Harry Potter Year Two Box Set

At last a decent Richard Harris-era Dumbledore! No offense to Michael Gambone, but he does not have the distant congeniality or humor of Richard Harris that seems intrinsic to the character of Dumbledore in the books. The Michael Gambone Dumbledore always seems p----d and portentous. And those dirty sharp fingernails! Where did those come from? Besides the bowl-cut Harry with wand, there are also the most important accessories from The Chamber of Secrets: Fawkes the Phoenix, the Sorting Hat, and the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. Everything is beautifully sculpted, the figures are adequately articulated, and the whole package was about $30.00. Made by NECA Reel Toys.

As a side note, it won't be long until J. K. Rowlings' next little opus in the world of Harry Potter will be out: The Tales of Beedle the Bard. This is a slim collection of five "fairy tales" told in the wizarding world, as established in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It hasn't taken long for Rowling to re-visit her money maker, and it will be just in time to whip up a little furor for the next Potter movie.

Don't get me wrong: I've enjoyed the Potter books, but I don't think they are superior to any of half a dozen other "juvenile" fantasy series. They merely had better p.r. and merchandising. Perhaps now that the series is over and the mysteries are all explained, the mania can die down and a more just evaluation of her accomplishments can be achieved. But we'll probably have to wait for the last movie adaptation to come out before that will happen.

In the meantime we can hope for more great action figures. Where's the Professor McGonagall? Does Maggie Smith just not want her likeness reproduced? Or is it the prejudice against female action figures? Get cracking, NECA!

Professor Dumbledore

I've been trying to get a good Dumbledore figure since Mattel came out with their first line from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, where the Dumbledore figure was based on the appearance and performance of the late Richard Harris. Due to some sort of production problems (I think he was given two left hands) release was limited and delayed, and because he was such a popular character he was snatched up quickly. I never found one, and the ones available now go for inflated prices. Mattel came out with a second Dumbledore figure, based on Michael Gambone's personation in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I didn't like this figure, mainly because it was produced in a different scale to the other figures, and seemed clumsy and blocky.

At last NECA (http://www.necaonline.com/) has come out with a great version of Dumbledore, and I have actually been able to get one. I got mine at the local Hastings, for $14.99. The sculpt is great, the scale almost compatible with the Mattel figures (especially the children), and the details are fine. Further good news gladdens my heart: I learn in the February issue of Toyfare: The Toy Magazine (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/) that the people at NECA are planning a line of figures from previous Harry Potter movies to include a Richard Harris Dumbledore (replete with cool accessories) and Mad-Eye Moody.

The picture accompanying this post is from the product card. I would like to include images of the actual figures I have, and if I had my old scanner I could have. On that one I could lay a 3D figure down and it would just take a picture. The scanner I have now seems to only work with flat images. I suppose I will have to get a digital camera if I want to have such pictures, especially from older toys from which I have no packaging.