Recommended music: The Danish National Symphony Orchestra – A Knife in the Dark
On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’re taking a look at another ToyBiz Ringwraith!
These Ringwraiths on their steeds are from the Fellowship of the Ring Deluxe Horse and Rider set. This set was later repacked in a red box to match up with figures from The Two Towers, and a blue box to match Return of the King, however, it always accurately said Fellowship of the Ring on the front, with no noticeable difference to either the black rider or his horse.
Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Banishment of Éomer
On this #TolkienThursday, we’re still in the year 3019 of the Third Age and…haha, I’ll try not to get that nerdy today as we’re taking a look at the ToyBiz Prince Theodred!
The only son of King Théoden and Prince of Rohan, Théodred was also the Second Marshal of the Riddermark. As there simply wasn’t time for any of this character setup in the Lord of the Rings films (even the extended editions), so Theodred’s story in The Two Towers pretty much begins with his death. In the book, his death and hasty burial take place a week before the three hunters show up in Edoras. For the film, Theodred is injured in battle, but he is found by his cousin Eomer, who takes the wounded Theodred back to Edoras on his horse, and later has a funeral there following his death, as seen in the Extended version.
This Prince Theodred was included in the fourth wave of carded figures for The Two Towers line, and was not a part of any other releases. Armed with a sword and a removable helmet, the figure could have made for a decent army builder. However, there is a big gaping wound in his belly from his final injury sustained from a battle against Saruman’s orc army. I think the figure might have been better off having closed eyes, or better yet, just included undamaged armor. That small change would have at least allowed ToyBiz to reuse the body for more riders of Rohan and possibly even make some soldier variants repacked with horses. 😜
In the end, it seems like this was a character ToyBiz really could have skipped, but I’m glad the line went deep enough to include him.
Recommended music: Howard Shore – A Knife in the Dark
Right on time, this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got the ToyBiz Witch King Ringwraith!
Today, the Nazgûl are ready to take out some hobbits in pursuit of the One Ring. While the first Witch King version of the figure lacked the soft goods robes, the size and lack of a head do make it menacing in a display with hobbits.
Nine powerful men were originally corrupted by Sauron’s power through the Rings of Men; the figure was one of five included in the first wave of green “half-moon” from the Fellowship of the Ring.
This exact figure was later repacked for: – FOTR carded series 2 – A FOTR UK exclusive 3-pack with Strider and Frodo – The final wave of figures from FOTR in the red packaging – Return of the King series 2 – And a ROTK “Ringwraith Gift Pack” with Twilight Ringwraith and Morgul Lord Witch-King
It seems ToyBiz always wanted the character to be available on store shelves (or pegs) so even latecomers to the line could complete a collection of the Nine.😜
Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Riders of Rohan
Ending up in Rohan this #TolkienThursday? Well, we’ve got you covered tonight with the ToyBiz Eomer!
In The Two Towers film, Éomer is an outcast because of Gríma Wormtongue’s manipulation of King Théoden; the order of events varies a bit from the book. Eomer still shows up fairly early in the film when his cousin Théodred, son of Théoden, is killed in battle, leading to his banishment by way of Grima. Soon after, Eomer is on patrol with other riders of the Rohirrim and comes upon Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. The film character is also later combined with the book character Erkenbrand, who arrives with Gandalf for this return to Helm’s Deep.
This Eomer with Sword Attack Action was included in the second wave of half-moon packaged figures for The Two Towers line, later repacked in the first series of figures on the smaller cards. Both releases are identical, including his sword and a helmet.
While the head sculpt does show a lot of emotion, it unfortunately is not the best likeness of actor Karl Urban in his late twenties. The articulation and pose for this figure are also not the best, as he may look better on a horse than awkwardly crouching his way into battle. 😄 Honestly, I usually keep this figure on a horse and display it with Return of the King figures, not the rest of the Rohirrim.
Recommended music: John Philip Sousa – Stars and Stripes Forever
Right on time, this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got the ToyBiz Twilight Ringwraith!
Today, this Nazgûl is chasing Mr. Frodo with a bit of red, white, and blue (I originally threw this picture together on the 4th of July); he’s actually a pretty cool concept for an action figure.
Nine powerful men were originally corrupted by Sauron’s power through the Rings of Men, which granted them immortality but also turned them into Ringwraiths. This figure was included in the first carded wave of Fellowship of the Ring figures. It was later repacked for the wave of FOTR figures that came in red half-moon packaging. I wish the repack had been a different head sculpt.
Also, it’s interesting to note that “Twilight Frodo” is cast in translucent plastic, while the blue and white paint scheme scene on this guy is meant to represent how the wraiths appear to Frodo when he is wearing the One Ring.
Recommended music: Howard Shore – The Plains of Rohan
Sneaking up this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the Gentle Giant Snaga!
In the books, a “snaga” is a term for lesser breeds of Orcs. In Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers film, Snaga is an orc scout recruited by Grishnákh to help him escort Merry and Pippin to Isengard. Snaga and the other Orcs become hungry after running for days and desire more than bread for sustenance.
Snaga: “Yeah! Why can’t we have some meat?”
Snaga: “What about them? They’re fresh!”
Uglúk: “They are not for eating!”
…
Snaga: “Just a mouthful. A bit off the flank.”
[Uglúk cuts off Snaga’s head.]
Uglúk: “Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!”
Snaga was not included in The Two Towers line or any other Lord of the Rings action figure line by Toybiz. I have not yet made a 1/12 scale custom figure of the character in the 20 years since the toy line. However, I found a great stand-in with this resin bust from Gentle Giant. At just over 7″, he is supposed to be 1/6 scale and is limited to 1500 pieces. While he is missing legs and any articulation, the paint and detail are excellent. Sculpted below the character’s upper half is a stone base with a hidden storage compartment that is just large enough to safely keep your One Ring when not in use.
First thing, this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’re looking at the ToyBiz Twilight Frodo!
This Mr. Frodo has some Twilight Ringwraiths on his tail after he dared to put on the One Ring while in their presence. This translucent version of “Mr. Underhill” actually came in a gift set with other “Bearers of the Ring,” all cast in their clear plastic form.
While the plastic has yellowed a bit in the past two decades, you can still see just how great the sculpt, with no paint in the way to hide the details.
Going ahead on this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Grishnakh!
In The Two Towers, Grishnákh is an orc captain who sees a little more screen time (and dialogue) in the Extended Edition compared with the theatrical cut. After a day of running with Isengard Orcs, Grishnákh and his fellow Mordor Orcs wish to rest near the Fangorn Forest and make a meal of Merry and Pippin.
Grishnák: “What about their legs? They don’t need those. Ooh! They look tasty!”
Uglúk: “Get back, scum! The prisoners go to Saruman. Alive and unspoiled.”
Grishnakh: “Alive? Why alive? Do they give good sport?”
Grishnakh was included in a 2-pack for The Two Towers line with Merry and also came in a single card release during the fifth wave of TTT figures. Both versions look the same to me, and both look incorrect to me. Most of the Lord of the Rings figures released by ToyBiz looked very accurate to what you see on screen, but the Grishnak figure came with a peachy skin tone. This looked far too bright to me, so a darker-skinned custom has been a part of my display for more than a decade.
The Grishnákh figure comes with a unique sword weapon and the button for his “Sword-Slashing Action,” which is not hidden by the fur draped over his shoulders.
On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’re taking a look at the ToyBiz Dungeons of Isengard Orc Captain!
While this guy technically came on a The Two Towers cardback (wave four to be precise), he definitely appeared in The Fellowship of the Ring, so that is where I display him.
This is a great figure from later in the line, made of a lot of new parts, including a cool mallet and armor that really gives him some girth.😄
Here’s a bonus late-night post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’re also taking a look at the ToyBiz Newborn Lurtz figure and newborn Uruk-Hai!
Lurtz has had just about enough of that whip-cracking from the Orc Overseer. The other newborn there is a very strange and gross-looking accessory that you use a lever to sort of pop out of a little pod thing.
Both figures were released in the Fellowship of the Ring line, with Newborn Lurtz being the first villain included in wave one, even ahead of Saruman. The newborn Uruk-Hai was a pack-in with the Orc Overseer in wave two.
Recommended music: Howard Shore – Uglúk’s Warriors
Up next this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Ugluk!
For The Fellowship of the Ring, Peter Jackson created the orc character Lurtz to serve as the leader of the Uruk-hai. After Lurtz was killed by Aragorn at Amon Hen, Uglúk took command of the orc troops to match back up with the books. He proves to be well-disciplined and follows Saruman’s instruction to capture and deliver the hobbits, whom he believes carry an Elvish weapon.
On their way to Isengard, the Uruk-hai are cut off by a group of Mordor Orcs who demand that they release the Hobbits to them. The ensuing argument is put on hold due to a report of the smell of “man-flesh.”
Uglúk: “They are not for eating!”
Ugluk was included in a 2-pack for The Two Towers line with Pippin. He also came in a single card release during the fifth wave of TTT figures. I’m not sure there are any paint differences between the two releases, and he can easily serve as an army builder for a generic orc if needed. Ugluk comes with “Sword-Slashing and Whipping Action” and surprisingly blonde hair (not so noticeable in my moonlight picture here).
Recommended music: Marvin Matyka – Bloody Mary (Remix)
Moving up this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Merry!
Like Pippin, Merry is first seen in The Two Towers hanging on the back of an Orc, making their way to Isengard. Pippin is concerned and alerts the Orcs when Merry appears unconscious:
“Pippin: “Merry! Merry! Wake up! My friend is sick! He needs water. Please!”
Mauhúr: “Sick is he? Give him some medicine, boys!”
[Uruks growl, then one pours a sticky red liquid into Merry’s mouth.]
[Merry chokes.]
Pippin: “Stop it!”
Mauhúr: “Can’t take his draught!”
It turns out to all be an act as Merry is trying to keep a low profile on their journey, as he’s already come to the conclusion that if he is questioned and found not to have the Ring of Power, his story may be ending quickly. Also, the “medicine” forced upon Merry in this scene may look like Jägermeister, but it’s actually some sort of grog-like beverage, picture rum and water, that is evil, but helps keep the Uruk-Hai energized for running all day and night.
This version of Merry was included in a 2-pack in the Fellowship of the Ring line with Pippin and a Moria Orc, then repacked again with Pippin for the last wave of FOTR figures.
This first version of Merry does a better job of looking like Dominic Monaghan than the Pippin figure does of looking like Billy Boyd. He features the same action figure as Pippin, with a button hidden under the cloak to move his arm and sword.
Popping up this #TolkienThursday morning, it’s Pippin!
Following the capture of Merry and Pippin by the Uruk-Hai in the first film, we first see the hobbits in The Two Towers hanging on the backs of Orcs making their way to Isengard. When Pippin thinks that they are being tracked by Aragorn, he decides to leave a shiny clue behind in the form of his leaf brooch to assist his friends in following the trail. As his hands are bound, Pippin bites the brooch right off his elven cloak for Aragorn to discover. Though the placement of this scene varies a bit from the book, it works perfectly:
“Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall,’ said Aragorn. ‘This did not drop by chance: it was cast away as a token to any that might follow. I think Pippin ran away from the trail for that purpose.”
This version of Pippin actually came out as a 3-pack in the Fellowship of the Ring Line with Merry and a Moria Orc (technically,this was a 2-pack, but Hobbits are very small). The figure was then repacked in a 2-pack with just Merry for the last wave of FOTR figures, which had red packaging to transition into the upcoming red cards for The Two Towers. I’ve always displayed these two with my TTT figures, which is why I’m just including them now.
In my opinion, this first version of Pippin does not have a great likeness of actor Billy Boyd, and the sculpt is hampered by a button on the back that controls the action feature in the right arm. Thankfully, the button is well hidden when Pippin is wearing his cloak, which was gifted by the elves of Lórien.
Tonight for #TolkienThursday, we’re moving on to The Two Towers. From the ToyBiz The Two Towers line, it’s Gollum!
During the opening scenes of The Two Towers, we finally get to see who has been lurking in the shadows, following the Fellowship since Moria. Tortured and wrought wretched by the lure of the One Ring, Gollum is a withered, piteous creature. Driven mad and twisted by his loss of the One Ring decades ago, he is compelled to haunt Middle-earth, searching everywhere for the only thing in the world he ever cared for, his “precious”.
This version of Gollum with Electronic Sound Base was the first Gollum figure released by ToyBiz. The figure came out in the fourth wave of figures from the film, as I believe they wanted to make sure the movie was already in wide release before revealing the full design for the character who was just seen in shadow for the past year in The Fellowship of the Ring. While the base was a neat inclusion, being able to play clear sound clips from the film (“My Precious,” etc.) as long as your batteries last.
The downside of this initial version of Gollum is the figure itself. While the sculpt and paint are top-notch like the rest of the line, the articulation is downright lousy. There are no proper joints, and the whole thing feels like a cheap, stiff Bend-Em. Thankfully, ToyBiz had further versions of the character in the works for further down the line.
Here’s another post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Today, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Orc Overseer!
(Well, three orc overseers to be accurate) from The Fellowship of the Ring. You might think this character isn’t worth army-building like other orcs, but you always need someone to “crack the whip.”
Bred long ago from captured Elves, Orcs were a foul race of night-dwelling creatures and servants of evil. Under his master, Saruman’s direction, the Orc Overseer raised a new breed of orc, more powerful and upright than his own kind, that would not fear the light, to attack the fellowship on their quest…
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