Okay. I know it's been a GOD AWEFUL LONG TIME since I've done a toy review. I have no excuse except for the fact that I run six companies, teach music, manage 20 employees, started developing new software, and have been working hard on finishing my new album. Aside from that—no excuses.

Anyway, let's start this out with this thought:

IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING YEAR FOR TELEVISION!

With the advent of streaming services like Netflix getting into television production, I have to say that it's got to be television's new golden age. Let's face it, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and STRANGER THINGS are collectively some of the best television that we've ever seen. The acting, directing, longer story line development, and special effects have really ushered in a new age of TV that we just haven't seen the likes of before.

That being said, I thought I would do this review about the new Daredevil and Punisher figures. Daredevil is the show that got me hooked on Netflix as a production company. It was the first show that I ever binge watched and I was hurting from lack of sleep (as I am right now recovering from Stranger Things season 2).

But I digress… THE TOYS are why you're here. So let's start!

Daredevil:



Gotta admit—I've always liked Daredevil as a hero. I knew some of his back story, but I always liked the concept of who he was. There was an arcade in our mall growing up called "Take Ten". I seem to recall a Daredevil game or pinball machine at one point. I don't actually remember the game, just the logo against a yellow background. I think I did have a 4" Daredevil figure as a kid and I've always thought he was pretty cool. I guess for those two reasons, the nostalgia was always there for me with Daredevil.

I think Hot Toys nailed it on the head sculpt and body suit. As per usual with Hot Toys, the arms are a little thin for the character but it's their standard body and doesn't detract from the overall figure. I don't think it's worth complaining about or loosing sleep (or writing on the Hot Toys Facebook site about how much they've ruined your childhood because they gave a character that you love small forearms). You truly can't expect a toy company to create new body molds every time they release a new figure. It wouldn't be cost effective and the figures would cost us (the buyer) exponentially more. I mean seriously, have you read some of the comments on the Hot Toys Facebook page? These dudes are friggin' BRUTAL!



As you can see in the mask, the eyes are slightly translucent. They allow just enough light to enter (just like in the Netflix series).

I thought Netflix did an outstanding job of designing this costume anyway, so I'm actually pretty excited to see such a good representation in 1/6th scale.



One thing I noticed is the new boot design in both the Daredevil and Punisher figures. In both of these figures, the boots bend at the ankles. This isn't the first time they've done this sort of thing (they did the same thing with the Luke Skywalker EP IV figure), but it's the first time I've noticed it on a standalone boot design. Luke's boots were designed that way in the movie (with separate leggings). Hot Toys had to design these boots to do the same articulation, but pull it off in a standard combat boot design. I think it's a good execution of a tricky articulation point.



The boot above obviously belongs to The Punisher, but the articulation is the same on Daredevil. You can notice the articulation from the side (when bending the ankle at a sharp angle). I've shown the worst example above. You don't notice the articulation when the figure is posed without bending the ankle. It's a very discreet design and I think they handled this the best way that they could.



As you can see, a direct shot looks great.

Accessories:

Daredevil doesn't come with a ton of accessories. There's the usual hand variations that Hot Toys ships (open hand, closed fist, open fist—both with right and left hand versions of each), an alternative bloody face (with growling teeth), and an open and closed nunchuck/staff.

Don't get your panties in a wad here…. Daredevil doesn't need a ton of accessories. He doesn't use many and it's a nice use of simplistic design. My only complaint is that I would've like to have had an unmasked Matt Murdock head. I'm a sucker for the unmasked heads. I can't stand Captain America's mask on my Hot Toys figure, so I display my Captain America without his mask. I probably wouldn't display Daredevil without a mask because let's face it—that mask rocks! But I sure would put that head on another body, dress him up in a little suit and make him practice law for my other 12 inch figures. I think Tony Stark needs a good lawyer…. :)

Punisher:



I learned about The Punisher from Andy Jones around 1986. He was my comic collecting friend. I have to admit that I never read or collected comics. I always kept tabs on who these characters were, I just never bought the comics for myself. By the late 1980's The Punisher had his own movie starring Dolph Lundgren. I knew the character's back story and I knew he was more of a fringe character than the standard heavyweights you'd see like Batman, Spiderman, or Superman. But something about this guy was pretty cool.

After seeing Jon Bernthal deliver a gut wrenching performance of this troubled character in the Daredevil series in season two—I gotta say I'm a fan.



"You know, you're one bad day away from being me". God, that's a killer line!

The Punisher's outfit is great. It's just like the series and Hot Toys (and Netflix) did a great job of toning down the skull. The "accidental whitewash" look of the skull is just priceless when it comes to character design. It echoes the past while retaining it's place in the Marvel cinematic universe.

Frank Castle's suit is based off military fatigues and the figure stays very true to that form.

My only gripe with this figure is that Hot Toys didn't use a seamless arm design (Like with the Thor or Wonder Woman figures). I absolutely hate seeing articulation in an elbow joint. This would've been a much greater improvement on the figure for those of you who want to display this one without the trench coat.

I have to admit that the reason I didn't keep a Hot Toys Harley Quinn for myself is because I don't like seeing knee or elbow joints. Her knees just took away from the sculpt for me. (Side note—her head sculpt was amazing).

In any case, the trench coat fixes this issue for The Punisher figure and I do think he looks better with the coat anyway. So, okay…. no real complaints. But still…. SEAMLESS ARMS, PEOPLE!!





Again, I think Hot Toys nailed this head sculpt. Their use of shading to create his military fade and 5 o'clock shadow is truly amazing. Jon Bernthal's likeness is uncanny. I probably should've shot this as a closeup with a 50mm (to get greater detail) but I didn't. Sorry. I was exhausted. Stayed up late just to get these.

Also—the coloring on the bloody cheek is outstanding. Hot Toys does an amazing job with blood. It looks totally realistic. The Daredevil open mouth face sculpt also does a great job of the bloody look.




Accessories:

The Punisher comes chock full with cool accessories. Just like the Daredevil, he's got the multi hand sculpts. He's got the Minigun, a 50cal sniper rifle (with working bolt action and removable clip), a revolver, a Ka-Bar survival knife, and an extra Daredevil mask. I noticed that the one he came with is actually different from the one that the Hot Toys Daredevil is wearing. I can't remember if the variation is at the end of season 1 or 2, but I'm sure it's there.

In many ways, this guy is the human Terminator. Not only does he carry out Terminator style missions, but his sweet leather coat and weaponry (a-la mini-gun) scream T2. I'm not complaining—Mr. Castle wears it well.

Final Summary:

Both figures are fantastic. I think that they're worthy of anyone's collection. It's the first time we have a great cinematic story to go along with these two incredibly sculpted figures. For that, I will always be grateful. Both figures also come with a display base that is textured like asphalt. The Daredevil figure has a nice mini diorama (and I do mean mini) with a sculpted brick wall as a backdrop.

If you're the type of collector that collects the boxes for display, there's nothing to write home about with these boxes. I don't like talking about boxes unless it's the time I had a box manufacturer measure our guitar boxes three times and came up with the wrong measurement each time. I don't understand the complexity of cardboard cubes, nor do I like looking at them. So yeah—nothing to see here.

As mentioned, the figures don't require a ton of accessories. The head sculpts and outfits are spot on. Although I would've loved to see an extra Matt Murdoch unmasked head, I can't fault them (since I'd never display it except on the lawyer figure).

One last thing: I have to give a good shout out to a customer Mike (who bought a Punisher figure from me) and then I goofed and sent him the Daredevil instead. He was cool about my mistake and then called to keep it and order the Punisher as well. Thank you for being AWESOME! It was his phone conversation today that prompted this blog. He mentioned that he thought the figures would look good together. I agree, Mike! They do!

Don't forget—I welcome the comments below!