I know you are but what am I? Well, Pee-Wee, you are a new Ultimate figure from NECA, and this time, you have some fun pals to make what was already a lot of fun, even more fun! HA-HA!
Ah, Pee-Wee. How you are and your Playhouse taught us that being wacky and koo-koo was a-okay. So many of us of a certain age can credit Pee-Wee with so many of our playful qualities, and his movies and show transcends generations. I know my kids love watching him, and I have probably gone through a few rolls of tape due to their attempted silly mimicry.
NECA released a version of Pee-Wee last year that I quite enjoyed, but with this new one builds on all of the strengths of the original, and makes some additions and improvements for a really great release. TL;DR: if you are needing a Pee-Wee figure (and you do!), this new Pee-Wee and Pals version is absolutely the way to go. I am already wish-listing more Playhouse characters because this is too much fun.
The biggest additions are the Pals, of course. Yeah, Teri is here again (the same as before), but honestly, I am glad they included him for new adopters, and he is great as is. Joining him now is Globey, and that little jerk Randy. Both of these feature some nice articulation and have very screen-accurate sculpts, so I really enjoy them. We gotta get Dirty Dog, Cool Cat, and Chicky Baby now! Guys like Conkie and Chairy will need their own releases, so there is a lot of opportunity for more pack-in characters.
Pee-Wee is, for the most part, unchanged in terms of the figure below the neck. That works perfectly fine, and the suit, tie, and shoes are wonderfully accurate. There are swappable hands to work with the other accessories, but the FOUR portraits are where the big improvement comes over the original. Not only are there more now, like that delightful taped-up face, but those that are reused are much better in terms of likeness. This is done with improved paint applications and it goes a long way.
Pee-Wee also gets his bindle, which he can hold well, and some new “secret word” cards that feature “NECA,” “Ultimate,” “Friends,” and “Fun.” This gives more options right out the box, but you can also use the backs to create your own words, so have a day. Oh, and this release features a sticker sheet with all of the included characters, plus a few more, so now you can decorate your own playhouse.
Get outta bed, and get over to Target! This figure is releasing first via Haulathon, so be on the lookout for him there. He should release wider later this year, and hopefully we will get some news of future releases during the convention season this summer.
About the Author
