Cast in grey plastic, the Slate Zone Power Soldier is - as are his siblings - a wonderfully engineered figure. The Glyos system was adapted to a so-called "Glybrid" joint system in which we got the functionality of Glyos and Hasbro's ball joints in a 3 3/4-inch humanoid figure. So no matter what, this is a good figure with a great range of motion. When placed in context of its line, it becomes a bit of a bore being one of only two body types during the line's first year and a half, give or take. Endless repaints are a bitter pill to swallow, with other Glyos-compatible lines usually cranking out an all-new figure ever year or so with more customization options. It seems almost unfair to judge this figure for things outside its control, because the plastic person presently performs pretty admirably.
If you collect any of Hasbro's 3 3/4-inch lines, you have a rough idea of what to expect here. Articulation at the base of the neck, the skull, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, waist, and ankles allow you to pose this guy and fit him in pretty much any appropriately sized action figure vehicle. He's perfectly capable of plopping in the driver's seat of your old Adventure People, G.I. Joe, or Star Wars vehicles and that's something that figures from those lines sometimes struggle with in the modern era. For that reason, this is a most commendable figure - the ability to take it apart and customize it to your needs is but an added bonus. Each joint is a point where the figure may be dismantled easily, without the need of tools or boiling water or breakage.
The Power Soldier's sculpting is admirable, and you can find it on several other figures. A triangle patch on the chest forms the focal point of a big collar on top of a ribbed body suit that looks similar to designs seen in a few recent sci-fi flicks. The stitching is quite nice, and the creases in the "cloth" are subtle and not at all distracting. They did a nice job here - plus they gave him giant pockets, presumably for sunglasses and old-style 1989 GameBoys. The helmet is pretty formless, with a glossy plastic visor that serves as a mirror. The abyss is staring back at you with this one, which may leave you wishing there was an unhelmeted head to go with it. His accessories are a staff and a gun, both of which fit perfectly in his hands. This is a good design at a good price.
I was absolutely giddy to get this figure and his siblings a while back, but sometimes the notion of building a squad is overshadowed by the fact there's not a lot else to do. Some of the figures were slow to sell through, and the slow releases of new molds along with a giant gap left fans wondering if the line had a future. The Four Horsemen make great figures that, when you get them, you'll love them. If you've never bought any of these figures, I'd suggest picking some up because they really are quality items. Unfortunately with products this strong the need for a follow-up fix is strong, and waiting more than a year to deliver the goods does much to breed indifference or outright disdain for the line's future. I look forward to the next new thing, because I've bought so many of the buggers that I can't help but feel I've helped to subsidize the next set of molds. But it's a good figure.
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