Toying Around with the Simpsons

September 18, 2008 on 8:29 pm | In Toy Review | No Comments

The fine folks at Kidrobot sent us a full set of their vinyl mini figures based on The Simpsons. The series consists of 24 3-inch figures with neck and arm articulation, most of which come with an accessory specific to their character and a sticker of the character in the Kidrobot-style. They’re available in the Kidrobot stores or on their website where you can buy them for $7.95 a piece, but be warned, they’re blind-boxed so you don’t really know what you’re getting unless you buy a full set which will run you $181.20. There are 21 regular figures and 3 chase figures.

Here’s the full list of regular figures: Bart, Lisa, Homer, Maggie, Marge, Bumblebee Man, Itchy, Scratchy, Krusty, Sideshow Bob, Mr. Teeny, Fat Tony, Smithers, Mr. Burns, Comic Book Guy, Barney, Apu, Hippy Homer with Hair, Lucius Sweet, Duffman and Chief Wiggum. Flanders as the Devil, Snake and Funzo are the mystery chase figures (or were mysteries, until I just told you).

Whew, I think that covers all the basics, so let’s get into the review. This is a great set, but it’s not perfect. But first, the good. Man, what a fan-freakin-tastic selection of figures. You, of course, get the main Simpson family along with 19 of their friends, neighbors and enemies. And kudos for not just going for the obvious choices like Grandpa Simpson Patty or Selma and throwing in some really out there characters like Funzo, Mr. Teeny and Duffman (my personal favorite).

Being 3-inch figures you can’t necessarily pose the figures any way you want, but the accessories really ad a whole new level of awesomeness to the figures and give them something to do with their cartoony selves. Barney’s got a beer mug, Lucius has boxing gloves, Duffman has a beer utility belt and Fat Tony’s rocking not only a gun with a silencer but also a set of brass knuckles with three finger holes! Plus way way more.

When all together, these figures look sweet and really make you want to get the full set to really show off the full breadth of the Simpsons universe. Kid Robot could probably put out a few sets a year and not run out for a decade, especially including different versions of the characters (Sunday Best Bart? Poochie? Why not?!). I really like the sense of posibilty that comes with the set. Just imagine if they were able to do some of the celebrities who’ve shown up on the Simpsons like most of the Beatles and former presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush.

Okay, now, I’ve got to mention what doesn’t make this a perfect set. First off, the figures of the actual Simpsons figures don’t look so great (see above). As we were opening the little boxes in the office, we were geeking out over the style of each secondary character as Kidrobot really put a new style onto these famous characters. But then we got to Bart, Homer, Lisa, Marge and Maggie and they look a little bit off, almost like they weren’t sure which way they wanted to go with the style of these primary figures. My other complaint, and this is definitely a personal thing, is that I don’t like buying blind box figures. When I buy a figure I want to know exactly what I’m buying. But, hey, that’s just me.

All in all, though, like I said, it’s a great series and if you’re a Simpsons fan with some extra cash, try your luck and grab a few blind box figures or save up all your pennies and buy the full set. They’ll look great and fit really well on your book or DVD shelf.

–TJ