{"id":28623,"date":"2014-07-09T01:18:16","date_gmt":"2014-07-09T06:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=28623"},"modified":"2014-07-28T00:46:06","modified_gmt":"2014-07-28T05:46:06","slug":"evil-mikes-customs-necro-scythe-blade-hilt-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=28623","title":{"rendered":"Evil Mike’s Customs
Necro-Scythe Blade & Hilt Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> I\u2019m gonna wax on here for a bit, be prepared. I have it on good authority that the piece I\u2019m reviewing doesn\u2019t even appear in a picture until page 2<\/a>. Skip ahead if you need to!
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\nWith DC Classics officially ending this year (just three not particularly spectacular figures to go!), I\u2019ve been really \u201cmeh\u201d about the whole line. It\u2019s not fair \u2013 it was (is, sorta) a great line. It has its warts, but if you\u2019re a diehard DC collector like me, it\u2019s one of the best plastic representations of the DC Universe ever. I mean, it\u2019d be great to have gotten some better toys out of the deal now and again, but looking at my shelves \u2013 I see Jemm, the Son of Saturn (I would be shocked if another collector puts him in such a prominent spot, he\u2019s right in front on my shelves; love that guy!), I see Fire & Ice, I see Vigilante, B\u2019Wana Beast, Adam Strange, Golden Pharaoh (yeah, I went there! Love that guy too!). We even have compatible Watchmen figures in the mix.
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\nIt\u2019s kinda crazy. The problem though is that we as collectors tend to focus on what we didn\u2019t get. Who we don\u2019t have. And even though DCUC did a pretty remarkable job, my \u201cdidn\u2019t get\u201d list is pretty long, even if I limit it to favorites. Warlord. GA Mr. Terrific. Modern Dr. Mid-Nite. Gangbuster. Shining Knight. Vixen. I could go on (I did here!(<\/a>).
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\nThe worst thing is knowing that there are sculpted figured that never saw the light of day \u2013 I thankfully don\u2019t know who they are, but I do know some exist. It\u2019s said that the Club Infinite Earths Phantom Stranger figure was sculpted years before it saw release. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s true, but it feeds into the idea for sure. I guess it\u2019s kinda like that mythical \u201cparts bin\u201d of accessories that the 4H sculpted for various Matty lines<\/a> that Mattel couldn\u2019t cost out and had to be cut. I cringe at the very thought of what amazing things have ended up there.
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\nSometimes though, we see those accessories. Collect & Connect Grodd had some accessories back in the day. Collect & Connect Kalibak had extra gear that Mattel thankfully later included with the Parademons in a later wave. Unfortunately, the very last Collect & Connect, Nekron, had a similar problem. And with no future waves to be had, his accessory \u2013 his must-have accessory, really \u2013 was cut. And I\u2019m not exaggerating when I say the figure suffered for it<\/a>.
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\nLuckily, the internet is full of many wonderful things and many creative, very talented folks. In the name of full disclosure, Evil Mike contacted me a few weeks ago (I hope it was weeks, sorry for the delay there, Mike!) about a new piece, or two pieces that combine actually, he had created. The Necro-Scythe Blade & Hilt. He provided a review sample for my perusal, so I want to give him a quick shout out and thank you before we head over to page two to check out my thoughts! Thanks, Mike! Continue to Page 2…<\/a>
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To clarify real quickly before I get started, what you\u2019re seeing here in the pics is a painted sample from Evil Mike. I\u2019ll give some details about how to get one just like this from Mike at the end of the review, but if you hit up his SHAPEWAYS STORE you\u2019ll find that the two pieces are available to order separately (due to their immense size).
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\nIf you order these from Mike\u2019s store, it\u2019s about $34 plus taxes and shipping. You\u2019ll have some color options at the Shapeways site, but white is likely best and you\u2019ll need to paint it. A painted version as seen here, you can order directly from Mike via his Facebook or e-mail (which I\u2019ll provide at the end of the review). That\u2019ll run you $49 plus shipping and all you\u2019ll have to do is glue the two pieces together as I did here (here\u2019s a tip: the hook in the staff curves with the blade, not against, I had to look that up!).
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\nSo the question is, it this accessory worth $34-49? I think that\u2019s going to depend on how bummed you were about Nekron not getting his staff in the first place (or if you have a cool, creative use for this piece for someone other than Nekron). I was pretty annoyed by not getting this accessory included back when Nekron was released. There are optional accessories a figure could do with out \u2013 batarangs, kryptonite, clip-on lighting, etc. Then there are things like Wonder Woman\u2019s Magic Lasso, Starman\u2019s Star Rod, bow & arrows for GA. Nekron doesn\u2019t have the length of publication like those guys, but he does have his Scythe. Mattel screwed that up. I think I would land on the spectrum of being bothered enough to pay out for a well done accessory to correct for a Mattel mistake.
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\nI tell folks that we\u2019re in a great time for toy collecting. The internet, while still evil, provides us better communication between collectors, access to line information and availability, and, recently, has connected to some amazing custom designers. Things like 3D printing and Shapeways have further enhanced collecting. I still marvel at the few 3D printed pieces I own. The idea alone is awesome and to see how far the technology has come so quickly is even cooler.
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\nThat advancement is showcased here with Mike\u2019s piece. There are still some restrictions with 3D printing, at least at the affordable level, but the scythe wisely utilizes them. The blade is done in what\u2019s call \u201cstrong, flexible, and polished\u201d. It\u2019s smooth, but still has the great forged look. The staff meanwhile is done in the rougher, unpolished plastic which translates amazing well with the wood detailing. And we can take that \u201cstrong, but flexible\u201d thing to heart. These are on the sturdier side (i.e., don\u2019t sit on it), but still have some give as you move the figure around for poses. Take that and combine it with being a faithful adaptation of the original and this piece is pretty great.
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\nWhat really surprised me though was how much more it made me like the original figure. Real quick, I do have one nitpick \u2013 the staff could be a little wide to better fit in Nekron\u2019s hand more snugly, but I could see this looser size ensuring that no paint is chipped. I do appreciate that. Since the staff slid around a little freely, I found myself tinkering with Nekron for good poses . That\u2019s when I realized that Nekron had some great articulation, particularly in the arms! He was quite literally designed to be used with an accessory of this caliber and finally having it really brought the figure to life. And that, by the way enhancing the original figure, is the hallmark of a great add-on piece.
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Thank you again to Evil Mike for sending the Scythe along!<\/em><\/center>
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Continue to Evil Mike’s Customs<\/a>!*<\/strong><\/p>\n

* – If you’d like to order a painted scythe from Evil Mike directly, please contact him at Facebook<\/a> or via e-mail!<\/a><\/em><\/center>
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For all our Reviews, check out our Review Index<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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