Review of Thor: The Dark World sixth scale action figure
Regular and "Light Asgardian Armor"

Introduction

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...yes, this is a Tale of Two Thors. Hot Toys doesn't do a ton of variants - exclusives, yes, but not traditional variants. They'll give you plenty of versions of the same character (think the Dark Knight Joker), but not at the same time. They spread them out, making each it's own unique release. That way they aren't really a variant in the traditional sense, but separate releases.

For the film Thor 2 - The Dark World, Hot Toys did a true variant. They released two figures of Thor at the same time: the regular edition (wearing mail-like armor on the torso and arms) and the Light Asgardian Armor version, where the arms and chest are bare.

They added in some additional accessories with the LAA as well for the same initial price, making him the better deal all around, but he was released as an exclusive (on top of his variant status) to certain distributors. Here in the U.S., it was Sideshow that carried this unique version.

Both of these guys sold for $230 out of the gate, although finding the more popular LAA is a bit harder now.

Packaging - ***1/2
Both figures come in a box shaped like the head of his hammer, Mjolnir. It's a cute design, but on the inside things are pretty much the same as the normal shoe box release. There's a couple plastic trays holding the accessories and figure, and basic instructions.

Sculpting - ****
We've become truly spoiled with the work that Hot Toys - and other leading sixth scale companies - are doing with their sculpts and paints.

Compare this release to the Thor that Hot Toys did for the first film, just three years earlier. Collectors were pretty amazed at the likeness and life-like quality then, but what we are getting now is so realistic that it's hard to believe. Every time I think they simply can't get better, they somehow manage to push the bar higher.

The skin texture, eyes and facial hair have the amazing detail and living quality that has become their hallmark. Better yet, it really does look like Hemsworth in the flesh, and the slightly open mouth expression works great with a wide range of poses.

The long hair can be tricky - it naturally interferes with the neck articulation, and only lays flat in a few poses - but they've gone with a very soft rubber that helps to overcome some of these issues.

The head sculpt is identical on both, as are the various extra hands. However, the arm and chest covering isn't as simple as a change of clothing. While the original and Avengers Thor figure did have cloth chain mail, they went with a much better looking solution this time around.

To reduce the obvious look of joints on figures with bare arms and torsos, Hot Toys has developed a rubbery 'skin' that covers them up. Of course it also restricts the joints, but they've worked hard to make that less of an issue. This rubbery skin is used on the LAA version to give him those bare bulging biceps.

They've used the same material for the armor, simply cast with a different pattern and style. That means it fits the arms tightly, with far less weird wrinkling or bagging.

Thor's a big dude of course, coming in at just over 12" inches tall, fitting right in with the rest of the Hot Toys Avengers.

Paint - ****
This is 2014, and this is Hot Toys - need I say more? Realistic paint is the key to the lifelike quality of their figures, and Thor is another outstanding example. From the slightly translucent skin to the piercing eyes, you'll think you've got a miniature human in your hands.

Articulation - ***
The underlying TrueType is restricted in several areas.

The longer hair, even with the soft rubber material, still restricts the neck joint a bit.  While he can still tilt forward and down, any backward movement is pretty much canceled out.

The rubbery covering on the arms reduces the elbows of course, and the thicker upper body armor means that any ab crunch or waist movement is pretty much history. 

The mobility in the legs is good, however, and the shoulders and wrists allow for some nice arm poses. The feet can remain flat on the floor in even deep stances, and with the additinal stand, he can do some pretty cool jump moves.

Accessories - LAA ****; regular ***1/2
Both figures have a nice assortment of goodies, but the LAA does slightly better overall.

Both have Mjolnir of course, and it has a metal composite head. That makes it a little heavy, but the joints in the arms and legs are tight enough to handle the additional weight.

There are six additional hands to go with the closed fists he comes wearing - two gripping, two relaxed hands, and two splayed hands. I did have some trouble swapping the hands this time, including one broken wrist peg. They have a couple extra pegs with each figure just in case, but you'll want to take some care.

Both figures also come with his black poncho, although the original marketing info only had it listed with the regular release. The poncho fits easily over the neck (just pop off the head), and is an interesting look. It's not one I'll be going with, but if you end up with both versions, you might find it appealing.

To put the poncho on, you also have to remove the red cape. You do this by popping off the two large 'buttons' on the top of the chest. They supply a little plastic tool for this purpose, or you can use a thin blade. They've included two more of the buttons with each figure as well, once again, just in case.

The regular release comes with the usual, black display base, complete with logo and name plate. He also comes with a cardboard Asgardian emblem that he can stand on. This ranks up there with the lamest Hot Toys accessory ever produced. It doesn't have a particularly good way to be assembled, and will be warped right out of the package. I supposed that if you put a heavy weight on the pieces for a few days, and tape it together from the back, that you can include it in the display, but I wouldn't buy the regular version just to get it. I didn't even bother to shoot it, since it's going to be awhile before I can get it to lay flat.

The LAA version comes with a rocky diorama base, complete with name plate. This is the new, improved base design from Hot Toys that includes the heavy duty poseable metal support rod. That means all sorts of jumping and leaping poses are possible, and this new bendable rod can easily support his weight.

Outfit - ***1/2
I've already mentioned the extra poncho included with both figures, so I won't repeat that here.

The overall armored costume looks fantastic, particularly from the waist up. The armor covering the torso, along with the gauntlets and boots, sport excellent detailing in the sculpt and paint.

The pants are a bit baggy, especially around the knees, and it can look a little odd in some poses. It's a very minor nit, however.

The red cape looks great on both as well, hanging very naturally over the shoulders and down the back. I love how they've packed it in the box - it slips through the plastic tray, and lays on a soft piece of plastic that suspends it in the air over the lower tray. This greatly reduces the chance of any wrinkling during shipment or storage, and it comes right out of the box looking terrific.

I much prefer this costume over the previous Avengers look, making it a worthwhile upgrade from that figure.

Fun Factor - ***1/2
Even with the armor and long hair, you can get some terrific poses, and you'll have a ton of fun working on the perfect display. Obviously this isn't a kid's toy, but it is much sturdier overall than some of their other releases.

Value - **
It seems like $220 or so is the new standard Hot Toys price.  This guy bumps up on that to $230 for either version, at least on initial order. The LAA version is the slightly better deal, since the detailed diorama base gives him a slight edge, and both armored costumes do have a ton of detail work. Of course, you could also argue that producing two figures with so much re-use increased the actual production size and reduces their fixed costs, but that's an argument that the true believers won't really care about

Things to Watch Out For -
As I mentioned, I had some issues with swapping the hands. The holes are quite deep in the hands, making it tough to get the small posts to reach. The fit is very tight this time around as well, and I managed to snap one of the small pegs. Take care!

Overall - ***1/2
When I first saw these two figures previewed online, I thought the LAA version was the hands down winner. The bare arms and chest recall the comic book version more so for me, and the devil-may-care attitude makes him all the more the bad ass.

But in hand, it's a much more difficult decision. The use of the rubbery material for the mail on the arms was a very smart move, and it looks terrific. I ended up torn between the two, making it tough to decide.

The base that comes with the LAA is the deciding factor, though. Any time you can add a nice diorama piece like that without spending more money, it's a winner. Of course, that's assuming you can still find him for $230 - if not, the balance begins to shift back.

The good news is that no matter which version you end up with, you'll be getting an exceptional upgrade to the original, and a major improvement to the Avengers release.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I reviewed the first Hot Toys Thor, as well as their first Loki. And don't forget his dad, Odin!

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