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Series: The Simpsons, 9
Craftsmanship: 8.9 out of 10 - Brilliant accessories - Tippy?!? - Great likeness - Very good paint application - Fits in with the other figures
Playability: 9.5 out of 10 - Excellent compatibility with other Simpson figures - Solidly constructed - Accessories likely to be lost - Re-enact some of the most memorable Sideshow Bob appearances
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Prison Sideshow Bob (The Simpsons) by Playmates
Sideshow Bob is evil enough to match Mr. Burns’ machinations for global domination. That is, if he could deviate from his single-minded pursuit of seeking revenge on Krusty, Bart and the general populous of Springfield. And if he could only stay standing…
Normally, the Simpson figures stay standing whether or not installed on a playset base. Not so with Sideshow Bob, whose huge puffy starfish – sorry, seastar – hairdo pulls him off balance, which is even stranger considering the size of his feet. The problem is that his hair angles backward. It creates an equilibrium that is easily upset by any slight jolts. Installed on a playset base – he’s compatible with Krustylu Studios, Town Hall, Police Station and the upcoming Main Street – he becomes as stable as can be. (Hint: putting the rake in his right hand and angled backward to touch the ground provides more stability.)
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Bob has the standard 4 articulation points so poseability is actually quite low, however this is offset by one of the best accessory sets I’ve ever seen. With the included pieces, some of the best moments from his appearances on the Simpsons can be relived. He comes with a 10 Megaton nuclear bomb with remote detonator, a rake and a knife. All have that perfect Simpson-esque sensibility. Also perfect is the sculpting. Once again Playmates has nailed the likeness, although I would have liked Bob to look more homicidal instead of the bored mad genius that we get here, but that doesn’t bring down the score. Also, |
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bolstering the score is the solid paint job – and with only five colors (more if you include the accessories) a poor paintjob would be unacceptable. You’ll find no oversplash here and even the prison ID above his pocket is finely done (and it should be since it's a sticker).
I know I sound like a broken record – or CD for you folks that believe in that kind of thing – but Bob is yet another very playable figure in the Simpsons line. He’s big, he’s solidly constructed and the accessories are fantastic. If I were one to pick nits, I’d say Bob could be wielded as a makeshift club and therefore unsuitable to be played with by small children. But I won’t because as heavy as his head is, it’s not liable to dent any skulls. Some of his accessories are small – the knife especially – and could be lost easily or choked on. Then there’s the compatibility with the other Simpson figures and his Intelli-Tronic ability. Although he’s not part of the Celebrity Series, Sideshow Bob’s voice is still supplied by Kelsey Grammar (Cheers, Frasier). He doesn’t actually have that much to say, but what is there is good – especially his angry “electoral fraud” line from the Town Hall playset.
Every Simpsons figure that Playmates releases exponentially increase the attractiveness of the entire Simpsons line and Prison Sideshow Bob boosts it again.
- Omni (September 2, 2002) |
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