Review of Heisenberg - Breaking Bad action figure

Introduction

I watch a lot of television. There's plenty of great shows - Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Big Bang Theory, Raising Hope, Futurama, Dexter, etc. etc. etc. And yet, I still can't see them all. One that I've missed out on is Breaking Bad, a hit with several members of my family.

That doesn't mean I'm clueless - I know who Heisenberg is, that's for sure. And when Mezco announced that they had the license to do figures and other collectibles, I paid attention.

The first figure is now out, and it's Heisenberg (of course) in his usual clothing, hat and sunglasses. This figure is in the usual 6 - 7" scale, and will run you around $18.

Packaging - ***
The package looks good, with some nice graphics and plenty of personalization. There's a little waste, but nothing major.

I did have a situation, however. The bubble practically fell right off the card back when I got the figure home. There's no twisties...which is a good thing...but I fear that if this is a consistent problem, there could be an issue with figures disappearing on the peg.

Sculpting - ***
Many of Mezco's figures have a stylized look, closer to a caricature than a realistic portrait. With these figures, they've made a break back toward more a more standard design.

That's not to say these aren't slightly stylized. It's not a straight up portrait, but it's close.

And I like the look, at least for the most part. The Van Dyke could use a bit more definition and a sharper cut to the hair, and the wrinkles could actually be a bit softer, but you'll recognize the character immediately.

The figure stands about 6 1/2 inches tall, so he'll fit in with other characters in this same scale. He doesn't stand great on his own however, and there's not much you can do about that.

Paint - ***1/2
The paint work is clean, especially the eyes and the hair lines. Even the small details, like the buttons on the shirt and belt buckle, are clean and sharp.

While the character is a tad pasty in skin tone, which fits with his illness I suppose, this figure is a bit whiter than I think he should be. It's a minor issue at best.

Articulation - Bupkis
I knew these wouldn't be super articulated, but I was quite surprised by the lack of articulation overall.

'Lack' is a bit of an understatement - there's none. No neck, no shoulders, no wrists, no waist...none, nada, zippo.

This lack of articulation makes it very tough to keep him standing. Since you can't adjust the legs, feet or even arms, you have to depend on the sculpted center of gravity, and unfortunately, it's off by a bit. I did manage to get him to stand, but it wasn't easy.

Accessories - ***
Heisenberg comes with several nice goodies, including his removable hat and glasses. The scale and fit are great on both, and while I'd also like a regular pair of regular glasses, the sunglasses are a good choice.

The gun he's holding in his right hand is not an accessory - it's sculpted in place. However, he does have a duffel bag of cash and a baggie, both well sculpted. I do wish the cash had a bit more detail to the paint job - the size is the only reason you know it's cash and not just paper - but overall the accessories are well done.

The lack of articulation causes some problems here too, since the duffel bag is quite heavy. You can't adjust the legs to re-align the center of gravity when he's holding it, so you'll have to get creative to keep him standing while it's in his hand.

Fun Factor - *
With no articulation, this figure is the ultimate Nerd Hummel. He might look good on the shelf, but you won't be posing him and the kids won't be playing with him.

Value - *1/2
We're seeing some really nice articulated figures at the local stores for a couple bucks cheaper, with excellent sculpts, paint and accessories to boot. With this figure coming in at $18 or more, he's a bit of a weaker value. I suspect the license wasn't cheap, but most collectors won't take that into consideration.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - **1/2
The lack of articulation was a real downer for me. I didn't expect him to be super articulated - he's not exactly a ninja - but without any joints at all, he's tough to work with and keep standing. It hurts him quite a bit overall, at least for me.

That's really the problem, because even if you're not into articulation, you'll be frustrated by the lack of articulation when you try to keep him standing.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is also at $16.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I haven't covered any other Breaking Bad stuff yet, but should as more becomes available. And yes, I'll get around to watching the show - I promise!

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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