Wrapping Up 2023: Grail Knight from Indiana Jones: Adventure Series by Hasbro

 

   Hey! This figure doesn't have a hat or a suit! That makes the Grail Knight, the unnamed eldest brother of Sir Richard, a pretty unique figure in this line. Hasbro's Indiana Jones: Adventure Series was a line I was really looking forward to in 2023 but also one that disappointed me. Well, the figures themselves are overall quite good, but the character selection is bizarre and incomplete. When you think about the figures Hasbro made, are there any movies scenes you can actually recreate with figures where multiple characters interact? The only two I can think of are Indy and Sallah locating the Map Room in Tannis from Raiders and the Grail chamber from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Hasbro has released Indy, Walter Donovan, Elsa Schneider, and the Grail Knight, (along with Henry Jones Sr. and Marcus Brody who wasn't there, but who was right outside). Considering those figures and the Build-an-Artifact of the Holy Grail table, you can put together a nice scene. Too bad we didn't get a Last Crusade version of Sallah. The Grail Knight is definitely a cool figure and while he doesn't have much screen time in the film, he's very recognizable and stands out from the rest of the collection. The 2008 Indiana Jones collection also included the Grail Knight, so he definitely has a precedent in Indiana Jones collection, but this guy is truly a nice upgrade. Let's take a look at the Grail Knight after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 3/8ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/ hinge knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, swivel/hinge elbows, balljointed wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: Sword, scabbard, cape, Holy Grail, 3 false grails, and torch and relief for the Grail Table Build-an-Artifact.

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars

The Positives:

* The Grail Knight is just a really cool looking figure. He's completely a unique sculpt and I can't imagine any other figure that could be made from this, though I could imagine some fans of Hasbro's various Dungeons & Dragons lines turning the Grail Knight into a Paladin. He doesn't seem to be wearing all of his armor and is mostly covered by a quilted gambeson, though there is chain mail visible on his hands and forearms, so he's presumably wearing a hauberk under there. The ornate cross on his gambeson is painted quite sharply, adding a nice splash of color to the figure.

* The portrait is spot on. This looks just like the late Robert Eddison with a very noble yet ethereal appearance. The face printing and sculpt is incredible and it's truly laid into a very nice chain mail coif. There is a barbell joint underneath the chain mail, though it does have restricted movement. 

* Here's a closer look at the detail on the quilted gambeson and the details on the crusader's belt. The Grail Knight's belts aren't separate pieces but they do have a lot of sculpted, somewhat Celtic looking, designs. 

* The cape is quite long and is sculpted to look like it is draping on the ground. It plugs into a hole on the back of the figure, though the rope on the front also fits over the knight's head. The (non-functioning) hood is sculpted on and there's another painted cross on the left shoulder. 

* Since the Grail Knight was ancient (nearly 900 years old, kind of like Yoda), he had some problems when trying to attack Indy and defend the Holy Grail. This guy doesn't have any articulation problems, though. I mean, yeah, the quilted outfit might impede his movement a little bit, but it's only really noticeable on his neck and head due to his chain mail coif. The rest of his joints are excellent and he's quite fun to play with. The bottom of his gambeson even has some severe cuts in it so you can move his legs freely. 

* When guarding the Holy Grail, the Grail Knight keeps his sword at the ready. It's a great sculpt and it looks very sharp and very detailed. He's evidently been taking great care of it.

* There is a removable scabbard that plugs into the side of the Grail Knight's belt. It holds his sword well and keeps it right at his side. 

* The Grail Knight includes the true Holy Grail, the cup of a carpenter, which is said to have been used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper and which caught some of his blood when his side was pierced by the Spear of Longinus. This is a great accessory that looks just like the movie prop. Hasbro chose wisely including this with the Grail Knight.  

* I do plan on reviewing the Grail Table as it was honestly one of my biggest incentives for picking up a few of the figures in this series (on sale and clearance at the end of 2023), but even on their own the extras included with the Grail Knight are pretty cool. You get two additional false grails, one of the silver reliefs, and one of the braziers sitting on the grail table. Even if you don't build the table, the false grails and the braziers are pretty nice accessories. 

The Negatives:

* While I like how the Grail Knight's sword can peg onto the side of his belt, the peg isn't very long and can come detached easily. Maybe a longer peg would have worked or, better yet, a loop in the belt for the scabbard to fit through. 

   The Grail Knight is a very cool figure and one that I imagine would have some crossover appeal to a number of collectors; there aren't many action figures of knights like this that I can think of. He's a really cool figure and I'm quite glad he made the cut for the Adventure Series. Honestly, he's a pretty Epic figure and he's one of the few figures from the last series or two of the line that I paid full price for. He really stands out in the line but also is crucial for recreating the Grail chamber scene. Give him the shield from Indiana Jones (Professor) and you'll have a really cool knight to protect your shelf!

This is the first figure of the Grail Knight I've reviewed. For more Indiana Jones: Adventure Series reviews check out the following:

Indiana Jones: Adventure Series by Hasbro (2023)
Indiana Jones (Cairo)
Indiana Jones (Club Obi Wan)
Indiana Jones (Map Room)

Indiana Jones (Professor)

Indiana Jones (Temple Escape)
Major Arnold Toht