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Sure, you're probably saying, Michael, what are you doing reviewing a toy
this old? This is ancient history! And you'd be right -
partly. You see, KB toy stores are having major clearance deals
right now, and the Action Jackson figures, which are currently exclusive
to their stores, are down to $3.99. At that price they won't last
long, and if you haven't considered these yet, this might be your last
chance to get this terrific deal. There are three different figures -
the Aquatic Mission Specialist (not pictured), the WWII Ranger, and the
Covert Operations Specialist. All three use the same body, are
8" in scale, and use several head sculpts that are used with all
three figures.
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Articulation - ***
This body is very similar to the old Action Jackson, at least in
articulation. An elastic band runs through the center, holding
everything together. Neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips,
knees and ankles round him out as nicely articulated. The bands on
some are a little loose, and the hip design can cause the figure some
trouble standing, but overall these are pretty nice.
Sculpts - ***
While the sculpts are generic, they certainly aren't bad. I
particularly like the sculpt I've pictured above with the unshaven
appearance. There's a nice retro feel to them as well.
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Packaging - **1/2
Not bad! The boxes show off the figures and all the accessories
well, and stand up pretty good to shelf wear. Unfortunately,
removing the figure means utter destruction, but the nice big window
allows the MIB collector to still enjoy the view.
 Uniform -
**1/2
We aren't talking Dragon quality here, but at $4 who's complaining.
Biggest problem is the use of velcro. On a figure this size, the
velcro is simply huge, and doesn't close well at all. The boots on
the Covert Operations Specialist are HUGE, while the boots on the Ranger
are great. These inconsistencies in the outfits ended up hurting
them in this catagory.
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Accessories - ***1/2
These figures really shine on the accessories. Each is extremely
well outfitted, with 10 or so accessories each. The Covert
Operations Specialist is particularly well equipped, and the picture to
the left shows the terrific detail. You can see the three part rifle
hidden in the foam on one side of the briefcase! The plastic is a
little soft on these, and there are a few - the computer and briefcase for
example - where the hinges won't last through too many operations, but
overall the play value on these figures is absolutely terrific. I'd
have loved these as a kid, and that nostalgia is part of their charm.
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Value - ****
At $7.99, they were a pretty good buy. But at $3.99, these things
knock the value meter off the scale! Considering the number of
customizing possibilities for the bodies, heads, and accessories, I'd
suggest picking these up while they are both at this price and still
available.
Overall - ***
While the quality on the costumes could have been better, and I suspect
some of the accessories will end up breaking pretty easy, the overall
value, play possibilities and customizing opportunities greatly outweigh
the negatives.
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Figure from the collection of
Michael Crawford.
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