Personally, I was hoping SHF would release the hooded Dark Deku version first, but jumping straight to the final Overlay version is exciting too!
Right out of the box, this S.H.Figuarts Overlay Deku figure looks great, with no obvious distortion and some really nice layering and detail. The next layer of the packaging holds the Blackwhip effect parts that attach to his back.
That said, the plastic quality is pretty average when you look closely, and there are a few minor flaws on the body and face. The biggest issue, though, is the gap between the face and the front hair piece. It seems the connection points are positioned a little too far apart vertically, leaving a very noticeable gap once everything is assembled. You can try pulling the front hair forward a bit to reduce it, but it doesn't help much. I'll have to spend some more time figuring out a fix at home.
Still, putting those issues aside, this Overlay Deku is an excellent figure overall. Both the sculpt and articulation are great, and he feels even easier to pose than Bakugo.
Speaking of articulation, the joints on Deku have just the right amount of tightness. They're smooth and comfortable to work with, which makes posing them a lot of fun.
And the Blackwhip effects? They’re way better than I expected! They look fantastic once attached and are perfect for photography. Each whip has two articulation points, making them feel a bit like Iron Spider's mechanical arms. You can create some seriously cool poses with them!