Righteous Bison | Artist: Dave Tremont, Greg Broadmore | Edition Size: N/A

My memory of Weta’s Righteous Bison: Indivisible Particle Smasher at Comic-Con are mostly faint. I recall that the prototype needed some fine tuning (reversed insignias, that sort of thing) but more vividly stuck in my mind was how poor display piece had begun to bear the toll of being fondled by the eager SDCC masses, developing cracks, scrapes and other unspeakable signs of collectibles abuse.

It’s alright though, life’s never really been easy for the Bison, having to fight perceptions toward its plastic pedigree since its moment of birth.

In addition to the obvious goal of attracting a broader audience with something more affordable, Weta has cited requests for a ‘convention friendly’ Raygun as an impetus for the product. Considering the Righteous Bison is not only less expensive and less fragile, but also transport-friendly without losing life-size form, that logic seems well supported.

Putting the final product through its paces, the Bison comes through in two righteous ways– fit and finish.

The details are crisp down to the rivet. You can count the handle detail (where the Atom is) which is rather ‘blobby’ looking as an exception– though it seems to be conceived that way, rather than it being any sort of manufacturing issue.

It all comes together darn precisely which is equally impressive. Although there are quite a few “plastic seams”– most notably where the two major halves join down the center– for the most part they are dead flush; there are no odd ridges or dodgy alignments. In the best cases, the seams can almost look as if they belong with the intentionally sculpted ones.

A good test jiggle revealed no rattles or crackles and creaks of any kind. It’s a clean fit. It’s solid.

The gun is trimmed in gold and black with a metallic base. The weathering on top of the body is actually phenomenal, and if you do sense some surprise it’s because so often one would find this to look quite ‘painted on’ and artificial. Contrary to that, a beautiful job is done on the rust/oxidation along the adjoining panels. At worst, some of the black pieces, especially the large tail fin that look bare could do with a coat or two of paint. Black is black right? Why not leave as is? Because it does look more characteristically plastic there I wish they would have painted that not for color, but texture.

Nevertheless, the paints are bit better than what I’ve come to expect from a perceived ‘budget’ piece. Fit and finish, pleasant discoveries those– and really the difference that elevates this from merely “toy” status.

Not that it can’t be that too. If intended, it can suit that purpose quite well. You don’t feel compelled to don kid gloves every time you handle it, as you would its more expensive brethren. It doesn’t make any noise or light-up (which I’m absolutely fine with) but the trigger does squeeze quite ably! And while the Bison is certainly lighter than said brethren- which should not come as any surprise- it’s no flyweight either. There’s some decent mass to the thing; it’s perhaps at the upper limits of what you’d want it to weigh if you were to actually tote this around for an extended amount of time. A pretty good balance was achieved.

If you are dead opposed to a Raygun made of “imitation metal”, you might never get right with the the Righteous Bison. I was rather on the fence as well– but the bottom line is I would not hesitate to display this alongside the bona-fide high end Rayguns.

Dollar for dollar, I find the Righteous Bison to be more impressive than the identically priced miniature Unnatural Selector.

PROS +
Size and price:
The $99 price tag makes it a much less expensive Aether alternative.
Fit and Finish:
Excellent standards help piece live up to potential.

NEUTRAL ~
Plastic Construction:
It is what it is; can’t ask for a more premium material without also increasing the price point.

CONS -
Extras:
Does not include a display case (unless you consider plastic clamshell one) or stand. Forcing you to neglect your Raygun!

• Righteous Bison at Weta | on Ebay
• Review Index

Iron Man Mark III | Artist: Hot Toys | Edition Size: N/A

What’s this? An action figure review on [[AP]]?

It’s true, if you know me even a little, you’ll know that I’ve long preferred my collectibles on the sculpted polystone side of things. And in fact, this is the first ‘high end’ ($50 and up) “action figure” I’ve been impressed enough with to purchase.

One reason I’m not fond of figures in general is the use of fabric. To me, it is rarely successful even in 1/4 scale, much less 1/6.

Another is articulation, or rather the means to achieve it– cheap looking joints do not jive with my sensibilities.

Just so happens that Iron Man’s suit conveniently mitigates both ‘inadequacies’. But the appeal of Hot Toys’ Iron Man figures (they’re also pumping out the MKI and MKII) is not the circumvention of any action figure shortcomings, but their excellence overall.

When a figure is superior in most every way to its available sculpted counterpart(s)– which in my opinion almost is never the case– any collector, no matter the preference, has to take notice.

And it is the case here, with Kotobukiya’s Iron Man Mark III Fine Art statue being the only alternative I’m aware of. Hot Toys’ offering is better proportioned, better painted, better sculpted, more detailed and outclasses Koto’s offering in nearly every way. If you want to add insult to injury, consider the fact I haven’t yet mentioned the poseability, or Tony Stark head- both Hot Toys only. Similarly, Hot Toys’ Mark I figure is looking more impressive than Sideshow’s 1/4 maquette offering, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Back to the Hot Toys MKII: As mentioned, the ’sculpt’ is wonderful. There are a lot of nifty doodads that open and close, including air-brake flaps on the back (that thoughtfully conceal one of the light switches) which qualifies the ‘action’ in action figure. It’s all fine and well, but I’m more concerned with the bigger picture. The helmet looks superb with no wonky proportions. The same could be applied to the rest of the armoured pieces save for the waist area which is on the narrow side.

Contrary to complaints you may have read, the color is as close to the film costume as can be reasonably expected. Don’t believe me? See our pictures of the actual screen used suit (which also graces our header) and compare for yourself.

Despite Tony’s directive to Jarvis, the red of the film suit is more of a deep wine red than it is “hot rod” (though under the circumstances, both would be fitting). And yet it can appear considerably more vibrant under different lighting conditions. Perfect. The lustre is again accurate– shiny but not glossy or overly reflective.

The overall result is really quite visually impressive. With such astute attention paid to the actual prop it’s hard not to be. It is an expensive figure, but an incredible one. When you flick on the lights on top of it all, it really kicks things into overdrive. Great engineering. Great execution.

The alternate Tony Stark head is also top shelf by any estimation. In addition to the very faithful Downey Jr. likeness by T.J. Cha, the paintjob is also worthy of kudos. Again the word precision comes to mind, in conjunction with transparent shading that blends together with a finesse I have rarely seen for a massed produced collectible.

So, the look is nailed down tight. But how’s this bad boy handle?

At the end of the day, this is a plastic action figure- and it plays the part. I was taken aback the moment I took it from it’s plastic prison– blame it on naivete.

The articulation can awkward, which can very well be attributed to my inexperience with action figures– though I have read the sentiment echoed from other collectors. I don’t mind the stiffness of the joints, which improve stability, but the range of motion can feel limiting. Some leniency is given considering the mind numbing logistics of the ‘actual suit’ as it were.

Take it as a compliment- an action figure so visually accomplished that you are expecting to be as heavy and solid as it looks. I think if Hot Toys made a ’sculpted’ Iron Man statue cast in heavyweight metal, it would simply be one of the more serious displays of ass-kickery rarely witnessed. Now I don’t believe Hot Toys has their heart seriously devoted to anything other than the 1/6 figure with which they so excel at, but I think it clarifies my position.

My pipe dreams aside, Hot Toys can easily stake their claim to the finest Iron Man film collectibles currently available.

• Hot Toys Iron Man MK III at Sideshow | on Ebay
• Review Index

Saruman the White | Artist: Mike Asquith | Edition Size: Open

Sideshow Weta’s seminal Saruman the White was my first introduction into the world of ‘high end’ collecting. And what a fine introduction it was; one that leaves you little choice but to be enticed by this new territory. Winning it as a prize made it all the sweeter.

And after all of these years– frightening how many it’s been– Saruman remains an undenied classic. It’s a statue that does not leaving you wanting or wishing for this or that. Furthermore, never is it clumsy or encumbered with unnecessities. If you’ve been collecting more than a short while, you know such balance is not terribly commonplace. Hat’s off to you, Mr. Asquith.

The image of Saruman ruminating over the Palantir is hauntingly iconic in the best way. There’s a certain classical aura here, as is there with the finest SSW pieces. It’s what sets these beauties apart from everyone else. The likeness, the pose, the composition; nothing is lacking here.

And then there’s Grima, a pairing with which adds an extra dynamic, though one should never make the mistake in thinking it a crucial addition. It’s Wormtongue that gets the most of out of this pairing. This White Wizard stands well, in his palantiri solitude or not.

It’s a complete piece of art, a satisfying one- the sort that never goes out of vogue.

• Saruman the White at Sideshow | on Ebay
• Review Index

Gears of War Lancer Replica | Artist: Epic Games | Edition Size: Unknown

It’s interesting to read some of the early impressions of this piece. It’s clear that there are two value systems at work here. For the gamer, this is ‘really expensive’. The seasoned collector sees it differently, as the price here equates nowadays to more or less that of a 1/6 figure. Knowing this, one should not go in expecting the kitchen sink. As both a gamer and a collector, I can see either side of the coin.

I’m constantly amazed at how the two have intersected of late, and this, perhaps fittingly, is the most excessive example of a video game “pack-in” collectible yet. And with serious issues that accompany nearly all of them (broken Bioshock Big Daddy statues, malfunctioning Fallout 3 Pip Boy Clocks), one wonders how long this trend will keep up. Here’s how NECA’s take on Marcus Fenix and crew’s favorite chainsaw-tipped weapon of choice stacks up:

It feels plastic-y, it sounds plastic-y, mostly because it is plastic-y. Barring some of the dicier moving parts, it’s not particularly light or flimsy though, don’t let that fool you.

Yes, there are a surprising number of movable elements, and no, the chainsaw is not one of them. There’s a sliding handle and two other parts beyond my firearm knowledge to describe– latter of which actually make way for a removable ammo cartridge (sounds cooler than it is). And with zero instructions included*, it’s very possible that someone might own this for years without ever knowing.

(*barring the sizable blurb on the shipping carton pertaining entirely to batteries, which among other things, states that they are included when they aren’t. ugh)

What do you need batteries for, you say? To power the vibration and sound feature of course, which require three C Cells. Unfortunately due to my habit of not stockpiling C cell batteries, I have not played with these novelty features as of this writing. And there is a good chance that it might not have even worked: a high, high percentage of people are reporting failure on their Lancer, with however a relatively simple improvised fix involving tin foil or a paper clip. (Read the Amazon customer feedback for tips.)

[[Update]] NECA has issued a notice of this defect and are sending metal plates to those with issues.

How did NECA salvage this from a total disaster? With the solid design of the gun itself and the details they managed to preserve here in life-size form. I do recall reading that this was essentially spit out from Epic’s (developers behind Gears of War) 3D data, which makes it difficult to fault for consistency.

Paint is a mostly uncomplicated affair consisting of a base coat silver and black. There are no attempts at weathering or texturizing which in this case is probably just as well. With that out of the way, the rest of the effects are reserved for gore, and an appropriate chainsaw splatter cover the front of the piece. A fancy element like this is easy to guff-up but the result is surprisingly decent. Very Gears-like splash patterns though it must be said that the results still look mostly like matte red paint rather than the darker, more viscous and glossy stuff it’s aiming to mimic.

The remaining small patches of blue are meant to simulate the lights which are so pervasive in the GOW universe.

NECA treads the line between ‘toy’ and ‘replica’ pretty closely. I’m not sure the more delicate parts would survive Little Billy’s play sessions for long (assuming Billy can actually lift this thing), yet what kid could resist such a thing? It’s really like the ultimate Gears of War Halloween prop: inexpensive enough that you don’t mind toting around to fake-chainsawing people, but respectable in detail.

The Lancer replica comes as part of an unofficial bundle available only from Amazon at a total cost $140, including the Xbox 360 game, Gears of War 2. Factor out the cost of the game itself and you’re essentially shelling out $80 for this replica. Were the paint a little more sophisticated along with higher quality construction + materials– let’s face it, were it a full-on $400-$500 prop replica– it would’ve been something to behold. As is, it meets my expectations for the price point and acquits itself fairly well.

• Gears of War Lancer at Amazon | on Ebay
• Review Index

Predator Diorama Exclusive | Artist: Gore Group | Edition Size: 600

Predator, like all things from that era, is a fond reminder of an 80’s childhood. It still holds up well as a great action thriller, a fact the farcical Alien vs. Predator abominations only serve to further remind. Poor kids today. However, the fact the two brawniest leads eventually went on to govern two of our great states is as remarkable as anything else to me. It just did not have that sort of deep-seated attachment on me.

Of course, as a movie creature, there are few more iconic this green blooded beast. It’s presence was what made it real. It was what made it scary. Pure Stan Winston magic.

There are those who know the proper cranial measurements of the Predator, the precise curvature of the helm prop, or know the Predator’s skin markings by heart.

….I’m not that person.

What I can tell you is that this diorama’s got a great pose, a proper looking, thematically fitting base, and a great overall composition. You get all of the trademark weird alien gadgets, and changeable helmed and unhelmed heads (for the exclusive). It’s greatly successful in the fact that you don’t feel short changed at all for your investment of a buck fifty.

Surprising detail #1: The trophy skulls are not sculpted but strung individually on a string. Ditto the spine decoration.

Surprising detail #2: The hair-thin pieces of wire that protrude throughout the piece.

Considering that this piece is probably 1/8 or 1/9 scale (or smaller?), this is really incredible. Risky, but incredible. By the same token, sacrifices were necessary on account of size, like the missing quills on his forehead. Still, these are little unexpected touches that elevate an excellent sculpture by the Gore Group (do they ever disappoint?)

The fact that it comes separated from the Predator logo base as consideration for those who wish to wall mount this is rather ingenious too. There are lots of things going on here, and all of it works.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that there are other larger, more elaborate, ‘better’ alternatives of the creature out there. A few of them already released by Sideshow. That’s not really the audience this (or the upcoming Predator 2 diorama) caters to.

Practically speaking, I don’t much want a small refrigerator-sized tribute to the Predator, or the costs associated. And if you’re of the same mindset (a casual fan or one who simply can’t afford the larger beauties), in many ways, this is exquisitely perfect.

• Predator Diorama at Sideshow | on Ebay
• Review Index

Elvis Premium Format | Artist: Mat Falls | Edition Size: 500

Dont be cruel, to a heart that’s true…

It’s difficult to sugarcoat the cold reception to Sideshow’s first go at The King of Rock and Roll. The unfavorable initial impression (amongst the hardcore collectors) is one it’s struggled to recover from. This all has certainly made me quite keen to give this some proper face time.

As seems to be part and parcel with the license, Sideshow is representing the stages of his life in chronological snapshots starting with ‘young Elvis’, circa 1956. The line has already since been furthered with a 68 Comeback Special premium format, and one assumes a Vegas-era piece to be in the works.

To start, I firmly believe the separate editions should’ve been nixed. The piece makes more sense and is compositionally better with the exclusive guitar. At least they offered a discount for the regular edition ($280 vs. $300), but the split hardly seem to do Sideshow or the collectors any real favors.

The mixed-media checklist: All of the clothing, barring the socks and shoes, are made of fabric, leaving most else sculpted. The blazer fits somewhat awkwardly and is fairly snug to the body, so there isn’t much leeway for primping. I do dislike when a mixed-media element is tacked on purely for the sake of doing so- I can point to a few premium formats that were not best served by this mentality. Here, though I don’t think the fit of the production piece is spectacular, the color and luster of the fabric bring something to the table which isn’t possible to replicate on a painted sculpture. Hard to argue against.

The mic stand comes attached to the left hand separate from the body, and the wire which wraps around is ‘real’ wire, as opposed to sculpted. The top of the mic head can be swiveled, though it never stays upright due to tension or gravity.

The pose is just what you’d expect of an early-era Elvis, one which few would have trouble recognizing even as a basic silhouette. Still, there’s no illusion that people buy statues, famous person statues, on the strength of any pose alone. The portrait is where the bread’s buttered, and here’s my observations on Mat Fall’s take on Elvis.

There’s something not quite right about the eyes, but it’s not easy to pinpoint. Certainly, the upper lids from some angles suffer from a puffiness exacerbated no doubt, by the fact that his lashes could not be rightly represented short of a Princess Leia PF style implementation. For better or worse here, it was not. Think Sideshow ever seriously considered it?

Do your best Elvis. Chances are you, or any would-be impersonator, would begin with a lip snarl and a “thank ya verrah much“. Yet this oft-imitated (and abused) trait is barely present here, if at all. His smile also comes off toothy as his choppers are far too delineated, with gum traveling to the bottom of the teeth in a few instances and painted as such.

I believe it’s a combination of all of these things that contributed to people’s complaints of his ‘goofy’ expression. Still, Mat has managed to do some very things very well here- like capture the unorthodox shape of Elvis’ face for example. The cheeks look spot on. The portrait is plenty Presley in the quarter-profile angles.

What it comes to, in subjectively terms, is that Sideshow’s Elvis is too ‘aw-shucks’ and wholesome, and lacking the certain sexiness and sense of danger that the man projected, particularly during his rise, when America shielded the precious virgin eyes of its youth from the man’s ‘perverted’ shakes and gyrations. In striving for the broadest possible appeal, Sideshow’s Elvis Presley plays it safe its idealized vision.

That’s all right, mama—- is it alright with you?

• Elvis Premium Format at Sideshow | on Ebay
• Review Index

SDCC 08 Goliathon 83 | Artists: Broadmore, Tremont | Edition Size: 900

For the second year running, Weta has produced a unique Raygun for San Diego Comic-Con. It’s the Goliathon 83 that ironically gets its moment in the diminutive spotlight as 2008’s convention exclusive miniature.

Where to begin? How about comparing it to its life-size brethren for a start? It’s a quarter of the size and costs about 17 times less. I plugged that equation into an invention of my own– the Scientific Collectortronic Calculator 888S and out it spat: “I reckon that’s a fair deal“.

Again, Weta is so dedicated in their edition size reform that it has even trickled down here. While last year’s exclusive mini-gun had no apparent trouble clearing stock, the mini-Goliathon 83 sports a lower edition size than not only its predecessor but also the original life-size (both ES 500). [correction: Weta has informed that the initial 400 for SDCC was merely an allotment and not the entire run. The remainder is to be made available through their site]

The details of the Goliathon 83 have survived the miniaturization process with impressive faithfulness. What differences there are are mostly negligible. In fact, if you observe the close-up Weta posted for the original prop-- 99% of them are present on the miniature; the screws, switches, latches, ridges, all of that. Speaks to the detail of the piece very effectively.

I expect you’ll want me to get nit-picky won’t you? Here then, keeping scale in mind, are some of the differences present: the gap between the two rear valves was excised. The antenna are a bit thick (by necessity), and the back antenna is straight where a squiggle pattern exists in the life-size. Things one might never notice, for the most part.

Of course, the glass parts are not glass, but solid like the rest and painted to passably mimic the colorful valves of the original.

The weapon is cast in metal as advertised, therefore even the needle-thin antennae and tubing are insusceptible to bends and breaks from all but the most determinedly clumsy. It’s nice and heavy as a result, so refrain from tossing it at your cat.

With fine craftsmanship confirmed, it leaves one surefire path to misstep with paint. Thankfully, blunders are avoided. Indeed, the dark, rusty tones form the overall base coat- but there are some very finely delineated parts- like the brass tubing running snug along the body. It truly is a critical point to lend believability to the separate components and a lot of credit goes evidently to Fred Tang’s manufacturing group in China for keeping everything tight.

In place of a luxe velvet lined case there is a display stand that is quite worth a mention because it isn’t merely a throwaway afterthought, although it would’ve been wonderful had this (non-attached) element been cast in metal too.

Unfortunately, I do not have last year’s exclusive Manmelter 3600ZX to compare (send me yours! you know you want to!)- but I can say that these are such nicely crafted Raygun morsels that they may make a completist of you. With two pieces so far in the miniature line, that’s still relatively easy to do (though the Manmelter’s commanding big dollars these days). And between you and me, they go a long way in helping to forget that you can’t afford the life-size originals.

• Goliathon 83 at WetaNZ | on Ebay
• Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory review
• Review Index

Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory | Artist: Broadmore | Edition Size: Open

Greg Broadmore did not invent the Raygun. But the creator of The Rayguns: Dr. Grordbort’s Infallible Aether Oscillators has put his money where his sub-atomic disintegrator pistol is, in rejuvenating the sci-fi staple his own way. And he wants you along for the ride.

Introduced to the unsuspecting masses in the form of top shelf life size Weta Collectibles, the Rayguns’ mortal enemy has always been its prohibitive-for-most price tag. It wasn’t long before Weta introduced less expensive ways for folk to nab a slice of “Futurity” for their own, with affordable miniaturized versions of the guns and the book you see here: Doctor Grordbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory.

More than an obsessive ode to turn of the century science fiction gadgetry– it is that too, make no mistake– Broadmore steps further to acknowledge the beings, the places, and to document the adventures.

When can be helped, Weta rarely chooses to relinquish a storyteller role and this is no exception. The Dingus Directory never breaks character, reading as part catalogue (for the fictional universe and Weta’s own collectibles), part travelogue, all served up with brisk fervor.

There is more tongue twisting text than you might expect to find in such (though the title’s a fair clue), but it is an art book at heart. If your brain begins to melt from the “astrodauk’s“, “brorgblort’s“, and “kedzurik’s“, the book is enjoyable in a Playboy way too- just look at the pretty pictures.

There’s no shortage of artwork in various forms of schematics, adverts, and testimonial portraits. Broadmore does make his living as a designer, and you’d be hard pressed to forget it while flipping through. To Raygun buffs it should be noted that everything in the book can be treated as a glimpse to a potential collectible, as witnessed just recently with the Moon Hater at Comic-Con.

And he’s designed more than the weapons, as they are accompanied by a host of other doohickeys the average denizen may find useful in everyday life- and some not so useful (see: bipedal mechanical walking chair). Nods to fellow workshop designers in the Falconer 6000 and Wootten Fivepencemochron will be noticed by the consummate Weta geeks.

The book ends with a fully illustrated chronicle of Lord Cockswain’s safari, providing a colorfully welcome departure from the directory. A fitting way to demonstrate the practicality of Rayguns in every day Venus expedition, it’s a nice little avenue to let improbability escape your head for a while.

Doctor Grordbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory comes in satiny faux-leather hardback, with thick card stock pages. The binding even seems pretty solid. If it sounds like I’m a bit surprised, it’s with the price tag in consideration: For $10 and change, it’s as sumptuous a book as you’ll ever find.

• Buy the book at WetaNZ | at Amazon
• Read our interview with Greg Broadmore
• Review Index

Frodo and Sam in Orc Armor | Artist: Gentle Giant | Edition size: 3000

What I like about Gentle Giant’s foray into LOTR is their off-kilter strive. The blatant example being the wild and somewhat bizarre animated maquettes. Their other Rings cornerstone by contrast, breaks no real conceptual traditions; we’ve all seen polystone busts before. You can, however, tackle some old ideas in a fresh way.

Gentle Giant has accomplished this by shrewdly veering from rehashed subjects. Frodo and Sam in Orc armour is a fine example of this (see the upcoming Dark Galadriel for another). It’s exactly the sort of wild variant that people have longed for after years of seeing these characters at their most iconic. Imagine that GG had tossed out the Hobbits in plain Shire garb again– it would have been suicidal.

Under this direction, Gentle Giant is freed the shackles of ‘iconic’, one to which Sideshow is understandably bound in Premium Format (thankfully they have an outlet in the way of dioramas).

These are the first Gentle Giants I have come into possession of, but they don’t seem all that alien to this longtime Sideshow Weta collector. Same smell and everything. You may have noticed that these resemble statues cut off at the legs, more than they do busts, in the classical sense. It seems to be something of a GG tradition. And being 1/6 scale, it’s a good decision, a necessity even. Still, licensing complexities notwithstanding, I can’t help but think how much more popular this line would’ve been if they’d have just gone the rest of the way and issued statues.

There’s much ado about Gentle Giant’s 3D scanning technology, with which I am not 100% familiar– I can only assume that it was employed here too, and to reasonably good effect. Indeed, unlike Sideshow or Weta, there are no sculptor credits to be found on the base, box, or on GG’s site. The likenesses are at least on par (in the case of Sam), or a tangibly improved (Frodo) over Weta’s early hand sculpted efforts. Paint’s pretty ok too.

Though not the pinnacle of refinement, both are plenty detailed and absolutely well put together. Major bonus points for casting Sam’s blade in metal (or some other type of solid, weighted material). This is a nice change of pace from the flimsy, warp-prone attachments that SSW collectors are used to.

Practically speaking, the little ‘Ring drawers’ are beyond pointless. Let’s face it, there are far better places to hide your jewelry than Frodo and Sam’s bum. Still, I recall they ran a tie-in promotion for 100 Noble Collection One Rings; it’s hard to fault a cool promotion. Of course, the best trick up GG’s sleeve here are the removable Orc helms. Serendipitously meant to be oversized and awkward, the idea works well, and add a tremendous amount to the overall value.

It’s the interesting possibilities that make Gentle Giant a worthy player in the game. Still begging Sideshow for a Prologue Elf Warrior Premium Format? Keep dreaming. I’ll stake my bets on the line with Snaga in the pipeline.

• Frodo product page | Sam product page at Gentle Giant
• Buy them at Razor’s Edge Collectibles
• Back to the Review Index