Sharku

Recommended music: Jacob Banks – Unholy War

On this #TolkienThursday, we’re having a look at the ToyBiz The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers Sharku!

Sharku, an aged and severely scarred Orc veteran of the Goblin Wars, serves as the chieftain of a tribe of Warg-riding Orcs who support the fallen wizard Saruman. Saruman channels Sharku’s aggression to lead the Warg-riders in mounted raids against the Rohirrim of the Plains of Rohan.

Although J.R.R. Tolkien’s books do not name any specific leaders of the Warg-riders, the character of Sharku was introduced in Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers. The name derives from Saruman’s nickname “Sharkey,” meaning ‘old man,’ which appears in the “The Scouring of the Shire” chapter of Return of the King, a section omitted from the films.

ToyBiz released this Sharku figure, featuring “knife slashing action,” as part of a deluxe beast and rider set with the Warg Beast. The figure is well-painted, displaying a yellow skin tone that is uncommon in the toy line and, in my observation, not accurate to the film costume, which appears gray. Although ToyBiz designed Sharku with flexible legs to improve his attachment to the Warg, the absence of ball hips and knee articulation limits his positioning. As a result, the figure only grips the Warg’s back or saddle pad with his thighs and appears to float above the animal, resembling a jockey in a two-point stance.

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