After the death of Apollo Creed at the hands of Ivan Drago, Rocky Balboa begins an intense training regimen to take on the powerful Russian boxer. Rocky heads to Russia, where he faces the opponent who would end his boxing career. Yesterday we shared our gallery for the new Rocky 40th Anniversary Series 2 Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago Figures. Today we’re back with the last two figures from series 2. Today we have a new set of photos from NECA’s Rocky IV wave, featuring Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago (red trunks).
The figures were supplied by Toyark sponsor Entertainment Earth. For this shoot we have over 55 photos and a review of the figures. Read on to check them out.
Related Entertainment Earth Links: NECA Series 2 Rocky Balboa, NECA Rocky and Mickey Puppet Maquette 2-Pack, All Rocky Collectibles
Rocky 40th Anniversary Series 2 Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago
Pros
- Another good Drago figure
- Rocky includes some fun extras
- Good likenesses on both figures
- Good articulation
- Nice details on the gloves and shoes
- Solid joints on both figures
Cons
- Rocky included two left hands
Overall
As with Apollo and yellow trunks Drago, these figures come packaged in nice collector friendly window boxes. The front features nice metallic foil art for the character, and a nice open window to see the figure and any accessories. The back of the packaging includes the poster for Rocky IV and a photo check list for Rocky Series 2. Each figure sits on a plastic tray with a few twist ties. Ivan Drago (red trunks) includes no additional accessories, but has a different head sculpt than the yellow trunks version. Rocky includes a flag accessory and an interchangeable bloody head sculpt.
These are two more solid Rocky offerings from NECA. Like the Apollo and yellow trunks Drago, these two features strong sculpts and good paint apps. The eye paint on these two are aligned more accurately, so that issue is gone. Rocky is a really strong release here, as it includes the draped flag accessory (last seen with the Video Game Rocky Figure), and an alternate bloody head sculpt. The head sculpts are pretty good here. The main head sculpt is more recognizable (obviously), but the bloody head sculpt is a great “getting clobbered by a giant Russian” sculpt.Paint work is pretty strong on Rocky, though the 5 o’clock shadow is a little odd looking. Some nice touches include the blood splatters on his trunks and upper body. Dragon comes in red trunks this time and has a meaner looking head sculpt, more fit for boxing photos. Paint work on Drago is just as good as the yellow trunks version, but his eyes definitely look better here.
The figure has decent articulation, allowing for some great boxing poses. The shorts on them hinder hip movement a bit, but I heated them (hair dryer) up and it gave a far greater range of motion. Joints were strong, with no noticeable looseness and no paint locking issues. The only gripe is that the Rocky included two left handed gloves. I swapped them out for the gloves from the Rocky III figure for this shoot.
The entire assortment wound up being really enjoyable to shoot. If you missed out on any of the original Rocky releases, these are definitely worthwhile pick ups. I am holding out hope for a 3rd series of figures. Check out some highlight photos below and the full gallery after that.
Rocky 40th Anniversary Series 2 Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago – Toyark Photo Shoot
Yeah, don't see much of a likeness with either Apollo head but the rest of the figure is so nice its not really a big deal, imo.
This whole wave is very well-done. And great photos as usual, Joe, blah, blah, blah...
Hey Joe (or anyone, really), I have some questions about Apollo. First, what are the wrists like after you pop the boxing gloves off (provided the gloves are removable)? Is it a little peg that a standard NECA hand would fit on, or something else? Also, does anyone who knows anything about dissembling NECA figures know if it's possible to separate this figure at the waist? I'm thinking of putting Apollo's upper body on a Dutch lower and finally having a Dillon all my very own. Doable?
Hey Joe (or anyone, really), I have some questions about Apollo. First, what are the wrists like after you pop the boxing gloves off (provided the gloves are removable)? Is it a little peg that a standard NECA hand would fit on, or something else? Also, does anyone who knows anything about dissembling NECA figures know if it's possible to separate this figure at the waist? I'm thinking of putting Apollo's upper body on a Dutch lower and finally having a Dillon all my very own. Doable?
He got hit so hard his eyes crossed!
I didn't think the jacket was removable - how did you get it off?
#1. great photo shoot. Lately I've really been enjoying the shots you do for different figures.
2. Thanks for now making me want a Creed figure. I had NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER FOR HIM.. Because of that hat and jacket. now that I've seen him without, I'd like to own that..and pose him next to ole' clubber.
I love this Creed figure so much- Apollo was frickin' awesome, I HAD to have this version. I haven't picked up Ivan yet, but he's next on the list...
...and some payback!
took me a second but haha @ ^^^
and yeah i'm def getting that figure now..
Like Joe said, the gloved hands from Jungle Extraction Dutch fit perfectly on Apollo's arms.
It's an easy mod but the results are nearly factory perfect. Good luck!
Like Joe said, the gloved hands from Jungle Extraction Dutch fit perfectly on Apollo's arms.
It's an easy mod but the results are nearly factory perfect. Good luck!
Seriously though, that sounds way easy. I'm totally doing it! I'll hit up TRU tomorrow and grab an Apollo and when the Predator 30th wave hits I'll grab an extra Dutch to cannibalize. Thanks for the tips!
BTW, can you post a pic of your Dillon custom? I'd like to see how good it looks.
The only reason I'm holding off building my own Dillon (well- other than the $40+ in parts
) is that NECA has got to be planning it out since they got his likeness rights with Rocky... unless Weathers is being a jerk about the property I can't see how a Dillon figure isn't dropping within the next year...
Seriously though, that sounds way easy. I'm totally doing it! I'll hit up TRU tomorrow and grab an Apollo and when the Predator 30th wave hits I'll grab an extra Dutch to cannibalize. Thanks for the tips!
BTW, can you post a pic of your Dillon custom? I'd like to see how good it looks.
It's a fun and rewarding mod to do and the results are great. There's a bit of a gap around the hips, but you could glue the overlay down to minimize it.
The hat used is from a Mezco Heroes Skylar (fits without any mods to the head), though I've been meaning to upgrade to a hat from a Mattel Elite HHH figure, which is the exact military style Dillon wore. I was waiting on this new Apollo so I could get some extra heads to dremel the hair down on. The vest is from Jungle Patrol Dutch.
It's a fun and rewarding mod to do and the results are great. There's a bit of a gap around the hips, but you could glue the overlay down to minimize it.
The hat used is from a Mezco Heroes Skylar (fits without any mods to the head), though I've been meaning to upgrade to a hat from a Mattel Elite HHH figure, which is the exact military style Dillon wore. I was waiting on this new Apollo so I could get some extra heads to dremel the hair down on. The vest is from Jungle Patrol Dutch.
It's a fun and rewarding mod to do and the results are great. There's a bit of a gap around the hips, but you could glue the overlay down to minimize it.
The hat used is from a Mezco Heroes Skylar (fits without any mods to the head), though I've been meaning to upgrade to a hat from a Mattel Elite HHH figure, which is the exact military style Dillon wore. I was waiting on this new Apollo so I could get some extra heads to dremel the hair down on. The vest is from Jungle Patrol Dutch.
Yeah, I see what you mean about the slight gap at the hips, but it's really not bad at all. I might even have a spare Commando figure lying around somewhere, so if I use that I won't even have to paint the pants. I'm totally doing this...thanks for posting the pics!
BTW, where did you get the twin machine guns from? They're perfect!
It's a fun and rewarding mod to do and the results are great. There's a bit of a gap around the hips, but you could glue the overlay down to minimize it.
The hat used is from a Mezco Heroes Skylar (fits without any mods to the head), though I've been meaning to upgrade to a hat from a Mattel Elite HHH figure, which is the exact military style Dillon wore. I was waiting on this new Apollo so I could get some extra heads to dremel the hair down on. The vest is from Jungle Patrol Dutch.
Yeah, I see what you mean about the slight gap at the hips, but it's really not bat at all. I might even have a spare Commando figure lying around somewhere, so if I use that I won't even have to paint the pants. I'm totally doing this...thanks for posting the pics!
BTW, where did you get the twin machine guns from? They're perfect!
The guns are actually from the NECA Cult Classics John McClane figure...so they're unfortunately not readily available anymore, but there might be a more recent version somewhere.
Great like I needed another reason to get more figures, duplicates at that
Keep reading: Rocky Series 2 - Toyark Galleries - Page 2
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