For this week's review, we are taking a look at a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin figure from NECA. If you are unaware of who The Last Ronin is I won't spoil that for you, and highly suggest that you go read the story for yourself. The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video games, sports, music, and television that are based in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1996 and has over 60 licenses for which it produces products.
PACKAGING:
Before we open this up, let's look at the packaging.
The front of the box has The Last Ronin logo at the top with some artwork of the Last Ronin running towards us. His name as well as the Nickelodeon logo run along the bottom of the box. Turning the box to the side, we get some more artwork of the Last Ronin from the comic book. The back of the box shows us the figure in some action-type poses and a little write-up on him, WHO IS THE LAST RONIN? IN A FUTURE, BATTLE-RAVAGED NEW YORK CITY, A LONE SURVIVING TURTLE EMBARKS ON A SEEMINGLY HOPELESS MISSION SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE FAMILY HE LOST. FROM LEGENDARY TMNT C0-CREATORS KEVIN EASTMAN AND PETER LAIRD, COMES THE FINAL STORY OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, THREE DECADES IN THE MAKING! WHAT TERRIBLE EVENTS DESTROYED HIS FAMILY AND LEFT NEW YORK A CRUMBLING, POST-APOCALYTIC NIGHTMARE? ALL WILL BE REVEALED IN THE CLIMACTIC TURTLES TALE THAT SEES LONGTIME FRIENDS BECOMING ENEMIES AND NEW ALLIES EMERGING IN THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACES. CAN THE SURVIVING TURTLE TRIUMPH? Turning the box around to the side again we see a picture of the cover for issue #1 of the Last Ronin. Back to the front of the box, you can open the cover like a book to show off the figure inside and all the accessories he comes with. The box cover also has the Last Ronin standing there in a ready-to-fight stance.
INSIDE OF THE BOX:
Let's take a look at how the figure comes packed inside.
The last Ronin comes packed in plastic with him and all his accessories displayed. There is a red cardboard slip behind the figure, a nice touch with all the red that they use in the comic covers for the story.
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX:
Let's open the box and take a closer look at the figure.
The Last Ronin is very nicely detailed. NECA did a very good job making him look like he just came right out of the book. All the nicks and marks on the figures gauntlets make it look like he has been in some battles and seen some stuff.
ACCESSORIES:
Let's see what kind of accessories the figure comes with.
Ok, this Last Ronin figure comes with a lot of stuff, Are you ready? The hood comes off so you can attach two different bandana ends, one short and one long. He comes with his night vision goggles. an alt head with an open yelling mouth. two closed fists, two open hands, two closed fists, a Tonfa, one Katana, one Nunchuck, a Bo Staff, and one Sais. All the turtle's weapons can store on him. He also comes with a Tonfa, Claw on a rope, a grenade, and four ninja stars.
ARTICULATION:
How can we pose the figure? Let's find out!
THAT LAST RONIN'S ARTICULATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
MUSHROOM PEGGED HEAD - This allows you to turn the head 360 degrees around
BALL-HINGED SHOULDERS - Gives the arm 360-degree rotation and also the ability to raise and lower the arm.
SINGLE JOINTED ELBOWS - This allows you to bend the arm about 90 degrees.
SWIVEL HINGE WRISTS - It allows you to turn the figure's wrists in a full 360-degree circle while also bending them up and down.
WAIST SWIVEL - This lets you be able to turn the figure around 360 degrees at the waist.
BALL JOINTED LEGS - With this it allows the legs to move out to the side along with some front and back motion.
DOUBLE JOINTED KNEES - The joint allows you to bend the leg itself back, however, due to the bulk o the figure you only get a little bit of a bend.
ANKLE SWIVEL - The ankle swivel lets you turn the feet a full 360 degrees.
SIZE COMPARISON:
How does the size of this figure compare to others?
The Last Ronin figure stands right around the 7-inch mark. Here is the Last Ronin figure with two other NECA Turtle figures, Leo and Slash
RATING:
What are Baby Huey's scores for the figure?
PAINT JOB 4.5/5 - The figure does have some nice paint on him, The marks on the gauntlets make it look like he has been in some battles while the black wash over him and the black markings on him mark it look like he came right out of the comic.
FIGURE SCULPT 5/5 - The figure looks perfect. Like he stepped right out of the comic book himself.
POSING 2.5/5 - I do wish I could get him into some more poses, for a ninja he is kinda stiff. The legs have double-jointed knees but don't bend that far. and added bicep swivel would have helped as well
ACCESSORIES: 5/5 - This guy comes with some much, there isn't anything more I could ask for.
DURABILITY 4.5/5 - The plastic is nice, I don't feel like I'm going to break anything, and that is hard to say when coming to NECA figures. make sure you always heat up your figures before moving them.
OVERALL SCORE 4.3/5 - I really do love this figure, the story was great and the figure himself is great. If you see him at the store do pick him up!
RETAIL COST: $34.99
I PICKED MINE UP AT TARGET
TIME FOR SOME TOYING AROUND!
