Barnabas and Angelique figures (Dark Shadows)
My review of the Angelique and Barnabas figures.
I recently purchased two sets of Barnabas and Angelique eight inch tall Dark Shadows action figures by Spectre Toys and sold from Entertainment Earth.
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/images/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CSPT5767AAlg.jpg
They came in two large packages. When I opened one box the Barnabas figure's package (a card board sleeve with a plastic rectangle over the figure) looked slightly beat up. The plastic hook on the package was folded over and on the back there was some sort of white rip (as if something had been stuck to the back of the package and pealed away with part of the picture with it). This didn't bother me too much because I had planned to open one of the Barnabas figures to display him. However as I looked closely I realized he did not have his cane. The other Barnabas did have the cane directly behind him. If you know anything about Dark Shadows you must know that this is an important accessory for the figure. I had planned to display him holding the cane.
The other Barnabas Figure I could distinctly see the cane directly behind him in the package. I decided to give the one in the battered package the benefit of the doubt. I thought perhaps he had been banged up in shipping and the cane fell behind his bulky jacket. So I opened up the package. I saw the cane-shaped space where the cane belonged but the cane was not there at all.
I don't really want to return him over such a little thing as a missing cane prop (though it bothers me that he doesn't have it) but I just thought I should make you aware of a possible problem if more than one doll is like this.
In general he's a great doll. The packaging is authentic sixties / seventies to the point of even looking a bit sun faded. The illustration work on the box is also authentically vintage. I like the novelty. He's also nicely detailed with actual layered fabric clothes as opposed to a plastic outfit or one layer made to look like several. In general he's a great little Dark Shadows figure but I'm disappointed that one of them was without his cane.
Barnabas' Jacket with the built in mantle / cloak is a little bulky and crude but under that is the suit and tie he often wore on the show. His shoes are plastic but can be removed. One thing I take points off for is that his shirt velcros from the front which makes his chest stick out a bit.
The face has his fangs beared and dark purplish rings under his eyes. He looks a bit like a psychotic drug addict. He's fully articulated but I am afraid he feels rather frail.
Angelique is also articulated. Again it's a packaging with illustrations of the various characters drawn in sixties style (by Harold Schull). She's definitely prettier than Barnabas. She's wearing an orange dress that is probably meant to be period but is distinctly sixties (much like the actual wardrobe of Dark Shadows). Her necklace is a separate fragile piece held to her chest with a thin plastic band.
She does not have panties or stockings yet she has a butt crack that you can actually feel through the dress. Angelique, you naughty girl! Her copyright is on her inner right thigh in black ink. I'm used to seeing those on a figure's back or on the foot. She is wearing black pixie boots and I can't tell if they're actually on her feet or are her feet and I'm a little afraid to find out for fear of breaking off one of her feet at the jointed ankle.
Her body is hard plastic and joined but like Barnabas her head is soft rubber. Her hair is molded to her head and not actual hair. The physical way she's built and painted is definitely sixties. The paint on her face almost looks faded with age. She has a distinctly evil (or mischievous) look to her eyes and smile, very true to Angelique.
In general they are nice figures. I am disappointed that one of my Barnabas figures is missing his cane but over all they are nice figures. However they feel light and fragile and I would not recommend leading a kid play with these unless you have bought more than one set and don't mind watching Angelique's foot get ripped off or Barnabas' arm ripped off.
The picture on Entertainment Earth is misleading though. Those are similar but definitely NOT the heads of the dolls I bought. By far they are not as detailed as these heads and the faces are a lot smoother on the actual doll. These pictures look like they have hard plastic heads and they don't. The heads are soft rubber. And the paint on both Angelique faces look faded.
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SPT5767AA