When
Devil May Cry originally hit the Playstation 2 in 2001, critics and fans alike praised this fun, original and completely unique action/adventure game. Considered one of the best video games combining hack-n-slash and gunplay action, puzzle-solving, and platforming progression,
Devil May Cry went on to spur 3 sequels, including last year's
Devil May Cry 4.
It's no surprise the game series' main protagonist -
Dante- has become a bit of a pop culture icon. Alongside fellow video game characters like Kratos from God of War, Marcus Fenix from Gears of War, and Master Chief from Halo,
Dante stands tall with his matching pistols Ebony and Ivory and his keepsake sword, Rebellion.
Now, thanks to the small Hong Kong collectibles studio
AD Artwork, everyone's favorite half-demon, half-human devil hunter comes to life in 1/6th scale glory...
PACKAGING
Packaged in a simple yet attractive cardboard box with a gatefold cover and attractive graphic (
above) the figure comes secured via a durable piece of foam featuring cutouts which ensure each piece is properly housed (
below).
While the box might not feature the graphical beauty nor high-density cardboard as some Hot Toys or Sideshow figures, considering this is a extremely limited figure hand-made figure, the box seems very well done.
SCULPTING & ACCESSORIES
The sculpted pieces on Dante include the head, the hands (two sword holding, two gunholding), the accessories (three firearms, one sword), the boots, the base, and the decapitated Blitz head.
First things first: the accessories are extremely well sculpted; the Rebellion sword especially captures the look of Dante's father's blade near-perfectly. Likewise, the guns - especially Ebony (
above) and Ivory - are well sculpted too. Though the pistols do not feature removable magazines or movable slides, the Coyote A shotgun does feature a breach break, allowing Dante to be posed as if he's reloading.
Second, the dungeon base and the decapitated Blitz head (
below) are amazing...simply amazing. Talk about detail! The Blitz head looks astonishing and adds an amazing environmental piece (ie - a dead demon enemy) to this figure, giving it a unique look that's all together something special.
While the base looks great, I had to add a wire post (
seen above) to the base so that the figure would stand upright and not fall over. This is something worth noting as the figure is able to stand on it's own, but it's difficult to keep the figure upright should you wish to pose Dante with his foot atop the Blitz's head (
below).
The only major disappointment with this figure is the head sculpt (below). The hair looks like frosting stuck atop a face that, at certain angles, looks like Dante and, at other angles, looks nothing like the fan-favorite character. According to AD Artwork, a new Dante headsculpt is in the works; hopefully fans who purchased the figure prior to the release of the new headsculpt will receive the new head sculpt as well.
A final note worth mentioning: the hand sculpts, while well done; feature extremely fragile posts which fit into the 1/6th body's arms. I have already had one break. While I've broken many a 1/6th wrist pegs break, because these are unique to this figure's sculpted hands, I'm having to completely replace the wrist pegs and the way the fit, a major hassle to say the least...
PAINT APPLICATION
Again, the head sculpt, hands, accessories, weapons, base and diorama all feature detailed paint applications which showcase the sculpting.
Considering the face sculpt isn't *quite* Dante, it's extremely well done. Sadly, the white hair - as mentioned above - looks like a lump of frosting (nothing a quick, light black wash won't fix!). One minor complaint is the paint on the tip of the figure's nose was chipped off in shipping; probably due to the plastic sleeve inside the box rubbing on it. While this is often the case in many 1/6th figures, it'd be nice to see a hand-painted figure like this have a plastic bag put over its head to protect it from things like this.
Again, the Blitz head and dungeon floor base feature detailed paint applications and colors which showcase the amazing detailing and sculpting (above).
ARTICULATION
The figure is based on a 12-inch body somewhat similar to the Hot Toys Tru-Type, though without the durability or added shoulder articulation. Points of articulation include the neck (ball), shoulders (ball/swivel), biceps, elbows, wrists, chest, waist, hips, thighs, and knees. The figure also features ankle articulation, though it's essentially useless due to the calf-high sculpted boots (
below).
CLOTHING
The real standout in this figure is the hand-crafted clothing which includes a set of black leather chaps atop a pair of red leather pants, a beautifully designed and created red leather trench coat, a black spandex zipper shirt under a black leather strap vest.
The vest features hand-sculpted buckles and the red leather pants feature a black leather belt with hand-sculpted belt buckle (above).
COST & OVERALL IMPRESSION
At $165 US Dollars plus $20 shipping, the figure is at the high-end of the 1/6th scale spectrum. However, considering its limited number (less than 100 of this piece exist and only 150 will be made), for die-hard fans of
Devil May Cry 4 and the devil hunter known as
Dante, this may very well be the only opportunity to own a 12-inch figure of this character.
Accurate to the character's appearance in
Devil May Cry 4, the figure looks down right striking from a distance and, if one can get over the fact the hair and facial sculpt look somewhat...off and the wrist pegs are bound to break, the AD Artwork's Devil May Cry 4 Dante 12-inch figure is one of the finest examples of what a small studio can produce when given the opportunity. Should a DMC fan find this figure for less than $150 delivered, buy it. For those die-hards who can't live without Dante, $180 shipped is a price well spent too.
Check out the
PHOTO GALLERY HERE for over 60 images of this figure and check out
AD Artwork's website for more information. To order, email Andy at AD Artworks at
adtoys@gmail.com
