Sideshow started out originally with its Universal Monsters 9-inch figures.
I remember seeing the figures for sale at Walmart and was immediately impressed by the incredible sculpting and articulation of the figures.
I contacted the fledgling Sideshow Toys Company (my how things have changed!) and asked them to send review samples.
Diane: the marketing director at the time, sent me all of the figures in each set. So began a long association with Sideshow that sadly ended when Diane passed away.
For several years Sideshow provided all of its 12-inch figures to me for review and even included some bobbleheads and a deluxe Wolverine figure fashioned after X-Men artist Dave Cockrum’s artwork.
After Diane’s death samples showed up occasionally until eventually nothing arrived at all.
Sideshow soon became known as Sideshow Collectibles, expanded its line to include marquettes, deluxe figures, full-size figures, artwork and other collectibles. It also became the distributor of many foreign toy/figure manufactures, such as Hot Toys.
I was fortunate enough to get a few of Hot Toys earlier figures.
One of my favorite series of 12-inch figures I received before review samples became sparse was the first Hellboy movie 12-inch figures.
Of the three: Hellboy, Abe Sabien and Kroenen, Kroenen was and is my favorite.
The villainous Nazi henchman and assassin whose self mutilation left him a skull face monstrosity was truly frightening.
His weapons of choice was two twin pair of blades with which he swiftly eliminated his chosen targets.
At the time the figures from Sideshow floated around the $50 mark.
The Kroenen, figure like all Sideshow figures, came in a flip lid box allowing collectors to display the character without opening the box or removing the figure. The figure was secured in place with twist tabs and form-fitting clear plastic molded pieces and a full slip over molded plastic cover.
The clean plastic inner cover allowed the figure to be seen in full view with all of its accessories.
Accessories included two knives, two long handle grip knives and a damaged mask.
The highly articulate figure came dressed in a full body, black outfit with brown leather arm and thigh knife sheaths, a wide leather belt, a faux metal chest plate with scroll work and an undamaged face mask.Kroenen also wore full, black leather knee boots and black gloves.
The face mask could be removed to show his disfigured face and replaced by the damaged mask.A circular base was also included along with a flexible wire appendage that wrapped around the figure’s waist so it could stand and be posed.
The figure could also be posed independently of its frame in various battle positions.
As with its modern day Sideshow figures the Kroenen figure was expertly sculpted and featured form-fitting cloths, expert paint and dye application, cleverly hidden articulated points and an overall amazing attention to detail.
It is still a prize of my collection.
Articulation points moved easily with no sticking or slippage. Posing the figure was easy and the weapons snugly fit in the figure’s hands--secure and stationary.
Cloth fabric shifted with the figure and stretched without tearing or ripping. Stitching was tight, seams were crafted to resist separating and the masks slipped over the figure’s head without rubbing or removing pigment.
Kroenen’s disfigured face was a truly horrible sight expertly recreated in perfect scaled down proportions.
It is easy to understand why Sideshow Collectibles is so successful as it is today because its quality control is second to none.
Even from its beginning Sideshow put the effort and expertise into its figures making them some of the most sought after collectible figures in the market.
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