Stargate Atlantis Action Figures

Stargate SG-1 has been one of the longest-running science fiction shows on TV, and certainly one of the best. But it almost always concentrated on the -1 part—the fact is, however, that the Stargate project has more than one team that makes its excursions through the Stargate. So when it came time for a spinoff series, it's small wonder a new team was introduced. This team travels through the Stargate to the Pegasus Galaxy and discovers Atlantis—yes, the Atlantis. Not hidden beneath the oceans of Earth, as legend would have it, but the legendary Atlantis nonetheless.

This new team, led by Elizabeth Weir and military lead Lt. Col. John Sheppard, becomes trapped on the planet Lantea, on the submersible, highly technological (but very ancient) city of Atlantis. While there they discover a dangerous new enemy, the Wraith.

Diamond Select Toys has created several sets of action figures based on this spinoff series, the first of which includes Dr. Weir, Lt. Col. Sheppard, Field Ops Weir, Field Ops Sheppard and a Wraith. Each figure is just under 7 inches in height, and is to scale with previous Stargate SG-1 figures, so they can all form a huge happy family. (Incidentally, they are also to scale with their Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica figures.)

Packed on bubble cards printed with the aquatic themes of Stargate Atlantis, including an image of the city on the front of the card and images of the other figures in the set, along with character biographies, on the back, the figures each come with multiple points of articulation and equipment that can be carried. Also, each figure has one piece of a set that combines to form an Atlantis version of the Stargate. Each package also includes a mail-in offer for a free Steve the Wraith figure.

Figures to fill out the Stargate cast

First up is Weir. She's dressed in her Stargate Atlantis team uniform, which looks like wrinkled work clothes. The jacket is soft plastic, allowing for the figure to be posed better than if the jacket were harder, limiting movement. The problem here is that the joints themselves limit movement. The hips move forward, not back. The knees have the full range of movement. The thighs rotate, and the feet have some movement, but nothing practical. The shoulders have a fairly good range of movement forward and backward, and only a little outward. The arms have similar articulation as the legs, but the elbows actually have a very small angle range. The head rotates, but the tilt is minimal. A bit of a step back from previous figures.

Weir comes with a hard-cover copy of War and Peace and two alien devices. A real fan-geek would know what they are. I'm at a loss. One resembles a tentacled jellyfish, and the other is a small pillar of clear crystal.

Field Ops Weir has the same face sculpt, which is actually quite good. She has most of the same articulation, with more range in the elbows and better wrist rotation. This time she's wearing black pants and a pocket-covered mission vest. She comes with two weapons (one snub rifle and a pistol) and two hand-held devices. I remember when action figures listed the equipment on the package for those who didn't know what they were for. One device is probably a communicator and fits into a small pouch on her belt.

Field Ops Sheppard is also wearing a pocket-covered black mission vest over his blue overalls. He has a holster on his belt that can hold his pistol. He has similar articulation and a strange smirk on his face. He comes with the same equipment Field Ops Weir has, with an additional round device of apparently alien origin. Field Ops Sheppard is a Previews Exclusive.

The Wraith cuts an impressive figure. Dressed in his dark outfit, he also shares the same articulation as the rest of this series of figures. His hair, which drapes over the front of his chest and down his back, limits head movement. The head is a good likeness of the character, complete with slits in the face and tattooing. Wraith comes with three pieces of gear—a hand-held weapon that looks as if it was made from the limb of an alien insect, a Wraith pistol and a small egg-shaped device, the same one Field Ops Sheppard has.

All in all, this set adds nicely to the set of previously released Stargate figures and upcoming figures, which will include Teyla, McKay and a Wraith Queen.