Review of Marcus - Underworld Evolution
Sixth Scale Deluxe Vinyl Statue

Introduction

The long running Underworld saga has spawned a variety of figures, but it's only been Star Ace that has taken on the sixth scale releases. They've produced a couple versions of Selene, as well as Viktor, and did a Lycan in scale but as a vinyl statue. They're following that up with a vinyl statue of Marcus, also intended to fit in with the other figures.

This guy is just starting to ship, and will run you around $200, depending on the retailer. That's the deluxe version, which includes the display stand. There's also a regular release, without said base, that runs around $170.

Packaging - ***
The box is well done, with attractive graphics and colors. Inside is a plastic tray holding the statue and base safely, and in a very collector friendly manner. There's some brief instructions, but you'll be able to figure it out yourself.

Sculpting - ***1/2
The statue stands just about 12" tall without the base (which is not necessary for it to remain upright), and fits in nicely with the other figures in the series. Check out a later photo to see Marcus next to Viktor.

The skin texture is nicely done, and there's lots of veining, wrinkles, and folds. The work on the face, especially around the eyes and nose, is really impressive, and the expression is menacing and foreboding.

The overall sculpted pose is tense, but not overly dynamic. He could spring at any minute, but he hasn't quite yet. The general design works well with or without the outstretched 'wings', which can be attached to the back. A chunk of his spine can be removed, and the chunk with the spidery arms or wings can be attached. There's a bit of a gap along the edge, but it's fairly minor.

An interesting note is the sculpted belt. It's designed to look like metal, and the slightly soft, beaten appearance works great. Rather than having the sharp cuts of something like steel, this has the rounder, worn edges of something like silver. It's a nice touch that adds to the realism.

Also adding to the realism is the cloth skirt-like pants. Adding in some soft goods at this scale does a lot for the appearance, especially when the clothing in question didn't require a lot of fancy stitching or complex assembly.

Paint - ***
Most of the paint operations are excellent, especially in the face. The sharp, clean eyes pierce right through you, and the mottled skin tones look ancient and evil. The wash and variation in the skin brings out all the details too, and because this is a statue, there's a nice consistency across the arms, torso, and head.

I did dock them for one annoyance, however. The area where the spidery limbs are supposed to arise out of his back is a very different color than the surrounding area. It's not an incorrect color - it should be darker, more reddish purple, than the rest of his skin. But that transition needs to be more subtle. With the extra appendages in place, it doesn't look too bad, but the filler piece used as an alternate to them is too stark a contrast. The gap doesn't help of course, but the paint really exacerbates the issue.

Articulation - N/A
This is informational only, just to ensure you know what you're getting. While Star Ace does occasionally add articulation to these vinyl statues - like the recent Cyclops - this guy has no articulation at all.

Accessories - **
As always with a statue, any score here is actually a big plus. Normally there are no 'accessories' as such, so getting some points here boosts my personal Overall.

The deluxe includes the base of course. It's nice, but you really don't have to have it. Since you'll probably be pairing this guy with the sixth scale figures, having it might actually be a waste, and you can save $30.

However, there's also the swappable 'wings' or 'arms' for his back. He comes with a filler piece, and this can be removed and the single piece with the appendages can be inserted.

Value - *1/2
I'm grading the deluxe here, and would actually bump the regular up another half star.

The deluxe adds $30 for the base, and quite honestly, it doesn't seem like a particularly good investment. He stands great without it, and looks better with the other sixth scale releases when he's on the same level.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ***
Another really nice vinyl statue from Star Ace, highlighting a key character in the Underworld mythos.

I suspect they can produce vinyl statues in smaller numbers and still make money at this price point, making them an alternative to sixth scale figures. It's a pretty smart idea, since it allows them to expand on the license and do characters that otherwise might not have enough demand.

All I know is I've got five sixth scale Underworld characters in the display now, and I never expected that.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Check out their other Underworld goodies, like the Lycan vinyl statue, the Viktor sixth scale figure, the first Selene sixth scale figure, and the second 'blue eye' version.

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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