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Scooby-Doo part 1 - Witch Doctor,
Redbeard's Ghost, Wolfman and Zombie
"The
following is a guest review. The review
and photos do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Michael Crawford
or Michael's Review of the Week, and are the opinion and work of the
guest author."
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Evan
and Steve Jones check back in tonight with a great review of some new
Scooby villains - take it away, guys!
I love Scooby-Doo. Ever since I was little kid he’s been one of my
favorites. I was deeply disappointed when the Scooby-Doo line was
canceled. But was it ever really gone?
It turns out that the line was (and still is) going strong in the UK.
Michael did reviews on the figures released in the U.S., and I’m here
tonight with a spotlight on four of the eight other characters released
in the United Kingdom. Zoinks! This’ll be fun!
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Packaging
- ***
The packaging for this line
has been changed several times over the years. While it’s never looked
bad, it’s nothing like the original version. Still, it’s much better
than most of the packaging for today’s mass-market lines in the U.S.
It’s quite bright and attractive, with the figures in the series
displayed nicely on the back. It’s also quite small, which is a big
plus in today’s economy.
I thought I’d mention that my packaging came with print in languages
other than English. While this might ruin the deal for some MOCers,
I’ve only seen it on the latest wave (Wolfman, Witch Doctor, Dracula,
Ghost Clown)
Sculpting
- ****
The
highlight of the already fantastic line has always been the sculpting.
The figures always match up perfectly to the source material, with just
the right amount of detail to bring the characters to life while still
looking “animated.”
The facial expression couldn’t be any better, like Redbeard’s scowl, or
the Zombies vacant expression, and the strange/funny poses
(ala Wolfman and Witch Doctor) work perfectly for Scooby’s goofy band
of baddies.
I thought it wise to mention that the plastic used on the Zombie is
VERY rubbery. He ends up feeling more like a doggy toy than an action
figure. It’s really not acceptable.
Paint
- ***1/2
The painting for this line
is always clean and consistent. It’s very bright, which is a MUST for
an animated line. All of the lines are nice and straight, and
everyone’s eyes are pointing in the right direction. Even the little
scull and crossbones on Redbeard’s hat is clean! Hasbro and Mattel
could really take a page out of Character’s book!
Articulation - Zombie-**, the Rest-***
If I had to choose a definite “worst” point of the line, it’d be the
articulation. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great, with the notable
exception of the Zombie. He moves only at the shoulders, but that at
least gives you the classic “outstretched arms” pose.
The rest are all right, but I’m really bummed about the lack off
neck/head articulation for this line. I’ve always said that too much
articulation on an animated figure will ruin the streamlined look, but
when one or two points on a figure is “good day” for the line, it’s
getting kind of ridiculous. So yeah, you’re pretty much stuck with one
pose.
Accessories-
Witch Doctor/Redbeard’s Ghost- **, Wolfman-*, Zombie-Bupkis
The Scooby line has never
done so great in this category, with one or two accessories at best.
The few we do get are pretty decent though.
The Witch Doctor has his voodoo staff, and Redbeard’s got his cutlass,
both necessary accessories. The Wolfman comes with a cloth net. I’m not
sure what this has to do with the character, but it’s better than
nothing.
The poor Zombie on the other hand, comes with nothing. Awe!
Fun
factor- ****
This is where the series can really shine. Not only do they make great
figures for display, but they’re nice and sturdy, which means the
kids’ll have a nice time with them too. Who doesn’t love monsters?
Value -
***
The value of these figures really depends on your fondness of the show
and how much you paid for them. Us folks in the U.S. will probably be
looking at anywhere from $10-$35 a figure, which isn’t bad considering
how much they were going for a few years ago.
Things
to Watch Out For -
I honestly can’t think of much to watch out for with this line. If you
have any choice in which one you pick out, make sure to snag the one
with the best paint apps, though I don’t think it’ll be much of a
problem.
Overall
- ***1/2
I’m very pleased with how
this line has turned out. With so many classic characters to choose
from now, Character already has a fantastic line. Pair that with great
sculpts and paint jobs, and you’ve got a real winner.
Where to buy -
As
far as I know, these aren’t sold in U.S. stores anymore, so Ebay is
probably your best bet. You shouldn’t have a problem finding them, as
the figures have been reused many times for various boxed sets.
Keep an eye out for me and part
2 of this review!
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Scoring
Recap:
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - Zombie-**, the Rest-***
Accessories - Witch Doctor/Redbeard’s Ghost- **, Wolfman-*,
Zombie-Bupkis
Fun Factor - ****
Value - ***
Overall - ***1/2
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Figure from the collection of Evan and Steve Jones.
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