The Summer 2021 B&M releases for Characters Doctor Who range saw the figure 3-packs themed around the 1st Doctor. The second wave for 2021, released just before Christmas, saw the focus shift to the 5th Doctor era with sets based on Earthshock and The Five Doctors.
The Five Doctor set was packed into the standard and established rectangular box with the angled front panel and deep blue headers with blue-lined art of the TARDIS on grey panels for the rest of the design. The box is titled THE FIVE DOCTORS (1983) and there are no character names on the box front. The figures are named on the reverse along with an image of each figure. Unlike the TARDIS or Dalek sets, there is no extensive history of the article or characters leaving the back of the box clean and clutter-free, but without any interesting facts or snippets.
The set is unique in as much there are two versions of the release. The first contains the Cyberman as listed on the back of the box. But Character have also produced an equal number of sets where the Cyberman is upgraded to a Cyberleader. This is not a chase edition as such as the chance of picking it up is the same as the standard set. And it marks the first appearance of the 5th/6th Doctor Cyberleader.
The Story 3-packs now include a scenery backing card, in this release, it is the cave environment in which we find the Raston Warrior Robot. The image is a little flat and would need a bit of work to be turned into a suitable display environment.
We start with the Cyberleader figure, which uses the original 2010 Earthshock body with the updated boots we saw in the configuration released in the same year as the Stealth Cyberman from Attack of the Cyberman. The leader is new to the line essentially as the only other Attack Cybermen have been standard figures - the difference being the painted black segments of the helmet handlebars.
The sculpt remains one of the best in the line for proportions and detail including the various textures on the suit, the chest plate, and the clear plastic panels on the chest and the chin. Paint is limited with the body cast in silver plastic although there is evidence of a darker metallic wash across the figure - most visible on the feet. The eyes are painted in black which has been done more recently on the B&M Attack Cyberman release (2017).
The black markings on the handlebars are the sole difference between the two variants split across the set. The Cyberman has silver across their helmet with the same level of detail and paint apps as the Leader. This is, of course, the figure most of us would want to Army Build so there will be lots of 3rd Doctors and Raston Warriors on eBay in the coming weeks and the Cyberman variant is more likely to sell out first.
The second figure in the set is the 3rd Doctor, he of course being the incarnation that interacted with the Cybermen and the Raston Warrior Robot during the events of The Five Doctors.
This is the same 3rd Doctor head sculpt as used across the line since 2009. This Five Doctor version uses the same cape piece as that original 2009 Doctor, with the frilled shirt piece without a tie that we have only ever seen on the Regeneration 4th Doctor to date. The costume is fairly accurate to the Five Doctors although, of course, Pertwee was somewhat older at the time. The pattern on the cloak has been considerably simplified vs the on-screen design.
The Doctor, by the very nature of being based on an older sculpt, comes with a right hand sculpted to hold a Sonic Screwdriver - but this is not included in the pack and therefore does look a little strange.
For those who buy two or more sets for the Cyberman Variant, I am pleased to confirm the cape is removable from the 3rd Doctor giving you a further Pertwee variant for your shelf and while this is not screen accurate (the cape is never removed in The Five Doctors) I can confirm Character have ensured the full coat beneath the cape is painted fully.
Our final figure is another from the 3rd Doctor's scenes with the Cyberman in The Five Doctors, the Raston Warrior Robot. It is made using the original Sharez Jek body, a body recently used to create not only the Voord but the Sensorites. It even is used again in the same wave as one of the Earthshock Androids - both characters share the same costume on screen but with different colours.
This time around we have a new helmet, a recreation of the Raston Warrior plain silver gloss faceplate, and a skin-tight bodysuit. The figure is treated in two differing silver colours, with a duller version used on the suit, and a higher sheen gloss used on the helmet, the back of the head, and the boots.
The hands of the Raston Robot are cast in their 'firing' position with fingers outstretched, but no accessories are included for a more dynamic mode or for parts to stick into your Cybermen as they are systematically picked off by the Raston Robot.
The only accessory in the set is the Cyberman gun which is another re-use from the original Earthshock figure. The gun is very well detailed and has degrees of paint applied to enhance the look around the barrel and down the body of the weapon. The strap remains problematic as it was originally and is perhaps even shorter now and less flexible making posing your Cyberman with the gun in a firing position very difficult. You will also struggle to have it slung as the should armour won't allow the strap to remain in place
All of the figures share the same basic articulation with 14 points of articulation for the Doctor and Raston Warrior. The Raston Warrior has a minor upgrade in terms of coming with the more extensive shoulder joints allowing them to be moved out from the body. The Cyberman figures go up to 16 points with the use of a bootcut swivel.
The joints remain basis in terms of more modern standards with visible pins and very obvious alignment issues when things like the bicep swivels are turned. They do remain in line with all the other Who releases over the past 17-years so none of the new releases looks out of place with the older figures.
All the joints work as designed and although posing options are limited and quite vanilla, the Raston Warrior, in particular, has possibilities for more dynamic display options.
Once again we have a £20 price for three 5-inch figures which is good value by anyone standards, and Character continues to get innovative over re-using and tweaking older sculpts to give new characters and variations.
The makeup of the set may frustrate some, but of course, the popular figures like the Cybermen do help subsidise the more obscure choice and long may this continue via the partnership with B&M. Unlike the Summer sets, these new releases appear to be selling very well with stocks almost exhausted where I live come January. While the Summer Voord and Sensorites Sets did hit clearance, these are unlikely to last that long so get them when and while you can.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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