ARCHIVE: Lisa Petrucci's KICKASS KUTIES -- Penny Pirate & Leona Leopard

Article originally published 12/31/2007 at toytoons.com

From the mind of Lisa Petrucci comes the latest in a line of soft vinyl 7” figures from Dark Horse. Petrucci’s lifelong fascination with all things pop-culture related spawned the Kickass Kuties; bobblehead-esque figures, diverse as they are colorful. The line introduced itself to the urban vinyl world earlier this year with the release of Devilish Dolly and Lil Miss Monster. Today we take a look at the newest Kickass Kuties to hit stores, Penny Pirate and Lil Leona Leopard. These are two chicks that have more spunk than your average go-go dancer!

PACKAGING: Each figure comes in a clear plastic tube which delivers a nice 360 degree view. The tube is sealed with a plastic cap that is just taped on, allowing for easy re-use of the packaging. Collector’s who prefer their toys dust-free will certainly appreciate Dark Horse’s approach to this accessible and reusable packaging.

SCULPT: These figures are based off the original concepts from Lisa Petrucci’s artwork; a tribute to the pop-culture world of the 50’s and 60’s. Penny and Leona are definitely a throwback to a more free spirited and psychedelic generation. Fans of the pin-up girls from that era will definitively recognize and appreciate the resemblance.

PAINT: While both Penny and Leona sport bright cartoony colors, I can honestly say that I was a bit surprised with how crisp the paint apps are. Considering the lack of intricate detail on the soft vinyl figures, one would expect the apps to be skewed and even a bit sloppy. Not so with these figures. Each accent, from Penny’s sea-blue eyes to the spots on Leona’s pet is as crisp and vibrant as I have seen on any action figure from McFarlane or NECA.

COST & OVERALL IMPRESSION: These are statues with little articulation (save a pivot neck joint) so it really isn’t fair to call them "action figures". I’d prefer to distinguish the Kickass Kuties line as another stellar addition to the ever growing landscape of designer vinyl toys. They retail for around $25 each, which isn’t bad considering the over-inflated pricing on many of today’s more popular vinyl items. Penny the Pirate is my favorite, but I have a soft spot for the swashbuckling type. These are on shelves now and would certainly brighten the collection of anyone who is into designer toys or just loves 50’s & 60’s themed collectibles.