tar Trek collectors seem to have an endless thirst for items from their favorite TV show. Now, in the year 2003, it seems there are more different versions of Star Trek than there were original episodes. However, even with the Star Trek films, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Enterprise and an endless stream of books, comics and other media, it is still arguable that the original series, which aired from 1966 to 1969, is still the best of all of these.
Toy franchises seem to spend most of their efforts releasing product from current shows. Playmates pumped out the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine figures while those shows were current. Art Asylum currently produces figures and toys from Enterprise, and while on occasion these companies harken back to the early days and give collectors a taste of that era, it seems that whole lines from that series are rare.
Sideshow Collectibles has introduced a new line of polystone busts from the first series, which includes not only such beloved characters as Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy and Scotty, but also some of the most beloved villains of the Star Trek universe, such as the Gorn Captain and the Klingon Captain Koloth.
Up for review are Kirk and Spock. Each bust comes in a colorful box printed with images of the bust, the USS Enterprise, and several screenshots from the TV series itself. The busts are packed in shaped styrofoam. Each bust sits permanently atop a pedestal base that features the Starfleet insignia in the rank of the figure in question and the character's name. The bottom of the bust has the show's logo and rubber bumpers to protect display surfaces.
Each polystone cast bust stands seven inches and weighs three pounds. These limited editions have casting runs of 5,000 each.
Face to face with two legendary heroes
The characters of Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock remain two of the most memorable in the history of television. Almost 40 years after this revolutionary TV show aired, depictions of this pair are still sought after by collectors and fans of the futuristic franchise.
These hand-cast busts, carved by Oluf W. Hartvigson, differ in their degree of likeness to the actual actors involved. The face of Spock is nearly perfect, with the over-serious scowl he often wore during the show, the pointed ears and the close-cropped hair, and is accurate even down to a mole under the right eye. Its likeness to actor Leonard Nimoy is quite good.
Kirk's likeness, however, is not as strong. It resembles William Shatner less from the front; the profile is better. The hairstyle seems a little exaggerated. Still, it is a closer resemblance than many depictions available elsewhere.
Each figure is shown wearing the uniform of its rank. Spock wears a muted blue science-officer shirt, and Kirk wears the mustard-colored uniform of command. Each shirt has the familiar black neckband. Each figure has the rank insignia of Starfleet painted on with such intricate detail that it could easily be a decal or printed appliqué.
The paint on each figure is lifelike, in matte colors, flesh for the face with subtle pinks for detail, though with very little texture. Still, the style of the busts is solid and consistent throughout the line.
Kirk and Spock are currently available. Coming in midsummer will be Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Leonard "Bones" McCoy, the Gorn Captain (from the episode "Arena") and web-exclusive Klingon Captain Koloth (from "The Trouble With Tribbles"), which will have only 1,000 copies. Also coming this summer will be Lt. Cmdr. Data and Capt. Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek:
The Next Generation.
