PowerTown Arrives: Bruiser Brody

PowerTown is finally complete! Here on the blog, that is. With reviews of Stan Hansen, Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, Magnum T.A. and Kerry Von Erich published and enjoyed we’re left with the figure in the set which was most anticipated by many. A towering and imposing figure in life, it doesn’t feel that Bruiser Brody has really gotten the recognition in the figure world that he deserves. I think that we’ve finally turned the corner on that and this figure is certainly a big part of it.

I don’t need to go over the packaging yet again. You know it’s unique, fun and something that I can’t even imagine being thrown away by loose collectors. A lot of time and love for the industry (and the stars of it) clearly went into these boxes. No annoying plastic bands, either. Simply a plastic shell holding the figure and accessories into another plastic shell. You could definitely even display the figures inside the packaging once you’ve opened and removed them, but I just wouldn’t want to hide these figures like that. They deserve to be fully seen with the accessories in use.

Just as in life, Brody is tall. Really tall. He towers over the other figures in the series and this may be the one time with PowerTown where a bit of compatibility with other lines is lost. Personally, as long as there isn’t an LJN-Hasbro style different it really makes no difference to me. Any good figure photographer can fudge a few inches between products from different lines. I think the height here really helps drive home that the Bruiser Brody character was indeed a monster.

I nearly got a splinter! Yes, Brody’s piece of wood is in fact made of a balsa style wood. How cool is that? Didn’t we hear that PowerTown has the rights to Hacksaw Jim Duggan? That could be insane, if so. Brody also includes an alternate “Huss!” hand, chain and vest. The chain is a tad thin but is just about scale to size as if a person were holding an actual chain. It can be worked into the hands of the figure. We also get the other PWF Tag Team Championship belt. We received the first with Stan Hansen and many collectors will remember that the second was to be included with Ted DiBiase who was pulled from the line over licensing issues and replaced with Brody. I think we won out on that deal.

The face is incredible and probably the best likeness that I’ve seen on a Brody figure to date. The scars are highlighted with the right color and the scowl is there but neutral enough not to detract. What’s interesting about Brody is that while he didn’t change much in terms of gear over the course of his career, there are different facial and hair sculpts that could be utilized should PowerTown release another figure of him in a future series. Like all of the PowerTown clothing the vest is done in a soft rubber. A soft goods fur vest could be another option down the line if “King Kong Brody” is revisited.

Frank “Bruiser Brody” Goodish has certainly become a rather mythical figure in the world of wrestling since his tragic and untimely death thirty-five years ago. The “What If’s” surrounding his career are endless but, despite being a truly kayfabed character, we must remember that he actually did one of the first “shoot interviews” of sorts not long before his death. There’s no doubt that, even had he had the opportunity to attend conventions and other fan related events, an air of mystique would still surround one of the best big men in the history of the ring.

That concludes the first PowerTown journey and what a run it’s been! I speculated in the last entry that perhaps Mattel was getting a bit concerned about “the new guys on the block” and stepping up their game with legends figures in the WWE line. After the recent disappointing showing at San Diego Comic Con I don’t think that PowerTown has much to worry about. Bring on Ultras Series 2 and the much anticipated return of Remco All-Star Wrestling! The blog will be here to cover all of the legendary action.