The Simpsons World of Springfield: Gil action figure review by Andrew Lenahan
Figure: Gil
Property: The Simpsons
Series: World of Springfield, series 11
Keywords: The Simpsons; World of Springfield; Gil; salesman; Jack Lemmon; Shelley Levene; Willy Loman; Death of a Salesman
Company: Playmates Toys
Release year: 2002
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:
Based strongly on Jack Lemmon's character Shelley Levene from Glengarry Glen Ross, with a hint of Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman, Gil is a luckless and nervous salesman who is never able to hold down a job for long. Though his role in most episodes is very minor, his scenes tend to be very memorable, such as the time he tried to sell hopelessly-outdated Coleco computers to Springfield Elementary School.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7.5
This Gil seems to based on the time he worked for Red Blazer Realty, a real-estate sales outfit where Marge was briefly employed in one episode. His shoulders seem a little too broad and square... in fact, they remind me of Playmates' old Dick Tracy figure line. On the other hand, his pained expression is perfect. Action figures tend to be either angry or stoic, and a worried-looking figure is a rare thing indeed, but it works wonderfully here.
Articulation: 6
Almost all of The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures articulate at just four points: neck, both shoulders, and waist. Gil is no exception.
Like (almost all) The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures, Gil can say a few phrases when placed on a compatible playset. In Gil's case, there are two of them: the Court Room and Herman's Military Antiques. I confess that this feature has never really impressed me, but some collectors seem to like it.
Accessories: 9
If you were to make a list of the things you thought you'd never, ever see as action-figure accessories, what would be on it? An old Coleco computer? Gil has one. How about Pepto-Bismol? That's covered too. How about a shoe sizer? Yeah, we've got it.
The Coleco (here called Doleco, no doubt for trademark reasons) is the biggest and most impressive accessory, with a stickered screen with the C-A-T spelling program as seen on the show, and another sticker on the back with the Coleco's specs in teeny-tiny-but-readable type. It even has a serial number!
The shoe sizer, or Brannock Device (here called a Branrock Device, trademark again) looks just like it should, with a sticker providing all the tiny details--every single line has a number! It even sort of works, though it's scaled just a tiny bit too small for the figures. The Pepto Bismol ("Promo Seltzer", trademark yet again) is a tiny stickered bottle. There's also a large stack of poker chips: nothing too special, but I like the fact that they applied paint ops so they aren't all the same colour. Finally, the last and least accessory is what looks like a dirty sock attached to some salad tongs. Whatever floats your boat, Gil.
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: 8
I really liked Gil, both as a character and a figure, and it's impressive that such a minor player on The Simpsons can be made into a great toy. What's missing is any real play value... it's hard to imagine kids playing with this. But as a collector's piece for display, it's perfect.
Availability:
At this point it is unlikely that Gil can still be found in stores. Try eBay.
Property: The Simpsons
Series: World of Springfield, series 11
Keywords: The Simpsons; World of Springfield; Gil; salesman; Jack Lemmon; Shelley Levene; Willy Loman; Death of a Salesman
Company: Playmates Toys
Release year: 2002
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:
Based strongly on Jack Lemmon's character Shelley Levene from Glengarry Glen Ross, with a hint of Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman, Gil is a luckless and nervous salesman who is never able to hold down a job for long. Though his role in most episodes is very minor, his scenes tend to be very memorable, such as the time he tried to sell hopelessly-outdated Coleco computers to Springfield Elementary School.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7.5
This Gil seems to based on the time he worked for Red Blazer Realty, a real-estate sales outfit where Marge was briefly employed in one episode. His shoulders seem a little too broad and square... in fact, they remind me of Playmates' old Dick Tracy figure line. On the other hand, his pained expression is perfect. Action figures tend to be either angry or stoic, and a worried-looking figure is a rare thing indeed, but it works wonderfully here.
Articulation: 6
Almost all of The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures articulate at just four points: neck, both shoulders, and waist. Gil is no exception.
Like (almost all) The Simpsons: World of Springfield figures, Gil can say a few phrases when placed on a compatible playset. In Gil's case, there are two of them: the Court Room and Herman's Military Antiques. I confess that this feature has never really impressed me, but some collectors seem to like it.
Accessories: 9
If you were to make a list of the things you thought you'd never, ever see as action-figure accessories, what would be on it? An old Coleco computer? Gil has one. How about Pepto-Bismol? That's covered too. How about a shoe sizer? Yeah, we've got it.
The Coleco (here called Doleco, no doubt for trademark reasons) is the biggest and most impressive accessory, with a stickered screen with the C-A-T spelling program as seen on the show, and another sticker on the back with the Coleco's specs in teeny-tiny-but-readable type. It even has a serial number!
The shoe sizer, or Brannock Device (here called a Branrock Device, trademark again) looks just like it should, with a sticker providing all the tiny details--every single line has a number! It even sort of works, though it's scaled just a tiny bit too small for the figures. The Pepto Bismol ("Promo Seltzer", trademark yet again) is a tiny stickered bottle. There's also a large stack of poker chips: nothing too special, but I like the fact that they applied paint ops so they aren't all the same colour. Finally, the last and least accessory is what looks like a dirty sock attached to some salad tongs. Whatever floats your boat, Gil.
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: 8
I really liked Gil, both as a character and a figure, and it's impressive that such a minor player on The Simpsons can be made into a great toy. What's missing is any real play value... it's hard to imagine kids playing with this. But as a collector's piece for display, it's perfect.
Availability:
At this point it is unlikely that Gil can still be found in stores. Try eBay.
posted by Andrew Lenahan at 9:03 AM
1 Comments:
Oh I know!!!! Lets put him in Aragog's web and see what he says there...oh...wait...aragog isn't a Simpson's playset. *sigh* Well we could make a little recording of what we think Gil might say in Aragog's web and stick him in there and play the recording....the possibilities are limitless!!!!! We could hold auditions for all the Simpsons figures to see who would be best suited for a Simpson's reenactment of the Aragog scene in Harry Potter. What fun that would be!!!!! and you probably think I am joking.
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