Jakks-Pacific Rocky 2 Action Figures
by Lando da Pimp

Well it only took 30 years for a decent Rocky action figure to be produced. Previous Rocky characters were either plush or made into erasers. Now with the "final" new Rocky film in theaters it makes sense for Jakks-Pacific to start producing a line dedicated to "The Italian Stallion." While this is a great move, I wish there was a little more thought put into the line.

Each series coincides with a Rocky film. Jakks-Pacific sent me two figures from Rocky 2, Rocky in training gear and lightweight boxer Roberto Duran, who appears as Rocky's sparring partner in the film. Who is Roberto Duran? That was my problem! I don't know who he is? People who follow boxing will know who Roberto Duran is, but the average movie goer would have no clue. So lets take a look at the Rocky in training gear.

Jakks-Pacific was a good choice for the Rocky license with there work with wrestling. I love the WWE Classic Superstar line and I haven't watched wrestling in 15 years! After years of crappy wrestling figures Jakks reinvented the WWE wrestling figures.

The wrestling bodies work only with the boxers however. Looking at the other figures from the second series like Referee Lou Fillipo and Bookie Gazzo they suffer from the "He-Man Syndrome" that action figures sometimes suffer from (Anybody remember the 1996 Star Wars line?). Bodies that are way too muscular for the character they are supposed to portray. While yes I understand that using a standard male body keeps cost down I would rather pay a little more for a better sculpted figure. This is most important with the accessories. Rocky comes equipped with a towel and a jump rope. However you can only place one of the jump rope handles in his left hand. The right hand is closed. A little more thought should have been to produce different hands for different figures.

The benefit to using the standard Jakks body is the articulation. Rocky has about 16 points consisting of ball jointed neck, ball jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, thighs, knees, and calves.

What is really good is the likeness of Stallone's face. Its pretty dead on. The only flaw I could find is that the face is to smooth. Stallone / Rocky is pretty rugged in the face in the films.

Overall
A Rocky toy line is long overdue. Jakks-Pacific took the gamble that Rocky action figure line would work. I think they were right. Growing up the Rocky films were always something I enjoyed. I do find the line to be successful with a few problems. I know that I won't be picking up action figures on very minor characters (i.e. Roberto Duran or the Referee Lou Fillipo). I am looking for Rocky, Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, and or course Ivan Drago! (I must break you)

The body sculpts are also a problem. The Paulie figure and Adrian figures were custom sculpted from what I could see. To only do a few custom sculpts and use a basic muscular He-Man body for others is disappointing. That being said, the Rocky figures are fun and as a fan of the films long over due.

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