“it's capped with an elaborate headpiece in the shape of the sun with a crystal in the center.“
An Indiana Jones action figure line like Hasbro’s new Adventure Series was always going to have a very heavy focus on Indy figures and variants, and while there are a number of different looks to his iconic adventure outfit there have also been a number of disguises and other looks from the films which are just as recognisable. In Summer 2023 Hasbro extended their Raiders of the Lost Ark figures with a release of the Map Room Indiana Jones, as seen in the Tanis scenes from Raiders. The figure is an exclusive, sold via Target in the US and the Fan Channel in the UK. The figure packaging is plastic-free and carries images of the figure on the front, side and reverse as well as a limited checklist of the other Raiders of the Lost Ark releases to date.
Out of the box we are presented with Indy in his desert disguise complete with wrapped headgear and flowing robes. Like most Hasbro exclusives - both in the Indy range and elsewhere - the figure is a bit of a kitbash with the arms taken from the Salah figure and the legs from the standard Raiders Indy - this last one making perfect sense as Indy is wearing this disguise over his usual clothing. The chest is sculpted in keeping with the robes on the arms but looks like it is missing something at the shoulders leaving the joint very exposed and somewhat throwing the look of the figure. The skirt piece is a softer rubber added over the base legs and secured at the waist joint. The figure is predominantly cast in the base colour of the outfit but we do get sand-worn weathering around the sleeves and the lower half of the robes.
The head is most likely tweaked from the other Indy releases, replacing the usual hat with the wrapped headgear which encompasses the full head and then flows down the front of the figure as far as the waist. The likeness to Harrison Ford is good, with photo-real decor applied over the top to increase the realism around the eyes as well as the texture and shadows of the facial features, and to recreate the unshaven look. The figure does present as one of the best executions of the Ford/Indy likeness to date.
The figure has quite an extensive set of accessories starting off with a re-use of the shovel and rope from the Sallah release. The shovel has varied decor while the rope is more or less identical. You also get the same satchel as seen on the main Raiders Indy which comes on the figure but can be removed if you wish. The new pieces for map-room Indy include his notebook which includes a red painted spine, elastic band fastening, and definition between the cover and pages. And of course, we get the Staff of Ra and headpiece which is made up of a brown staff and golden - and quite well-detailed - headpiece inclusive of the red gem at the centre.
Map Room Indy has 19 points of articulation including the use of butterfly shoulders which are sadly a little too visible on the figure. The robes prevent a huge amount of dynamic movement, but there is enough scope in the upper body articulation to wield any of the accessories - most importantly if you are recreating scenes having Indy hold the Staff of Ra.
The Map Room Indiana Jones works relatively well in the main with the look of the figure around those shoulders being the significant visual issue. Considering the Indy movie universe and the options for scenery pieces, this set does feel as though it should have been a deluxe set and come complete with the map room for display. Of course, Hasbro may choose to do this in the future as they have done with the Raiders Indy and the Temple Escape set - the frustration here would then be the forcing of collectors to double dip. One for those who are all-in on the Indy Adventure Series and love recreating scenes as the figure looks great with Sallah, but equally an exclusive that can be skipped for those focusing on key characters and outfits from each film only.
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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...