Yes, it is a sad day for Muppet fans. The greatest action figure series of all-time ends production this year. Sadly, Palisades Toys will no longer make the highly popular Muppet action figures. But take heed, Henson fans, because they are pouring their more-than-four-years-of-Muppet-sculpting knowledge into something even better: Sesame Street!
That’s right, everyone’s favorite TV neighborhood will come to life in action figure form, and the first series will be debuting very soon. To hold you over while you wait for the debut set, you can now purchase the debut figure. Flying to a neighborhood near you, it’s Super Grover!
Grover was always my favorite character from the PBS street. He was fuzzy, friendly, and funny, and it sure didn’t hurt that he was apparently a distant relation to Jedi Master Yoda. Palisades decided to debut their first Sesame Street item as the Comic Con tour figure this year. And what better item to offer up at a comic convention than Sesame Street’s own furry vigilante, Super Grover?
This Grover figure is yet another shining jewel in Palisades’ Muppet crown. The sculpted fur is their best yet. You almost expect him to be soft when you touch him. He has a wonderfully wide-mouthed, excited expression, and the paint application does an excellent job of bringing out all of the fine touches in the sculpted fur.
The figure is topped off with Super Grover’s trademark (non-removable) knight helmet, that actually moves up and down. He also sports the bright red cape and vivid yellow drawstring that lets him fly the furry, friendly skies. Always going that extra mile, Palisades has loaded Grover with some really great accessories. Included in the package is Super Grover’s disguise. It contains a very nicely crafted cloth trench coat with a tie, and a removable \"Grover Kent\" head, wearing the fedora and plastic black glasses of a mild-mannered reporter. Both heads snap on and off quite easily.
Finally, there is the greatest accessory ever: Super Grover’s phone booth. Boy, is it ever spectacular. Not only is it almost nine-inches tall, but it also has clear plastic windows, a movable door, and a phone receiver with a soft, spiraled cord. The pay phone even has a silver paint wash to make it look old and used. Palisades once again outdoes themselves with a wonderful, exclusive, action figure set.
I was really excited about the chance to purchase The Muppet Show action figures. But I have to be honest, the prospect of collecting Sesame Street action figures with the same level of artistry as Palisades’ Muppet figures excites me even more. I can’t wait to have Bert and Ernie quarreling on my shelf, The Count adding up flying bats while playing the organ, or Big Bird trying to convince the other residents of Sesame Street that he really did see Snuffleupagus.
Sesame Street was such a strong part of my childhood, and I am really excited that my old friend is back asking me for money. You can buy Super Grover right now at palisadestoys.com if you are a member of their fan club.
For those of you wondering, Series One will be debuting very shortly. But keep an eye out, because there will be two different sets: a retail set with just the figures, and a specialty store set, where each figure will come with a part of the Sesame Street neighborhood. I don’t think I have to tell you which one I’ll be getting.
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