NECA "Weird Al" Yankovic
Let me start by stating up front this isn't going to be a review. I wouldn't review the Mona Lisa, and I won't be reviewing this. Why? Because Weird Al and Mona Lisa were two of the greatest musical satirists of their respective eras, that's why. Also, because this action figure transcends petty discussions like sculpting, articulation, and plastic SPI classification numbers that typically permeate these reviews.
No, this won't be a review, but a testimonial of THE SINGLE GREATEST ACTION FIGURE EVER PRODUCED.
Okay, I may have gotten carried away with hyperbole a moment ago. In this interest of full disclosure, I should probably specify that this is technically a type of fashion doll. This is actually true of all action figures, due to the medium's derivation from Barbie by way of GI Joe. The concept was then shrunken down in scale in the 1970's, leading to lines such as Mego, which were later shrunken further, most famously by Kenner in their line of 3.75 inch Star Wars actions figures, a scale which was then used in GI Joes.
You think I'm going too far back? WRONG. I allowed myself to move too far forward - I should really have stopped with Mego, who's classic eight-inch line of action figures was indirectly the inspiration for this version of Al. But now I feel bad about getting carried away and talking about Star Wars. To make up for it, here's a picture that ties everything together.
No, this won't be a review, but a testimonial of THE SINGLE GREATEST ACTION FIGURE EVER PRODUCED.
Okay, I may have gotten carried away with hyperbole a moment ago. In this interest of full disclosure, I should probably specify that this is technically a type of fashion doll. This is actually true of all action figures, due to the medium's derivation from Barbie by way of GI Joe. The concept was then shrunken down in scale in the 1970's, leading to lines such as Mego, which were later shrunken further, most famously by Kenner in their line of 3.75 inch Star Wars actions figures, a scale which was then used in GI Joes.
You think I'm going too far back? WRONG. I allowed myself to move too far forward - I should really have stopped with Mego, who's classic eight-inch line of action figures was indirectly the inspiration for this version of Al. But now I feel bad about getting carried away and talking about Star Wars. To make up for it, here's a picture that ties everything together.
I should probably specify that the Lightsaber, Yoda, and Dagobah swamp scene aren't included with NECA's Al action figure. And, while I'm typing up disclaimers, I should probably also acknowledge that that isn't, in fact, a Dagobah swamp scene, but instead something that came with a Diamond Select Dracula figure I bought but never reviewed.
Where were we? Oh, yes: the 1970's. With the death of disco, the world was ready for something new, something powerful. Any music historian can tell you that something was POLKA, not barbershop, as the series I stole that joke from will tell you. And that brings us to this BOX, designed by Chris Longo, the graphic designer working at NECA:
Where were we? Oh, yes: the 1970's. With the death of disco, the world was ready for something new, something powerful. Any music historian can tell you that something was POLKA, not barbershop, as the series I stole that joke from will tell you. And that brings us to this BOX, designed by Chris Longo, the graphic designer working at NECA:
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Chris really knocked it out of the park this time, including an Al-style gag on the back and appropriate imagery. My only real complaint is the giant ugly bar code and price tag slapped haphazardly in the upper-right-hand corner that coincidentally appears on other objects I've bought from the same store. Sorry, but you dropped the ball there, Chris.
Oh, I also didn't photograph the bottom, which contains credits for the product developing, sculpt, fabrication, tailoring, paint, prototypes, photography, and - especially relevant to this article for some reason - the guy who did the packaging.
But there's more to this than the exterior of a box! You also get a clear, plastic tray specifically designed to fit inside the cardboard box designed by Chris Longo. And that clear plastic tray holds something that might be even more impressive: the 8-inch clothed action figure/fashion doll I probably should have been writing about this entire time.
Oh, I also didn't photograph the bottom, which contains credits for the product developing, sculpt, fabrication, tailoring, paint, prototypes, photography, and - especially relevant to this article for some reason - the guy who did the packaging.
But there's more to this than the exterior of a box! You also get a clear, plastic tray specifically designed to fit inside the cardboard box designed by Chris Longo. And that clear plastic tray holds something that might be even more impressive: the 8-inch clothed action figure/fashion doll I probably should have been writing about this entire time.
The figure comes with two heads, three hands, an accordion, and a microphone, but you can really only use one of the heads and two of the hands at a time. Unless you get creative.
The inclusion of the second head is especially appreciated. In addition to the sculpt depicting him how he looked in the 1980's when he was in his twenties, they included a version that more accurately depicts him now, three decades later, when he still inexplicably looks like he's in his twenties.
Unfortunately, he doesn't come with the other things appearing in these photos, so if you want to recreate these images, you'll need to go to Ikea and buy your own table. I use a Bjursta myself.
Unfortunately, he doesn't come with the other things appearing in these photos, so if you want to recreate these images, you'll need to go to Ikea and buy your own table. I use a Bjursta myself.
I think that more or less covers everything that needs to be discussed, other than the sculpting, paint ops, articulation, and tailoring. And I'd love to get into those subjects; really, I would. But sadly, I've run out of time. So let's just say it looks a lot like that action figure in all of those pictures, and it's got a similar range of motion.
Oh, and it can shoot LASERS OUT OF ITS EYES. LIKE REAL, ACTUAL LASERS, THAT CAN MELT THROUGH STEEL GIRDERS AS THOUGH THEY WERE IMITATION SPREADS THAT CLAIMED TO TASTE EXACTLY LIKE MARGARINE BUT ARE ACTUALLY A SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCE AT THE SAME PRICE POINT AND WITH THE SAME NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION, AND YOU'RE STUCK BASHING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A WALL WONDERING WHY YOU DIDN'T BUY REAL MARGARINE INSTEAD OF THE FAKE KIND.
But, yeah. Lasers. So don't give this to kids under 4.
Oh, and it can shoot LASERS OUT OF ITS EYES. LIKE REAL, ACTUAL LASERS, THAT CAN MELT THROUGH STEEL GIRDERS AS THOUGH THEY WERE IMITATION SPREADS THAT CLAIMED TO TASTE EXACTLY LIKE MARGARINE BUT ARE ACTUALLY A SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCE AT THE SAME PRICE POINT AND WITH THE SAME NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION, AND YOU'RE STUCK BASHING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A WALL WONDERING WHY YOU DIDN'T BUY REAL MARGARINE INSTEAD OF THE FAKE KIND.
But, yeah. Lasers. So don't give this to kids under 4.
