Happy Anniversary To Her! The Sideshow Collectibles Spike Premium Format Figure Materializes For My Wife!

The Good: Absolutely amazing sculpt, Neat alternate heads, Good painted details, Stable base, Collectible value
The Bad: Skin tones are the wrong color,
The Basics: The Sideshow Collectibles Spike Premium Format Figure is a neat, but not flawless, Buffy The Vampire Slayer collectible!


For those who follow my reviews and know of my commitment to reviewing pretty much whatever is produced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it may appear to be a somewhat disappointing weekend for me and the blog. After all, it is Sunday and Marvel and Netflix released their thirteen episode season of Daredevil more than two full days ago now. How can I not have my episode by episode reviews of the season (along with the whole season review) done and posted by now?! The answer is simple: Netflix very thoughtlessly released Daredevil on my sixth wedding anniversary and I opted to prioritize my loving wife over my reviewing blog (go figure!). One of the ways I showed my wife appreciation for sticking with me for the past six years was by giving her the gift of the Sideshow Collectibles Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike Premium Format Figure.

We saw the Spike Premium Format Figure on the shelf in a comic book shop six years and a month ago, when I took her on a trip to New York City (and we decided we wanted to be married). At the time, I couldn't swing the expense of the statue-like figure on top of her ring and the trip expenses, but I never forgot how she looked at that Spike statue with longing and excitement. I was super psyched to track down a mint in box one (it might well have been the last one on the planet!) and watching her open it enthusiastically on our anniversary was one of the high points of our celebration (for both of us)!

Unlike the new Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure (reviewed here!), the Sideshow Collectibles Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike Premium Format Figure is a blend of polystone and cloth elements - like a ceramic doll. Also (fortunately!) unlike the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure which graces my collection, the Spike figure does not have any thinner parts that can easily break off (Wonder Woman collectors, beware! If you ever try to rebox the figure . . . the hair!). Like the other Premium Format Figures, Spike is essentially a statue, not a doll or figure (he has no poseability for the body, though the coat can be moved).

And it's pretty cool, save the coloring.

Basics

The Spike Premium Format Figure presents the sexiest vampire of the Buffyverse incredibly well. This version of Spike has the vampire character in his familiar black trench coat standing in a cocky, neutral pose on a base that looks like the tiled floor of a masoleum. The blonde vampire has his human face on, with his hands at his sides, standing in an "at the ready" pose, as opposed to an action-oriented one. One of the neatest aspects of the Spike Premium Format Figure is that he has a full-vampire head that may be swapped out for the human one. The Spike Premium Format Figure is made of polystone for the body and base, a little bit of heavy steel (for the thin metal rod that extends from Spike's right heel and allows the Premium Format Figure to attach to the base) and cloth for the shirt, pants (sorry, ladies, this Spike figure is NOT anatomically correct!), belt and leather jacket. This is a heavy Premium Format Figure.

The Sideshow Collectibles Spike Premium Format Figure is cast with lifelike detailing. The hair is textured and details like the fingernails and boot laces on the boots are immaculately sculpted on. The cloth elements are impressive - the squeal of delight my wife let out when she realized that the pockets are actually pockets on the red striped shirt Spike wears was pretty delightful. The character's face looks exactly like James Marsters as Spike and elements like the cuffs at the bottom of Spike's pants are an incredible detail that helps Sideshow justify the lavish price of this collectible.

As for coloring, that is where this Spike falls down. Spike is a vampire and cannot tan. The Spike Premium Format Figure has far too much red in his skin tones to be considered an accurate representation of the famous vampire. It is ironic because when the Premium Format Figure is set up next to other Spike collectibles, this is a pretty glaring problem. There is something unsettling about this giant, sunburned version of Spike when set next to the exceptionally pale Spike in Hawaiian shirt! That said, all of the cloth elements are perfectly colored and things like the glossy black fingernails and the detail to Spike's eyes is extraordinary.

Features

As a Sideshow Collectibles Premium Format Figure, the Spike Premium Format Figure is only accented by an alternate head and the collector’s number on the bottom of the base. The base, the bottom, is a perfect fit for the Premium Format Figure, which is nice. With his foot placed properly in the hole in the base, the right foot roots the Premium Format Figure to the base. Spike is wonderfully rooted to the base, without any play.

The head pops off the Premium Format Figure when carefully pulled and it may be replaced with the vampire head. The vampire head is equally well-detailed as the human head and it features Spike with his vampire forehead, fangs out and an active and angry expression. His eyes are, appropriately, vamped out, too and Sideshow made it very easy to replace Spike heads. Smartly, the figure's head separates at the base of the neck, so the seam that is inevitable for removable parts can easily be hidden under the character's shirt and jacket! Both my wife and I prefer the vampire head given how few Spike figures have a decent option for that face.

Balance

As with all Premium Format Figures, the intent of the Sideshow Collectibles Spike Premium Format Figure is to be used as a decorative collectible and this is well-balanced at the base. The Premium Format Figure does not wobble on its base at all. The display base is augmented with four rubber discs that keep it perfectly stable, so it does not slide, tip, lean or do anything other than stand perfectly positioned on one’s shelf or display case.

Collectibility

Sideshow Collectibles has been making bigger and better collectibles for decades. The Spike Premium Format Figure was a 1:4 scale statue and limited to 350 pieces. Each one is individually numbered on the bottom of the base (mine, or rather my wife's, is 265/350!). These Premium Format Figures have already exploded in value and I suspect it will continue to appreciate in value as Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans age and want more adult collectibles. Moreover, finding one that has not been out of the package, on display, is a Herculean task. Tracking down a mint, unopened one is liable to be a great investment as more collectors break theirs (inadvertently!) or suffer fading of the cloth elements by having them out in natural light. This was an extraordinary investment and still is a good one.

Overview

The 1:4 scale Spike Premium Format Figure from Sideshow Collectibles is not the perfect collectible adult collectors might have wanted. Is it good enough? Yes. It's good enough to justify its price to the 350 Spike fans lucky enough to get their hands on one, but its doubtful that the rest of the Buffyverse fans would covet it so much that they absolutely needed to get one, too.

For other Spike or Buffyverse collectibles, please check out my reviews of:
Sideshow Collectibles Spike 1:6 Scale Statue
Puppet Spike Puppet
Cordelia Action Figure

8/10

For other Buffy The Vampire Slayer toys and collectibles, please visit my Buffy The Vampire Slayer Toy Review Index Page!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Surprise Perfection Of The Buffy The Vampire Slayer Sideshow Collectibles Spike Statue!

The Good: Absolutely amazing sculpt, Incredible painted details, Stable base, Collectible value
The Bad: None!
The Basics: The Sideshow Collectibles Spike Statue is unbelievably incredible and a must-have for fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer!


Last month, when I reviewed the brand new Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure (reviewed here!), I found myself comparing the new statue to the Sideshow Collectibles Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike Statue. Given that, I figured that I should take the time and actually review that superior Spike statue. Where the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure was riddled with sculpt and coloring issues, the Spike statue is an immaculate work and an amazing collectible.

Basics

The Spike Statue presents the anti-hero of the Buffyverse perfectly. This version of Spike has the vampire character in his familiar black trench coat standing in a crouching position on a grave-like base. The blonde vampire has his human face on and has him holding a wooden stake in his right hand. The Spike Statue is made entirely of polystone (save a thin metal rod that extends from Spike's right heel and allows the statue to attach to the bast) and this is a heavy statue.

The Sideshow Collectibles Spike Statue is cast with lifelike detailing. The hair is textured, the character has back pockets molded onto the back of Spike's pants (which is impressive given that the jeans are under the coat and virtually invisible), and Spike has knuckles and fingernails molded into the statue. The character's face looks exactly like James Marsters as Spike and the billowing pose for the coat makes it look like he has just landed. Other impressive sculpted details include buckles on the vampire's boots and the inclusion of the scar over Spike's left eyebrow.

As for coloring, Spike is perfect in his coloring. It might get tiresome to read such glowing adjectives about the statue, but the work warrants it. Spike has such incredible detailing as depth to his skin tones, dry-looking lips, glossy eyes, and highlights to the character's fingernails. Spike's hair is colored in more than monotones so his head does not look like it is covered in a helmet (which is a mistake commonly made by those making Spike-themed collectibles). The base has great tones, so it looks like it is cement, made from tiny grains, as opposed to a single monotone rock.

Spike's boots are made to look worn and they contrast the smooth black of the coat in a way that gives the statue additional texture and depth.

Features

As a Sideshow Collectibles statue, the Spike Statue is only accented by the collector’s number on the bottom of the base. The base, the bottom, is a perfect fit for the statue, which is nice. With his foot placed properly in the hole in the base, the right foot roots the statue to the base. The left foot rests on the base and because the statue's left foot is arranged so it looks like Spike is about to push off from the balls of his feet, the statue connecting to the base flush is imperative. Spike is wonderfully rooted to the base, without any play.

Balance

As with all statues, the intent of the Sideshow Collectibles Spike Statue is to be used as a decorative collectible and this is well-balanced at the base. The statue does not wobble on its base at all. The display base is augmented with four rubber discs that keep it perfectly stable, so it does not slide, tip, lean or do anything other than stand perfectly positioned on one’s shelf or display case.

Collectibility

Sideshow Collectibles has been making bigger and better collectibles for decades. The Spike Statue was limited to 1,000 pieces. Each one is individually numbered on the bottom of the base (mine, or rather my wife's, is 165/1000!). These statues have already exploded in value and I suspect it will continue to appreciate in value as Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans age and want more adult collectibles.

Overview

Quite simply, the 1:6 scale Spike statue from Sideshow Collectibles lives up to all a Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Angel fan could hope for!

For other statues, Sideshow Collectibles figures or Spike collectibles, please check out my reviews of:
DC Direct Cover Girls Of The DC Universe Wonder Woman Statue
Sideshow Collectibles Abraham Lincoln Brothers In Arms 12" Doll
Puppet Spike Puppet

10/10

For other Buffy The Vampire Slayer toys and collectibles, please visit my Buffy The Vampire Slayer Toy Review Index Page!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Opening With Retcon, Angel And Faith: Live Through This Reboots The Outcasts!

The Good: Decent character work, Interesting story
The Bad: Harmony one-shot is blah, Artwork
The Basics: The new Buffyverse series Angel And Faith starts with Live Through This which reads like a pilot episode to the continuing adventures of two well-established characters.


The continuation of the Buffyverse in comic book and graphic novel form seems to be a reliable cash cow for Joss Whedon and a source of joy to most fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. I’m not entirely sure yet how I feel about it. I know that I was very excited about the concept of the eighth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer being delivered in graphic novel form, but the truth is that the execution of the concept was a bit more erratic than the sixth season of Angel in graphic novel form. The two series synch up after Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight and they are continued now in Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Nine and Angel And Faith. The first collection of Angel And Faith books is Angel And Faith: Live Through This.

It is impossible to discuss Angel And Faith: Live Through This without spoiling the finale of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Nine, Last Gleaming (reviewed here!). Because Angel and Faith end up reconnecting in the climax of Last Gleaming and before that Faith was paired with Rupert Giles, how their circumstances changed has a huge effect on the current storyline. Angel And Faith: Live Through This heavily references events in both Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer as well as both of the graphic novel series’ that preceded this book.

Angel And Faith: Live Through This picks up months after the death of Rupert Giles. Angel has been brooding until Faith starts reading through Giles’s records and she uncovers a demon that possessed a girl named Hannah. Giles was unable to defeat the demon, but bound it to the girl and had to go back periodically for “maintenance” and with his death, that responsibility now falls to Angel and Faith. After Angel defeats the demon, he gets the cherished memory of Giles’s, that had been taken by the demon. In a world without magic, the demon hierarchies are all upset and Angel decides that he wants to resurrect Giles in order to have him keep up the good fight (and alleviate his own sense of guilt).

To that end, Angel and Faith begin hunting a Mohra demon whose blood is being used to heal humans and demons all around town. As Angel works to stop the illegal trafficking of Mohra demon blood and to get what he needs to resurrect Giles, Faith considers the implications of tossing Mohra blood on Angel and ending his long run with the tortured soul and giving him back a human life. But Faith has a Slayer friend, Nadira, who blames Angel for slaughtering her pack of slayers and Angel is being hunted by a pair of demons, Pearl and Nash, who have been tasked by Whistler to help restore the balance in the magicless world by killing Angel. When the Mohra demon refuses to play along with the business transaction that will use his blood, it pushes Angel and Faith into a facility where the full ramifications of using the Mohra demon’s blood in a world without magic is realized . . . with horrible consequences.

Angel And Faith: Live Through This also includes a pointless digression with Harmony. Harmony and Clem visit Angel and Faith with concerns about her career. Now leading a movement where vampires only feed on willing victims, Harmony's career is put in peril when a tape surfaces of her siring an unwilling human. As Angel and Faith investigate who wants Harmony's career killed most, they come to figure out who is truly behind her potential demise, though it is hard to care. The book also includes a cover gallery.

The artwork in Angel And Faith: Live Through This is mediocre. The characters are largely stylized and Faith looks virtually nothing like Eliza Dushku, save on a handful of panels throughout the book. That said, the new characters are rendered consistently, so Nadira, Pearl and Nash each look distinctive enough to be recognizable.

Angel And Faith: Live Through This focuses quite a bit more on Faith than on Angel and that actually works well. Angel’s internal monologue has been pretty much done to death between the television series and the prior graphic novels. Faith, on the plus side, has not been given the chance to truly develop beyond her issues with having been a psychopath who has searched for redemption (fairly successfully). Writer Christos Gage does a good job of developing Faith’s voice and yet making the character read like the familiar one fans appreciated on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. Faith in Angel And Faith: Live Through This is levelheaded and protective in a way that she has not been in the past.

Angel And Faith: Live Through This is very much a starting point, so Gage is busy throughout the book laying the foundation for future storylines. The Harmony plotline stands alone amid the unresolved subplots involving Nadira and Pearl and Nash. This is a good starting point, artwork aside, and fans have good reason to hope that the pairing of Angel and Faith will develop well given how they are two surprisingly similar Buffyverse characters.

For other Buffyverse graphic novels, please visit my reviews of:
Fray
Spike: Old Wounds
Angel: Immortality For Dummies

5.5/10

For other book reviews, please check out my Book Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Retcon Spike: The One-Shot Old Wounds Fills Out Spike’s Backstory Adequately.

The Good: Artwork, Plot, Pacing, Fits in surprisingly well in the continuity of Angel
The Bad: Light on character development, Very simple plot
The Basics: The one-shot “graphic novella” Spike: Old Wounds is an interesting vignette set in the fifth season of Angel.


There are very few television shows that have ended with enough mystery and potential left in their primary characters to make me want to revisit them in graphic novel form. Too often, recon stories seem like paltry fanfiction and well-conceived characters get undermined by second-rate writers trying to flesh out the story of a beloved character just a little bit more. Fortunately, that is not the case with Spike: Old Wounds.

The one-shot short story comic book (way too short to be considered a “graphic novel”) Spike: Old Wounds is actually an engaging story that fleshes out the popular character of Spike. In fact, the real issue with Spike: Old Wounds is that the retconned story is more simplistic than it is deep; writer Scott Tipton plays it safe in telling a story that bridges Spike from “Why We Fight” and when he reunites with Drusilla prior to Buffy The Vampire Slayer (reviewed here!). Set in the fifth season of Angel (reviewed here!), Spike: Old Wounds is a very limited vignette that has Spike going off on his own (with Fred) to clear his name while raising the emotional stakes seen in the television show at that time. Alluding significantly to “The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinco” and “Why We Fight” Old Wounds manages to tell a story that stands alone on its own without screwing up either Spike’s backstory or where the character was supposed to be in the fifth season of Angel!

Fred gets her morning coffee and is held at gunpoint by an old man, who is quickly revealed to be former detective McNeal. McNeal wants nothing more than for Fred to help him get into Wolfram & Hart so he can ask Angel some questions. Successfully getting an audience with Angel, McNeal reveals that he has worked for decades to try to solve the Black Dahlia murder and that he has a suspect that Angel might know: Spike. When Spike wanders in, he finds Angel and his team mildly hostile, so he jumps out a window and evades them. Spike meets up with Fred at her apartment as she is the only one in Los Angeles he feels he can trust.

Fred, still grateful that Spike saved her life recently, agrees to hear Spike out. Spike tells Fred the story of where he was in the 1940s. As it turns out, he was in Los Angeles, working for a famous movie producer, enforcing his will as he procured young women and tossed them to the curb. Spike worked in concert with a police detective, Emigh, to keep the police and thugs both off Lawrence’s back. Spike’s alibi to Fred is a good one: as things heated up with the movie executive, the Hermanos De Los Numeros were called in and they gave Spike enough of a thrashing to send him packing. Deciding to investigate McNeal puts Spike and Fred on the path of the Black Dahlia murderer, who framed Spike, and puts Spike on his own for another dangerous demon encounter.

Spike: Old Wounds is good, but in no way great, making it a tougher sell outside the Spike: Omnibus than in it. The set up for Old Wounds is a bit preposterous; there is no reason that McNeal could not simply walk into Wolfram & Hart and make an appointment with Angel. Capturing Fred kills a few pages and adds a tension that is unnecessary to the story being told. More than that, Spike: Old Wounds rushes the sense of conflict between Spike and Angel’s team. Within a few panels, Spike goes from being asked about where he was in 1947 to throwing himself out a window. More than an organic sense of distrust between Spike and Angel (which did exist in the television show at the point at which this story occurs), this seems like a dramatic overreaction to being asked a question. In that way, Scott Tipton misses his mark.

On the flip side, Tipton gets Spike’s attitude just right. When Fred asks the reasonable question of why Spike didn’t mention he knew the Hermanos, Spike rightfully points out that he has no reason to disclose information to Angel or his team. Spike also plays well when confronting Eve at the climax of the book and being snide to Angel and his team at Wolfram & Hart. Spike: Old Wounds captures Spike’s voice and character well.

The artwork in Spike: Old Wounds is decent. The coloring is good, with decent depth and shading to the characters. All of the characters are recognizable and outside McNeal looking more like he’s surfer blonde than old, the characters unique to the book fit in with the established ones nicely. While there is no exceptional artwork in Spike: Old Wounds, it manages to use the visual medium well for the script it delivers.

But the story in Spike: Old Wounds is more average than audacious; those who are not already fans of the bad boy character Spike will not be driven to buy more of his books by this one-shot. Instead, it’s like a good fanfic; it reminds those of us already in-the-know why we love the character and the Buffyverse.

For other Spike graphic novels, please visit my reviews of:
Old Times
Lost And Found
Shadow Puppets
Spike: After The Fall

5/10

For other book reviews, please visit my Book Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Unfortunately Underwhelming Spike (And Peter David): Spike: Old Times

The Good: Most of the artwork, Basic concept
The Bad: No real character development, Devoid of clever lines, Dull plot
The Basics: A quick read, Spike: Old Times fails to capture or expand on Spike, Halfrek, or the deeper Buffy The Vampire Slayer mythos.


Lately, whenever I review a work by the author Peter David, I find myself having to mention up front that I like the author’s works. The sad truth is, the last few books (especially graphic novels) of his that I have read have not grabbed me as much as some of his earlier, prose works. So, while I have an affinity for his books and think he’s a wonderful guy (if you have a chance to go to a convention at which he is appearing, he is exactly as entertaining as his writing suggests he would be!), not all of his works are gems and Spike: Old Times is one of his flops.

That said, the initial concept surrounding Spike: Old Times is not a bad one. Spike: Old Times solidifies the implied idea that Spike, when mortal, met the vengeance demon Halfrek (then appearing as a human, Cecily). Peter David has long been known for taking apparently disparate elements of various genre works and finding clever connections for them. In the later seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer (reviewed here!), the reuse of the actress who played Cecily in flashback scenes involving Spike’s origin story was seen as the vengeance demon Halfrek for Anya’s character arc. Peter David makes the alluded backstory between the two characters explicit in Spike: Old Times and while that is a charming idea, it fails to be more than a clever one-shot.

Flashing back to William The Bloody’s mortal life, where Spike was an unsuccessful poet, pining after Cecily, but driven to take care of his overbearing mother, William Pratt is goaded by bar patrons as he leaves to attend to his mom. In his wake, the bar patrons mock William in front of Cecily until one of them repeat’s William’s wish that the bar patrons be “the bloody ones.” Transforming, as vengeance demons do, to her natural state of Halfrek, Cecily grants the wish, killing everyone in the tavern and setting William on a collision course with Drusilla.

Flashing forward to modern times (an unfortunately ill-defined time period before Halfrek’s demise, but while Spike is in Los Angeles?!), Spike encounters Cecily in a bar and fights her, until she reveals her true nature. Realizing that Halfrek is, in some way, responsible for his getting vamped, Spike vows to stop her on her current quest for vengeance. He then encounters Lenny, a down-on-his-luck bad poet who is turning thirty that very day. Unfortunately, all the men in Lenny’s family die on their thirtieth birthday and Spike realizes that Lenny is the target of Halfrek’s vengeance. Vowing to keep him alive to break the curse, Spike must stop cars, demons and fireballs from killing Lenny for a few perilous hours.

Given that Lenny is unique to Spike: Old Times, it becomes a tough sell to get readers to care about the character based on a page of bad poetry. Of course, the book is supposed to be about Spike and him becoming a hero, but given how utterly unimpressive Lenny is, it’s virtually impossible to care about whether or not Spike succeeds in his quest. Fine, Lenny reminds Spike of himself and he feels bad because Lenny is at the mercy of Halfrek like he now realizes he once was. One would hope there would be something more to the story, but there really isn’t.

Also working against Spike: Old Times is the rushed nature of the story. It feels like there is a gap in the narrative after Spike defends Lenny from a demon, then they go on the run together. The conflicts happen very quickly and with minimal time for reflection. Spike’s big moment is realizing that Lenny is a descendant of the man who mocked him back in the day and continuing to defend him anyway. But the moment is truncated by plot movement and the book is ironic, but anticlimactic.

Moreover, the volume has a disappointingly pointless turn to it in the larger continuity of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The most important artifact to vengeance demons is their totem that allows them to grant wishes. When that totem is destroyed, their wishes are undone. There is absolutely no reason to believe that Halfrek did not have her wish-granting totem on her when she was killed in the final season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. As a result, not only would Spike: Old Times not have occurred, because William’s wish and longing for Cecily were never realized, he should not have fallen prey to Drusilla. Not only would Lenny not have been cursed, but Spike would not have been vamped . . .

The artwork in Spike: Old Times is generally good. The coloring is good, with decent depth and shading to the characters. Moreover, all of the characters are recognizable; the moment Cecily changes, it is obvious she is a vengeance demon to anyone who is a fan of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. While there is no extraordinary artwork in the book, it is all good, which puts it above any number of graphic short stories (I refuse to call the one-shot a graphic “novel”).

In the end, though, Spike: Old Times is not worth picking up on its own. Because there is a Spike Omnibus, one no longer has to!

For other Spike graphic novels, please visit my reviews of:
Lost And Found
Shadow Puppets
Spike: After The Fall

2.5/10

For other book reviews, please visit my Book Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Cordelia That Looks Mostly Like Faith, The Clayburn Moore Original Cordelia Is Still All Right!

The Good: Great sculpt, Decent accessories, Good articulation
The Bad: Slight balance issue, No real collectible value, Over accessorized!
The Basics: Despite having a build and face that is virtually indistinguishable from Faith, the Angel Cordelia figure is not a bad basic Cordelia.


For every major franchise that has merchandising, the main characters who have variant figures all have a basic version of the character. For the Clayburn Moore Angel figures, there were a number of variants for Cordelia. But for the main character, there was only one Cordelia. She had long hair and the basic sculpt made her look very much like Faith from the Buffy line. Ironically, this ended up being the only long haired Cordelia action figure Clayburn Moore made!

With the decline of the Buffyverse as a marketable franchise, even this Cordelia has plummeted in value in recent years and it is affordable once again.

Basics

Cordelia is one of the common action figures from the Angel figure line from Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles toys. This Cordelia get up was only in Angel and the figure comes carded. She is a 5 7/8 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Cordelia Chase as she appeared in the first season of Angel when she still had long hair.

The sculpt is a good one, capturing a wry look and subtle smile than some of the other Cordelia figures. The figure looks in equal measures like Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase and Eliza Dushku as Faith. Something about the cheekbones and the lack of a real smile make it a tougher sculpt to easily identify. As for the body, the Cordelia is wearing heels, a black tank top and black pants that, while flared at the bottom, resemble leather pants. The Cordelia features detailing like molded fingernails and the button on the front of her pants (which, unlike the variants, is not colored on this version!). Her hair is also textured for greater realism.

As well, the coloring is realistic and well done. While the outfit is colored entirely in monotones, the skin has realistic depth and shading. Instead of being a monotonal peach color, it has some red and tan in it, so Cordelia looks pretty realistic. Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles also got Cordelia’s eyes right, so they are brown with tiny black pupils and they look as realistic as they can for an action figure. Even Cordelia’s fingernails are appropriately colored black!

Accessories

Cordelia comes with five basic accessories: a bag, an ax, a stake, a flashlight, and a base/stand. The bag is actually more detailed than the figure! In perfect proportion to the figure, the Cordelia comes with a bag that can be slung over her shoulder and the strap is flexible enough to allow the bag to hang in a fashion that looks (mostly) realistic. The bag is detailed with straps and clasps that make it almost look like one could open the outer pouches! The bag is colored to look like distressed leather and its coloring detail is immaculate.

The least impressive accessory is Cordelia’s ax. The ax is a hand ax or very small battle ax with two blades. Measuring 1 15/16” tall with a head that is 3/4” wide, the battle ax is detailed well, like the bag. The handle is brown and black and detailed just enough to make it clear it is supposed to be wood. The head looks like steel and is colored gunmetal and black. The black ornamentation on the head is surprisingly intricate.

Arguably the most impressive accessory is Cordelia’s stake. The stake is a small, 3/4” pointed cylinder that looks like a sharpened wood stick and it looks neither simple nor out of proportion.

Finally, there is the flashlight. The Cordelia’s flashlight is 1 5/16” long and very simple. The cylinder has one wider end, painted silver, that makes it clear that this is a flashlight and it looks good in Cordelia’s hand. In fact, all three of her primary accessories fit perfectly in either of her hands.

The base is a chunk of sidewalk and wall that looks like it is a piece of sidewalk that has broken open to expose hell. It has two pegs that fit the holes in the bottom of either of Cordelia’s feet. The ground chunk is detailed as well as the rest of the figure and is meant to look like a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. It’s a very cool way to hold or display one’s Cordelia figure.

Playability

Cordelia is a very problematic figure to balance. While her articulation gives her many options, her heeled boots require her to be contorted in a way that is very difficult to keep her standing. To alleviate the balance issues, Cordelia has holes in the front of her shoes that fit in the pegs on her stand and playsets for the Angel figures.

Cordelia is also strengthened in poseability by her impressive articulation. Cordelia is articulated at sixteen points: knees, thighs, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, biceps, wrists, waist and head. The elbows and knees have hinge joints, while all the rest are swivel joints. That gives Cordelia a great range of motion for a figure without any ball-and-socket joints.

Collectibility

The Cordelia was a Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles exclusive figure and was released as common figure in the Angel toy line. As a result, it did not retain any collectible value. While this may be found very affordably, it is not likely to ever appreciate in value.

Overview

Fans of Cordelia Chase or Charisma Carpenter will want this overaccessorized Cordelia figure as an inexpensive collectible, toy or decoration!

This figure represents Cordelia as she appeared in the second season of Angel, reviewed here!

For other Angel Cordelia action figures, please visit my reviews of:
Slave Cordelia
“You’re Welcome” Cordelia
Short Hair Cordelia
Pylean Princess Cordelia Chase

6.5/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A Short Hair Cordelia Wrapped In Sackcloth Makes The Slave Cordelia Figure!

The Good: Great sculpt, Decent accessories, Good articulation
The Bad: Slight balance issue, No real collectible value
The Basics: For those who cannot find or do not want to bear the expense of the Short Hair Cordelia figure, the Slave Cordelia figure is the same basic toy wrapped in cloth.


With the Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel toy lines, there were a lot of underwhelming products. When Moore Action Collectibles had the license to the Angel toy line, they were remarkably unimaginative in a number of ways. For example, the Faith and Cordelia action figures looked remarkably alike. And as far as the Cordelia figures went, they used the same essential body with minor coloring differences or different heads. So, for example, the Slave Cordelia action figure that was exclusive to the Media Play/Sam Goody store franchise back in the day, was the standard Cordelia action figure with a Short Hair Cordelia (reviewed here!) head popped on it and then wrapped in a strategically tattered cloth.

With the decline of the Buffyverse as a marketable franchise, the Slave Cordelia has plummeted in value in recent years and is now a decent alternative for collectors to the expensive Short Hair Cordelia action figure.

Basics

Slave Cordelia is one of the exclusive action figures from the Angel figure line from Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles toys. This Cordelia get up was only in Angel and the figure comes boxed in an exclusive box with a small window or on a card for the store release. She is a 5 7/8 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Cordelia Chase as she appeared in the second season of Angel when she cut her hair short. The figure is then wrapped in an off-white piece of cloth that is cut in strips at the bottom and arms. The other difference for this figure is that around her neck is a controller that kept humans under command.

The sculpt is an excellent one, capturing a wry look and subtle smile than some of the other Cordelia figures. The figure looks like Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, which is a step up from many of the earliest Cordelia figures, which looked more like Eliza Dushku as Faith than Carpenter's Cordelia. The Slave Cordelia is well-sculpted featuring Carpenter’s cheeks and nose detailed expertly. As for the body, the Slave Cordelia is wearing heels, a black tank top and black pants that, while flared at the bottom, resemble leather pants (under the fabric). The Slave Cordelia features detailing like molded fingernails and the button on the front of her pants. Her hair is also textured for greater realism.

As well, the coloring is realistic and well done. While the outfit is colored entirely in monotones, the skin has realistic depth and shading. Instead of being a monotonal peach color, it has some red and tan in it, so Cordelia looks pretty realistic. Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles also got Cordelia’s eyes right, so they are brown with tiny black pupils and they look as realistic as they can for an action figure. Even Cordelia’s fingernails are appropriately colored black!

Accessories

Slave Cordelia comes with three basic accessories: a shovel, a bucket, and a base. The shovel is a 3 3/8” plastic shovel with a small head that is silver-gray and speckled in black to look both metallic and worn. The handle is brown and the top of it is colored in a different brown to make it look wooden. Cordelia can hold the shovel only in her right hand because her left hand is molded with the fingers touching, impossible to hold either accessory.

The bucket is textured to look like it is woven tightly. Brown and gray, it is plastic, but looks like it is a basket as much as a bucket. It has a braided handle that fits nicely in Slave Cordelia’s right hand just fine.

The base is a chunk of sidewalk and wall that looks like it is a piece of sidewalk that has broken open to expose hell. It has two pegs that fit the holes in the bottom of either of Cordelia’s feet. The ground chunk is detailed as well as the rest of the figure and is meant to look like a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. It’s a very cool way to hold or display one’s Cordelia figure.

Playability

Slave Cordelia is a very problematic figure to balance. While her articulation gives her many options, her heeled boots require her to be contorted in a way that is very difficult to keep her standing. To alleviate the balance issues, Cordelia has holes in the front of her shoes that fit in the pegs on her stand and playsets for the Angel figures.

Slave Cordelia is also strengthened in poseability by her impressive articulation. Cordelia is articulated at sixteen points: knees, thighs, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, biceps, wrists, waist and head. The elbows and knees have hinge joints, while all the rest are swivel joints. That gives Cordelia a great range of motion for a figure without any ball-and-socket joints.

Collectibility

The Slave Cordelia was a Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles exclusive figure and was released as a Toyfare or Wizard Exclusive, as well as an exclusive on card for On Cue. Despite it being limited, that it had two limited releases actually made it pretty common and as a result, it did not retain its collectible value. While this may be found very affordably, it is not likely to rebound to appreciate for collector’s value again.

Overview

Fans of Cordelia Chase might geek out for the Slave Cordelia concept, but given how one of her hands is posed so she cannot actually hold her bucket and shovel at the same time. This, combined with the lack of collectible value does bring the toy down some. Even so, it is not a bad figure at all!

This figure represents Cordelia as she appeared late in the second season of Angel, reviewed here!

For other Angel toys, please visit my reviews of:
“You’re Welcome” Cordelia
Puppet Spike doll
Pylean Princess Cordelia Chase

6.5/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Angel Sits Out The Bulk Of Angel: Immortality For Dummies, But That Is Not The Main Fault Of The Book.

The Good: Decent plot, Good idea, Most of the artwork
The Bad: Very simple plot, No real character development, Some of the art
The Basics: Angel: Immortality For Dummies continues the Angel Season Six storyline with an abduction storyline that makes a lot of sense.


It has been a long time since I sat down and immersed myself in the Angel graphic novel continuation of the television series. As part of the amazing new library system I find myself enjoying, I am starting now to get in the Angel books. When I started reading Angel: Immortality For Dummies, I was shocked to realize fairly quickly that I had read the book before, right when it came out. Somehow, I just never got around to reviewing it.

Angel: Immortality For Dummies continues the story of Angel and his ever-growing collection of assistants as they wage war upon the forces of darkness in Los Angeles. The book is one of the most simplistic stories in the Angel saga and it is, actually, two stories. The main story in Angel: Immortality For Dummies actually focuses on Connor, Angel’s son. There is an exceptionally brief supplemental story that follows a new character, Eddie Hope, who is an ice devil, who is killing humans revealed to be truly evil through the time Los Angeles spent in the hell dimension in the After The Fall storyline.

Opening with Connor fighting three Horager demons. An especially lethal demon type, Connor usually avoids Horager demons, but forced to fight them now in Los Angeles, he manages to slay two of them before the last one knocks him down. He is rescued by four well-armored warrior women who pledge their allegiance to him. Connor returns to the Hyperion where he takes control of Angel Investigations, which is back in business. The others – Gunn, Kate, Spike, George, Illyria, James (the former angel) and the new shapeshifting catwoman – slowly accept him as their leader. Their first mission is to find Angel, who has been missing more than he usually is when he starts brooding over a new woman.

As it turns out, Angel has been captured by Alex Roman, the CEO of Innovation Labs. Laying completely incapacitated, Angel reflects upon how he was caught by the executive and how he is now being used to make vampires against his will (basically using his contaminated blood that is being pumped out of him). When a starlet is vamped and announces to the world that the famous Angel made her undead, Angel’s team leaps into action. While Illyria finds Angel right away, Spike goes after the starlet and the rest of the team wages a slaughter on vampires in the streets, getting ever closer to Innovation Labs and their dark plans.

The idea of Innovation Labs is an interesting one. The idea that a business would try to exploit the undead to make vampires out of the ultra-rich is a decent one. Alex Roman even appears pretty decent initially, explaining that he is approaching Angel because he wants to re-ensoul the people who get vamped at the lab. Angel: Immortality For Dummies introduces yet another new character to the mix with Laura Wethermill, a former member of the Watcher’s Council. She comes with a floating, brain-like Monasterenser Magnaserm named Polymephus and while the cast in these books is getting a bit cluttered (Gwen shows back up in the secondary story with the ice demon), she has more potential than the werecat who is a virtual nonentity in Angel: Immortality For Dummies.

Angel: Immortality For Dummies has no real character development and the plot is exceptionally simple. The book belabors Connor’s backstory and one almost has to feel like anyone who would be reading an Angel graphic novel would be familiar enough with the characters from the show to eliminate the need for five pages of backstory on the character. Connor’s story, and the conflict that leads to Gunn leaving (Connor does not trust him because of what happened in the Hell Moment), serves mostly to (apparently) set up a storyline that has Illyria interested in mating with Connor. That story is begun well by Illyria in this volume, though it is a pretty abrupt beginning (Illyria and Connor did not even meet in the television show).

The character that does not really develop and who lacks as distinctive a voice as even the new character, is Angel. Angel: Immortality For Dummies undersells Angel, keeping him out of play for most of the volume. The five chapter book has very little direct story with him as the focus. He is simply missing, his presence in the lab is very easily explained, and Illyria finds him before anyone knows she is looking for him. Bill Willingham’s big contribution to the Angel mythos seems to be keeping Angel out of pants.

That is not to say that Angel: Immortality For Dummies is bad. It’s not bad, it’s just ridiculously simple and a component of a much larger story. Lacking the other parts of that story, Angel: Immortality For Dummies holds up very poorly on its own. Fans of Angel might do better to pick up the whole Angel: The End hardcover as its price is now dropping.

For other Angel graphic novels leading up to and through Season Six, please visit my reviews of:
Smile Time
Not Fade Away
After The Fall Volume 1
After The Fall Volume 2 First Night
Spike: After The Fall
After The Fall Volume 3
Angel After The Fall Volume 4
Angel: Aftermath
Angel: Only Human

4.5/10

For other graphic novel reviews, please visit my Graphic Novel Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Limited And Cool, The Short Hair Cordelia Captures Cordelia Chase’s Transformation In Action Figure Form!

The Good: Great sculpt, Decent accessories, Good articulation, Collectible value
The Bad: Slight balance issue, Over accessorized, I’m not wild about being able to see so many joints.
The Basics: One of the most enduringly valuable Cordelia figures, the Short Hair Cordelia is bound to please Angel fans!


One of the last toys I picked up for my very small Cordelia Chase collection before my crush on the character (and actress Charisma Carpenter) effectively ended was the very limited edition Short Hair Cordelia from Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles. The figure was a Summer Show Special, but a dealer friend of mine had a surplus and I was able to get it for a song. Given that several of my Cordelia figures remain packed away, I am going by memory, but if memory serves, the Short Hair Cordelia was virtually identical to another Cordelia figure from the early Angel line, save with a different head.

But, between its value, the cool accessories, and the style of the figure, the Short Hair Cordelia is a worthy addition to anyone’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Angel figure collection!

Basics

Short Hair Cordelia is one of the exclusive action figures from the Angel figure line from Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles toys. This Cordelia get up was only in Angel and the figure comes boxed in an exclusive box with a small window, letting collectors know exactly what it is and how rare it is. She is a 5 7/8 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Cordelia Chase as she appeared in the second season of Angel when she cut her hair short.

The sculpt is an excellent one, capturing a wry look and subtle smile than some of the other Cordelia figures. The figure looks like Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, which is a step up from many of the earliest Cordelia figures, which looked more like Eliza Dushku as Faith than Carpenter's Cordelia. The Short Hair Cordelia is well-sculpted featuring Carpenter’s cheeks and nose detailed expertly. As for the body, the Short Hair Cordelia is wearing heels, a red tank top and black pants that, while flared at the bottom, resemble leather pants. The Short Hair Cordelia features detailing like molded fingernails and the button on the front of her pants. Her hair is also textured for greater realism.

As well, the coloring is realistic and well done. While the outfit is colored entirely in monotones, the skin has realistic depth and shading. Instead of being a monotonal peach color, it has some red and tan in it, so Cordelia looks pretty realistic. Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles also got Cordelia’s eyes right, so they are brown with tiny black pupils and they look as realistic as they can for an action figure. Even Cordelia’s fingernails are appropriately colored dark red or black!

Accessories

Cordelia comes with four basic accessories: a bag, an ax, a stake, and a flashlight. The bag is actually more detailed than the figure! In perfect proportion to the figure, the Short Hair Cordelia comes with a bag that can be slung over her shoulder and the strap is flexible enough to allow the bag to hang in a fashion that looks (mostly) realistic. The bag is detailed with straps and clasps that make it almost look like one could open the outer pouches! The bag is colored to look like distressed leather and its coloring detail is immaculate.

The least impressive accessory is Cordelia’s ax. The ax is a hand ax or very small battle ax with two blades. Measuring 1 15/16” tall with a head that is 3/4” wide, the battle ax is detailed well, like the bag. The handle is brown and black and detailed just enough to make it clear it is supposed to be wood. The head looks like steel and is colored gunmetal and black. The black ornamentation on the head is surprisingly intricate.

Arguably the most impressive accessory is Cordelia’s stake. The stake is a small, 3/4” pointed cylinder that looks like a sharpened wood stick and it looks neither simple nor out of proportion.

Finally, there is the flashlight. The Short Hair Cordelia’s flashlight is 1 5/16” long and very simple. The cylinder has one wider end, painted silver, that makes it clear that this is a flashlight and it looks good in Cordelia’s hand. In fact, all three of her primary accessories fit perfectly in either of her hands.

Playability

Short Hair Cordelia is a very problematic figure to balance. While her articulation gives her many options, her heeled boots require her to be contorted in a way that is very difficult to keep her standing. To alleviate the balance issues, Cordelia has holes in the front of her shoes that presumably fit in the pegs on stands and playsets for the Angel figures. Unfortunately, though, Short Hair Cordelia does not come with a stand and I know of no Angel playsets.

Short Hair Cordelia is also strengthened in posability by her impressive articulation. Cordelia is articulated at sixteen points: knees, thighs, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, biceps, wrists, waist and head. The elbows and knees have hinge joints, while all the rest are swivel joints. That gives Cordelia a great range of motion for a figure without any ball-and-socket joints.

Collectibility

The Short Hair Cordelia was a Clayburn Moore Action Collectibles exclusive figure and was strictly limited to 2000 pieces for the 2002 Summer Show circuit. This is actually one of the few Angel figures that has retained its value and if you can find one inexpensively, it may be a decent investment figure. Given, however, that the Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel phenomenon seems to have passed, it is hard to believe that the Short Hair Cordelia is not now at its peak price.

Overview

Fans of Cordelia Chase will enjoy the concept, execution and options presented by the Short Hair Cordelia, even if the price may be steep for some who see her only as an old figure with a new head.

This figure represents Cordelia as she appeared early in the second season of Angel, reviewed here!

For other Angel toys, please visit my reviews of:
“You’re Welcome” Cordelia
Puppet Spike doll
Pylean Princess Cordelia Chase

7.5/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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What Does A Dark Ancient Goddess Need With Swords? Illyria: The Action Figure!

The Good: Excellent sculpt, Generally decent posability, Good concept
The Bad: Hands do not hold accessories, Standing balance is off
The Basics: Illyria is a very cool character from Angel rendered well, if unbalanced, as an action figure for fans and collectors alike!


I write this review on the presumption that those reading it are fans of the television series Angel and know who Illyria is. If not, you might want to stop reading the review only for this reason; if you want to watch Angel and be surprised by one of the last twists in the series, this review is going to ruin it. Sorry. Can't be helped.

So, in all of my viewings and rewatchings of the fifth season of Angel, I've never had the heart to rewatch the episode "Shells." "Shells" is the second part of what seemed like it would be a two-parter in which Wesley, Gunn and Angel work feverishly to save Fred's life when she is struck down by a power they do not understand. And the thing is, when I first watched the episode, I figured it would be a last minute save and Fred would be all right. Well, as fans know, she wasn't; Fred is lost and replaced with the ancient Goddess Illyria. And the thing is "Shells" ends with a flashback of Fred leaving home and I know that the next time I see the episode, knowing that Fred is lost for good, that that'll probably be a tear-jerker.

When Diamond Select Toys came out with an action figure of Illyria, I was psyched.

Basics

Illyria is easily one of the most interesting and original action figures in the Angel action figure line from Diamond Select toys. Based on the character that was only in the latter half of the fifth season of Angel, Illyria is a figure of Fred transformed into the dark Goddess who possesses and alters her body.

Standing six and one-half inches tall, Illyria is a skinny, pleather-clad warrior woman with shoulder-length blue and black hair. With blue lips and a forehead discolored by the blue possession marks of Illyria, this is one cool looking action figure. Yes, Illyria looked pretty badass on television and in plastic, she's well-represented. Her maroon pleather outfit looks like it did on the show and the detailing on the arms, hands, and upper body is pretty impressive.

The sculpt is pretty incredible; the figure looks like Amy Acker as Illyria. The figure is so detailed that the nostrils are actually cavities and the fingers have defined fingernails under the gloves. It is actually astonishing how detailed the figure is and how much attention went into making it a very true representation of the character as she appeared on film.

Accessories

Illyria comes with a 2 1/2 inch battle ax and 4 1/4 inch long thin sword. As well, she comes with a snap-together base which represents a wall of an armory at Wolfram & Hart. The base is a 3 1/2 inch square plastic base that connects to a 6 3/4 inch tall wall segment that has another ax and sword attached to it. The sword and ax on the wall do not detach.

The base is a flat base, which makes some sense because there are not peg holes in Illyria's feet for her to attach to a base with.

Unfortunately as well, the right hand can hold both the ax and the sword, but the left is left open such that the ax cannot possibly be gripped by it. Moreover, in order for the hand to take the sword, it may only balance it in there, it cannot actually grip it. The result is that for either accessory, the left hand is difficult to use to give Illyria a two-weaponed pose. It makes one wonder why she was given two accessories if she could not possibly hang onto them both.

Poseability

Because Illyria does not have foot holes and corresponding pegs, posing Illyria is based entirely on balance. Despite having ten points of articulation, Illyria does not have incredibly posability and must be stood flatfooted if one wants to display her standing. Despite having knees that bend as well as groin socket and waist with articulation, it's virtually impossible to get Illyria to stay standing unless both of her feet are square on the base.

Moreover, while her elbows and biceps have articulation, the grip problem makes it difficult to pose the upper body with both accessories. Whatever is in the right hand can be easily controlled and made to look good, but with the sword in the left hand, Illyria is either left resting the sword on her head or shoulder or the sword balances precariously in her hand until a light breeze (or a nearby cat) knocks it over.

What is surprisingly posable is the head. Illyria has a ball-socket head, so the head swivels realistically up, down and to the sides. The hair is made of a more flexible, rubbery plastic and as a result, there is some tension in keeping the head up and it works wonderfully to have Illyria looking in other directions.

But it's virtually impossible to have a real action pose - especially with the accessories - for Illyria to use her as a display piece.

Playability

All of the articulation makes Illyria a decent toy for play, but one suspects those who would recognize Illyria enough to enjoy the figure would not be the type to actually play with it. The accessories are big enough to not be a swallowing hazard around young children or animals, but the sword could poke out an eye.

Collectibility

Diamond Select Toys made a good figure with Illyria and while she is not the most rare in the Fred line, she is also not the most common. As a result, Illyria is probably a good investment figure, if one holds onto her in mint condition long enough. As more and more people see through the end of Angel and appreciate the significance of Illyria, this figure will likely appreciate.

The figure was not, however, a limited edition figure, nor does it have any sort of individual number that would make it more collectible. In general, though, the most valuable collectibles are the ones that capture well the essence of the subject and Illyria looks great as an action figure!


Overview

Despite the posability problems, it's hard enough finding good figures of female characters in virtually any toy franchise. Illyria is part of my "Strong women of science fiction" toy line-up and she makes for an excellent addition. She looks good and any fan of Angel and the Buffyverse is likely to want to make this an addition to their collection!

Illyria appears solely in the fifth season of Angel, reviewed here!

For other Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel toys, please visit my reviews of:
"You're Welcome" Cordelia
Puppet Spike doll
Pylean Princess Cordelia Chase

6.5/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Is The Ultimate Cordelia The Ultimate Cordelia Figure? Yes, It Sure Is: "You're Welcome" Cordelia

The Good: Great sculpt, Decent accessories, Nice base
The Bad: Hmmm . . . Looking, none that I can find . . .
The Basics: Perhaps the best Cordelia figure made, this sculpt accurately captures her look from "You're Welcome" and will be coveted by fans!


So, I have a shelf of action figures in my kitchen that represents the strong women of science fiction and fantasy. Yup, there's my deep, dark geek secret for those checking me out in the virtual world. I'm an unabashed geek and I have a particular fondness for women who are presented in science fiction and fantasy as smart, resourceful, clever and strong. But not just any figures end up on that shelf. I'm pretty discriminating in what I consider a worthy figure for that shelf.

At least, that's what I thought until I brought someone to my inner sanctum and they asked, "What's with the Cordelia shelf?" Sigh, yeah, out of the ten figures currently on display on that shelf, five are plastic recreations of Cordelia Chase from Angel and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Perhaps the current highlight is from the newest set, the "You're Welcome" Cordelia.

Basics

"You're Welcome" Cordelia is one of the exclusive action figures from the Angel figure line from Diamond Select toys. This Cordelia get up was only in Angel, NOT Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the figure comes carded on the red Angel card. She is a 6 1/2 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Cordelia Chase as she appeared in the 100th episode of Angel, entitled "You're Welcome." This is the episode where Cordelia wakes from her coma with vital information for Angel and marks her final appearance in the series.

The sculpt is an excellent one, capturing a more determined look and subtle smile than some of the other Cordelia figures. The figure looks like Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, which is a step up from many of the earliest Cordelia figures, which looked more like Eliza Dushku as Faith than Carpenter's Cordelia. As strange as it may seem to say, they got Cordelia's lips right and that's a nice level of detail.

The detailing on the button down shirt is impressive and whomever designed the figure had a keen appreciation for physics. Yes, this is a realistically endowed Cordelia figure that has all the curves in all the right places. Yes, it's a good sculpt.

As well, the coloring is realistic and well done. The shirt has an impressive level of detail in the stripes and mine was perfectly painted. Moreover, the skin tones are well presented, even if they are uniformly colored.

Accessories

Cordelia comes with three basic accessories: the base with Wolfram & Hart secret room wall, a katana and a pile of books. All three items fit the figure well in that they are emblematic of items from the episodes that Cordelia was last seen in, especially the katana.

The wall is a decent plastic base that is a 3 1/2" square base that has a 7" wall behind it. This is essentially a recolored wall like the one that came with the Illyria figure, down to the weapons stuck to the wall. Despite the base not having any foot peg (there is no corresponding foot hole on the figure, so this makes perfect sense) it is a fine support piece that makes for a decent display stand.

The books/tape is an admittedly weak accessory given the lack of support play environments. The tape is a video of Doyle shown in the episode that nicely foreshadowed the end of the episode, but does nothing as an independent accessory. But the book and the tape fit the character and they will fit in one of Cordelia's hands if she is not holding anything else, so it's a fair wash.

The katana, though, is an awesome accessory and it is one of the few weapons to come with a Cordelia figure, making her a true action figure! This is a direct reference to the episode and the sword comes with its sheath. As someone who grew up on toys in the early 1980s, I remain constantly impressed by the level of detail on things like the scabbard, which has the appearance of a strap wrapped around it going up to the handle. The sword fits easily into Cordelia's hand and she looks good wielding it!

Playability

"You're Welcome" Cordelia is surprisingly well-balanced for a toy that rests on boots with heels! I suppose that's the benefit of wider feet (in comparison to the high heels on the Pylean Princess figure) and flat feet.

But "You're Welcome" Cordelia is also strengthened in posability by her impressive articulation. Cordelia is articulated at fourteen points: knees, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, biceps, wrists (one is cleverly hidden by the bracelet the sculpt possesses), waist and head. The head is kept on via a ball joint, so the figure's head can move with incredible articulation and range of motion.

Nothing prevents "You're Welcome" Cordelia from having an extreme range of leg motion, yet this figure is remarkably stable for displaying. Stand Pylean Princess Cordelia up and she remains standing! But moreover, she is balanced well enough that she does not need to be kept in the rigid, factory-approved stance!

It is not difficult to see how this Cordelia would be fun for play. Truth be told the Angel audience that is likely to purchase "You're Welcome" Cordelia is much more likely to leave the figure in the package (a shame given the quality of the sculpt) or set in on a shelf in a pose as a display piece than actually sit and try to play with it. But of all the Cordelia figures, this one is ideal for play between the articulation and accessories.

Collectibility

The "You're Welcome" Cordelia was a Diamond Select exclusive figure and was therefore mildly limited in comparison to other figures in the Angel line. The limited edition nature of the figure, in combination with the quality of the sculpt would seem to guarantee that it continues to appreciate over time, though currently it's still possible to find this figure for under $20. One suspects that should Carpenter be cast as Wonder Woman or have a similarly huge starring role on screen, that this particular figure would skyrocket in price.

Overview

Fans of Cordelia Chase will enjoy the concept, because this was Cordelia's final appearance and quality of the sculpt of "You're Welcome" Cordelia is impressive. Diamond Select Toys did the figure amazingly well and it is one that is bound to please fans, even if the general populace is unlikely to "get" the figure.

So yes, this might well be the best action figure representation of Cordelia Chase and a must-have for fans of the Buffyverse!

This figure represents Cordelia as she appeared in her lone appearance in Angel - The Complete Fifth Season, reviewed here!

For other Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel toys, please visit my reviews of:
Puppet Spike doll
Pylean Princess Cordelia Chase
“Fear Itself” Anya in bunny costume

10/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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