“He’s invisible, that’s what’s the matter with him.” –Constable Jaffers, The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man came to us in wave 3 of Sideshow Toys’ Universal Monsters series. The figure stands 8 inches tall and features ten points of articulation. Included was a detailed base with nameplate, plus an alternate head and three books as accessories.
This figure represents Dr. Jack Griffin, aka the Invisible Man, as he appeared in the second part of the film. While a guy in slippers and a bathrobe may not seem like the most exciting subject matter for an action figure, it’s this juxtaposition of the normal with more outré elements that provides the character’s unique visual dynamic.
The figure’s regular head is the now-iconic bandaged version. The wrapping is remarkably detailed; not only do the bandages have an authentically “gauzy” texture, they also have minute rips and imperfections along the edges to denote wear. Its a prime example of the skill and dedication that went into both this figure and the line as a whole.
This head is remarkably expressive for having no facial features. Sculptor Oluf W. Hartvigson is a true student of Universal horror. Not only can he replicate a character’s makeup, he can duplicate it’s attitude. Even with his mouth covered, we can tell Griffin is sneering, his eyes burning hatefully behind his smoked lenses. The manic intensity of Claude Raines’ performance somehow comes through, a tribute to both the actor’s remarkable presence and Hartvigson’s uncanny talent.
Instead of just cheaping out and leaving an empty spot in the packaging to represent Griffin’s “invisible” head (screw you, Matty), Sideshow provides an additional head cast in clear plastic. While it would be easy enough to phone it in here (Rains’ face is only seen for a moment at the end of the film), Hartvigson instead delivers this outstanding likeness.
Rains’ intense gaze and hawkish features are ideal for playing the arrogant genius — he was director James Whales’ only choice. There’s a doomed quality to the actor that dovetails perfectly with the character he portrays. Never mind the fact we never actually see this representation on film, this is what the Invisible Man looks like.
The rest of the outfit looks good, if a little soft, detail-wise. The pockets feature some raised edging, and “fabric” details like the ascot and the handkerchief have nice depth and shaping. Despite the presence of some realistic-looking wrinkles, the dressing gown itself comes off as flat, especially below the belt. The robe’s smoothness is screen-accurate (it’s silk, after all), but it still tracks as plain.
The belt’s tassels appear a little thick here, but from a foot or so away they look much nicer. The cuff of the pajamas, on the other hand, only look better the closer you get to ’em. It may seem odd, but this is one of my favorite aspects of the figure. The shaping is just so natural — gaze upon its majesty.
One of the film’s most memorable effects comes when our invisible protagonist smokes a cigarette, so it’s nice one is included. While an alternate nonsmoking hand would have been appreciated, I wouldn’t trade it for this one. The cigarette allows Griffin to alternately point accusingly or affect an air of relaxation, which adds a lot during display.
The paintwork on this figure is clean and tight, with minimal slop. The bandaged head was lavished with attention, to great effect; the bandages have a believably “used” quality, thanks to a nice wash and some selective dry-brushing. I’m pretty sure the black dots are meant to sit at the center of the grey-diamond pattern on the collar and belt. It’s a pretty big miss, but the problem could be localized to the batch this figure came from — your mileage may vary.
The figure sports a whopping ten points of articulation. Whoopie. It’s not the Invisible Man necessarily needs more, but what’s here is lacking. The figure is sculpted in a pose with its right arm raised — an iconic moment to be sure, but also a bad choice. If the pin shoulders had been ball-jointed, it would have made a huge difference. As it is, we’re stuck a guy who is really interested in what he’s holding. I recommend finding something more interesting than the included book. I swapped mine out for this “test tube” filled with vodka and Great Bluedini Kool-Ade.
The Invisible Man is a great read and a fantastic movie, and this figure does both justice. It’s a terrific representation of one of horror’s most enigmatic characters and, in spite of its minor shortcomings, belongs on every Universal Monster fan’s shelf.
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