PIGS. . . IN. . . SPAAAAAAAAACE !!! (Part One)
Written: Jul 12 '03 (Updated Jul 12 '03)
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Pros: An excellent sculpt, expression, articulation and accessories. Wow.
Cons: ...we have to wait for First Mate Piggy to join the crew
The Bottom Line: MORE Muppet figures? Yes. And will there be more and more and more and more? Yes. And this is one of the best.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Jim Henson's Muppets Link Hogthrob Action Figure |
Yes, it’s that time again. Time for JediKermit to gush about the latest Muppet action figure releases from Palisades Toys. There are very few lines of collectibles that improve with each new release—I’ve collected hundreds of action figures from many different companies, and for too many, the quality and the choice of characters starts to falter after the first year of production. Happily this isn’t the case with the Muppet action figures, which with Series Four “graduate” from their “Muppet Show” label to “Jim Henson’s Muppets,” opening up the world of other Muppet television shows and movies.
Series Four has some of the more obscure Muppet characters—characters you know, but might not know their names. It also has the largest figure and smallest figure in the series to date, and although I thought I’d be lukewarm toward these new toys, I’m nuts about them. Or maybe, as Meredith Vieira said to me on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” I’m just plain nuts.
The first figure I’ll be reviewing is Link Hogthrob. This pompous, pompadoured, preening porcine is the captain of the Swinetrek, the pig-shaped spaceship seen on “Pigs In Space.” He’s kind of a combination of Captain Kirk and Ted Baxter from “Mary Tyler Moore,” and he’s a delightfully dim bulb. Incredibly self important, and more vain than Miss Piggy herself, he’s also most likely to be cowering behind the command console on the bridge.
Palisades’ Link is a surprisingly large figure—as large as Fozzie Bear, who up until this series was the largest figure in the line. The sculpt on the figure is as amazing as I’ve come to expect from Palisades; the expression on his face is just the right combination of cluelessness and fearful anticipation that the Captain of the Swinetrek has. His blond hair is maybe a little more combed than Link’s usually was, but he’d appreciate that. He’s got a cleft chin, and his skin has that great “Muppet texturing” that adds so much to these action figures.
His uniform is a purplish color, with a great glittery finish that simulates the sheen of the fabric used for the spacesuit costumes on the show. He’s even got a cloth cape, with silver epaulets and collar, and the cape is detailed down to the “thumb hooks” (I have no idea what the real name is for them) so that with all Link’s wild gesturing, the cape swoops and billows as it should.
Looking at the figure, it looks so much like a statue that I thought he’d be stiff and not very poseable; in fact, he’s very articulated, with multiple joints in both arms and legs: shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles all move thanks to rotating joints concealed in his large gloves and boots. Very very cool.
Link also comes with accessories to complete the man…er…pig. He comes with a model of the Swinetrek, complete with a transparent stand and “Pigs In Space” logo base; he also has his own Ray Gun (which you probably shouldn’t trust him with) and a “Starhog” Magazine (a play on the sci-fi magazine “Starlog” that has Link’s own picture on the cover.
Link was never really a star on “The Muppet Show.” Never as prominent as Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, or Gonzo, he nevertheless has become one of my favorite toys, just because he’s been so very well created by Palisades. Pick him up, and his little friend/sidekick/cohort Dr. Strangepork, and you’ll be able to take on any alien menace coming your way. Or even that sauciest of hams, Miss Piggy. She’ll be coming with a full Swinetrek Bridge Playset later this year.
Get on board with the Muppets now, or kick yourself later—these are great for collectors or those (like me) who like to actually PLAY with their toys.
You’ll find Jim Henson’s Muppets at Media Play, Suncoast, Electronics Boutique, ToysRUs.com, and beginning in Late July, Target Stores will be carrying the line. You can’t pass that up. Come on. You know you want it.
MORE MUPPETS!
Series One
Kermit the Frog http://www.epinions.com/content_81549233796
Miss Piggy http://www.epinions.com/content_81637707396
Dr. Teeth http://www.epinions.com/content_81569549956
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew http://www.epinions.com/content_81822191236
Series Two
Fozzie Bear http://www.epinions.com/content_85935820420
Crazy Harry http://www.epinions.com/content_98525613700
Floyd Pepper http://www.epinions.com/content_98514865796
Gonzo the Great http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252
Series Three
Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_91825081988
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Series Four
Dr. Strangepork http://www.epinions.com/content_105892187780
Sam Eagle as Samuel Arrow http://www.epinions.com/content_105895988868
Rizzo the Rat http://www.epinions.com/content_105903591044
Playsets
Muppet Labs with Beaker http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Electric Mayhem Stage with Animal http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 8.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2134
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About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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