Overall score: 8.9/10

- Great detail

- Built-in three-point base

- 9 Points of articulation

- Amazing that this fits on a card

- More evil-looking than the original

- Bendable tail

- Too intense for the kids

Playability: 9.0/10

- Articulation placement is excellent

- In good proportion to others in the series

- Bendable tail easily wraps up a G.I. Joe

- Fairly tough

- Sharp points can pierce a foot if stepped on

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Malebolgia II

by McFarlane Toys

Once again, McFarlane Toys has managed to package a huge figure on a small card. Malebolgia II (Series 17, R3) is one big figure. He’s big and terrifying, with long claws, a spiked tail, a mammoth underbite, exposed muscle tissue, and

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webbed feet. Detail is very good as is the paint job. And since this figure is an R3 (rescuplted, repainted, revisited) there have been a few improvements. First, he’s black, which is much more menacing than the original dusty sand colour. Especially good are the eyes, which seem to have an unholy glow about them. There are some subtle changes made to

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the sculpt but the most obvious (and useful) is the curved bone protruding from his right leg, which acts as a third point of surface contact. This extra point makes it easy to keep Malebolgia II standing. (The colour scheme and sculpt remind me of Venom the Symbiote from Along Came a Spider.)

Articulation placement is excellent. The points of articulation (9) allow a lot of different poses without endangering his ability to remain standing. The legs are devoid of articulation which is due to the way the sculpt was designed. The bendable tail is a great addition. The bendable portion melds seamlessly with the rest of the tail. At first I was sure the neck

couldn’t move but it does – the joint is so well integrated and camouflaged that it’s not noticeable. His mane of white hair and a couple of deftly painted flaps running from his face cover up the seam. This is in contrast to the seams across his biceps, but this is forgiven since they add to the playability.

Small kids might shy away from this figure (the package says, "Ages 5 & up") because of his demonic looks but older kids will like the chance to pit 3 ¾" G.I. Joes against a netherworld inhabitant. Malebolgia II is in good proportion to the other figures in Series 17 so arranging them into neat looking battle stances is no problem. Some of the sharp bone protuberances can cause injury. Left on the floor, Malebolgia II becomes as dangerous as a spike belt – especially in the dark. I actually had to apply a bandage after crunching him underfoot on a midnight visit to the bathroom after eating too much Mexican food. No stitches required but can I sue for damages? Probably not.

If you missed Malebolgia II the first time through, grabbing the R3 is recommended.

- Omni