Written by Adam McCombs

Ninety-nine point nine percent of the stuff I collect is Masters of the Universe-related (most often from the vintage or the MOTU Classics lines, and occasionally MOTU Origins). Very rarely something outside of that narrow window breaks through into my consciousness, and most recently that’s the Frazetta Icon Collectibles line by Frazetta Girls.

I first encountered their original Darkwolf prototype when it was shown off by designer Eamon O’Donoghue at Power-Con 2023. I first became a fan of Eamon’s from the old He-Man.org Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, which was a part of my education and reintroduction to Masters of the Universe back in 2012 or so. Eamon is also a commercial illustrator who has worked on many Masters of the Universe properties, most recently packaging art for the Masterverse line.

The standard version of the Frazetta Icon Collectibles Darkwolf figure was shipped out by Frazetta Girls at the beginning of this year, which already seems like a long time ago. So how does this PX Previews Exclusive version stack up? Let’s find out!

Packaging

The packaging for the exclusive version of Darkwolf is slightly different from the previous release. Both the original Darkwolf and the recent Teegra figures featured Frazetta artwork on the front, originating from the Fire and Ice movie poster:

For the PX Previews Exclusive version (produced in a small quantity of 1,000 figures), we are treated to a different Frazetta painting on the front of the packaging:

As with the other figures in this line, the front cover of the packaging opens to reveal a window box that shows the figure inside, with all his accessories:

Figure

The PX Exclusive Darkwolf is similar to the original release. While the original was based closely on Frazetta’s Darkwolf as he appeared in the movie poster, this version is inspired by the character’s look in Ralph Bakshi’s Fire and Ice animated film. What’s the difference between the two looks? In the film, Darkwolf has wolf paw bracers and a differently-shaped axe. He’s also darker in color.

Other than the differences outlined above, Darkwolf comes with the same assortment accessories as the main release. He has three different facial expressions that can be plugged into his head. He comes with his animated-style axe (which looks a bit meaner than the axe that came with the original release), a bow and three arrows, and nine different hands, including one that is designed to help him hold an arrow.

Darkwolf’s eyes in the animated Fire and Ice movie read as pale green to me, and I’m a little disappointed that yellow was used for the eyes of this figure, just like the first release. Still, he’s beautifully sculpted, with highly detailed fur and intricately detailed muscles and veins. Some dark gray dry brushing brings out the relief on his fur costume. There’s some nice brown wash on his bone necklace to give it some realism. The metallic elements on his axe and his belt are particularly nice, with very naturalistic weathering. The attention to sound anatomical details and proportions is appreciated.

For comparison with previous releases in this line, below are a couple side-by side shots of both versions of Darkwolf, as well as a group shot with Teegra:

And here’s both versions of Darkwolf on a turntable:

Articulation

I have always disliked articulation that breaks up the sculpt of a figure too much (especially for figures showing a lot of exposed flesh), so I’ve really enjoyed the design philosophy of the Frazetta Icon Collectibles line. The elbows and knees are single-jointed, just like real human elbows and knees, so they look naturalistic when posed. Both can bend slightly more than 90 degrees. The knees and elbows include hidden swivel joints, which eliminate the need for a boot cut. In the shoulder joints are a cleverly hidden extra ball joint that allows the shoulders to pivot forward and backward, eliminating the need for a bicep cut.

In place of a waist swivel, the torso articulation allows the figure to twist and rock in any direction. The ball joints at the wrist and ankles allow for dynamic posing. The ball-jointed hips also include hidden swivels. All of the costume elements of the figure (minus the cowl) are removable, although heat is advised when taking apart the torso or removing the feet.

Many action figure collectors do look for double-jointed knees and elbows, prioritizing articulation over the integrity of the sculpture. In nature, our single-jointed elbows and knees allow us to bend our joints much further than 90 degrees, because we are of course made of flesh, not unyielding plastic. Double-jointed knees and elbows provide a more realistic range of motion, but sacrifice the sculpt and the anatomy.

I understand that the upcoming Frazetta Icon Collectibles Conan figure may have double-jointed knees, based on fan feedback. In my view double-jointed knees look fine until you actually bend them, at which point they make the figure look like it’s had a tragic skiing accident! But honestly as far as knees go I probably won’t be too bothered either way, as I tend to keep my figures standing fairly straight.

For more about articulation and removable parts for Darkwolf, see Eamon’s video below:

A Bit of History

I am by no means an expert on Frazetta, but I thought I would pass on some interesting early Darkwolf sketches that were shared by Frazetta Girls and artist Steven E. Gordon on Facebook. Apparently early on in the design for the character, Darkwolf was going to have most of his face exposed, rather than the Batman-esque furry cowl look he eventually got. The sketches that Steven E. Gordon did have been recolored in red to differentiate them from Frazetta’s work:

Final Thoughts

I’ve gone back and forth trying to figure out which version of Darkwolf I prefer. There are things I like about both versions, and I find myself unable to choose. I’d say you really can’t go wrong with either one. The PX version was done in limited quantities and is therefore more expensive at $100 (currently still available at Big Bad Toy Store). The original release is $70. It’s sold out, although there is a waitlist for more at the Frazetta Girls website.

I look forward to future releases from Frazetta Icon Collectibles, in particular the Norseman figure, set for a December release date, and their Conan figure, coming sometime next year.

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