternate view