03.02.04
The Lord of the Rings - Boromir, Eomer, Prologue Elven Warrior
  
    Though I do have some previously acquired LotR figures on my "review queue", I figure 
I'll just go ahead and do my more recent additions first. I'm pretty sure all of these 
are re-releases, however I don't own any of the originals so I can't tell you if there 
are any differences. They are all of the new "small card" variety. This review covers 
Boromir (with Battle Attack Action), Eomer (With Sword Attack Action), and the Prologue 
Elven Warrior (with Elven Armor and Weapons).
  
    I'll start off with Boromir. My first impression when I saw him in the package in 
store was that this was a very short figure, I thought that as I took him out of the 
package, and still see it a bit now. However comparing him to the other humans he's 
pretty much the right height, he may actually be taller than Eomer. I guess Boromir is 
just a little wider than my other human figures giving the illusion that he's shorter 
than he really is. My second thought after freeing him from his plastic prison was "oh 
crap, he's ruined by his gimmick". Unfortunately this is probably true. Actually if he 
had wrists and bicep cuts it wouldn't be so bad. He actually really looks like he has 
the bicep cuts but they don't want to budge at all and I'm not going to go and lose 
anymore arms for anymore figures.
  
    Anyway, there is a little button on Boromir's back that, when pressed, causes him 
to swing his arms around and turn his head back and forth. As an attack feature it is 
pretty lame, however when you put the Horn of Gondor in his hand (and have things 
positioned correctly), he will raise the horn to his mouth and turn his head as if to 
blow the horn. This feature is actually kind of cool. Honestly I don't really mind these 
button press gimmicks that are so common in this line if they affect only one army and 
have ratchets that allow you to pose the arm freely anyway.
  
    Aside from his gimmick, Boromir features the following articulation: Hinged elbows, 
knees, and ankles, funky somewhat (mostly) limited ratcheting shoulders, a very stiff 
and gimmick attached neck cut, waist, and cut hips. The hips are not universal swivels 
or anything, just one way swivels, it works fine though. He stands well under his own
power. The sculpting on this figure is decent, though his overall design is a bit bland 
next to some of the more ornate armors and whatnot of this line. The face sculpt seems 
a bit "soft" but it does look like Boromir. Boromir includes: a matching sword and dagger, 
both with sheaths; his shield, and the Horn of Gondor. The Horn is a pretty neat little 
accessory and there is a little peg on his belt for it to hang from. The Shield doesn't 
seem to have a suitable handle on it but it does include a shoulder strap. You can sort 
of wrap the strap around his arm to get him to hold it. Overall, despite his gimmick I'd 
say this is a decent figure, though you may want to wait for the new (I guess it 's new) 
"Super Poseable" Boromir that has appeared on at least one "upcoming figures" list.
  
    Next up is Eomer. This one will certainly be shorter than Boromir. I don't like this 
figure. I'm glad it will at least make a decent generic background solider, because I 
don't see this as being a great Eomer. Where to start, How about that he comes with a 
Sword and Helmet as his accessories, and I don't really consider helmets to be 
accessories myself. You probably won't want to remove the helmet either since the head 
seems kind of funky without it. The hair line just looks unnatural somehow. Also I can's 
say I care for the "open mouthed scream" face sculpt. This is something that also keeps 
Super Poseable Aragorn from being a perfect figure(review pending). This figure does 
feature a gimmick, when you twist his waist one way it will spring back and cause his 
helmet to flip off, I mean, he will do a sword slashing sort of motion.
  
    Eomer also seems a bit too skinny all around. Boromir is too wide; Eomer is too thin; 
maybe I need to make up my mind here eh? The paint on his sword handle also flaked off 
when I removed it from his hand, I haven't had this problem with any of my other LotR 
accessories, I don't see why this guy is different. Anyway, the armor is also excessively 
brown, though it does have plenty of nice little details sculpted into it. I felt iffy 
picking up this figure in the first place, now I know why. I don't particularly 
recommend this figure, especially when you could probably still find Pelanor(sp?) Fields 
Eomer on the pegs. I don't own it but it appears to be a superior figure and I plan on 
picking it up eventually myself.
  
    Which leaves the Elven Warrior. Certainly the cream of this crop, It's say he 
probably ranks pretty high all around as far as LotR figures go. I suppose I'll start 
with the only really bad thing I have to say about this figure, the face sculpt makes 
him look tired, or bored, and with the chain mail hood you can't really tell this is an 
elf. It's a rather moot point though, he looks naked in all that armor without is helmet 
on. What nice armor it is too. A bunch of sculpted layers, a lot of nice ornate detailing 
on his helmet and shield, and a nice paint ops to top it all off. I suppose the armor 
style is something that lets you know this guy is and elf, even if you can't see his 
pointed ears.
  
    This Elf is loaded with equipment as well. There are the helmet and shield, as 
previously mentioned; a huge spear (9"=10"), a curved sword and scabbard, a quiver with 
arrows, and a longbow. He can carry all of this equipment on him at once time as well, 
though not in every possible configuration (ie he has to be holding the sword and shield 
in his hands etc). The Elven Warrior does have a button activated gimmick, when pressed, 
the button on his back makes right arm raise up. It's labeled as "Sword Slashing Action" 
on the back of the package. Also you can shoot arrows from his bow, though he does not 
shoot his own arrows line some figures (best gimmick ever). Essentially, Buy this figure 
if you see it. I kind of wish I had picked up two of him, they would go really well 
flanking my Haldir.
  
    Summary, Boromir; Decent but probably not going to be the best Boromir; Eomer (sword 
slashing), pretty lame overall, not recommended; Prologue Elven Warrior, an outstanding 
figure that's worth every penny. On a final note, It was till shortly after I had gotten 
these guy's home that I realized what the "Prologue" in "Prologue Elven Warrior" meant. 
For some reason I kept thinking Prologue was a nation or something from the books, not 
that it meant this was an Elf from the Prologue battle against Sauron.