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Introduction
Perhaps the one thing with the biggest impact on Hot Toys has been their obtainment of licenses where characters can be done again and again, thanks to ever changing outfits and designs. There's never been anything quite like the MCU when it comes to that, with everyone getting a new look in every movie - sometimes in the same movie!
I've stopped picking up many of these updated figures over the last couple years. I don't think I've bought an Iron Man in that time, and the number of Captain America's, Black Widow's, and Thor's I've added to the collection in that period can be counted on one hand with fingers left over. But I did really like the look of the new Endgame Hawkeye, and besides - it's only my third version. Only!
He's just started shipping, and there are actually two versions this time around. There's his normal self, which I'm reviewing tonight, and which
costs around $250. Then there's the 'deluxe' version, with extra parts to make the Ronin variation. Expect to pay another $25 or so to pick
that one up.
Packaging - ***
Nothing too unique or exciting, but it does show off the actor, giving you a direct way to compare what's inside. The instructions include
information for both the regular and deluxe, which could be confusing for some folks, but it's all collector friendly as you'd expect.
Sculpting - ****
Hot Toys has never done a bad Hawkeye, but the quality of the likeness has improved over time. We get the unique hair style this time, with a
slightly older, more worn face. The short hair and facial fuzz is extremely well done, with just the right amount of texture. The skin is very
realistic, and the eyes are slightly squinted, giving him a piercing stare.
The outfit has a few sculpted bits as well, and all are equally nice. The biggest negative is the hands, which work well with the bow but not so much with the other accessories. I'll be dinging them on that in the Accessories section however, not here.
He stands about 12" tall, similar to the past releases. I've included a shot with the Civil War version at the end of the review for comparison.
Paint - ****
As usual, the paint work is impeccable. Hot Toys has set themselves a very high bar, and while they occasionally slip, this time they met their
mark.
The skin tone is excellent, with a realistic, life-like freckling and aging. The eyes are sharp and glassy, and the soft hair on the face and eyebrows is just about perfect.
There's not a ton of paint work on the accessories and costume, but there are some highlights. The smaller crossbow weapon on his left wrist looks fantastic, with an excellent paint application bringing out the tiny details. And the various gold and silver highlights on the costume are consistent and clean.
Articulation - ***1/2
The underlying body is a little wonky to my eye, not quite having enough bulk in the chest to match the size of the head. The arms look good, and
the height is right, but the chest and head are slightly out of proportion to each other.
It's a minor nit though, and the figure poses well even in the restrictive costume. He can take a good bow shooting pose, something that can be tricky for even the best bodies. The two piece boots also allow for some nice ankle mobility, and the only serious restriction is on the chest and torso, where the armor removes any crunch and affects the tilt and lean as well.
Accessories - ***
Considering the price point, he's not really as packed out as I expected.
There are just four hands to go with the fists he comes wearing - a tighter grip right, a wide grip right, a bow string left, and a wide posed left. These work great with bow poses, but with the other accessories - like the knife or shurikens - they are pretty much useless. They swap easily though, and there's a couple extra wrist pegs just in case.
There are six arrow shafts that are shorter, intended to be inserted in the quiver. This quiver then attaches to his back. It's an easy to use design, and is quite sturdy.
There are also four longer arrow shafts, and these can be used with a multitude of tips. There's a dozen to choose from, all equally cool. They pop on and off pretty easily, but I'd still take some care to avoid snapping the shaft.
He also has two of the tri-pointed shurikens as well as two of the single pointed variety. There isn't a great hand to use these with, but the wider grips can hold them between the fingers.
He also has the switchblade, and since the blade is suppose to retract into the hilt in real life, they give you both an extended version and one that is just the hilt. This hilt can be stored in the holster on his boot.
Finally, there's the basic display stand with crotch support. While the dozen different tips for the arrows are nice, they really don't make up for the hefty price tag.
Outfit - ***1/2
The overall tailoring on the costume is nice, with a good fit on the body, arms, and legs. The chest piece is fairly stiff, and does fit across the
front kinda flat, without much curve to follow the body. It's a minor nit, but one that did bug me.
The strap for the quiver looks good, and the cloth used for the costume seems quite sturdy. The instructions do warn you to return him to a boring position, but the materials don't seem as likely as some to stretch out badly.
The boots are a two piece design, which gives you plenty of ankle mobility, and there's a nice knife sheath on the back of the right. I already mentioned the cool mini-bow on his left forearm, but it's nice enough to mention again.
Fun Factor - ***
I don't expect to be posing and re-posing this guy a ton. I'll probably find a bow pose I like and leave him there for quite some time, but you may
find when you add him in with other Endgame characters that you find creative ways to swap things up.
Value - *1/2
It seems that even regular releases are getting up closer to $250 again, a price point I just can't see working. This is a $220 figure on a normal
day, with basic accessories and no special features. At least the deluxe adds in the second head, hooded vest, and a couple more weapons, but
at close to $275, you're talking some serious bucks.
Things to Watch Out For -
Not much. Swapping arrow tips should be done with care, but the costume and accessories are pretty sturdy overall.
Overall - ***1/2
He's a great portrait, although if you have the Civil War version, you already have a pretty damn good portrait. I can't say this one is all that
better, but it does have the unique hair style from Endgame. The costume is nice, although more restrictive than the Civil War release as
well. I like the quiver and the attachment to the back quite a bit, and the nifty little crossbow on his wrist is a big plus. But I'm not sure
this is a big upgrade over the last release, and if you skipped it because you were already happy with the one you have, you probably made a smart
move.
The only real reason to get this guy is to complete your Endgame set. Otherwise, you should be fine with the earlier version.
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - ***1/2
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - *1/2
Overall - ***1/2
Where to Buy
Online options include these site sponsors:
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
I have two previous Hot Toys Hawkeyes - the one from Civil War, and the one from the first Avengers movie.
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.