Review: Toynami Futurama Bender
As a kid, I loved The Simpsons. It was probably the single most significant show for me growing up. I tuned in every week for years. Then, at some point (there's some debate as to exactly when) the show started going south. Stylistically, the characters lost a lot of what made them distinct, and the series shifted from telling stories to simple satire. There's nothing inherently wrong about satire, but it just wasn't as interesting in the long term.
So I stopped watching.
Then I heard of a new show coming out by The Simpsons' creators, a science fiction spoof called, "Futurama." I watched the first two episodes, decided they were trying too hard to focus on a bunch of characters I didn't care about, and turned it off.
Well... it turned out I was being a little hasty. What bothered me about the first two episodes was the drama, which felt unearned. If I'd kept watching for one more episode, I'd have been a lot happier: they shifted gears immediately.
Eventually, the series does get somewhat serious again, but by that time there's no question that the writers have earned the drama. By that time, I cared about the characters (a fact which makes those first two episodes FAR better when seen again). Clearly, there was a vision for the direction the show would head in: I just wasn't quite ready for it at the time.
So I stopped watching.
Then I heard of a new show coming out by The Simpsons' creators, a science fiction spoof called, "Futurama." I watched the first two episodes, decided they were trying too hard to focus on a bunch of characters I didn't care about, and turned it off.
Well... it turned out I was being a little hasty. What bothered me about the first two episodes was the drama, which felt unearned. If I'd kept watching for one more episode, I'd have been a lot happier: they shifted gears immediately.
Eventually, the series does get somewhat serious again, but by that time there's no question that the writers have earned the drama. By that time, I cared about the characters (a fact which makes those first two episodes FAR better when seen again). Clearly, there was a vision for the direction the show would head in: I just wasn't quite ready for it at the time.
I haven't seen the most recent season yet, but I've seen everything else. And, in my personal opinion, taken as a whole Futurama holds its own as one of the best cartoons, one of the best comedies, and one of the best science fiction programs ever put on television. In fact, setting aside the approach, I don't think there's ever been a program more deserving of the designation, "science fiction." Don't let the jokes distract you: there's a lot more scientifically motivated thought put into every aspect of the show (particularly the completely absurd and unscientific elements) than in anything else I've seen.
Despite all that, I'm about to look at the first and so far only collectible I've picked up from the series. Sure, there's been several lines from Toynami, including build-a-figure versions of two of my favorite villains in any media or genre: Robot Santa and the Robot Devil. |
The thing is, I was always hesitant to start collecting these, since I wasn't sure I'd be able to stop. But I finally decided I could have a Bender action figure without needing to go nuts. After all, he fits in fine with my growing collection of killer robots.
Right? RIGHT?
Right? RIGHT?
Appearance and Construction: 7/10
This is a solid representation of the character from the show. Granted, Bender isn't exactly the world's most difficult design, but there are still plenty of places to make mistakes. The sculpt here is more or less perfect, though.
The main issue I have is with the paint. It's not bad, but it's a little weak in areas. Also, the overall construction feels a little light to me. Granted, his body needs to be hollow for the door to work, but I feel like he should have a little more heft.
Still, Toynami managed to capture the character's expression, regardless of which eyes you're using (more on that in the next section).
I'm going with an seven. This is a good looking toy. It could have been a fantastic one, but that's life.
The main issue I have is with the paint. It's not bad, but it's a little weak in areas. Also, the overall construction feels a little light to me. Granted, his body needs to be hollow for the door to work, but I feel like he should have a little more heft.
Still, Toynami managed to capture the character's expression, regardless of which eyes you're using (more on that in the next section).
I'm going with an seven. This is a good looking toy. It could have been a fantastic one, but that's life.
Packaging and Extras: +1
The box looks pretty good on the shelf, but up close it seems underwhelming. The colors are a bit muted and something about the design seems cheap. No worries, though: all cardboard is alike when recycled.
While I wasn't in love with the box, I'm happy to say that Toynami makes up for the figure's small size and large price tag with a nice assortment of extras.
I'll start with the least impressive of the bunch, just to get it out of the way. Bender comes with a large pile of money, presumably loot from gambling or some other questionable activity. The concept is great, but the execution falls flat. The paint and sculpting work just don't pull off the intended effect, and in the end it looks like a lump of plastic. |
The next accessory turned out better. Bender comes with a bottle of "Olde Fortran Malt Liquer", which fans of the show will no doubt recall. While the label isn't completely on straight (and part is peeling), it's still an awesome accessory and a welcome addition to the figure.
Next up, we've got a can of "Mom's Old Fashioned Robot Oil", likewise a regular prop from the series. Last but certainly not least, the figure comes with two extra pairs of eyes. Since these are the only visible indicator of Bender's emotional state on the show, they're all you need to create three very distinctive versions of the character. In this case, you get bored, angry, and sad. Other releases of the character have included different assortments. Personally, I'd have liked to get normal in the mix, but I'm not going to complain. While this is a very nice haul, it's also a fairly expensive figure. Even so, I'm awarding a bonus point due to the sheer volume of extras. If the money had worked out a little better, I think I could have gone to two. |
Play and Display: ----
Bender's not exactly a typical action figure. Toynami only included a few traditional joints, but they make up for that with some unusual options. Then they blow any goodwill from that on poor balance and a pair of missing joints.
In terms of joints, I count six... and two of them are completely useless. Bender has cut joints on the bottom of his head, at his shoulders, and at top of his legs (those would be the useless ones - not that it's a problem: I think they're more present by default than intended to accomplish anything).
His last normal joint is a hinge allowing his chest to open and close. While this is pretty much a requirement, it's good to see it works well.
He also has bendy arms and legs, which are highly appropriate given the character's design.
In the "missing" category, I'm a bit disappointed there aren't cuts on his wrists. It means he can't tilt his bottle, and that's a problem. On the other hand, he can hold the bottle, which is good. I wasn't sure he could until I tried.
Like I said at the top of the section, Bender's balance is lacking, an issue I wasn't anticipating. You can get him to stand with some effort, but it wasn't a problem I expected given the size of his feet.
In the end, I'm considering all of the above to cancel out.
In terms of joints, I count six... and two of them are completely useless. Bender has cut joints on the bottom of his head, at his shoulders, and at top of his legs (those would be the useless ones - not that it's a problem: I think they're more present by default than intended to accomplish anything).
His last normal joint is a hinge allowing his chest to open and close. While this is pretty much a requirement, it's good to see it works well.
He also has bendy arms and legs, which are highly appropriate given the character's design.
In the "missing" category, I'm a bit disappointed there aren't cuts on his wrists. It means he can't tilt his bottle, and that's a problem. On the other hand, he can hold the bottle, which is good. I wasn't sure he could until I tried.
Like I said at the top of the section, Bender's balance is lacking, an issue I wasn't anticipating. You can get him to stand with some effort, but it wasn't a problem I expected given the size of his feet.
In the end, I'm considering all of the above to cancel out.
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 8/10
I'm glad I finally have a representation of Bender Bending Rodriguez in my collection, but, barring sales or clearance, I don't think I'm going to try and track down more of these. It would just be too much money and time to put together the whole crew.
This ran me fifteen bucks at Toys R Us. More than I like paying for toys like this, but about what I'm used to.
Now, if someone wanted to release a nice looking and affordable die-cast version of the Planet Express Delivery Ship, I'd have a hard time turning that down, but that's neither here nor there.
Rather than go through the trouble of putting together a "Wasting Time" detailing a theoretical battle between Bender and a T-800, I'll just sum it up in a single photo:
This ran me fifteen bucks at Toys R Us. More than I like paying for toys like this, but about what I'm used to.
Now, if someone wanted to release a nice looking and affordable die-cast version of the Planet Express Delivery Ship, I'd have a hard time turning that down, but that's neither here nor there.
Rather than go through the trouble of putting together a "Wasting Time" detailing a theoretical battle between Bender and a T-800, I'll just sum it up in a single photo: