Angel (Angel) - Action Figure Reviews

Series: Angel

Craftsmanship: 8.5 out of 10

- Missed the likeness by the narrowest of margins

- 17 points of articulation – with hinged ankles

- Tons of poseability

- Great base and accessories

- Fits in with the rest of the Buffy and Angel lines

Playability: 8.0 out of 10

- Accessories are all easily lost

- Articulation is a big plus

- Pretty tough

- Kids just won’t be drawn to a regular guy wearing pants and a sweater

Newsletter

Be notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice weekly.

Enter E-Mail Address Below:

Angel (Angel)

by Moore Action Collectibles

Note to action figure industry: whenever possible give your figures ankle articulation. Ankle articulation allows for way more poses especially when combined with decent leg articulation. Moore Action Collectibles (MAC) has apparently embraced this concept with the Angel line and the title character is a typical example.

Angel (or Angie to his close friends) stands just under 6½” tall and has 17 points of articulation. (Technically there are 18, but the waist articulation is extremely

Advertisement

limited.) I scrutinize action figures based on real people a little closer than those based on video games or comic books, which is why I take points off for the likeness. There’s a distinct resemblance but he’s no twin. However, the rest of Angel is sculpted very well and the location of each articulation point has been well chosen. He’s got the typical Astro-boy seam-joints that MAC is

Advertisement

known for and they all work very well toward allowing more action poses. The base is great and unique to Angel – the manhole cover can be lifted out and the crumbling brick walls are great touches. There are two pegs on the base but you don’t need to use both to keep Angel standing, who is surprisingly stable even without the base. Paint has been applied with an expert hand

For display purposes, Angel fits in with the figures from both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. He’s got a great variety of accessories so you can achieve that perfect action pose. Obviously, if you’re not careful those same accessories will go missing – and more so if you play with your action figures.

Playability is most hampered by Angel’s plainness. If he had wings or big spiral horns coming out of his head or wore some kind of flashy costume, it might be a different story. Kids like stuff that’s otherworldly and Angel’s about as plain as you can get. However, if you need a straight man – maybe a hapless citizen in need of saving – Angel’s your guy. Angel’s solidly constructed and the cross-compatibility with the other Buffy and Angel accessories actually makes him fairly playable but he’s just lacks that excitement factor or even a brooding scowl.

Angel’s a solid figure for Buffy and Angel fans (and collectors) – he’s got everything you’ve come to expect from MAC’s Buffy and Angel lines – but even though he has play potential he’s not likely to be played with.

- Omni
(May 6, 2002)