The Simpsons World of Springfield: Dolph action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Dolph
Property: The Simpsons
Series: World of Springfield, series 7
Keywords: The Simpsons; World of Springfield; Dolph; bully; juvenile delinquent; 80s hair
Company: Playmates Toys
Release year: 2001

Series Overview:
The Simpsons: World of Springfield is the second major attempt to create a Simpsons action figure line. Running through 16 different series of figures and with many playsets, exclusives, and bonuses, it is one of the most extensive toy lines in action figure history. A major feature running throughout the line is "Intelli-tronic Voice Activation" whereby figures activate certain spoken phrases when placed atop compatible playsets. Although the line has been praised by critics and embraced by collectors, the increasing obscurity of some figure subjects and reliance on somewhat uninspired playsets has slowed consumer demand, with many pieces being deeply discounted and the line eventually being cancelled in 2004.

Character Overview:
Dolph is one of the three-member team of Dolph, Jimbo, and Kearney, juvenile delinquents and low-level bullies who terrorize Springfield Elementary. Their role has never been as important as Nelson Muntz, and their characters are much less developed. Of the three, Dolph is the lest developed of all, and he hasn't yet played a major role in an episode or had anything particularly important revealed about him (unlike Kearney, for example, who is divorced and has a son). He does, however, have one of Springfield's best hairstyles.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
Dolph's sculpt is okay, but has no particularly distinguishing features to point out as either good or bad. His face does seem a bit wider and uglier than it is in the cartoon, though. His shirt colour is very accurate, but his hair is just a tiny bit more red than in the show.

Articulation: 6
Almost all of The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures articulate at just four points: neck, both shoulders, and waist. Poor Dolph.

Like (nearly) all The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures, Dolph can say a few phrases when placed on a compatible playset. In Dolph's case, there are three of them: Noiseland Arcade, Krusty Burger, and Springfield Elementary Cafetaria. I confess that this feature has never really impressed me, but some collectors seem to like it.

Accessories: 7
Dolph comes with four small accessories. The best among them is a Squishee cup, complete with neon-green straw and Squishee sticker. This is the same exact Squishee that comes with Milhouse though... you'd think they'd at least mould it using a different plastic colour. Dolph also gets a crumpled Radioactive Man comic, a yo-yo, and a water balloon... at least, I really hope that's a water balloon. One strange thing is that you don't get Dolph's Apple Newton device ("Eat Up Martha")... they did make an accessory of that, but it comes with Kearney! Baffling!

Packaging: Average
The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures are packaged in standard bubble on cardboard action figure packaging, and annoyingly tied in with wire. There's not much to complain about with the packaging, but nothing to really praise, either.

Overall score: 7
Neither a great figure nor a particularly bad one, Dolph is only really recommended if you're working on a Dolph, Jimbo, Kearney set. Otherwise, save that stolen lunch money for someone more essential.

Availability:
At this point it is unlikely that Dolph can still be found in stores. Try eBay.

Trivia
Fans of dumb factiods, rejoice! On the insert card in Dolph's packaging bubble is a picture of him "talking" at the Noiseland Arcade playset. The speech bubble says "We've created a diversion", but if you peel off a little correction sticker, it actually says "We're created a diversion!" D'oh!