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Introduction
It's a marvelous time to be a Star Tek fan. You have access to all of the old shows and movies through Paramount+ streaming service, including the cartoon. You can revisit all your favorite episodes and moments with just a quick click of the remote.
Of course, there's also all the new content. Discovery and Picard have just wrapped up, Lower Decks has another season this fall, and Prodigy is currently in the middle of its second season. And we also have the movie Section 31 and the show Starfleet Academy still to come.
I have yet to mention the greatest modern Trek - Strange New Worlds. This could very well end up my second or third favorite Trek show of all time...it might even contend for the number one spot. The first two seasons were excellent, and the third is scheduled for release next year.
EXO-6 has been doing an amazing job with their sixth scale action figures based on the Trek Universe, with some series' getting a full compliment (such as Voyager) and others not even scratching the surface yet.
The aforementioned amazing SNW has just gotten its second release with the terrific Spock. Played by Ethan Peck, he looks both like the original Spock, and yet also makes it is own. This figure has just started shipping and should be getting out to collectors over the next few weeks. Expect to pay around $225 depending on the retailer, and if you haven't picked him up yet, there will be some available at the EXO-6 store for immediate purchase starting on August 2.
Packaging - ***1/2
The box mirrors the previous releases in style and artwork. It's
very collector friendly - no need to damage anything when removing
the figure or accessories - and it is also very sturdy. Inside the
exterior shipping box are four plastic corner protectors, and inside
the art box itself is a double stacked set of plastic trays,
designed to create maximum support in the event of a crushing
incident. Trust me, it happens.
Sculpting - ****
I've loved most of the sculpts they've produced for this series, but
this Spock takes it to a new level. They have nailed all three
aspects of any portrait that I look for.
First, there's realism. While there have been a few times where the hair wasn't quite as detailed as I'd like, that's definitely not an issue here. The style is dead on, and the fine threads and strands of the hair are obvious even in hand. They've created one of the best sculpted hair lines along the forehead that I've seen. And it's not just the hair - the skin texture is almost perfect, with just the right amount of age and lines.
Then there's the accuracy. This is very clearly Peck as Spock. While he doesn't have any sort of extreme attributes to his face, they have managed to create the perfect likeness. The eyes, the lips, the shape of the face and jaw, even the cheekbones are near perfect.
Finally, there's the emotive quality. Here, we get a very intense stare. Not angry, not surprised, not emotional at all, but very intense. It's all in the eyes. It fits the character, and the portrayal by Peck.
Of course, all the work on the hands and accessories is great as well, but it's the amazing likeness that sets this one apart.
Paint - ****
Considering the price point here - closer to $200 than any of the
other major manufacturers right now - the quality of the paint work
is truly impressive.
They've used paint to also improve the hair line, especially around the temples and sideburns. The skin tone is realistic and clean, and the facial details - eyes, eyebrows, lips - are all clean and natural.
The eyes are sharp and straight, with a glassy finish that adds to the look of intensity. This portrait, thanks to both the sculpting and paint work, can hold it's own next to any figure on your shelf.
Articulation - ***
This is the same underlying body, articulation-wise, that we've seen
from EXO-6 before. Ball neck, butterfly shoulders, double pin
elbows, rotating hinge wrists, crunch waist, ball hips, double pin
knees, and rotating hinge ankles round things out.
However, like the SNW Pike, there's two issues. First, they went with the solid head and neck. This one piece design looks more realistic, but is not able to provide as much natural lean and tilt as a two piece head/neck.
And then there's the boots. These solid, one piece, tall boots take away the mobility of the ankles. He stands fine on his own, but you won't be able to get deep stances, and even in medium ones the feet won't be flat on the ground.
Accessories - ***1/2
As EXO-6 Trek goes, this guy is pretty well kitted up.
He has nine hands, four sets and one additional left. These are designed for some standard poses - like relaxed or fists - while others are sculpted for use with specific accessories. And of course there's a Vulcan greeting right. They swap easily, and they didn't pop off while posing the figure.
He has a belt and holster you can add to the costume, and the belt buckle works extremely well thanks to a very hard, solid post on the back side. It can be inserted into the holes more easily than if they used softer material, and once attached it stays.
The phaser fits neatly in the holster, and yes it comes apart so you can have either a Type 1 or Type 2 phaser. Like Pike, he has the large phaser rifle as well, and the small communicator. As you'd expect, it can flip open and there's a perfect hand for holding it.
His big add is the tricorder. It opens up, and the detailing on the inside is excellent. The strap is sturdy, and long enough to fit it nicely around his shoulder and chest. This is the one accessory you can use to set him apart from Pike on the shelf.
There's also the standard octagonal display base with either plastic sheet, the crotch support rod, and the autograph card.
Outfit - ***1/2
EXO-6 spends a tremendous amount of time on the costuming of these
figures. Getting it exactly right is their standard, and anything
less is a disappointment to them. You can see the love they have for
this license in every stitch.
This outfit consists of the boots, pants, and tunic. I mentioned the belt and holster in the Accessories section, which you can add to the outfit if you'd like.
The boots are a bit stiff, but they are a very cool design, and do allow for natural stances when the legs aren't too far apart.
The pants are well tailored, fit nicely, and have the shiny stripe down the outside of both legs.
The tunic suffers a bit from the same issues we saw with Pike, but less so. The shoulders are still 80's business woman big, but the padding works a bit better this time around, making it look more screen accurate. He does have some padding underneath the torso as well, which looks great in hand, but a bit too puffy in macro photos. I'd hold off judging that particular aspect until you see him in correct scale, in hand.
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Another fun release from EXO-6, and the perfect match up with Pike.
I'm looking forward to at least four or five more key crew members
in this line, particularly Uhura and Chapel.
Value - **1/2
At $225, he's not quite the amazing value the early under $200 Trek
figures were, but he's still far, far better than most of the sixth
scale product on the market right now. I just ordered a Hot Toys
figure today that was almost $400, and that's simply nuts.
Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing. The hands swapped cleanly, all the accessories are
sturdy, and nothing was fragile or easily damaged.
Overall - ****
I'm clearly weighing the sculpt and paint work very heavily this
time around. That's because it really wowed me right out of the box,
and I'm still impressed every time I look at it on the shelf.
While I'm glad for every release - and as a huge fan of DS9 I can't wait for more of the crew - I have to admit that the SNW releases are perhaps my most anticipated. I think it's because the characters have such unique looks, and will be so striking on the shelf.
There was a bit of a lull earlier this year, but it appears EXO-6 has things hitting hard and fast now, with four figures in just the last few weeks. Bring them on!
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ***1/2
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ****
Where to Buy
Remember, there's an immediate purchase option going up on the EXO-6 website this Thursday, August 2. Online
options include these site sponsors:
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
I've covered quite a few of the releases, but the most recent and
most relevant is the SNW Pike.
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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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos and
text by Michael Crawford.