When Kingpin was released as a BAF in an all new suit a lot of people were impressed with the overall look of hm, but there was also a lot of “where’s the purple pants” complaints as if the Hulk was parading around downtown naked.
Also, instead of his signature ascot, he was wearing just a regular tie. While Kingpin in the comics has been known to wear a variety of clothing choices, there’s something iconic about those purple pants, and now along comes a single-carded retro Kingpin wearing something much closer to his traditional look. Now all those people who turned their white-suited Kingpin into Shadow King can feel vindicated. I’d still buy the all-white one again if it were released in black.
If you’re wondering where the packaged pictures are, well, that’s a long story. The main character in that story is an idiot, so there is that. Anyway, on to the figure.
Kingpin is mostly the BAF repurposed, so everything about that figure, both good and bad, is replicated here. The good is an overall heft and bulk that feels like Kingpin. This is a great looking, proportionally large figure that has that overall look and feel of a guy you don’t want to mess with.
The bad—and I’m using that term loosely—mainly has to do with what all that bulk. There are definitely hindrances with his articulation due to the size of his limbs. His arms get just around ninety degrees of bend, his hips are held up by the size of his crotchial area, his legs get maybe 45 degrees at most. In short, he definitely moves into poses, but he’s not going to be going crazy. I know the initial thought heating up the fingertips of people right now is “how much do you need him to move” and my response to that is always going to be “as much as possible.”
But that being said, he does get quite a bit of motion when you put it up against his overall bulk. Maybe the hotly desired Underwear Fisk will be able to get into all those ninja poses this one can’t.
Despite that, I loved the white-suited Fisk, so getting a brand new one with the iconic flair so soon after the white one pretty cool. Of course, the state of being a toy collector is to be in a constant state of wanting just a little more, so I do kind of miss the pinstripes on his pants. I could do it myself if I were so inclined, and there is also a precedent for him to just wear purple pants (they sold them wholesale back in the ’60s) so it’s not that big of an egregious “release the hounds” loss. There’s just something about gangsters wearing pinstripes that feels a little more authentic, but it’s not like the other crime bosses are going to be judging him for his unlined pants.
Well, maybe that one guy would, but he’s a dick.
Fisk comes with the same accessories his BAF came with. You get one cane and one alternate head. He comes with the beat up angry face, and the calm face is the accessory. They swap on and off easily. The screaming face that came with the BAF was clean, but this time around he comes with a bruised eye and some cuts. Fisk is a usually the guy that barks orders and has people killed but on the off times when he actually has to go one on one with someone, he is more than capable of kicking unbelievable amounts of ass. That’s all muscle, kids. The Kingpin is the guy that bench presses the entire gym and then eats a cow. In one bite.
I don’t think I had much doubt that Kingpin would be getting a more iconic release at some point. With a figure that has this much presence, I don’t mind having a couple different variations of it. And like I said, I would buy it again in black.
I have been enjoying the low fuss low muss fan channel releases that allow me to preorder a figure at my retailer of choice and then do absolutely nothing until it comes in. No hunting, no checking for it to come back in stock, just preorder and forget.
