Packaging - ****
As an exclusive I was expecting some relatively simple packaging, and while it’s not as impressive as the regular MK 3 box, in the respect of the unwinding magnetic panels and the full colour palette, it still actually manages to better it in others. So here we have a black box, somewhere between a matte and silk finish, it has a raised relief interpretation of the chest armour of the MK 3 on its front, which is stuck on as a sticker that wraps around the sides. The top of the box lifts off to reveal a sheet of black foam. This can in turn be lifted to expose the fully assembled figure held gently in a die cut foam surround, alongside his stand, extra hands and the alternate un-helmeted Tony Stark head. The simple unfussy black design certainly looks classy, and I love the use of foam, especially on potentially delicate figures like this.

Sculpting - ****

Paint - ****
This version of the suit exists nowhere but in this figure, so whilst using the same basic moulds and construction as the MK 3, it’s actually more of a MK 2.5 in it’s final look. 

I suppose it’s getting close to a stealth version, but that usually has more of a glossy midnight blue tone, where as this is a much greyer, greener blue in it’s finish.

However it has a nice dense paint coverage, is matte in appearance and to the touch, however, even though it’s matte it has a depth of colour that seems to show a slight iridescence when it catches the light, kind of in the same way a Teflon coated cooking pan does, it’s a very cool effect that becomes more apparent under differing light sources. It also has subtle, secondary, rust coloured accents airbrushed along some of the sculpted detail lines and on the front edge of the hand covers, this again helps break up what might have otherwise been quite a flat looking paint app.

For the finishing touch it has a few steel coloured scratches applied to some edges of the armour, the final finished look is very ‘real world’ making the suit look like a ‘modern military’ combat power suit more that a glossy super hero outfit. It’ll certainly adds another interesting aspect to your Iron Man display shelf… now we just need that battle damaged version to round it off… well, at least till Iron Man 2 comes out!

Value - ***1/2
This is a tough a one, it’s a very small edition size, I’ve heard numbers as small as 300 and 500 bandied about! So for a character as popular as Iron Man that seems to spell out that this will become ever more desirable with each passing eBay auction! 

When Sideshow were selling theirs, they had a price of $189.99 and lasted about as long as the proverbial snowflake in hell. However, if you try to pick one up now you’ve probably got about the same chance as that snowflake.

They already demand a hefty price on the secondary market, with many on eBay going for between $350 to $600.

So I based my score on the retail price, and taking all things into consideration at nearly $190 he just can’t earn the full score when compared to the MK 1 + 2 which came in at $160, but when you see those prices crawling ever higher, it gives you a small sense of smug satisfaction!