I have largely stayed away from pirates for Imaginext, but then saw this one was named Shackles McMatey. While not based on a 40-year old action figure, I had no interest in not owning a ridiculous ghost pirate named Shackles McMatey. My pal Seth is very interested in clear things and this seems like the kind of thing I should have sent him. There was also a figure named Cliche the Pirate, and I should have bought that too. I guess I can't get everything, but I'm glad I got this.
The 3-inch figure comes from the same template as other figures, and it appears that it's a redeco of Billy Bones - a pirate from their very nifty humans vs. sharks & whales line of pirates, of which I couldn't say no to the orca and a blind-bagged shark. (I mean, they're like Battle Beasts.) This figure has Billy Bones' iron hand, with a matching shackle painted on his wrist. There's also a matching ball and chain accessory which clips to his wrist, which seems to give us the cause of death for Mr. Bones. It's grim - the figure has the same hat with the "i" symbol in the skull, the same bare chest, with the coat piece removed. I mean, for budget and general aesthetic reasons, it was wise to drop it. The hat is fused inside the head, so you can't remove it. Much like Shackles couldn't remove his iron glove and the weight which undoubtedly caused him to drown in the sea.
From a creative perspective, this is a brilliant figure. Cast mostly in a ghostly bluish green, the figure is largely unpainted - there's a bit on the wrist, and the eerie white eyes just under the crossbones on his hat. And that's it - and all he needs. You can see right through this spooky figure, which has no problems standing, sitting, or holding other accessories. It's kind of amazing this was a cheap, non-exclusive release instead of a convention exclusive or something targeted at collectors for a higher price. This is the kind of thing you should sell as a blind-bagged item in a gallery gift shop - it's cool, and it's fun.
I paid $1.74 for this, with 7 points of articulation it's more than worth it. He has no problems interacting with his generations of vehicles or playsets, and just seems like a cool addition to an executive desk. Assuming you're a toy industry person. Or a dork. Or "fun." Nobody would accuse me of being fun, but this is the kind of thing I like to keep around my workspace because it's just plain cool and cheap. It's a crime that the Fisher-Price team hasn't yet positioned Imaginext figures as the Hot Wheels car of action figures, but maybe there's still time. They're wonderful little stylized guys and they're cheap - I have zero problems buying any of them given the low price points. Don't hesitate if you can find one.
16bit.com is best not viewed in Apple's Safari browser, we don't know why. All material on this site copyright their respective copyright holders. All materials appear hear for informative and entertainment purposes. 16bit.com is not to be held responsible for anything, ever. Photos taken by the 16bit.com staff. Site design, graphics, writing, and whatnot credited on the credits page. Be cool-- don't steal. We know where you live and we'll break your friggin' legs.
RSS 
