In 2020, it was confirmed that Diamond Select had secured the license to produce action figures from the New Line Cinema Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The team at DST confirmed an initial plan for 6 figures, and a 7th bonus Build-A-Figure who would be collected over the first three waves.
Rather than utilise the oversize blisters that Diamond have used for many years for their 7-inch action figures, the Lord of the Rings characters are packed in these sleek and more collector-friendly window boxes. It uses a blue base design that runs with the Middle Earth map as part of the background. There are then bright golden LOTR logos applied across the front and sides. The front of the box carries a generic image in the bottom right of Gandalf, Sauron and Frodo rather than individual images for the packed character. Therefore only the character name changes between each box.
The rear of the box features a circular design with the elvish script from the Ring of Power around it. It acts as a checklist of releases and shows images of both Gimli and Legolas within. Under this is a further image with the Sauron Build-a-Figure shown alongside the Elf and Dwarf giving some scale to what we will end up with by the time we finish wave 3. The back of the box did give an opportunity for some background of each character, but this has been missed and instead, there is a generic piece of text - with the character name changed on each box - that confirms the source material as The Fellowship of the Ring, and reads:-
"This deluxe action figure of Legolas is based on his appearance in Lord of the Rings ; The Fellowship of the Ring. It features approximately 16 points of articulation. and character-specific accessories. It also includes a part to build Sauron - collect the first six figures to assemble the 13-inch figure!"
There is a noticeable issue with the window box in that the figure is not easy to see compared to the old Select packaging, or other window box figures. The reason is the decision to include two layers of plastic - an outer window and a second layer that cocoons the figure. This creates a double glazing reflective effect and is also not particularly environmentally savvy as we try to reduce plastics. Once you've worked through all the plastic you will also find a lovely backing card piece that uses the Middle Earth map.
The first noticeable thing with Legolas in hand is the proportions of the body. While Elves are slim and tall, the figure is too slim in the waist vs the actual look on the screen with Orlando Bloom in full costume. The figure was originally going to have an elven cloak and the figure looks and feels like this is a key component missing that would have certainly improved the overall look. This aside, the costume is very well executed from a sculpt perspective matching that we see in the Moria scenes.
The tunic and trousers are relatively plain, while there is some intricate scrollwork to the leather armour, boots, bracers and the strap for his quiver. Only the latter is maximised by the paintwork with a wash to show the intricate sculpting on the bronze strap of the quiver. The other areas are not painted and are therefore only visible upon close inspection. Adding a wash or more paintwork to the boots and leather armour pieces would have really improved the visuals, yet instead, the wash has been applied to the plain parts of the costume as a weathered effect.
The likeness to Orlando Bloom in the head sculpt is good, just not quite as striking as that we see on the companion Gimli piece. The paintwork here also lets it down a little with a blotchy skin tone that is trying to bring out the shading of the face but is likely applied by hand and cant imitate the more realistic application you see on face printed figures like Hasbro & NECA.
The hair is done well as a softer plastic section over the head allowing it to flow down over the shoulders without impacting all movement in the neck. It may be a touch short vs the onscreen look, but that may be as well to keep the figure mobile when posing. The hair, like the face, has additional paintwork to bring out the details of the hair strands and the plaited sections. The application is again patchy and goes from very good at the back of the figure to more heavy-handed applications on the front
Legolas is proficient at many weapons in the LOTR trilogy and sadly the figure disappoints by only including his bow. There is no place for the twin elven blades he wields, and yet the quiver has been designed with slots for both swords indicating they were initially planned. This is a bad call and I'd have rather have paid more for a more complete Legolas than go without. If Diamond then goes down the route of variant figures with differing parts in each then I will be one fan that will be turned off the line very quickly.
The bow is well designed with more scrollwork, and it comes with an elasticated string rather than a plastic piece which always looks too thick. The next issue is in the attention to detail for the bow position as Legolas holds the bow in his left hand and draws with his right. The hands on the figure are, however, designed the opposite way round. The right hand is shaped to hold the bow and the left hand, with a parting in the fingers, designed to draw the arrow.
This is another disappointment for fans, and while you can reverse the grip the fact the hands are the wrong way round means the bow doesn't hold well in the right hand and there is no ability to hold one of the three included arrows via the right hand - so you are left with a kind of balancing solution.
The arrows included in the set are well done and you get three of them with a silver arrowhead, painted shaft and detailed flights with more paint effects on the feathers than some parts of the costume. They can be drawn on the bow or placed in the quiver when not in use.
By taking away the swords and allowing Legolas to solely use a bow, the figures articulation was always going to be key and sadly there is not enough motion in the arms to get fully dynamic drawn bows and instead you will be limited to more preparatory posing with the bowstring flat. The issue is the single joint elbows that just about hit a right angle when bent but needed to be double-jointed for better bow action.
While the back of the box talks about 16 points of articulation, Legolas only has 14 with the thigh swivels that we see on Gimil removed and replaced with a rotating single joint knee on Legolas. This allows for some wider stances, but there is no kneeling or other athletic options open to you.
There is also a return of the dreaded floppy ankle issue that has plagued Diamond figures for many years on their various lines like Marvel. While Gimli was solid and stable, Legolas' ankles are very weak without any ratchet built into the joint and he falls over far too easily
Wave 1 of the Lord of the Rings figures from Diamond Select is very much a tale of two halves. Gimli is superb with three detailed axes, swap out hands, solid articulation and a predominantly well-painted head and costume. Legolas on the other hand feels like a half-finished project. The costume is good, but the paint lacking. The head is good, but the paint application is messy. The bow is good, but the hands are the wrong way round and the articulation is lacking. We also miss out on the twin blades, and this is more frustrating when we consider they were in the plan at some stage due to the holsters slots in the quiver. We also lost the elven cloak seen in the first shots from Diamond which would have balanced out the proportions of the figure.
COllectors like myself are desperate for a good Lord of the Rings line, having had nothing since the original Toybiz era figures. As I said earlier, I would rather Diamond up the RRP and give us a more complete figure akin to a NECA Ultimate than cut corners on key characters. For now, Gimli is a good indication of where the line could be and I hope that level of detail is what we see in Series 2 when that arrives later this year.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, diamond select, lord of the rings, the fellowship of the ring, legolas, greenleaf, elf, elves