MAFEX Robocop 1/12 scale

[Otomofan]

Definitely buy it!

The head is the best part of the figure...the lips and mouth look great in person and actually look just like Weller in the costume. And the helmet and visor is exactly the right shape. It makes the Neca head look laughably bad in comparison.

Don't trust photos, and certainly don't trust MY photos, cause my phone is a very old POS. I keep trying to get a nice close up but I simply can't take good macro photos. Here's one I snapped just now of the damaged chest and helmet, and the "oh" lips:



(See? That photo is too close...when you're looking at it with the naked eye you don't see the paint printing...it looks very natural.)

I never believe people when they say "Oh it looks bad in photos but it's great in person" but I guess sometimes it's true. Like going to see Guns N Roses...when you're there in person it's awesome but then when you get home and listen to the recording of the show, Axl sounds like a dying old grandma.

Anyway, I have zero regrets paying the hefty fee for this figure. I can't say it's a "mini Hot Toys" but I'll stand with my earlier analogy that it feels like a Mezco One:12 compared to a Marvel Legends. Or a Star Wars SHF compared to a Black Series. You can see and feel the difference.

Yes, it's not in scale with NECA, but I no longer care cause it's definitely better than NECA. I'm a huge fan of the original too. The sequels had their moments but let's be honest people...the sequels sucked. The original is a classic, perfect film. I think the paint on this figure really nails the look of the first movie.

Go on man...get it!! You know you want to!

 

[Otomofan]

And a little after I posted this, a review went up on the fwoosh by a guy with a REAL camera:

https://thefwoosh.com/index.php/2018/11/medicom-mafex-robocop-review/

But it sucks!! He clearly didn't read the instructions.....it says in plain English "PUSH THE HELMET DOWN TO COVER THE NOSE" and this guy has the damn nose hanging out in every pic. He also has Robo's shoulders slumped down instead of pushing them UP like they're supposed to. It's as bad as everyone taking pics of their ED-209's with his guns upside down.

So yeah...better pics in this guy's review but what a waste cause he didn't even put his toy together properly. Trust me...the nose is covered by the helmet if you're not a buffoon.

 

[retrohead]

Definitely buy it!

The head is the best part of the figure...the lips and mouth look great in person and actually look just like Weller in the costume. And the helmet and visor is exactly the right shape. It makes the Neca head look laughably bad in comparison.

Don't trust photos, and certainly don't trust MY photos, cause my phone is a very old POS. I keep trying to get a nice close up but I simply can't take good macro photos. Here's one I snapped just now of the damaged chest and helmet, and the "oh" lips:

View attachment 432144

(See? That photo is too close...when you're looking at it with the naked eye you don't see the paint printing...it looks very natural.)

I never believe people when they say "Oh it looks bad in photos but it's great in person" but I guess sometimes it's true. Like going to see Guns N Roses...when you're there in person it's awesome but then when you get home and listen to the recording of the show, Axl sounds like a dying old grandma.

Anyway, I have zero regrets paying the hefty fee for this figure. I can't say it's a "mini Hot Toys" but I'll stand with my earlier analogy that it feels like a Mezco One:12 compared to a Marvel Legends. Or a Star Wars SHF compared to a Black Series. You can see and feel the difference.

Yes, it's not in scale with NECA, but I no longer care cause it's definitely better than NECA. I'm a huge fan of the original too. The sequels had their moments but let's be honest people...the sequels sucked. The original is a classic, perfect film. I think the paint on this figure really nails the look of the first movie.

Go on man...get it!! You know you want to!

Actually it looks a bit better to me in your photo. In other photos the "oh" mouth looked a bit weird. It certainly is the best mini Robo so far. I like your analogies, I know exactly what you mean about seeing a band in person and then the recording being garbage. Weirdly I thought much the same about your comparison to Neca/Mcfarlane versus SH figuarts or Mezco 1:12. You might have just convinced me actually. I need a Robocop in my collection. Regarding the movies the 2nd has its moments but I'm actually struggling to remember anything that was good about 3. It felt kind of like a TV movie......and then they made those ACTUAL crappy TV movies (and a series following it that was just as bad) I still shudder slightly thinking about those now.

 

[Otomofan]

Excellent man! I hope you pick it up and enjoy it. I love the head...I think there's a lot of expressiveness to it, even with the visor....tilt it to the side and it kind of has that expression from the "Murphy....it's you!" realization scene.

Speaking of RoboCop mouths....I went back through old threads and found pics of the original Figma prototypes. They looked so awesome! They had fully sculpted faces! No wonder so many of us were excited to get our preorders for that figure in.

That was probably the biggest bait and switch of any toy I've ever bought. Compare the initial sculpt prototypes to what they actually shipped us. I'm still pissed about it seven years later.





(And you're right, RoboCop 3 was absolutely a hot garbage mess. The ONLY thing I remember thinking was cool was Robo wearing a flight pack and the bad guy cyborg being named Otomo in honor of my favorite artist. The rest was indeed TV movie of the week quality. And then they went and actually DID make RoboCop for TV but I've purged all of those from my memory!)

 

[retrohead]

I didn't realise they showed those pre production pics with the sculpted mouths and then went with a mouth that looks like it was drawn with a fineliner pen. I can see why you were pissed.

I remember that the Cyborg in Robocop 3 was a Yakuza but I didn't remember that he was called Otomo. I take it you mean he was named after Katushiro Otomo (Akira). I love his work as well, I have almost all the manga he's ever released. I wish they'd reprint Domu though as my copy is a bit worse for wear.

Yeah I think I am going to pick up this figure. Would be cool if Medicom also put out an ED-209 in the Mafex line with a way to disconnect the top and add on some damage pieces to recreate the scene at the end where he gets blown in half with the Cobra Gun. They could include the Cobra Gun and maybe some new hands for Robo to wield it in the package.

 

[Otomofan]

Well for more on Otomo, my Japanese artist of all time, and Frank Miller, my favorite American artist of all time (and writer of the wretched RoboCop sequels but I don't blame him entirely; studio interference ruins movies,) then check out my tribute posts to both of these living legends here in the Printed Word section:

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/forum60/

As for Otomo, the killer Japanese cyborg, as far as I know there has been exactly ONE collectible of him ever made, about 3 years ago in a "chibi" "super deformed" Robo line here in Japan. Figure is only 2 inches tall but I had to have it cause it's all we ever got.



Despite the egregious movie, I'd still buy a six inch version of him with normal and interchangeable battle damaged heads.

An ED-209 or Roco Cain by MAFEX would be almost Hot Toys prices. The Hulkbuster they made retailed for a little under $300.

But that's my dream: RoboCop from the first movie, RoboCop from the end of the first movie, all torn up, exposed Murphy face and Cobra cannon, and an ED-209 that you could pop off the left gun and switch it for a blown up stub, as well as the ability to remove the legs for the "blown up legs walking around" final scene.

For RoboCop 2, they seem to have nailed it with the blue hued Mafex...but he's worthless to me without a RoboCain to fight. I don't even need hyper articulation on all his swivels and pistons...just a nice sold sculpt with minimal articulation that's IN SCALE would be a dream come true. Probably still cost $300.

And Robo 3 we're getting the gun arm/flight pack version which I'm skipping 100% unless they made a cool ass Otomo cyborg to fight, but I doubt they will cause he's so obscure.

If I could only have ONE? Battle damaged Murphy face. Hot Toys was a Sistine Chapel worthy piece of art but just too expensive, and I like 1/12 not 1/6. Probably should have bit the bullet and got one though cause it was likely my only chance.

So there's my ultimate RoboCop dream list. A pipe dream I know. So instead of moping about what I'll never get, I'm gonna go enjoy the MAFEX some more!!

 

[retrohead]

Just bought the Mafex online. Checked out the Otomo and Miller threads, we have a lot in common like-wise. Also really love Frank Miller, particularly Ronin and Sin City. Sounds as if you have an impressive Otomo collection. Going to have to pick up some kind of street backdrop or diorama to display Officer Murphy with.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Mafex did a great job. The paint looks so good. I was worried about the shoulders, but it's just bad posing. Can't wait to get it.

 

[Otomofan]

I don't wanna keep overselling it, but I think I love this figure.

 

[retrohead]

Looking forward to mine! Hopefully it won't take too long to arrive.

 

[Otomofan]

Like the Figma, it's definitely got a greater range of motion than Weller probably had in the suit.

I put him in this "firing behind him" pose and thought it looked cool.

 

[retrohead]

Nice pose. The ED-209 compliments him nicely as well.

 

[retrohead]

I just got a card from Royal Mail telling me there's a customs charge for Murphy It's £19.80!!! One of the highest charges I've ever had. I'm dreading what's going to happen here in the UK after Brexit with importing stuff......we'll probably end up paying for stuff from Europe as well. Well I suppose I better go pay my figure's bail money.

 

[Otomofan]

I feel so responsible for hyping this figure up I'm gonna feel awful if you don't like it....I'm anxiously awaiting your impressions!

 

[retrohead]

Nah don't worry man. Based on the videos and photos I've seen I'm certain I'm going to like it. Initially some photos I saw didn't do the mouth sculpt justice but I've since seen a lot (even after I saw yours) that make it look really good and very much like Weller himself. Helps that the "in hand" photo of the one I got from Ebay made it look surprisingly accurate. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Edit: It's arriving on Tuesday.

 

[Pocobor]

https://instagram.com/p/Bp-OevfFkGI/
I have some pretty good pics here on my Instagram for anyone on the fence about getting one. I only collect RoboCop stuff and I completely approve this figure
The only negative that stands out to me is a slight warping of the left leg mold. It seems to angle out a little from the knee down and that’s on every example I’ve seen of the figure. Other than that it’s great. I’m constantly reposing mine.

 

[Otomofan]

Great pics! Really shows off that wonderful sheen in the chest armor.

Also, one thing I didn't notice the first time I used the holster is that there are indeed very small indentations that match up with the Auto 9, so you really do get a perfect fit. This is definitely my new favorite Robo figure that I own and for sure in my top ten of 2018.

Only downside of a figure this nice is how bad it makes me want a battle-damaged Murphy version. The Hot Toys was never an option for me...just too big an expensive. But can you imagine how awesome MAFEX would nail it? Sigh.

Well, my only tiny shred of hope is that Peter Weller is attending the Tokyo Comic Con next week....I'm praying that some Medicom employees take the chance to wine and dine him while he's in town and show them what they're capable of. Obviously Hot Toys shelled out the cash...Medicom shelled out the cash to Kubrick's estate, so maybe, just maybe, they can do it again for Murphy?

I know...I'm just dreaming.

 

[retrohead]

Hey you never know. We've got some seriously unusual liscences over the last few years (as you pointed out the Mafex Kubrick ones were a bit unexpected to say the least). Sadly I've yet to join the Robocop party because my figure was delivered when I wasn't in today so I have to go to the sorting office to pick him up tomorrow morning.

 

[Otomofan]

Well the nice thing about this release is that all the instructions are in English. They tell you what order to pull/push things in, so that's gonna minimize breakages. Unless people ignore the instructions. Like I said in my last post, one thing I was pleased to discover is that the holster is molded to fit the gun...but the indentations and grooves are so small it's easy to miss. But one you see they're there, you get perfect gun placement every time.

Still a little bummed that NECA ED is just a fraction too big. Robo's head comes up to about the middle of the "grill" when it should really clear the top. But oh well...the scale is realllly close and only super an al nerds like us are gonna obsess. To the layman, they'll look great together.

 

[retrohead]

Received mine today......FINALLY! Went to the sorting office to pick him up before work. I go there that often to pick stuff up that gets delivered when I'm out that the woman who works there knows me by name! Just got in the house about 20 mins ago and took my first look at him. When I first laid eyes on him I almost howled in anguish because I thought there was a white paint splodge on the black of his chin. Turns out it's just on the plastic clamshell. Phew!
Edit: Though there's not a white mark on him like i thought there is another paint mark but its very minor.

First impressions of the overall figure are really good. The body is excellent and I really like the paint job and the little blue bits they added to the silver chrome colour. The little details like the inclusion of the "OCP Police 001" model number plate on the leg is a nice touch. Now I haven't unboxed him yet so my feelings on this may change however I'm not sure about the colouring on the lips on the already attached "default" head. They don't look a very natural colour to me. However I guess they could all be painted by hand and so each one might differ a little.

Can't comment on the other face sculpt since it's not attached yet and is bound to look weird on its own however what I'm most impressed with is the sculpt on the "talking" head. It looks very natural and I imagine it's very difficult to achieve that kind of "in motion" look on a mouth. The damaged parts look excellent as well.

All in all he seems pretty cool and worth the money (customs charges be damned!) and hopefully the attached face sculpt will look a bit better once he's been released from his plastic prison. I'll be doing that shortly just need to eat something first.