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Just a heads up, new 4" Bif Bang Pow Venture Bros. are available & shipping now from your favorite etailers. After picking up Brock last year, I was excited to receive brothers Hank & Dean, as well as Dr. Mrs. The Monarch from Entertainment Earth last week!
The Venture boys' sculpts are very on-point and their scale looks great, especially standing next to Brock. If you weren't a fan of 8" Dean's expression, it's reappearance here probably isn't going to excite you, though IMO it works better at this scale. No issues with paint on mine, though I've heard of some googly eyes. I do enjoy finally having a Hank & Dean with the same skin tones.
Each come with one weapon accessory that, while sorta comical looks a bit odd with each (someone please remind me if these are scene specific). I've read suggestions that Hank's machete and Dean's rifle may display better with future figures, but seeing as how they don't fit in Brock's hands, and the boys' hands are pretty specifically molded for each, I wouldn't put too much stock into that. The hover bikes originally shown with their prototypes are obviously absent, but no complaints here.
Dr. Mrs. The Monarch is another welcome addition. She looks great, but honestly something seems a little off. I don't know how on-model her height is here, but she comes off as a little...squatty. I feel like her legs should be a tad longer. Her hips are also a bit...I dunno, wide-set? The overall look just isn't quite as sultry as Sheila usually looks. The bazooka she was shown with originally was nixed, and I honestly don't care, but I read a rumor that when it was still to be included, her height was reduced slightly to accommodate the price-out of the weapon? Sounds off, especially since the accessory was still dropped, but maybe someone else can confirm? Anyway, her unique cape is executed perfectly at this scale, both in appearance and texture (I assume this softer, almost rubbery translucent material may be the reason she doesn't include an accessory).
Articulation for all is the same as Brock (cut neck & shoulders, hinge elbows & knees, t-crotch for the boys, v-crotch for the Mrs.). It's better than five points of articulation, but display options are honestly pretty limited. Poseability would be much improved with ball shoulders/hips or at least some cuts at the bicep, wrist, thigh or ankle. I'm not complaining as I'm just thrilled to be getting these, especially as a smaller production/non-mass market item at a competitive price point, just stating the obvious. They can also be a bit difficult to stand flat at times, but that's nothing an action figure stand can't fix. Finally, all three come on the exact same backing card & bubble as Brock, with character specific art & logo inserts. I love the packaging ("I dare you to make less sense!"), but I was a little surprised Dr. Mrs. The Monarch didn't come on a purple card like the 8" villains.
All in all, while I love the retro 8" Venture Bros. line, the 4" line has me equally won over 4 figures in (5 counting SDCC Brock). I suggest picking them up asap at a great price, as both editions of 4" Brock are sold out. It's a great time for Venture fans with new 8" figures coming later this month, Season 5 premiering next month, more 4" figures scheduled to ship this summer, and hopefully some nifty SDCC announcements soon!
The Venture boys' sculpts are very on-point and their scale looks great, especially standing next to Brock. If you weren't a fan of 8" Dean's expression, it's reappearance here probably isn't going to excite you, though IMO it works better at this scale. No issues with paint on mine, though I've heard of some googly eyes. I do enjoy finally having a Hank & Dean with the same skin tones.
Each come with one weapon accessory that, while sorta comical looks a bit odd with each (someone please remind me if these are scene specific). I've read suggestions that Hank's machete and Dean's rifle may display better with future figures, but seeing as how they don't fit in Brock's hands, and the boys' hands are pretty specifically molded for each, I wouldn't put too much stock into that. The hover bikes originally shown with their prototypes are obviously absent, but no complaints here.
Dr. Mrs. The Monarch is another welcome addition. She looks great, but honestly something seems a little off. I don't know how on-model her height is here, but she comes off as a little...squatty. I feel like her legs should be a tad longer. Her hips are also a bit...I dunno, wide-set? The overall look just isn't quite as sultry as Sheila usually looks. The bazooka she was shown with originally was nixed, and I honestly don't care, but I read a rumor that when it was still to be included, her height was reduced slightly to accommodate the price-out of the weapon? Sounds off, especially since the accessory was still dropped, but maybe someone else can confirm? Anyway, her unique cape is executed perfectly at this scale, both in appearance and texture (I assume this softer, almost rubbery translucent material may be the reason she doesn't include an accessory).
Articulation for all is the same as Brock (cut neck & shoulders, hinge elbows & knees, t-crotch for the boys, v-crotch for the Mrs.). It's better than five points of articulation, but display options are honestly pretty limited. Poseability would be much improved with ball shoulders/hips or at least some cuts at the bicep, wrist, thigh or ankle. I'm not complaining as I'm just thrilled to be getting these, especially as a smaller production/non-mass market item at a competitive price point, just stating the obvious. They can also be a bit difficult to stand flat at times, but that's nothing an action figure stand can't fix. Finally, all three come on the exact same backing card & bubble as Brock, with character specific art & logo inserts. I love the packaging ("I dare you to make less sense!"), but I was a little surprised Dr. Mrs. The Monarch didn't come on a purple card like the 8" villains.
All in all, while I love the retro 8" Venture Bros. line, the 4" line has me equally won over 4 figures in (5 counting SDCC Brock). I suggest picking them up asap at a great price, as both editions of 4" Brock are sold out. It's a great time for Venture fans with new 8" figures coming later this month, Season 5 premiering next month, more 4" figures scheduled to ship this summer, and hopefully some nifty SDCC announcements soon!
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