Xensation Judge Dredd Review: Stallone’s 1995 Film Figure

The Review

Originally published April 10, 2017. This article preserves One Sixth Society’s original reporting and images; product availability, pricing, and opinions reflect the original publication period.

While companies like Art Figures and Virtual Toys are creating figures based on the more recent film Dredd, Xensation Collectibles decided to go for something a bit earlier: the Sylvester Stallone film. Being an unlicensed release, it comes in a lot cheaper than a Hot Toys figure, and it is more on the level of an Asmus Toys figure. So the question stands, how does the figure fare? Surprisingly, it is not a bad figure for around $100 and our Xensation Judge Dredd Review will cover all aspects of the figure.

The box contains Dredd, two extra hands and a pistol. The hands are painted to resemble leather gloves with gold armor, and the pistol has a serviceable finish. At the original price of around $100, it is a small but reasonable accessory selection.

Judge Dredd figure aiming a black pistol toward the camera, with gold shoulder armor and a red-trimmed helmet.

The figure itself appears to be quite sturdy; the body’s joints are tight and heavy. The helmet is die-cast, while the body also feels substantial in hand. The outfit and armor are well done. The pistol holster is less successful: it does not hold the weapon securely. The figure also has a decent amount of articulation. Some extreme poses are hindered by the armor, but that is to be expected.

Front view of Judge Dredd's gold shoulder pads, chained chest badge and red-trimmed helmet with a black visor.

The Helmet is Die-Cast but Not Screen Accurate

Now unfortunately, there is a pretty big negative on the figure, and it is quite apparent. The head sculpt on the figure is not the best; the helmet is attached to the head sculpt and it sits way too high on the face which compromises screen accuracy. That being said, the helmet is diecast with an ‘acceptable’ paint job, with some sloppiness showing on the helmet. The face under the mask looks pretty good and bears some resemblance to Sylvester Stallone. We think Xensation could have done a much better job with the helmet.

Close-up of the Judge Dredd figure's gold helmet badge, black visor, red trim and exposed lower face.

At its lower price, Xensation’s Dredd offers a reasonable starting point for fans of the character, particularly collectors who enjoy customizing their figures. Out of the box, the missing stand and finish imperfections are compromises, but the figure still offers reasonable value. If you or anyone that you know are Judge Dredd fans, it still deserves a spot on your shelf without modifications, but if you can take the time to make some small changes the figure can really be something special.

Watch the accompanying Xensation Judge Dredd Video Review.

Material and Accuracy Are Separate Questions

A die-cast helmet has a different feel from plastic, but the review’s concern is its position on the face. That is a proportion issue, rather than a complaint about weight. Look at the brow, nose and mouth together when judging the likeness; a shiny metallic finish alone cannot settle screen accuracy.