This is not the first WWE Mattel figure of Mean Gene , the first WWE Mattel Okerlund figure was a build-a-figure , compared to this one being a regular figure . However if you look up pictures of the original Build-a-figure Okerlund , I do believe that this Gene figure is the exact same figure as that one, with the only differences being is that one is a regular figure and the other is not . I purchased this figure of mean Gene at a local Walmart for around the $ 19.99 price range .
I just love the bright vivid light blue and red colors of the packaging. I love how colorful the packaging is, very neat and cool looking .
As you can see Gene comes with quite a few accessories . A light stand accessory that is used to provide light for the television cameras, an old school WWE microphone along with extra arms and red jacket torso piece. The light accessory itself is part of the " build an interview set" mentioned on the packaging that is a part of this series.
Gene is listed at 5"9 , so his figure should have been shorter than six inches tall, since six inch scaled figures are normally in scale with actual heights of real people . Speaking of height, that is my only complaint about this Mean Gene figure . He's just a little bit too tall, other than that he's perfect .
I love the details that Mattel used in Gene's facial sculpt . All of the realistic details are there . A double chin, jowls around his jaw line, wrinkles in his forehead, etc. He even has the bald spot which looks like a comb over may have taken place.
The above accessory is a piece that is a part of the Summerslam 1989 interview set .
This is the backdrop that you see behind Gene in the packaging . Many people may throw it away and trash it, but this is one backdrop card I would not trash, and the reasons why are shown below .
The first two figures I wanted to display Mean Gene with the most were Hulk Hogan and Bobby" the brain" Heenan . The reason why is because some of Gene's most memorable moments in the WWE franchise are with those two . As you can see the blue backdrop behind him in the packaging can be used as a background that is perfect for interview scenes . Plus with the logo posted all over it, gives any interview scene a professional look and feel .
Now on to changing Gene into his red jacket . All you have to do is slowly pull out the default arms , and pull upwards on the vest like piece as shown above to remove it .
Now that that's done , reverse the process by pulling the red vest piece downward over his head, and snap in the red arm pieces .
After those steps, here he is in the red jacket instead of the default blue one .
I'm not sure which look I like the best, the default look or the red jacket look. They both look great however the red does matches better with his tie since the tie and jacket are the same color . Plus seeing Mean Gene in the red jacket reminded me of a very famous children's programming actor .
Does Gene remind you of KAPTAIN KANGAROO anyone ??? All Gene is missing are the white stripes to perfectly match the Kaptain's design .
The above pic is evidence and proof about my statement of Gene being just a little bit too tall . When you Google Gene, he's listed at 5"9 . Hogan was listed at 6"8 as a wrestler, yet when comparing the two figures side by side the height differential is not that much . So Mattel just needs to get back on track with everyone's heights . Other than that mishap everything else is fine .
FINAL THOUGHTS
(1) ARTICULATION LIMITS - No limitations. Even though he can't move his head all the way up or down, but his head can move downwards and upwards a little .
(2) STANDING ABILITY - The figure stands fine without balance issues .
(3) WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS FIGURE ? The luxury of finally owning a Mean Gene figure in the collection is good enough . However I love the options of displaying him in different colored jackets, making him a very fun toy to own for both adult and kid collectors .
(4) WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT THIS FIGURE ? - He is a little bit too tall . Should have been just a little shorter to match the real Gene's actual height .
(5) WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THE FIGURE ? - Make him a little shorter .
(6) GRADING SCALE - For the first time in the history of this blog, I am not sure what score to give . I'll explain . If I was seriously bothered by the height being a little too much, I'd give this figure a score of 9.9 . He gets a Perfect 10 if I'm not bothered by the height . So the situation is sometimes the height problem bothers me and sometimes it does not . Even though he is too close to Hogan in height, at least Hogan is still taller than him like he is in real life, which is what really matters . However it becomes bothersome when standing Gene to someone that's supposed to be 6"3, yet Okerlund is at eye level in height with that figure .
(7) FINAL ANALYSIS - This is a very fun figure to own in your collection because of the accessories and the luxury of changing attire . I think kids will enjoy this figure just because of the suit exchange feature, I can just imagine the little ones having a blast interchanging the arms, etc . Plus old school WWE fans would be pleased to own this figure if they collect action figures .
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