Harry Potter: Web of Aragog review by Andrew Lenahan
Figure: Web of Aragog
Property: Harry Potter
Series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Keywords: Harry Potter, Chamber of Secrets, Aragog, spider, web, creepy as heck
Company: Mattel
Release year: 2003
Series Overview:
Each of the Harry Potter movies from Warner Brothers has been accompanied by a range of toys, including action figures of various sizes. Although these have had some success with kids and Harry Potter fans, they haven't caught on particularly well with toy collectors in general.
Character Overview:
Aragog is a giant spider who was raised by Hagrid during his time as a Hogwarts student, which caused Hargid to be expelled. Arachniphobes will surely recall his scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, set in the forbidden forest at night, in which Aragog and his many offspring attack Harry and Ron Weasley until they reach an uneasy truce as mutual friends of Hagrid. Apparently, Aragog has a wife named Mosag.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
There isn't a whole lot to be expected from an action figure of a gint spider. Does it look like a spider? Yes indeed. Is it creepy? But of course. It's textured and painted to give it a somewhat hairy look, which is quite effective. It certainly doesn't have the artistry or extreme creepiness of Todd McFarlane's "Twisted Fairy Tales" Little Miss Muffet spider, but it should still give any arachiphobe the willies nonetheless.
Articulation: 4
Uh-oh. Spiders, of course, are extremely articulated creatures, with many delicate joints allowing for quick and graceful (though creepy) movement. Why, then, did they make a spider figure with only two points of articulation? I have no idea, but this blunder is easily the worst part of the Aragog figure and highly annoying to boot. At least those two points are where it counts: the figure has a cool action feature where it can grab onto a figure with its legs (activated by a button on its... uh, butt). It works well, and the mechanism is very quick... you can even surprise people who haven't seen the figure by grabbing their hand (warning: heart attacks and soiled undergarments may ensue).
Accessories: 9
Web of Aragog comes with its web. Well, what else can one expect from a toy called Web of Aragog? A rocket launcher? The web is quite large and made of strectchy rubber (but not sticky) and fits over a plastic frame made to look like gnarled tree trunks. The whole thing covers about a square foot when assembled, and is very impressive.
Packaging: Annoying
Web of Aragog is packaged in an unwindowed cardboard box. However, all the parts inside are tied down with wire, which is then taped at the back. You can't see inside the box without opening it up, so the point of all the security measures is a mystery.
Overall score: 8
Believe it or not, this is actually the second Aragog figure available. The other is sold without the web, and is a different sculpt and colour. There's also a Lego version too. Overall, whether Aragog is a good toy depends on how you categorize it: as an action figure, it's quite good, with a menacing sculpt and an awesome accessory base. As a playset, however, it's a bit lacking (the box does say it's a playset, and I'm sure it cost more than the basic figures). It's worth noting that there's nothing particularly Potterish about this figure or its base, so it has far more utility than just playing Aragog. It could do in a pinch as a Shelob figure, or use it in a minatures RPG to make your inch-high lead figures soil their lead boxer shorts +1 in fright. You could even drag it out in October for a Halloween decoration.
Availability:
Web of Aragog is listed on Amazon but may not be currently available. It can also be found on eBay.
Property: Harry Potter
Series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Keywords: Harry Potter, Chamber of Secrets, Aragog, spider, web, creepy as heck
Company: Mattel
Release year: 2003
Series Overview:
Each of the Harry Potter movies from Warner Brothers has been accompanied by a range of toys, including action figures of various sizes. Although these have had some success with kids and Harry Potter fans, they haven't caught on particularly well with toy collectors in general.
Character Overview:
Aragog is a giant spider who was raised by Hagrid during his time as a Hogwarts student, which caused Hargid to be expelled. Arachniphobes will surely recall his scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, set in the forbidden forest at night, in which Aragog and his many offspring attack Harry and Ron Weasley until they reach an uneasy truce as mutual friends of Hagrid. Apparently, Aragog has a wife named Mosag.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
There isn't a whole lot to be expected from an action figure of a gint spider. Does it look like a spider? Yes indeed. Is it creepy? But of course. It's textured and painted to give it a somewhat hairy look, which is quite effective. It certainly doesn't have the artistry or extreme creepiness of Todd McFarlane's "Twisted Fairy Tales" Little Miss Muffet spider, but it should still give any arachiphobe the willies nonetheless.
Articulation: 4
Uh-oh. Spiders, of course, are extremely articulated creatures, with many delicate joints allowing for quick and graceful (though creepy) movement. Why, then, did they make a spider figure with only two points of articulation? I have no idea, but this blunder is easily the worst part of the Aragog figure and highly annoying to boot. At least those two points are where it counts: the figure has a cool action feature where it can grab onto a figure with its legs (activated by a button on its... uh, butt). It works well, and the mechanism is very quick... you can even surprise people who haven't seen the figure by grabbing their hand (warning: heart attacks and soiled undergarments may ensue).
Accessories: 9
Web of Aragog comes with its web. Well, what else can one expect from a toy called Web of Aragog? A rocket launcher? The web is quite large and made of strectchy rubber (but not sticky) and fits over a plastic frame made to look like gnarled tree trunks. The whole thing covers about a square foot when assembled, and is very impressive.
Packaging: Annoying
Web of Aragog is packaged in an unwindowed cardboard box. However, all the parts inside are tied down with wire, which is then taped at the back. You can't see inside the box without opening it up, so the point of all the security measures is a mystery.
Overall score: 8
Believe it or not, this is actually the second Aragog figure available. The other is sold without the web, and is a different sculpt and colour. There's also a Lego version too. Overall, whether Aragog is a good toy depends on how you categorize it: as an action figure, it's quite good, with a menacing sculpt and an awesome accessory base. As a playset, however, it's a bit lacking (the box does say it's a playset, and I'm sure it cost more than the basic figures). It's worth noting that there's nothing particularly Potterish about this figure or its base, so it has far more utility than just playing Aragog. It could do in a pinch as a Shelob figure, or use it in a minatures RPG to make your inch-high lead figures soil their lead boxer shorts +1 in fright. You could even drag it out in October for a Halloween decoration.
Availability:
Web of Aragog is listed on Amazon but may not be currently available. It can also be found on eBay.
posted by Andrew Lenahan at 8:54 AM
1 Comments:
I will have to play with this one before making any concrete judgements...although it doesn't sound as bad as it looked on the box. It just wasn't the sort of thing that drew me in and maybe the packaging and presentation was why it failed in the store. As much as I love Harry Potter...the toy line...except for the Legos...really bites. :(
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