Review of Balrog - Deluxe Edition
DeFo-Real vinyl figure

Introduction

A new line of vinyl figures hit the market in 2019 - Defo-Real, from Star Ace. The name is appropriate, because while they follow the 'deformed' style, they are also extremely realistic thanks to the amazing paint and sculpt. They've covered a number of unusual licenses, from science fiction (2001) to fantasy (LOTR) to horror (Jason and Pennywise) in a fairly short period of time. When I reviewed their Nazgul, I mentioned that I really, really wanted them to add additional Lord of the Rings and Hobbit figures to the line up, and they did - the Balrog.

This guy comes in two versions, a regular (which will run you around $80 or so) and a deluxe (closer to $100). I'm covering the deluxe tonight, which includes a small Gandalf figure and lava base - more on that in the Accessories section. What you see in the photo below is what you'd get with the regular release.

Packaging - ***
The box works well, and shows off the figure with a large corner window. Inside there is a nice backer card with appropriate artwork, and it's all collector friendly. There's an instruction sheet, but it simply tells you the difference between the regular and deluxe releases.

Sculpting - ****
This guy is not in scale with their earlier Nazgul. He'd have to be mighty big to pull that off, and he's designed to be about the same rough size as the rest of the series, coming in at 6 inches tall without the base, right to the very top of his flames.

However, there is a huge amount of detail work in the sculpt, even at this size. The craggy, scaly skin looks fantastic, and the crusty fangs, rough tongue, and leathery wings all have far more detail than usual in this style or size.

There's the necessary translucent flames too, running down his back like fur, and the crouched pose, with open, snarling mouth and grasping clawed hand, is just about perfect. He has relatively tiny feet, but because of the stance and the use of the left hand as a support, he stands perfectly.

The deluxe includes the small Gandalf, and I'll get into more details on him in the Accessory section. But suffice to say here that his tiny sculpt - he's 1 1/2" tall - looks fantastic. Yes, it's a slightly cartoony style, and follows the deformed design of the other, larger characters, but the detail work is quite impressive.

Paint - ***1/2
The overall Defo-Real series has had excellent production paint applications, and this figure is no different. The skin has a fiery wash, especially on the horns, and the translucent yellow flames catch and play with the light, producing lighter and darker areas.

The work on the mouth and teeth is outstanding as well, but I did deduct slightly for some minor slop around the eyes and nostrils. You'll have to look close to see it, but at this price point it's a reasonable expectation to see none.

Articulation - N/A
I included this category not as a part of the overall score, but as an FYI. As you might expect, this is an un-articulated statue - think Nerd Hummel.

Accessories - ***
Most vinyl figures come with nothing extra, so getting any score here is a boost to the Overall for me.  The regular version does not have any extras, but the deluxe includes the small Gandalf and the lava base.

The base is just big enough to fit both figures, although it's cramped. Another inch all around would have been much appreciated, but the sculpt and paint work does create a very lava-like impression.

Gandalf has a great sculpt and paint, done in a deformed style with a slightly oversized head. I'm hoping we see a larger, full size version of him to go along with the Nazgul at some point.

Fun Factor - ***
You can't have quite as much fun with a vinyl figure. There's no articulation, so no posing and re-posing, and usually no accessories. But with the addition of Gandalf you get a little more play value here.

Value - **
Yes, these imports are way more expensive then the Pop vinyl figures at Target, but there's plenty of good reasons for that. The quality of materials, sculpting, and production paint are well above the industry norm.  At $100 this guy is still a tough sell even for me, but he's not as over-priced as you might first assume.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ***1/2
Another nice release in a series that has had plenty already. I'm loving the LOTR stuff, although I have to say the horror releases are my overall favorites so far. With this level of sculpting and paint, I'm very interested to see what other licenses they pick up in 2020.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - N/A
Accessories - ***
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've covered a number of the Defo-Real vinyl figures, including 2001:Space Odyssey astronauts, the Lord of the Rings Nazgul, Jason, the special Pennywise with light up feature, and the regular release Pennywise.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

Discussion:
Want to chat about this review?  Try out one of these terrific forums where I'll be discussing it!

Enjoyed this review? Be sure to head back to the main page to find thousands more just like it!