REVIEW: Toy Biz LEGENDARY COMIC BOOK HEROES Judge Dredd

Released 2007 

I am the LAW!

   Back in 2007, Toy Biz had a bit of a problem.  They had effectively lost the license to produce comic book figures based on Marvel's line and DC was tied up elsewhere.  So they launched a new line of figures based on characters from 3rd party indie publishers like 2000AD, Image, and Dark Horse.  It was a bold move and one that I wish had served them better (only lasting 3 series' before ultimately being cancelled).  I still dream of what they could have done with GRENDEL had they been able to produce figures from those books.

Front View

Instead, they started Series 1 out with a character popular enough to headline their new brand.  That character, was everyone's favorite futuristic clone cop, JUDGE DREDD!

  And even now, this figure remains popular.  So popular in fact that I opted to get mine used via eBay due to the cost of a new Dredd.  It's not cheap being "THE LAW".

SCALE and HEIGHT

Sizing up Judge Dredd

  This is an approximately 6 inch figure.   It fits in well with both Toy Biz and Hasbro MARVEL LEGENDS though not being a Marvel Character, Dredd might display better on his own or with characters like the DCU Batmans (which he has appeared alongside in comics).

Sculpt

  Any fan of the comics will tell you... THIS is a good sculpt.  It perfectly captures the man's trademark 'chin of justice" and stiff upper lip that gives Dredd his character.  He actually has a FACE under all that Visor.

He's got a FACE!!!!

  And details like a sculpted chain from his collar to his badge are so well done that I had to really scrutinize it to tell it wasn't a REAL chain. It's a vast improvement over previous efforts (see "Other Versions" below) especially when you consider this was produced the same year that Hasbro released it's horrendous Emma Frost sculpt. Toy Biz was definitely ahead of the game during this period, and nowhere is that distance in skill more evident than here.

  

Paint Apps 

Since we're talking Toy Biz, you can expect to see a lot more love in the paint application than you'll find in modern day Hasbro figures of the same scale.  He sports Metallic paint for trim like his badge, zipper and metal bits.  Also present is shading which adds depth to his body suit and makes it look a bit more like leather.  Rough worn areas like his boots and knee pads feature dry brushing which perfectly captures the gritty MEGA CITY ONE look of Dredd's world.  He even has the trademark "lightning bolt" patterns over the eyes of his visor.  That's serious attention to detail that hardcore Dredd fans will appreciate.  

Somebody at Toy Biz wasn't paying attention...

  But not all is perfect.  While I wouldn't peg Toy Biz as being lazy, somebody wasn't paying close attention to Dredd's color palette in the comics.  The figure has YELLOW Elbow Pads.  In the comic these are green to match his knee pads, gloves and boots.  Whoops.  (If I can summon the courage, I may paint these in the future).

Articulation   

  Being a latter day Toy Biz release, Dredd is a bit of a mixed bag when in comes to articulation.  While his articulation is pretty good, you're not gonna get him busting any Wu Shu poses or anything.  And that's fine.  Dredd isn't that kind of guy.  If anything, he's meant to stand there looking hard.  The poster boy for lines that "you don't want to cross, citizen".  Sure, he's a fascist.  But at least he's a fascist that YOU get to control instead of the other way around.

He is the Posture KING

  His weakest point of articulation has got to be his head, which is mounted (neck and all) atop a weak swivel joint.  This means that he can look side to side, but is blind to lawbreakers above or below.

The only way Joe Dredd can look down

Fortunately he's got a good waist swivel (cleverly hidden under his belt) and Ab Crunch which should help him draw a bead on the lawless.

Oops

His shoulders rotate and raise just like most MARVEL LEGENDS do, but this is pretty significantly limited by his massive shoulder pads.  In fact, I accidentally popped one off while taking photos for this review.  Thank goodness for LOCTITE glue.

FLEX!!!!!

 His arms include the bicep swivel and double jointed elbows that Toy Biz pioneered with earlier figures.  Joints that have proven so successful as to be standard equipment of most MARVEL LEGENDS figures to this day. He swivels at the forearms (again, cleverly concealed by his gloves), and has a wrist hinge (which can flex but not extend).  Hands are pre-posed (one gun holding hand and one hand that could hold a club or other similar accessory).

  As I mentioned in my HEROIC AGE Iron Mann review, you won't find pose-able finger joints here, but I don't really find myself missing them too much.  It's great to have the option, but a good set of hands can offer enough flexibility to get by with. 

Mid CURB STOMP

  His lower body articulation includes ratcheted ball-hinge hip joints which have a wide enough range of motion to allow Dredd to goal kick thugs in the junk AND the face.  Nice.  This holds true for mid level side kicks as well.  Also present is an upper thigh swivel and double jointed knees.  And he's got shin swivels hidden under his boots.  This allows you to rotate the feet inward or outward.  

ROCK that ankle joint!

Making Dredd even more planted are ankle PIVOTS (up/down), ROCKERS (camber) and even Toe Joints.  No corners were cut here and fans are sure to appreciate it. 

  You really have to give credit to Toy Biz... they did a GREAT job hiding the joints on this figure.

Special Features

Had I bought this figure new it would have included the right leg of the PITT Build-A-Figure (BAF).  The PITT BAF looks pretty epic and may be something I seek out and review in the future.

Helping citizens stand tall since 2066

  Unlike some figures in this scale, Foot Peg holes are included.  This figure doesn't come with a Toy Biz or Hasbro modular stand, but should be compatible with them. 

Accessories 

Dredd comes with exactly the kind of accessories that you'd expect:

Tools of JUSTICE.

  He's got his traditional looking LAWGIVER mk.I pistol which can be holstered in his right boot as well as a LAWGIVER mk.II which fits in a holster in the small of his back.  And lastly, he has a trusty BOOT KNIFE.

The only thing I wish had been included was some kind of police club, since he's often seen using that in the comics.

Other versions

Judge Dredd by REACTION FIGURES (1997)

Back in the 90's (1997, I believe) Reaction Toys released a 6" Dredd (and DEATH and ANDERSON) figure as part of the 2000AD line.  I used to own one of those, and I can definitively say that Toy Biz's effort is superior in every way.  Sculpt, paint, articulation and accessories.  (Who puts a boot knife BEHIND the knee?!)  And even those can go for $50+ these days. 

  If you're only going to own one DREDD, make it a Toy Biz.

Size Comparison

Dredd has zero tolerance for VIGILANTE PUNKS!

For the sake of consistency, I've used the same Hasbro symbiote Spiderman figure in most of my Size comparisons.

Opinion, Value and VERDICT 

A new LCBH Dredd can run you well over $100.  That's a lot of money for six inches of plastic.  But for those willing to put in some time searching, a used (but complete) Dredd with firm joints (that's important) and new looking paint can be had for about $30 on ebay.  Sure, it's unlikely that you'll get that BAF leg for PITT, but is that really worth $70, when you can buy a complete PITT for about $100?

Dredd and Psi-Judge Anderson (Reaction Figures)

  In most cases all it takes is a little common sense, patience and a bit of effort to find a good deal.  And that can be part of the fun.  Or if you've got all that extra cash to burn you could send the extra to me.  Just sayin'.

Closing thoughts

They are the LAW!

  The best Dredd figure ever produced.  Get one.

Simon Bisley's version of Dredd

  For more REVIEWS like this one, keep checking back on yer' old pal Evotaph and GEEKISH PURSUITS.  In the meantime, please COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE!