Action Figure Review: Highwarden Slogg from Cosmic Legions by Four Horsemen Studios

   I was definitely aware of the Four Horsemen Studios' Cosmic Legions line but I didn't preorder the initial series or anything. I really do like Mythic Legions but typically the only figures I pick up from it
 are the Masters of the Universe tribute characters. When I learned that Four Horsemen Studios was bringing those tribute to figures Cosmic Legions, I started paying more attention to the line. Besides just Opor-A-Tiv83 and Sskur'ge, I realized that I liked the figures. A lot of the figures, really. I went and preordered two figures and figured I'd wait patiently. But then I learned that a really cool collectibles store not far from me, Needless Toys & Collectibles, was having a midnight release for the launch of the line at 12:01am on July 27th. Well... I ended up heading out late at night in the middle of the week with my friend and former podcasting partner Andrew to drive a county or so over looking for some Cosmic Legions. And that, good readers, is how I ended up with Highwarden Slogg. 

   Highwarden Slogg is the main boss of Hvalkatar, a mining complex and prison operated by T.U.5.C.C. that's key to the story of Cosmic Legions thus far. Hvalkatar isn't known for it's rehabilitation methods but instead for hosting gladiatorial combat using the prisoners and for mining and refining Thryxium, a valuable substance that helps keep Slogg alive. It's in Highwarden Slogg's best interests to keep things running smoothly on Hvalkatar. Let's see how this massive monstrous meanie gets the job done, after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 7 3/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel hinge ankles, mid-leg swivels, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, swivel waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed head neck base, and a swivel head.

Accessories: 2 swappable portraits, 4 interchangeable hands, data screen, 2 small Thryxium canisters, 2 large Thryxium canisters, and a dome.

Non-Scalper Price: $120 dollars

The Positives:

* Slogg is a big guy. Not tall tall, or anything, as he's just a little bit taller than the average guys, but he's big around. Like double or triple the mass. The Four Horsemen have started calling Highwarden Slogg a "meatball" class figure, so it's likely we'll see some of these guys again. He's very impressive looking and definitely doesn't feel cheap.

* In fact, Highwarden Slogg is heavy. Very heavy. He ways well over 2 pounds. Yeah, I know it's kind of silly to judge a figure by it's weight but it's not often that you find a figure this heavy. I really wasn't sure about Slogg at first as he seemed still too small for the price but, when I picked him up in the store and carried him around a bit, I definitely decided that I wanted him. There's just something about an oversized, deluxe feeling figure like this that seems really cool. He feels like a mixture of Jabba the Hutt, Lawrence Limburger from Biker Mice From Mars, a Sontaran, and Baron Harkonnen, so he has a perfect sci-fi/ fantasy vibe to him. 

* Highwarden Slogg is a beast, sure, but he's also a very impressive looking figure. He's an expensive figure, sure, when you look at him it doesn't feel like any shortcuts were taken. From the intense drybrushing that gives his damaged skin a burnt, scaly appearance, to the smallest detail of his suit, you're getting something pretty special here. Pictures of this guy just don't do him justice. Being able to see the texture and color each little detail in hand really impresses. He's just a great design, too. Based on concept art by Eric Treadaway, Slogg does an impressive job of setting the tone for the world of Cosmic Legions. 

 

* Highwarden Slogg has a big head, but you kind of have to if you're going to run a massive prison/ mining operation hybrid. He also just has a large noggin, too. He's kind of fishy looking. He just looks unpleasant to be around, especially with that nasty grimace on his face. His beady eye is piercing!

* There is a lot of impressive sculpting on the sides of Slogg's head and a smart mix of colors really brings all of it to life. 

* Slogg's second portrait shows him being pretty pissed off as some underling who had failed him or at some prisoner who has defied him. Check out those teeth! He has a wicked set of sharp teeth that match his nasty disposition perfectly. 

* Highwarden Slogg comes with a clear plastic dome that fits over head and connects into his customized moisture suit. I love how the dome actually looks frosted, as if Slogg is breathing inside of it or it's being misted up by the presence of Thryxium. 

* It's kind of neat how Slogg's head moves: It fits over a post, so it simply turns, but that post is connected to a "plate" that's the neck of his suit. The "plate" is on a balljoint, so it moves quite freely and still looks like the rest of the suit's neckpiece and collar are moving with him. Very clever!

* Here's a closeup shot of the Thryxium canisters and the pipes all over the front of Highwarden Slogg's customized moisture suit. He was exposed to a foreign atmosphere when he was younger and still lives in pain due to the injuries and burns sustained. The Thryxium helps to moisturize and sooth him, so there are all kinds of tubes and pipes to carry the moisture and Thrxxium to his most vital areas. 

* Here's a better look at the canisters of Thryxium, a regenerative serum of some sort. They are removable from Slogg's suit, so you can use them as props or have him change them out for photos. 

* I'm just really impressed by how every little bit of this figure is covered with detail. Check out the various ports and sprockets and such on the sleeves, presumably places to hook up various pieces of gear. Since this armor was customized for Slogg, it's also possible those are leftover connections from whatever this bit of his moisturization suit used to be. 

* Highwarden Slogg is a member/ employee of the T.U.5.C.C., so he's sporting their logo on his left sleeve. It's a sharp looking print! The T.U.5.C.C. employees and troops seem to be the main baddies of Cosmic Legions so far, or at least the antagonists for the prisoners forced to rise up against their sadistic captors. 

* Slogg has a pretty sophisticated device with a connection point and a cylinder of some sort right over his waste. Lots of gauges, buttons, and dials too. Do you think this is some sort of place for liquid disposal. You know...like when he needs to take a leak? The green LED screen looks like it says 264789 in the Cosmic Legions font, so maybe that's some measure of how much fluid our boy Slogg is holding here. 

* His right hip has some armored bits over the suit as well as another valve or dial of some sort, along with a symbol. It's either a simplified version of the T.U.5.C.C. logo or it says "DTC" in the Cosmic Legions alphabet. I tried to translate the writing on Slogg's hip plate but it seems like gibberish as I was just getting random letters that didn't seem to spell anything. 

* On his left hip and left side of his belt are more devices: A control panel, more dials and ports, and a better view of something that looks like it might help to support Slogg's knees. 

* His feet are very cool. He's got too massive toes with a third digit on the back and a very angled heel.

* What could this be on the back of his moisturization life support suit? A generator for the suit, perhaps, or maybe some sort of humidifier?

* He's also sporting a major port on his lower backside, another cylindrical tube, and something that kind of looks like a satchel. What do you think Slogg stores in there?

* Slogg comes with two sets of hands. A standard pair of gripping hands and a pair of fists. They swap easily and have some decent substance to them.

* Slogg isn't built like a ninja, so don't expect him to move like one. While he's a stout fellow, there is a lot of articulation here and most of it moves quite nicely. It's very woven into the sculpt, too, with most of it somewhat hidden. He's definitely very fun and sturdy, too.

* Highwarden Slogg comes with a data pad that plugs into the back of his armor via a long , rubbery cord. The cord doesn't detach from the data pad but it does easily plug into a port on his armor. It's plenty long enough and doesn't come loose easily, so no frustration here. 

* The data pad is a pretty decent sized device that apparently monitors and controls the life support functions of Slogg's suit. It's very nicely designed and has the T.U.5.C.C. logo stamped on the side.

* The screen itself has a cool schematic-like image of Slogg in his suit while the control panel has a dial and lots of colorful buttons on it.

The Negatives:

* My only complaint about the figure itself is that there was one time when I got Slogg's dome on the figure nice and tight and then couldn't get it off. Eventually I had to use a little heat and one of those kitchen gripper things to pull it out. I haven't had any issues since then, but do be careful. 

   First things first, Highwarden Slogg is a bit pricey. He was definitely one of the first figures that caught my eye in the line, but it wasn't until I had him in my hand that I was able to bite the bullet and pick him up. He's incredibly cool. While expensive, there's a real quality about him; nearly every sculpted detail, paint application, and design element is just perfection. I really would have liked a few more extras, though, perhaps some extra canisters of Thyrxium, another set of hands, and some sort of weapon that he could utilize. Still, I'm very happy and I can't help but feel he's one of the most unique figures in my collection and definitely the highlight of the first series of Comsic Legions figures, Hvalkatar: Book One. He's a Great and a 1/2 piece that really gets me excited for what all is to come in this line.

This is the first figure of Highwarden Slogg I've reviewed on the site.