Review – Iron Maiden “Killers” Action Figure

NECA’s Iron Maiden Killers* toy isn’t the first Iron Maiden action figure the company has created. Others have come before, including the gruesome Final Frontier Eddie which I reviewed in 2012, so fans of the band have no doubt got themselves a fun little shelf of Iron Maiden toys by now . . . which makes me review a bit useless to those guys. Sorry. I should have posted this a year ago.

Articulation

The Iron Maiden Killers* action figure doesn’t feature the greatest articulation we’ve seen NECA attempt, but for a band collectible the articulation is perfectly functional and acceptable.

• Head – Ball-jointed neck. Movement is a little restricted by the soft plastic hair, but it’s not terrible.
  
• Arms – Swivel-hinge shoulders and elbows, swivel biceps and wrists.
  
• Torso – Ball-jointed mid-torso and swivel waist.
  
• Legs – Ball-jointed feet. Yes, only the feet are articulated.

Accessories

The Iron Maiden Killers* action figure comes with an axe and a small backdrop/display piece that some of you may enjoy. I’m tossing the backdrop, but that axe is staying right where it belongs, bloody mess and all!

Paint

Wonderful work at the factory on the painted details, with the shirt and face detailwork popping out at me as the most impressive paint apps on the toy. That nasty, wicked face sculpt is really brought to life with the paint and it is the face alone that makes me say this toy’s paint is masterful. The painted yellow highlights on the shirt and pants may look weird at first, but once you start to study the design you can see how NECA used paint to bring the album cover to life . . . which is exactly what they had to do for the Iron Maiden fans who wanted action figures of the various album covers.

Closing Thoughts

More band collectible than action figure, NECA’s Iron Maiden Killers* succeeds in my mind because it so faithfully translates that classic artwork to a three-dimensional figure. The unusual lack of articulation in the legs (ball-jointed ankles don’t really count) stands out, but I quickly overlook it once the toy’s on the shelf.

When it comes to “adult collectibles” I’ve gotta say that this succeeds because:

• It’s based on a property that “adult collectors” will remember from the childhood.
  
• It seeks to be as identical to the source material as possible.
  
• It sacrifices play details — like the leg articulation — in favor of dedication to the source material.
  
• The paint is fantastic.

So do not buy the Iron Maiden Killers* action figure if you’re looking for a toy. If you want Iron Maiden memorabilia on your shelf, though, grab this now before it becomes scarce and expensive.