Review of Generator Rex action figures

Introduction

Generator Rex is a cartoon that's been on television for just a little more than a year, but has been a hit for Cartoon Network. Based on an Image comic from the 90's, it follows the exploits of a teen infected by nanites that he can control, allowing him to alter his body into various machines and objects. The world has been infected by these same nanites, but others are unable to control them, and when the infecting mechanical microbes go into overdrive they take over the host and turn them into a mindless monster called an E.V.O. (Exponentially Variegated Organism). It's Rex's job to take them out or help them.

The toys hit last year, but it wasn't til this year that they really went nuts with the series. There's a ton on the pegs these days, and I figured it was about time to check out the 4" series. I grabbed two of the main figures from the current series - BFS Rex (Big Fu...uh...Fat Sword Rex) and his arch enemy, Van Kleiss. I grabbed these for $6 each, which seems to be about the going rate depending on the mass market retailer.

Packaging - **1/2
The packages are pretty simple, but lack much personalization. They also show only a minimum number of figures on the back, mostly Rex variants. There's quite a bit more to this line up, and I think the packaging could do a bit better job of selling it.

A bigger issue is one that Mattel seems to have with multiple lines. The interior trays tend to warp the legs, especially on Rex. It makes it tough to keep the figures standing, and you'll probably have to heat up the lower legs and refreeze them in a proper pose.

However, on the plus side there's no twisties, which is always a positive for me.

Sculpting - ***
These are done in a fairly standard 4" scale. They style is more like Clone Wars or one of the other current Asian influenced cartoons, with skinny limbs and somewhat extreme proportions.

While the style won't necessarily fit in with other more realistic lines, the size does match up pretty well. There's not a ton of detail, but the mechanics look good, and the style connects with the show designs properly.

Paint - **1/2
The paint work is a bit sloppy, even for a mass market toy, but don't forget that these figures aren't large. Still, the cut lines are a bit sloppier than I like to see, and some of the over spray is a bit much, even when viewed with the nekkid eye.

There is a nice mixture of finishes though, especially on Kleiss. The glossy paint on his mechanical hand looks great, and they even added some of that metallic paint to other areas.

Articulation - **1/2
These are definitely not super articulated, but there's some key joints here.

The necks are cut joints, as are both shoulders. There are also T hips, but no other leg joints.

The mechanical right arm on Rex has a pin elbow and a cut bicep joint, making it possible for him to do some decent arm poses. Kleiss has pin elbows on both arms, but no cut joints for him.

Both figures should stand fine on their own, but I did have some issues with Rex due to the warped ankles caused by the packaging.

Accessories - ***
Each figure comes with one accessory - a insect-like E.V.O. that's about dog sized in comparison to the figures. The sculpts are good - the one that comes with Rex looks like a beetle crossed with a spider, and the one that comes with Kleiss looks like a scorpion - but there's no paint ops. They are cast in a single color, with no additional paint details, and no articulation.

Fun Factor - ***
They aren't super articulated, but kid's will still enjoy them. There's a lot of play value due to the conflict nature of the show, and there's a good mix of E.V.O's and Rex variants to battle.

Value - ***
These were just $6 each, which is pretty good for a 4" figure these days. Star Wars figures, POTC figures, they are all a couple bucks more than that, and don't have a lot more features. Sure, Hasbro does this scale better than Mattel, but the price is still a solid value.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing!

Overall - ***
While there's some issues, particularly with the paint, the quality isn't too far off considering the price point. It's nice to find figures in this scale for $6, something that's all too rare these days.

For fans of the show, there's quite a few figures and vehicles already in the series, and more are on the way. While these are clearly geared for the kids, older fans who also like this scale should be relatively pleased.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - **1/2
Sculpting - ***
Paint - **1/2
Articulation - **1/2
Accessories - ***
Fun Factor - ***
Value - ***
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
You can't go down an action figure aisle at a major retailer without tripping over these guys, so finding them around town shouldn't be too hard.

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