Meanwhile, over at Super7, wave 2 of the D&D ReAction figures dropped (along with a bunch of other stuff and t-shirts that I find myself entirely immune to).

The first is Formidable Fighter with Longsword and Shield (2023). He’s the Elmore-painted fellow on the cover of the 1983 Basic Set; earlier in the year, at San Diego ComicCon, he was issued in special version of the Basic Set box. I’m a little conflicted! In Elmore’s painting, of course, the fighter’s back is turned. Now, I get it, an action figure’s gotta have a face, but I dunno, this face looks like Dante from Clerks. I thought for a moment that he was meant to be a young Larry Elmore, which would have been fun, but Larry’s always had a Kenny Rogers kind of look going on. Honestly, I think the thing that bugs me the most is that he’s in the package facing out when he should really be facing in. That’s how I have him on the shelf, facing the books. A perfect figure from that angle!

I have no complaints about Sacred Statue with Brazier and Jeweled Eye (2023), based on Trampier’s cover for the original Players Handbook. This one was a no-brainer and he came out more than perfect. Like the Githyanki, he feels like a toy a child-Stu from another dimension had and loved and somehow that Other Stu’s memories vibrate through the ether to me. Absolutely perfect. Just be careful with the removable eye — it’s small!