The Muppet Most Likely To Have Dated Charo! Ole!
Written: Jul 15 '04 (Updated Jul 16 '04)
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Pros: A wonderful character, great colors, paint, and likeness...
Cons: Mallet made of fragile plastic, some joint issues.
The Bottom Line: A sadistic Latino who hangs out with disembodied heads...only on The Muppet Show.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Jim Henson's Muppets Marvin Suggs Action Figure |
One of the coolest things about The Muppet Show was its various tributes to the Vaudeville. A big part of that tradition was seen in some of the crazier acts on The Muppet Show. Things like Gonzo tap dancing in oatmeal, Lew Zealand throwing Boomerang Fish, and Bobby Benson’s All-Baby Band were all examples of what was a very popular form of entertainment in the early part of the 20th Century…and one that’s largely died out.
One of the most bizarre Vaudeville acts that ever took the Muppet Theatre stage was Marvin Suggs. A Latino of indeterminate origin, Marvin is dressed in traditional Brazilian shirt and pants, and takes great pleasure in producing music by hitting little balls of fur with mallets. And now, joy of joys, this incredibly disturbing fellow has found a place in my home.
Palisades Toys has already made Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Bunsen, Beaker, Statler, Waldorf…now they’re getting to the real freaks. And if there’s anyone freakier than Gonzo, it’s this guy. Maybe “freakier” isn’t the right word, but he’s certainly a sadistic madman. And I love him for it.
Palisades’ version of Marvin Suggs is beautiful…a bright spot in a collection of bright spots. That’s not to say he’s without his problems. More on that in a minute. Marvin’s got blue skin, a black goatee and moustache, and a half-circle of hair that circles behind his balding head. The skin’s got the Muppety texture down, which makes them look like they’ve got pores like my cousin…but they’re Muppets, so it’s a good thing.
The look of Marvin’s clothing is exquisite. The tight narrow black slacks, the shiny black shoes, and the incredibly bright yellow and green and orange and red and pink ruffled shirt look like something that Charo would die for… The finishes on the shirt really make it stand out—it looks like satin, and the different applications of paints are perfect.
One of the highlights of this figure isn’t Marvin himself, but the accessory he comes with—his beloved instrument/pets/coworkers, the Muppaphone. A red stand with a gold pipe façade and gold music notes on the front, it’s really only there to support six little creatures. Alternating pink and orange, the Muppaphones are fuzzy little balls or disembodied heads, who can talk, but sing individual notes when whacked with a mallet. It would have been simple enough to sculpt one Muppaphone and repeat the procedure six times, but there are six distinct Muppaphones, in various stages of singing and grumbling. Which is sure to earn them an extra whack. Each is soft plastic that fits snugly but easily on pegs atop the stand, so you can move them around or have them visit the Swedish Chef (bad idea…). Taken altogether, this arrangement of musician and instrument is nearly perfect.
But there are a few problems.
The first time I put one of the two mallets into Marvin’s hand, it busted in two. There’s still enough mallet for him to hold onto, but having such a crucial accessory that’s going to be held by the action figure of such brittle plastic is a mistake. It’s like having Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber being made of chalk…it’s just not gonna work. So if you pick him up, be careful. Another issue I’ve already had is that his hands pop out at the wrists fairly easily. They pop right back in, because it’s relatively soft plastic with little mushroom pins, but it’s a bit annoying. The elbow joints have the same problem. Again, he’s not broken for good, but this is the first issue of this kind I’ve had with any Palisades product. The final issues is that the paints on the Muppaphones were still tacky…to the point where I had them resting against something, and that something adhered to the backs of their heads, so now two of them have little skid marks. Again, this is the first issue of this kind I’ve had with Palisades product, so it was surprising and discouraging.
I love Marvin Suggs. I love the figure, despite the few problems I’ve had with it. He’s an excellent addition to my Muppet collection. If you pick one up, be aware that there are those few things to look out for.
You can find Palisades Toys Muppet Action Figures at Media Play, Suncoast, Sam Goody, Newbury Comics, and online at EB Games and other fine retailers. Get 'em while they're hot!
PALISADES TOYS MUPPET ACTION FIGURES
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
Beaker w/Muppet Labs Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_81755606660
Series Two:
Fozzie Bear http://www.epinions.com/content_85935820420
Gonzo the Great http://www.epinions.com/content_98463813252
Crazy Harry http://www.epinions.com/content_98525613700
Floyd Pepper http://www.epinions.com/content_98514865796
Animal w/Electric Mayhem Stage Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_98538262148
Series Three:
Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_91825081988
Lew Zealand http://www.epinions.com/content_91457293956
Rowlf http://www.epinions.com/content_90764316292
Zoot http://www.epinions.com/content_91549830788
Swedish Chef w/Swedish Kitchen Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_98725432964
Series Four:
Link Hogthrob http://www.epinions.com/content_105889107588
Dr. Julius Strangepork http://www.epinions.com/content_105892187780
Rizzo the Rat http://www.epinions.com/content_105903591044
Samuel Arrow http://www.epinions.com/content_105895988868
Koozebane Kermit http://www.epinions.com/content_113299066500
Series Five:
Gonzo and Camilla http://www.epinions.com/content_115081186948
Pepe http://www.epinions.com/content_117043138180
Janice http://www.epinions.com/content_117029899908
Muppet Newsman http://www.epinions.com/content_117058145924
Series Six:
Statler http://www.epinions.com/content_120983948932
Waldorf http://www.epinions.com/content_120987487876
Patrol Bear Fozzie http://www.epinions.com/content_120963501700
Clifford http://www.epinions.com/content_120939515524
Pigs In Space Playset http://www.epinions.com/content_134628544132
Series Seven:
Kermit as Captain Smollet http://www.epinions.com/content_135481364100
Frog Scout Robin http://www.epinions.com/content_135578947204
Beauregard http://www.epinions.com/content_135557975684
Johnny Fiama http://www.epinions.com/content_135581634180
Series Eight:
Sam Eagle http://www.epinions.com/content_147964202628
Movie Usher Scooter http://www.epinions.com/content_147937201796
Marvin Suggs http://www.epinions.com/content_147934580356
Dr. Phil Van Neuter http://www.epinions.com/content_147964202628
Muppet Exclusives:
Adventure Kermit http://www.epinions.com/content_134654889604
MUPPET PVCS
Set 1 http://www.epinions.com/content_119826517636
Set 2 http://www.epinions.com/content_119837462148
Muppet Christmas Carol 1 http://www.epinions.com/content_120237952644
Muppet Christmas Carol 2 http://www.epinions.com/content_120245292676
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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JediKermit
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2119
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About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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