ARCHIVE: Diamond Select Stargate SG-1 Series 1

Article originally published 08/14/2006 at figures.com

There is no science fiction television show that has been in production longer or generated more new episodes than Stargate SG-1. What began in 1997 as a fledgling offspring to the successful 1994 movie has become the longest running sci-fi show in history. Naturally, the show’s staying power has incited a fan base whose devotion rivals even the most hardcore group of Trekkies.

Earlier this year, Diamond Select unveiled plans to release figures based on Stargate SG-1. This announcement led to much speculation among fan groups. Would the figures and their accessories be faithful to the series? How close would the sculpt represent the characters that fans have grown to love? Will we finally be able to assemble our own mini Stargate? Now that Series 1 of this line is hitting stores, fans can finally get their hands on what has become some of the most anticipated sci-fi figures in recent memory.

For this review, I will be looking at the three main figures from this series. I was able to get my hands on Colonel Jack O’Neil, Dr. Daniel Jackson and the Serpent Guard. Also available in Series 1 are two variants of Jack O’Neil; Black Ops Jack and General Jack O’Neil. How do these figures stack up against their legendary television counterparts? Has Diamond Select redeemed themselves from their former missteps with some of their previous live-action based lines? Let’s take a look at Stargate SG-1 Series 1 and find out.

PACKAGING:
Diamond Select is one of the few companies not currently releasing their figures in the popular plastic clamshell style packaging. This is somewhat nice, as it lends more real-estate to include artwork and character information on the cardboard backing. However, collectors who like to keep their figures in-package may be disappointed with this line. I sorted through a full case of figures and wasn’t able to find a single package that wasn’t damaged in some way. All the packages showed wear in the form of a creased card or dented bubble. Though the packaging does display the figure and its accessories nicely, the poor quality might frustrate collectors who prefer to hang their figures on the wall.

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS:
This was the first main test for Diamond Select when producing Stargate figures. Could they come up with a sculpt that captured the distinct likeness of each member of SG-1? Diamond found their answer when they chose Jean St. Jean Studios to handle the sculpting for this line. The detail on each figure is amazing. Both Jack O’Neil and Daniel Jackson look stunningly close to their characters on the show. Face sculpts, especially those based on real-life characters, are difficult to capture. The artists at Jean St. Jean Studios truly brought these figures to life with the realistic head sculpts. O’Neil and Jackson appear in their Air-Force uniforms, which also look great. A large amount of attention was paid to include the various folds, creases and pockets that make SG-1’s uniforms look authentic.

The centerpiece of this series is the amazing Serpent Guard. Diamond Select could release a series compiled just with different versions of this figure and I’d be happy. The detail in the Serpent Guard’s armor is among some of the most intricate that I have seen in a 7” scale action figure. Each fold, groove, link and layer in the Guard’s armor has been meticulously recreated by Jean St. Jean Studios. He comes with two interchangeable heads (armored and unarmored) but really displays the best with the armored version.

PAINT AND COLOR:
Again, the Serpent Guard really stands out in this category. The Guard’s uniform is colored primarily in shades of grey. However, each sculpted groove in the armor is highlighted with either silver or white, which gives the figure an amazing amount of depth. The armored helm is the centerpiece of this figure and includes the most amount of paint detail. The addition of red eyes to the serpent helm is a nice touch and provides excellent contrast with the grey and black armor.

As mentioned above, Colonel Jack O’Neil and Dr. Daniel Jackson appear in their standard SG-1 field uniforms. These are a solid olive color, so paint isn’t much of a concern here. However, each figure includes Stargate and SG-1 patches painted onto the shoulders. The paint apps on these patches are crisp and they really stand out against the dark uniforms. The silver snaps on Jack’s black & grey vest are a nice addition. The paint on Jack and Daniel’s face and hands are nicely detailed, but are a bit glossy. This makes for some odd-looking glare when the figures are displayed directly under a light source.

ARTICULATION:
Each figure in Series 1 includes fully articulated arms, hands and head. The multiple points of articulation in the arms and hands make it easy for all three figures to hold their weapons in a variety of poses. However, the lack of foot or knee joints in Jack O’Neil and Daniel Jackson make it difficult to display these figures in anything but a standing position. The Serpent Guard has slightly more mobility from the waist down. He features articulated knees, hip joints and cut joints on the thighs. However, the Guard’s armor drapes down and over his upper thigh, making it difficult to take advantage of the hip joints. When the Serpent Guard is displayed with his armored helm, he becomes rather top-heavy. Be aware of this before you perch him atop your book case. He could become a dangerous projectile if he isn’t balanced well. Also missing from these figures are peg-holes on the feet. These would have made it much easier to utilize stands and keep the figures upright once they are equipped with all their accessories.

ACCESSORIES:
One of the coolest features of this line is that each figure includes a piece to a giant Stargate display! Jack O’Neil and Daniel Jackson come with a piece of the Stargate itself, while the Serpent Guard comes packaged with part of the ramp and railing. The rest of the pieces are included in Series 2, which is due out this October. Once assembled, the entire display measures approximately 16” tall.

Each figure comes with a weapon and other character-specific accessories. The Serpent Guard includes a staff weapon (with two interchangeable head pieces), two heads (with and without armor), Zat gun and flash bomb. Colonel Jack O’Neil comes with his famous P-90, a Zat gun, radio and removable vest. Dr. Daniel Jackson’s accessories are a Zat gun, radio, eyeglasses, floppy hat, magnifying glass and a piece of parchment.

For the most part, each figure is able to hold its respective weapon with ease. Jack O’Neil and the Serpent Guard look the best. O’Neil and the Guard are able to be displayed with their weapons in a number of unique poses. Daniel Jackson is able to hold his Zat but due to the gun’s relatively small size, there isn’t much posing that needs to be done. I found Daniel’s other accessories to be the most frustrating to work with. I had a difficult time getting the parchment and magnifying glass to stay in his hands. His hat looked out of scale when placed on his head and the eyeglasses just didn’t look right on his face.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I was sold on this line when I first saw the Serpent Guard. My Stargate display won’t be complete until I have six or seven of these bad boys standing watch around it. Jack and Daniel are great, though they both have some paint and articulation issues. Despite these minor gripes I am looking forward to Series 2, which is set to include Teal’c, Samantha Carter and Commander Thor.

These figures are instantly going to appeal to Stargate fans. After 10 seasons of episodes, Stargate SG-1 figures were long overdue. Series 1 is in comic shops and specialty stores now for around $15 each. The price point wasn’t a deterrent for me since I knew that each figure included a piece of the gigantic Stargate display. Variant hunters and those looking for a full set of Series 1 may be frustrated with availability of ‘General’ Jack O’Neil, who is only available one per case. ‘Black Ops’ Jack is available as a Previews Exclusive, so he may also be a tough one to track down.

Another neat feature is that Diamond is offering a free variant Serpent Guard to anyone who sends in four proofs of purchase from Series 1. Considering how amazing the regular Serpent Guard is, this offer probably won’t last long. Get out to your local comic shop and pick up Stargate SG-1 Series 1 today!