Utrom (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Mirage Comics) Review

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Utrom (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Mirage Comics) Review

Utrom
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Mirage Comics (Neca)It's been over ten years since NECA's original Mirage TMNT line, and last year saw its return with plenty of characters never done during the original run of figures, such as the Utrom, which was to the original comics what the Krang are to the franchise in general, except not evil.

The Utroms hid themselves in androids resembling humans, and this is what is underneath the faux skin and clothes. Sculpted by Brodie Perkins and Josh Sutton, the mechanical details are carried over well into plastic. The skull-like head is complemented by an extra portrait that's suffered battle damage: the right eye is dangling out, and a chunk of the head has been ripped over to reveal the wires underneath. The paint work is nice, with clean black lines, and some yellow outside the eyes to create a glowing effect.

Standing about 6 3/4" tall, the rest of the android body has the same detailing and paint as the head with clean work and a blend of blue and gray to create a shiny, metallic look. Of course, the Utrom is actually the little pink thing inside of the stomach, and it fits snugly inside the open cavity. The Utrom has a nice, lumpy sculpt, and the wash helps it pop, though the mouth has some sloppiness to it, and there's some chipped-off paint on the back.

The Utrom's vessel has pretty good articulation that blends in well with the sculpt. The ball-jointed head has plenty of range, and the chest gets some ball movement as well, though it's a simple ball-socket joint, rather than a "barbell" joint with balls on both ends. The shoulders are swivel/hinge joints, but their design prevents them from going out all the way. However, the swivel biceps, hinged elbows, and swivel/hinge wrists work well with it, allowing plenty of arm poses. Lastly, there's the usual movement from below the chest, with a swivel waist and thighs, ball-socket hips, hinged knees, and swivel/hinge ankles. The joints move well, though the wrists were pretty sticky at first, and the figure needed some time in the freezer to get the waist moving.

The Utrom is packed with a good amount of accessories, starting with the battle-damaged head. The heads fit on pretty tightly, which can make swapping them somewhat tricky. The Utrom itself is an accessory, as it can be removed from its resting place inside the android. Also included are a blaster, two tools, and a little cup with straw, the last of which comes from the Utroms' first appearance in issue #3. Going with the fists on the android are two different pairs of gripping hands, designed to hold the gun and tools, and they swap easily.

The Utrom and its android body make for a good figure, thanks to its great appearance. Its poseability could be improved a bit, but it still moves very well. What really helps is that this figure - and the rest of the comic line - isn't limited to the speciality market; and can be found at mass retailers like Target and Walmart. Its wide availability makes it easier to army-build, and it's definitely a figure you'll want to get more than one of. Now bring on some Triceratons.

- 1/4/23