Stranger Things by Jazwares

[NORM]

Stranger Things hype is high at my house. My daughter is counting down to the season 5 premiere and is prioritizing watching each drop instead of typical holiday celebrations.

Jazwares has released a number of action figures in 1:12 and 1:18 scale. The quality is not fantastic in terms of paints, but the sculpts and articulation look decent. I’m not paying much attention to the smaller figures, but so far in the 6” line, they’ve released Dustin, Eleven, and a Demogorgon. I grabbed the Demogorgon.

Articulation is plentiful, like standard super articulation. Ball socket neck at top and bottom (swappable for open and closed face), neck hinge, barbell mid torso and waist, butterfly shoulders, ball hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double elbows, ball hinge wrist, ball socket hips, thigh swivel, double knees, ball hinge ankles and toes. Some joints are super tight - double elbows and knees, while others are loose - neck hinge and toes. Figure can pose really well, crouched or standing. Well balanced.

Plastic quality is not fantastic. I waited for the figure to warm up after sitting on my porch til I got home. Some joints felt rubbery, like the bicep swivels. They felt stuck due to paint. The double elbows and knees also felt stuck due to paint. Sculpt is really nice, and pretty accurate, I think. Would have like a more aggressive hand sculpt, these look too relaxed. Also seems kinda short, since these guys usually tower over adults.

Paints are minimal, airbrush hits of purple around the skin. Teeth are tough to see.

It comes with a display stand (with upside-down vines all over the ground) and the aforementioned alternate closed and open heads.

I grabbed this for $30 at Amazon, not sure what Target or Walmart are charging, but GameStop also carries, and are charging the same.

I don't necessarily recommend this figure, but die hard Stranger Things fans might enjoy. Will try to get pics up if anyone's interested.

 

[SalemCrow]

I held one of the Demogorgons at Target last week and thought about grabbing one for a generic critter to torment other figures (not seen ANY episodes of the show AT ALL), but wasn't sure about the quality.
Good to see that quality is passable. If they last long enough on the shelves once the new season drops, and they go on sale somewhere, maybe I'll grab one.

 

[joshsquash729]

Been torn on this one. I've wanted a decent Stranger Things line for a while- McFarlane's was going strong until it wasn't, and the Void Series fizzled out fast. Of all the big properties Jazwares has acquired recently, these honestly kinda look the worst, which bums me out. The Demogorgon looks decent, if not a bit undersized, but the others just look pretty bad. Likeness and paint-wise are the worst, but there's just some odd choices elsewhere too. Like, how are you gonna have Eleven and not give her a power-using hand? That's literally like her whole thing. It's one of my big Nerdy Nitpicks to not give a character an accessory or thing they're shown holding/doing on the package.

I like that the smaller line has, at least so far, gone a bit deeper on characters, but it's a mixed bag there. Some are their season 1 looks, some are the new season, and I'm not sure if I want the vehicles just to get the figures; the bicycles are more or less alright, but I don't think I want a whole van.

I'll be keeping my eye on the line, provided it goes far, and will make my mind up from there. I think the longevity of the line really comes down to not only the quality of the figures, but how people end up feeling about the final season. Feels like these figures should've come out a year or two ago to keep the hype going; if it fizzles out fast after the finale, I don't know how much longer it'll go. I will say, however- they hung around for a bit when they first came out, but now that the show is coming up, the local Target shelves are all empty except for a couple Elevens of both scales.

For now, I at least have the McFarlane Demogorgon and Void Series Vecna in the display as the Stranger Things rep, and they hold up well enough.

 

[Ru1977]

Stranger Things hype is high at my house. My daughter is counting down to the season 5 premiere and is prioritizing watching each drop instead of typical holiday celebrations.

We don't have the same daughter do we? It's my middle one, though all five of us are hyped as hell for it. We've been slow-binging the last few months with a series rewatch, but if it weren't for my son we'd have finished weeks ago. He's keeping us on a steady schedule to ensure the rhythm is uninterrupted when the new season comes.

As much as I love the show, and toys, I'm not at all into these. They came after I forced myself into a "just because I love the movie/show doesn't mean I need the toys" mindset that helped me get rid of my GOTG and Eternals figures.

 

[NORM]

We don't have the same daughter do we? It's my middle one, though all five of us are hyped as hell for it. We've been slow-binging the last few months with a series rewatch, but if it weren't for my son we'd have finished weeks ago. He's keeping us on a steady schedule to ensure the rhythm is uninterrupted when the new season comes.

As much as I love the show, and toys, I'm not at all into these. They came after I forced myself into a "just because I love the movie/show doesn't mean I need the toys" mindset that helped me get rid of my GOTG and Eternals figures.

Is your daughter 11yo/gr 6? I also happen to be born in 1977 (10/13). We probably have more in common than we realize.

We did our rewatch over the summer, but there are good summary videos available too. I can't believe how long each of the new episodes is. It's going to be like nine movies.

As far as figures go, I have most of the McF figures, and would have bought more had they gone further. I have the Bandai Eddie Munson, unopened. I even have some of the MotU crossovers. I never got the TMNT ones that had the kids included. I just didn't want the TMNT figures that came with them. These are about the same quality.

 

[Ru1977]

Is your daughter 11yo/gr 6? I also happen to be born in 1977 (10/13). We probably have more in common than we realize.

Almost, she's 12. (My kids are 14, 12, 10.) And yeah, I would assume so heh.

We did our rewatch over the summer, but there are good summary videos available too.

I kinda wanna do summary videos too damnit. I want all the Stranger Things!

I can't believe how long each of the new episodes is. It's going to be like nine movies.

I know! it's gonna be awesome.

As far as figures go, I have most of the McF figures, and would have bought more had they gone further. I have the Bandai Eddie Munson, unopened. I even have some of the MotU crossovers. I never got the TMNT ones that had the kids included. I just didn't want the TMNT figures that came with them. These are about the same quality.

Damn, nice! I don't hate the figures, just can't get into a new thing heh. Even a stranger one.