September 22, 2002

Going Over the Figures
The Wraith

On a trip to the toy shop today my darling wife [who saw FOTR with me 7 times :)] grabbed me and took me to the action figures section to show me [huzzah!!!] the just released TT action figures. In no time at all I had Faramir, one of his Rangers of Itihilien, and an Easterling loyalist in my clutches.

The Easterling looks amazing, a sort of cross between Ancient Roman and Samurai, armed with a short hafted polearm [looks a bit like a halberd with a slightly asian style] and a Roman square shield with inswept upper and lower edges. He has a full face post helm with flowing purple scarf and tunic, and his greaves and the midrif of his overlapping gold scale armour is decorated with an almost Egyptian version of the Great Eye.

Oh, and the Gondorian rebels look good, too. Faramir actually has the same crest as Boromir had on his arm greaves [white tree with 7 stars] largely emblazoned on the front of his leather breastplate.

There was a Legolas figure in his Rohan Armour that was impressive but it was the most numerous there and I had limited funds. anyway, I's sure there must be sites on the web that have pictures of the new range if you want to check them out further.

Incidentally, is it just me or does Saruman look a bit more haggard in TTT trailers, as if the '...many years of death...' referred to in the scouring of the Shire are catching up a little earlier on film? [Maybe its the strain of trying to outwit the real mover and shaker in Middle Earth - dirty little wizard - just say the word Annatar.]