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Packaging - ***
These new bubble packages are a catch 22. For the MOC collector, they work
well because they are very sturdy, and show off both the insert art and the
figure very well. But they certainly aren't collector friendly in the
way I use the term, and you'll have to tear it apart to get to the figure.
The tearing apart aspect isn't
as easy as you'd expect either. The package is very sturdy, but at a
price - you need a knife to get into this bubble. Also, I swear that
McToys has a corner on the twisty tie market - Frank had no less than five
twisties holding him into the interior shell.
Sculpting - ****
The sculpting on this figure, and the entire line, is simply superb.
Now, I can already hear the anti-McFarlanenites groaning, but you can not
possible fault the level of detail and quality in this sculpting.
The design may not be your cup
of tea, but that doesn't mean this isn't as finely detailed of a sculpt that
you'll find anywhere on the market today.
Look carefully at his face, and
you can feel his pain. The intricate work on the faces in his shoulder
'pads' is astounding - just look carefully at the photo to the left and you
can see them screaming at you. This is how you make a figure without a
stupid facial expression, and still get emotion across.
Paint - ***1/2
The majority of the paint application is great, with excellent detail.
While a basic three or four color figure might have a little slop here or
there, with these figures you're getting a tremendously complex paint
operation, yet great quality.
The only issue is on the
exposed intestines of the skeleton in his backpack. They have a bubble
gum look to them, and the color hurts the realism of the rest of the figure.
But other than that, the paint work is extremely well done.
It appears that we are getting
bloody and non-bloody versions as well - this one is the bloody version,
with splatters on his arm scythe, face and the skeleton in back.
Accessories - ***1/2
Some folks aren't going to like the design, but that is more a matter of
taste than quality. Frank comes with a unique backpack arrangement in
which his is carrying a skeleton on his back, and this skeleton is
technically an accessory, since it can be removed from the pack.
It's a very cool skeleton as
well, with the usual great detail and sculpting. I mentioned the
coloration of the intestines earlier, and other than that minor point it is
terrific.
The plastic used for the
skeleton is quite soft though, and while I don't have a problem with it here
- it makes getting the skeleton in and out easier, and you don't have to
worry about snapping off a thin arm or leg - some might not like it.
Articulation - ***
Never a strong suit with McFarlane (although some might argue that point),
the articulation here is much better than expected.
Frank has lots of hidden joints
- neck, shoulders, wrists, cut joint on the left arm at the elbow, waist,
hips and calves.
While Frank is a bit pre-posed,
you get more articulation here than you realize just looking at him in the
package. Even the hooks attached to the polls on his head can swivel back
and forth.
The only negative is that a
couple of the joints are very restricted - the neck can do very little, and
with the design of the right arm and shoulder pad, there's very little you
can do with it.
Value - ***
I'm giving them a break here - I'm assuming you'll be paying $8-$9 for
these, and that's a decent value. I wouldn't break down and pay the
$13 for one like I did unless you're really desperate to write a review that
night.
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