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Hot Toys TrueType Body Comparison
"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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I've been meaning to discuss
the differences in the new TrueType bodies - 'narrow' and 'slim' - for
some time now, but just haven't gotten around to it. Jeff Parker was
kind enough to do the leg (or finger) work and write up a guest feature
comparing the three. Take it away, Jeff!
Thanks as always to Michael for providing this, quite frankly
invaluable source of information for all us toy and collectables geeks,
you may think you are not a toy geek… but you’re here reading this
aren’t you… acceptance is the first step to recovery, embrace or reject
but don’t be indifferent.
Luckily this site doesn’t nurture indifference, so lets get on with the
show!
This is a little a different, not so much a review, but more an update
on the general poseability and the basic differences between the Hot
Toys (HT) True Types (TT) that are available right now (5/11/09).
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Hot Toys have
already given and showcased a few new variations on the base bodies
they use. We’ve had the classic
muscle body and the variation devised specifically
for Alan ‘Dutch’ Schaefer from Predator,
this one has separate arms and has also been utilised on Chris Redfield
from Resident
Evil 5, then there was the special Hell Boy muscular body
with it’s red base colour, unique texture and body markings. However
the True-Type variant I’m most looking forward to seeing is the newly
developed Woverine body from X-Men
origins
as it looks like the perfect marriage of the classic TT that we all
know and love (but can look a little odd when disrobed), merged with
elements of the Enterbay BL-type bodies that don’t pose quite as well
but have a fantastic aesthetic, meaning something of a win-win for me.
But right now we’re here to look at the three variations of the classic
TT.
I’ve already been over the basic construction and articulation of the TT here and to be honest
that still pretty much covers all of the joints, even on these new
variants.
So
ultimately this is more of a photo review, with a little added
information regarding what TT’s have been used on some of the recent
crop of figures, and what ones you need for the present or upcoming 2
in 1 sets.
Lastly I look at how a single outfit, in this case the Hot Toys ‘Mens
suit’ hangs on the three different body types.
So to kick off, if you are picking up the new DX01- MMS, The Joker you
are best advised to pick up an extra narrow
shouldered TT,
but I’ve heard some collectors say a regular TT works almost as well,
in fact many believe it to be a better representation of Heath Ledgers
physique, especially when in the coat.
If you are getting the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ 2 in 1 then you need
an African
American slim body
which has the right skin tone, and that extra neck that I believe
you’ll need. Something else you may notice is that the standard slim TT
is not only a smaller build, but it’s also marginally shorter making it
ideal for smaller adults or youths, however I’m sure this will be
adaptable from character to character by using the differing length of
shins that HT have available to them. So far it seems to have been used
on Edward Scissor hands, Michael Jackson (Billie Jean/History version),
this one also had the sculpted neck, and then lastly the recently
announced Kamui
Gaiden who does seem to have a more adolescent quality to him.
I’ll
let the photo’s do the talking as far as how the suit fits the three
TT’s, but to my eyes the new slim figure looks the most natural,
followed closely by the narrow shouldered. That’s not to say the
original looks bad, as its ‘super hero’ proportions certainly make him
look broad shouldered, but when it comes to looking like a
regular
Joe, it seems that sometimes, less is more.
Where
to Buy -
Several sponsor options include:
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Alter Ego Comics
has the slim AA TrueType for $27.
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Big Bad Toy Store
has various slim, narrow and regular bodies, all for around $30.
- or you can hit
ebay looking for a deal.
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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer.
Photos and text by Jeff Parker.
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