“Dr. Jones! Don't drink it! It's bad! Spit it out!”
The second full wave of Indiana Jones Adventure Series figures from Hasbro, released in late Summer 2023, was themed around The Temple of Doom with three figures from that movie as well as a Sankara Stone Skull idol build-an-artifact packed in alongside Indy and Helena from The Dial of Destiny. The wave featured two Indiana Jones figures from Temple of Doom, the first of which being the Hypnotized Indy. The figure arrives in the established Adventure Series box with the box art including a desert-themed colour scheme with the red lines of the Indy travel map laid out as part of the design.
The boxes are windowless, with the figure depicted on the front and back and a checklist of the rest of the wave to one side. The rear of the box also confirms the contents and accessories, while the final side contains artwork for the figure.
Hypnotized Indy utilises many of the parts we see on the Temple of Doom Indy from the same wave. The bare-chested upper torso is shared between the two, with the Temple Indy applying a rubberised shirt over the top. The right arm is shared, while the left is currently specific to this release. The lower legs are also a shared piece although the left thigh segment on the Hypnotized Indy doesnt include the rip at the knee. Each segment of the body is cast in the base colour plastic with the only significant paint applied on Indy’s belt.
The head sculpt looks new, or tweaked from another release, as he appears without his hat but with a more matted hairstyle that is not the same as that used on Professor Indy or Club Obi-Wan. The likeness to Harrison Ford is on par with the others in the line, enhanced by photo-print decor that also includes the red markings on his forehead. Again, the finish is glossy and waxy.
Articulation is 19 points in total, all pinless, but the lack of clothing on the upper body does mean the joints are more visible than we might usually see. This is particularly evident with the butterfly shoulders and the neck joint which has a relatively large gap where it meets Indy’s chest. The joints all do what they should, and while there is a bit of a faff getting the shoes to sit flat, once that pose is found Indy stands perfectly well on his own.
The figure comes with the red rope sash he wears during the ceremony and this can be removed if you wish. We also get Indy’s satchel and for the first time in the range, this can now be opened with an opening top flap and a space inside the bag for what we assume is the Sankara Stones which are also included in this set (although these are also a part of the build-an-artifact). The reality is that the bag is too small and just one Sankara stone proves problematic to get it into the bag.
The other pieces in the set include the Chalice of Kali, from which Indy is forced to drink the blood. This is another neat archeological artifact slotted into the line and features a gold lower section, onto which a painted skull is added - with the spout of the Chalice protruding through the skull’s mouth. Despite the size and the fact it is an accessory, the paint detail on the skull is extensive including painted red eyes. Indy can also arm himself with the included spear, a nearly 7-inch piece with a wood effect shaft and a black-painted upper hook section. While the accessories are great, the hands selected for the figure are taken from other figures so while holding the spear isn't an issue, Indy isn’t equipped with a grip to hold the Chalice in any way shape, or form that would be stable enough for display.
The Hypnotized Indy figure as a release ticks plenty of boxes giving us another scene-specific Indy with some good accessories and an overall design and execution that has just a handful of flaws. The key issue with the figure is the Indy overload we are now seeing within the line - especially when we are just at Wave 2 and have already had 9 Indy figures and a 10th on the way. There are even three Indy’s in this five-figure line and the key issue with that is the characters we are missing out on.
I am aware there are sensitivities with some of the Temple of Doom characters, but a Willie Scott would have been a good choice if Mola Ram or any of the Thugee Guards were off the table. Hypnotized Indy would have perhaps been best served as a stand-alone retailer exclusive like Professor Indy or Club Obi-Wan Indy, allowing collectors to make a choice whether to pick him up without needing to in order to complete the Sankara Stones Skull Temple.
Keep Track of all the Indiana Jones Adventure Series from Hasbro at our comprehensive
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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...