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Packaging - **1/2
There's nothing particularly exciting about this packaging, but it fits the
functional bill. It's small, and easy to store, and shelf wear should be
at a minimum. The graphics and text are adequate, but you might have to
keep your eyes sharp to catch them on the pegs.
Sculpting - **1/2
The beauty of the design of the Minimates is the simple sculpting and
minimal detail. The idea is to use the most basic form and yet create
recognizable characters.
They pull it off very well here, and all 12
figures look good. Some figures have more detail than others - for
example, the street clothes version of Wolvie has a great hair sculpt, and the
jacket for Sabretooth has lots of details. Still, they are basic for the
most part. Sculpting is used sparingly, with much more emphasis on paint.
Paint - ***1/2
The paint application is terrific, which is so crucial for these figures.
They depend on it, since the majority of details including the eyes, mouth and
clothing are done with only paint.
There's no slop, colors are clean and
consistent, and the face details are particularly well done. The
expressions are great, very appropriate, and they are perfect even in this small
scale.
Articulation - ****
Another big key for these small figures is the extreme articulation. They
are designed to be toys, not statues, and they succeed in that area extremely
well.
They all have neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist,
waist, hips, knees and ankles. The joints work great, and have nice range
of motion for such small scale.
These are great toys, and the more you play
around with them, the more you like them!
Accessories - Bupkis - **
The Marvel Minimates don't include a lot of accessories, but there's always a
little here or there where applicable.
Carnage has a swappable hand, Spidey has a long
strand of plastic webbing with a hook, and some of the figures have additional
pieces of removable clothing (Sabretooth's jacket, Storm's necklace, Green
Goblin's bag, etc.) While that's decent, the majority of the figures come
with nothing.
It is important to note though that every piece
comes apart, so that every figure can be dissembled, and everything from hair to
feet to hands can be easily swapped around between characters.
Value - ***
The price depends a bit on where you pick them up. At our local
Media Play they are $7 a pair, which isn't great, but not terrible
either. At $3-$4 each, they are about a buck high, but these are so
far above the style and quality of something like a basic PVC, that they are
worth a little more.
Overall - ***1/2
I love these things! Now, if you're looking highly detailed
sculpts, with lots of accessories, these are not the figures for you.
If you love nifty little toys, that are fun to play around with and pose in
lots of ways, then you should take a minute to check these out!
Where to Buy -
You can find these at most comic shops and some specialty stores like Media
Play. Toys R Us is getting the five pack sets in right now, and are a
better value overall depending on which figures you're looking for.
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR LOTS MORE PHOTOS,
INCLUDING RHINO!
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