Review - KidRobot Gorillaz Phase Two 2-D (CMYK Edition)

KidRobot's Gorillaz figures are some of the best the band's ever made, particularly the sets based on the Demon Days/"Phase Two" artwork. The group's used them more than once in official music videos, just about every rabid fan owns one, and the scalpers have gone wild. The true mark of a quality toy.

As I mentioned in my Murdoc review, each figure came in a really well designed (and collector friendly!) box featuring all sorts of character specific art. The figure's great, sure, but I think he's really only half the package - pun somewhat intended. The box is just as much of a display piece itself, to the point where you might even want to leave 2-D sealed. But where's the fun in that?

Taking after the illustration on the figure's box, 2-D's sculpt is pretty much perfect; using many elements of the earlier Phase One figure, with a harsher, blockier spin that really reflects Gorillaz' evolving art style. In some small ways this throws off the likeness, but it's nevertheless an awesome take, and in my opinion, the face's angular depth is a very striking translation of 2-D's then simplistic design. I love the bulging black eyes, his thin, noodly body, clown-size shoes, hunched back, jagged hair, busted overbite - he's the spitting image of the drugged out, half-gothic 2-D of 2005. I also dig his appropriately vacant expression; it's an intense glare, or a cool toothless grin. The hair's flat, bulky shape and sculpted detail really capture the original illustrations, as well as those massive Hewlett hands. Love 'em. It's awesome in every way.

2-D's caught mid-performance, complete with a standing microphone accessory. It comes in three separate pieces - top microphone half, middle metal bar, and the base. Sadly, it barely stays together, slipping apart at the slightest touch. Nine out of ten times you see this guy on the second market, you're only getting that top half. 2-D's right hand grips the microphone while the other hangs open, so besides the accesory's flimsy construction, you shouldn't have any problem losing pieces on display. Just breathe carefully. 

Standing at about 8"s, he's right in scale with the rest of the crew, but notably smaller than the preceeding KidRobots and later SuperPlastic series. Though Gorillaz certainly has a thing for scaling up the crew, I think this scale strikes somewhere perfectly in the middle. It's catchy, y'know? 2-D is a towering zombie of a man, so having him slouch just above the your average action figure works really well; and furthermore, he's just easier to display and move around at this size. Speaking of... 

Also unlike the majority of Gorillaz figures, 2-D has a couple points of articulation; specifically, both shoulders. It's limited, but you can manage some cool poses with and without the mic stand. Also worth noting is the storied secret third point of articulation; as with Murdoc, 2-D has a tendency to lose his head - literally - so, assuming your figure's shambled apart the way mine have, you can manage some limited swivel movement out of 2-D's neck. Nothing much, but it's cool for photos.

That said, these figure's build quality is somewhere between expectedly high end, and strangely flimsy. There's often a pretty big crossover between the two in the world of "art toys". He's mostly very sturdy, but pieces tend to be very loosely assembled, and while he's not exactly "breakable" or fragile, the figure's a bit touchy. It's probably something to do with Hewlett's already abstract designs, the figures somewhat limited production, and, of course, their age. As already mentioned, the microphone is pretty jank, 2-D's head topples off very easily, and I've seen some with disconnected torsos entirely. Time does not work wonders on glue. These build issues are very fixable, as these parts typically pop right back in, but it is what it is.

The paint work is excellent, with virtually no slop or missed lines. He looks fantastic - almost like a digital model, in the right lighting. I really love the dark blue spray giving some depth to his polygonal hair. It's only real issue are the seemingly misplaced eyebrow decos; as you can see in the photos, the sculpted detials seem to suggest they should be painted right along his massive honkin' caveman brow, but, for some strange reason, they were placed at an angle just slightly above. I've never seen a 2-D without this issue, which leads me to think it must've been some odd creative choice - hell, even the Phase One figure sort of has this problem. It doesn't break the deal, but it can look a bit weird. Nevertheless, while it's not a terribly complex paint job, it's cleanness and eye catching simplitity makes for a proper artistic figure. 

The CMYK 2-D is one of Gorillaz' best collectibles, and a total must-have - provided, you're either very lucky, or willing to fork out what eBay's asking. In my opinion, even those inflated prices are more or less worth it, especially if you're a big fan; though he's comparatively small, and has some QC issues, it's still a real stunning and cool take on good old Mr. Pot.