14
points of articulation.Turns : neck, ankles, wrists, waist, biceps.
Bends : elbows, hips.
Ball-joints : shoulders.
Super Beaker
14
points of articulation.
Turns : neck, ankles, wrists, waist, biceps.
Bends : elbows, hips.
Ball-joints : shoulders.
I had the misfortune of missing the San Diego ComicCon this year, and, well, every year ever, because I happen to be located thirtyfive million geographical miles away from San Diego. While I'd love to have seen the Adult Swim panel and sat next to MC Chris, laughed derisively at the people who still have any semblance of hope for Star Wars, slipped between the moistened bulges of pressed fan-flesh to score that one, magical deal that made the whole undesirable social experience worthwhile... actually, I don't like cons. I don't envy the 'con exclusive' policies and raffles and short stocks, or the noise, or the possibility of inhaling air that someone else has recently exhaled from their grey, quivering lungs, along with lord knows what other microscopic spatterings they've dispatched into their immediate vicinity.
I'd rather stay home, in my safe Fun Shack, chasing away those pesky woodpeckers, which is probably what I was doing.
Which is why I am grateful for the Palisades Collectors Club, who happily provide their con exclusives to their members, starting right after the elusive Wizard World Dr. Teeth. Thanks also go to CornerStoreComics, who rounded out my Minimates collection, since it's doubtful that the AACC will come through on their exclusive distribution anytime soon.
BEAKER! This is the fifth Beaker in the Muppets lineup, being preceded by Muppet Labs Playset Beaker, the two exclusive Vanishing Cream Beakers, and exclusive Tux Beaker, and this is the first beaker to be a complete resculpt. A completely resculpted exclusive? Are these things even done? Exclusives are usually repainted characters with a thing or two stuck on them. Beaker's whole head has a smaller nose, a wider neck, a different skin texture (and color) and slightly different hair. What calls for this change?
If I had to predict, (which is usually less accurate than my postdicting, and not nearly as fun as regular old dicting), I'd like to guess that there will be a Beaker released among a future wave. A 'classic' Beaker, much like is being done with the 'classic' Swedish Chef, to be released in series 9, in order to make him available without the purchase of a 30 dollar playset. Give him a slightly different colored labcoat and you have a variant. Good for the casual collector. I can't see why else Palisades would invest in a whole new mold for a low-run exclusive.
Either way, Super Beaker is probably the coolest exclusive to date. He has three interchangeable heads, including a normal head, a 'cowering' head that appears to be retracted into his body, and a 'Rocketeer' style helmet head. The 'fear' head is something that Palisades have been talking about for a long time. Originally, I had idea about switching out heads on the other Beakers and making them into slight customs. Replace the slashed-throat Tux Beaker with the notorious paint problem with the regular head, pop the short head into the regular Beaker, leave a few eviscerated heads lying around the lab... but the older Beakers were not designed for head removal. You can only pull so hard before the whole thing just breaks, so I'm not going to be so bold. It's probably possible, but it's not easy. I opt for the helmeted head.
The helmet itself is a fine-ass piece. With no regard for sharp-point eye-gouging standards, the fin is a hard, sharp plastic, and every rivet and rust spot is sculpted in and painted, making a realistic, metallic piece. The same goes for his rocket pack, which pegs into his back and has all kinds of wires and rotors. This attention to texturing goes throughout the whole figure, from the ribbed sweater, to the quilted oven mitts, and even to the tweed-y shorts. A lot of this texturing seems to be absent from the main figures from wave eight, so it's good to see that it's not forgotten.
The thin legs and heavy top will cause some spontaneous falling, so be cautious. A hard fall on the tip of the helmet just may crack it off. Other than that, it's a flawless figure. The paint is clean all around, the execution is ideal, and he'll look awesome on the shelf. And he comes with extra heads! Which are always funny!
As the second superhero transformation within the Muppets line (preceded by Super Scooter), it would be great to see a whole array of heroified Muppets, whether or not they've ever appeared in the show. A Justice League of sorts, fighting against the evils of cancellation or something. Super Beaker is a tremendously excellent figure.
