LVJR - S.T.O.M.P. Series 3 Sable Prototype

I own a BCA prototype.

No matter how many times I repeat that to myself, it still hasn't quite sunk in that a one-of-a-kind BCA figure is in my possession.

I waited patiently (albeit nervously) this past Monday night close to 10 p.m. EST, slowly counting down the minutes and seconds for one very special eBay listing.

It was for a S.T.O.M.P. Series 3 Sable prototype that I knew from the moment I spotted it last weekend it had to be mine.

Not because I was a fan of Sable, since I'd like to think my pre-pubescent days are behind me, nor was it because I get my thrills from unpainted crazy demonic-looking female wrestling figures, but because the BCA line means that much to me.

To own a prototype of ANY BCA figure is some sort of an accomplishment for me, and I certainly hope this won't be the last experience.


For the seventeenth installment of VJB's "Latest Vintage Jakks Receivings" series of posts, I present to you the Sable prototype I grossly overpaid for to the tune of $55.81 shipped.



Eh, you only live once, so three cheers for stupidity and financial irresponsibility!

Thank you, thank you.

However, I wasn't the only fool bidding on this item; the final bid ended approximately at my maximum bid of $51.91, so either someone else was attracted to its alluring dullness or the seller scammed me by covertly increasing the bid with another account.

Oh, well.





Before getting into the specifics, here is the item's description from the listing:

"You are bidding on a WWF S3 Stomp Sable PROTOTYPE. This is a "never been released" figure. First shot. It was unreleased due to the outfit being too revealing and the breasts being too large. I've included some WWF package labels. The figure is in excellent condition."

Upon closer inspection, there were several changes made before production.

• The Sable prototype uses the same back hair piece as the actual figure, though the front hair piece (the bangs set across the face) is conspicuously missing. I'll have to get in touch with the seller again, but I don't believe this piece had been considered yet for the figure.



• Unlike the actual figure's top, the Sable prototype is very revealing. As was mentioned in the description, the breasts are larger due to the bikini top sculpt (the straps meet in a crossing "x" pattern across the top of her back) and, believe it or not, her nipples are visible in the sculpt.




• The Sable prototype is wearing a much smaller bikini bottom compared to the width and thickness of the actual figure's lower torso. The prototype's ribs are more visible and the belly button is placed lower on the torso, as well.



• The right arm of the Sable prototype is a completely different sculpt with an open, claw-like hand, which leads me to believe that the incorporation of grasping a whip accessory had also not yet been considered for the figure.



• The left arm is the same, though I found it interesting that the thumbnail of the prototype appears longer in its unpainted form.


• The final difference I spotted was in the heels where the hard plastic prototype sculpt feels more stabile than the actual figure. Also, there is no hole underneath the prototype's left shoe where a WWF stand's peg would fit for display.

Personally, and I'm not just saying this because I own it, I prefer the overall sculpt of the prototype to the actual S.T.O.M.P. Series 3 figure.

Of course, it probably was too revealing for children to have in their collections, but it's a shame that Jakks never salvaged the sculpt for an online or mailaway exclusive.


My take: Hopefully, I'll have more to tell about this figure and its origins when I contact the seller again for more information. It's undoubtedly a unique prototype that had the potential for becoming a great figure.

Would I advise others to bid the same as I did? No way.

Was it worth $55 and change? What do you think?

Clearly, it's an unpainted figure with limited appeal and should not be considered as some kind of holy grail for BCA or Divas figure collectors.

It's good for what it is, but apparently it wasn't good enough to be made.

Fun fact: As far as I know, and that goes about as far as my mailbox reaches, I'm the only owner of this particular S.T.O.M.P. Series 3 Sable prototype.

Oh, yeah, and I blew $55 on it! That's a fun fact for...well, not me.

In the end, this is for all of the collectors who came to see me and for all the..erm..collectors who want to be me!

*Does "the grind"*

*Throws out back*

Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex

Mini Review #5 - Signature Series 2

School is in session for the summer, so naturally that means I’ll use it as an excuse for my lack of posts as of late.

If that’s the case, then school is happening year-round as far as new VJB content is concerned.

ZING!



Okay, so I’ll try to keep this short and sweet.

Here is a miniature (see: Mini) review of the Signature Series 2 figures I featured in my previous LVJR #16 post.

Let’s get to it, shall we?



Dude Love – 20/25

Well, he’s been the VJB Suggestion of the Week for about two weeks or more, so that should tell you one of two things: it’s that good, or I’m too lazy to update it.

It’s the truth (both things actually), and even with the facsimile signature tainting the Dude’s right leg (a matter of opinion), it’s an excellent figure.

There’s no denying the head sculpt is one of the best produced by Jakks in the BCA era, and every other major body part is spot-on in recreating the likeness of the hippest cat alive.

It’s a definite winner in the rankings for Signature Series 2.



Kane – 16/25

I didn’t deduct any points for the Slammers torso because this was simply a re-release of the Slammers Series 2 debut Kane and his torso-improved Superstars Series 8 figure had yet to be released.

You get about what you’d expect from the Slammers version of Kane, except with an obscenely large facsimile signature on his right thigh.

Not a bad figure by any means, but it is certainly lacking in size and that which doesn’t have a cartoonish expression.



The Undertaker – 15.5

Similar to Kane, Undertaker’s sculpt (which debuted in the Championship Title Series #1 boxed set) needs a little more beef. It also needs a little more ink for that matter.

However, I have no qualms with acknowledging the excellent shade of purple conceived by Jakks in the, uh, figure laboratory, even if it is an exaggerated look for the Deadman.

He seems to be an early favorite in this week’s poll (which was extended from closing today to next Monday, by the way), but in my book he’s only slightly better than average.



Shawn Michaels – 15/25

He still ranks higher than HBK, which should warm the hearts of all of ‘Taker’s minions out there.

And, yet, I actually like this particular figure of Shawn in his signature (no pun intended) entrance chaps.

The hair color is improved from his Shotgun Series 2 figure, but the attire and other missing details leave a lot to be desired.

The zebra chaps are pretty rad, though.



Road Dogg Jesse James – 14/25

The proverbial “turd in the punch bowl”, and in this case “punch bowl” is referring to Signature Series 2.

Turd is referring to, well, a turd of a potentially-good Road Dogg figure.

It’s like Jakks took the half-decent 2 Tuff Series 2 debut Dee-Oh-Double-Gee and decided to cut costs mainly from this figure and not so much for the other Signature Series 2 cast.

As I mentioned before, his pant logos are scaled wrong and the detail on his boots is missing this time around.

I would avoid this Road Dogg variation if I were you, unless of course you think the turd adds zest to your cup o’punch.



B.A. Billy Gunn – 17/25

Speaking of variations, my mentioning of the Billy Gunn knee pad variant in Signature Series 2 has been beaten to death.

I just haven’t gotten around to burying the issue, that’s all.

Let me look for a shovel, and while I’m doing that make note of the awesome metallic blue shade selected for Gunn’s attire.

Sure, it doesn’t say “Mr. Ass” or even “Mr. BA” on his backside, but he often wore plain trunks in the early days so I’ll let it pass.

Don’t let it pass you by if you get the opportunity to own either variation, and I will now lower the knee pad variation factoid into the ground, never to see it surface again.

On its headstone it shall read:

HERE LIES BOBBY BILLY GUNN KNEE PAD VARIANT FACTOID

ITS EXISTENCE DID MATTER FOR A TIME

THEN IT WAS BEATEN TO DEATH AT VJB

NOW IT NO LONGER MATTERS

AND BILLY GUNN STILL ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!

Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex