WE ARE GROOT!
They have not invented a word to describe how hyped I am for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2. Yeah, I know I have the company of millions on that one, but the latest trailer is, as the kids would say, the most on-fleek thing I have seen in a while. My five-year-old daughter and I have plans to see it at least twice during the opening weekend, and I am positive we will see it at least one more time while it occupies the megaplexes. So the wait until early May is a killer right now, but we are accustomed to cool toys helping to tide us over until a blockbuster release, and Guardians is no exception.
We have already touched on the figures that make up the first series of the Guardians Marvel Legends Infinite Series, but as I am sure you noticed, Groot was not a part of it. If you are looking forward to the second series, you probably know that, since Baby Groot is taking center stage in Volume 2, he is included as a pack-in with the Rocket figure. Since the fan-favorite character is not getting a single release in the Build-a-Figure series, it is the perfect time to get Groot out there as a store exclusive, and Toys R Us is on it.
See, I am so excited for this movie, that I am actually buying movie-based Marvel Legends, something I don’t normally do, as I stick to the comic figures. However, I love GotG so much, and the figures from this round are so good, I could not pass these up. That is cool because I never picked up the figures from the first movie, so in getting my first cinematic Groot, I actually get three incarnations. This is a good idea for a set, too, because it gives you a modified BAF on a single card, a baby version different from the one coming with Rocket later on this spring, and the dancing sapling from the memorable mid-credit scene from the first movie. So, aside from giant forcefield Groot, that pretty much seals it for all of his movie iterations thus far.
The little Groots are, as you would imagine, non-articulated slugs, but both of them are really well done. The teeny, tiny sculpts are actually very detailed, and Groot’s personality comes out strongly in both of them. The paint is nothing to whiff at either; I was expecting some solid plastic color with sketchy eyes when I opened the box, and while that does play on baby Groot in some of the close-up pictures, in real size, you don’t really see it. However, there is some great green shading on both, and for as small as both of these are, the detailing is pretty good. The Vol. 2 baby Groot is actually my favorite of the three, but there is no way it will ever go in my display as my daughter has already absconded with him.
Now, the big Groot is just the original movie figure, but with a new smiling head. As I said, I don’t have the first figure, but I do have the comic-based Groot that uses the same base body, so I knew what I was getting with this. If you like the first figure, you won’t have an issue here, but I find the body to be slightly too skinny, It is not egregious or anything, the arms seem especially thin to me. The articulation is fine for the character, too, so don’t expect any real surprises. What I am not 100 percent sold on is the new smiling head, and while I appreciate the thought in giving us a happy Groot, something is off about it. I think it is the eyes, there is something half-crazy about them, but it only takes hold when looking at the figure straight-on, from the profile, he is fine. I am personally fine with the look, but I have seen enough chatter online to know that others take more umbrage with it, so your mileage may vary on this one.
I realize this isn’t the most exciting the release for some, but since, and to quote the Collector here, “I have never met a Groot before,” I am pleased to have it. If you are in the same boat, and the smile works for you, I suggest picking this one up. Toys R Us is obviously the only game in town for this, but he should be readily available at the stores, and on the website.
