Toy News and Reviews
Hellboy Toys
PART TWO:
The Mez-Itz
by The Toyman
This week we continue our look at the Hellboy movie line from Mezco Toys.� With the movie opening to rave reviews and packed theaters, we can only hope that another of our favorite comic heroes will be a successful franchise.
Mezco has released a great line-up for the movie.� There is a basic wave of six 8� figures complemented by a massive 18� Hellboy and a cute little line of six "Mez-Itz."
It is the Mez-Its we will focus on today.� Mez-Itz are
Mezco�s entry into the current mini-figure field.� Kubricks, Mini-Mates,
Pocket Super-Heroes, gashapon (Japanese capsule toys), and Mez-Itz � there are
enough mini-figures out to satisfy even the most discerning of toy buyers.�
Mezco�s entries into the field have been fantastic so far.� Original
monsters, Aliens, Predators, Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, Ash, Austin and more
have paved the way for these great Hellboy toys.
Mini-Figure Scale Chart � Click for a Larger Image
Initial Thoughts
What�s not to like?� Hellboy�s great!� Mez-Itz are great.� We get Kroenen in his Nazi attire for the first time.� Is it wrong to love a toy?
Mezco has given us everything we need in a successful toy line.� We�ve received a basic 8� line, a gigantic 18� figure, and now a mini-line to round out the set.� I couldn�t be more pleased.
But let's get on with the review, shall we?
Packaging�
So small, and yet so sturdy.� It�s nice to get a toy
that�s not clamshelled for a change.� The cards are thick cardboard, and
the bubbles are strong.� The graphics are strong, and there is no doubting
these are Hellboy toys.� The figures are prominent, and the same characters
from the 8� line are reduced down to Mez-Itz.
The packaging gets five stars.� It looks great.� It�s well-designed.� It�s easy to open for us openers, but sturdy enough for you MOCers.� And for the few of us left who haven�t rushed out to see the movie yet, the figures are clearly labelled so you know who�s who.
Sculpts�
The sculpts are kept simple and are a little cartoonish, but they are supposed to be.� Mez-Itz are stylized figures:� Big heads, Lego-styled hands, and round bodies.
Both Hellboys have sculpted hands and heads, with the basic
details painted on a Mez-Itz body.� There�s no mistaking who this is.�
Rasputin looks great, with his big bald head and a cape.� Abe has a
sculpted head but relies mostly on paint to achieve his look.� Kroenen is
sculpted in his Nazi attire.� His hat is sculpted on, and he has a lot of
added details to the basic body.� Sammael�s sculpt almost completely hides
the base Mez-Itz body.� It�s necessary to capture the character, but he
looks a little off compared to the rest.� Don�t get me wrong � he�s great,
but something�s just not right.
For sculpt, the Hellboy Mez-Itz get a 4.� They are basic mini-figures, but Mezco sets themselves apart but sculpting more parts of their mini-figures than most companies do.� And after the amazing detail they put into the regular Hellboy figures, I expected a little bit more on these � even if they are supposed to be stylized.
Articulation�
Every Mez-Itz has eight points of articulation:� Neck,
waist, legs, arms, and wrists.� All the joints are also poppable, so you
can mix and match your figures into some really odd combinations.� (Nazi
Abe comes to mind.)
Sammael�s sculpt limits his articulation a little.� The joints are all there, but his waist seems stuck, either from paint or glue; I�m not sure.
These are not as articulated as Mini-Mates, but you can have a lot of fun with them.� For articulation, the Mez-Itz get 5 stars.
Paint�
I think this is where I�m let down.� Some parts are really well-painted, while others aren�t.� There�s a little slop on Sammael�s feet, Rasputin�s beard, Abe�s toes, and Hellboy�s hands.� The slop is especially bad on the black-shirt Hellboy:� His hand has the brown-painted edge from a coat he�s not wearing.� Kroenen is well-painted; Abe�s body is appropriately shiny and striped; and the muscle lines on Rasputin and Hellboy are perfect.� Even the BPRD logo on Hellboy�s shirt is perfect.
It�s this weird combination of perfect and imperfect on all of them that makes the Mez-Itz earn only 3 stars in the paint category.
Accessories�
Abe has no accessories.� Sam has no accessories.� Both Hellboys have the same gun, but it doesn�t look like the Samaritan.� Rasputin has his glove.� And Kroenen has two knives he can hold.
So the obvious and necessary accessories are there, but that�s it.� It�s better that nothing � and we could include Rasputin's, Kroenen's, and Hellboy�s coats as accessories � but it only earns them another 3-star rating.
Price�
The Hellboy Mez-Itz will set you back around $7 for each two-pack.� Not bad at all.� It�s about the going rate for mini-figure two-packs these days.
5 stars!� I�ve got nothing to complain about here.� And for as much enjoyment as I�ve gotten out of these figures, I would've paid more.
Overall Playability�
I�ll
give them 4� stars!� The paint jobs
bring them down a little, but I really like them anyway.
These are great toys.� They're compatible with all the other Mez-Itz and can take down toys five times their size!
�
And now for this week's news:
If you still don�t have enough Hellboy toys, you
can
order the Previews-exclusive Battle-Damaged Hellboy and Wetsuit Abe
in the current Previews.
It's official!� Playmates has announced that Series 16 of the popular World of Simpsons line will be the last.� A fifth Halloween set is still possible, though.� For more, head to SimpsonsCollectors.com.
Hasbro used the Australian Toy Fair (Australia has a Toy Fair?) to announce the continuation of the Playskool Star Wars lines.� Future releases include two-packs and recently revealed prototypes.� Mousedroid.com has all the details.
NECA has revealed the �blood-spraying� action feature for the Crazy-88s figures from the Kill Bill line.� A video demonstration can be seen here.
Until next time, kiddies, The Toyman has left the building!
Feel free to ask questions, suggest a
review, or share toy news with the Toyman!