Action Figure Review: Major Noir from The Order of the Crimson Moon by Fresh Monkey Fiction & Big Bad Woorkshop

 

   I really appreciate the great response and kind comments I've received for my review of Count Ironmoon from Fresh Monkey Fiction and Big Bad Workshop's The Order of the Crimson Moon toyline so today I'm excited to check out Major Noir, another figure in the line who pays tribute to the Action Force villains from the vintage Palitoy toyline. The Order of the Crimson Moon is definitely a spinoff line of Operation Monster Force but it set in 1974 in Transylvania and focused on a werewolf cult. Major Noir is the second-in-command of the Crimson Moon Army, a devious faction that wants to take over the world and doom humanity. Like with Count Ironmoon, Major Noir is heavily inspired by an Action Force figure; this time the Black Major. Whether you're a fan of the vintage Palitoy Action Force, you want a new villain for Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series, or you're using these guys to supplement Operation Monster Force, there's a lot to love here. Heck, this guy comes with three swappable portraits that allow for some real versatility. Ready to check out Major Noir? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 1/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, thigh swivels, balljointed drop-down hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid-torso, lateral pectoral hinges, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, forearm swivels, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, hinged neck, and a balljointed head. 

Accessories: Hat, pistol, magazine, 2 firing effects, 3 swappable portraits, 3 swappable necks, knife, 9 swappable hands, 4 swappable wolf hands, and display stand.

Non-Scalper Price: $38-$40 dollars

The Positives:

* There's a lot of reuse here from other figures such as Doctor Caligari from Operation Monster Force, but that's kind of the name of the game with this range of figures: Shared parts. Still, who cares when the figures look this good and capture the vision for the character? Major Noir has a distinctly fascist look to his wardrobe and is chilling in a black trench coat with red highlights. The trench coat is two parts, both of which set over the base body. They're slightly flexible, though there's no reason or need to move the upper torso. I like the Red Shadows inspired skull and crossbones lapel decorations, too. That's a really nice touch!

* I actually showed off this portrait in my review of Count Ironmoon as this portrait for Major Noir is inspired by the headsculpt of the vintage Palitoy Action Force Baron Ironblood. It's a cool portrait and I dig that Major Noir looks like a seasoned yet suave soldier. I've got a few silver streaks in my hair these days, so I appreciate having some troops that are on the older side. I love the pencil thin mustache and the goatee. There's some great personality here!

* Like with Count Ironmoon, Major Noir's hat fits on his head quite nicely. It's very snug and secure which impresses me considering the type of hat this is. It's very similar to the Black Major from the vintage Action Force line and is a neat "throwback" to that part of toy history. Here's another fun fact:  The Black Major figure that was released in the 2010 G.I. Joe Collector's Club "Vacation in the Shadows" set reused the head from the 1993 M. Bison figure. Cool!

* What if you want Major Noir to be all armored up for battle, or perhaps you want him to be a troop builder? He comes with an alternate portrait that is a Crimon Moon helmet. How cool is this? The red triangle with the skull and crossbones looks really nice and is an impressive portrait. It's quite intimidating! There's even an alternate all black neck to really complete the look. 

* But wait! What if you want Major Noir to completely show off his wild werewolf powers? Then you can swap out his head, neck, and hands and turn him into a white and grey furred wolfman. How amazing is that? That's what I'd like to see more of in toylines: Characters who can turn into wolfmen. I think that would solve a lot of the world's problems, really. 

* I'm still quite impressed wit the quality of these figures. Articulation-wise you're getting a figure that has the same joints as a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure or some of the newer Action Force figures, but the plastic feels firmer. Most join movement is quite smooth, too. I think there is an improvement here even over Operation Monster Force series 2. Major Noir has some leg restriction due to his long coat, sure, but the bottom of the coat is made from a very pliable and rubbery material, so most poses aren't hindered all that much.

* Major Noir has the same set of nine swappable hands that Count Ironmoon has: A pointing right hand, a pair of grasping hands, a pair of pistol grips, a pair of standard grips, and a pair of fists. 

* He also has a pair of werewolf hands for when he's in his werewolf form. There's a pair of open hands, perhaps ready for fighting, and a pair of standard grips for holding stuff. 

* This pistol is really cool! I love the design. It definitely has something of a retro-futuristic vibe to it but it also has a fairly large forward magazine, so it's clearly a projectile weapon that fires ammunition. The barrel holds a firing effect and the weapon gets a dark wash to emphasize the details. 

* The magazine is also removable. With the magazine removed, the pistol looks a bit like a German Bergman No. 1 (the inspiration for Din Djarin's blaster in The Mandalorian. 

* A combat knife is also included. It's a solid sculpt with a paint application to give it a rather realistic appearance. 

* There is a red sheath on Major Noir's right ankle. It's not easily noticeable at first, as it's kind of covered by the bottom of his coat a bit. It does hold the knife rather securely, though. 

* Need some swappable firing effects? You got them! A firing effect and a wisp of smoke are included for Major Noir's pistol. 

* Lastly, a display stand is included. It's the same flat rectangle stand included with the Soldiers of Fortune and C.O.P.S. figures, though now it's emblazoned with the logo for The Order of the Crimson Moon.

The Negatives:



* Like with Count Ironmoon, the logo on Major Noir's hat is just not at all neat or even. It looks really off when you take a second look at it. That's a bummer.

* I'm glad the extra neck pieces are included for swapping the three interchangeable heads but, my gosh, the necks are a pain to get off. They're crazy tight and it's tough to get a good grip on them. 

* I love that these guys can transform into werewolves but I have to say that I'm not completely sold on the design and paint here. For how impressive everything else in this line is, the werewolf head looks less like an actual creature and more like a Halloween mask. I think it's the paintwork, though the design could also be at fault a bit. 

Just FYI:

* Do you want to have a 1/12th scale Black Major for your shelf? Then take the body from Major Noir and add the head and hat from Count Ironmoon (as seen here) to come up with a pretty solid classic version of the character. It's not exact but it's a pretty good homage.

I'm no expert on Action Force but I do appreciate the line and it's unique history. Check out Blood for the Baron, Lexi's Toy Loft, and the excellent documentaries by Analog Toys to get caught up to speed on the classic military line from across the pond. 

   Major Noir is a cool figure as part of The Order of the Crimson Moon, as an enemy for heroes like Hellboy, Halloween Boy, or Captain America, or as part of a modern take on the Red Shadows. Having three swappable heads for three different looks is a very nice touch. Unfortunately, I'm not overly thrilled with the werewolf portrait and little stuff like the difficulty with swapping the neck pieces and the uneven skull and crossbones is a bummer. He's a Good and a 1/2 figure but I'd love to see a bit more quality control in this line, especially for the price. 



This is the first figure of Major Noir or a Crimson Moon soldier that I've reviewed. For more figures from The Order of the Crimson Moon check out the following:
Count Ironmoon