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Medicom Buzz Lightyear

Coheteboy reviews another Medicom figure - Buzz Lightyear!  Tell us all about it, CB...

MEDICOM TOYS has proven to me once again that they are the absolute best at making Disney product. While their line of Collectible Vinyl Dolls aren't all in scale with each other, each piece is a work of art in its own right. 

Disney-PIxar's TOY STORY has always been a popular film to create merchandise from, and here, MEDICOM brings us the very first Buzz Lightyear figure. Previous characters from Toy Story that are available are: Andy, Sid, Green Army Man, Scud, Janie Doll, Rocky, and Woody. 

With the grand opening of the new BUZZ LIGHTYEAR ASTRO BLASTERS attraction at Disneyland, CA, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a great "toy" from Japan.





Packaging - ***
Each vinyl doll has its own unique box so I have to give Medicom props for trying. There's a rocket-shaped window on the front that shows the doll inside, which is enclosed between two plastic trays. And there's plenty of room between the figure and the box, which is also very sturdy, so if the box gets damaged, the toy inside is perfectly safe. 

The back side of the box shows what else from the film has been released in case you were a fan of that particular film and wanted them all. 

Sculpting - ****
Wow, does it get any better than this? They've really captured the essence of the Space Ranger character. Buzz is posed in his classic laser firing position, ready to do heavy damage with the little light bulb that blinks. Every thing about this toy is spot-on. From the focused facial expression to the pose, they got it all perfectly... complete with clear space helmet. 

Even the screws that a Buzz Lightyear action figure would have are sculpted in. It's a toy of a toy and that's pretty darn cool. 

Paint - ****
The paint ops are generally excellent on these figures. Everything is painted with cleanliness and accuracy, and the colors are well selected also. It definitely looks like they made this figure directly from the screen. Even the tiny screws are painted to give it a sense of authenticity. 

Need more convincing? Even the name "Andy" is painted on the bottom of Buzz's right foot, just like in the film. Now THAT'S attention to detail!

Articulation - n/a
While some vinyl dolls have limited points of articulation, Buzz has none. Completely meant for display purposes only. 

Value - ***
Being an item imported from Japan, the cost of this item already soars just a tad, but it's worth it to me being the Disney fanatic that I am. It's also comforting that I know that these aren't going to be released cheaper in the states either... although I wish everyone who wanted these would be able to get them as easily. The price on Buzz Lightyear here was $50, which is pretty close to most busts these days, but it is a bit costly for a vinyl figure of this size. 

Overall - ***1/2
I'm extremely happy with Buzz Lightyear, as it looks awesome no matter where you display it. The quality in this vinyl is unsurpassed in any American product, which is unfortunate for us. This is a terrific display piece... from infinity and beyond. If only the helmet actually worked, then this would get a full 4 stars.

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - ***
Sculpt - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - n/a
Accessories - n/a
Value - ***
Overall - ***1/2 

Where to Buy -
Ebay and import stores are the places to hunt if you're not in Asia. This particular piece was bought at Anime King in Huntington Beach, CA for $49.99.


Figure from the collection of Coheteboy.

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