Tags
action figures, balin, bilbo, bridge direct, comic-con, dwalin, dwarves, fili, gandalf, kili, merchandising, news, photos, pre-order, thorin
Update 8/3/12: Amazon.com is now pre-ordering the figures featured at Comic-Con, including these 6″ scale figures:
Bilbo Baggins – Wave 1
Gandalf The Grey – Wave 1
Thorin Oakenshield – Wave 1
and these 3.75″ scale figures, sold as pairs:
Adventure: Kili and Fili – Wave 1
Adventure: Bilbo Baggins and Gollum – Wave 1
Adventure: Balin and Dwalin – Wave 1
And this set of 5 characters, also in 3.75″ scale:
Hero Pack – Bilbo, Thorin, Dwalin, Kili and Fili Box Set
Only one Hobbit figure is available to the public at the moment, the Limited Edition Invisible Bilbo (via individual merchants on Amazon. Make sure you search for the best price, which is currently around $25):
All these figures were on display at Comic-con, and some great quality pictures were taken by several sites including Action Figure Pictures, Mwctoys.com, and The Fwoosh.
We’ve already seen 6” scale Bilbo, Thorin, and Gandalf. Here they are in their packaging.
I still have issues with the Gandalf figure, who looks more Moses than Grey Wanderer to me. I had hoped a view without his hat would change my mind, but it only confirms my fears. Perhaps my expectations are too high due to Toy Biz’ past releases, but that company did a better job capturing details of the wizard. Considering the importance of the character, a bit more effort would have been nice.
Action Figure Pictures asked Bridge Direct if they planned to release all the dwarves in 6” scale, but they could not say yet. Most of the figures on display were 3.75″ scale, and included individuals, 2-packs, and Collector’s packs featuring Gandalf, Bilbo, Gollum, Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Fili, and Kili. The AFP site features a full gallery of the toys from Comic-con, including more packaging.
3.75″ Scale figures
I’m not sure what to think of the smaller scale figures, and I only intended to buy pieces from the larger line-up. But these are meant to be played with, and I suppose smaller figures are more convenient for that purpose. I think kids will enjoy these, and there’s still enough detail that collectors may be tempted too. Some look more accurate than others. Balin, Dwalin, Thorin, and Fili are my favorites.
Photos by Michael Crawford show the 3.75″ scale figures on display in an environment that makes them appear just a tad more epic.
The little details like the scars on Dwalin’s arm are pretty cool! Some of the weapons look good (Kili’s bow and Dwalin’s axe in particular), but others do not (Sting and Gandalf’s staff, I’m looking at you!)
The Fwoosh features a review of the general construction of the invisible Bilbo exclusive to Comic-con (which is now making its way onto eBay and other places). They praise the level of articulation, and the figure’s pose-ability. They set him up next to the Toy Biz version of old Bilbo for size comparisons.
The Bridge Direct Bilbo seems to be smaller overall than the Toy Biz figure, and I can see how this might cause issues when mixing figures from the two lines. But new Bilbo looks pretty good next to Toy Biz Gandalf and Gimli, so there may be hope. There are many more excellent pictures of invisible Bilbo on their site.
Update 7/23/12: Here is a video review of invisible Bilbo which demonstrates the articulation.
ItsJSforMe said:
Thank you DarkJackal!! I am really looking forward to owning these figures. 🙂
saraleee said:
Cool pictures! Thanks, darkjackal!
Gratiana Lovelace said:
Wow! Really cool! Although, 3.75 inches is so tiny. You almost need a magnifying glass for the details. And I thought that the 6 inch Lil Guy figures were small. Ha!
But even If these figures are meant to be played with by little ones–even 4 and 5 yrs of age and up–might there still be a choking hazard there with the weapons? Sorry, I’m wearing my Aunt Grati hat. Little ones are so unpredictable. Ha!
TaureDawn said:
These are cool! Thanks for posting :D!
april73 said:
Great post and pics DarkJackal. Do you know when theses figures will be available for ordering ?🙂
Jafflemaker said:
Great site!🙂 There seem to be a lack of tolkien dedicated news sites that focus on interesting news as a lot of sites Iv’e found post about irrelevant pastimes of actors from the films and silly gossip I couldn’t care less about. All I’m interested in is up to date and detailed info on the good stuff like what you’ve posted here (which some of the other sites can take weeks to clue onto) Thank you!🙂
As for the figures my partner and I have decided to snatch up all the larger new character figures. Probably passing on the new Legolas unless he turns out to be somthing completely different or the best Legolas to date but definitely going to build armies of goblins wargs and anythinmg really that BD decides to release in 6 inch scale. I like the Gandalf so might get him even though we already have 7 or 8 Toybiz variants, might have to wait and see him in person.
Probably will pass on the 3 3/4 stuff and I’m really hoping the 6 inch figures outsell their smaller counterparts (however unlikely) as I’d really love to build a large collection in this scale and look hopeful for a possible return to a lotr trilogy toyline if all goes well.
Again awesome work on thje site and we look forward to visiting again🙂
Rick said:
Wow….these toys are really lame compared to the Toy Biz Lord of the Rings line.
AW267 said:
I just bought the 6 inch Tauriel and Legolas figures from Amazon UK. These are the two I was most interested in and the sculpting seems a lot better on the taller figures. Also, I bought them because I could end up having to wait a year or something to get them if Warner Bros do pull them from the line due to their absence in the first movie
Death_at_Midnight said:
It came to my attention recently that Amazon UK has invisible Bilbo exclusives, but I don’t have any clue as to the scale if the figure. Except for the packaging, is the SDCC exclusive invisible Bilbo the same as the Amazon UK exclusive? I am especially curious as to the scale difference of each.