HOME...REVIEWS...TOYS...STIKFAS
Review by Daniel Lipkowitz,
Assistant Editor
11.22.2002
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Distributor: Hasbro, Inc. (www.hasbro.com) |
Created by Singapore-based Stikfas Private Ltd., the STIKFAS Action Figure Kit was recently picked up for global distribution by toy giant Hasbro, Inc. While at first sight it may appear to be Yet Another Trendy Block Figure, the "AFK" is a far cry from the many Kubrick-styled figures currently flooding the shelves. Unlike its blocky brethren, the Stikfas is lean, mean and poseable. And we mean poseable.
The first Stikfas kit on the market is the Alpha Male Military (the name describes the figure's body type and accessory theme). Stikfas originally debuted as a limited edition gray version packed with Electronic Arts' "Dune Emperor: Battle for Dune" PC game in 2001. The 2002 retail edition is black and includes more equipment, with tan and green versions following soon.
ASM recently obtained both the original and Hasbro-distributed versions of the Alpha Male Military kit and had a blast putting this revolutionary little action figure through its paces.
Packaging and Contents
Since Stikfas are being distributed through online and specialty stores, their packaging doesn't need extra flash to catch the wandering eyes of youngsters. With a giant catchphrase ("Geared for a new way to play?"), an image of the Alpha Male Military figure and a logo as the only splash of color, the front of the Stikfas box looks more like a movie teaser poster than a toy container. It's a simple and iconic presentation.
Originally shipped in a standard box, the newer Stikfas kit features thinner, angular packaging. The text on the sides has been tweaked (see the photo gallery for details), and the back sports a new photo of three of the figures to show off their gear and articulation. Prominently displayed is an image of the parts trees, letting you know exactly what it is that you're getting.
The sturdy cardboard box is closed with a thumb-tab, and the kit itself is packaged inside a resealable bag (you can tell this packaging wasn't designed for toystore shelves, as there's no security tape at all). Inside the bag are the three parts trees, a decal sheet and a set of... postcards?
Yes, postcards. Complete with address lines and a space for a stamp. The first card features the box-front image, the second is a product advertisement and the third constitutes all of the instructions that you'll be getting with the kit. It shows the assembly of the basic figure and explains how one of the odder-looking accessories can be used to pop the foot off of the leg if you feel the urge to disassemble it. None of the other accessories or alternate parts are shown, but they shouldn't require much explanation.
The decal sheet is full of options for customizing your Stikfas. The sheets are pretty much the same between the two releases aside from a different color backing paper, but there's at least one visible improvement: the more recent version has thicker borders around the sticker shapes, meaning that a slightly misaligned cut won't ruin the outline.
The parts trees are divided by category, with the figure parts and option pieces on the largest tree, the firearms on another and the remaining accessories on the third.
Assembly
(Safety advisory: kids, don't do this without adult supervision.)
Anything from fingers to scissors to professional sprue clippers can be employed to remove the plastic parts from their trees. If you're feeling particularly perfectionist, you can use some fine-grain sandpaper or a sharp edge to remove the residual tabs -- but the kit pieces are small and smooth, so watch out for your fingers.
Once you have your pile of Stikfas parts, just look at the picture on the postcard and follow the arrows to see what snaps into what. The limb pieces are marked with small letters for Left and Right, so you don't need to worry about attaching bits onto the wrong side. The basic Stikfas body is made up of fifteen parts: head, chest, abdomen, upper arms, lower arms, hands, upper legs, lower legs and feet. It'll take a small amount of force to pop each into place and a good bit more if you want to remove them again. The figure makes use of a very high grade of plastic, so the joints should hold up to repeated removals and replacements.
All assembled, the Stikfas is a cute li'l fella, resembling a stick figure brought to three-dimensional life. He stands about three inches in height and has cartoony proportions, with gangly limbs and big feet, a T-shaped torso and a featureless, pill-shaped head. There's something strangely endearing about the little guy.
Customization
The Alpha Male Military kit includes several 'option parts' that you can use to modify your figure. There are two different chest shapes -- the regular upper torso used on the packaging photos and a more square-shouldered one that gives the figure a slightly bulkier look at the expense of some of the upper arms' range of movement. There are two versions of each, one standard and one with square sockets set into the front and back, for a total of four possible chests. An extra pair of upper legs also has sockets.
Now the customizability comes into play. Among other accessories (a ladder, shield, helmet, cap and the crowbar-like foot remover), the second parts tree includes a backpack and six rectangular pouches, four short and two long. Square plugs attach these to the sockets in the chest and upper legs of the figure, creating an instant set of military fatigues. The pack and pouches hold in place firmly and may actually take a bit of work to pry loose again.
Once you've built your Stikfas, you can use the decal sheet to customize it. The decals include logos, labels, belts, straps, numbers, symbols (including radiation and biohazard warnings), targets and tattoos. There's a badge, a flashlight, a walky-talky, a canteen and several pouches, a selection of skulls, a jack o'lantern and a set of bones to transform your Stikfas into a spooky skeleton, as well as half a dozen tiny "band-aid" strips. You also get a selection of eyes and mouth shapes, as well as full-face stickers of a stylized gas mask and commando-style ski mask. The gas mask is probably what you'll see used on the majority of military Stikfas, as it makes for a great generic trooper face. It's a frighteningly comprehensive set of stickers, although I wouldn't mind seeing some less exaggerated expressions, such as a basic smile or frown.
A note of caution: although the stickers are very thin, the helmet is extremely tight. As I discovered when building the military figure, it can be difficult to attach the helmet over the full-face sticker without the decal wrinkling at the top. If you're worried about damage, you can try sanding down the inside of the helmet brim or levering it into place forehead-first.
Okay, you've got your Stikfas all put together, you've added your decals of choice... now it's time to gear up! The third parts tree includes no less than 11 different guns, ranging from pistols and rifles to a shotgun and Uzi. The firearms are blocky and simplified, matching the look of the Stikfas figure. Some of their parts are also incredibly thin, providing the only fragile element in the kit. The tiny clip on the handle of the Uzi, no thicker than a mechanical pencil lead, snapped right off while I was cutting the gun from the tree. A spot of glue fixed it up, but it's something to watch out for.
You can also choose between the army helmet and a naval-style cap, or outfit your figure with a riot shield. Here's where the only mold change that I've noticed shows up -- the original version of the shield has a round hole for the handle, letting it swivel around, while the new hole is square and provides a bit more stability.
Of course, your customization doesn't have to stop there. Stikfas were created to be repainted, rearranged and resculpted, a hobby actively encouraged by the designers. The skinny limbs and solid-cast body parts seem like they'd take well to both building-up and carving-down, and the plastic surface is slightly rough, providing a good anchor for paint and modeling clay.
Articulation
Here's where the Stikfas really shines. The Alpha Male has 14 points of articulation -- neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, mid-torso, hips, knees and ankles -- each a stiff ball joint on a post with a great range of motion. This results in the figure being incredibly poseable. I've never seen something with no face pull off emotions so well; you can run this guy through a pantomime of elation, depression, rage, befuddlement and shock just by adjusting the body posture.
Between the solid body parts, the strong ball-joints and its big round feet, the Stikfas can maintain its balance in an amazing range of poses. You can stand it on one foot, make it lean backwards, even set it up in a one-armed handstand, and it just stays there. I could go on for hours about all the stable poses this thing can hold. Seriously, just check out the image gallery and be warned: posing Stikfas is addictive.
My one minor complaint about the articulation is that the elbows and knees can't flex much past 90 degrees. It may just be an issue of engineering or plastic tolerances, but a small cut or notch at these joints would have made the already spectacular poseability truly mind-blowing.
Overall
The STIKFAS Alpha Male Military Action Figure Kit (try saying that five times fast) is a great multi-function product. It's equally good as a toy, a display piece, a customizing base, a fiddly thing to carry around with you for long meetings and bus rides, and even a pocket-sized artist's model.
The one downside is the price tag. A Stikfas kit will likely run you $8-10 at most web-stores and specialty outlets. That may seem a bit steep for a three-inch-tall unpainted action figure that you put together yourself, even one with a whole lotta extra gear. Frankly, though, I'd still recommend it. It's really that fun.
If the military theme isn't your thing, there are a few new styles coming soon. Due out in December are the STIKFAS Samurai, Fireman and Knight. The Knight has a new body style, the Omega Male, and comes with a horse that looks just as poseable and customizable as the human Stikfas.
Personally, I can't wait.
You can check out two different sets of pictures in our STIKFAS Gallery!