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Old 07-30-2017, 09:51 PM   #1
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Sideshow Collectibles – Cleopsis “Eater of the Dead” Premium Format Figure - Review

Sideshow Collectibles – Cleopsis “Eater of the Dead” Premium Format Figure
StatueForum Review


---BACKGROUND---------------
The Court of the Dead is a gathering of unearthly beings marshaled by Death to balance the fractions of heaven and hell. This creative universe is the original brainchild of Sideshow Collectibles and they have christened each character with a purpose, an origin and a name – and the latest collectible to join this line is the Cleopsis "Eater of the Dead" Premium Format Figure.

Born the daughter of Death, Cleopsis was sent to earth long ago to rule over the land of Pharaohs. So forbidding was her reign that Death felt compelled to return his daughter to the underworld where she now sits on his council stripped of all authority. In the underworld is where she now lingers, dethroned and pining for the power she once possessed.

Cleopsis Eater of the Dead Premium Format Figure has a total edition size of 3000 and was designed under the guidance of the Tom Gilliland and Tom Jiiesen. Lead sculptors on this project were Mark Newman and Alfred Paredes. Paint by Kat Sapene. This statue incorporates sculpt/mix media fabric and retails for $449 US. It stands approximately 24.25 inches high, 16 inches wide and 10 inches long.

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Old 07-30-2017, 09:52 PM   #2
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:01 PM   #3
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---SCULPTURE-------------------
This latest statue from Sideshow Collectibles Court of the Dead line is packaged and shipped in 7 distinct pieces:
- 2 Portraits (masked and unmasked)
- 1 Hairpiece
- 2 Arms (left and right)
- 1 Body
- 1 Base

The Cleopsis” Eater of the Dead” Premium Format Figure has a charming sense of movement despite its customary museum pose. The outstretch arm is offering a serpent as if to lure you in and the body is leaning gracefully back in regal posture. There is a calm serenity to this pose yet at the same time the artifacts and gothic armour suggests that a hidden evil lurks beneath.

The unmasked portrait is intended to reveal this hidden evil and therefore its ghastly resemblance to an Ancient Egyptian mummy is quite fitting. Sculpted into the skin are divot holes that portrays the decaying state of her flesh. While the cadaverous demeanour of this portrait connects well with the statue's genre, one minor drawback is the absence of emotion. This face is the hidden identity of an embittered, dethroned queen - the unmasked portrait could have possibly been better served if it was displayed with some sort of a tempestuous or stormy expression.

In addition to unmasked portrait, Cleopsis also comes with an alternative masked portrait. The style of this mask is reminiscent of those found on Ancient Egyptian sarcophaguses and it radiates a somewhat charismatic aura. This is the alluring facade that Cleopsis wants the world to see. It is certainly more iconic of the two portraits and will be likely be favoured by most collectors. But perhaps the true showstopper on the portraits is the regal headdress/hairpiece. It is designed in the shape of a crowning cobra snake and sculpted with such incredible detail that it somehow enhances both portraits.

To accompany the lavish headdress Cleopsis is submerged in a complex network of decorative armour. The entire body covered in sculpted ridges resembling human bones and skulls –all of which leave a skeleton-like imprint over the entire statue and ties it nicely the Court of the Dead theme.

This same level of sculpted detail is also applied to the serpent and scythe that Cleopsis is clasping in her left and right hand respectfully. The deep cavernous indentations along the snake do an admirable job at symbolizing scales and the scythe is designed to appear as if it's carved from bone. This machete weapon is where the most fiendish and largest of all skulls on the statue can be found. It is well executed and should satisfy those collectors who enjoy the grim realism of this piece.

The base on the Cleopsis “Eater of the Dead” Premium Format Figure is constructed as a 3-tier ceremonial podium with deep references to the underworld. The macabre Court of the Dead insignia is placed front and center and the engravings that circumscribed each tier offer an exotic ambience to the stone inspired surface. But overshadowing these symbols are the legion of scarab beetles positioned across the base. Despite their diminutive size, the shell on every beetle is remarkably well sculpted and these critters appear to be scattering away from Cleopsis - a subtle clue to the fear she still evokes in others.

Overall, the intricate sculpt of this latest statue is what many collectors have come to expect from the Court of the Dead line. There may have been a missed opportunity with the unmasked portrait, but this miscue is made up for with the beautifully sculpted armour/artifacts which remind you of the royal status Cleopsis possessed long ago.

Score: 8.5/10

---PAINT / MIX MEDIA ------------------
A Queen without her kingdom deserves an overture of dark hues and the paint treatment on Cleopsis appears to follow this design.

The unmasked portrait is given a grim, faded skin tone that nicely compliments the sculpted divot holes. This paint application is indicative of mummified flesh and it opens a window to who Cleopsis really is. In addition, there are crimson scars marking her face. These scars are gentle enough to be absorbed in the overall pale skin and perhaps they are another tragic symbol to the meek position she now finds herself in.

As mentioned previously, the sarcophagus masked portrait delivers a majestic quality to the statue. It is garnished in a brushed silver coating - no doubt a reference to the common use of silver in the burials of upper-class Ancient Egyptians. The indigo coloured eyes that seep through the mask are a compelling mark of mysticism but more importantly they provide vibrant colour to an otherwise monochromatic portrait.

Interestingly, the cobra headdress that adorns both portraits is not decked in sliver but cooper and bronze instead. With a different paint design from the mask, the headdress stands out as its own distinct piece. The detailed body armour takes on a similar copper/bronze paint design and it offers a welcomed variation to the pallor of Cleopsis's skin.

The same indigo blue paint that enrich the eyes on the masked portrait is also applied to Cleopsis’ serpent - perhaps a hint to its supernatural origins. In contrast to the vibrant serpent, the scythe is given a far more subdued treatment resembling discoloured human bones.

A modest paint scheme has also been applied to the podium that Cleopsis is erected upon - it is painted to appear as a fractured stone surface. The scarab beetles that are the highpoint of the base are further augmented with a satisfying midnight blue coating.

Up to this point, the sculpt and paint design has been the focus of this review but the overlaying fabric deserves equal attention as well. The garments on this latest piece are structured as a finely orchestrated symphony of shifting layers and textures. Just beneath the belt-line is a soft grey cloth draped in a curved shape. Layered beneath this fabric is Cleopsis' heavy floor length skirt - its coarse texture is coarse is unkempt and completely juxtaposed to the delicate grey fabric positioned above.

These midsection garments offer a respectable example of the statue's mix-media but arguably the most eye-catching fabric is the royal banners that hang from the extended arms. They flow nearly the entire length of Cleopsis and the mauve/ black pattern seems to embody the spirit of ancient antiquity. While this woven fabric can be lauded for its high quality, regrettably it is only applied to the front of the banner. At the rear is a thin black material which was most likely added to provide contrasting textures to the banner. It should be pointed out that this inferior material is out of sight from the general display and does not distract from the otherwise impressive paint and mix media that defines this statue.

Score: 9.5/10

---PRODUCTION AND BUILD QUALITY ------------
Assembly of the Cleopsis Eater of the Dead Premium Format Figure is straightforward and can be completed with relative ease. Each component is affixed via magnets/pegs using these suggested steps: (1) base (2) body (3) left and right arms (4) hairpiece (5) portrait.

On this production piece, the strength of the magnets is not overly powerful as observed with alternate companies but they appear strong enough to provide sufficient support. The most formidable magnet is placed on the hairpiece which was a practical design decision considering that this piece is suspended from the back of the portrait with no additional support.

In regards to weight, there is a respectable density to each component although the base is somewhat lighter than expected. Surprisingly, there is substantial heft and mass to Cleopsis' scythe. It certainly feels solid and to compensate for the extra weight the staff of the scythe attaches to the base.

Perhaps the most remarkable design feature of this statue is the fabrication of the cut-sew mix media. The quality of the garments is striking considering this statue’s high edition size of 3000 but even more impressive is that these garments require no assemblage. The skirt/sash/royal banners all arrive pre-attached, saving time on installation and greatly contributing to the ease of Cleopsis’ setup.

A complete inspection of this production piece revealed no quality control issues with paint, sculpt or the cut-sew fabrics.

Score: 9/10

---DESIGN----------------------
From a distance, this statue has a cohesive design that binds elaborate sculpt with high-quality fabric. While these features are common to many Court of the Dead pieces what distinguishes Cleopsis is the amalgamation of Ancient Egyptian themes. A mountain of archival records show that Ancient Egyptians were consumed with the afterlife - therefore the “land of the pharaohs” treatment is well-conceived and long overdue for the Court of the Dead line.

The design references to Ancient Egypt can be traced from the head of the statue to the foot of the base and it may have been beneficial if the base was more generous in size - this would have counterbalanced an otherwise very slender piece and allotted additional space for perhaps one more Egyptian component. Of course, this suggestion may be inconsequential considering most collectors’ eyes will be aimed at the complex sculpt and fabric delivered above the base.

Score: 9/10

---OVERALL------------------------------------
In the crowded arena of Marvel, DC Comics and Star Wars the Court of the Dead pieces have slowly begun to make their own mark in the statue community – and the solid production of Cleopsis “Eater of the Dead” Premium Format Figure is sure to push forward the success of this marque line. Despite slight shortcomings with the unmasked portrait, Cleopsis’ superior sculpt and fabric is a testament to the craftsmanship of the artists involved. Furthermore, the respectable quality control of this statue (even with a high edition size) demonstrates Sideshow Collectibles’ strong commitment to their original characters.

It should be acknowledged that Cleopsis will never be crowned as the most innovative project from the Court of the Dead line. Instead, the creativity of this statue lies in the attractive meld of macabre art and Ancient Egypt antiquity (as alluded to throughout this entire review). Collectors who gravitate towards the rich history of Ancient Egypt will surely be pulled in by this piece as well as those who enjoy Sideshow Collectibles’ Templar Knight themed statues.

In recent months, the design team at Sideshow Collectibles have colourfully teased the expansion of the Court of the Dead line –and if their future statues maintain the same level of artistry as Cleopsis the potential to win over fans and non-fans alike is boundless.

OVERALL SCORE: 9/10
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:02 PM   #4
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:03 PM   #5
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:04 PM   #6
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:07 PM   #7
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:07 PM   #8
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Old 07-30-2017, 10:35 PM   #9
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This is my personal favourite from the Court of the Dead so far...love the Egyptian theme. Great review, Gina!
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Old 07-31-2017, 12:16 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bmutha View Post
This is my personal favourite from the Court of the Dead so far...love the Egyptian theme. Great review, Gina!
I agree The Ancient Egyptian elements are the stars of this statue. I'm not a typical fan of "Undead" collectibles but this was the first statue from the Court of the Dead line that overwhelmingly captured my attention. Thanks for checking out the review
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