NECA has been producing Gremlins collectibles for almost as long as they have been producing action figures. The line has been running off and on for the better part of 15 years, making it one of NECA longest running (if not the longest running) toy licenses. Over the years, the line has evolved to fit with current toy trends. The biggest run took place in 2011 through 2015, when NECA had a full, dedicated Gremlins line that lasted for five series of Mogwai and two series of Gremlins. Along the way, fans have gotten special deluxe releases, such as the Spider Gremlin and the Bat Gremlin. While the releases have slowed down a bit, the license looks to be reinvigorated with some great modern releases.
The newest addition is their highly anticipated Ultimate 7″ Scale Gremlin. This release sees an all-new fully articulated Gremlins sculpt matched with some great movie themed accessories from the first film. This release will soon be followed by an Ultimate 7″ Scale Stripe Figure, which will hopefully give way to some of the long desired and teased releases such as Greta from Gremlins 2. Our friends at NECA have sent along an Ultimate Gremlin for an exclusive advance look. After the jump, check out a full photo gallery and review.
Gremlins – Ultimate 7″ Scale Gremlin by NECA
Pros
- Excellent sculpt
- Outstanding paint applications
- Nice articulation
- Large selection of accessories
- Ears and jaw are both fully articulated
- Perfect release for buying multiples
Cons
- None
Overall
The Ultimate Gremlin is packaged in a really nice collector friendly flapped window box. The front of the packaging features a nice tribute to one of the original Gremlins posters. The box is a little larger than most standard Ultimate releases, mainly to accommodate the large figure and the accessories. The back of the box shows off just a few of the many display options the figure can pull off. The Gremlin sits on a plastic tray, held in by a few twist ties. The figure includes playing cards, a cup of cola, a beer mug, a cigarette, a packaged candy bar, a bag of candy, two popcorn bags, and retro 3D glasses.
Standing roughly 6″ tall, the new Gremlin has over 25 points of articulation. Fans will be happy to know that the jaw can open and close and the ears can rotate or bend forward or back. The figure has ball joints where the head sculpt meets the neck, as well as where the neck meets the torso, giving you a great range of motion there. Special attention was paid to the leg joints, as not only can the figure pull off some nice poses, but the joints there are super solid, with no trouble standing the figure. The overall sculpt here is excellent, with great details work throughout. The Gremlin has nice transitional sculpting scales and smoother surfaces, and a nicely done likeness to the creature itself. Detail lines are sharp, and the sculpt does a great job of incorporating the joints, giving it a very “prop replica” look to it. Plastic quality is solid, with a good overall feel here as the figure (much like the Mohawk Gremlin from last year) has some real weight to it. The paint work here also shines, with a nice mix of very dark greens and yellows throughout. The gradients between the darker orange and lighter yellow that make up the stomach and the striping on the body look fantastic. Eye paint is very clean, as are the separations between the gums, teeth and inner mouth. To finish off the figure, there’s a small bit of clear coat applied, which gives him an almost slimy look, which is pretty fitting for a Gremlin.
What is going to make this a must buy are the numerous accessories included. The assorted props included make this a tempting troop builder, as you could easily create a dozen or so individual looks to just recreate the theater scene. The soda cup even has the feel of a paper cup, as NECA used a thick sticker over the plastic cup to give it a more authentic look and feel. The 3D glasses are actually thin cardboard and sit on the Gremlins face perfectly. The paper popcorn bags are open on both ends, which is going to make for easier handling as there are less seams to potentially tear. The cigarette sits perfectly in his teeth and the beer mug looks great with it. The playing cards are plastic, making it easier to get the figure to hold them.
The Ultimate Gremlin is an outstanding release that even tops last years Ultimate Gizmo in my opinion. The number of display options here are great, and the figure is full of excellent details. For Gremlins fans, this is a must own for sure, and I can definitely see fans buying three or more. Check out a selection of photos below, and the full gallery after that.
Some of the backgrounds featured in pics below are from Extreme-Sets.com. Enter code TOYARK at checkout and get 15% off your order!
