Red Sonja PF!!

[epitaph04]

XM and Sonja.

 

[CallMeTheDoctor]

First I need to see if I can win the lotto tomorrow...

Sonja is looking great the more I look at her. I just am ashamed as I barely know her story.

 

[SAB]

Sonja is looking great the more I look at her. I just am ashamed as I barely know her story.

Not like there is any classic Sonja novels you haven't live till you've read.
Or movies....or comics actually now that I think about it lulz
Red Sonja is really just a 70s supporting character for Conan that has hung around because a woman in a chain mail bikini is awesome.
Just grab the latest Dynamite comics collected editions from the relaunch of a few years ago and you'll have everything you need.

 

[epitaph04]

I read the new ones and they're pretty cool try those.

 

[garygerani]

By their very nature, museum pieces - whether they be statues, busts or portraits - call for inherent dignity, a sense of power and self-importance, and a kind of transcendent visionary look in what must be a relatively neutral facial expression. Indeed, it should come across like the famous person stopped and posed for a picture, presenting himself in a mythic, more-than-mere-mortal way. Think of the museum pieces SS has given us on Batman and Superman (PFs), or the Hall of Fame-style life-size DC busts. Look at those expressions and the stances. Strength. Immortality. Dignity. Now look at the plastic action figures you had as a kid, designed for small-fry priorities, or even non-museum pieces made today with brilliant sculpting: wild action poses matched by psychotic expressions. It's a different message, Mose Harper, a less sophisticated sensation you're seeking than the one a legitimate museum piece simply must provide in order to actually be a museum piece. You've blurred the distinctions, using (if you'll forgive me) a bogus charge of excessive sexism to bolster what amounts to an absurd argument. In any legitimate incarnation, Red Sonja will have sexy curves, just as Superman will have attractive muscles. It's known as being on-model. More to the point, you're mistaking the museum-perfect stance and expression of this Sonja statue for the vapidity of a mindless fashion model, while your chosen route ("Watch out, boys, I'm an ass-kicker!") happens to be on the sophistication level of child-oriented toys and comics. The one-dimensional warrior babe is at your throat, and that's that. But who is this particular woman warrior, this Red Sonja, that she's earned a special place as an actual museum piece? She is staring upward, at the heavens... perhaps at the Goddess she serves and obeys, the one that has given her super-strength to defeat powerful enemies and hold their severed heads up high. And therein lies the difference between what you want and what Sideshow is thankfully giving us: Like all “grown-up” statues designed for a museum, this piece captures the fascinating conflict within the character by giving her a supposedly neutral expression that actually speaks volumes (paging Mona Lisa!). Sonja is spiritual, on a higher plane, in touch with something of incredible grace… yet she must slaughter enemies on a regular basis. That pain, that dichotomy, is conveyed in her expression. Fate’s been exceptionally unkind to this woman (her ‘career’ begins with her rape), yet she accepts it with courage, dignity and the magic of hope that even years of bloodshed cannot completely override. Fascinating implications for sophisticated adult thinkers, and SS caught it all. They fashioned a genuine museum piece that provides this character’s prerequisite sexiness and fierceness, but upgraded it with the very human, very compelling soul of Red Sonja as part of the equation. With a pedestal all set and waiting, September can’t come soon enough.

 

[Snadinator]

Cool story brah

 

[Gasdoc]

Second XM and Sonja. Wait for the XM or SS phoenix


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[CallMeTheDoctor]

Second XM and Sonja. Wait for the XM or SS phoenix


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Yeah I really like the XM, but for me it just looks too anime-ish. Don't get me wrong, I love the variety in head sculpts, the multiple hands, and the ability to display one as a bust is ****ing awesome! But yeah, too anime looking.

The reason I like Black Widow is her material and a bit on the face. From some angle she has googly eyes, so that's a turn off, but would look sexy with Black Cat and Catwoman within each other.


Hoping Phoenix has more of a 2016 release frame, cause I really want her, and Ms. Marvel, plus and it gives plenty to pull up funds.

I'm slowly being pulled away from Sideshow as I can see some of my favorite and wanted characters not being done, so if I pull on Jean, she'd look so outlandish without some of the other ones I want. So Jean is in purgatory for me ATM.

Red Sonja looks stunning, I love the face sculpt of it, yeah I get how she is over-sexualized and posed in an unrealistic way, but she looks great. My thing is I don't have room for her, so I would hate to have her locked away until space pulls up.

So really I'd like all 4, but just thinking how to go about it. I had ideas for getting ARH stuff, but nah I think I'll pass on the brand. No need to start on something new that may take more space and funds.

 

[Collectorcol]

Cool story brah

Bet you didn't read it all

 

[wolf-brother]

This comment is not directed at anyone collector in mind but if you have Besta's (1) the shelves are adjustable (2) you can always place the Larger Pieces on top unless you have height restrictions, that said, I do see that some prefer that the shelves are uniform and line up with one another, I am a Freak like that myself but sometime change is good and you may come to enjoy the look, again this comment is not to single anyone out, so do not feel like I singled you out, it's just an Observation.

Be Cool
Al

The problem for me is the Tombo doors. If you adjust the shelves you have the door line running across your statue.
Problem solved if Ikea would make a single door for Besta/Stuva.

 

[Collectorcol]

The problem for me is the Tombo doors. If you adjust the shelves you have the door line running across your statue.
Problem solved if Ikea would make a single door for Besta/Stuva.

In B4 Bmutha and his mod.

 

[Colossus]

The problem for me is the Tombo doors. If you adjust the shelves you have the door line running across your statue.
Problem solved if Ikea would make a single door for Besta/Stuva.

In my defense I never calculated the doors into my comment but I do see how that can be aesthetically unpleasing and yes I do agree my Friend they do need to do that.

Be Cool Wolf
Al

 

[Colossus]

When does the PF of this blonde chick come out? Is that a variant?

She's already out my Friend, just have to find her and Pin Her Down

Be Cool Bmutha
Al

 

[Colossus]

I'm broke as **** but I'm telling you....I will sell my collection to keep this PO. If it has wonky eyes there will be hell to pay, you tattooed hippies.

you forgot "Dirty" Tattooed Hippies my Friend

Be Cool MacReady
Al

 

[Khev]

Here are my "issues" with the PF.
The cover is useful to reference because not only are they telling the exact same story (the "story" simply being Sonja brandishing an enemy's head severed in battle),
but because in each instance I've highlighted, the cover artist makes a choice based on a more studied understanding of the human body and more specifically how the body's attitude and inclination illustrates narrative intent.

I will spoiler this so as not to bug the people that just want to enjoy their $400 statue comfortably secure in the knowledge that Sideshow has produced another detail laden Masterpiece.

Spoiler

View attachment 118194

• STANCE- Sonjas stance on the cover is straight legged and spread out. This visually creates clean, hard angles. The out stretched legs extend beyond her core implying that she is dominate/dominating the area she is on
contrast this with the stance on the PF, which is all curvy and closed in. This is not the pose of a warrior after battle, this is the kind of seductive pose you see models use in lingerie ads. it creates a long supple unbroken curvy line from head to foot. Curves give off feminine energy. Angles/broken lines imply masculine energy. This is an absolutely basic principle of visual arts. Therefore when I see SS push that on a piece like this I can only conclude that either the designer doesn't understand the basic language of visual arts, or that he knows the potential purchasers of this are sexually frustrated rubes who will respond more strongly to an overtly sexy - and more submissive- pose, and may be put off (and therefore not purchase) by a more dominant representation where the character is basically challenging the viewer.

Call me foolish, but if a warrior with a bloody sword is standing there holding a severed head, it strikes me as an intentionally provocative gesture.

but even if the stance were changed we move up to the head and shoulders where more problems show up

• EXPRESSION- probably the main focal point for any representation of a human figure, is the face. It usually the first things we as humans are drawn to. Sometimes you can screw up everything else, but still sell the drama and intent of the scene if you provide a portrait that conveys the proper emotion vividly.
The cover artist did. No mistaking what the character here is feeling or her intent in hoisting that severed head above her.
What's the emotion playing on the SS portrait? All I see is another blank, zombie expression with a thousand yard stare (which is par for the course with SS). It doesn't relate to her action at all and expresses nothing.
Again the intention here is to provide sexy and pretty over something more challenging and possibly off putting (an angry female face) that won't get horny frustrated statue collectors to lay their money down. It's the absolute definition of "safe" in every sense.

there's also another problem in this area that is mechanical rather than expressive

• ANATOMICAL ACTION- look at the face on the cover and how it butts up against the shoulder. The chin is basically resting on the clavicle- as it should be if you are lifting something of some weight above you in a spontaneous, dramatic fashion.
Compare this to the PF which looks like an action figure in this area. You know the big weakness of posing action figures? the arms move independently of the rest of the body. If you raise the arms above the head on an action figure the shoulder and neck remains stiff and unnaturally rigid. On a real human there is a degree of squash and stretch going on. the head and neck seem to compress a bit closer into the top of the trunk. Try it yourself- sit up straight backed and without moving your neck and head at all, lift your arm straight up. You can do it- but to imitate the attitude shown in the PF, it's just a bit unnatural and represents an attitude that is being consciously struck (i.e posed)- not one that arises out of natural, unselfconscious exertion (as it does on the cover). The cover illustrates Sonja acting "in the moment". The PF represents Sonja in a studio being handed a severed head and being told to pose with it.

which beings us to another problem with the severed head

• ATTITUDE OF THE ARM AND HAND- the cover shows Sonja holding the head in her fist (that is horizontally inclined) and has her arm bowed away from her body. Not only is this a natural way to grab something and hold it up, but by moving it away from her body, even slightly, implies distaste for the object. Again, compare to the PF (not shown) she is awkwardly holding it up with a vertical fist (which they try to rationalize by having her hold it by a swinging braid, but it still looks awkward) and she is holding it straight up overhead, closer to her body.
The only reason this is like this is so that you- dear statue collector- can oh and ah over a big switch out piece. This switchout works for the axe, but makes little to no sense for a severed head (which, when it stops swinging, will be right in her face and dripping all over her).
I don't care that the severed head looks cool in and of itself (I agree, it does) not being able to properly relate it to the act of holding it for the sole reason that it needs to be like this for a switchout, just screams AMATEURISH to me. If this was intended to be the primary display, then everything should have worked to support this, not the other way around. Different props make different demands upon the body. If you are illustrating someone trying to hold a 35 lb weight in his left hand, he simply won't be posed overall in the same way as if he were holding a wadded up paper ball the same size in the same hand. The exertion in the one case is going to spread beyond the hand and affect the rest of the body sometimes in subtle ways.

Great diagnosis and I agree but at the same time I think if you get too caught up in the "realities" of the character (what is she thinking, how is she standing) you've got to remember that she's basically a sexy chick in a chainmail bikini. Yes the cover seems to get a lot of "in the moment" things right but even the cover begs the question, "why is she wearing a super-hot bikini into battle?" Her actual battle gear is Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue attire and it appears that SSC just ran with that theme. In the comics she seems to dress as a pin-up girl but be all business on the battlefield where SSC decided "she's dressed like a pin-up girl, we'll pose her like a pin-up girl."

You say that purchasers of this statue are most likely "sexually frustrated rubes." But let's be real here. If you walked into any classroom or work office and tossed that comic issue down onto the table next to your books or lunch what are people going to think? "Ooh there's a cultured and well-balanced individual who understands art and anatomy." No. They're going to think you're the same sexually frustrated rube as any statue collector. When you point out the differences between the artwork and statue you make a lot of good points. But any "eye rolling" concept or design choices began with her character long before SSC ever produced her in polystone.

If they took Eowyn and made a statue of her wearing a bikini and holding the Witch King's head I'd say "what the hell!?" But Red Sonja looking like a lingerie model? Yeah, sounds about right.

 

[creature4000]

Great now I don't know if I'll keep her... All these arguments are making me think twice.

 

[Collectorcol]

Great now I don't know if I'll keep her... All these arguments are making me think twice.

Not sure if serious...

 

[Colossus]

Great now I don't know if I'll keep her... All these arguments are making me think twice.

You know it's an Evil Plan by those who want it, can't afford it, can't stand that you maybe getting it and if they can't have it they do not want you to have it, so they will bring up all these theories, conjectures and out right if I don't like then you shouldn't, just sayin it happens all the time, everyday, every-time a new piece comes out but if you like it get it and that goes for any piece, the last time I checked I earned the money not them and in ending everyone is entitled to there opinion just don't let them make your decisions for you.

For me I have been doing this for some time and been around a lot longer, it just becomes old

Be Cool my Friend
Al

 

[Transient]

I feel like a lot of the arguments are objectifying her to some extent based solely on what she is wearing and how she is posed. When you put Sonja in Conan's universe, or even next to him like in this image, her outfit makes sense. Either her and Conan's attire is fitting for a sword-and-sorcery/fantasy barbarian, or they both are not, and both have been sexist for the last half century or more.

My only nitpick on the PF is the underboob. Other than that I think it is a fine representation/depiction of Sonja after being victorious in combat.

Also interesting is how well her facial expression in the PF seems to match up with the cover pictured above. That was the cover of the first issue of Gail Simone's Red Sonja reboot that was released around the same time that the PF was teased at Comic Con last year. Perhaps the PF is a mashup of the many covers of her carrying a decapitated head, or a re-imagining of them, and not a purposefully hyper-sexualized, out-of-character male sex fantasy re-do of one specifically.

Anyway, if you've read the comics and like her character, keep her. If the depiction of her in the PF bothers you, or you think people will come into your house/collection area and judge you for having it, and you'd actually put stock into what they think of you, then it might be worth canceling, I guess.

Personally, Red Sonja is one of the more fun reads I've checked out in the last year or so. The book doesn't take itself so seriously, and always leaves me with a smile on my face from the humor that is so well integrated into a lot of the stories Simone tells. Definitely check out 'Queen of the Plagues', which is the TPB of the first 6 issues if you are new to the character or haven't read the new series. It blows all the previous Sonja stuff wholly out of the water, and portrays her in a much more positive way, IMO. Gone is the rape / can't sleep with a man until she has been defeated in combat origin story. She is totally comfortable with and not defined by her sexuality now. She basically does what she wants, doesn't take crap from anyone, and kicks ass while doing it. She isn't relegated to the sidekick, girlfriend, or love interest role, and doesn't need anyone else to ultimately save the day.

I guess thats why I'm happy to be adding the PF to my collection. Because I like the character.

 

[hero4real]

You know it's an Evil Plan by those who want it, can't afford it, can't stand that you maybe getting it and if they can't have it they do not want you to have it, so they will bring up all these theories, conjectures and out right if I don't like then you shouldn't, just sayin it happens all the time, everyday, every-time a new piece comes out but if you like it get it and that goes for any piece, the last time I checked I earned the money not them and in ending everyone is entitled to there opinion just don't let them make your decisions for you.

For me I have been doing this for some time and been around a lot longer, it just becomes old

Be Cool my Friend
Al

The statue is not true to the character, ergo, semi-trash statue, ergo, semi-waste of money. Don't get me wrong, if I could poop gold I would buy it. We that are in limbo should not buy it.