Capcom Street Fighter Movie Action Figure Ken Masters MOC

In 1994, the live-action film based on Capcom's Street Fighter II video game was released in theaters, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile and the late Raul Julia as M. Bison (his last film role). Hasbro, current holder of the Street Fighter toy license at the time, created an accompanying toyline which reused molds from their G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series, as well as the figures they created for a Street Fighter II sub-series in 1993. One of the figures in this assortment was Ken Masters, Ryu's pal and fellow Shotokan karate fighter.Sculpt/PaintThe figure reuses the head sculpt from the 1993 Ken Masters figure released in the G.I. Joe line, now atop a brand-new body mold more accurate to his appearance in the games, rather than the portrayal by actor Damian Chapa in the movie (who at one point wears a similar garb). The arms and legs have the same standard construction most Joe figures had at the time, while the torso and waist are unable to be taken apart in order to accommodate the action feature in the figure. The torso, waist, and legs are primarily cast in red plastic, with flesh-tone paint on the chest and feet, and black for the belt. Strangely, the arm guards are painted red as opposed to the more game-accurate brown. Ken's head and arms are cast in flesh-tone plastic, while his head has strawberry blonde hair painted on and brown eyebrows/eyes.The entire mold, sans the head, would be used a year later to make one of the three Johnny Cage figures from the Mortal Kombat toyline, which Hasbro also made to tie in to the 1995 live-action film.Articulation/Action featureKen has most of the same articulation and poseability as a regular Joe figure, save for the torso. His head swivels from side-to-side. The torso can only move to one side (the right) because of the action feature, which is Ken's "Fireball fists". By twisting the torso that direction and releasing, you get a spring-loaded "punch", making this figure no different than the figures comprising a Joe sub-line from two years earlier, Ninja Force.AccessoriesLike the rest of the figures in this series, Ken comes with re-used G.I. Joe accessories, in his case ones from the Ninja Force series. He comes with the bo staff and axe of the Cobra ninja Dice, a knife packed with most 1993 Ninja Force figures, the nunchaku of the G.I. Joe ninja Nunchuck, and a figure stand. All are molded in black plastic. Ken can hold the accessories easily, but be careful putting them into his hands--stress on the fingers can cause them to break.ConclusionIf you're a G.I. Joe collector who likes collecting some of the 'odds and ends' of the line, you'll want this figure. If you're a Street Fighter fan, you'll want this figure. If you like poseability and articulation in your toys, you won't want this figure. If you're a customizer willing to break a few figures, you'll want to salvage the head, arms and legs off this figure.