Packaging: Carded 12" action figure with a free VHS cartoon tape strapped over the front of the card. "Old Friend, New Enemy" is the title of the cartoon. Vitriol is the name of the new enemy.
Headsculpt: Max Steel gave us Jeremy McGrath about a year ago, and now comes Vitriol! The face looks like it should be Arnold Schwarzenegger's ugly brother. The molded-on costume and electric-light-up arms remind me of one of the characters from The Running Man. The new headsculpt is very sadistic looking. Any collector of the Dragon Nazi figures should buy one of these and put him into an SS outfit. For those who like mean-looking U.S. soldiers, Vitriol can look like a good old boy from Minnesota who joined the Marines. You can transplant his head onto a Classic Collection G.I. Joe body if you A) pull the head off of the Vitriol body; B) cut the KEN-BARBIE-MATTEL neckpost nipple off; C) pop it on a Classic Collection neckpost. On the right is a photo of Vitriol dressed in a Vietnam OD outfit on a CC GI Joe body.
The Action Figure: Stiff green arms and a Max Steel torso with a molded-on battle armor. A button on the left side of Vitriol's armor lights up his green arms with green lights and a noise which sounds like a screeching motor emits from his chest. This is a pretty cool figure for kids or anyone who wants to add a space invader, cyborg, or Terminator type of character to their science fiction diorama or villain corps. This is also the kind of oddball character that may not move off the shelf and may have been produced in small numbers to begin with. Thirty years from now, Vitriol may be going for big bucks at the Collector Conventions. Or not.
The Outfit: Vitriol is issued a pair of green pants and little black booties for his KEN size feet. This character reminds me of a Zeroid or Bulletman and it would have looked better if the whole body were done as some kind of robot or cyborg. Having a mechanical upper body and green arms that are supposed to emit electricity-radiation does not match with the human legs. A totally mechanized or robotic Vitriol would have looked better. That's just a preference, though.
Overall: For $9.99 you get a new headsculpt and a very funky body which lights up and makes an irritating grinding sound. Excellent for kids or any customizer who would like to play Dr. Frankenstein with the head and body. Did I mention the free cartoon?? It makes a great gift.
Grade: B
