Review: NECA Gremlins 2: Mohawk
Like Labyrinth, Gremlins manages to capture the essence of the 1980's. A mix of horror, fantasy, and comedy, it's also a lot of fun. It wasn't one of all-time my favorites as a kid - and it still isn't - but I have to admit there's something about it that really makes me nostalgic.
I haven't seen the sequel in quite a while, but I recall it being a tad zanier than the original. Actually, if memory serves, it kind of makes UHF looks like a dark and serious analysis of the human psyche.
At any rate, when I saw NECA was putting out some new Gremlins figures, I didn't much care one way or the other. Then I saw the toys and... yeah, here we are. NECA's toys sometimes have that effect.
I found this in Toys R Us. There are at least four figures in this batch: the other three are from the first movie, though this one's probably the coolest.
I haven't seen the sequel in quite a while, but I recall it being a tad zanier than the original. Actually, if memory serves, it kind of makes UHF looks like a dark and serious analysis of the human psyche.
At any rate, when I saw NECA was putting out some new Gremlins figures, I didn't much care one way or the other. Then I saw the toys and... yeah, here we are. NECA's toys sometimes have that effect.
I found this in Toys R Us. There are at least four figures in this batch: the other three are from the first movie, though this one's probably the coolest.
Appearance and Construction: 9/10
Mohawk differs a bit from his screen appearance in that he looks more realistic than he ever did in the movie. The sculpted warts, the claws, and the painted detail make seem almost lifelike, at least to the extent a hybrid between a lizard and a chicken can be described as "lifelike".
Rather than go for a more "monstrous" pose, NECA chose something more restrained, more thoughtful. Sure, it's pretty clear he's not thinking about anything nice, but that's fine by me.
The ears look fantastic, as does his gizzard. This is a great figure. Whenever I see work of this caliber from NECA, it makes me wonder how other companies can charge $50 - $100 for six inch busts and statues. The detail here is easily comparable, while NECA's "toys" go for a fraction of the price (and a small fraction, at that).
Honestly, I was torn between a nine and a ten, but I decided to play it conservatively. The quest for realism is always stopped short by reality: the paint work is occasionally uneven, and even the best joints detract from the appearance.
Rather than go for a more "monstrous" pose, NECA chose something more restrained, more thoughtful. Sure, it's pretty clear he's not thinking about anything nice, but that's fine by me.
The ears look fantastic, as does his gizzard. This is a great figure. Whenever I see work of this caliber from NECA, it makes me wonder how other companies can charge $50 - $100 for six inch busts and statues. The detail here is easily comparable, while NECA's "toys" go for a fraction of the price (and a small fraction, at that).
Honestly, I was torn between a nine and a ten, but I decided to play it conservatively. The quest for realism is always stopped short by reality: the paint work is occasionally uneven, and even the best joints detract from the appearance.
Appearance and Construction: ----
Not much to say about the package. The graphics are fine, but not stunning:
As usual, the back of the package offers a glimpse of the other figures available. I won't say I'm not tempted. Mohawk comes with only one accessory, unless you count his mohawk (which I don't; more on this in Play and Display). Fortunately, it's a pretty good one.
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In addition to the figure, you get a vial of spider serum, which was used to transform Mohawk into a Gremlin-Spider hybrid (or "Grider", I assume) in Gremlins 2. It was a short-lived transformation, as I recall, thanks to a very angry Gizmo turned Rambo (I'll go with "Grizambo") armed with the deadliest assortment of weapons available from Staples (flaming paperclip bow? Yeah, we've got that).
While I wish the decal was attached a little more carefully (it's a tad uneven), the vial looks fantastic. I doubt I'll display it with Mohawk, but what toy collector doesn't want an accessory like this in their collection? Considering the quality of the figure and its unusually reasonable price point, this is almost enough to justify a bonus point. Almost. If only they'd thrown in a base.... |
Play and Display: ----
Mohawk has a fair number of joints, at least compared to some of NECA's other releases.
The only ball joints are on his shoulders. They don't offer a huge range, but they work well enough.
There are cut joints on Mohawk's elbows, hips, wrists, and neck. Cut elbows aren't common for good reason, though in this case they actually work pretty well. I'm not thrilled with the fact they went with a cut on the neck rather than a ball joint, but - again - it does work well, allowing for some fascinating angles.
The hips aren't entirely useless, either, permitting Mohawk to lean over, as demonstrated to the right.
I'd have liked joints on the ears, but I can live without them.
There's one other element that could conceivably be described as a posing option. The fins that give Mohawk his name start out unattached, so you could display him without them, if you were so inclined. I can't imagine anyone would be, but I suppose that would make him a more or less generic Gremlin.
Actually, this isn't entirely a good thing. Those fins have an obnoxious tendency of falling off whenever they're so much as touched. I'm not going to dock any points over it, but it's definitely irritating.
The only ball joints are on his shoulders. They don't offer a huge range, but they work well enough.
There are cut joints on Mohawk's elbows, hips, wrists, and neck. Cut elbows aren't common for good reason, though in this case they actually work pretty well. I'm not thrilled with the fact they went with a cut on the neck rather than a ball joint, but - again - it does work well, allowing for some fascinating angles.
The hips aren't entirely useless, either, permitting Mohawk to lean over, as demonstrated to the right.
I'd have liked joints on the ears, but I can live without them.
There's one other element that could conceivably be described as a posing option. The fins that give Mohawk his name start out unattached, so you could display him without them, if you were so inclined. I can't imagine anyone would be, but I suppose that would make him a more or less generic Gremlin.
Actually, this isn't entirely a good thing. Those fins have an obnoxious tendency of falling off whenever they're so much as touched. I'm not going to dock any points over it, but it's definitely irritating.
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 9/10
I found Mohawk going for $11.49 at Toys R Us. Let's take a moment to reflect on this.
This is a collectible-quality figure, and it's priced like a mass-market toy.
Strike that. It's priced like a mass-market toy three years ago. A similar sized mass-market toy with far inferior sculpt and paint work goes for fifteen bucks these days.
I don't know why these are as cheap as they are, but it's not hard to recommend these at this price.
This is a collectible-quality figure, and it's priced like a mass-market toy.
Strike that. It's priced like a mass-market toy three years ago. A similar sized mass-market toy with far inferior sculpt and paint work goes for fifteen bucks these days.
I don't know why these are as cheap as they are, but it's not hard to recommend these at this price.
