Why Elbows Are The Most Critical Point Of Articulation

Have we been talking about elbows lately? Anyone? Bueller?


I don't want to keep dwelling on the pain we're all feeling over the elbow-less-ness of the upcoming 8D8, but I feel like the reasons for that disappointment are multiple, and they can't all be addressed in one article. In yesterday's article, we discussed why elbows for 8D8 were important to achieve that character's iconic pose. Today I want to point out that every figure in an adult collectible line needs elbows.

Throughout the years, Hasbro has commendably mentioned that they are worried about things that "break the illusion" with an action figure. Breaking the illusion is anything that pulls us out of the fantasy of recreating the Star Wars universe on our shelves in 3.75" form. This can come in many forms, and often from opposite sides of the spectrum. It can come from jarring articulation joints:


On the flip side, a lack of articulation can be equally jarring especially when it comes at the intersection of the humerus, ulnar, and radius. Why? Because aside from a soldier standing at attention, NO ONE IN THE ENTIRE 8 BILLION PERSON POPULATION OF THE PLANET STANDS WITH PERFECTLY STRAIGHT ARMS. In most scenarios, it's a completely unnatural stance. The most astute observationalist in human history knows that a perfectly straight armed pose is a source of mockery and derision:


While in no way should this be construed as advocating for reduced lower body articulation, a figure lacking knees and ankles integrates infinitely better into a display without breaking the illusion than a figure lacking elbows. There is nothing natural about this:


People, droids, aliens, and pickle ball champions all stand with their legs perfectly straight in certain situations, but they almost never stand with their elbows locked. This is not to say that I'm pushing for preposed arms with crooked elbows. That is the infinitesimally lesser of the two evils. Preposed elbows are the devil and no elbows are the super devil who is at least six inches taller and rides a flying motorcycle. When trying to eliminate articulation to chase a price point (which is the super duper devil), elbow joints should be the last point of articulation on the chopping block.

There were many figures during the "5POA is not okay" era that I would have purchased if they only had those two more points of articulation. "5POA is not okay" is credited to the Randy and connot be used without attribution.

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