Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Credit:  Carded sample from the collection of Mike Richard.

Original Review:  Bret - 9/04/10 02:02 PM

There’s two ways to look at this figure.  A really nice display piece if you can get it to stand, or one of the worst figures as a toy made in recent memory.

The main issue is the plastic, which is VERY VERY soft an makes it nearly impossible to have him stand up without bending and tipping over, no matter what you do.  It’s really a travesty that this figure is made of such soft plastic, because it could be infinitely better just based on the material.  To compound everything, there’s no pegholes in the feet, so you can’t even enlist the aid of a stand.  Booo!

Anyway, the sculpt is pretty good.  At first glance, it’s just like the TLC version, but it adds very important wrist articulation, especially for a character that is scene wielding his lightsabers by twirling his writsts.  However, the writst will pop out of their sockets way too easily, so that is too bad.  The problem with the hands is that they don’t grip the lightsabers well at all.  Maybe two of his claws do a marginally acceptable job at this, but not well enough. 

I feel the headsculpt is a little too small, and the range of motion is restricted.  The real problem with the sculpt itself, is that Grievous spends most of the movie hunched over, with his neck and head jutting forward.  This figure does not make that pose, which is too bad. 

He’s got a lot of articulation, but he could really use ball jointed hips.  As has been pointed out in our forums, Hasbro hit a home run with the leg sculpt/articulation on the recent cyborg Darth Maul.  This should be a launching point for a new and better Grievous.

Really the only outstanding thing about this figure is the cape.  It’s terrific, has 4 pockets on both sides of the inside to place trophy lightsabers, two of which are included.  Grievous comes with only two lit sabers, which is also a bit silly.  Just give him all 4!  Grrrrr….

Bottom line, if you can get this figure posed, and able to stand, he looks really nice.  If you plan on playing with it, or giving it to a kid, forget it.  It’s horrible.  My recommendation, if you buy this figure, is to take the cape and add it to the TLC version.  Otherwise, you may want to avoid this like the plague.  Boo Hasbro.  Boo.

7/10 Banthaskulls if you can get him to stand and then you can just stare at him on your shelf.
1/10 Banthaskulls if you plan on actually trying to pose this figure or play with it as an actual toy.

Updated Review:  Bret - 7/14/2018 07:05 AM

Hey, I did the first review!  I helped!  It pretty much stands (see what I did there) today.  Because it doesn’t really stand (now you get it?) on it’s own in any meaningful way other than standing straight up and down, it might as well be a 5POA figure. In fact, I think Chris has stated that he does use a 5POA Grievous with this VC cape for display purposes.  That should tell you something.

The figure is made out the same material that Hasbro used to make the Black Series AT-ST.  That is to say, it has the consistency of a wet noodle.  The lack of ball jointed hips and the ultra rubbery legs make posing the figure an exercise in frustration.  Standing straight up and down, it works, but General Grievous spent most of the film either severely hunched over, or in some kind of action pose.  The hips and knees are hinged, while the ankles are ball jointed.  The ankles don’t help the other two joints, and it ends up being a mess.  Hunched and action-oriented poses are difficult, if not impossible to achieve.  Additionally, the soft material doesn’t work well with the “snap together” arms and wrists.  The “pins” are soft and rubbery, and don’t fit well into the tiny corresponding holes. 

The sculpt itself is generally excellent, although I have some concerns.  As I mentioned in the earlier review, the head is a tad too small.  This throws off the look.  But perhaps more importantly, the hands are terribly designed.  When the arms are connected, the combined hands do a slightly better job of holding the included blaster and lightsaber accessories, but when the arms are split, the resulting “half-hands” are woefully inadequate.  You have to precariously balance the accessories in the desired hand, hoping to get the right effect.

Far and away the best part of the figure is the cape.  It’s an excellently crafted accessory, especially the multiple pockets for lightsaber hilts and the insignia on the back.  It could perhaps be improved with a wire at the hem, to allow for some dynamic positioning, but that’s not really a problem.  It’s a great accessory, and as mentioned, can be used with other Grievous figures as well.

The figure comes with 2 hilts to fit in the pockets, as well as 2 lit sabers and a blaster.  It’s unfortunate he doesn’t come with 4 lit sabers.  That would make total sense.  The collar is a separate piece, which can facilitate the removing or positioning of the cape around the neck.  Also, Grievous’s 2 “rib cage” pieces can be removed, and they have some flexibility, which allows for display of the moment Obi-Wan tries to break Grievous’s chest open, as in the last picture.

There are probably other figures that Hasbro should consider re-releasing before this one, but relatively speaking, it would be pretty desirable to have an upgraded and definitive Grievous, especially since the TVC version is so inadequate.  Massively improved articulation, better plastic materials, non-ridiculous hands, and a bigger head would be great.  Add in 2 more lit sabers, an electro-staff, and a wire-hemmed cape, and you probably are pretty close to an ultimate Grievous figure.  eBay prices are kind of all over the map, so if you are looking for this figure, take care as you shop.  The packaged figure is pretty neat, but it leaves something to be desired once opened.

Previously, I gave two separate ratings, depending on whether you had a basic display, or if you wanted action poses / play value,  I took both into account, and ended up adjusting the final score to a 4.  It’s a woefully inadequate TVC figure, but has some merits (well, there’s the cape, that’s about it.).