[TAO's Note: I'm already running out of ways to introduce Clark's GI Joe Week reviews, and there are still so many more to come. This time he's taking a look at the GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra Rex "The Doctor" Lewis figure from Hasbro. Does this toy need some plastic surgery or does this check-up result in a healthy diagnosis? Forgive the horrdenous puns and read on to find out!]
Name: Rex “The Doctor” Lewis, Chief Experimental Doctor
Line: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Released: Summer 2009
Scale: 3.75 in. (the figure is 4.25 in. tall)
Price: Retail $6.99-$8.99, Online $9.99-$14.95
Accessories: Giant grabber, suitcase with three cannisters, pistol, machine gun, two claws gauntlets, coat, and figure stand
Sponsor Listings: Past Generation Toys-$13.95,
Having not yet seen the movie, (and it is very possible I will not see it until the DVD release) I can only judge the sculpt on my impressions of this figure as a toy, not on how accurately it represents to character on screen. That said, I really like the way The Doctor looks. His sleeveless coat is simple and sleek, and looks pretty good, although very toyish. The costume underneath looks like it is made of black leather, and has several straps with buckles wrapping around the body. It is very well detailed (if not a bit sadomasochistic) and a little creepy and evil. The Doctor has a respirator which fits well but forces him to look down when he wears it. The wig on the head looks like greasy hair which sits far back on his head (I was watching a Harry Potter movie at home while getting ready to write the review, and he reminded me of a deformed Prof. Snape). Ole’ Sexy Rexy’s head has some rather nasty, deformed details, and I love it. When you take off the coat, respirator, and wig; he almost looks like Pinhead from “Hellraiser.” He also comes with several accessories, including two guns, a briefcase with three removable canisters, two claw-gauntlets, a giant spring-loaded grabber, and his removable wig, respirator, and coat. The claws that can be put over his hands add to the creepiness factor of this figure, and they are mean looking and well sculpted. They fit over the hands well, but I recommend keeping some of those clear rubber bands from the packaging so you can secure them when playing with him. I really like how he is skinny, perhaps he is deceptively strong and fast. Overall I really like the way he looks.
Sculpt Score: 9 / 10
All of the paint on this figure is done very well, but there is not much to point out. He has a few silver buckles on his arms and legs, and the head is painted, that is it. The head is particularly nice, the eyes are painted on straight (well actually a little crooked, but they’re supposed to be like that) and the skin is a nice mix of pink and flesh colors to show off his scars. The torso has zero paint-apps whatsoever, and I really wish they had just put some color apps on his body, it would make him look more interesting when not wearing the coat. With some more effort put into the body he could have had a much higher score.
Paint Score: 7 / 10
The Doctor gets the standard articulation for the movie G.I. Joes, which is the same as the 25th anniversary figures. The coat keeps his leg movements to a minimum, and the respirator can double as a neck brace because you absolutely cannot move the head when he wears it. Take those things off and you have a very mobile figure that can be put in all kinds of positions. All of his joints are nice and tight, but not too tight, and he is just fun to hold and pose. I really have no complaints, I know what to expect from a modern Joe figure and he has what you want.
Articulation Score: 8 / 10
Rex “The Doctor” Lewis is a very fun figure. Between the removable pieces of his wardrobe, to his claw gauntlets and other weapons, you can spend quite a bit of time mixing and matching with this guy. He almost looks like an experiment gone wrong, maybe some Cobra super-soldier prototype who you don’t want to mess with. I’m almost afraid to see the movie, because I might end up hating this figure, but until then he can be any character I want him to be. Also, I now have a creepy vampiric figure for my MU Blade to fight.
Fun Score: 9 / 10
I picked up Rex for $6.99 at a local Target (some Targets around me have them for $7.99). I feel better purchasing a 3.75” figure for $6.99 than I do at $7.99. Although it is only a dollar, it really helps the way I feel about him. With all of his accessories (although the giant grabber is not very useful) and play value I think $7 is about right.
Value Score: 8 / 10
9 / 10 - Very well executed sculpt, with a cool scarred head and detailed outfit.
7 / 10 - I wish there were a few more painted details, but I can’t fault what’s there.
8 / 10 - Standard G.I. Joe articulation limited by his clothing, but those are removable.
9 / 10 - Cool looking figure with neat accessories, he’s just a fun bad guy.
8 / 10 - This score is for him at $6.99, he would probably get a 6 at $7.99.
82 / 100 - This is a Great Toy
If you just skipped to the end of the review (and I know you do it too) you read that correctly. The Doctor actually is a great toy. I’m sure he is going to be a completely lame character in the movie (and I think we all have figured out who he is really) but that should not affect his score as a toy. It is a shame that the movie looks so bad, because there are several good figures from the movie lines that I’ve found on the pegs. I really hope the movie itself won’t affect how much I like the figures I’ve picked up so far.
-Clark
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