Of
all the OZ figures, Toto is the one that stands out as very…
different.The other
characters are at least recognizable to some extent.The Lion looks like the Lion, Scarecrow looks like the Scarecrow,
etc.But Toto?He’s reminiscent of Jaba the Hutt – if he were given legs and
see-through skin.And that
legless freak of a rider?I
really don’t know what’s up with that, and even the included
chapters (on the cardback) don’t explain it.(The explanation comes on the last card for the Wizard.)
Regardless
of your feelings toward the look of Toto, the figure does at least one
interesting thing: translucent skin.Backlit, you can see Toto’s insides.If he’s just on display he simply
looks gray, with green
highlights along the ribcage and some brown warts (or pustules) at
various locations.But
backlit… he looks even more ghastly.
And
ghastly is the name of the game.From
the glistening maw forced open with a clawed bridle to the wrinkled
bottoms of his back feet, Toto is just plain hard to look at –
particularly with those hellish, beady eyes watching you.Toto’s rider is also detailed, along with his “saddle”, but
you’ve gotta love that hat.Where
do I get a hat like that?
I
hope you like Toto’s pose, because you only get three
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points of
articulation, neither of which is any good.Toto’s neck has a seam joint but because of the reigns
getting it to move more than a few degrees is impossible unless you want
to snap the reigns.The two
other articulation points relate to the rider: one at the neck, one
where the torso joins the “saddle”.The neck is restricted thanks to the big hat and the torso joint
is limited because of the reigns, which are gripped in his hands.Toto is a statue.A
pretty disgusting statue but a statue nonetheless.
Playabilty?Let’s get real here, people.Although Toto “fits” in with the rest of the OZ figures this
guy is not going to be played with.He is solid, but the rider and the reigns can be ripped apart
under moderate play.And
he’s terrifying and gross – Battlecat and Panthor will run for the
hills.
Toto
has some neat features, mainly his translucency, and collectors will do
well pick him up.All
other, RUN!Or at least,
walk quickly – I don’t think Toto can move that fast.