The Clash of the Kings: Aragorn VS King of the Dead Diorama

Lord of the Ring statue impresses...

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The The Clash of the Kings: Aragorn VS King of the Dead Diorama is available now from Sideshow Collectibles priced at $299.99 and limited to only 300 pieces. FLEXPay is available.


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Even after their split from WETA in the creation of Lord of the Rings collectibles, Sideshow continues to produce some of the most impressive statues based on the fan-favorite film series. While many fans have seemingly let these beautiful pieces go by the wayside, there are still those die-hard fans out there who add these amazingly detailed and beautiful pieces to their collections. One such piece is The Clash of the Kings: Aragorn VS King of the Dead Diorama, which is available now from Sideshow Collectibles.

PACKAGING: As with other Sideshow statues of this stature, The Clash of the Kings statue is housed within two durable Styrofoam pieces which protect the individual pieces of the statue. These protective Styrofoam pieces are then held within an attractive box which features graphics, images and text describing the statue. The package does a great job of giving fans a tease as to what is inside while describing the scene from the film and the fateful confrontation.

SCULPTING: As previously mentioned, Sideshow continues to produce some of the finest Lord of the Rings collectibles and this piece is no exception. This statue in particular is eye-catching and attractive as it portrays a somewhat pivotal scene in the final film of the trilogy, Return of the King. With Aragorn facing the King of the Dead with the sword Andúril and calling forth the Dead Men of Dunharrow to fight for their cause, this gives the Armies of Middle Earth an advantage against Sauron’s armies.

In The Clash of the Kings Statue, we find both Aragorn and the King of the Dead expertly sculpted, facing off with swords drawn. Each features rich detail and beautifully crafted, film accurate appearances. Aragorn features his ranger outfit, with cloak and clothing expertly sculpted to look as if he’s in mid-swing. Likewise, the King of the Dead’s garb – including his robes, crown, and even minutely sculpted buckles and armor pieces – look perfect.

One thing worth nothing is each character’s facial features, which are perfectly captured. Aragorn’s determined and steadfast in his cause, features a calm, steely gaze while the King of the Dead’s angry and conflicted at being bound to serve the one true king.

Both characters stand atop a rock base, posed in mid-strike with swords raised above their heads, dueling for superiority and ready to do battle. While this scene was never this dramatic in the film, it’s great to see Sideshow expand their realm of collectibles to include assumed scenes like this. With luck, we’ll see even more statues inspired by scenes which may not have been seen in the film.

PAINT APPLILCATION: To compliment the amazing sculpt, artists at Sideshow have expertly painted this piece with detailed colors accurate to those seen in The Return of the King. Aragorn’s dark, woodland colors, including his green/blue cloak, gray boots, brown coat and black pants, are all perfectly captured here. Likewise, the royal red and gold on the King of the Dead’s cloak and armor give him a drastic, opposite look to Aragorn.

Minute details, including Aragorn’s ring, tiny rusting portions of the King’s helmet, and the detail on the kings’ swords, are perfectly painted. Most impressive, the King of the Dead’s blue skin and white teeth and beard perfectly capture his ancient look and…deadness.

EXCLUSIVE EDITION: The Sideshow Exclusive version of the statue includes a limited edition print of Aragorn and the King of the Dead by artist Jerry Vanderstelt. While I'm not personally a fan of prints and posters as an added bonus for purchasing an exclusive edition of a statue, this picture is gorgeous and suitable for framing. In fact, few things would make a better backdrop for this impressive statue than this print.

COST & OVERALL IMPRESSION: With a retail price of $300, this statue is made to appeal primarily to die-hard Lord of the Rings fans. The casual fan of the trilogy, no matter how much they like it, probably won’t spend $300 on a statue of a scene that really wasn’t in the film. In fact, since this statue represents a much more dramatic battle than what viewers saw in the live-action adaptation of Return of the King, even some die-hard fans may not invest in it.

That said, I hope collectors and fans see this statue in person before passing final judgment as pictures truly don’t do it justice. At 17” high, 17” wide, and 10” deep, this massive diorama delivers a beautifully sculpted and painted Lord of the Rings collectible that will no doubt impress any and all who see it.

The Clash of the Kings: Aragorn VS King of the Dead Diorama is available now from Sideshow Collectibles as well as other fine retailers.

Review and Photos by Jess C. Horsley

Review Sample Courtesy of Sideshow Collectibles

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