Review – Realm of the Underworld Archfiend (Ultimate Evil)

This is exactly the opposite of the review that I wanted to write. When I linked to the Doomkick Acromancer review earlier this week I decided to go ahead and take a chance on a few of the Realm of the Underworld (website) action figures. The classic look, inspired by eighties Masters of the Universe action figures, looked like it would be fun and I figured that maybe posting a few reviews would help the line out a little.

Unfortunately, the Archfiend (Ultimate Evil) action figure that I opened first has problems that make me unable to recommend this line at this time.

Packaging

Fantastic! Inspired by the old Remco Masters of the Universe-like lines, the front of the package neatly displays the toy while the back gives us that classic-styled approach where artwork is used to show off the other figures in the line. The toys look remarkable packaged and I can say that if you’re a MOC collector who likes the look of the Realm of the Underworld series then you should buy one or two of the toys for your collection.

Accessory Problems

The Archfiend (Ultimate Evil) figure’s biggest flaw is with the accessories. The handle of the knife-like blade is far too skinny for the toy to actually grip the weapon, so the best I’ve been able to do is kinda drape it in his open hand. This works fine if the toy is never played with — and is locked behind glass so that animals and the wind of a ceiling fan cannot get to it — but it’s really a terrible mistake. Weapons should fit the figures.

And the shield isn’t much better. It can kinda snap into place on a wrist, but the fit is loose in one direction and the clip far too small to work any other way. It’s almost as if both accessories were designed and then never tested with the figure.

A Fun Sculpt!

The design itself wonderfully captures the eighties, Masters of the Universe-knockoff vibe that I think they were going for, and even though it’s a silly look for the skeleton action figure I can really enjoy it for what it is. It’s not at all a realistically-designed or modern approach to an action figure, but it’s perfect if you’ve always wanted something like the old Galaxy Warriors action figures. In fact, the sculpt is so perfect for that to make me again say: If you’re a MOC collector and like the look of the toy then try one or two of the figures in the line.

Articulation and Paint

Both are fairly low-end, but that continues to be perfect for the figure’s intended purpose as an old Masters of the Universe-knockoff piece. It’s a little surprising to think that this toy was produced in 2013, but it was and the artists behind the line — I think — perfectly captured the look of those old eighties toys.

Articulation is is a swivel neck and shoulders, a swivel waist, and I think it’s using a rubber band to hold the two legs in place. It really does feel like it came right out of the early eighties!

Closing Thoughts

If it were only the ill-fitting accessories that were a problem I would be more likely to recommend giving one of the toys a try, but the plastic feels far cheaper than I like and that pushes it from a “recommend with a warning” to “do not recommend.” The Realm of the Underworld site did a great job in selling me on the toys, but I wish that the final Archfiend (Ultimate Evil) action figure had been of a better quality than it is.

I still have another toy in the line to open and review — and I will, since maybe it’s a better quality than this Archfiend — but after that I’m afraid my Realm of the Underworld days are over unless the company makes some serious improvements in their plastic quality and the way their accessories are designed.

I’m sorry this review says what it does, but I feel it would be wrong not to let all of you know exactly what I think after opening and playing with the toy.

UPDATE: I posted a review of a second figure in this series — Acromancer review here — and the toy is much nicer. Better accessory fit and better plastic.