In 2017 three new Doctor Who box figures were released, exclusive to Forbidden Planet. As well as a 10th Doctor in Tuxedo, we had two version of the incumbent 12th Doctor. Both with identical sculpts, but with varying paint jobs. The first with a black shirt and trousers, and the figure we are reviewing here.
Packaging 4.0
The packaging for the 12th Doctor figure continues with the design principles laid down by the Toys R Us sets a year earlier. We now have a window box rather than a blister card, and a colourful box that shades from the orange glow of a sun to a star field.
The figure name sits under the window in a dark blue panel, and under the TWELFTH DOCTOR is the subtitle COLLECTOR FIGURE. A little way above this in a diamond cut out is some more text confirming this as a 5.5inch / 14cm SCALE COLLECTOR SERIES.
The back of the box has an image of the figure alongside a quote "I'm the Doctor, I've lived for over two thousand years, and not all of them were good...". Above this is a repeat of that scale diamond and beneath it confirmation of the contents as the Twelfth Doctor figure and Sonic Screwdriver. To the side of the image is an extensive background text for the Twelfth Doctor.
THE TWELFTH DOCTOR
The Eleventh Doctor had grown old on Trenzalore and as the Dalek aries gathered to see him finally defeated, Clara purusaded the Time Lords to grant him a new regeneration cycle. After destroying his old enemies he reached the TARDIS, phoned the future and completed his regeneration. The era of the fierce, fiery Twelfth Doctor was beginning...
He's still funny and able to make jokes in the direst situations. Wandering around victorian London in a post-regeneration state of befuddlement he couldn't believe his new face. 'I mean it's alright up to the eyebrows,' he told a random stranger. 'Then it just goes haywire! Look at the eyebrows! These are attack eyebrows. You could take bottle caps of with these!'...
The Twelfth Doctor may not be big on hugs but he's still brave, heroid and drawn to danger... But there is a dark side. When Clara light-heartedly called herself his carer he agreed with his companion, adding 'She cares so I don't have to...'
In Season 9 he Doctor returned in a series of epix, exciting adventures. With Clara by his side, the world's favourite time-traveling hero faced Zygons, Missy and monsters new to us. It was quite a rollercoaster!
When you open the pack the Doctor is tied into the plastic tray with cotton ties which are best snipped from the rear than going through the pain of untying them. The screwdriver is taped in place. The cardback that the tray sits in is blue in colour with a diamond and clockwork design built in.
Paint & Sculpt 4.0
The head sculpt for 2017 was new for the 12th Doctor, replacing the earlier version which had been a little soft vs Capaldi's features. The likeness is stronger here with those "attack" eyebrows, prominent cheekbones and slight scowl on the face. The face decor is basic, but neat and in line with the other figures in the line. The hair is more lifelike with some body to it and painted in a mix of black and grey.
The outfit is the most colourful released for the 12th Doctor who often dressed quite darkly. This is the outfit worn in The Witches Familiar and is made up of a white pattern shirt, hoodie, blazer jacket and checked trousers. Each layer is well painted with the red and pink shirt pattern through to the blue hoodie and slightly more purple outer coat. THe trousers have individual checked lines in a sandy yellow over the green base coat - which itself is painted over a bluer plastic - most likely the same palsit c as used on the alternative version released at the same time. Finer details include the bronze zip and gloss black boots with mat brown soles.
It is worth noting that the 12th Doctor is taller than his previous releases here, and most of the Character line thanks to that shift to 5.5 inch scale from teh 5 inch one they started with. It isn't hugely noticeable unless you put Capaldi side by side with McCoy or Tom Baker.
Accessories 4.0
The Doctor comes with his Sonic Screwdriver, the newer version from the back end of Season 9. While the Doctor must of course always have his Screwdriver, the slight irony here is that during the early Season 9 stories - the Doctor had abandoned his Screwdriver in favour of sonic shades. I wonder how close we might have been to having those as an accessory or an alternative head wearing the shades?
The Screwdriver, being a larger model than some of its predecessors, allows for more detail at this scale and the shape is well executed - although a little soft when viewed close up. Paint work is applied in a silver base coat with blue and gold trims, all neatly applied considering the scale. It fits in to the right hand of the Doctor and holds securely.
Moving slightly into realms of wishlists, this is the Doctor who also played the electric guitar in this episode and that too would have been a wonderful accessory to throw in with this release.
Articulation 4.5
The 12th Doctor is a new body sculpt for the line, not a re-use, and it therefore comes with an enhancement to the 16 points of articulation with an upgraded shoulder joint that not only rotates but extend outwards also.
Head : rotating neck plug
Body : rotating waist
Arms : rotating and pivoting shoulder joint, bicep swivel, single pin elbow, rotating wrist
Legs : T-Joint hip, thigh swivel, single pin knee
The joints are a little dated in their design with exposed pegs and they certainly are not wide ranging in terms of posing. What they can do are some gesturing poses, with the sonic for example, and some wider leg poses and settings. Each joint is secure and moves well, with just a watch out for the bicep swivel which can pop out when rotated. The Doctor stands fine on his own.
Summary
The Doctor Who figures are certainly not on par with the more modern figures of a similar scale like Marvel or Star Wars. But they don't intend to be and in fact retain a level of consistency that goes all the way back to the start of the line in 2005 with a modern figure essentially not looking massively different to the ones from the early waves.
The 12th Doctor is an example of a good head sculpt, well executed body and crisp paint job that remains sensitive to the line. Articulation is sufficient and while I can dream about Sonic Glasses and Electric Guitars, the new Sonic accessory is sufficient and well executed.
I love the packaging for this era of the Who Toys, even more so than the more restrained silver and blue used at the moment - and the level of detail in the background text is impressive.
All in all the 12th Doctor is a fantastic figure and I score it 4.0 overall, well worth hunting down on the secondary market and one not to pass up on if you find it at a reasonable price.
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, doctor who, 12th doctor, peter capaldi, TARDIS, Dalek, Character Options Forbidden Planet