I'm always hesitant when purchasing modern 12 inch GI Joe action figures, but because of you, the dear reader, I've decided to take the chance on a couple so that you don't have to. Is there any chance this Storm Shadow figure from the new GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra line has changed my perceptions of these 12 inch toys, or has Hasbro just pumped out another junky figure? Read on to see for yourself.
Name: Storm Shadow
Line: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Released: Summer 2009
Price: Retail $19.99-$24.99, Online $21.99-$34.99
Accessories: Coat, pants, pair of boots, belt, long sword, short sword, sai, nunchucks, pistol
Sponsor Listings: Amazon-$21.99
The first thing you'll notice about Storm Shadow's sculpt, is that he just looks kind of ...funny. There are a couple proportional problems that create that effect, first of which is his thick, square chest. There are batteries and some technological bits inside that for his chest into a very blocky shape, which isn't well hidden underneath his coat, particularly from the side where it looks very cube-like. The next big problem is his right arm, which is noticeably longer than the left. The right arm has a karate-chop action feature with an extremely loose hinged wrist. Getting all that to work must have required a slightly longer arm, and it looks wonky. Aside from those problems, everything else is okay, but nothing's good either. His hands are in open positions, meaning he should be able to hold both swords at once, but because the grip is so open on the left hand, he really can't hold much of anything with it, things just leaning precipitously within his "grasp". There are also some severe mold lines visible along his fingers, right along the last knuckles on the hand. The various weapons do have some good sculpted details along with smooth lines, but I think the pistol looks a little too much like an 8 year old's plastic space-gun, but it's consistent across all the ROC toys I've purchased, so it must be a legitimate design choice.
His clothes look well made until really close inspection when you can see some awkward stitching and puffy segments, though it's nothing too severe for this price point. The coat fits his body relatively nicely and while the pants fit well enough, they're significantly off because of the way they're tucked into his boots, when the movie design actually has them over the top of his boots. You can force the pants over the boot tops (with much work), but then they're too straight legged and stretched, so the only option is as he's packaged, tucked in and baggy, even if it's incorrect. His sword sheaths are actually a part of his torso, and the coat pulls right over the top of them, and it looks surprisingly all right. His right sleeve has a crease from the packaging, which is a total annoyance and looks like it will be hard to get out (if I even take the time to try). If you plan on displaying him topless (I won't ask), then of course the swords will still be visible, and looking kind of strange lodged into his skin.
The real problem with the clothing is how simple it all is. If you take out a movie photo or the smaller 3.75 in. figure to compare, you'll see all kinds of straps, stitchings, and texturing to make the coat more dynamic, but here it's all just flat and boring. His accessories fit well into their respective storage spots, even the sai in his belt loop (but it does make some poses difficult). His shoes are easy to slip on because they're made of a very soft material (helped by his obscenely tiny feet), but that also causes issues when trying to get him to stand; it takes time and patience to balance him on the pliable boots. The face sculpting isn't terrible either, as it has some very nice detail and texture work, but also a couple wonky elements, like the tuft of hair visible around his right eye. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it just looks awkward, which actually sums up his entire sculpt pretty well. Amidst only a few distinct problems, Storm Shadow just doesn't look very good.
Sculpt Score: 4 / 10
Storm Shadow himself is almost completely devoid of paint, he's cast in the appropriate colors. The opening of his mask is the only painted spot on the toy, and it's mediocre at best. The eyes are clean, but the circles aren't really circles, and his right eye seems to be drifting a little to the side. The painted skin above the left eyebrow is too thin, allowing the white underneath to show through, and his black hair doesn't always follow the sculpt perfectly. Detail enthusiast will appreciate a certain tattoo on his right forearm which is cleanly applied, along with the crisp cobra emblem on his chest. All the basic colors match well (except the torso, which shouldn't matter as he'll always be clothed) even from pants to coat. The boots and belt are a bit brighter white, but it's a good choice that makes them stand out from the clothes. The accessories are again, just okay. They all feature "chromed" parts such as the sword blades or nunchuck ends, and it looks okay when used in moderation as such. The gun that's included, on the other hand, looks totally absurd when covered in the shiny metal look. A nice matte finish with a wash would have looked intensely better. There aren't any subtleties in this paint job, and there definitely need to be a few to make it good.
Paint Score: 5 / 10
The articulation model for Storm Shadow is the standard for modern GI Joe 12 inch figures, meaning he has swivel/hinge joints in the following spots: shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. You'll notice a couple really important joints missing from that list, the neck and any type of torso articulation. Well, the head does get a little movement freedom from a swivel, but anything less than a ball on a modern 12 inch figure is inexcusable. It's impossible to pose Storm Shadow in any sort of natural or convincing stance. He always ends up looking static and stiff because his head is stuck straight up. This problem is made even worse by the torso, which doesn't have any type of articulation at all, primarily because of the technological bits hiding deep inside. I would have traded all the voice effects in the world for a ball neck. Unfortunately, the missteps don't end there either. Most of the articulation is pretty loose, but still functional. That's not the case for his right arm which has an extremely limp elbow and wrist, again to allow for chopping swings with the push of a button on his back. The swinging arm looks silly when the elbow and wrist flail around so wildly, and it makes fun poses practically impossible too. It's either holding his arm straight down or tricking it into a lofted position with accessories or another body part. His loose ankles really hamper his ability to stand too, especially when combined with the heavy torso. It's pretty much straight up and staunch with this guy, or on the floor.
Articulation Score: 4 / 10
Hasbro made this toy to be fun, sacrificing looks in the process, so how did that turn out? Not so good actually. The very same things that are supposed to make this toy fun for kids make him a real pain for collectors, primarily the already mentioned issues with loose articulation and posing problems. He's really top heavy due to the electronics in his chest, and requires a soft touch to balance on the shelf. Of course, the right arm is totally useless too, unless you really enjoy pushing the button on his back and hearing some sword-fighting sounds every time his arm loosely flies around in random direction. I really don't want to get into the possibilities of a rapidly stroking arm and a kung-fu grip. Oh, he does have a kung-fu grip on the right hand, which makes holding accessories a bit easier, but sadly the flat handled weapons are turned crooked when in that hand, meaning the sword blades would be aimed almost to the side of his hand, instead of straight on. There are a good number of weapons included, and it is fun that most of them can be stored right within his costume. I suppose some people might enjoy dressing and undressing him (no names please). I suppose some children out there might enjoy the phrases and fighting sounds that are activated via the push of a button on his back or on his chest, although I imagine most kids and parents would rather save $5-$7 and make their own sounds (an imagination is great sometimes). There's nothing about the packaging to help overcome the weak articulation and lame looks, so despite being a ninja and a popular GI Joe character, his score barely stays afloat.
Fun Score: 5 / 10
It should be pretty obvious by now that you're not looking at Hot Toys' latest figure, and his price reflects that. He might be cheap compared to high end 12 inch figures, but Storm Shadow still isn't worth the cash. His outfit and accessories aren't anything spectacular, and with articulation this disappointing, he's hardly worth a purchase at all. Not to mention that this particular toy is $5 more expensive than the standard 12 inch figures without action features. And since those are so terrible, it's a totally wasted $5 too. Storm Shadow doesn't have anything you can't go without, and you'd be much better off purchasing any of many smaller toys instead. They're better sculpted, better painted, and better articulated, not to mention lots more fun. This toy has frustrated me more than entertained, and I wouldn't spend more than $5 on him if I had to choose again. It seems like that right arm could break at any time, and almost everything feels cheaply produced. I took a hit for you guys and gals with this one, and I can't advise you to make the purchase, even if he is a big name movie tie-in with loads of accessories; go buy 3 regular figures instead, you'll be getting a lot more for your money.
Value Score: 3 / 10
4 / 10 - Boring costume, odd proportions, and a perpetually stiff look.
5 / 10 - Not enough painted details, some weak applications, and ugly accessories.
4 / 10 - Enough joints, but half of them are too loose.
5 / 10 - Frustrating to pose, with many missed opportunities.
3 / 10 - A cheap, expensive figure. You could get 3 better 3.75 inch figures at the same price point.
42 / 100 - This is a Poor Toy
Storm Shadow is a very disappointing action figure that I can't recommend to any money conscious consumer. Avoid this figure unless GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is your favorite movie ever, and even then, weigh your options.
-The Articulated One
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