Jazwares MK 2011 Action Figure Review Thread
Media & Merchandise
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Jazwares MK 2011 Action Figure Review Thread
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MK Khronology: 58.49% complete...Okay. So, we're apparently having another round of 'dump everything in one thread'. I attempted to start my own review thread but Mick closed it right away. I didn't want to post in this one because, hell, nothing Vash has written indicates this is supposed to be a community review area. But now the powers that be say it is, and I have no choice but to oblige. Vash, if you'd prefer this thread to be yours alone, say the word and I'll delete this.
Hey, folks! Shad here, and I've decided to start up a thread devoted to a close examination and review of Jazwares' sometimes praised, sometimes maligned Mortal Kombat wave of figures. I invite you to join me as I endeavor to separate the creme from the crap, and chime in with your own POVs, be they in the form of agreements, disagreements, appreciation, or simple verbal abuse. I'm by no means a professional action figure reviewer however - just an avid collector with a serious mad-on for a certain franchise wherein blood flows like water.
JW sure haven't wasted any time hitting us with a slew of MK product over the last few months. I sit here in possession of four 6' figures, six seperate packaged 4' figures, a pack of three 4' cyberninjas, and six 4' UMK3 ninjas. I'll be starting big with the six-inchers (*cue Laugh track, applause*), the first wave of which is comprised of Raiden, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, and that ol' blue-eyes himself - no, not Sinatra - Kuai Liang, nee Sub-Zero the Younger, also known as 'the nice one', 'the Grandmaster', 'robot now', or 'the one with a lot of character development'.
And he has a few choice words - or actions - for anyone trying to steal his limelight...
The Wave 1 JW sculpts have come under criticism by some, and while I totally understand why in some cases (We'll get to that in the Cage review especially), Sub looks on the whole decent and well proportioned to me. He's very close to his in-game model. The hands are off-putting, though. They look awful, almost like claws, from the side - I can't help but almost wish they had included an extra pair of hands for a more dynamic pose rather than the simple 'grip accessory' mode they're in (then again, maybe not - we'll come to that when I review Cage). From the game model, only one detail seems to be missing from the figure; the clasps on the outfit beneath his arms. That's unfortunate, but they're not all really all that visible in the first place; I didn't even notice until I started really comparing him to his model. They definitely gave his figure a good college go; he's got fingernails, but the right thumb on mine kind of looks like he's got a growth on it. Gotta subtract a tiny point for that, though I give them credit for trying. I'm especially appreciative of the little details, like the muscle lines on the sides of the body, and the bagginess of the pants, tucked into the wraps.
But JW haven't quite mastered form along with function here; the figure's groin area is especially blocky (chuckle), and the area around the mid-thigh swivel isn't well-rounded, meaning it can look awkward when moved around.
Should have had him gesturing to his crotch. Next time.
KI-YAAAAA!!! *Rip*
Another unfortunate omission is that not one of JW's figures has had a hole underneath the foot for a stant's peg. However, the mk9 figures, Sub included, are very nicely balanced, so this isn't as much of an issue here as it is with the 4' figures. These guys can stick out a solid kick upwards and stay on one foot no problem, owing much to the wide articulation in the hip. What's good about this figure are the little details though, the demon on his armpads looks great, as does the sculpting on the belt, and especially the wraps on his forearms and legs.
"Real reason the Lin Kuei wanted me dead? They hatin''cuz my bling's too fresh."
And now, the paint job. What makes or breaks a figure, often times. It's an area where JW have especially had difficulty in some of their other bad boys in this line. I'm mostly satisfied with what I see going on here; there are no glaring flaws or extraordinarily sloppy paint applications on my figure's head, body or legs, but there's a slight scuff on his left rear shoulder, and a slightly light patch on his right inner thigh - almost unnoticeable without aid of a camera. In fact, the paint on his leg and arm-wraps is quite impressive, down to the detail of having the blue wrapping get a little thinner beneath the knee pad. In the past, I've expressed by disdain for the eyes on the figure as observed in the initial promo photography, but the more I look at mine, the less offensive they seem. I think it's passable.
But all is not perfect. You're going to find that Jazwares' biggest paint problem comes from their applications of skin tone, and it shows on sub's shoulder and elbow joints; the hinges of which, along with the rest of his skin, are a proper shade, but the arm between that and the wrap is much paler. It's oogly. To boot, the skin paint just seems...slapped on thicker than the rest of the paint apps - and this isn't so big a problem here, but it's a HUGE problem elsewhere (forthcoming). Skin paint can also be seen on his inner right bicep along the side of the pad straps. Combine that with the other issues I've mentioned, and this is a figure you're going to want to pose with his inner arms tucked away.
Yikes.
The other flaw comes from his arm pads and belt; there's a bit of a silver wash effect on the belt; but it's not enough. The belt, lower edge of waistcloth - front and back - and bicep pad are just dark compared to the game model, where they're quite silvery. In contrast, his 'nipple badges' are the proper shade, and I'm left scratching my head at this omission.
"Okay, I lied. I got them from the kids' aisle in a dollar store. Happy?"
The greatest strength of JW's 6' line over past figures is intended to be their articulation, meaning that they can get all freaky-deaky around their neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, mid-torso, hips, mid-thigh, knees and ankles. That's not as much as some figures out there. For example, there's the renowned Marvel Legends figure line, historical for going above and beyond in that department, to the point of having waaay more in some figures (Elektra, for example, had 40 points. That's nuts). Articulation can be a double-edged sword though, to the point where all the little joints and hinges and screws on your figure are so prominent that they take away from the presentation of the figure itself.
Thankfully, that's not the case with Sub-Zero; the only seriously notable doo-dads - at a glance - are those on his shoulders, elbows, and mid-thigh lines. and 16 points is a more or less respectable amount for a figure in my view. More than the bare minimum I ask, if not especially astounding, but for a series of martial-arts based figures, more would be a plus.
Does the articulation benefit the figure? Yes and no. The trick with joints and hinges is to make sure that when you move them around, everything flows tightly, but smoothly. You don't want to feel like you're scraping paint off, or, worse, actually be scraping paint off. I'm pleased to say that that's not the case with 6' MK9 SUb - with one exception. The mid-torso swivel is something that, plain and simple, I don't feel too comfortable about messing around with. I'm hearing grinding when I'm doing it - this hearkens back to what I said earlier about how thick the paint feels on these figures. I'm not going to be swiveling Sub's chest around much, that's for sure. I'm hearing a kind of grinding going on in there when I do that. Not a good sign.
The other joints perform nicely, but there's a limit to what they can do when compared to other figure lines out there. The mid-thigh swivel, as I explained earlier, really makes the figure look blocky when posed at certain angles. Worse, Sub can't bend his ankles very far back and forward, and his knees stop about 45 degrees because of the bagginess of his pants - a nice sculpting detail that puts off the point of the vaunted articulation these guys have. That's severely limiting; I honestly can't get a proper freeze pose off right. Same with the neck; he can't so much look up or down as 'nod'. On the positive side, dynamic poses aren't entirely impossible; just don't be fooled into thinking you'll be able to get any of his classic moves to look especially great. They come closer than most other figures in Jazwares' history, but that's not saying too much.
"Not sure if sliding or hotstepping."
"Hadouken? No? Ok, moving on then."
Sub-Zero comes with one accessory, this game's version of the ice swords he's been sporting ever since MK4. Now, Jazwares MK figures have a weird history with their accessories; we've seen the same figure re-released in different waves with completely different weapons, some of which they can't even hold due to the hand sculpting (my Reptile longs to grasp his Kirehashi blade). Thankfully, Sub's come correct with his weapon, but as usual, Jazwares' accessories are made of a very soft, malleable plastic; MK figure accessories nearly always come out of the package warped or bent (though it's nothing a night under a heavy book can't fix, in my experience). My Sub's sword is no exception, the blade is curved. I'm not impressed with the paint job it's been given either; you'd think with Jazwares' tendency to put out translucent versions of figures like 'Cold Snap Sub-Zero', 'Electric Raiden', and the upcoming X-Ray Reptile and Jax pack, Sub could have a sword that looked like it was made of ice. But this doesn't. It looks like he's got a fake toy blue sword that he dropped in slush. Awful.
"...would you care to purchase a watch? I also have watches. Very high quality watches. Yes."
Now to the question I'm sure is on everyone's mind, action figures being the luxury they are and all: Is he worth the samloleans? The scratch, the moola, the change, the legal tender, the...cold hard cash?
Sorry, Sub. I won't do it again. Promise.
I'm going to say "For fifteen-odd bucks? Sure, for Sub-Zero fans". I've outlined the figure's flaws, and there are more than a few. But by and large, and especially to the casual figure collector, they're nitpicks when you look at the whole package, with the exception of just how unrealized his poseability i, and the crappiness of his sword. But he comes with a caveat: There's a 20th anniversary box set coming out that will feature this model, the Shaolin Monks model, and the MK1 model all in one package. If you're willing to plonk down the likely thirty-five minimum bucks that thing's going to cost, and you're patient, you may be better off waiting a little. There's also a "battle damage" version of this figure coming for those of you who like your figure with a few nicks and bruises.
Pros:
-Impressive paint job on body, very close to game model, mostly well detailed and balanced.
Cons:
-Articulation not as functional as it could be, ugly accessory, uneven skin paint job, no silver wash on armpads or waistcloth.
Verdict: 6/10 - Sub's fans or absolute completionists will get the most out of this one. You're not missing too much by skipping him, but he's nice to have, and is a passable representation of one of MK's hallmarks.
Hey, folks! Shad here, and I've decided to start up a thread devoted to a close examination and review of Jazwares' sometimes praised, sometimes maligned Mortal Kombat wave of figures. I invite you to join me as I endeavor to separate the creme from the crap, and chime in with your own POVs, be they in the form of agreements, disagreements, appreciation, or simple verbal abuse. I'm by no means a professional action figure reviewer however - just an avid collector with a serious mad-on for a certain franchise wherein blood flows like water.
JW sure haven't wasted any time hitting us with a slew of MK product over the last few months. I sit here in possession of four 6' figures, six seperate packaged 4' figures, a pack of three 4' cyberninjas, and six 4' UMK3 ninjas. I'll be starting big with the six-inchers (*cue Laugh track, applause*), the first wave of which is comprised of Raiden, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, and that ol' blue-eyes himself - no, not Sinatra - Kuai Liang, nee Sub-Zero the Younger, also known as 'the nice one', 'the Grandmaster', 'robot now', or 'the one with a lot of character development'.
And he has a few choice words - or actions - for anyone trying to steal his limelight...
The Wave 1 JW sculpts have come under criticism by some, and while I totally understand why in some cases (We'll get to that in the Cage review especially), Sub looks on the whole decent and well proportioned to me. He's very close to his in-game model. The hands are off-putting, though. They look awful, almost like claws, from the side - I can't help but almost wish they had included an extra pair of hands for a more dynamic pose rather than the simple 'grip accessory' mode they're in (then again, maybe not - we'll come to that when I review Cage). From the game model, only one detail seems to be missing from the figure; the clasps on the outfit beneath his arms. That's unfortunate, but they're not all really all that visible in the first place; I didn't even notice until I started really comparing him to his model. They definitely gave his figure a good college go; he's got fingernails, but the right thumb on mine kind of looks like he's got a growth on it. Gotta subtract a tiny point for that, though I give them credit for trying. I'm especially appreciative of the little details, like the muscle lines on the sides of the body, and the bagginess of the pants, tucked into the wraps.
But JW haven't quite mastered form along with function here; the figure's groin area is especially blocky (chuckle), and the area around the mid-thigh swivel isn't well-rounded, meaning it can look awkward when moved around.
Should have had him gesturing to his crotch. Next time.
KI-YAAAAA!!! *Rip*
Another unfortunate omission is that not one of JW's figures has had a hole underneath the foot for a stant's peg. However, the mk9 figures, Sub included, are very nicely balanced, so this isn't as much of an issue here as it is with the 4' figures. These guys can stick out a solid kick upwards and stay on one foot no problem, owing much to the wide articulation in the hip. What's good about this figure are the little details though, the demon on his armpads looks great, as does the sculpting on the belt, and especially the wraps on his forearms and legs.
"Real reason the Lin Kuei wanted me dead? They hatin''cuz my bling's too fresh."
And now, the paint job. What makes or breaks a figure, often times. It's an area where JW have especially had difficulty in some of their other bad boys in this line. I'm mostly satisfied with what I see going on here; there are no glaring flaws or extraordinarily sloppy paint applications on my figure's head, body or legs, but there's a slight scuff on his left rear shoulder, and a slightly light patch on his right inner thigh - almost unnoticeable without aid of a camera. In fact, the paint on his leg and arm-wraps is quite impressive, down to the detail of having the blue wrapping get a little thinner beneath the knee pad. In the past, I've expressed by disdain for the eyes on the figure as observed in the initial promo photography, but the more I look at mine, the less offensive they seem. I think it's passable.
But all is not perfect. You're going to find that Jazwares' biggest paint problem comes from their applications of skin tone, and it shows on sub's shoulder and elbow joints; the hinges of which, along with the rest of his skin, are a proper shade, but the arm between that and the wrap is much paler. It's oogly. To boot, the skin paint just seems...slapped on thicker than the rest of the paint apps - and this isn't so big a problem here, but it's a HUGE problem elsewhere (forthcoming). Skin paint can also be seen on his inner right bicep along the side of the pad straps. Combine that with the other issues I've mentioned, and this is a figure you're going to want to pose with his inner arms tucked away.
Yikes.
The other flaw comes from his arm pads and belt; there's a bit of a silver wash effect on the belt; but it's not enough. The belt, lower edge of waistcloth - front and back - and bicep pad are just dark compared to the game model, where they're quite silvery. In contrast, his 'nipple badges' are the proper shade, and I'm left scratching my head at this omission.
"Okay, I lied. I got them from the kids' aisle in a dollar store. Happy?"
The greatest strength of JW's 6' line over past figures is intended to be their articulation, meaning that they can get all freaky-deaky around their neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, mid-torso, hips, mid-thigh, knees and ankles. That's not as much as some figures out there. For example, there's the renowned Marvel Legends figure line, historical for going above and beyond in that department, to the point of having waaay more in some figures (Elektra, for example, had 40 points. That's nuts). Articulation can be a double-edged sword though, to the point where all the little joints and hinges and screws on your figure are so prominent that they take away from the presentation of the figure itself.
Thankfully, that's not the case with Sub-Zero; the only seriously notable doo-dads - at a glance - are those on his shoulders, elbows, and mid-thigh lines. and 16 points is a more or less respectable amount for a figure in my view. More than the bare minimum I ask, if not especially astounding, but for a series of martial-arts based figures, more would be a plus.
Does the articulation benefit the figure? Yes and no. The trick with joints and hinges is to make sure that when you move them around, everything flows tightly, but smoothly. You don't want to feel like you're scraping paint off, or, worse, actually be scraping paint off. I'm pleased to say that that's not the case with 6' MK9 SUb - with one exception. The mid-torso swivel is something that, plain and simple, I don't feel too comfortable about messing around with. I'm hearing grinding when I'm doing it - this hearkens back to what I said earlier about how thick the paint feels on these figures. I'm not going to be swiveling Sub's chest around much, that's for sure. I'm hearing a kind of grinding going on in there when I do that. Not a good sign.
The other joints perform nicely, but there's a limit to what they can do when compared to other figure lines out there. The mid-thigh swivel, as I explained earlier, really makes the figure look blocky when posed at certain angles. Worse, Sub can't bend his ankles very far back and forward, and his knees stop about 45 degrees because of the bagginess of his pants - a nice sculpting detail that puts off the point of the vaunted articulation these guys have. That's severely limiting; I honestly can't get a proper freeze pose off right. Same with the neck; he can't so much look up or down as 'nod'. On the positive side, dynamic poses aren't entirely impossible; just don't be fooled into thinking you'll be able to get any of his classic moves to look especially great. They come closer than most other figures in Jazwares' history, but that's not saying too much.
"Not sure if sliding or hotstepping."
"Hadouken? No? Ok, moving on then."
Sub-Zero comes with one accessory, this game's version of the ice swords he's been sporting ever since MK4. Now, Jazwares MK figures have a weird history with their accessories; we've seen the same figure re-released in different waves with completely different weapons, some of which they can't even hold due to the hand sculpting (my Reptile longs to grasp his Kirehashi blade). Thankfully, Sub's come correct with his weapon, but as usual, Jazwares' accessories are made of a very soft, malleable plastic; MK figure accessories nearly always come out of the package warped or bent (though it's nothing a night under a heavy book can't fix, in my experience). My Sub's sword is no exception, the blade is curved. I'm not impressed with the paint job it's been given either; you'd think with Jazwares' tendency to put out translucent versions of figures like 'Cold Snap Sub-Zero', 'Electric Raiden', and the upcoming X-Ray Reptile and Jax pack, Sub could have a sword that looked like it was made of ice. But this doesn't. It looks like he's got a fake toy blue sword that he dropped in slush. Awful.
"...would you care to purchase a watch? I also have watches. Very high quality watches. Yes."
Now to the question I'm sure is on everyone's mind, action figures being the luxury they are and all: Is he worth the samloleans? The scratch, the moola, the change, the legal tender, the...cold hard cash?
Sorry, Sub. I won't do it again. Promise.
I'm going to say "For fifteen-odd bucks? Sure, for Sub-Zero fans". I've outlined the figure's flaws, and there are more than a few. But by and large, and especially to the casual figure collector, they're nitpicks when you look at the whole package, with the exception of just how unrealized his poseability i, and the crappiness of his sword. But he comes with a caveat: There's a 20th anniversary box set coming out that will feature this model, the Shaolin Monks model, and the MK1 model all in one package. If you're willing to plonk down the likely thirty-five minimum bucks that thing's going to cost, and you're patient, you may be better off waiting a little. There's also a "battle damage" version of this figure coming for those of you who like your figure with a few nicks and bruises.
Pros:
-Impressive paint job on body, very close to game model, mostly well detailed and balanced.
Cons:
-Articulation not as functional as it could be, ugly accessory, uneven skin paint job, no silver wash on armpads or waistcloth.
Verdict: 6/10 - Sub's fans or absolute completionists will get the most out of this one. You're not missing too much by skipping him, but he's nice to have, and is a passable representation of one of MK's hallmarks.
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So has anyone found the 4 inch Reptile or Baraka figures in stores yet? Or is it off to Ebay like I had to do for the 6-ninja "classic" set? Also, it seems like Toys R Us has been cutting back on their "adult collectible" figures in the stores 
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