Character Options, a U.K.-based toy company, has created an ever-growing line of 12-inch action figures based on episodes in the second season. Like the previously reviewed Cybermen, these are approximately 12 inches in height, nicely articulated, well costumed and just generally excellent examples of science-fiction-based action figures.

While most of season two was quite good, some episodes stood out, and the action figures reviewed here come from two of the best episodes of the new series: the two-parter, "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit," and "The Girl in the Fireplace."

From every episode, we have the Doctor in his suit. From "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit," we have an alien servant known as an Ood, and the Doctor in a space suit. From "The Girl in the Fireplace," we have a Clockwork Droid.

The figures are well articulated and outfitted, and are superior to most 12-inch figures on the market today, with detailed outfits and accessories, though the accessories are few.

Each figure comes in a nicely printed, though sparsely equipped, simple trapezoidal window box in the colors and themes of the new Doctor Who.

Impressive but bewildered

The figure of the Doctor in his suit is nicely done. His face is a decent sculpt of David Tennant's, though he does carry a sort of bewildered expression. His suit includes a light blue shirt and a maroon tie. The detailing on the suit is impressive, with one breast pocket and two flaps to simulate hip pockets. The gray tennis shoes are very nicely detailed and painted, with molded laces and tiny vent rivets on the insteps.

The Doctor comes with his Sonic Screwdriver in his right hand, which is posed to grip items nicely. His left hand is a little more open for holding larger objects.

The Doctor in his space suit from "The Satan Pit" is just a spectacular figure. The figure itself is identical to the regular Doctor, with the exception of his hands. These have been replaced with large black space gloves in nice detail and can hold the included flashlight.

This Doctor's orange space suit is just wonderful. It is rich in detail, with padded leg pouches and with stitched pseudo zippers on each pouch and on the leg. Black and silver straps connect a harness to a belt. Printed patches are on his chest and arm, symbols of Sanctuary Base 6, on a planet in an impossible orbit around a black hole.

The helmet and breathing hose are some of the finest detailed items I've seen from Character Options, or from many toy companies. The helmet is molded in yellow and is painted with black grime for that industrial, lived-in look.

The Ood is one member of a voluntary servant race serving the Sanctuary Base. An Ood has a very alien bald head with angled eyes and a mouth that has been replaced with a group of tentacles, giving a Cthulhu-like appearance. Over a very Doctor-No-like gray suit and black boots, the Ood's alien head looks out of place, but that's the Ood for you. Protruding from the mass of tentacles is a white cable connected to a translation sphere that connects to his gloved hand magnetically—a very nice touch!

The nicest of these impressive figures is the Clockwork Droid from one of season two's most beloved episodes, "The Girl in the Fireplace." Modeled like an 18th-century French masqueraded gentleman, this figure is dressed in a rich blue court ball outfit, complete with ruffles at the sleeves and neck. The fine brocaded topcoat and vest are decorated with gold trim. Completing the look is a beautiful wigged masque with a menacing grin, but gorgeously detailed. Included is a clockwork blade that attaches to one of the hands.

Now comes the best part. The masqued head comes off to reveal the clear plastic clockwork head underneath. This head is mounted on a kind of universal joint and tilts in any direction. Inside the kidney-shaped head is a detailed gold-molded plastic depiction of the clockwork interior. Very nice indeed. It looks incredibly elegant.

I hope Character Options is just getting started, because these figures are excellent for a Doctor Who collector.