BLOWFISH ACTION FIGURE - T5

Information

Status: Out

Pictures:

Full review

Like a handful before him this is an action figure or toy that should not work. Like the Hoix or Brannigan, taken out of context we notice the bright yellow hands, the lurid clothes (or, in the case of the Hoix, the fishnet stockings...!) However, as with another small handful before him, the Blowfish action figure breaks the mould and does get away with it. He does work.

Taking the body as a whole the first impression you have in hand is that he looks pretty un-posable and his jacket is, unlike the rest of the range, set, hard plastic. However you then look properly and, for some reason, the jacket doesn’t matter. It still works. It’s difficult to work out why this is, but I think it’s because his costume takes on quite a ‘Joker’ style malevolence of its own, the bright style in direct contrast to his personality.

And then you can take in the articulation and it reveals very cleverly hidden balljoints. I’m always very wary of balljoints, they don’t work on the Harry Potter range I feel and can look pretty silly. But here they work perfectly, and it allows him to be placed in a variety of different poses without obtrusive thigh or bicep articulation. One problem that does present itself is that he really cannot sit down, the articulation is there but it doesn’t work and will only result in cutting into the figure’s leg. This is unusual for the Torchwood range, pioneers in excellent figure sitting usually!

The blowfish face is very well done, slightly less ‘wet’ looking than the TV counterpart perhaps but this doesn’t detract at all. It is also balljointed, giving you some excellent options for posability.

With the possible exception of Lisa this is also the first ‘unexpected’ figure from the Torchwood range. He only appeared for a short, if memorable, sequence in the first episode of Series 2 after all (that’s not counting the Blowfish later seen – though Customisation opportunities there!). However it’s a mark of how interesting and unusual the character was that he’s appeared as a recurring villain in the Torchwood Magazine, along with Blowfish henchmen (even more Customisation opportunities!)

Overall this figure could so easily have flopped and been one to consider avoiding if you needed to save a bit here and there, but instead I think he presents a highly unusual, highly effective and overall excellent addition to any collection.