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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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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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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A Brilliant Concept Figure Keeps My Wife Happy: Angel Spike Puppet Plush Rocks!

The Good: Great construction, Fun concept, Limited edition nature
The Bad: Expensive
The Basics: Cute, well-detailed and clever for the concept, the Spike Puppet doll from Diamond Select Toys is a pricey addition to anyone’s Spike collection!


Concept figures are nothing new to collectors of toys. For some reason action figures seem to be a medium where artists may express theoretical possibilities only hinted at in the native medium – book, television or film – and have the idea be well-received. I suppose the idea is that if you’re enough of a fan to collect toys for a series anyway, odds are you’ll want all you can get your hands on. Ironically, in the case of the Spike Puppet plush doll, the puppet preceded the writing about the character. As a result, fans of the “Buffyverse” might be surprised by the quality of the Diamond Select 21” Spike Puppet doll.

Others, more casual fans and those who are not fans of Angel, are likely to be bewildered by even the concept of a Spike Puppet doll. In the fifth season of Angel (reviewed here!), there was a very popular episode called “Smile Time.” In that episode, a demon turned Angel into a, as Spike called him, “wee little puppet man.” Angel was essentially transformed into a muppet. What the packaging of the Spike Puppet doll asks fans to consider is “What if Spike had been transformed instead?” This question forms the basis for the Spike Puppet doll and was actually the subject of the graphic novel Shadow Puppets (reviewed here!)

Basics

Cashing in on the popularity of the Angel dolls that Diamond Select Toys created to mimic the puppet Angel from “Smile Time” (including an Angel Puppet, Vampire Angel Puppet and Wounded Angel Puppet dolls), Diamond Select decided to toy with arguably the most popular character in the Buffyverse by making a concept doll of the Spike Puppet. Following the production design of the Angel Puppet, the Spike Puppet arrives as a giant plush collectible intended for the die-hard fans and those who gush over Spike.

The Spike Puppet is a 19 ½” tall felt and leather creation that looks and feels like what one might expect a muppet to. It features the leather coat and leather boots (not slip resistant!) that are trademark to the character and they look amazing. If Spike were a puppet, this is how he would appear, with his slightly purple felt skin, cartoon eyes and only four fingers, the master toymakers at Diamond Select Toys really nailed the concept on this one. Of course, the puppet is not anatomically correct – my partner checked – but it is very much the style of the “Smile Time” Angel and looks just like the Puppet Spike from “Shadow Puppets.”

What the Spike Puppet in the box fails to wow many collectors with is the hair. Spike is known for his bleached blonde hair and in virtually every box of these puppets I have seen, the fur-like hair is going every which way (like some twisted Don King puppet!). But out of the box, that hair may be brushed back and the result is that Spike looks extraordinary and perfectly like what one would expect if James Marsters’s character were made into a muppet! In fact, one wonders where the cigarette for the puppet is!


Accessories

Despite the toy being marketed toward adults and serious collectors only, the Spike Puppet does not come with a plush cigarette. Instead, he comes with nothing. The jacket is removable, but the boots are not (I discovered this the hard way) and the Spike Puppet has only his wits to rely upon for fighting demons . . . or dust.

Playability

Because the Spike Puppet is intended for collectors, it is more at home on a doll stand than in the hands of anyone who might play with it. While it is cute and snuggly (my wife has already asked if she can bring this pricey doll to bed . . . grumble), it does not do much of anything. It does not stand up on its own. The Spike Puppet falls over if one tries to stand it up without the aid of a hand, wall or doll stand. And the Spike Puppet lacks any way to actually use the doll as an actual puppet. No, there are no points of entry by which fans may place their hands inside Spike and use him as a ventriloquist prop.

The baffling aspect of this is in Spike Puppet’s mouth. The Spike Puppet has a magnetized mouth so it may close its mouth and keep it closed. This seems especially smart if one has a way to articulate the doll from inside, but because there is no place to put the hand inside this stuffed Spike, collectors must manually close Spike’s mouth and that just seems weird then that the one real posing option would be “open mouth” or “closed mouth!”

Collectibility

Diamond Select Toys has a way of making very collectible toys and the Spike Puppet is strictly limited to 5000 pieces, as is evidenced by a certificate of authenticity within the package (my wife’s Spike Puppet is #4919/5000, for example). Diamond Select Toys made only one batch of these, which is why they continue to appreciate at very fast rates. When I purchased the doll for my wife in February (2009) the price was in the $50 - $75 range. Now, these cannot be found for less than $200, when they may be found at all. Fans continue to hunt these and they seem to like the concept enough to keep paying the increased prices. As a result, this is a great investment piece and all indicators point to the idea that it will continue to be for the foreseeable future!

Overview

The Spike Puppet may be expensive, but those who love the character of Spike from Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel and are the type who would go to a convention to scream of their adoration of James Marsters are likely to love this toy. I know my partner does!

For other Buffyverse toys, please be sure to check out my reviews of:
Pylean Princess Cordelia
"Fear Itself" Anya
Anya from Season 5

9/10

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

© 2011, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The OTHER Woman In The Metal Bikini Top: Pylean Princess Cordelia

The Good: Interesting sculpt, Generally good posability, Decent base
The Bad: Light on articulation, mediocre accessories, Coloring
The Basics: The sexy Cordelia Chase is immortalized in plastic as the Pylean Princess Cordelia in her metal bikini that looks good, even if the colors are off.


There was a period of time that I worked in the toy department of a mall department store and I actually enjoyed the job quite a bit. I was given dominion over the toy department and that left me with enough time and authority to do my own thing. Believe it or not, I take no small delight in setting things to order. So being able to organize a whole toy department actually left me feeling very satisfied in that respect of my life. I also delighted in jerking around customers with a frequency that would have made me the envy of Dante from Clerks (reviewed here!). I happened to have the job in the toy department when the Star Wars: Special Edition films were hitting theaters and the Power Of The Force action figure line was being upgraded to support the cinematic surge. So, when a customer came into my toy department and kept asking about the figure of Princess Leia from Return Of The Jedi (reviewed here!), I knew exactly which figure he was talking about. But, until he either said "Slave Leia" or "Leia in the metal bikini," I just played dumb, like I didn't know which figure he was hunting for. And even when he said the words "metal bikini" and I got to watch him squirm, I just couldn't seem to find him one. Yeah, I was a jerk to that guy, but it was real fun at the time. It certainly made the day pass.

I suppose there will come a time that will mark the change in generations based on the cultural allusions to characters in metal bikinis. For people who grew up in the '80s, it was definitely Princess Leia in Return Of The Jedi that defined the metal bikini thing. I can only imagine that those hitting the teen years in the early 2000s, it'll be Angel that is referenced when metal bikinis are mentioned. Because at the end of the second season of that series, Cordelia ends up in Pylea and her costume is a metal bikini, in many ways like the once Princess Leia was compelled to wear.

Basics

Pylean Princess Cordelia is one of the exclusive action figures from the Angel figure line from Diamond Select toys.The Pylean Princess 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 final episodes of the second season of Angel, when she was transported to Lorne's dimension of Pylea.

The sculpt is a good one, and despite the somewhat forced and toothy smile, the figure looks like Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase. As strange as it may seem to say, they got Cordelia's lips right and that's a nice level of detail. Cordelia is featured wearing her metal bikini top, complete with the draping fabric off the back and the double-slit skirt that hung low on her hips. Yes, it's a good sculpt.

The first problem with it, though, is the coloring. In the episodes the outfit was featured in, the metal bikini is gold. The action figure is adorned in a gray that is what passes for silver on most action figures. It is, most assuredly, not gold, though.

Accessories

Cordelia comes with three basic accessories: the base with Pylean wall, a scroll and a covered platter of grapes. All three items fit the figure well in that they are emblematic of items from the episodes that Cordelia was a princess in.

The wall is a decent plastic base that is a 3 1/2" square base that has a 7" wall behind it. The wall has a Pylean tapestry and while it is a simple red and gold banner, the level of detail with the gold paintjob is quite decent. The base does not have foot pegs, but this is all right as the Pylean Princess Cordelia is wearing high heels and does not have a hole for support pegs to go into anyway.

The scroll is an admittedly weak accessory as the scroll is rolled up, so it looks like a hot dog in Cordelia's hand. The figure comes with the scroll in her hand, attached with tiny clear rubber bands and without them, the scroll will fall out. This is not the most exciting accessory ever and without knowing it is a rolled up scroll, it's easy to see how a collector's mind would make it into something more.

The platter of grapes is a weird accessory and is a direct reference to the first moments Cordelia is seen as an honored sage in Pylea. She is on a throne, eating green grapes. The detail work on the platter and the grapes is impressive and it is surprising that the green grapes have absolutely no color bleed onto the silver platter. What is impressive is that when not holding the scroll, the Pylean Princess Cordelia can hold the tray using the tray's handles!

Truth be told, I think I would have been more impressed had Diamond Select included a throne for Cordelia instead. All things considered, though, the accessories capture well the brief moments of Cordelia as the Pylean Princess character.

Playability

Pylean Princess Cordelia is surprisingly balanced for a toy that rests on high heels! The plastic panels that come off her back that represent the draping fabric over her back helps to counterbalance her, it seems.

But Pylean Princess Cordelia is also strengthened in posability by her limited articulation. Cordelia is articulated at only eleven points: knees, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, wrists (cleverly hidden by the bracelets the sculpt possesses, 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.

The skirt prevents Pylean Princess Cordelia from having an extreme range of leg motion, but this actually makes the figure remarkably stable for displaying. Stand Pylean Princess Cordelia up and she remains standing!

It is, however, difficult to see how this Cordelia would be fun for play. Truth be told the Angel audience that is likely to purchase Pylean Princess 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. The regal princess - unlike the Cordelia of Angel - acts more as a support piece than a battle action figure.


Collectibility

The Pylean Princess Cordelia was a PX Preview figure and was therefore more limited than many of the figures in the Angel line. Hey, it's a Hollywood beautiful woman sculpted in a popular metal bikini! Of course the value would continue to go up! This is one of the most stable and consistent figures that has been appreciating in value in the Angel line. Between its subject matter and its limited edition nature, it is a decent investment figure, though one suspects it will stay at its current secondary market price of approximately $25 for a few years.

Overview

Fans of Cordelia Chase will enjoy the concept and quality of the sculpt of Pylean Princess Cordelia as they have had to suffer through terrible sculpts that look more like Faith than Cordelia from other toy companies. Diamond Select Toys did the figure generally well and it is one that is bound to please fans, even if the general populace is unlikely to "get" the figure.

Then again, it is a woman in a metal bikini; not much to get here!

This figure represents Cordelia as she appeared at the end of Angel - The Second Season, reviewed here!

For other Buffy, Angel, and fantasy figures, be sure to check out my reviews of:
"Fear Itself" Anya
Season Five Anya
Twilight Edward Cullen "Barbie" doll

6.5/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my index page on the subject!

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

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Everybody's Favorite Anya! "Fear Itself Anya" From Series 4!

The Good: Bunny suit! Interesting sculpt, Generally good poseability, Decent base
The Bad: Light on articulation (terrible head articulation), mediocre accessories, Balance issues, Recycled figure!
The Basics: Hardly the most playable or pliable figure, the kitsch factor makes Anya in her bunny outfit a real must-have toy!


Every now and then toy manufacturers truly get something completely right. Diamond Select Toys Buffy The Vampire Slayer toy line has a lot of near misses for really right, even perfect, toys. The standout of the Buffy The Vampire Slayer toy line would have to be the "Fear Itself Anya" from the Series 4 Anya toyline. It doesn't matter how bad the initial sculpt is, Anya in her bunny outfit makes for a great toy!

Utilizing a body of Season Five Anya - despite the fact that "Fear Itself" was a season four episode - the figure attempts to capture who Anya was in the final moments of the episode "Fear Itself" when she comically arrived in a fluffy bunny costume as a representation of something scary. The whole figure is an inside joke and it's a good one.

Basics

Fear Itself Anya is one of the exclusive -released via Previews - action figures from the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Series 4 figure line from Diamond Select toys. She is a 5 3/4 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Anya the ex-vengeance demon as she appeared in the fifth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Yes, the basic action figure is the Season Five Anya (reviewed here!).

The sculpt is a tough one to evaluate, though. First, the figure does not scream "Anya," save the packaging. If the figure were standing by itself in the blue jeans and ruffled tube top somewhere, I would be at a loss to place it. The face is very angular and it does not honestly look like Anya. This might be because the sculpt of the hair is flattened on the sides and it frames the face in a very awkward way. It almost looks like Anya's hair was wet and flattened out instead of having the bounce and buoyancy the actual hair did on the show.

Also, the figure is disturbingly thin and this gives Anya more of a scarecrow/stickfigure feel to her than she had in reality on the show.

Outside that, the detailing looks good. Diamond Select Toys has a way of capturing details with a realism that is wonderful and the the recycled Season Five Anya is no exception: The fingernails are carefully sculpted, the feet are visible in the sandals with matching toenail polish and the detailing on the jeans is great. One might be disturbed by the detailing on the bust of the Season Five Anya, though; the stick-figure Anya is well endowed and the detailing on the plastic clothing holding back her bosom looks like it is stretched to the breaking point and it lacks - for want of a better term - realistic lines of force. Fortunately, the primary accessory for this figure makes that a moot point.

The other problem with it, though, is the coloring. Anya's hair is presented as a flat brown that it never was in reality and the skin tones make Anya seem much more tanned than she appeared on the show. So, basically, the fundamental problem is that Anya does not look like a recognizable incarnation of the character in any real way.

Accessories

What makes "Fear Itself Anya" "Fear Itself Anya" is the primary accessory; the bunny costume! The fluffy suit comes in two pieces; the main body and the hat with the ears. The bunny suit slips over the Anya figure with minimal tugging and prodding. This is a good way to loosen up the figure's joints, though.

The hat piece with the bunny ears slips on over the head just fine, but it is a real trick to tie the bow underneath the head so it stays on without the ribbon slipping and becoming a knot. "Fear Itself" Anya, so accoutered, is a joke and she's cute and funny. And after minutes of struggling against the joints to make this happen (the last time I had to dress one of these figures up, I tore out her elbow!) collectors and fans will be ready for a good joke.

Anya comes with two other basic accessories: the base and a little plastic bunny! Also, around the figure's neck is the necklace bearing the amulet used to endow Anya with her wish-granting powers. The necklace does not come off her and this seems odd as she did not have the amulet any longer by the fourth season. The other items fit the figure well in that they are emblematic of items from the episodes that Anya appeared in. They are not exciting accessories, though.

The base is a decent plastic base that is 4 1/2" inches in diameter and represents the floor of the Magic Box. The base has a foot peg and the peg which fits easily into Anya's right foot, providing ample support for the figure. There's only ne problem: in the bunny costume, Anya's foot is no longer exposed. As a result the peg cannot possibly fit into her foot! Thus, "Fear Itself" Anya falls over an awful lot.

The little plastic bunny is cute and one imagines Anya screaming at the site of it. It does not do much, though.

Playability

"Fear Itself" Anya is generally well balanced, though the toy does not allow for much of a range of motion to stay balanced. In the bunny costume, Anya must remain flat footed and the way the costume hugs the character severely limits Anya's poseability.

Anya is hampered in poseability by her limited articulation, both before and after being put in the bunny costume. Anya is articulated at only ten points: knees, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, 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. Or, at least, that's the theory. I've gone through one Season Five Anya and one "Fear Itself Anya" which share the same basic figure because the head has not been articulated. Turning the head tears it right off (this is also the only way to get the amulet from around Anya's neck, it appears!

With the bunny costume on, "Fear Itself" Anya pretty much just raises her arms and puts them down as far as poseability goes.

It is difficult, then, to see how this Anya would be fun for play. Truth be told the Buffy The Vampire Slayer audience that is likely to purchase "Fear Itself" Anya is much more likely to leave the figure in the package or set in on a shelf in a pose as a display piece than actually sit and try to play with it. The economically motivated Anya acts more as a support piece than a battle action figure.

Collectibility

"Fear Itself" Anya is limited edition and fans have pretty much gobbled her up, driving the price of the figure up! Consumer interest in this Anya figure has been high, due in part to the popularity of the moment and recurring theme she represents with the bunny suit. Collectors are lucky to find this figure in the $25 range and it has pretty steadily been going up in value.

The Previews Exclusive "Fear Itself" Anya makes for a worthwhile collectible for fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer!


Overview

Fans of Anya and Emma Caulfield will likely be disappointed by the sculpt, but happy to cover up that poor showing by putting her in her bunny costume. The limited articulation and inability to get the figure to stand on the base using the peg are disappointing oversights, but it is doubtful that would keep fans from adding this figure to their collections!
.
This figure represents Anya as she appeared at in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer - The Fourth Season, reviewed here!

For other action figures, be sure to check out my reviews of:
Blackest Night Nekron
Watchmen Dr. Manhattan
The Lord Of The Rings Galadriel Entranced

7/10

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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Oh Anya, Why Are There So Many Of You Left Upon The Shelves?

The Good: Interesting sculpt, Generally good poseability, Decent base
The Bad: Light on articulation (terrible head articulation), mediocre accessories, Coloring/likeness issues
The Basics: An overproduced and poor likeness of Anya undermines one of the essential characters in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer toy line.


The problem with some toy lines is that when they start, sometimes the makers do not truly consider where they will be going. As a result, some companies either recycle the same primary characters over ad nauseam or they are left with attempting to recreate all of the principle characters, a task which is sometimes harder than others. With the Buffy The Vampire Slayer line of action figures from Diamond Select Toys, it did not take long before the company was forced to choose between following the former option or going for the latter one. By the time the company got to the Anya and Tara wave of figures, collectors had to be feeling both like it was overdue that Anya be represented (she was in four and a half seasons of the popular television series) and like the toys were somehow scraping the bottom of the barrel; Tara, for all her popularity, was only a credited cast member for a single episode and there seem to be a pretty limited selection of ideas for what figures either character could be represented as.

Enter Season Five Anya, a figure that attempts to capture who Anya was in the fifth season, after she got a haircut and joined Giles at working at the Magic Box. The problem is, for all of Emma Caulfield's photogenic qualities, she appears to be very much a challenge for Diamond Select Toys to cast and color as Anya, at least for the Season Five Anya.

Basics

Season Five is one of the general release action figures from the Buffy The Vampire Slayer figure line from Diamond Select toys. She is a 5 3/4 inch tall action figure featuring a sculpt of Anya the ex-vengeance demon as she appeared in the fifth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, though the figure does not reference a specific episode that she is intended to embody. I'll be watching extra close for the outfit when I rewatch the series the next time, though!

The sculpt is a tough one to evaluate, though. First, the figure does not scream "Anya," save the packaging. If the figure were standing by itself in the blue jeans and ruffled tube top somewhere, I would be at a loss to place it. The face is very angular and it does not honestly look like Anya. This might be because the sculpt of the hair is flattened on the sides and it frames the face in a very awkward way. It almost looks like Anya's hair was wet and flattened out instead of having the bounce and buoyancy the actual hair did on the show.

Also, the figure is disturbingly thin and this gives Anya more of a scarecrow/stickfigure feel to her than she had in reality on the show.

Outside that, the detailing looks good. Diamond Select Toys has a way of capturing details with a realism that is wonderful and the Season Five Anya is no exception: The fingernails are carefully sculpted, the feet are visible in the sandals with matching toenail polish and the detailing on the jeans is great. One might be disturbed by the detailing on the bust of the Season Five Anya, though; the stick-figure Anya is well endowed and the detailing on the plastic clothing holding back her bosom looks like it is stretched to the breaking point and it lacks - for want of a better term - realistic lines of force.

The other problem with it, though, is the coloring. Anya's hair is presented as a flat brown that it never was in reality and the skin tones make Anya seem much more tanned than she appeared on the show. So, basically, the fundamental problem is that Anya does not look like a recognizable incarnation of the character in any real way.

Accessories

Anya comes with four basic accessories: the base, the counter from the Magic Box, the cash register and a clipboard. Also, around the figure's neck is the necklace bearing the amulet used to endow Anya with her wish-granting powers. The necklace does not come off her and this seems odd as she did not have the amulet any longer in the fifth season. The other four items fit the figure well in that they are emblematic of items from the episodes that Anya appeared in. They are not exciting accessories, though.

The base is a decent plastic base that is 4 1/2" inches in diameter and represents the floor of the Magic Box. The cashier's counter sets nicely atop it. The base has a foot peg and the peg fits easily into Anya's right foot, providing ample support for the figure.

The cash register is an admittedly weak accessory as it cannot be held by Anya, though it is very emblematic of a key character trait of Anya; she loves money. This makes Anya into more of an inaction figure or a cerebral figure where the purpose is for the fan to contemplate character as opposed to genuinely play with her in the same context as the other figures in the line.

The clipboard rounds out the accessories with a "meh" feeling. What is impressive is that Season Five Anya was made without a strong ability to hold the clipboard! The left hand of the figure is molded closed, the right hand has all the fingers extended, making it basically a balancing chore to keep the clipboard in her hand.!


Playability

Season Five Anya is generally well balanced, though the toy does not allow for much of a range of motion to stay balanced. Fortunately, with the foot peg in the base, the figure can be easily attached to allow for poses using the left foot in something other than a flatfooted position.

Anya is also strengthened in poseability by her limited articulation. Anya is articulated at only ten points: knees, groin joint, shoulders, elbows, 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. Or, at least, that's the theory. I've gone through one Season Five Anya and one "Fear Itself" Anya which share the same basic figure because the head has not been articulated. Turning the head tears it right off (this is also the only way to get the amulet from around Anya's neck, it appears!

It is, however, difficult to see how this Anya would be fun for play. Truth be told the Buffy The Vampire Slayer audience that is likely to purchase Season Five Anya is much more likely to leave the figure in the package or set in on a shelf in a pose as a display piece than actually sit and try to play with it. The economically motivated Anya acts more as a support piece than a battle action figure.

Collectibility

Season Five Anya would be a pegwarmer if only stores had bothered carrying the figure on the shelves! Consumer interest in this figure has been low, due in part to the obscurity and esoteric nature of the character, part because of the bland and poor sculpt. Collectors can generally find this Anya cheap as she was the most-produced Anya figure made. Of course collector/investors will have to seriously ask themselves if they honestly believe the figure will appreciate in value over the years, but the current guess is "no." It likely will not.

Overview

Fans of Anya and Emma Caulfield will likely be disappointed by this sculpt who could just as easily appear to be a background extra from Veronica Mars. The limited articulation and lame accessories further diminish the figure and make it one that is easy to pass on.

This figure represents Anya as she appeared at in Buffy The Vampire Slayer - The Fifth Season, reviewed here!

For other media-related action figures, please be sure to check out my reviews of:
Power Of The Foce Zuckuss
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Hunter Of The Tosk
Watchmen Exclusive Walter Kovacs variant figure

4/10

For other action figure and toy reviews, be sure to visit my index page by clicking here!

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

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