Though not the first shock rocker (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins,
the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Screaming Lord Sutch all predate him),
Alice Cooper has still become one of the most iconic rock frontmen in pop
culture. Acts like KISS, King Diamond, Rob Zombie and Ghost – to name just a
few – all owe Cooper a considerable visual debt. And though I’m more of a
“Greatest Hits” kind of fan, he’s been an inspiration to me, too – if a skinny
kid with a big nose can become a heavy metal icon, there’s hope for all of
us.
Naturally enough, Funko was going to come calling at some point
and turn him into a POP. Today, we take a look at the results!
Now, I couldn’t find a specific photo where Alice is wearing
this exact outfit. The corset/harness thing and ripped pants look like they’re
from the Billion Dollar Babies era –
which would fit with the snakeskin theme on the box – and the earliest pics I
noticed of him with a white top hat and tails seem to be from the Welcome to My Nightmare album – so let’s
just say it’s meant to be him sometime in the mid-70s. If you can identify the
outfit more specifically, let me know in the comments below.
Either way, a lot of Alice Cooper’s stage costumes are
variations on these themes, and even those with only a passing familiarity of
the man will recognise him easily. The only real surprise is that he isn’t
depicted with a snake, considering that’s one of the things he’s best known
for. Still, that may come in the future; though his basic look has remained the
same for decades, there’s still been plenty of variations that would lend
themselves to POP figures.
As usual, the paint could be a little tighter, but it’s fine
for the most part. Additionally, check his cane before making a purchase, to
make sure it hasn’t warped in the box.
The sculpt makes him a little skinnier than your average
POP, and he doesn’t come with a stand. Fair enough; Alice Cooper isn’t a
particularly big guy. But given his very top-heavy construction, it creates some balance problems, and I have some
concerns about his long-term ability to stay upright. Skinnier POPs like Elvira
and Batgirl
have a tendency to warp around their legs and feet over time; while he’s not that petite, I could see something similar happening further down
the track.
These issues aside, I think it’s a solid piece. There’s also a
straitjacket version available, which is a Hot Topic exclusive in the USA.
Either one is well-representative of the character, and a fun addition to the
shelf.
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