Hellboy II

Actor Ron Perlman was and always will be the perfect Hellboy movie character in my opinion.

He nailed it when it came to Hellboy-especially his attitude.

The last Hellboy film left me disappointed mainly for two reasons-too much violence and a lame story.  I don’t fault the actors-the script was just not there.

Mezco Toyz released several Hellboy II Toy figures and sets.  This time around I’ll be reviewing the Johann Krauss figure and 3 3/4 Inch Box Set consisting of four figures from the film: Liz Sherman, Johann Strauss, Hellboy and Wink.

Other than Liz Sherman, Hellboy and Abe Sapien, my favorite Hellboy movie character is Johann Krauss.

In Hellboy II Johann was a scientist who died and transferred his spirit to an eco-suit with a complete pressurized helmet and various apparatus to help him walk and move about.

At first he and Hellboy did not get along.  In fact, in the movie they had quite a scuffle and Johann pretty much cleaned Hellboy’s clock.

Mezco Toyz produced a 6-inch articulated action figure of Johann that included plasma emitting gloves and a shattered dome for his helmet-courtesy of Hellboy.

Johann is much sought after Hellboy II figure and prices range from $60 up.

The packaging is a typical bubble pack, which can hang or stand on shelves.

The HBII logo and the name of the character is on a large label at the bottom of the plastic bubble.

Inside, the figure (and accessories) are safely and snugly protected in the plastic cocoon and secure in place.

The figure appears to be clothed in a modified deep sea diving outfit in dark and light brown leather, heavy brass and aged couplings around the neck, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles, heavy diver boots and weighted diver’s belt with red buckle and side pouches.

Johann’s helmet consists of a clear dome with inner mechanism for talking, a voice box, two rebreathers and a flexible neck section.

On Johann’s chest rests a large valve apparatus with oversize handle to one side and a large corrugated tube on the other side.

His hands are gloved and can be removed and replaced with the additional plasma emitting hands.  The plasma is a translucent white and looks as if it is emitting in rounded puffs.

The additional dome (like the additional hands) can replace the other dome and hands with a simple pull and click.

It is a remarkably detailed figure with articulation hidden by the clothing folds and equipment attachments.

Paint application is nicely done with clear distinctions between various clothing and apparatus.

Special coloring effects makes the clothing and equipment slightly aged and dirty.

The 3 1/2-inch Box Set of four Hellboy II figures is a long rectancular box with a clear viewing panel on the front.

All of the small figures are held in place by a plastic cocoon for easy viewing.

All four miniature figures come with bases for attaching the figures to for posing and display.

The Johann Strauss figure is an exact miniature duplicate of the larger 6-inch action figure including an additional plasma cloud.

The monstrous light blue Wink figure stands with his massive arms poised for battle.

Wink’s right hand and lower arm are encased in metal with large rivets, like the one seen in the film.

Wink comes dressed in leather leg strappings, a leather lower body tunic with a large aged medallion in the front and strips of leather over the crotch area decorated with rivets.

His feet are shod in heavy leather sandals with metal rivets.

His massive mace fist also comes with a real chain.

The figure is fully articulated and painted in subtle and varied shades to give it a look of realism (like the other figures in the set).

The Hellboy figure comes dressed in his trademark trench coat, black leather pants with wide belt and buckle and heavy heeled boots.

The red devil also comes equipped with his favorite weapon: Samaritan Big Baby Shotgun.

The final figure in the collection is the fire controlling Liz Sherman.  Her left hand is lit up with a translucent flame emitting from it

She is dressed in a solid black leather body suit and carries a B.P.R.D. handgun.

She wears a black belt with a large buckle with pouches and heavy black boots.

He black hair is cut short and she wears a necklace around her pale neck.  Her complexion is light emphasizing her black outfit and raven hair and eyes.

All of the figures are fully articulated, pose easily, feature realistic folds and creases in their garments and have perfectly scaled accessories and weapons.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." — Psalm 150:6