Following on from my review of the Playmates Star Trek Wrath of Khan Admiral Kirk, the next logical (see what I did there) figure to critique was that of Captain Spock from the same movie. Like Kirk, Spock comes on a blister card with an individual card front complete with an illustration of the character to the top left and name plate confirming both name and rank to the left-hand side of the blister. Again, like Kirk, there are two card versions in circulation. This one is the generic card branded for the Star Trek Universe and used here in the UK for all releases. The US in particular also has access to a retro-inspired card, paying homage to the original Playmates releases. The rear of the card is standard across the range and despite the space available, there is no synopsis of the movie/series the figure is based on, or any character background.
At first glance, both Kirk and Spock appear to share the same body especially as both figures are identical in height, just under 5-inch. While the height is an issue - Spock is taller than Kirk - when you get up close the sculpted bodies are different with Kirk certainly more heavy set, and Spock a slimmer build in the legs and chest. The head sculpt likeness to Leonard Nimoy as he was in 1982 is pretty strong, but the figures are executed to a relatively basic level with limited paint detail and very simplistic application of the eyes and mouth. I have nothing against this as a style, especially considering their £13 price point and an apparent desire to keep this new 2022 line in keeping with the older 1990’s Playmates line. The uniform body is cast in its base colour plastic - red for the torso and arms, black for the trousers and boots. Paint apps over the top are single-tone and include the white collar and trim of the tunic, complete with gold piping and a gold Starfleet badge. The trousers are trimmed in red piping up either side. Playmates have decided to put the copyright info for the figures right across the back of the figure which is unfortunate, and I’d have preferred this in a less intrusive position like the inside of the leg - or certainly not as large.
Articulation is OK, but not ground-breaking with Spock getting 13 points of articulation including single joint knees and elbows, a ball joint head, rotating wrists, and ankle rockers. The looseness of the joints is noticeable and sadly consistent across both Wrath of Khan figures. It is not enough (yet) to cause posing issues but does factor in when you are trying to get Spock to pose. While Kirk was quite neutral in his body design, Spock has been given a very specific right hand posed in the Vulcan Greeting. I wouldn't have expected anything less from a Spock release, but I would have also liked an alternative right hand, as the provided hand does look odd in anything other than the ‘Live Long and Prosper’ gesture.
The Playmates line is going back to its original 1990’s roots with the accessories too and Spock gets a handheld Tricorder and a scanner to pose with. Both are soft sculpts in grey plastic and slightly oversized for the figure itself. I do wonder if these are being created using original moulds? There are however a pair of extra parts with Spock that do buck this trend - the oversized radiation gloves he uses at the end of The Wrath of Khan. Rather than be swap-out hands, these gloves can actually be worn with a split down the underside that allows them to fit over Spock’s original hands. Like all the Playmates releases, Spock also comes with a grey Starfleet emblem stand with a peg hole that fits either foot. It is not the best for display purposes due to its shape, and the figures will sit comfortably on the less intrusive Vintage Star Wars figure clear stands if needed.
All in all, Spock is another adequate figure in a range that is positioning itself well outside the usual 6-inch collectors market and current £20-£25 price bracket. For your hard-earned £13 you get a decent representation of Captain Spock from The Wrath of Khan, and if you have an original Playmates Trek collection he will not look overly out of place. I do think the accessories and the stand need more thought as I think most of them will be discarded by collectors - with Spock proving the concept of more screen-accurate detailed props such as the gloves add more depth to the line. As yet I don't have Khan from the Wrath of Khan trio (Series 1) but I shall ensure he is added in due course and would hope Playmates do us fans the justice of providing us a wider Wrath of Khan team for displays - particularly Doctor McCoy and maybe the rest of the main Enterprise bridge crew.
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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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