Review: Penny Arcade: Cardboard Tube Samurai: Before the Storm
The assumption is that, if you're here, you're probably also familiar with Penny Arcade, the most successful comic strip on the internet. At this point, Penny Arcade is really more an empire than a web-comic: they've got podcasts, an annual convention, and a charity which purchases video games for hospitals.
The comic itself is primarily focused around video games, though it often strays into D&D and general geek culture. While I'm not really into video games these days, the comic is, more often than not, absolutely hilarious whether you're familiar with the reference or not.
The Cardboard Tube Samurai is... a bit hard to explain, actually. He's sort of the alter-ego of one of the characters, who is in turn sort of the alter-ego of the comic's artist. Or at least it started that way. Over the years, there have been several Cardboard Tube Samurai stories, typically occurring in Feudal Japan. More than anything else, it feels like an opportunity for the writer and artist to play in a different setting.
The premise is fairly straight forward: the Cardboard Tube Samurai wanders the countryside until he is either needed or attacked. Then he uses his razor-sharp cardboard tube to slaughter his enemies.
I'm not sure there's much in the way of character here, but there's just something brilliant about the comics. Something about the design and the absurdity of the tube just makes the whole thing work for me. And, it seems, a lot of other people: there was sufficient interest to develop a statue based on the samurai. These are made by Gensen Figure and sold online.
And boy did I want one. I wanted one a lot. But fifty bucks? Sorry; even for something as cool as the CTS, I couldn't justify dropping the dough.
Did I ever tell you how much I love Christmas? Or my wife?
The comic itself is primarily focused around video games, though it often strays into D&D and general geek culture. While I'm not really into video games these days, the comic is, more often than not, absolutely hilarious whether you're familiar with the reference or not.
The Cardboard Tube Samurai is... a bit hard to explain, actually. He's sort of the alter-ego of one of the characters, who is in turn sort of the alter-ego of the comic's artist. Or at least it started that way. Over the years, there have been several Cardboard Tube Samurai stories, typically occurring in Feudal Japan. More than anything else, it feels like an opportunity for the writer and artist to play in a different setting.
The premise is fairly straight forward: the Cardboard Tube Samurai wanders the countryside until he is either needed or attacked. Then he uses his razor-sharp cardboard tube to slaughter his enemies.
I'm not sure there's much in the way of character here, but there's just something brilliant about the comics. Something about the design and the absurdity of the tube just makes the whole thing work for me. And, it seems, a lot of other people: there was sufficient interest to develop a statue based on the samurai. These are made by Gensen Figure and sold online.
And boy did I want one. I wanted one a lot. But fifty bucks? Sorry; even for something as cool as the CTS, I couldn't justify dropping the dough.
Did I ever tell you how much I love Christmas? Or my wife?
Appearance and Construction: 7/10
Keep in mind this is being scored as a statue, not an action figure, so there's a higher standard at play here.
I don't envy whoever had to design this. The thing is, most Cardboard Tube Samurai story arcs have their own art style and storyline. Consequently, there's no single "definitive" look for the Samurai.
Overall, the artist did a good job of capturing the essence of the character, with one possible exception. By deciding to make the Cardboard Tube Samurai's head capable of supporting his hat, they had to drop his haircut, which sort of points into the air.
This is really only an issue when the hat is off, and, because it's a statue, a case could certainly be made that it's meant to be displayed on. The problem with this is that the underside of the hat isn't detailed like the top. Consequently, in some ways the figure looks better with the hat off than on. But, if you want a fairly accurate portrayal, you'll need him wearing the hat.
I also feel like the head is a little dull. There's been a lot of art they could have chosen for inspiration for this character, and his expression here just isn't overwhelming.
The sculpt and paint work is very good, but there are a few weak points. The right hand has some issues between the third and fourth finger. I can't tell for sure if it's a sculpting problem or if some paint dripped down there, but either way it's a notable imperfection. In addition, the paint work, while solid, is less than perfect and doesn't quite do justice to the depth in some areas (particularly the sandals). That said, the costume looks fantastic, capturing a shocking degree of realism in the folds and flow of the sculpted fabric. If anything, the figure looks even nicer from the back, where you can see the large version of his symbol.
Action figures get a pass on these kinds of issues, but statues are graded on a steeper curve. I'm going to give him a seven, seeing as there's room to grow.
I don't envy whoever had to design this. The thing is, most Cardboard Tube Samurai story arcs have their own art style and storyline. Consequently, there's no single "definitive" look for the Samurai.
Overall, the artist did a good job of capturing the essence of the character, with one possible exception. By deciding to make the Cardboard Tube Samurai's head capable of supporting his hat, they had to drop his haircut, which sort of points into the air.
This is really only an issue when the hat is off, and, because it's a statue, a case could certainly be made that it's meant to be displayed on. The problem with this is that the underside of the hat isn't detailed like the top. Consequently, in some ways the figure looks better with the hat off than on. But, if you want a fairly accurate portrayal, you'll need him wearing the hat.
I also feel like the head is a little dull. There's been a lot of art they could have chosen for inspiration for this character, and his expression here just isn't overwhelming.
The sculpt and paint work is very good, but there are a few weak points. The right hand has some issues between the third and fourth finger. I can't tell for sure if it's a sculpting problem or if some paint dripped down there, but either way it's a notable imperfection. In addition, the paint work, while solid, is less than perfect and doesn't quite do justice to the depth in some areas (particularly the sandals). That said, the costume looks fantastic, capturing a shocking degree of realism in the folds and flow of the sculpted fabric. If anything, the figure looks even nicer from the back, where you can see the large version of his symbol.
Action figures get a pass on these kinds of issues, but statues are graded on a steeper curve. I'm going to give him a seven, seeing as there's room to grow.
Packaging and Extras: ----
Given that, so far as I know, these aren't sold in stores, I can't blame them for going with a straightforward box without a window or anything. These are intended to protect the toys in transit, not sell them in the first place:
The art on the pack is nice. I particularly like that the tube wraps around the side. The figure comes encased in a block of styrofoam, which is really required whenever statues are involved.
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Depending on how you want to define your terms, the Cardboard Tube Samurai comes with between zero and three extras. I'm going to go over these here, but any impact they had on the score occurred above. First up, you've got the tube. This is pretty nice, but I have one fairly substantial complaint: this should really be hollow. Yeah, I know, it would be fragile unless you sculpted it out of another material, but the world's full of alternative (and in many cases cheap) materials. |
If they felt like they had to do it this way, why not also include a second version made out of... oh, I don't know... CARDBOARD. For what would probably have run them fractions of a penny, it would have been a cool offering.
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I have conflicting feelings about the hat. On one hand, the design is a near perfect copy of how it appears in the movie. On the other, it just doesn't look like the rest of the figure. While the statue is done in a style reminiscent of Japanese animation, the hat has a more pencil-sketch look, kind of like NECA's TMNT figures. Finally, the Samurai comes with a black, ovular base to stand on. It's nothing spectacular, but it does its job without detracting from the figure. I don't feel like the figure is missing anything that was required, but there were certainly some opportunities here for bonus points. |
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I already mentioned the idea of including an alternate miniature carboard tube. If they'd really wanted to take this to the next level, they could have made the head removable and given us an alternate with the character's correct hairstyle. I'd also have loved to see a pig, the Samurai's animal companion. Still, none of this was required, so I certainly won't deduct any points.
Play and Display: ----
I generally give display pieces a default +1 here unless they give me a reason not to. Unfortunately, the Samurai gave me a reason to hold back. Actually, there are a few reasons. The good news is that none of them are huge.
The main problem is with the pegs holding the Samurai on his base. There are two pegs, both sliding into the figure's right foot. I don't know if there's a issue with their size or the holes in his feet, but they don't go all the way in. As a result, the figure winds up with a small gap between his foot and the base.
I haven't personally had any issues with balance. That said, there are plenty of testimonials I've seen online written by those whose figures took a tumble and lost a finger or worse.
The next issue is with the tube and hand holding it. Ultimately, the tube is really just balanced in place, and it tends to want to fall. Same goes for the hat. Really, you'll want to remove both before moving the statue.
The figure can, for short periods of time, stand on his own, but he's not stable and is very fragile... so don't try it. He's not articulated, but then I'd have been surprised if he was. He is, after all, a statue.
The main problem is with the pegs holding the Samurai on his base. There are two pegs, both sliding into the figure's right foot. I don't know if there's a issue with their size or the holes in his feet, but they don't go all the way in. As a result, the figure winds up with a small gap between his foot and the base.
I haven't personally had any issues with balance. That said, there are plenty of testimonials I've seen online written by those whose figures took a tumble and lost a finger or worse.
The next issue is with the tube and hand holding it. Ultimately, the tube is really just balanced in place, and it tends to want to fall. Same goes for the hat. Really, you'll want to remove both before moving the statue.
The figure can, for short periods of time, stand on his own, but he's not stable and is very fragile... so don't try it. He's not articulated, but then I'd have been surprised if he was. He is, after all, a statue.
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 7/10
The Samurai statue runs fifty bucks, which actually seems fairly cheap for a statue these days. Most DC Direct statues in this scale seem to have climbed between sixty and eighty. Given that a Cardboard Tube Samurai statue is, at least in theory, more of a specialty item than Batman, I'm kind of surprised they managed to get these produced in similar quality without an absurd price. Then again, there are a lot of Penny Arcade readers....
Is it worth it? That's a tough one. The thing is, as someone used to buying fifteen dollar articulated figures in the same scale, my eyes bulge out of my head whenever I see what statues are going for. I appreciate that the material is higher quality, but it's also easier to break.
I guess what I'm saying is, I'm really the wrong person to gauge the value of a statue. The reason I don't collect them is that I can't get my mind around the price tag. I'd never have bought this for myself, no matter how much I wanted one.
And I wanted one a lot. Like I said before, I love the design on this character, and, for all my minor complaints, this adapts that into three dimensions nicely.
One day, I really hope Penny Arcade manages to produce a really nice six or seven inch action figure of the Cardboard Tube Samurai. Barring that, I'll have to keep trying to convince my wife to make me one. Maybe next Christmas, if I'm lucky....
Is it worth it? That's a tough one. The thing is, as someone used to buying fifteen dollar articulated figures in the same scale, my eyes bulge out of my head whenever I see what statues are going for. I appreciate that the material is higher quality, but it's also easier to break.
I guess what I'm saying is, I'm really the wrong person to gauge the value of a statue. The reason I don't collect them is that I can't get my mind around the price tag. I'd never have bought this for myself, no matter how much I wanted one.
And I wanted one a lot. Like I said before, I love the design on this character, and, for all my minor complaints, this adapts that into three dimensions nicely.
One day, I really hope Penny Arcade manages to produce a really nice six or seven inch action figure of the Cardboard Tube Samurai. Barring that, I'll have to keep trying to convince my wife to make me one. Maybe next Christmas, if I'm lucky....
Thanks for reading! Don't forget I've got a blog as well, where you can catch up on movie reviews and other reflections. Also, let's not forget I've got a book out now.
