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Introduction
There are three sixth scale companies very high on my list right now - threezero, EXO-6, and Asmus. They are all producing very high quality figures at much more affordable prices, even in today's inflationary market.
While Asmus has several licenses, it's their Lord of the Rings/Hobbit releases that I'm all in on. The latest is Arwen, done in her Death Frock from Return of the King. She came in two varieties - regular, which goes for around $190, and exclusive, which is at the much higher $250. The exclusive was only available through the Asmus online store.
I'm looking at the exclusive tonight, but the only difference is in the accessories.
Packaging - **
Here's an oddity - no packaging photo. There's a good reason. No
real packaging! Oh, it comes in a box, a brown cardboard one, and
inside that box are some very nice foam trays holding the contents
safe. But it's not exactly the sort of art box most sixth scale
collectors are accustomed to.
Sculpting - ***1/2
This is not Asmus' first shot at Arwen. They produced a very nice version a couple of years ago, based
on her look in the earlier films. With that release, they did a
combo sculpted/rooted hair technique that worked fairly well in
hand.
This time they went with fully rooted hair, the long, thick flowing sort. One of the issues with completely rooted hair, particularly for female figures, is the tendency to end up with a fivehead instead of a forehead. But they've rooted it low enough, and styled it along the sides of her face in such a way to avoid that issue, and it looks terrific right out of the box.
The portrait is excellent, slightly better than even the earlier version. Again, the eyes, nose, lips, and facial shape are spot on, and you'll know exactly who this is, even if you pop the head off the body.
The expression is slightly tense, avoiding the look of a mannequin, adding to the overall realism. The slight skin texture adds here as well, and this is a very beautiful female portrait, something quite difficult for companies to pull off.
They did go with a two piece neck and head, which will get them some extra points in the articulation department, but does tend to bring down some of the realism of the sculpt.
She stands about 10" tall, in bare feet.
Paint - ***1/2
One area where Asmus has really upped their game over the last
couple years is production paint operations. Here we see a very
realistic skin tone, with slight freckling and perfect color that
matches the overall body.
The eyes look terrific, with a glassy, wet appearance and nicely applied make up. The lashes are more obvious in macro photos than in hand, where they highlight the realism. They eyebrows and lips are sharp and clean, and aren't overtly 'drawn on'. I'm not a huge fan of the 'lip line', the thin black line inside the mouth used to add depth and shadow, but it's not particularly obvious in hand.
Articulation - ***1/2
While this isn't a battling Arwen - you can use the first release
for those poses - this Arwen can take very natural, flowing stances
that will work well on the shelf.
I mentioned the extra joint on the neck, where the head and neck attach. While it can detract from the sculpt in certain poses, it does add a lot of tilt and lean, which means extra personality in those same poses.
The arms, torso, and legs are hidden under the flowing dress, but aren't particularly restricted by it. You can get the legs and arms in very natural poses, creating a soft, thoughtful look on the shelf, perfect for this particular appearance in the film.
Accessories - ***1/2
I'm grading the exclusive here - the deluxe would drop a half star.
Both versions come with six additional hands to go with the relaxed pair she comes wearing. They swap pretty easily, and the various grips work well with the other accessories.
Both also have a two candle candelabrum, which she can hold or can be placed on a side table. She has the green book, with printed pages. And while I didn't include a photo of it in this section, there is a small Elven styled side table that both versions include, which you'll see in other photos in the review.
The regular figure finishes off with a standard display stand with crotch support.
The exclusive includes one extra large item, with a couple soft goods. There's a VERY large, very uncomfortable looking chaise lounge. It's beautifully sculpted, resembling wood, and fairly heavy, but I can't imaging lounging on something quite this stiff.
To help Arwen with that issue, they included two 'sheets' and a pillow. One of the sheets is a silk-like material, done in white, while the other is a softer, thicker material done in blue. The instructions give you one way to put this on the lounge, but it's really up to you.
The pillow is a brown sack-like thing, stuffed very full. Added to the chaise, they create a more realistic appearance overall. The chaise is large enough for her to fully recline, or you can do what I did and add a second seated character. In my case, it's Gandalf.
Outfit - ***1/2
The soft, flowing dress is beautiful, with excellent construction
and craftsmanship. The main section is a softer, thicker material,
which hangs naturally. The arms are a thin, wispy material that
looks terrific in contrast.
The stitching and needle work on the patterns around the collar and upper sleeves is well done, and the tailoring creates a tight, smooth fit overall. I do wish the edge of the sleeves was a little cleaner - the cut edge is a bit sloppy in a spot or two - but it's a minor nit that won't be obvious on the shelf.
Fun Factor - ***
This Arwen isn't going to take as many different poses over time,
but you can swap in various other characters with her. The chaise
and side table gives you some other options as well.
Value - **
The regular release will cost around $190, which is about the same
price point as the earlier version, put out two years ago. With
rising prices everywhere, that's a solid value, and I would add
another half star here, giving it an average value score.
However, the deluxe adds about $50 to that price point, and for
that money you're getting the chaise lounge. I like the chaise, and
you can use it on the shelf to have a second seated character and
two more standing behind, but I'm not convinced it's a fifty dollar
add.
Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.
Overall - ***1/2
This is a terrific release, perhaps the nicest female figure in the
series so far. The sculpt is accurate, the rooted hair works well,
and the costume is beautiful.
If you've been regularly picking the series up, then there's no question you'll want to add her. The real question is whether you need the exclusive or not, and while I like the chaise and will be using it in my display, I can't guarantee you'll think it's worth $50.
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - **
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - ***1/2
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2
Where to Buy
The exclusive version is available only through the Asmus store, where it's $250. Online options
for the regular release include these site sponsors:
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
You'll want to check out their first Arwen, or the recent Elven Warrior. She needs Aragorn of course, and you can't miss their
exceptional Gandalf.
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.
