Review of Admiral Kirk - Star Trek The Motion Picture
Sixth Scale Action Figure

Introduction

If you're losing track of all the great Star Trek sixth scale figures coming out from EXO-6, you shouldn't feel bad. They've been cranking them out at a rate not seen with any other company, sometimes pre-orders, sometimes immediate shipment. One of the latter is the new Admiral Kirk, from his appearance in the first film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Don't expect a bunch of different figures from this film, but we will get a Spock soon to go with Kirk. These are some great looking and very unique costumes, making them an interesting choice. They are also a great example of EXO-6's commitment to the license, and their love for all things Trek.

This guy went on sale about a week ago, and should start showing up with collectors this week. He was $175, and sold out at most places quickly.

Packaging - ****
The packaging is a bit different this time. The outer shipper box is very heavy cardboard, with a wrap around lid rather than the opening ends. The shipper is extremely sturdy, similar to something you might see with electronics.

The interior art box is also a wrap around cover with magnets, and made from very heavy material. It's got a gorgeous cover shot based on the movie poster, and inside everything is packed in a collector friendly way in foam, not plastic, trays. Overall, it's a step up from the previous shoe box designs.

Sculpting - ***1/2
I waffled around on this category. Shatner is notoriously difficult to capture, and I think the Qmx version is the best we've ever gotten. This one had a couple additional hurdles - he's older, and he's got that funky hair piece.

I think they nailed the hair, with plenty of detail in the stranding and the perfect style. Daresay, I think the hairline might be more natural than the real thing.

With the portrait, they did a great job with the realism. Lots of fine wrinkle detail, skin texture, and just the right amount of aging around the eyes.

The expression is good too, with slightly squinted eyes and a subtle smirk. It gets across Kirk's personality, especially in this film.

Then there's the likeness, and as I said, Shatner is damn hard to do well. The hair goes a long way to capturing the movie likeness, but the eyes are where it's really at. The aging here is about perfect, and the eyes - and mouth - are definitely Kirk.  The nose isn't quite as perfect as the previous Qmx version I mentioned, and there's something about the chin that's throwing it off for me, but it's so damn close.

Of course, it's also about angles and lighting, and I was happier with the sculpt in hand than I was in macro photos.

Paint - ***1/2
Getting your production paint to live up to the prototype hand paint work can be difficult. EXO-6 isn't quite there, but they are getting better.

To capture the look of the hair, they used some interesting highlights that work for me. The eyes look fantastic, and have a slightly glossy look to create the wet, realistic appearance in hand and cause natural catchlights. They are also very even and straight, no slightly wonky pupils or lazy eyes.

To create a realistic skin tone, they are using a technique we're seeing from every high end company, where a subtle freckling is used to create a less consistent, more natural appearance. It works great, but I do think it's a little dark this time, giving him more of a tan than I remember from the film.

Articulation - ***1/2
The underlying body has all the articulation you could want, and will allow for pretty much any pose. With the single piece head and neck, you can't get quite as much tilt and lean out of the neck, but it's a minor nit.

This isn't really a character you'll want to put in ninja poses, but you do want a natural, flowing stance on the shelf. You don't want him to look stiff or uncomfortable. You should have no trouble using the joints to break up any unnatural lines, and create a realistic pose.

Accessories - **
Here's the one area where this release isn't at the same level as usual. Of course, it's not like there's a ton of stuff they could have included, and to be honest, getting this one for $25 or so less than the others is a welcome relief on my wallet.

He comes wearing a pair of relaxed hands, and there's a set of fists you can swap in. They stay in place when attached, but were easy to swap.

As with all the figures, he comes with the octagonal base, designed to look like a transporter pad. There are two different plastic covers, one a single transporter pad, the other a piece of a larger pad you can create by connecting multiple bases. The base includes a crotch support rod of course.

Finally, there's a 1:1 scale badge/communicator, made of metal. It has a pin back - not a magnetic one - and they've included a foam pad with a plastic back and foot that can be used to attach it to the base for display.

You can attach the pin support to the base in a couple different ways, including using one of the small black plastic connectors. There's also a spot you can bend the plastic foot on the foam support at a ninety degree angle, and use that to slip it inside the base.

It's not a ton of stuff, but it's a nice assortment for this price point.

Outfit - ****
The big draw here is the costume. This is the first costume Kirk wears in the film, and it's quite iconic and memorable.

The white torso is super bright and clean. Wash your hands before touching it - seriously. You don't want to smudge it.

The rest of the perfectly tailored costume is a color that will get lots of debate, but is accurate. It's one of those colors that will look different under different light, and can create quite the argument. But EXO-6 matched it based on the actual costume, and they did a fantastic job.

You can't ignore the amazing tailoring. The fit on the tunic and pants is perfect, and very realistic. No weird bunching up or wrinkles, no odd folds. It's a beautiful fit.

The extra bits are perfect as well, from the badge to the bio-monitor. And because this guy is an older Kirk, he even has a slight paunch, thanks to a little padding appropriately placed in the costume.

I will point out one minor nit, and you probably haven't seen it yet...but now you'll never be able to unsee it. The stitching on the collar is a little off. The center stitch isn't quite as straight as the top and bottom, but hopefully this is a one off issue that I happened to get.

Fun Factor - ***
This is a figure that needs his Spock partner to be as fun as possible. Put the two together, and you'll really be able to come up with some cool display options. He's still nice on his own, but you won't buy him and skip Spock.

Value - ***
While you aren't getting a ton of extras, you're also getting this guy at an amazing price. While Hot Toys will charge you $265 for a basic release now, this Kirk is almost a hundred bucks cheaper. I can live without a ton of extras at this price point.

Things to Watch Out For -
As I mentioned, I'd be sure to wash my hands before handling him, and slap anyone that tries to touch him on the shelf. You don't want any smudges on that perfect white.

Overall - ***1/2
I'm not so patiently waiting on my Sisko, and Quark just went up for sale this weekend. We'll be seeing some additional DS9 and TOS announcements soon as well. EXO-6 is doing an amazing job with this line, and Trek fans shouldn't be sleeping on it. I have every intention of being a completist with this one, assuming they don't do anything so crazy as to make it impossible.

Now let's get that TMP Spock up for order to complete this set!

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

Where to Buy 
This guy sold out fast. Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other EXO-6 Star Trek releases include Tuvok, Janeway, EMH, Mirror Mirror Spock, Mirror Mirror Sulu, Saru, Burnham, Judge Q, First Contact Picard, and First Contact Data.

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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