Vlad review

[Michael Crawford MWC]

Most fiction is based on fact, and tonight's review covers the Sideshow 12" figure of Vlad the Impaler, the factual character that the fictional Dracula was based upon. He's the second in the very cool Live By The Sword series, and if the quality continues like this, I hope to see plenty more in this line.

You can check it out at the usual:

www.mwctoys.com (http://www.mwctoys.com)

The other big news is the start of the Sponsor Appreciation Contest! Each week I'll be running an interview feature with each of the sponsors for MROTW. There is also a series of questions to answer - only 13 - about the sponsors. Answer all twelve correctly, and you could win one of four terrific prize packs! The contest and the first interview (with Alter Ego Comics) are now up. Thanks for reading!

Michael
MWC

[Double Dare]

Great review, Michael. Although I love this figure, I totally agree with you with regards to the headsculpt. I fully realize that the artists were working from very stylized portraits but this was a case where a little creative license could have resulted in a far more realistic and convincing head sculpt.

Nick

[Buttmunch]

You didn't like the head sculpt huh? I'll have to tell my old history teacher, who happens to look almost exactly the same. His family is even from Romania, so I figured he might be related to him somehow (he was almost as mean as him too!).

Great review as always.

PS :wave Hi, this is KampKrustyBrant from the SCS FYI

[dstephan]

I didn't have a big problem with the head sculpt - I figured Vlad just had a big head. It might be interesting if SSC did something like Dragon/BBi does and sculpt the historical figures to resemble modern day actors. Vlad would have looked awesome with a Gary Oldman head sculpt.

[Poelzig]

Ah well,the face is a little full looking,but who can say what he really looked like.The only reference of Vlad Tepes that I know of is that famous painted portrait of him and a few woodcut illustrations.It seems SS was using the woodcuts as a reference.In the painting his face is longer,his eyes are almost buldging(think Jeff Goldblum),and he has a wierd protruding thick bottom lip.

I still like what Sideshow has done,but perhaps if they make a 1/4 scale Vlad it might look more like the painting.

[Double Dare]

I really like the figure and the headsculpt is slowly growing on me. Poelzig nailed it -he looks very much like the famous woodcuts. McF did a nice job on their Vlad headsculpt and I still would have preferred a portrait similar to that. But to each his own.

Nick

[BayonetsJunkie]

I actually like the headsculpt quite a bit. I think it's appropriate the source material for Dracula look a little *off kilter*.

Very pleased with this figure. I love the velour style robe.

[creecher]

Sideshow have stepped up, yet again, IMO.
The "Live by the Sword" and "Fife and Drum" costumes are outstanding, and is appropriately reflected in the higher cost of these items.
The prices can't stay the same, but at least Sideshow are working harder to validate it. The results are obvious and welcome.

[BayonetsJunkie]

True, true. The figures aren't cheap, but you can see where the money is going. I paid 45 for the Exclusive Vlad and I don't feel ripped off in the least. The quality is a HUGE step up.

I'm not too excited about the new Fife and Drum figures, but they look great. If they make a Cornwalis, Layfayette, or General George Washington, they've got my green, that's to be sure.

[Lurp Team Leader]

A Christopher Lee headsculpt would have looked really awesome.