“...how everyone thinks we can solve any problem with magic. There are limits! This isn't some bedtime story; this is the real world!”
Hasbro’s Dungeons & Dragons Golden Archive series of 6-inch collector-focused figures was built on the initial release of 2020’s Drizzt Do’Urden and Guenhyver set, and came into being on the back of the 2023 release of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie - Honor Among Thieves. This new collection kicked off with the odd release of the Gelatinous Cube and soon expanded into the first full wave of figures based on the movie characters.
Each figure is packed in a plastic-free windowless box with a top hanging tab and a corner angled off into a triangle a the top right, paying homage to the dice used playing D&D. The box is predominantly black with gold ornate trim surrounding the character image on the front and the logo with a picture of the figure and contents set into the front as an insert over the main image. To the left of the box is a larger image of the character, while the right side spine carries a brief character bio. The rear of the box includes a larger posed picture of the figure and further confirmation of the accessories as well as a QR code taking you to the DnD homepage.
Simon the Sorcerer is captured in his robes starting with grey trousers, and a drab yellow shirt. Over this is a wonderfully intricately texturally sculpted purple tunic tied off with a similarly detailed belt with painted silver buckles. Hanging from the belt are a pair of spell pouches, a simple leather pouch with hanging rope ties, and the golden mechanical pouch which itself includes sculpted circular pattern which is then painted in a darker finish. The outfit is finished off with a rubberised plastic cloak in brown with further internal sculpted shapes and runes, and an outer textured hem that is weathered to loom mud-spattered. Simon is also carrying his bag of holding, fitted under the cloak, with a brown and red strap and a red, blue and white patterned front cover. Both bag and cloak are technically removable, but to do this you will need to pop off the head first.
The head sculpt for Simon is the best of the first wave with a strong likeness to actor Justice Smith and with the best facial printed application of the wave to assist the realism of the sculpt around the eyes and mouth in particular. The textured hair is a single colour but is deep enough in the sculpt to allow the light to provide shading and highlights. The only issue with the hair is coverage, with the back part of the hair visibly unpainted and left in the base flesh tone.
Simon has 16 points of articulation, arriving with a full set of leg joints including double-jointed knees. The arm joints are poor, with a single joint elbow that barely bends and shoulders that lack the butterfly joints and that are prevented from upward movement by the cut of the purple tunic. With only a single ball joint for the neck, the head movement is also restricted, and like Holga, the neck feels like the head is pushed too far forward and is looking down too much. Simon’s hands are sculpted with the right featuring a gripping action, with the left designed to emulate a spell-casting pose with fingers outstretched.
Simon comes with the helmet of disjunction an individual piece cast in a yellow/gold softer plastic with a hammered metal finish and with a painted silver trim around the centre. It is shaped to fit over Simon’s head and this does make it look oversized around Simon’s head. Simon’s other accessory is the Hither-Thither staff, cast in brown with a blue metallic painted jewel inset at the top and with some blue dotted patterns down the main shaft to the gold trim at the base. The finish is more detailed than other accessories we’ve seen in wave 1 but remains soft and lacking clarity and the colour choice is out of line with the wood needing to be darker and washed and the blue pattern brighter. While the staff fits into Simon’s right hand, the lack of elbow and shoulder movement limits the posing options with the Hither-Thither staff.
Simon is probably a better all-round figure than most of the Wave 1 releases. It has the same detailed outfit as we've seen on the others, but with a stronger head sculpt, better decor, and more robust accessories - although still not perfect. He does suffer in the articulation stakes, with the Golden Archive showing some early disparity between characters, particularly on arm articulation. While Simon may not be the most glamorous of the D&D characters, the figure is worth picking up, especially with the current deep discounts on the wave 1 releases.
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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...