Sam Slade : Robohunter
The Action Figure
By 3A
Review by Seth
Patience is important in dealing with 3A. I ordered this figure last July, in that time Christmas has come and gone, one of my cats has passed away, a middle eastern civil war has escalated – threatening a world war, an epidemic in Africa has ended, and another is starting in South America. I’ve driven across France Italy and Switzerland and my oldest kid has come home from and subsequently returned to, China.
7 months is a long time.
If we’d paid after delivery, I figured I could have put about £9 a month a way rather than pay £50 upfront, easier to miss a tenner than a lumper of £50 all at once. I can’t see 3A going for that though.
Sam C Slade – the “C” stands for “costly”.
Anyway, is it worth the wait?
Yes, and no. After such a long time of waiting I always have a feeling of anti-climax, particularly as they kept putting the release date back. 4th Quarter of 2015, then more specifically, October, November, then January, then February. He arrives, and all I can think is “now what do I do?”
The packaging on these figures is a little disappointing for £50. I would hope to have something better than just a blister pack – no better than that which held the Star Wars and Action Figures that I nagged Mum for when I was a kid. I still think Sam Slade is a bit of an odd choice for a release in an early part of the range, Rogue Trooper or Johnny Alpha, a higher profile character would have made more sense. Sam has been allowed to remain in limbo for quite a few years – only reappearing recently in the 2000ad Specials.
As usual, I attempted to perform the minor surgical procedure of removing an action figure from the packaging without damaging the packaging too much, and sort of succeeded. Free and ready to stand alongside Judges Death and Fish, the Gronk and my Lego Sopwith Camel.
Looking quite rugged and typically gritty as you would expect from 3A, Sam is nicely articulated. The build quality is fab’, with some good detailing. Perhaps though, could they have followed more of Ian Gibson’s sensibilities, capturing the lighter elements of the character? Sam seems to be going through a Pan’s People phase; nice shiny trousers Mr. Slade , but they don’t really fit in with the rest of the figure. Cutie, his long expired QT4 Robo meter, is an accessory. Cutie was only in the strip for the opening “Verdus” storyline, so seeing as she wasn’t in the strip that much (I try to ignore Millar’s run ), wouldn’t Hoagy and Stogie have been more appropriate? Unless of course 3A are looking to release them separately. Cutie and his belt pouch are held on the belt by a wee hook. Both Cutie and the pouch pop off easily, the hooks look really, really, really fragile.
Sam comes with 2 cigars, a spare for the inevitable moment that you lose the first – these are really, really small. Getting it into his mouth requires patience and a delicate touch (perhaps a few drinks and a dinner date would help )– something that I don’t have in abundance, I was either going to get it in or break it. Thankfully, in it went, but no way am I taking it out again (fnarr). Sam also has 3 sets of interchangeable hands : fists, gesticulating (?) hands or grasping mitts for his blaster.
Is he a good figure? Yup. Do I have reservations? Most definitely. Will I buy another one? Hell yes – I’m there on the 29th to reserve my Judge Mortis. I’m busy selling CDs and comics on eBay to raise funds as we speak.
I am 3A’s bitch.
A great figure from 3A, but not so sure if it’s worth the money or wait.
