Review of Bronx - Gargoyles
Action Figure

Introduction

If you've visited your local Target in the last couple weeks, you might have seen the NECA 'Haulathon'. They partnered up to put out a bunch of new figures all at once, covering a ton of different licenses. From Evil Dead to TMNT to Elvira - they've got you covered.

There's two figures from the Gargoyles series in the mix - Demona and Bronx. While Demona's release was pretty well known (and I have yet to find one anywhere), Bronx was a bit of an early surprise. I assume he'll get a wider release and isn't exclusive to this promotion, but I have no actual proof to back that up.

He'll run you around $32 at Target right now.

Packaging - ***1/2
I love the artwork on these boxes. Terrific graphics and color, and reminiscent of the original show. They're quite sturdy as well, but I'm not a fan of the new twisty ties inside the plastic tray. One of the nice things about the Ultimates line is the ability to take the figures out without any damage, which isn't quite as true any more.

Sculpting - ***
This is definitely Bronx, a character that isn't quite as high on anyone's list but is still a nice add to the set. Since he's dog-like gargoyle, he's on all fours, standing about 4 inches tall in a 7" scale.

He comes with two heads. The original version has a neutral expression, but the mouth does open and close slightly to give it some personality. The second is roaring, with a wide mouth and fangs.

The heads swap pretty easily, and both work great for a number of poses. The sculpt is a little soft though, particularly around the teeth. There's a few mold lines, and the rock-like texture isn't as convincing as it was with Goliath.

Paint - ***
Bronx has some nice details, particularly the sharp, piercing eyes. The work on the body is pretty broad and a bit toy-ish, and the colors could be blended into each other a bit better. The teeth have a thick coat, and overall the paint work isn't as clean and sharp as some of the other figures in the series. It's not terrible, but Goliath set a pretty high standard.

Articulation - ***1/2
The articulation is quite a bit better than I expected, particularly for a four legged character.

There's plenty of it, but that's not the surprise. There always is with any animal-like creature, with joints at the top of the leg, the ankle, and what would be the elbows or knees of all four legs. These are all rotating hinge joints, and the surprise is how well they all work. There's a great range of movement, and you'll have no trouble getting the four legs into natural poses with the feet flat on the ground. Of course the half foot pin joint helps as well.

The tail can turn, but it's a pretty minor joint. However, the big winner here is the neck. There's a joint at the torso, as well as below the jawline. Using these two joints you can get lots of great lean and tilt out of the head, with the face pointing up, down, and side to side.

As I mentioned earlier, the regular head also has a jointed jaw. You can't open the mouth too wide, but you can open it a bit as seen in the photo below.

Accessories - ***
There's not a lot here, but he does have the extra head which is a big add.

There's also a small log of meat. It's perfect for munching on while watching a little TV.

The big extra is the folded wings for Goliath. NECA is trying to keep the price point the same for all the Gargoyles figures, but with smaller characters like Bronx, it can be hard. They decided to pack large accessories with them, like these wings, to even out the overall value.

The wings fit nicely on Golaith, and there's a couple small posts for them to attach to the back. The plastic can be slightly adjusted depending on how tight you want them to hang around the body. If his arms are out further, they'll hang wider.

Fun Factor - ***
On his own, Bronx isn't super exciting. But with the other characters, especially the upcoming Hudson, he'll make for an important part of the display. And if you have Goliath already, you'll really want those wings!

Value - **
While they are trying to add in some value with the bigger accessories, this one is still a bit of a hard sell at $32 or more. We're seeing the potential price of characters like Hudson and Brooklyn jump another ten bucks, and I'm not sure the market will bear it.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ***
This is a solid release of a character that will make a good addition to the Gargoyles family. The wings are a pretty necessary add for Goliath, increasing the need for fans to pick it up. While I haven't seen this figure up for sale yet at any online retailers, I'm hoping it gets a wide release once the NECA/Target promotion is complete.

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

Where to Buy 
RIght now your best bet is to hit your local Target looking for the Haulathon display. That's where I grabbed mine for $33. Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has Brooklyn and Hudson for $38 on pre-order.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I checked out Goliath not long ago.

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

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