Robocop Versus The Terminator (NECA)

Robocop Versus The Terminator
NECA
2015

Robocop and The Terminator have been slugging it out for years in the comic book scene, all beginning in 1992 with the Dark Horse mini-series of the same name. Since then, they've continued butting heads across various one-shots and limited series, and even in 1993 via their own SNES video game title. It is this particular game in which these figures are loosely based upon.

However, before all of this - Long before all of this, the concept of these two cyborgs going at it were the school yard dreams of many a sci-fi fan. I remember kids on the playground always making up stories of Robocop and The Terminator meeting face to face for the ultimate showdown. It was pure fantasy at its best, and something we never thought would actually happen. Good thing those kids all grew up and started making their own dreams a reality!

Some of those kids even went on to make toys.

NECA is no stranger to dabbling in the 8 and 16 bit world of action figures. Their various larger scale toys have been produced for such franchises as A Nightmare On Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Rambo, Gremlins and even Robocop in a single pack. As such, it was no surprise that the company continued plugging away with figure after figure in this design.

Their 2015 entry are today's showcase here at The Toy Box, and well, if you haven't guessed it, it's the Robocop Versus The Terminator line.

It was a relatively small set, confined to four single packs and one Toys R' Us exclusive two pack. Each figure stands approximately seven inches tall, and is showcased in a fantastic looking window box designed too look similarly to the packaging of the original SNES game.

Robocop Flamethrower

A fun aspect to the packaging was that each Robocop and Terminator figure were designed to sit on a shelf side by side. This is why Robocop is showcased on the lower left side of the package, and the Terminator is on the lower right. This way they can stare each other down. Additionally, you'll notice Robocop's packaging only has his name on it, while the Terminator ones finish the name of the line, Versus The Terminator.

 Terminator Plasma Rifle T-800

It was a wasted opportunity for NECA to produce Robocop Rocket Launcher as the exact same figure as seen above, just with flames across its chest. It was kind of lame too. This could have easily been a more desirable figure had it showcased some form of battle damage, or even one without the helmet. More importantly, the flame aspect could have easily just been a pack in with both figures. Action figure laziness at its best, folks.

 Robocop Rocket Launcher

 Endoskeleton Heavy Gunner

With what I said above in mind, repainting the same Endoskeleton figure in two different colors, slapping a higher price tag on it, and making it an exclusive is also kind of lazy. There were so many of these at my local Toys R' Us, pre bankruptcy era, and they all got clearanced out.

Toys R' Us Exclusive

Endoskeleton Assault 2-Pack

There's no denying NECA makes great quality figures. However, the company has definitely been known to taking a lazy route with some of their lines. This one definitely stands out in that regard. It's a fun line, and holds a lot of nostalgia to it. However, at the same time, it just could have been better if NECA put a smidgen more of effort into it.

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Part Man, Part Machine, All Cop!

The toy collection around here has been growing at a rapid pace this past week, and with Fairfax Comic Con on my list for this coming Saturday, I don't see it stopping any time soon.

Today brought with it yet another one to add to the pile. For those of you keeping up with my explosion of posts as of late, you know ED-260 from the 1988 Robocop: Ultra Police joined my collection on Friday of last week. Today, the other half of that want list was completed with the arrival of the man himself...

...ROBOCOP!...and a pound of dust on the cardboard backer. Clearly this toy was not loved at its prior home.

The back of the card shows all those wonderful toys from the line. I may have to pick up the Robo-1 cop car here soon to give Robocop something to display in as opposed to just standing around next to ED-260. That or the Robo-Cycle. I haven't decided which one I like more, but I'm leaning towards the cycle for cost and space maximization. We'll see.

For now, let's take a look at Robocop himself.

Without his helmet, he looks kind of silly. His head is a little too skinny. Especially the top of it.

He comes with two accessories - A gun and his helmet. Two questions. 1) What is up with the gun? It doesn't at all match the traditional look of his Auto 9, which was indeed represented in the cartoon. 2) Why does his helmet look like a bicycle helmet with the two slits at the top?

Here's a closer look at the gun in his hand. It's a bit bulky.

With the helmet on he's at least passable as Robocop. The look is certainly there. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say the gun and helmet detract a bit from the overall design.

I have to be honest and say I'm not a fan of the "bumpy" helmet as a result of the slits. It detracts...and looks like someone bashed his head in with a wrench.

On his back he features the cap firing "system" which was predominant in the line. 

In comparison to the Toy Island version, I definitely prefer it over the Kenner version. It's more accurate in terms of overall design and paint...And of course the helmet is rounded at the top. Still, the Kenner version isn't terrible. It has its nostalgic charm.

It also looks fantastic sitting next to the ED-260 counterpart.

Overall, I'm happy with this purchase. It's not a perfect Robocop figure, but it's a fun figure, and that's what counts the most.

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Robocop: Ultra Police (Kenner)

We're incredibly amazed that Robocop became the household name it became among children. Let's be honest here. The movie is one of the most violent pieces of cinematic action film out there, especially for its time (1987). The sheer brutality in the scene where Murphy is murdered is stomach churning enough for the casual viewer to shut it off, and is made only worse in the director's cut.

Don't get us wrong though, in terms of sci-fi characters, Robocop is one bad...(shut your mouth). Despite the violent nature of the movie itself, the Robocop concept was ported to a children’s animated show, and action figures (as they so often do) followed. The television series itself didn't last long (12 episodes).

As we mentioned, Robocop got his start in the first film in 1987. The premise focuses on Officer Alex Murphey who after chasing down some bad guys with his partner Anne Lewis is brutally murdered. His body is reanimated as a cyborg by mega-corporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) who has recently entered into a contract with the city to run the police department due to the high crime rate in the city. Thus, Robocop is born.

Two sequels as well as a short lived live action TV show were produced. Though they have a strong following in their own right, they are not highly acclaimed by critics and casual viewers.

Marvel Productions produced the animated series of the show in 1988, and even though it kept a lot of mature themes to it, there were changes made to make it more kid friendly. A perfect example of this is the removal of bullets, and the inclusion of laser weapons. The series also followed a more sci-fi setting as opposed to the real world Detroit setting of the film. An odd inclusion was the red light on Robocop's visor which ocassionally panned back and forth.

Despite its short lived animated life, Kenner produced an impressive sixteen figures, and nine vehicles for the line. Each figure had its own unique packaging, and even though the figures didn't have the articulation of say your average G.I. Joe figures, the design and quality seemed on par with the look of the show (and to an extent, the movies).





While some might find the figures to be lacking in quality, there is no denying that the vehicles, and the ED-209 "figure" were of a pretty decent quality possible for a child's toy line. Kenner really appeared to have put a lot of work and care into the items.




Robocop: Ultra Police may not be a toy line for everyone, but for those select few who do appreciate the toys for what they are, it's a pretty darn good collection.

Join us next time when we take a look at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Years 3 and 4.

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