Neca Toony Terrors Ash review

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Neca toys are well known for their well detailed action figures based on cult sci-fi and horror films aimed at adult collectors. So it’s a bit a departure for Neca to introduce the “Toony Terrors”, a line of horror figures based on popular and classic horror movies but using a design that looks more at home in an episode of Scooby-Doo than on a shelf of high end collectables. So I went and ordered one of the line's latest figures, Ash from Evil Dead 2. Will it be a fun, new kind of retro style toy, or will it turn out to be a cynical cash-in that should be locked away in a cabin in the woods? It’s time this meddling reviewer found out.

"Hey baby"

As said in the intro, the (unofficial) aesthetic is clearly “what if Scooby-Doo  had real horror characters in it?” and the sculpt and paint job certainly portrays that concept. It probably helps that Bruce Campbell has a big old head that’s easy to capture- especially when you consider how many Ash figures Neca have produced. The standard hasn’t slipped, even though the design is a simplified, cartoon depiction of Bruce Campbell, his distinctive features have been exaggerated just right. The square jaw, the pronounced chin, and, best of all, the facial expression is a brilliantly realised “groovy" face. It has the perfect mix of goofy and cool, someone who can be heroic but isn’t sure how to go about it, like Simon Belmont in the Captain N cartoon show. I can imagine this version of Ash unsuccessfully trying to impress Daphne. Add to that some fairly film accurate (because I did check) blood stains for good measure and you’ve got a great face sculpt. The rest of the body goes along the same idea, a simplified design to fit the theme but not totally devoid of detail. There’s enough to break up the monotony of a blue shirt and a pair of brown slacks, the buckle on the chest holster, the torn leg on the trousers, panels on the chainsaw aren’t exactly attention grabbing but they keep the figure from looking threadbare.

With Toony Terrors Michael Myers

With Reaction xenomorph

With Filmation vintage Man At Arms

With Funko pop Ash

An old school design means old school articulation, but seeing as Neca are giving us a neat twist on a old concept, you get a little extra beyond five points of articulation of old. The head plugs into the body via a ball joint giving a full rotation and a generous amount of upwards, downwards, and sideways lean. Both arms rotate completely at the shoulder, with an added pivot joint on the left elbow giving you some variety in displaying Ash with his shotgun, which is a nice bonus. Both hands- or rather the left hand and the chainsaw where the right hand used to be- completely rotate at the wrist. Both legs pivot forwards 90 degrees and a slight way back. You’re not gonna get much posing with the legs, if any, but the left foot does have a hole for a figure stand in it, so you can feasibly have Ash kicking Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees right in the boiler in your fantasy “Freddy vs Jason vs Ash" figure display. It's also welcome that Neca added bonus elbow movement to the left arm, so posing with the shot gun isn’t limited to pointing forward or pointing down, but the hand- while nicely sculpted with neat fingernail detail- just can’t hold the shotgun properly. The hand isn’t tight enough to have a secure grip on the handle, neither does the trigger finger fit around the trigger. As luck would have it, Neca included a gun holster on Ash's back to store it in, so you can store it there. I’d recommend keeping the gun in place with a piece of blu tack. 

Secret attack!

A more pressing issue is the gun itself. Without trying to be too pedantic, it’s the wrong shotgun. It’s a “adult collectable” (according to the age rating on the cardback) and the package implicitly shows the Evil Dead 2 logo, in which Ash memorably wielded a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun. I get the concept of the figure doesn’t require an exact replica of a 12 gauge Remington but at least have it sort of resemble the right kind of gun. Also, although not an accessory, per se, is  there’s a backdrop on the reverse of the cardback. Resembling the painted backgrounds of old cartoons, you cut it out (as you can see, I was a little overzealous with the scissors) you’ve got a instant, albeit small, diorama for your figure.

"Well this cabin ain't so bad"

"Well that's not good"

"Groovy!"

"Gravy!"

"Lovely day for it"

"By the power of..."

"Yup. Perfect day for a walk in the park"

And that's where the gun will stay

Other than a couple of paint scuffs on the hair and holster straps you have a fun figure that show Neca always have something up their sleeve when you think they’ve exhausted a movie license. I can’t wait to see what horror character will be added next to this line. In an age when every toy company and their sister is releasing a retro inspired toy line, Neca are able to do something different- and not just because they’re staying away from the 3.5 inch scale (toony terrors are 6 inches) so you can’t say this is just a riff  on Super 7's reaction figures. I like the concept and Neca, who probably employ some of the best sculptors going, have done an excellent job making it work. Do I see myself buying ever figure in the line? No, but I like the idea of getting any of my favourite movie characters that get the Toony Terrors treatment. I can see these making fun gifts for the horror movie fan in your life, or if you’ve always wanted a figure of Ash (or Michael Myers, Pennywise, etc) but were put off by the price or overt articulation of your average action figure, this is a good alternative. 

Company: Neca

Price paid: £16.99

Bought from: figure land

Age: 17+