Review of Jaime Lannister - Game of Thrones action figure

Introduction

The battle of the Game of Thrones figures continues with the latest release from Dark Horse, including Jaime Lannister.

Jaime has a lot of looks, but for most collectors, it's his Kingsguard armor that's the favorite. Earlier, Funko did Jaime in their action figure line in this garb, and now Dark Horse has made the same choice in attire. If we ever get a sixth scale version (c'mon, ThreeZero!), I'm praying for this outfit as well.

This guy has just started shipping, and will cost you around $20, depending on the retailer.

Packaging - ***
The simple boxes work well, with a nice big window to show off the figure inside. They are a tad flimsy, and I worry about the long term survival rate on the shelf or in storage. But at least they are collector friendly, with no damage necessary and only one twisty holding Jaime in place.

Sculpting - ***1/2
It seems as though the sculptors working on these Jaime figures think he's a long lost relative of Jimmy Durante. The nose was ridiculously large on the Funko version - it's only slightly smaller here.

Jaime - or more accurately, the actor that portrays him - does have a large nose. But it's almost caricaturish here. It throws off the rest of the sculpt, which is otherwise excellent.

However, the proportions are not as bad as we've seen from other attempts, and the work on the armor is outstanding. I'm not sure that every aspect is perfectly screen accurate, but there's some amazing detail work here that really makes this outfit shine. There's a good reason it's a fan favorite, and Dark Horse has highlighted all the positive aspects.

I also really like the pose, including the swirling cape. The sword blade comes as a separate piece, and when it is attached it should rest on his shoulder. That can be a little tricky, but with some effort you should be able to get it in the proper spot.

Dark Horse also gets some advantage here over the Funko release because of the slightly larger scale.  This guy stands about 8" tall, including the base, and that means that they had an easier time getting the scabbard in scale on his hip.

Paint - ***1/2
The paint work on the face and hair is clean, neat and high quality, but it isn't remarkable. It does the job, it does it well, but it doesn't do it with any pizazz.

That's worth noting, because the work on the armor is a completely different story. The outfit is clean and sharp, with just the right amount of added dirt and wear to give the feeling of a worn but well tended uniform. The detail work on the armor is excellent, and the outfit really makes this guy pop on the shelf.

Fun Factor - **1/2
These aren't really 'toys', since there's no articulation and no accessories. However, big fans of the show will have fun showing them off - that counts for something, no?

Value - ***
Most action figures in this scale will cost you around $20 these days. If you approach this from that angle, it's an average value.

However, this figure has the quality - at least in terms of overall paint and the sculpt from the neck down - of much more expensive, much higher end statues. At 8" tall, it also has the size, even dwarfing something like the Batman Black and White series. If you compare these at $20 to statues at $60, $70 or even $80, you realize this is a much, much better value.

Things to Watch Out For -
The sword is designed to go in one way - pay attention when you're inserting it into the hilt.

Overall - ***1/2
Poor Jaime seems destined to suffer from sculptors giving him a huge schnoz.  It's not as bad this time as we've seen from other companies, but it's still an issue.

Fortunately, it's the only issue this time around. The rest of the sculpt, paint and design are excellent, and this Lannister has jumped to the top of my list as the best of the Dark Horse series so far.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth also has him for $23.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I just covered the Dark Horse White Walker, as well as their Daenerys, Drogo, Ned Stark, and Tyrion Lannister.

And Funko has also done the Walgreen's exclusive Tyrion, Drogo and Daenerys, and I reviewed the first wave of figures in three sets, here, here and here.

Other Game of Thrones collectibles I've covered include the Daeny bust from Dark Horse, the Hand of the King pin, and the Catspaw Blade from Valyrian Steel.

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