Sculpting - ***1/2
For a good comparison, look at the photo of the figure staring into the camera, and then check out the main photo on Renner's IMDB page. 

Of course, the sculpt is extremely realistic. I don't think I've seen a Hot Toys sculpt by any of their artists that didn't look like a miniature human in years. From the sparkling eyes to the translucent skin with its soft texture, everything is as life-like as it gets.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it's an accurate portrait of the actor as the character - even trickier. This time, it's a close call.

In the right lighting, and at the right angle, it's a dead ringer for Renner as Hawkeye. Change the shadows and the pose just slightly, and it suddenly looks like a Renner impostor or a very good cosplayer. It's very close, but it's not quite the perfection I've come to expect.

Paint - ****
This is a Hot Toys figure - that means the paint work is scary real. I don't know who they've made a bargain with to get this kind of realistic production paint work time after time, but I suspect he has horns and a tail.

The skin tone looks great, and the eyes are glassy and wet looking. The hair is impeccable, from the hairline to the eyebrows to the subtle stubble on his face. 

Talking about paint on Hot Toys sixth scale figures is getting to be a true broken record - I should just write it up once and copy and paste.

Articulation - ***
This isn't the most articulated of the TrueTypes, having fewer joints in the arms for aesthetic purposes. There's still the basic ball shoulder, ball wrists and pin elbows, but all of these joints have less range of movement than in some of the more poseable bodies.

The rest of the body has all the usual articulation, but the tight fitting and very restrictive uniform makes it a bit of a moot point. You can get the legs in some basic stances, useful for working with the bow, but nothing too extreme.

The hands swap pretty easily, and they include a couple extra wrist pegs just in case.

Accessories - ***1/2
You might expect a ton of extras at this price point, but there's not quite as much here as you may want.

What is here is arrows - 16 of them, at least the shafts. These can fit tightly in the oval quiver, but you'll want to take a little care. They won't easily snap - they have a springy nature - but you'll need to get a few in place before the top and bottom of the quiver line up perfectly. If necessary, use some needle nose pliers to assist you.

The quiver itself is very well done, and the bottom (where the various arrow tips are normally located) actually rotates! The tips themselves do not come up or out, but they've included 11 extra tips that can be popped on and off any of the shafts. I know that this collection of silver projectiles look like something Black Widow would keep in the nightstand, but they also are very detailed and very deadly, once you get your mind out of the gutter.

The tips fit tightly, but are easy enough to swap. While the quiver can technically hold all 16 shafts, you'll want to hold a couple aside to use with the various tips in your display.

The quiver can attach to the back in one of two ways. There's a small clip that can attach to the belt around his chest, centered on his back, and then attach to the quiver. It holds it on an angle, and looks great.

However, getting the clip in place on the belt is tricky, and keeping it there is even tougher. I shot a few photos with it that way, but switched to the alternative due to a rising level of frustration.

This alternate way is to use the included belt. It attaches to the quiver with two small loops, closed with good Velcro, and then wraps around his chest. I don't like the look of the strap across the front of his uniform quite as much, but it stays in place far better.

Along with the pair of relaxed hands he comes wearing, there's four more in various poses. Only one is another right - a gripping hand to hold the bow. The others are lefts in various arrow/bow handling poses, and they all work fairly well. Some work best with specific poses (like the hand with the bent wrist, which works great with him removing an arrow from the quiver), and I'm sure you'll find something that will work for you.

No good having all those arrows without a bow, and Hawkeye has two. One is the open version, strung and ready to go. There's also an unstrung, foldable version, just like the on screen counterpart. The photo you see with the two bows is actually a photo of the same bow, folded and unfolded.

He has his super cool sunglasses as well, and Hot Toys ha done an excellent job getting the scale correct. They fit great, and I have to say I like him better in them rather than out.

There's also the standard display stand, which is included for consistency sake, and a few extra wrist pegs just in case.

Outfit - ***1/2
I love the look of this outfit, but sadly, it's not one that works particularly well with an articulated figure.

They went with a slightly stretchy material, more like Lycra or nylon I suppose. It captures the screen appearance extremely well, and the detailing on the patches, buckles and belts is great.

The boots are perhaps my favorite aspect. Hot Toys always goes out of their way with the shoe or boot sculpts, but this time the mix of materials and detailing makes them not just realistic, but totally bad ass.

The protective piece on his inner right arm is a separate piece, but the left hand glove is a sculpted addition.

Fun Factor - ***
The somewhat limited articulation makes this guy a bit tough to pose, but the arrows add quite a bit of fun to the overall design. Kids may never get their hands on him, but adults will spend hours getting just the right pose.

Value - **
I've complained about the cost of the 'basic' Hot Toys figures getting closer and closer to $200, and I'm going to do it again. While Nick Fury was about the same price as Hawkeye, He had a wider range of accessories, a more complex outfit, AND a light up feature. This guy really shouldn't be running more than $160 or so.

That being said, finding him at all, let alone for under $200, is probably going to be tricky. The secondary Avengers characters have disappeared quickly from the usual retailers, sometimes long before they even start shipping.

Things to Watch Out For -
Take your time inserting the arrows into the quiver. I started with the outer edges, since you can see those clearly at the top and bottom and get them to line up properly. Once you get them in, the others will go easier since the bottom and top of the quiver will be better aligned.

Overall - ***1/2
While each Hot Toys figure stands out as a piece of pop culture art on its own, but when you can put a large display together - as with Iron Man, Batman, Terminator or now the Avengers - they move up to a whole nother level.

This figure by himself is nice, but it would be difficult to rationalize $200 or more for him. But if you have Black Widow, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Nick Fury, and plan on picking up the upcoming figures like the Hulk, this guy is a must have to round out the team.

Score Recap:
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ***1/2
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy -
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Alter Ego Comics had him for $190, but appears to be sold out.

- Big Bad Toy Store has him at $260.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Hot Toys Avengers include:

- most recent was the release of Nick Fury.

- I also checked out Red Skull, and before that there was Captain America, Thor and Odin, Black Widow, and don't forget the little cosbabies!

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