Dead Space: Isaac Clarke Figure Review

As a Dead Space fan and being hungry for Dead Space figures, I snatched a set of regular versions of Isaac Clarke as soon as I saw them up on eBay. I have to tell you, these figures put the SDCC exclusive to shame by quite a lot. Just something about seeing Isaac Clarke in his regular RIG outfit that makes me excited. However, this figure isn't without any flaws.





Flavor Text:

"Briefing Data:

Isaac Clarke

Update from Recipient: Have arrived on board USG Ishimura. No survivors present, power running low. Cut off from security detail at onset of mission. Ishimura crew has been overrun by alien hostiles. Attempting to restore ship systems. Unsure if communications are working, if message received send military support.

Assignment: Investigate lost signal and repair all repair all necessary equipment in order to restore communications.

Mission Briefing Recipient: Isaac Clarke

Mission Location: USG Ishimura

Issue: Total communications blackout

Support Team: Standard Security Detail"



The Good:

• Isaac has 29 points of articulation: ball-jointed head, ball-jointed shoulders, swivel upper arms, ball-jointed/swivel/hinged elbows, swivel hands, quasi-ball-jointed/swivel hips, swivel/hinged legs, swivel thighs, ball-jointed/swivel/hinged knees, and quasi-ball-jointed ankles.

• Like his SDCC exclusive counterpart, "regular" Isaac sports LED lights too (on both his visor and spine)! Because of the blue plastic used, the LED brightness is considerably dimmed.

• This Isaac figure has a pretty good grip on the Ripper weapon. I (sheepishly) admit that it took me some time to figure out how Isaac would hold the weapon.

• Thankfully, the regular Isaac doesn't suffer from the LED lights bleeding through the paint on his spine like his SDCC exclusive counterpart.
  

• I can breathe an easy sigh of relief to see that Isaac doesn't suffer from the "male cameltoe" which was last seen prominently displayed on the Chris Redfield figure.

The Bad:

• The "bloody" variant Isaac comes with the Ripper weapon as the only accessory. The "standard" Isaac comes with the 211-V Plasma Cutter. As mentioned in my previous review of the SDCC exclusive, the figure is sorely lacking in the accessories department. Although the Ripper weapon is nice to have, it would've been better to have additional weapons such as the Flamethrower or even the IM-822 Handheld Ore Cutter Line Gun.

• It's not necessarily a bad thing, but the overall design of Isaac and the greenish-bluish tinge (when the LED is switched on) eerily remind me of Bioshock. As a side note, I really hope that NECA doesn't incorporate the LED "light feature" in their upcoming Bioshock figures. NECA, please don't do this to us.

• The color of Isaac's RIG suit is a bit too orange for my tastes. I'm pretty sure his suit is more of a gold color than anything else. **Actually I just checked to confirm my belief: http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/deadspace/images/1/11/Dead_Space_2009-05-26_22-56-43-51.png ** (It is gold).
  

• Again, this Isaac suffers the same problem from its predecessor of the three [slightly] deep yet visible holes with screws in the back of Isaac just look ugly as hell. Obviously, this was needed to allow collectors to remove the dead battery and replace it. I just had to point out that it's distracting.

• I really hoped to see Isaac sculpted in his Level 5 armor, where he is covered from head-to-toe in armor.

• The "shoulder armor" covering Isaac's right shoulder is glued in place which limits his arm movement (preventing him from doing any "high-five" poses). The SDCC exclusive doesn't suffer from this problem.
  

The Ugly:

• Obviously, the "bloody version" of Isaac would sport blood on his armor. But when you examine the "blood splatter" it's rather... disappointing. The red paint applications look more like ketchup stains than anything else (especially on the visor and Isaac's right leg). NOTE: The "regular" Isaac (supposedly "non-bloody") actually sports a little "blood deco" as well on his RIG helmet and right shoulder.

• Also what's up with the paint application here? Right on top and at the bottom of Isaac's spine, you see an unsightly splotch of orange paint. You bet your ass that's sloppy. Would someone please explain to me why the hell are white dots applied liberally all over Isaac's body? Space dust, perhaps?

• Starting from the fourth "row" of Isaac's chest armor, the lines of armor are [quite visibly] crooked and no longer are following the pattern (as seen in the above three "rows" of Isaac's chest armor). There's a noticeable gap betwen the third and fourth row, which is plain ugly as it is sloppy. I suspect the black "twisties" that are used to hold the figure are partly to blame (the other half of the blame goes right to the sculptor/Chinese factory).

• The "regular" version of Isaac sports a noticeably crooked HUD display (the little blue plastic sticking out on Isaac's chest). Examine these figures in person before buying them! It seems NECA still has quality control issues.
  

• As I mentioned in an earlier review [of the Isaac Clarke SDCC exclusive], if NECA was going all out to include LED lights for the spine and helmet, why not include that for the kinesis module as well? I understand that the engineering behind that could be quite complicated, but to have the LED spine "light up" next to a painted kinesis module, well.... it looks pretty bad.
  

I purchased this set online via eBay for a total of $34.90 (price includes S&H). I recommend searching through eBay for these. If you can't seem to find a reasonable price order from CornerStoreComics.com (last I checked, they charge $25.99 for both; $13.99 individually). They're really good about packaging and sending out items in a timely manner, and they seem to get their items a little earlier than most electronic retailers I've dealt with.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT eBAY OR CORNERSTORECOMICS. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.


Overall, NECA's Isaac Clarke is one AMAZING entry into the Dead Space franchise. Despite a lot of glaring negatives, I'm really glad to see NECA getting into the idea of heavily articulated action figures. I recommend examining these figures in person before purchasing, so you can avoid the crap that I've viewed as negative. It may be just me, but I think getting both (the "regular" version which isn't really regular and the "bloody" version) is a pretty stupid idea.

Ghostbusters: Egon Spengler (SDCC 2009 Exclusive) Figure Review

Like most other people in my generation, I've grown up with the Ghostbusters (both movies came out when I was quite young, but I was there for The Real Ghostbusters amazing cartoon series). I've collected most of their toys produced by now-defunct Kenner. Heck, I still have the Ghostbusters firehouse and Ecto-1! When I heard news that Mattel was going to produce Ghostbusters figures based on the first movie, I was stunned. Then I was happy, then moments later was worried. Would Mattel screw up my childhood? Thankfully, they haven't, since the Four Horsemen are behind the sculpts of the Ghostbusters figures.


Flavor Text:

"PERSONNEL FILE

NAME: Egon Spengler

PROFESSION:

• Doctor of Parapsychology
• Doctor of Physics

GHOSTBUSTER STATUS:

• Strategic right brain of the outfit.
• Designs Ghostbuster equipment with Ray Stantz.
• The most serious and straight forward of the GB team.

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

"Don't cross the streams. It would be bad."

(Page 1)

HABITS & HOBBIES:

• Science addict
• Collects spores, molds and fungus
• Driven by logic
• Sugar junkie
• Attempted self-trepanation

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• One of the founding members of the GHOSTBUSTERS.
• Incorporated radioactive isotopes into tractor beam
• Calculated freeze point of ectoplasm

NOTES:

Office Supplies -
Egon often needs to have a hand drill, magnifying glass, eye droppers, tweezers and a large supply of nougat and chocolate syrup handy.

(Page 2)"



The Good:

• Egon has an impressive (approximately) 26 POINTS OF ARTICULATION!
  

• The overall package design is quite nice, but wasteful. The picture of the two Terror Dogs found on both sides of the figure makes quite a nice display. However, the cartoony, angry-looking Stay Puft the Marshmallow Man reaching in the background was corny. The "3-D" Ghostbusters logo on the top of the packaging is also nice.

• The detailing done on the proton pack is quite good for a mass-produced toy. I also like to be able to holster the proton gun when not in use.

• The facial sculpt is quite close to actor Harold Ramis.

• The paint application on this figure is fairly consistent, which is nice for a mass-produced toy. There was a small splotch of paint on the back of Egon's left arm. Some of the wires on the proton pack weren't totally painted either, but nothing too big.

• Having Slimer as a "pack-in" accessory is a nice gesture to fans of the movie. Slimer even has a few points of articulation as well! As if that weren't enough, Slimer also comes with a "floating" stand. Slimer's bottom is sculpted so that he can "stand" on the ground as well.

The Bad:

• This is an "exclusive" that was first sold at this year's San Diego Comic Con at the Mattel booth and then later sold online via MattyCollector.com.
  

• Egon's face looks a bit cartoony.

• The awkward sculpt of Egon's arms, places him in perpetual bent elbow syndrome. Yes, I know that this was done to allow Egon to do his "Ghostbusting" pose but a neutral pose would've been nice especially when he's not using his proton pack.

• Although having Slimer as a "pack-in" accessory is a nice gesture to Ghostbuster fans, it doesn't seem to be paired to the right Ghostbuster. I'm aware that Bill Murray (or should I say Peter Venkman) had some issues with his likeness being used as a figure, which led to the Egon/Slimer pair. The toaster or even the ectoplasm/slime samples would've been a better choice of accessory.
  

The Ugly:

• As with most "exclusives," pricing for these items are quite the bitch. Admittedly, I paid quite a bit more via eBay not being able to attend SDCC and to avoid waiting on line online (no, that's not a typo). When the sale began on MattyCollector.com, there was a long delay in allowing purchases of their leftover Egons from SDCC. Collectors online via forums were worried sick. When they were finally ready, I discovered that with shipping and handling, Egon costs about a whopping $28.00 (Egon is listed as $20.00)!

• Seeing the non-removable proton pack makes me sad, very sad. It would've been a nice homage to the old Ghostbusters figures with their removable proton packs that we've all grown up with and love. Also, the extra space in the back would've allowed the possibilty (no matter how small) for the Ghostbusters to ride in their Ectomobile (Ecto-1).

• I'm not too pleased with Egon being "slimed". First off, the "slime" deco on Egon looks more like grass-stains than anything else. Also, Mattel should've saved the "slimed" look for their later Venkman figure release. Egon never got slimed by Slimer, so having that deco is just... extraneous.
  

As I mentioned earlier, I purchased this MattyCollector exclusive online via eBay for a (a large undisclosed amount of money). At this point, I don't know what to recommend regarding purchasing this Egon exclusive. Amazon currently has it for $34.99 (that's the cheapest) through a third-party vendor. Browsing eBay may give you a slightly better deal. Bigbadtoystore.com (also found selling on Amazon.com) has it for approximately $40 (this includes shipping and handling).

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT MATTYCOLLECTOR, eBAY, AMAZON, OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, Mattel's SDCC 2009 Exclusive Egon Spengler is a pretty decent entry into the Ghostbusters franchise. I'm glad to see the Ghostbusters being reintroduced as a marketable toy line. Having Egon with loads of articulation and with a ghost pack-in accessory gives me hope for the rest of the Ghostbusters line.

Dead Space: Isaac Clarke (SDCC 2009 Exclusive) Review

As a latecomer to the Dead Space franchise, I was indifferent to hearing the news that NECA was going to produce Dead Space figures. However, once I started playing the game, I was excited at the prospect of owning an Isaac Clarke figure. Having seen the preliminary sculpts of Isaac, I wasn't surprised at the high level of detail. All I was worried about was NECA screwing up an amazing sculpt with limited articulation. I'm really glad that NECA came through.



Flavor Text:

"Briefing Data:

Isaac Clarke

Update from Recipient: Have arrived on board USG Ishimura. No survivors present, power running low. Cut off from security detail at onset of mission. Ishimura crew has been overrun by alien hostiles. Attempting to restore ship systems. Unsure if communications are working, if message received send military support.

Assignment: Investigate lost signal and repair all repair all necessary equipment in order to restore communications.

Mission Briefing Recipient: Isaac Clarke

Mission Location: USG Ishimura

Issue: Total communications blackout

Support Team: Standard Security Detail"



The Good:

• Once again, NECA gives us an action figure with over 20 POINTS OF ARTICULATION! Last I checked, Issac has approximately 25 points of articulation.

• This SDCC NECA Exclusive sports LED lights as advertised on the front packaging! It can be seen through Isaac's visor and "spine" (found on the back of his RIG suit). When this baby is turned on in the dark, Isaac's LED lights are bright enough to be used as a flashlight during a blackout (no joke)!

• As seen in the previously released Chris Redfield figure (from NECA's Resident Evil 5 line), Isaac Clarke also sports the knee joint which is covered by his boots!

• Just had to point out the Unitology "scribbles" all over Isaac's body armor is done pretty well. It must've been really hard to paint those on. I wonder if those symbols translate into anything...

• The paint application on this figure is fairly consistent, which is a nice change from NECA's usual fare. I found only two pieces of dried paint: one piece of dried paint sticking out noticeably when I swiveled Isaac's right leg forward and back; the other sticking right behind of Isaac's kinesis module "meter" (found on his back right shoulder).
  

• I can breathe an easy sigh of relief to see that Isaac doesn't suffer from the "male cameltoe" which was last seen prominently displayed on the Chris Redfield figure.

The Bad:

• The lack of pack-in accessories is somewhat irksome. Isaac only comes with his standard 211-V Plasma Cutter tool with Unitology "scribble" all over it. In the video game DEAD SPACE, Isaac was able to carry four weapons of the seven found or purchased in the game. It would've been nice to see either the Flamethrower or even the Pulse Rifle as an extra weapon accessory.
  

• It would've really been nice to be able to swivel the Cutter tool horizontally as in the game (although I understand the difficulties that would come with such a feature).
  

• In the beginning, Isaac had a great grip on his Cutter tool. However, each time I slightly moved him from one position to another, the Cutter tool just slipped out of his right hand. Isaac can't even hold onto the Cutter just standing!

• The three [slightly] deep yet visible holes with screws in the back of Isaac just look ugly as hell. Obviously, this was needed to allow collectors to remove the dead battery and replace it. I just had to point out that it was... distracting.

• I really hoped to see Isaac sculpted in his Level 5 armor, where he is covered from head-to-toe in armor.

• NOTE: Isaac has 4 "slits" in his visor as seen in the pictures on the Dead Space clamshell packaging. Unfortunately, the figure only sports 3. I wish NECA paid more attention to that specific detail. In other words, I wish NECA added on another "slit" to his visor (it would've been nice to see the SDCC exclusive sport a slightly different sculpt when compared to the original DS figures).

The Ugly:

• When you turn on the LED lights (by pushing the "button" on the top of Isaac's spine), you see the light bleeding through the black paint with the Unitology "scribble". Also you can see very clearly, the glue scuff marks and black paint smears all over the "blue" colored plastic.

• As much as I love the idea of the LED lights incorporated into the NECA exclusive, I wish NECA made some changes to this. Don't get me wrong, the LED light shining through Isaac's visor is great. However, having the "spine" light up in blue cheapened an otherwise cool idea. When you turn on the LED light, you can see that the entire "spine" portion is made up of blue plastic (this is due to the blue plastic bleeding through the black paint application). It would've been better to keep the bright [white] LED light as is. As much as I understand the difficulty of coming up with incorporating LED into an action figure, NECA should've also done that with the kinesis module as well. By giving Isaac's visor and "spine" LED light, it unintentionally calls attention to the painted kinesis module. By leaving it out, it cheapens the overall look.
  

I purchased this NECA Exclusive online via Toyrocket for a total of $47.94. I recommend searching through eBay or Amazon for better deals. If you can't seem to find a reasonable price (the MSRP is $20.00), order from Bigbadtoystore.com (last I checked, they charge approx. $32.99). They're usually good about packaging and sending out items in a timely manner, but they seem to get their items later than most electronic retailers.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT TOYROCKET, eBAY, AMAZON, OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, NECA's SDCC 2009 Exclusive Isaac Clarke is one AMAZING entry into the Dead Space franchise. I'm really glad to see NECA getting into the idea of heavily articulated action figures. During these harsh economic times, I'd recommend just getting one (unless you're a hardcore Dead Space fan AND have the money to purchase another for your MOC collection).

Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 {Endoskeleton}

I had purchased the "T-800 {Endoskeleton}" figure mainly because I missed out on NECA's first offering under their "Cult Classics Series 3" line. According to NECA's website, it states that "the still-terrifying Endoskeleton has a newly tooled head and improved articulation, with over 20 moving parts and a Plasma Rifle accessory." What isn't mentioned is the exclusion of the highly detailed "Future War Base" that was found packaged with the "Cult Classics" Endoskeleton figure. Despite NECA's tantalizing description of their "new and improved" T-800 {Endoskeleton}, their execution was extremely lacking.


Flavor Text:

"TARGET IDENTIFIED

Specs: Model T-800 {Endoskeleton}

- Features SKYNET's most advanced control system

- Fully armored in a hyper-alloy sheath around vital areas

- Frictionless bearings in its joints allow the unit to maneuver through its range of motions faster than previous models

- In the event of critical damage, a secondary power source allows the unit a margin of time to complete its mission

- When set to autonomous mode, it can "learn" like a human being, actually becoming more efficient as time goes on"


The Good:

• The details of the T-800 {Endoskeleton} (pistons and wires found all over the body) are pretty spot on from what I remember from "Terminator 2: Judgment Day".
  

• A total of 21 points of articulation: (partially) swivel head, swivel/hinged shoulders, swivel "biceps", hinged elbows, swivel wrists, (limited) swivel waist, (partially) swivel legs, hinged knees, (partially) hinged feet, (open/close) "abdominal area" flap, and (open/close) "shoulder blades". I really don't understand why the Endoskeleton even has those movable parts (referring to the abdominal area and shoulder blades).
  

The Bad:

• The paint application on the T-800 {Endoskeleton} isn't that good. There are random stray (and quite visible) black marks.

• Lack of [working] accessories. It's definitely a great idea to include two [right] hands: 1x grasping the plasma rifle and 1x netural grip. However, the execution failed miserably. The pre-posed grip can't even hold onto its lousy plasma rifle! Why only two right hands? Why not include another left hand as well? Also what happened to the detailed base which was released in the "Cult Classics" line?

• Judging from the texture and feel of the Endoskeleton figure you can immediately tell it's made from cheap, low-grade [plastic] material. Who in their right mind would agree to pay for that?

• I just noticed this but the figure isn't balanced well. The Endoskeleton's right shoulder is visibly higher than its left shoulder. Even the (open/close flaps) "shoulder blades" aren't proportionate as well (the left one is higher than the right one). Also the arms are placed in such a way that it looks like the Endoskeleton is hunched over and not standing upright.

The Ugly:

• I immediately noticed that the Endoskeleton's eyes were sculpted and painted in a way that it looked like it was looking "upwards". I've seen all the photographs of this figure with the eyes staring out from the center. Can anyone explain why NECA decided to have all their Endos peering towards the sky?

• Seeing photos of the Endoskeleton with its jaw open, I immediately had to try it. Much to my dismay, the jaw had trouble staying open. After "playing" with the jaw for some time, it finally stayed open. However, I noticed the left-side wire around its jaw was sculpted a bit short. It wasn't that big of a deal, but then I began noticing a whole bunch of other flaws.

• When the T-800 is facing forward, the neck is already turned to the left. I've tried moving the neck back into the correct position, but to no avail. This also prevents the Endoskeleton from turning its head to the left.
  

• On the right-hand side of the Endoskeleton's chest area, the long wire wasn't properly connected to the "hole". I tried to move it back into place, but it was already glued out of place. (Great quality control there guys!).

• What really annoyed me was the pre-posed right hand. It's sculpted to hold the (only accessory) plasma rifle and yet it actually can't! What's the point of including accessories that don't even work? Even the plasma rifle accessory isn't straight, but curved. That's just really lame.

I purchased the "T-800 {Endoskeleton}" figure online via eBay for a total of $21.89. I recommend searching through eBay for better deals (but recently noticed that eBay sellers are trying hard to jack people). Go check out cornerstorecomics.com/amazingtoyz.com (both links bring you to the same website). I think they have the best deal out there so far, and from my experience with them, they ship on time and package your items in a secure manner. Also, check out bigbadtoystore.com if you want to purchase the entire set. They're pretty good about packaging and sending out item in a timely manner, but they seem to get their items later than other electronic retailers.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT EITHER CORNERSTORECOMICS/AMAZINGTOYZ OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, the T-800 {Endoskeleton} is a huge disappointment. For those who've already purchased the Endoskeleton from the "Cult Classics" line, you guys got the better deal. For those of you who haven't purchased it, you can find it on eBay. Don't even bother getting the re-released/"re-tooled" Endo. This is definitely not worth the money.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 {Pescadero Escape}

Eagerly anticipating any news of additional Resident Evil 5 figures for this summer, I was bitterly disappointed to discover that NECA was releasing "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" figures. I recall NECA having already done "Terminator 2" in their "Cult Classics" line with their T-800 Endoskeleton several years earlier. However, after reading about other collectors' eager anticipation towards the T2 line and seeing photographs of the already packaged figures, curiosity got the better of me, and I ended up purchasing the "T-800 {Pescadero Escape}" figure. Lucky for me, I made a wise decision.


Flavor Text:

"TARGET IDENTIFIED

Specs: Model T-800 {Pescadero Escape}

- Under direct orders from John Connor, the T-800 sets out to rescue Sarah Connor from Pescadero State Hospital where she has been institutionalized for 10 years.

- Armed with a Winchester Shotgun the T-800 fights off the liquid metal T-1000, an advanced new prototype programmed to kill John. Ironically the same model Terminator that was once sent to kill Sarah has now come to protect John and reunite mother & son."


The Good:

• The level of detail on the T-800 {Pescadero Escape} figure is nothing short of amazing. The sculpt of the texture of the leather "biker" jacket looks quite real (it's made of plasticized rubber). There are even bullet holes in the back of Arnold's jacket (as seen in Terminator 2: Judgment Day)! Even the "belt buckle" parts of the leather jacket (at the bottom) are sculpted further enhancing the accuracy and realism of the on-screen character's clothing. The creases in the T-800's black shirt and pants are (as usual) superbly sculpted.
  

• The facial sculpt of Arnold's portrayal of the T-800 is just amazing. From the creases in his forehead down to his frown just screams "Arnold Schwarzenegger"! Even the sunglasses actually look good on his face.
  

• A total of 10 points of articulation: ball-jointed neck, ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed (hinged/swivel) elbows, swivel wrists, and swivel waist. Of all the articulation, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the highly detailed T-800 {Pescadero Escape} figure sported ball-jointed (both hinged and swivel) elbows. I hope this comes standard for all their figures.

• I was pleasantly surprised to see that paint application wasn't a problem this time.

The Bad:

• The T-800 {Pescadero Escape} comes with only one accessory: the Winchester Shotgun. It would've been nice to have included a pistol that was tucked in his front shirt (as in the movie). Also, additional pre-posed hands would've been really nice. Throw in a detailed base, and we're set. **Actually there's two accessories, if you include the "interchangeable head" (the T-800's head is interchangeable with any other T-800 [Arnold] figure!).**

• Despite the fact that the T-800 comes with approximately 12 points of articulation, I couldn't help but wish for a little more articulation, say, in the legs and knees.

• The T-800's left wrist refused to "swivel". After some persuasive pushing, it started to move, but not that much. I've read online of how to "un-stick" those joints, but I didn't pay for this figure to get extra work.

• The T-800 has a slight (balance) problem while standing up. It looks like he's somehow standing on his "tippie toes".

The Ugly:

• If you examine the pictures below, you'll notice that there's a giant "block" of plastic where the earpieces (on both sides) of the sunglasses are. The black paint is masterfully applied to the "flesh-colored" plastic "block" to designate that as part of the sunglasses. From far away, it's invisible to the naked eye. However, upclose, you can see the blocky ugliness (this also ruins the superb facial sculpt of the T-800's face).

I purchased the "T-800 {Pescadero Escape}" figure online via eBay for a total of $24.69. I recommend searching through eBay for better deals (but recently noticed that eBay sellers are trying hard to jack people). Go check out cornerstorecomics.com/amazingtoyz.com (both links bring you to the same website). I think they have the best deal out there so far, and from my experience with them, they ship on time and package your items in a secure manner. Also, check out bigbadtoystore.com if you want to purchase the entire set. They're pretty good about packaging and sending out item in a timely manner, but they seem to get their items later than other electronic retailers.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT EITHER CORNERSTORECOMICS/AMAZINGTOYZ OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, the T-800 {Pescadero Escape} is an absolute "must-have" figure for any adult collector. The meticulous level of detail can be found all over this figure (from the "Arnold Schwarzenegger" likeness down to the detailed creases in his jeans). The only thing that keeps this figure from being the best figure is the lack of accessories. However, this T-800 renews my faith in NECA's action figure lines.

Kaiyodo's Fraulein Revoltech Series No. 10: Yoko (from "Gurren Lagann") Figure

I've heard of Kaiyodo's Revoltech and their mecha (robot/machine) articulated figures. Unfortunately, I had no interest in owning any robot figures ever since the fourth grade. However, when I heard that Kaiyodo was debuting what they called "Fraulein Revoltech" figures, I was intrigued. "Fraulein" is German for "young lady". Kaiyodo's Revoltech line features monthly releases of approximately 6-inch action figures of female characters from well-known anime, illustrators, and video games. The man behind the sculpts of these (Fraulein) figures is Tomohide Enoki. Revoltech Fraulein figures utilize the "E.L.F." joint system in combination with Revoltech joints allowing their figures to make a variety of poses. When I heard news of the Fraulein Revoltech series introducing Yoko from the anime "Gurren Lagann," I knew I had to get my hands on one.


Background Info:

Yoko is a 14 year old girl who comes from the neighboring village of Littner. Her underground village was originally an arms depot which caused some sort of toxic atmosphere forcing the villagers to the surface. Unfortunately, like a fish jumping out of one frying pan into another, the villagers would come to face another hazard, Gunmen. Gunmen are mecha (robot/machines), individually controlled and piloted by Beastmen. These Beastmen are charged with the indiscriminate slaughter of all humans who reach the surface. Yoko is the undisputed master of the sniper rifle, which she uses all the time in her battles against the Gunmen. She is well-known for her sexy appearance: bikini top, short shorts, scarf-like neck covering, pink stockings, and over-sized boots with large zippers.



The Good:

• It's Yoko from the anime "Gurren Lagann"!

• Yoko has a total of 23 points of articulation!

• She comes loaded with accessories: 2 interchangeable faces (1x smiling face and 1x angry-looking face), 2 front hair pieces (1x front "regular" hair piece and 1x front hair piece with goggles), a superconducting sniper rifle, 2 sniper rifle stands (1x "folded" and 1x "opened"), 9 optional hands, and 1 figure display stand.

• The details on Yoko are simply amazing: the scarf-like neck covering, her flowing red hair, her sizzling bikini top, and even her short shorts! I was impressed with the superb detailing on Yoko's belt (especially the metal studs that go around the entire belt).

• Don't get me wrong, but the sculpt of Yoko's hips, bust, and butt are superb!

• All of Yoko's optional face and optional hand parts fit perfectly and fit quite tightly.

• There's something about the sculpt that makes Yoko look very cute in any pose.

The Bad:

• Yoko's goofy-looking smiling face is the only bad thing about this entire figure. Pictures of her smiling on the packaging and on the Internet don't look as goofy. But trust me on this, in person, it really looks weird.

• I had a really hard time placing Yoko's optional hands onto her plastic stumps due to her joints. Each time I almost had the optional hand in, the joint moved at the last second, forcing me to repeat the entire procedure (yes, the amount of skill and patience does make it feel like a procedure).
  

• Despite all this, Yoko has a hard time standing up on her own. I suspect this has to do with Yoko's long red hair and quite possibly her small feet. However, at least Kaiyodo was savvy enough to include a display stand.
  

• Each time you move a certain joint (neck/legs/wrists/ankles), it makes a clicking noise. This is probably due to those Revoltech/"E.L.F." joints. It may be annoying to some and may mean nothing to others, but I just wanted to make note of that.
  

The Ugly:

• I really didn't want to write anything under this heading because I love this figure a lot, but there's unfortunately one small, but glaring problem. The "opened" sniper rifle stand accessory doesn't fit the peg hole of the superconducting sniper rifle. I nearly snapped the "opened" sniper rifle stand trying to fit it into the hole.

I purchased Kaiyodo's Fraulein Revoltech Series No. 10: Yoko from Hobbyfan.com for a total of $27.75. I've just checked their website and (no surprise), they're sold out of Yokos. I recommend searching through eBay for better deals (but be warned, there are lot of sellers out there selling counterfeits). I'd also recommend checking out Toyslogic. Just remember though, the two sites I've recommended usually charge cheaper prices when you pre-order with them. As a last resort, I'd check out bigbadtoystore.com if you can't purchase Yoko from the previous two online stores. Although they're pretty good about packaging and sending out item in a timely manner, they seem to charge a lot more for imported items.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT HOBBYFAN, TOYSLOGIC, OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, Kaiyodo's Fraulein Revoltech Series No. 10: Yoko action figure is probably my most favorite from their line so far. The unbelievable amount of articulation and accessories makes this figure worthwhile. The only thing I hope sculptor Tomohide Enoki fixes is Yoko's smiling face. That and enlarge the peg hole to fit the sniper rifle "opened" stand. This is one hell of a sculpt that will please fan-favorites and female action figure lovers alike!

Resident Evil 5: Executioner Majini

Having experienced one extremely positive review and one of the exact opposite, I was wary of the final figure from the Resident Evil 5 Series One: the Executioner Majini. Good thing too, because I definitely had mixed feelings towards this figure. An interesting thing to note: the word "Majini" is plural in Swahili which refers to any number of supernatural creatures (demons, fairies, genies, etc.), but can also mean "wicked people". It is also similar to the Japanese word "majin," which refers to "magical being" or a demonic or evil entity.


Flavor Text:

"The world has learned the meaning of terror. A decade after the events of Raccoon City, the evil Umbrella Corporation has been destroyed but the effects of its horrific creations still linger. Gripped in fear of another biological incident, world governments formed the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, determined to stem the spread of biological attacks. Now, Agent Chris Redfield has been sent to Africa to investigate reports of a new more dangerous outbreak. Joined by his partner, Sheva Alomar, both must work together to discover what's really happening and stop whoever is continuing Umbrella's evil legacy."


"An enormous Majini who swings around an axe constructed of an iron pole and a guillotine blade. He considers anyone who denies [Plaga] implantation and executes them. He is extremely tough and will not fall from a few gunshots."

"Name: Executioner Majini
Age: -
Height: 235 cm
Weight: 130 kg
Sex: Male
Org.: -"

"Confidential File - 03"


The Good:

• The level of detail on the Executioner Majini is just amazing. The dark areas where the eyes should be are eerily done in accurate fashion. The sculpt of the bloody nails hammered all over his head and upper torso is just breathtaking. If that's not enough, check out the two big-ass bloody nails going through his back, which is (probably) keeping his stitches together. Although the material of the "torn" apron feels cheap, the overall look fits well with the figure.

• The level of detail on the guillotine blade is just superb! The sharp edges of the blade covered in blood and the sculpted chains is just outstanding. Even the paint application is done quite nicely (further enhancing the superb sculpt).

• The pole part of the Executioner's axe fits snugly into the socket of the guillotine blade and can also be removed just as easily.

The Bad:

• The Executioner has the least amount of articulation from this group (a total of 13). Why does it always seem that RE enemies have the least amount of articulation? His limited articulation reminds me of NECA's archaic days of "swivel arms and hips" articulation. Not very pretty. It would've been nice to have at least a ball-jointed neck and ab-crunch implemented in the Executioner's design. Some joints allowing leg movement would've also made some sense, after all the Executioner's got to chase little runts like Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar around. However, I'm glad the Executioner didn't suffer from the "male" cameltoe as poor Chris did.

• I had a hard time turning the Executioner's head towards the right-side (I just noticed that the sculpt of his hood is getting in the way of the giant nail stuck in his back).
  

• The Executioner has trouble keeping his balance with his heavy guillotine-bladed axe. Due to the weight of his axe, I was limited to only a small number of threatening poses.
  

• Lack of accessories (I know that the Executioner is only seen with his axe). But, it would've been a nice touch, if NECA included an additonal set of hands, especially of one where he has the "choke hold" grip. A dusty-looking detailed base would've also been a nice addition.
  

• The "meat-hooks" that are placed on the back the Executioner's belt keeps moving around, getting in the way. I would've preferred those damned things to be glued in place (it drives me crazy each time I place the Executioner in a different pose and I end up somehow touching those "meat-hooks").

• It would've been nice to see smaller patched up scars sculpted onto the Executioner's body (not just one huge scar).
  

• I would've also liked to see a more "game-accurate" sculpt of the pole of the guillotine-bladed axe. The plastic brown stick cheapens the highly detailed sculpt of the Executioner.
  

• The paint application of the Executioner's apron seems a bit off. I'm pretty sure it was black, and not gray.

The Ugly:

• Lack of articulation. I mention this again, because NECA really dropped the ball here. The swivel waist just seems so archaic and out of place for a supposedly "articulated" figure. An "ab-crunch" joint would've been the better decision. It was ambitious of NECA to sculpt the Executioner, but to leave him with minimal articulation is just a slap in the face for collectors and RE fans alike.

• The Executioner's skinny forearms really bothered me. Here's this hulking brute with big-ass shoulders, but he has really skinny forearms. Does that even make any sense? Take a close look at "roid-rage" Chris; he has big shoulders and big forearms to match.

I purchased the entire RE 5 Series One online via eBay for a total of $52.99. I recommend searching through eBay for better deals (but recently noticed that eBay sellers are trying hard to jack people). Go check out cornerstorecomics.com/amazingtoyz.com (both links bring you to the same website). I think they have the best deal out there so far, and from my experience with them, they ship on time and package your items in a secure manner. Also, check out bigbadtoystore.com if you want to purchase the entire set. They're pretty good about packaging and sending out item in a timely manner, but they seem to get their items later than other electronic retailers.

NOTE: I DO NOT REPRESENT EITHER CORNERSTORECOMICS/AMAZINGTOYZ OR BIGBADTOYSTORE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID TO MENTION THEIR NAMES. I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THEIR SERVICES BASED UPON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.



Overall, the Executioner Majini is a disappointment. I know most (okay, ALL) of my suggestions require more materials and involve higher costs, but if a collectibles company wants to produce authentic (or "game-accurate") figures, then it's best to go all in. Sure, the price would be shifted onto consumers, but that's already a given. Produce high-quality figures, charge higher prices. I grow tired of shelling out money for incomplete figures. I really do. Although the Executioner Majini isn't nearly as good as the Chris Redfield figure, I suspect many collectors and RE fans alike will want to make him a part of their collection. After all, who else will Chris want to play with?

Score: