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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At Long Last . . . The Sideshow Collectibles Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure Arrives!

The Good: GREAT sculpt, Stable base, Collectible value
The Bad: Erratic paint job, Very fragile
The Basics: The Sideshow Collectibles Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure Statue is not the perfect Wonder Woman collectible one might hope for . . .


This has been turning into quite the Wonder Woman-centered month for me and, frankly, I am okay with that! After seven months of waiting, Sideshow Collectibles finally managed to get the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure released from the customs yard in California and ship them out to collectors. I was fortunate to be one of the people who snagged one of the limited release versions of the Premium Format Figure (which is, for all intents and purposes, a statue) and, in some ways, the delay and the ultimate release of the statue so late in its form, only added insult to (albeit minor) injury.

Sideshow Collectibles allow fans and collectors the ability to order their amazing collectibles (I was wowed from my first experience with their products, in the form of the Star Wars 1:6 scale Boushh doll, reviewed here!) via preorder, with a non-refundable deposit. Last year, when the Wonder Woman Premium Format figure was announced by Sideshow Toys, I was exceptionally excited. I've been waiting for Sideshow to make a 1:4 scale Wonder Woman and for them to tackle Wonder Woman at all. I was in a surprisingly good place financially when the deposit was required and so, I decided to invest. The seven month delay, alas, gave me enough time for my financial fortunes to change and for me to have to make the tough choice between forfeiting the deposit and having to spend money I no longer had. I went with the latter.

Alas, the figure is not perfect and issues with assembly, paint, and fragility make it feel less like an awesome investment or the prized collectible it ought to be. Fans who shell out $450 or more for a collectible statue have a good reason to be picky about the quality of their collectibles and for my money, I was shocked that the 1:6 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Spike statue I bought my wife for the winter holiday had more sculpted and painted details right than the 1:4 scale Wonder Woman!

Basics

The Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure statue presents Wonder Woman generally well. This version of Wonder Woman has the iconic DC super hero in her bustier outfit with the knee-high red boots, silver bracers, and golden tiara she is known for. This version of Wonder Woman has a pretty good balance between having defined muscles and feminine curves. Wonder Woman's legs are more smooth than muscular, but she has collarbones molded into the sculpt. Wonder Woman's back is fairly well-sculpted with decent musculature, but Wonder Woman's knee - especially the one for the straight leg - lacks realistic bone definition. The result is a sculpt that seems to prioritize stereotypical "sexy" qualities over the warrior aspects of the character. This Wonder Woman statue has the heroine standing on a base, looking much like the ruins of Themyscira, with one leg up on a fallen column, her left arm down and her right arm raised to the side so she can hold her spear behind her shoulder.

The statue, released in a limited and second-wave series (both are called "Premium Format Figure" and both are strictly limited, but the only real difference seems to be the numbering, the base and the presence of an alternate arm in the first-run version) from Sideshow Collectibles, is a real mixed bag in terms of the amount of sculpted details and has surprisingly erratic coloring. Measuring twenty-five inches tall, twenty-one inches wide and ten inches deep at its most extreme points, the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure statue is one of the few DC super hero-based statues released by Sideshow Collectibles in the 1:4 scale. The Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure Statue easily sold-out from Sideshow Collectibles, at least for the 3500-piece first run and is now only available in the secondary market.

The Sideshow Collectibles Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure statue is made of fairly durable polystone that has decent weight to it and painted plastic for the iconic Lasso Of Truth. The Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure's costume is colored in bright muted white, dark red and dark blue and metallic gold and silver (for her belt, bustier, and silver for the bracelets). This version of Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure has a subtle rendition of the eagle symbol on her bustline, instead of the more simply double-W symbol some of her costumes featured. The tiara is the gold color with the red star on the forehead underneath the long, bouncing black bangs. The sculpt of the hair, which makes it look like Wonder Woman's hair is blowing in the wind is well-sculpted. The detailing for the hair texture is extraordinary for a character that came from a two-dimensional reference.

Diana’s face is angular, without looking severe and in a similar fashion, the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure Statue did not create her with an over-the-top pair of breasts. Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure’s proportions are reasonable, but what impressed me in this regard is that the costume Wonder Woman is wearing looks sculpted on (as opposed to just painted). So, as crude as it may sound to analyze so clinically, looking down upon the statue, one can basically look down her top at the space between her breasts. Her back, however, has the gap filled in where the gap between her bustier and spine should be. The eagle emblem and belt are raised and look impressive for their armored appearance. The Lasso Of Truth is molded to the belt in a loop, as one might expect. and the sculpting details for the muscles on her back represent an impressive attention to detail.

As for the rest of the sculpt, detail-oriented people are likely to be a bit frustrated by the Sideshow Collectibles Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure. First, the Wonder Woman statue does not stand evenly on her base. The statue is rooted by the right foot; the left should rest on the fallen column on the base. The right foot has a metal rod which fits in a hole in the base and then the heel of the statue rests in a footprint in the ground on the base. Unfortunately, the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure falls a few millimeters shy of connecting with the left foot on the column! As a result, Wonder Woman is essentially balanced on her back foot and I can only hope that over the years, the weight of the statue will subtly bend the rod so the front foot comes to rest where it is supposed to. If it does that without cracking the statue's heel, I would be impressed.

Sideshow got a ton of the details right. The base is immaculate and looks like rocky ground and shattered columns. The helmet and sword attach to the base, thanks to small slots in the ground, include such incredible sculpted details like rivets on the helmet, what looks like a wrapped leather grip on the sword hilt, and stiff hair on the helmet's top. The shield has immaculate sculpted details, like the stars and the filigree border! Even the sculpted spear and the scraps of a banner hanging from it are incredibly molded and make the banner is blowing in the wind, the same direction as Wonder Woman's hair. Because Wonder Woman's hair comes detached from the statue, Sideshow was able to get the ears and nose molded absolutely perfectly. What the Premium Format Figure lacks are a number of the finer details. This version of Wonder Woman does not have detailed knuckles and the knees lack realism that the rest of the statue possesses.

On the coloring front, Wonder Woman is a mixed bag in this incarnation. Amazingly, the eyes and lips are perfectly rendered. Sideshow even made them appropriately glossy opposite the statue's matte skin and lack of shine to the costume. The colors are all right on the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure, but the level of detailing is not. The raised left boot has a paint job that features flecks of dirt, so this has a decent level of realism to it. But the fingernails are the same color as the figure's skin (a detail I was shocked Sideshow got wrong, when they managed to get that detail right on the smaller Spike statue!) and a number of the lines are not cleanly painted. The fingers on the ax and on the spear are painted so sloppily that they bleed onto the accessories! Similarly, the lines around Wonder Woman's bikini bottom, are far less clean on my statue. I also don't know of any Wonder Woman costume that features this bustier and has stars on the front of the bikini, but none on the back (the statue does not).

Features

As a Sideshow Collectibles statue, the Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure/Statue is only accented by the collector’s number on the bottom of the base and the alternate ax-wielding arm for the original version. The ax hand is beautifully-detailed and fits the statue perfectly. Swapping out the hands is easy neither arm looks worse when attached (I keep my statue with the shield arm because I feel that more embodies Wonder Woman than the ax).

As for the base, the bottom seems not quite a perfect fit for the statue, which is frustrating. Also frustrating in an inexplicable way is how the less-limited version is brightly colored on the bottom (albeit where no one will see it) than the more-limited version. The more limited version has better coloring depth than the less-limited version, so I suppose it is a wash.

Balance

As with all statues, the intent of the Sideshow Collectibles Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure statue is to be used as a decorative collectible and this is well-balanced at the base. But, because the statue itself does not connect at more than one point, the figure has a little bit of wobble to it when it is on my shelf. The display base is augmented with four rubber discs that keep is 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 Wonder Woman Premium Format Figure Statue was limited to 9,500 pieces (3500 in the first release, 6000 in the second). Each one is individually numbered on the bottom of the base (mine is 3080/3500!). These statues have already exploded in value and I suspect it will continue to appreciate, but not because of its quality.

In fact, I would predict that the value of the Wonder Woman Premium Format figure will only really appreciate as more people try moving it (or, in California, suffer the wrath of earthquakes!). My limited edition Wonder Woman arrived with a broken helm (the fine folks at Sideshow Collectibles have already sent a replacement!) and I was severely dismayed when unpacking the statue for a second time, I discovered the hair had broken in two places. The hair is made of the same, solid polystone as the rest of the statue (save the plastic Lasso Of Truth). I'm not sure why Sideshow used that as opposed to a silicon that was then solidly lacquered over to protect collectors from breakage, but they did not and the hair has a surprising number of finer points that can easily break off. It looks great, but the statue's fragility cannot be understated. Given how picky (I mean that in a good way; I am one of them!) collectors of such things are, one suspects as they (or those who attempt to clean them nicely and discover how fragile they are!) discover how the finer points of this statue are less flexible and more breakable than they initially appear, they will re-buy the statue and cause it to continue to appreciate in value. The danger, of course, is that sealed statues that might have broken parts that collectors do not discover until they open and assemble them (likely at a time when Sideshow no longer has the components to replace).

Overview

For more than $400, I find myself far less impressed than I wanted to be. That Wonder Woman does not actually stand on her base and I face likely breakage in the future, is very frustrating. Lack of detailing on key elements is equally frustrating. My wife posited an interesting theory to me; she suggested that Sideshow focused on getting the breasts, butt and legs (calves, boots and toning) right because that's where guys are going to be focused. Ironically, both she and I thought the miscolored and under-sculpted hands were a focal point as well (especially the one holding the spear). Anyway, her theory was that the broad strokes of the more feminine aspects will distract the wealthier male collectors who like Wonder Woman more for sexual fantasy than her heroic qualities. Her argument is that women who spend on collectibles are more demanding in their standards - hence Spike in the smaller scale being a higher-quality collectible than Wonder Woman in the larger scale - than men who will shell out for anything that turns them on.

It's hard for me to disagree with her on this point, though I find myself wondering if instead the problem is that Sideshow Collectibles is trying too hard to produce, as opposed to producing less and making them better. The Spike and Boushh were made years ago when Sideshow Collectibles had fewer licenses and exceptionally high standards. Did Sideshow rush Wonder Woman to release because it had been delayed so long in Customs that it wanted to get it out the moment it was released? Is that why Wonder Woman has the same colored fingernails as her skin (seriously, while I'm used to her having red nails, no one has the same color skin and fingernails, so that's a pretty obvious oversight!)? I'm not sure. All I know is that the statue is far more average than it is extraordinary and Wonder Woman and collectors of her merchandise deserved better.

For other Wonder Woman collectibles, please check out my reviews of:
DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Wonder Woman action figure
DC Direct Cover Girls Of The DC Universe Wonder Woman statue
2009 Wonder Woman Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

6/10

For other comic based toys and collectibles, please visit my Comic Book Toy Review Index Page!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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I Swear, It's Not Just Because It's Boushh That The Sideshow Boushh Is A Perfect Doll!

The Good: Amazing sculpt, Exceptional costume detailing, Great accessories, Wonderful posability and balance, Collectible value!
The Bad: None that I can find!
The Basics: An underappreciated bounty hunter, the Princess Leia as Boushh 1:6 scale doll from Sideshow Collectibles is absolutely incredible!


Despite how it might appear, given how I have been transferring over many of my favorable reviews, on the site I used to write for, I was known as something of a curmudgeon. I reviewed a lot of things and I went out of my way to experience things that I knew I would not necessarily like to challenge myself and bring balance to my reviews. So, it might seem odd that on the heels of my Original Trilogy Collection Princess Leia as Boushh figure review (available here!), I would so quickly review another perfect Boushh toy. But the truth is, my wife got me this doll for my recent birthday and I had to review it. I actually looked for faults in the 1:6 scale doll, but this is an exceptional doll and my wife and I spent two hours turning this doll upside down. This is an amazing doll. Thus far, I've only reviewed the 12" Lando Calrissian doll and the 12" Boba Fett doll before now in this blog and the Sideshow Collectibles 1:6 scale Boushh doll fits in nicely with them. It is the correct scale, but vastly more articulate and detailed than the Kenner/Hasbro equivalent.

For those unfamiliar with Princess Leia as Boushh, this is how Princess Leia entered Return Of The Jedi (click here for my review!). Disguised as a helmeted bounty hunter, Boushh sold Chewbacca to Jabba The Hutt, extorting him for a greater ransom using a thermal detonator. This oft-neglected bounty hunter earned the respect of Boba Fett and Jabba The Hutt before freeing Han Solo from his carbonite prison and getting captured, in the process revealing that she was Princess Leia in disguise.

The Sideshow Princess Leia as Boushh doll is an immaculate work that looks precisely like the subject and includes accessories that fit the character perfectly. This has quickly become one of the cornerstone pieces in my personal collection and I heartily recommend it to anyone who is building a 12" Star Wars doll collection.

Basics

Boushh is Princess Leia disguised a bounty hunter and she had about ten minutes of screentime in Return Of The Jedi. The figure stands 11 3/8" tall to the top of her human head, about 1/8" taller when her human head is replaced with the Boushh helmet. This makes perfect sense as Princess Leia was a little shorter than other characters and this 1:6 scale figure captures that well.

The 1:6 scale Princess Leia as Boushh doll features Princess Leia in the tan, brown and orange outfit that makes Boushh recognizable. She is clothed in actual cloth costuming, from her brown pants to her leather belt to the tan cape that she has slung over one shoulder. In fact, the only plastic on the costuming are Boushh's boots - which are cast in a matte finish plastic that makes them fit the tone of the rest of the outfit wonderfully - the breastplate and detailing like the spikes on Boushh's gloves!

The doll beneath is made of hard plastic and it was appropriately stiff coming out of the package, making it easy for the collector to post Boushh, but not so easy that she falls over from being too loose. The head and helmet are made of equally solid plastic and actually have some weight to them.

This doll is an immaculate sculpt, looking precisely like the Carrie Fisher did in her early scenes in Return Of The Jedi. The human head is slightly tanned and features subtle highlights to the hair. The detailing on Leia's face is so extraordinary that eyelashes are faintly painted on and the character's nostrils are cast into the figure. These details are so lifelike, I was tempted to do surgery on my Boushh doll to see if Sideshow Collectibles gave her lungs! Sideshow escapes the usual kvetching about skin tones be both getting the shin tones on the face right and covering every other inch of Boushh with clothing, making her inscrutable to her enemies!

What makes the figure so impressive and a distinct step up from the Kenner version of Boushh in the 12" line (other than getting the proportions and coloring right) is the level of detail. Sideshow Collectibles places a real emphasis on quality and Boushh's costume is colored to exhibit wear, so her light tan jacket is smudged with gray and brown to make it look like she has come through the dessert. This is not a clean-looking doll and that is perfect because the character didn't look clean in the movie!

Accessories

Princess Leia as Boushh, disguised as she is, comes loaded with accessories, four primary ones and six supplemental costume pieces. The six supplemental pieces are canisters and tubes. Why Sideshow Collectibles left these off the figure is a bit of a mystery to me, except that some of them go in back and that might have made the packaging more difficult. These accent pieces give Boushh more realism because the bounty hunter came loaded with equipment in the movie. Placing them on the figure - there are enough pictures of Boushh on the box to give obsessive collectors looking for a realistic placement scheme a fair chance at getting the placement right!

Boushh, like a good bounty hunter, comes with a weapon and in this case it is the staff that she was seen with in the film. The thirteen inch plastic staff (yes, it is taller than Boushh!) is not simply monotonally black. Instead, it has gunmetal accents at its top and at the stocklike base. The staff fits in either hand and has great coglike details on the head which make it a rival for detailing with the actual figure.

Boushh comes with her backpack as well. Detailed beautifully with Ubese writing on it, the backpack is essentially two large canisters connected by plates on the "front" (going into the character's back and backplate) and a tube on the back. This, too, is not monotonal and it features silver accents and fits the character wonderfully. The truth is, I thought the backpack was going to be a sticking point for the figure as I could not get mine to stay on Boushh. However, when I pushed the backpack until it clicked on, I had not problems getting it to stay! Gentle persistence makes the design of this accessory work.

The hardest to render accessory is arguably the thermal detonator. The thermal detonator is a textured sphere only about 3/8" in diameter. Sideshow got it right both by coloring it a dulled silver and by including the sliding switch needed to activate the device! Even if the switch is not slidable, the fact that it has that detailing supports this amazing toy.

Then there is the distinctive helmet. The Boushh helmet is so cool that Star Trek Deep Space Nine essentially stole it for the Breen helmets (or, as I like to suggest, it was an homage!). The Sideshow Princess Leia as Boushh doll features the orange helmet with the square visor top and it is so detailed that it has the little sensor on the side! As well, this is not colored uniformly to look like it is new. Instead, it is colored to show appropriate wear and fit the rest of the figure. Sideshow Collectibles was exceptionally smart about the helmet as well. It comes with a dummy neck which allows the doll to wear the helmet and retain articulation! So, instead of placing the helmet over the Leia head, one must actually pop that head off and replace it with the helmeted head! Very cool.

Boushh also comes with a doll stand that fully supports the doll and is an unobtrusive black that may be easily hidden underneath the doll's cape.

Playability

I don't know who plays with these twelve-inch figures. Most of us display the 12" dolls and the 1:6 scale Princess Leia as Boushh figure is designed for that. As far as displaying, though, there is much to recommend Boushh. First, Boushh is exceptionally well-balanced. Without her accessories, she may be stood in various poses and my wife even got her to balance well in a squatting, ready-to-fire position! That's great balance!

But what makes the Sideshow Collectibles doll absolutely bury the Kenner and Hasbro equivalents in the same scale is the articulation. This Leia doll has at least seventeen points of articulation, almost all of which are hinged ball and socket joints. So, while Boushh twists at the ankles, she has realistic range of motion at the groin sockets, waist, bust, shoulder, wrists, and neck and inhuman articulation at the knees and elbows (unless, of course, she were double-jointed or a contortionist)! What is so incredible about the articulation is that even the fingers have some articulation, so Boushh can hold the thermal detonator in her left hand!

Collectibility

Boushh is part of a very rare line of Heroes Of The Rebellion dolls from Sideshow Collectibles. I do not have the exact production numbers, but this 2007 doll is exceptionally hard to find on the secondary market. Her packaging is an excellent display box with magnetic openings which allows the collector to see exactly what they are getting beforehand. That, however, is likely only to make one covet it more.

Despite the Princess Leia as Boushh doll fluctuating in price recently, the Sideshow Collectibles dolls tend to retain and grow their value quite well, largely because the craftsmanship of the dolls is so incredible. Boushh is a great investment for anyone who loves the original Star Wars trilogy or Star Wars bounty hunters.

Overview

There is nothing that isn't incredible about the Sideshow Boushh doll and she is enough to make those who might be squeamish about starting a science fiction doll collection get over their qualms. This is an exceptional work of craftsmanship, has great balance and (for those who would want to) playability, as well as collectible value. It is a winner in every way and I am fortunate to have a wife who had the resources and eagerness to add this to my collection!

For other dolls and Star Wars figures reviewed by me, please check out my reviews of:
Hot Toys The Dark Knight 1:6 Scale Two-Face Doll
Twilight Edward Cullen Barbie doll
Shadows Of The Empire Swoop Vehicle

10/10

For other toy reviews, please be sure to check out my index page by clicking here!

© 2010, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Despite One Hand, The Dark Knight Two-Face Doll From Hot Toys Is Perfect!

The Good: Amazing sculpt, Great accessories, Great collectible value, Wonderful balance/articulation
The Bad: Left hand is not scarred.
The Basics: A masterful work, the Harvey Dent / Two-Face 12” doll from Hot Toys is an amazing recreation of the character from The Dark Knight!


It might seem odd, so long after the "phenomenon" has passed to be reviewing merchandise based on a movie that was out two summers ago. However, the best cult films retain a level of intrigue in the mind of viewers for years and some even grow on their audience. In the case of The Dark Knight (click here for my review!), some of the very best merchandise is coming out now, two years later and arguably one of the very best products is the Hot Toys Two-Face 12” doll.

I have long argued that Aaron Eckhart was largely overlooked for his fine performance in The Dark Knight. As Harvey Dent and Two-Face, Eckhart showed great range and made for an incredibly compelling character (or two!). For those who share my enthusiastic view of Aaron Eckhart and his underrated performance, there is the Hot Toys 12” Two-Face toy which is a masterwork of sculpting and articulation and so close to perfect that I could not downrate it for its lone flaw.

Basics

The Hot Toys Two-Face figure is a 12” figure that is sculpted to be perfectly in the 1:6 scale and it is truly an impressive doll. The doll is molded to look exactly like Aaron Eckhart as both Harvey Dent and Two-Face. As such, the figure comes with two very different heads, just as it comes with two of just about everything in the box. The figure comes with two different heads, two of each hand, and two different suit coats. The figure is intended to be used to transform from Harvey Dent into Two-Face and the toy holds up quite well for exactly that purpose.

The sculpting is amazing on each of the heads. On the Harvey Dent head, the face looks exactly like Aaron Eckhart, down to the beginning of his trademark smirk on his lips. The hair is well-molded to have shading and texture to it, so it does not look like a helmet or a Ken doll. As for the Two-Face head (which may simply be popped on after one pulls off the Harvey Dent head), this is an equally exceptional work. The face features half of Aaron Eckhart’s face and the other half is a grotesquely scarred visage that is creepy and incredibly accurate to the character. What is most impressive about the scarred Two-Face head is that it features Two-Face’s eyeball hanging out at an almost impossible amount, just like the scenes in the movie did! The full roundness of the eyeball is enough to make one shudder and Hot Toys did an amazing job on the sculpt. The teeth and melted back cheeks are immaculately molded and painted, so this head looks absolutely realistic.

The detailing on the rest of the figure is equally good, save one thing. The hands are so well-presented that they feature knuckles and fingernails molded onto the fingers. However, Two-Face’s left hand ought to be terribly scarred and burned and neither of the left hands are. While there are hands designed to hold the pistol and one that holds the tiny, extraordinarily-detailed coin that Two-Face comes with, neither left hand is appropriately detailed with the gruesome burns the character has on his face.

That said, Two-Face comes with both a clean and burned suit. The coat is interchangeable and as a result, when one makes Harvey Dent into a Two-Face, they may change his jacket so he is appropriately damaged. The result is very cool and makes the doll truly special. All of the costume pieces are cloth, so this doll has a very realistic texture and look over his plastic body. With his suit coat, slacks, white shirt and tie, Harvey Dent looks like a district attorney like he is supposed to. And with the burned coat and head, he looks frightening as Two-Face!

Accessories

The Hot Toys Two-Face figure comes with (depending upon the perspective) three or seven accessories plus the stand. I tend to fall in with the idea that the interchangeable body parts and suit coat are part of the primary doll and go with the idea that Two-Face has three accessories: his coin, his button and his pistol.

The coin is so small it is not even a choking hazard. Harvey Dent carried a double-heads quarter and this figure comes with two of them. They are about 1/8” in diameter and they fit into one of Two-Face’s hands, which is impressive in its own right.

Harvey Dent also comes with a tiny red, white and blue “I Believe In Harvey Dent” button that may be stuck on his lapel!

Two-Face also comes with a pistol and the gun is 1” long, appropriately gunmetal color and fits his alternate right hand perfectly. The realism even of the little gun illustrates an attention to detail most toy companies should be envious of. That the gun even opens is incredible.

Two-Face also comes with a stand because he is essentially a doll. The doll stand is 4” in diameter and has the traditional support one may attach to Harvey Dent’s back. So attached, Two-Face is untippable.

Playability

Who would play with this doll?! This is clearly intended to be a display piece with its accuracy and the expense of the doll. But, for those who get to play with dolls that start in the $100 range, this doll is exceptionally cool for play. First, it has great balance. Standing flatfooted in his fancy shoes, Harvey Dent is an upstanding citizen.

But where Hot Toys truly rocks is with the articulation. The doll has tight enough joints that he does not tip over and most of the joints move with realistic motions, not just on simple swivel joints. Two-Face is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, groin socket, knees, biceps, forearms, and ankles. There is no way I have yet found to pose Two-Face where he does not look realistic or cannot be posed. With his stand, he may be posed in even outlandish poses and still be displayed well.

Collectibility

The Hot Toys makes quality dolls, so this Two-Face doll is already being gobbled up on the secondary market. Because this was a worldwide release and a limited edition (though I’ve been unable to get a firm number on just how limited this was) it is rapidly becoming harder to find in the secondary market. But because Hot Toys did such a good job, it is creating a demand where none existed before: those who were content with just the Joker and Batman from The Dark Knight are finding this doll indispensible and buying them up to complete their collections. As such, it has all the makings of a strong investment piece. And as people rewatch The Dark Knight and are blown away by Eckhart’s performance, one suspects that value will continue to appreciate.

Overview

Sideshow Toys has a real competitor with Hot Toys and with my first experience with Hot Toys, the Two-Face doll is overwhelmingly positive. Anyone who loves collecting dolls from popular films will find this is a great representation from The Dark Knight that will enhance any collection!

For other dolls and superhero action figures, please check out my reviews of:
Wonder Woman Diana Prince action figure
12” Lando Calrissian doll
1999 Justice League Wonder Woman figure

10/10

For other toy reviews, please check out my index page!


© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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