REVIEW: Upper Deck's GHOST RIDER Subcast

A Rider collectible unlike any you've seen before...

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When Upper Deck, a company most known for sports memorabilia and trading cards announced their acquisition of a Marvel license, few fans (myself included) knew what to expect. When the news hit that Upper Deck had teamed up with designer toy mastermind, MiQ, even less became certain. Their combined efforts, however, resulted in the creation of a unique type of Marvel collectible that retained the familiarity of some of Marvel’s biggest Icons, while presenting them in an urban, designer style. The line, called Subcasts, includes 4 resin statues thus far; and below we’ll be reviewing the dark hero, Ghost Rider.

Ghost Rider is packaged in a windowless black box, with a high gloss sheen and graphics appropriate to the character. These graphics include a chain, a flaming skull, and MiQ’s design drawing. The box is fitting for the character, and the overall look of the presentation is eye-catching.

The figure is held in place with a Styrofoam holding unit, into which Ghost Rider can be placed after being removed. Upper Deck also took care to wrap his chain parts in tissue, so not to have them scratch against the figure and scuff his paint. You will want to take specific caution when undoing the tissue, as the chain pieces, particularly at either end, is extremely fragile.

Of all the Subcasts, the sculpt on Ghost Rider may be the most impressive. The level of detail with the spikes, flaming head, chain weapon and stylized skull make for a sculpt that is quite striking. Honestly, this Rider looks like he’d be gathering souls for the devil. The stance is passive aggressive, with Ghost Rider not “in action,” but certainly poised and ready for it. The partially open mouth and blended flames really give the face a great expression to match the sculpt, and I was highly impressed with the overall design.

The paint, as basic as it appears, is actually one of the most versatile in the Subcasts line, and the apps are crisp and clear, without smudging or discoloration. The figure is truly enhanced by the paints applied to him. The bold colors are not bright, however, and the overall tone of the statue is still dark, which is appropriate for the character.

Ghost Rider is cast in polyresin, and the weight of the material is obvious when holding the statue. It’s a strong and sturdy piece, but I would not recommend carrying him by his head or arms. Hold him carefully, with care not to be stabbed by the statue’s many, many sharp spikes.

Alright, bottom line on the $84.99 price tag for this figure is that you’re paying for the material, in addition to an awesome sculpt. With most designer VINYL toys hovering in at around $50 and most resin busts priced at $45 or more, $84 for a designer-made AND polyresin Ghost Rider is fair. You are getting a very good, unique collectible for your money.

Ghost Rider is a solid piece in the Subcast line, and I dig it. The collectible may seem a bit pricey, but given the materials and uniqueness of it, I would say the $84 price tag is great. The sculpt is well designed, the paint is bold, and the overall presentation is eye-catching. Fans looking for a unique piece to add to their collection will certainly want to keep an eye out for this statue, for it is a limited edition piece 2000 and worth its weight in polyresin.

Check out the full Ghost Rider Subcast picture gallery HERE!

Review and Images by C.J. Stunkard

Review Sample Courtesy of Upper Deck.