Art Design: The beautiful painted illustration on the front flap of the box depicts a Knight of Outremer battling a Moor. This set would have been a great two-pack (Knight vs. Moor). The Knights of the Outremer were the defenders of the Outer Realms of the Christian territories regained from the Moors during the Crusades. The back of the box provides a synopsis of their history. The inside flap of the gatefold cover provides a timeline of their military participation in the Crusades. There is a historical Osprey book about the Knights of Outremer. There were various different eras during the history of these Knights. There were many different Knights who became the leaders and/or the battle heroes. During their era, the Knights fought many different armies of Moors. That leaves the Collector with a lot of space for imagination and customization.
Headsculpt: The sculpt for the Knight of Outremer brings to mind the 1950s Charlton Heston (Ben Hur). Then again from the side profile the Knight looks a bit like a 1970s Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin). Head-on the Knight resembles Ted Levine (Leland role on Monk TV series)? The face has a lot of character sculpted into it, and yet he could be almost anyone. The Knight has a certain ruddy-cheeked Irish countenance, and yet he could be from the British Isles or Europe. The sculptor, Jossu Sakamoto, has really done an excellent job creating a distinguished and noble visage for the Knight of the Outremer.
The Outfit: The Knight's outfit is an outstanding effort by Ignite Toys. The Knight is wearing his undershirt clothing, chain mail shirt and pants, cloth head covering, chain mail balaclava hood, and bright red overcoat with the white furry trim. A thin leather belt completes the package. Up close, this outfit is breathtaking! The chain mail fabric feels like some kind of gray polyester with shiny metallic threading. It displays convincingly like chain mail. The chain mail extends to the feet which are padded with flat soles so that the figure can stand and hold a pose very well.
The Gear: The helmet, short sword and long sword are solid metal. The scabbards are hard plastic, and so is the shield. The helmet is a rugged beauty. It has that burnished metal finish. The color combination of silver and red looks great. Those Knights of the Outremer must have looked awesome in battle, and their outfits were probably a hit with the ladies of their time. The battle shield is a work of art. The outside of the shield looks like a glazed finish over the Lions on the red background. The inside of the shield has a fully padded leather forearm cushion with two leather belts with working gold buckles. A leather shoulder sling is also attached for carrying the shield. A great battle shield that inspired courage and victory over the Moors. The long sword has a gold finish with gold highlights over a green handle. The medieval Lion crest design featuring a regal rampant Lion symbolizing courage and strength is coined into the faux solid brass pommel. This Lion (which is also on the shield) has historically been on the crest of many nations, armies, and royal families. The long sword has a green scabbard trimmed with gold and an adjustable leather belt. The short sword has an elegant black and gold finish on the handle and on the scabbard.
Overall: Ignite Toys deserves praise for a tremendous effort to recreate a class of great warriors from the mists of history. Ignite never skimps on materials or cut corners. They use real metal for the helmets and weapons, and real leather for the leather belts and gear. This Knight of Outremer set is a good value at the list price of $89.99 but some online dealers may have it at a lower price. Collectors have a rare chance to acquire unique figure regarding an arcane Order of Knights which is unlikely to ever again be manufactured as an action figure.
Grade: A+
