One’s figure collection can rarely have too many scumbags.
While it may seem that the clothed 1/12 figure market has blown up substantially this last year, it’s worth remembering that the guys at Vortex have been steadily plugging along for a couple years now. Don’t get me wrong, the more is always the merrier, but kudos always must be paid to the pioneers. If you havent seen them before, Vortex has created a line of their own unique characters using a body similar to the 3A 1/12 base, with custom gear, heads and so on. I have three of their figures, and while they do run closer to that true scale than Mezco, I still think there is some compatibility, since not everybody has to be a brick house.
Which is why Carlo intrigued me from his first solicits. He’s a slender, somewhat dapper older man, who clearly prefers to pay others to handle the light work. But there’s a menace to that facesculpt that says many have paid the price for underestimating him over the years. He comes in a rather subtle pair of jeans and a dress shirt, making him feel a little more working man than the 3 piece suit gangsters we know. But add in that furred bomber jacket, and I’m sure he has means to match.
The headsculpt is interesting because he looks familiar without being an out and out sculpt of someone. The pics made him feel like Sir Anthony Hopkins, but in person he takes on a look more his own. Maybe Hopkins’ Latin cousin.
The accessories are a big part of the allure for this guy, though they are a little light in the box. He has a working briefcase that holds his Desert Eagle and a spare mag, though the gun can’t use it, and his very sexy gold AKM. There are also two extra pairs of hands.
Then there is the second box that contains his chair. And that is considerably more impressive. Made in what feels similar to a cold-cast resin, it is a solid chunk of accessory that looks like it should be soft to the touch, but of course, it’s not. But it looks great, with great paint apps (especially the bloody hand print), and it gives a great deal of presence to this figure.
So, it comes down to the size, really. The articulation is solid, the quality feels good, and the clothing and sculpted goods are on point. All that’s left to decide is if this guy’s under 6ft, buck-fifty soaking wet appearance next to a six-two two-forty beast like Slade. I’m okay with it, and it adds variety to a shelf already filling with big bruisers. As always, mileage is gonna vary.
As Robo would say, at the end of the day, I feel like Vortex is doing some great work. I would love to see them move into their own, slightly larger proprietary body, but for a 3A style and based figure, it’s pretty damn good. And even in the short time between Maxwell and this figure, their face sculpt and paints have come a long way.
