eff Luttrell, an 11-year-old toy collector with leukemia, dreamed of creating his very own action figure.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps children with life-threatening illnesses fulfill their dreams, teamed Jeff up with the ReSaurus Company to make Jeff's wish come true.
Jeff provided ReSaurus artists with a concept sketch of Razor, a mutated eagle superhero. They drew up detailed designs around Jeff's original ideas, and work began on the action figure. At the end of one week, they handed Jeff a painted prototype of his figure, complete with packaging. His dream was reality.
But Jeff dreamed bigger. Rather than being satisfied with a prototype he could hang on a wall, he wanted to see the toy manufactured, with some of the profits going back to the organization that had helped him. Kay Bee Toys pitched in to mass-produce Razor. Half of each sale of the exclusive Razor presentation box ($5.00) goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Razor's story is not uncommon among science fiction super-heroes--his egg was exposed to radiation, his mother was killed by hunters and he was raised by a scientist. With the aid of Gizmo the Fighter Ferret, Razor and his adoptive father solve crimes using their special abilities.
The presentation box includes Razor, a logo-emblazoned shield, two Razor Talon boomerangs and the sidekick, Gizmo.
A hero after our own hearts
The Razor figure is nearly seven inches tall, with an impressive wingspan of 14 inches. It is sculpted with the fine detail that has become standard in action figures since the mid-'90s. Articulation points on the neck, shoulders, wrists, waist, hips, knees and wings make Razor far superior to most action figures of his scale. The painting is detailed and meticulous, rivaling any action figure on today's shelves--even giving Todd McFarlane a run for his money.
Razor's accessories may seem few, but by providing him with a shield and talon boomerangs rather than the oversized machineguns and rocket-launchers that seem to be the norm in today's action figures, ReSaurus makes this toy more accessible to kids whose parents may shun toys geared toward bloody violence.
Although Razor is the star of the show, he would be incomplete without his sidekick. Gizmo the Fighter Ferret, while unarticulated, is a necessary addition to the set. Radiating attitude, this plucky little guy looks as if he could hold his own against Razor's unspecified enemies.
It may seem that the story behind Razor's creation is more important than the toy itself, but the contents of the box certainly deserve a high rating. At $9.99 this toy is a must-have for collectors and fun-lovers alike. And remember: $5.00 goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help other kids like Jeff make their dreams come true.
