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September 2004 | Vol. III - No. 9

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TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted - Action Figures for the Holiday Season

By: Jesse Braun
9/1/2004

Top 10 Action Figures

1) The Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring 6" Figure: Legolas by Toy Biz (Average Price: $9)

There isn´t a kid alive who hasn´t dreamt of the scene in the Two Towers when Legolas reverse-mounts the charging stallion, smoothly drawing an arrow from over his shoulder.
This figure comes with everything but the horse. Dressed in his Helm´s Deep regalia, Legolas comes armed with the bow of Lorien, an arrow filled quiver, a Rohan sword with a functional sheath, and an elvish dagger.
The figure is artfully articulated, and brilliantly detailed, right down to the elvish inscriptions on his blades.

2) X-Men Legends Gift Pack by Toy Biz (Average Price: $40)

Unlike the X-Men movies, the comic books have a seemingly endless cast of characters - this is both a blessing and a curse. It allows for a nearly unlimited line of toys, but it guarantees that some will only appeal to the most devoted fans.
The good news is that this starter set covers many of the highlights; it includes an unmasked Wolverine, Gambit, Beast, Magneto, and the hard to find Rogue.
The joints on these figures might seem tight and unforgiving, but what they lack in articulation, they make up for in dynamism. Even before you open them, they seem ready to jump cleanly out of their box.

3) Alien vs. Predator Movie: Battle Alien by McFarlane Toys (Average Price: $14)

Born from concept drawings in H.R. Giger´s 1977 Necronomicon, this biomechanistic nightmare comes with its very own victim to eviscerate.
As with many McFarlane toys, pose ability and play value are sacrificed for photo-realistic detailing and dynamic sculpting.
Legs without joints and a top-heavy torso means this figure won´t stand steady on his own.
However, chances are good fans won´t want to put it down.

4) Lord of the Rings Return of the King Coronation Gift Pack by Toy Biz (Average Price: $30)

This gift pack is almost too beautiful to take out of its box. Though not as detailed as some of the previous Toy Biz releases, it has a sense of elegance and balance that some of them lack.
The set features a few figures we´ve seen before - Aragorn, Arwen, and Eomer - and two new exclusives Eowyn and Faramir both seen here for the first time.
Not only does it appeal to committed collectors, trying to track down every individual character, but it also displays beautifully in its box.

5) Exclusive Simpsons Flashback Playset with Figures by Playmates (Average Price: $40)

The Simpsons have been a fixture in American culture for more than 15 years. That means that many of collectors literally grew up watching the show.
With such a devoted fan base, it´s no surprise that Playmates is riding the bandwagon as far as it will take them. After exhausting nearly every character ever to appear on the television series, Playmates has turned to the Tracy Ullman show´s Proto-Simpsons and created this "flashback playset."
Any serious collector will need this to anchor their collection, giving every other figure the added credibility of historical context.

6) 18" Amazing Spider-Man 2: Figure by Toy Biz (Average Price: $30)

This is a monster of a figure. In the tradition of the giant Hulk figures that were released last year this figure stands as tall as an upright toddler. But unlike the Hulk, the appeal of this figure is it´s astonishing articulation.
With pose ability more reminiscent of a life model than an action figure, Spidey boasts 67 separate joints, including fully articulated fingers. This is better than Kung-Fu grip.
The play value with this piece is astonishing - chances are there isn´t a pose that you can think of that he can´t be twisted into. It´s almost too much fun.

7) Star Wars: 3.75 inch Jedi Council Scene II by Hasbro (Average Price: $25)

Strange but true; Star Wars: Episode Three is going to be titled “Revenge of the Sith.” With one veiled Return of the Jedi reference, George Lucas has won back thousands of alienated fans.
With the excitement building, perhaps the collectors market will turn a less jaundiced eye upon the previous two Star Wars installments.
This three figure set, in the classic Hasbro 3.75 inch format, includes the multisyllabic Obi-Wan, Plo-Koon, and Eeth Koth, as well as a detailed Jedi Council environment. Sure, it looks like the bridge of the star ship Enterprise , but it´s the Jedi council, and they´ve got the force on their side.

8) Lord of the Rings Return of the King: Black Gates of Mordor Gift Pack by Toy Biz (Average Price: $40)

This gift set is all about the Mouth of Sauron. Don´t remember the Mouth of Sauron? That isn´t surprising - he was left on the cutting room floor.
Want to know what he would´ve looked like? Get the Black Gates of Mordor Gift Pack. He´s dark, imposing, and generally fantastic.
The good news is that he´ll be back in the four hour long DVD director´s cut of Return of the King - but in the mean time, the only way to get a glimpse is to pick up this set of figures which includes Aragorn, Gandalf the White, Gimli, Legolas and the exclusive Mouth of Sauron.

9) Spider-Man 2: 12" Deluxe RotoFigure: Doctor Octopus by Toy Biz (Average Price: $10)

There´s no question that one of the coolest parts of “Spiderman 2” was Dr. Octopus and his titanium-tentacles.
Using the unparalleled detail of the rotocast system Toy Biz has created a near perfect version of the character. Where most figures need to strike a delicate balance between detail and pose ability, Dr. Octopus has it all.
With more than 20 points of articulation there´s no mischief that this figure can´t get into. Unfortunately, with all of the weight centered on his back, he needs two tentacles for balance, but that´s really no different than it was in the movie.

10) Star Wars Trilogy Vintage Series 12" Figure: Boba Fett by Hasbro (Average Price:$35)

Of course, if the entire prequel experience has left you cold, Vintage Series 12" Boba Fett is the man.
With his statuesque proportions and astonishing detail he appeals to the kid in every collector.
And best of all, he comes in throwback packaging, so one can relive the halcyon days of the early 1980s and the purchase of a kid’s first action figure that planted the seeds of an obsession still consuming more than 20 years later.