Star Trek Minimates Wave 2 - Battle Damaged Kirk and Gorn
Diamond Select Toys return to the Star Trek well for more Minimates, now shrunk to 2" and packed 2 figures to a set instead of their original 3" wave. Wave 1 was a big hit and now wave 2 looks to fill out the bridge crew. However in this set we have an episode-specific pairing of battle damaged Captain Kirk facing the Gorn, from the episode "Arena".
Packaging
Very similar to the Wave 1 blister pack, but the card background is now blue. Both figures are clearly visible, though some of the accessories are obscured by the inner card.
The card back again mirrors wave one with photos of the entire wave of figures breaking out of their hexagonal frames. The usual logos and legal indicia are present.
The Figures
Battle Damaged Kirk
Battle Damaged versions of main characters have been present in Minimates for a very long time, with multiple examples in the Marvel and DC ranges. Kirk was a very physical captain and so it makes sense for him to get a battle damaged variant, especially in this 2-pack pairing.
A very different expression to wave one Kirk, this Kirk looks as though he's mad as hell and ain't gonna take it no more. Some well applied bruising to the face and an angry set to the eyes help with the impression of a beaten up, but not beaten yet Captain Kirk.
Detailing to the front of the body is done well, there's lots of scuffing on the shirt and a particularly large rip on the upper right of the chest which continues over the right arm. Sadly the black line that illustrates the torn costume is only on the outside of the figures arm, there's also no battle damage to the sides or back of the figure. This kind of omission lets the figure down. Like other mates in this wave, and unlike the first wave, this ‘mate is cast in yellow plastic (for the shirt) rather than the white plastic that was painted over in wave one. We can only assume that different waves are being assembled in different factories. Personally I really like the white based ‘mates we’ve had so far. The paint apps seem so much sharper on them.
Kirk is accessorised with a Phaser Rifle and a Universal Translator. A quick note on build quality - The ‘mate itself is well put together. There are no loose or overtight joints. Everything works as it should. Hopefully the days of nightmare ‘mates with parts breaking off are long behind us.
In conclusion, a good figure and a great representation of a beaten up Kirk, but let down by lack of detailing.
MMC Score - 7 out of 10
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Gorn
Second time around for this character, as he was also part of the short lived 3" Trek line. As mentioned, it makes sense for him to be paired with Battle Damaged Kirk as both appeared in the classic episode Arena.
Firstly, this figure is going to be one which divides fandom. The reason being it has a sculpted head. Some fans just don't like to see that, feeling that it detracts from the simplicity of a Minimate. Personally I have no problem with this as long as the figure warrants the extra detailing awarded to it. In my opinion the Gorn deserves this treatment. The bigger than usual head gives it more mass and the crest really is the icing on the cake. The face is much better than on the original 3" Gorn. The mouth looks nastier and the eyes have a ruthless intelligence behind them that the 3 incher just didn't possess.
Underneath that tunic the Gorn is a plain green minimate body. There's no body detailing at all other than the claws on the feet and the one-off hands he's been given. The hands, I have a problem with the hands. Admittedly they do look good, but the Gorn is accessorised with what I think is a pointy stick and also a universal translator. I got the pointy stick in his hand just once, the universal translator not at all. Frankly that's a bit rubbish! Gorn could have easily been given Venom-style clawed hands that would have been just as effective at conveying the inhumanity of this enemy while still being able to hold Minimate accessories.
In Conclusion, an excellent looking Minimate let down slightly by the one-off hands.
MMC Score - 8 out of 10
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Review and pictures by Rad Kerrigan
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