Nothing but Nero

RED ALERT — This action figure review contains minor spoilers about the new Star Trek film — SET CONDITION 1 THROUGHOUT THE BLOG.

Back in the day, I collected almost every Star Trek action figure made by Galoob and Playmates. Today, I'm a superbig collector of Hasbro's Star Wars figures. So, when the new Star Trek film was announced and Playmates was given the contract to create new action figures, I assumed I'd be collecting all of them, too.

Not so. It ain't happening, much to my very great surprise (and relief, perhaps, given the recession). Although Playmates has gone all-out in creating three different lines/sizes of Star Trek figures/dolls, I'm not "gaga" over most of them ... except for the new villain, Nero, who's a Romulan mining captain. I bought him quite enthusiastically — the 6-inch "Warp Collection" figure, that is.

Nero isn't military, so he's costumed in a brown tunic, slacks and cloak (which, in the Warp Collection, is made of something "rubbery" that "jiggles" when you shake the box). His head is bald, except for the eyebrows, and bears the ancient Romulan symbols of love and loss that he's had painted (or burned) on. Also, Nero is packaged with the "Teral'n," a staff with four sharp blades on one end.

Finally, if you look carefully, Nero's right ear is rounded, not pointed, so ... something's happened there.

We'll find out about that and much more on Friday morning at the 12:01 a.m. showing of Star Trek! Woo-hoo!