It’s unusual for a Zack Snyder movie not to get collectibles, but it’s possible that companies wanted to take a wait-and-see approach to his Netflix deal, hence the lack of much Army of the Dead merch. It was clear for a while, though, that the rabid cult of Snyder would be all over Rebel Moon, so the only question was, who would step up and make toys for raunchy Star Wars? The answer is Diamond Select, which means higher quality than some, but very few characters at a time. Since the property looks like it’ll have long legs — Part 2 will be followed by the extended cut of Part 1, then the extended cut of Part 2, and then probably a maximum cut of both together for six hours or something. That gives Diamond time to crank out a few two-figure waves, at least.
That’s assuming enough fans buy the first. How willing are the Snyder stans to vote with their wallets on a non-DC property? It remains to be seen, but they should be satisfied with the first round.
Choose Wisely
Without seeing the film, Diamond had to make decisions based on preproduction art and casting — the result is that you’re getting two of the more visually interesting characters upfront rather than, say, the main hero and villain. With regards to Jimmy the robot (voiced by Anthony Hopkins in the movie), they’ve stated they didn’t see any art that indicated accessories, so he doesn’t come with any. By the time the packages were ready to print, though, it’s clear Netflix was ready to reveal the antlers, cloak, and staff that the figure doesn’t have. Since he doesn’t get them till the end of Part 1, there’s plenty of time for a refresh.
The boxes are similar to Lord of the Rings figures, and they similarly come in a plastic tray sandwich, taped at the edges and held together with plastic ties. The backdrop insert depicts a sky at golden hour, which works better for Jimmy than his fellow figure in context.
The other figure is Nemesis, played by Bae Doona, who’s basically a rogue Jedi by another name. She comes with accessories aplenty — alternate hands, blades both ignited and not, and her hat. Like the Star Wars Morgan Elspeth figure, her skirt splits into four parts to allow for dramatic crouches and fighting stances. Since this is Diamond rather than Hasbro, the skirt is a stiffer material, but the four-way split does allow for more poses than some. (These are more akin to Diamond’s Lord of the Rings figures than their Marvel Selects.)
Holster Bolster
Most figures with sheaths have some kind of fragility issues, often with them loosely connecting to a belt. Here, Diamond has determined not to make that a weakness. Those sheaths are rigid, firm plastic molded into her waist, absolutely immovable, and the most solid part of the entire figure. She will never sit down in a chair, but those sheaths aren’t breaking without deliberate effort. A majority will probably pose her with the blade-holding hands, but the open hands work for poses in which she’s about to draw them.
Actor likeness is only an issue for her, and it’s fine — pretty recognizably her, with the little makeup dots under each eye and extra eyeliner reproduced effectively.
The hat’s another issue. While it’s true that in the film it’s perched awkwardly above her bandana, the perching gets even more precarious dealing with plastic of the necessary thickness at this scale. DST clearly erred on the side of making it removable, where McFarlane might have had an entirely separate exclusive with the hat glued on, or NECA might have made a separate head with the hat stuck on and charged five more dollars. The end result is it really doesn’t stay on very well. It can be wedged a bit, but not in a way likely to last long-term. Fans may decide which look they prefer, and if it’s hat-on, might apply some glue or sticky tack to keep it there.
Stand and Deliver
Jimmy is over an inch taller than Nemesis, and well-proportioned — he can even balance on one foot if posed correctly! He may have no accessories, but the level of detail is spectacular, with his “inner workings” visible under green panels. The articulation is complex, and sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly what he has since more of it seems sculpted than functional. The knees on the sample are pretty loose, as are the side-to-side shoulders, but when I try to raise the arms, they squeak and feel brittle. The shape of the head and neck restricts its movements despite being a limited ball joint on top of a cut.
Unlike Nemesis, who has double-hinge elbows and knees, Jimmy only has double-elbows and single knees, with additional articulation at the shoulders and thighs. His torso features a middle ball joint and a cut waist, and it’s possible he has even more joints I haven’t discovered but just don’t want to force. I can’t necessarily get him in every pose I’d like, but he’s able to get into quite a lot.
For those with a Zack Snyder figure collection, these play well with the McFarlane Justice League characters, and until Diamond makes Ray Fisher’s Rebel Moon character, Cyborg is it. But yes, in a literal, plastic sense, Jimmy the robot stands with Ray Fisher, as they perhaps share their appreciation for Snyder’s robotic aesthetic.
Release More?
$24.99 apiece is a solid market price for these two figures, considering most popular 6-inch figures go for the same. You may even be able to find deals on them, depending on the outlet. Since the movie appears to be finding its fanbase mostly with the Snyder faithful and not many other places, will that be enough to keep the line going? Here’s hoping so. Snyder’s films have a track record of being better and more appealing to critics and cinephiles in their longer cuts, so getting in on the ground floor with these may be worthwhile.
Take a look below for more images and angles on the first two Rebel Moon action figures.
