Shocker Toys was kind enough to offer this San Diego Comic Con exclusive figure as a review sample for all the readers here at Articulated Discussion, so please take the time to check out this review. I was impressed by the last Shocker Toys figure I reviewed, and I think this one will be a similar story. He's still available for purchase at Shocker's website despite being a SDCC exclusive, and you might be talked into a purchase, so read on for a preview of Indie Spotlight series 2 and a my thoughts on Dick Tracy!
Name: Dick Tracy (Black & White) (Suit)
Line: Indie Spotlight Series 2
Manufacturer: Shocker Toys
Released: Summer 2009
Price: Online $35.00-$45.00
Scale: 6 in. (figure in 6.00 in. tall)
Accessories: Hat
Sponsor Listings: Shocker Toys-$40.00
Dick Tracy isn't the most dynamic looking character in the history of comics, instead relying on action and style to draw in readers. This figure's sculpt is reflective of that quality, because there just isn't anything eye-catching about it, but it gets the job done well enough. It's not the sculptor's fault that Dick Tracy is so pedestrian looking with only a suit and hat as his costume. The head sculpt looks great in three dimensions without losing the flat style of comic art. There are crisp cuts to clarify facial features and attractive linework throughout his hair. It does seem like his jaw isn't very symmetrical, but it's only a problem up-close and straight on. His suit coat has all the details you'd expect like buttons, pockets and flaps, and thankfully they didn't go overboard when working in wrinkles or folds; this coat looks very slightly tussled and seems to hang on his body quite naturally, which can be hard to achieve, particularly when buttoned. They even captured the taut lines at the buttons where the coat has been pulled tight. The tie and collar look fine, as do his sleeves and cuffs. Nothing is just painted on, which is always a nice touch. I'm particularly surprised by the watch sculpted onto his left wrist, because it's barely visible and adds a lot upon closer inspection. His pants and shoes match the styling of his upper body well and help to complete this very effective basic suit body. I can really see this body being used by customizers to make some great characters in suits, because the proportions are perfect and the details are all present.
The hat fits onto his head pretty snugly, but it's not totally obvious which angle is the right one, so it does take some fiddling to get on there correctly, and even then I have my doubts. All the details on the hate are sculpted in, so again I'm glad they didn't take the lazy route. I do have a pretty big complaint here, which is the outer rim that looks very choppy and angular instead of curved. It comes off as a quick custom job instead of professionally sculpted, which is odd, because the rest of the sculpt is pretty crisp. Another complaint is his right hand, which has the tiny gun molded right into his grip, as opposed to being a separate piece. It's definitely easy to keep from losing the gun, but the option to pose him gun-less would be a better alternative. It's also a little soft where his hand meets the gun, particularly around the trigger area. It's hard to make a stunning sculpt of a guy in a suit, but this one does a pretty solid job of making a good one thanks to avoiding a lot of mistakes.
Sculpt Score: 8 / 10
I'm not quite sure what to think about this figure's paint. To begin, there isn't really a whole lot to discuss, as he's almost 95% black, which is just the color the plastic is cast in. It works well enough on its own, but unfortunately the coat on his torso doesn't match the arms or legs, thanks to it being a different type of plastic. You can tell in my photos that the coat is more matte than the shinier extremities. His hands and face are a cool gray that does capture the black and white feel of the comics without looking absurd on a toy, and all the white spots are plenty bright and stand out compared to the darker colors. It's the various "comic lines" that really leave me wondering. You'll notice the thin black lines on his face, or the white lines on his coat that help to differentiate the various sculpted areas and relive the comic art's style. It works as a whole, but when you look at individual lines, they're often messy and cover poorly. Other paint apps are sloppy too, like the white cuffs at his coat, the tie with some substantial bleeding, the gun that's only partially black, and his hat which has a huge black smudge across it. It's by no means awful, although there is definitely some room for improvement too.
Paint Score: 6 / 10
If there's anything Shocker Toys got right with this fellow, it's definitely his articulation. I'm always impressed when this kind of articulation is worked into a figure from a smaller company. There are a variety of points that allow Dick to find a ton of fun and dynamic stances. His arms and legs have all the points I could ask for, and his ball neck really lets the personality flow in his poses. It's a shame that his coat does restrict the hip and torso articulation considerably, but it doesn't really limit what you can do with him all that much, because it's still easy to find interesting display positions. The various points all look okay with his sculpt, except in one spot, his shoulders. The ball style swivel/hinge joints being used there don't fit well with the idea of a squared shoulder that should be present in a suit. It's not a deal-breaker, but even just extending the suit-piece on his chest out at the shoulders might help preserve the desired look a little more. All the joints are perfectly tight without being frustrating, and it's never a chore to get him to hold a pose.
Articulation Score: 9 / 10
I'm going to have to be honest here, Dick Tracy is really just a guy in a suit. Sure he has a thorough history and tons of fans, but the average person on the street isn't going to be wowed by his design or story. I can personally appreciate Dick Tracy quite a bit, but that doesn't make him totally enjoyable as an action figure. I think the only people who are going to get a lot of fun out of this figure are those who absolutely adore the character and have been waiting for a fully articulated version like this one for years, which isn't a vast majority. Others will find him entertaining for just a while, because he is really nicely articulated, which makes him fun to mess around with, and he does photograph quite well too. The hat is removable, but the gun barely counts as an accessory because it's stuck in his hand. Despite all that, I do think he'll pose well with generic thugs and in back-alley dioramas. If you can get his hat to shadow his face and get him to grab a thug by the neck, the fun starts to climb. Adding a few more accessories or pack-ins like scene-pieces or just an alley backdrop of some sort would have helped immensely, but as it stands right now, Dick Tracy is just fun enough to own, but not enough to keep coming back, especially if you like the time period and the character.
Fun Score: 7 / 10
This is a surprisingly well made figure. He feels great in your hands, seems durable, and comes in an extremely collector-friendly package (so beware if buying online, he might be used and you'd never know). There was definitely time spent in developing this toy (not a Shocker Toys joke), because he looks great and functions well. There's only one real accessory, his hat, which is an absolute necessity anyway. Adding some more extras would have helped in this category a lot. The problem here is, without any doubts, his enormous price tag. This toy cost $35 at San Diego Comic Con and will run $40 with shipping included if you head online to purchase him today. While I think he's a very good action figure, he's really not worth more than $15 on his own. Of course, there is the consideration for collectors given this toy's smaller run numbers and convention exclusivity, but since he's available online and in other venues, he's not really all that exclusive, meaning exorbitant prices aren't a valid argument. There is little doubt in my mind that this is a well-made action figure that won't fall apart, it's just not worth $40, or even half that. The price tag really means it's reserved for totally enthralled Dick Tracy enthusiasts, while others should wait for the standard release in Series 2.
Value Score: 4 / 10
8 / 10 - Great proportions and good details save an otherwise boring design.
6 / 10 - Some application errors and color match issues hold him back.
9 / 10 - Lots of functioning joints, with a few restricted points.
7 / 10 - A classic character with a single accessories and great articulation, but he's just a guy in a suit.
4 / 10 - An exclusive with a price point that excludes many potential buyers.
70 / 100 - This is a Good Toy
Dick Tracy is without a doubt a great action figure, aside from one huge problem, his excessive price. Considering that Shocker Toys is a smaller company and that this toy is a convention exclusive, it's not an unusually high price, but it's still too much for the average consumer and non-Dick Tracy fan.
-The Articulated One
This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment for a chance to win!
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