Toys / Comics to Toys

Abe Sapien

By Hervé St.Louis
September 25, 2004 - 13:24

The exclusive Abe Sapien action figure from the Hellboy Movie is a better deal than the regular one that's almost impossible to find. This figure, exclusively distributed through Diamond Comics is a variant. Its quality is impressive. Toy company Mezco is one of the few vendors given a license to produce a Hellboy movie-tie in action figure. Abe Sapien is Hellboy's friend and fellow paranormal investigator.

Likeness

Based on the film's rendition of Abe Sapien, Spectra Motion's character designers added volume to Mike Mignola's comic book creation, making this figure a distant but a very worthwhile version of the psychic water-breather. This version of the figure is the one that's fully geared-up. The regular release of the figure was topless and in the film remained within its giant aquarium. This version has a wetsuit top and a utility belt and an alternate head with goggles.

Sculpt

The sculpt of this figure is fine. However, the legs are too far apart which make it difficult to put the figure in a swimming position. It feels like the figure is about to do the split. Closer legs would have been better. The torso doesn't seem liken it's a repaint of the regular topless Abe Sapien action figure. The head with goggles is not as fun, as there are no visible details in the lens. Yet just like the regular head, it sports Abe's classic fish-like lips.

Paint

The paint application is superior. Mezco uses coating on Abe's Sapien's skin that covers the intricate zebra-like shades on his body. On the torso piece, the texture is coarser, almost leather-like. It creates a great contrast with the rest of the figure. Although the application is almost perfect, there were several paint spots on the figure's legs. More colour variation in the goggles would have made them more interesting.

Scale

Abe Sapien is an eight-inch movie scale action figure, making him a little taller than a Street Fighter, or a Marvel Legends toy. I would place him closer to the seven-inch mark. Abe Sapien will, of course, fit very well with other Hellboy action figures, but also movie-based lines such as Riddick.

Stability

Stability is a problem with this figure as it doesn't have any peg hole and its legs are wide apart. His feet are flat, making posing easier, but the thin width of the figure makes it easy to topple. The articulations in the feet and the ankles help with the figure's stability.

Articulation

At first, each articulation of this figure is stiff and difficult to move. After forcing them, you may notice that they become too loose. Abe Sapien has at least 26 articulations. There's a double articulation in the base of the neck, another where one swaps his heads. There are double articulations at the shoulders and the top of the thighs. Abe has cuts in his biceps, forearms, thighs and feet. Other articulations are in his elbows, knees, ankles, torso curl with limited twisting and waist. These afford the figure almost unlimited posing.

Plastic

Mezco's plastic is excellent and durable. It seems like the figure will ankles will break, the first time one tries to articulate them, but they hold still.

Props

The exclusive Abe Sapien action figure comes with two interchangeable heads, a utility belt, a water breathing mechanism and neck protecting piece. The utility belt has leather-like paint and is full of details. The breathing apparatus fits perfectly on the figure's shoulders and can open or close in the back.

Packaging

Abe Sapien arrived in a large box, fully posed.

Cost

This figure retailed for about $25 which is a lot for an action figure. As Diamond distributes it exclusively, they control the pricing.

Availability

This set is easily available at comic book stores and related specialty shops. The regular version of this figure is widely available, although initially, stocks were rarer and often sold out. One can buy both versions easily without going for the extreme prices of the secondary market like those at auction sites.

Last Updated: July 21, 2024 - 13:40