SpartanNerd Review....Sonic the Black Knight by Jazwares

I reviewed several Sonic figures once before...you can, and probably should read that first by clicking this link.

Sonic the Black Knight is from a video game that puts Sonic into the medieval times.  I haven't played much of this game, but SpartanSmurf #2 has almost beaten it.  What I have played is a combat mode where you fight against another player.

Sonic the Black Knight is a larger figure than these that I reviewed before.   But he has the exact same articulation.

But this time that isn't as nice.

Here is Sonic the Black Knight, against some pajamas as a background...
You can see the sword and the mask in the window box.  This box also tells ME
that this is Excalibur Sonic.

Here's the back of the box.  Pretty good art.  But not showing Sonic in his armor.

Here he is out of the box and mask less.

This is obviously supposed to be Excalibur.  (What else?)
It glows in the dark!

When we arm Sonic and put on his mask, he looks like this.
This is the mask raised to show his face.  What?  You can't see it?

Here he is with mask closed.  This mask just doesn't work.

Here is the backside of Sonic.  I think it looks like a golden artichoke.

This button peg keeps coming off of the mask.  I wonder how long until it is lost forever?

Here is Excalibur Sonic next to Classic Sonic and Super Sonic.
You can really see the size difference.

For the life of me, I couldn't get a good picture of the sword glowing in the dark.  But I assure you it does quite nicely.

When Sonic the Black Knight came out of the box, his head was so tight I was afraid it would break.  But two days later, this figure is very loose.  Every joint can hardly support any weight.  The pictures here took repeated attempts, and there were multiple falls.

I appreciate the detail, and the level of articulation on this figure.  Unfortunately, there are several things working against a positive rating.  I give it a 2/5.  This is because he does not easily stand, his mask doesn't work well...you can't see his face good if it is up and the peg keeps popping out.  But that sword is a big positive.

SpartanNerd Blog....right at 2100 pageviews!

Thanks for all the support, oh Hub City Geeks, whoever you are!

Information about my blog....

Most traffic comes from the USA, but some comes from almost everywhere around the world!

Shadow Era reviews generated the most hits right from the beginning.  My reviews of the Magic The Gathering Event decks are right behind those....

The SpartanSmurf #1 is requesting a name change.....We'll see....

I have been pretty good at keeping my identity secret....I mean there are some people who have figured it out, and I have given some pretty strong hints out there to those who know me.  My sister in law said, "So you're the SpartanNerd....Wierd."  Good.  I hope that's what she thinks.

The review of the Sonic the Hedgehog figures is the one that I am most proud of the photos.  I really should look into a better situation for photographing my stuff.

My favorite thing to cover is Masters of the Universe...everything!  You would see a lot more of this if I had more time. My review of Masters of the Universe #5 got a bunch of hits...(the one about She-Ra)

I want to start doing some top ten lists.  I need to do more things like the Groovy Dork lists.

SpartanNerd Sundays have been a mild hit.  I am still trying to work that out in my heart and mind.

I still have no followers or subscribers...out of all this traffic?  I haven't figured that out yet.  One thing, Google doesn't make it easy to be anonymous.  I have had a few comments.  But no people interested in my give-aways....

So this is where I stand as a blogger.  May I write something similar in when I get 2100 more hits!  Thank You all!

Figure Review...Sonic The Hedgehog Superpack by Jazwares

I have limited knowledge of Sonic and his universe...I have always been known as "THE Mario Master," and proudly announce to the world right now that I have beaten every Super Mario game up to Mario 64 WITHOUT WARPING!  (And I have beaten Super Mario Bros. 1 countless times without even dying once.  Take that, SEGA.)  Oh, and I beat Super Mario Bros. Wii by myself!  (Also with my sons on multiplayer)

Oh.  A Tangent.  Sorry!

Not that I am completely devoid of experience with Sonic.  I had the first Sonic games on iPod...And maybe I also have the free version on my iPhone today.  In the SpartanNerd household we have Sonic: The Black Knight and Sonic Colors on our Nintendo Wii.

So, because I am such a Sonic NOOB, SpartanSmurf #2 is going to help me with this review!

I am told that these three figures are the Super versions of Sonic, Silver, and Shadow.  And the Gems are called Chaos Gems.

When we picked this set up, we were not entirely clueless as to what we were getting.  SpartanSmurf #2 has a regular Sonic Figure, and I must say it is masterfully articulated.  These appeared to have the same joints and all as that figure.  And those are...

Swivel Ankles
Knee joints that swivel and bend
Hip joints that swivel and bend, certain ways.
Waist Swivel
The same joints on elbows and shoulders as on knees and hips.
Swivel Wrists
Head Swivel

SpartanSmurf #2 tells me that Sonic can even kick his own butt!

This is impressive, considering that they are figures in scale pretty much with  California Raisins!

I just wish they could move their heads up and down, and move their fingers.

The Chaos Gems are a nice touch.  SpartanSmurf #2 tells me that these are required for the character to transform into their Super Selves.  These are all translucent, and about the size of a super-ball, and shaped like a classic diamond.  I wish there was a stand or something that came with them to prop them up, because they must lay on their side.  I guess the person playing with the figures have to get creative!

Here are some pictures!  Today, SpartanSmurf #2 did all of the posing!  Enjoy!

This was what they looked like in package from Toys R Us

We get this artwork on the back of the box.  SpartanSmurf #2 did not see fit to keep it.

This is our favorite picture that we took of the set!

Sonic, the main character looks cool as he gathers the gems.

I was unaware of Silver the Hedgehog...He is apparently the Sonic of the future or something.
This is SpartanSmurf #2 's favorite.

And here is Shadow the Hedgehog.  All of these super hedgehogs remind me, the SpartanNerd of Super Sayans.  How about you, oh Hub City Geeks?

My Score...4/5.  The point was taken off because the head can't look up on either figure.  But other than that, perfect!

MOTUC Figure Review.....SPIKOR

Sorry for the break....the SpartanNerd has been back at work....his real job....where being a nerd is not required and likely not welcome....

First I have to say...I hope the MOTUC subscription line lives on.  Today it is at 72% with three days left to go. I personally can't afford it.  But it has been the best toy-line ever made.  Masters of the Universe Classics has delivered the kind of action figures people have wanted for years, including me.  I don't see why it couldn't have survived at retail.  Slap a $10 price tag on them, offer the core characters.  People would buy them.  I would have a complete collection to decorate my office/class/nerdspace!

But I can only afford to cherry pick the bargains or get the characters I really want.....  But I'll take whatever figures any of the Hub City Geeks would like to donate!

Which brings me to SPIKOR.

I purchased the "Untouchable Master of Evil Combat" at the MonsterCon.  I paid $50 for him plus some loose complete vintage figures.  I probably paid too much, considering it was only a few days before the Big Lots thing happened.  ( I couldn't have known :(  )

Why did I want him so badly...I never had him as a kid.  And I think that figures into it.  He looks visceral and barbaric.  When I saw him and when I opened the package, I felt like a little SpartanNerd again...with a new toy I always wanted and was lucky to find in stock on the shelf.

So...I have no box photos.  Sorry!  Impatient!  But he came in the basic castle grayskull package ....Yada..Yada..Yada...  And you know you can find that Bio out there on the internet if you really care.

For this review, I'm trying something different with the pictures.....But anyway.

Spikor is one of those figures apparently painted over a plain black blank.  This doesn't bother me.  I don't see any slop.  His joints are quite tight.  I have had no trouble posing him or making him stand.  But his armor does keep him from moving his shoulders up but so far.

That armor is what makes Spikor....Spikor!  And such armor it is.  It causes him to be totally covered in spikes, from the waist up!

Have you ever played around with a gumball from a gumball tree, especially when the gumballs are green?  That's what the spikes are like.

You might struggle to get the head off....It is covered in spikes too.  It hurt my thumbs the first time!
Now it pops off just fine.

I saw Pixel Dan's video about Spikor, and he mentioned that getting the armor back on was tough.  So I heeded his warning, and did not remove the armor.....Not at first anyway....

I succumbed to temptation.......WHY!

I saw his regular torso underneath.  He has an ab crunch.  That's it.  Then...The pegs did not want to go back into the hole....on one side anyway....WHY DIDN"T I LISTEN!!

Now that's bothering me.

Kind of a dark picture.  Sorry.  I promise the pegs are not in the hole.

Spikor comes with some stuff.  His left hand is a trident.  Mattel included a long trident and a short trident.  This is to create poses with both vintage looks.  The original had an extending action feature.  Sadly, the longer trident had bent spikes in package, and requires some hair dryer work if I ever get around to it.

Bent middle spike:(

That's what that other hand is for.....

Spikor also included a normal hand.  So now you can display him with no trident.  He doesn't have to be handicapped!

They say that Trap Jaw/Roboto/Hurricane Hordak parts can fit in the wrist hole.  Cool.  But I don't own those figure or accessories for them to give it a try.

He also included a spiky club.  Which makes Spikor the president of Club Spikey!  (Other members...Cloud Stryfe...Sonic the Hedgehog....Shau Khan.....Stegosaurus)

How do I rate Spikor....He's incredibly cool..  He looks very barbaric and intimidating.  What more could I ask for.  But he has a few strikes against him.  The bent trident, and the "armor doesn't go back on completely" problem.  So I grade him 3/5.  He was marked $40.  For $40, he should be flawless.  I wouldn't complain if I picked him up at Big Lots for $10.

What's your rating?

Drop me a comment???

"Yada Yada Yada...."