It’s been so long since a new Halo 4 action figure came out that I seriously did a double-take when I got a shipping confirmation E-Mail today about a pair of figures that I had forgotten about entirely (somehow)! I never expected to be collecting the Halo Play Arts figures line, but after I gave my wife the Halo Reach Play Arts Kat figure for Christmas, the awe-inspiring 9″ figures became the apple of my Halo-collecting eye. These latest releases are the Halo 4 figures (at least one of them is) that collectors have been waiting for and pining over since last summer: the Square-Enix Halo 4 Play Arts Kai Sarah Palmer and red Spartan Soldier figures have now been released!

Although these figures weren’t expected to be released stateside until May 2013, both the Red Spartan Soldier and Spartan Sarah Palmer started to turn up on ebay early this month. I legitimately didn’t think we’d see them for several more weeks in the United States, but apparently Square-Enix’s shipping is faster than I thought!

I have a confession to make: I didn’t play much of Halo 4 Spartan Ops. I’m not into online multiplayer, and playing the missions with just my wife was, well… boring. So I don’t have the attachment to Spartan Sarah Palmer that a lot of fans who played through Spartan Ops entirely seem to. Sarah Palmer’s large role in the Halo 4 video game’s campaign and Spartan Ops modes have made her the most-wanted Halo 4 action figure yet to be produced.

While it doesn’t appear that a McFarlane Halo 4 Sarah Palmer figure is in the works for 2013 (if ever), Square-Enix has come through with a Play Arts Kai Sarah Palmer figure that looks like a true work of art.

Along with Sarah Palmer, this second series of Halo 4 Play Arts Kai figures includes a red Spartan Soldier. I’ve been pretty cold toward the Spartan Soldier armor permutation thus far (even the McFarlane Spartan Soldier in my beloved orange), as I felt like the armor looked a bit silly.

Well, with this Play Arts Kai Halo 4 Spartan Soldier, I take it all back! Square-Enix has done a phenomenal job of making a so-so armor design look absolutely incredible. My wallet hates me for it, but I’m down for another $60 generic Spartan.

The other thing I really dig about Halo 4 Play Arts Kai Series 2 is the guns! Gone are the boring Assault Rifle and Battle Rifle that we got with the Master Chief and Spartan Warrior in Halo 4 Series 1. This time we’re getting two all-new and spectacular Halo 4 guns: the Railgun (with Sarah Palmer) and the Forerunner Suppressor (with the Spartan Soldier)! Each figure will also come with a Magnum, a figure display stand, and alternate hands.

I pre-ordered both figures and will be reviewing both in the next few weeks, after I’ve had some extensive time to spend with each of them. Both the red Spartan Soldier and Sarah Palmer Halo 4 Play Arts Kai figures are now in-stock and ready to ship from Amazon.com with free shipping. Both figures seem to be selling strongly (with Sarah Palmer sales looking to be particular fast), so place your orders soon if you want to get in on the initial shipment of either figure!