Super7 D&d Ultimates Tiamat Vinyl Review — A Vinyl Kid Calls Bs
I grew up in Taiwan, which means I grew up with vinyl toys — yes, you can say I *was* a pro of vinyl toys.
Not just playing with them, either. I knew how to dry them properly if they got wet. How to weigh them down with sand or BB pellets so they felt more solid. How to use a hair dryer to warm the vinyl so you could coax limbs and joints into new poses without stressing the plastic. Like I said… a pro.
Image: Red rectangular box for a toy or collectible figure. It features bold white and yellow text. The main label reads:
“TIAMAT Five-Headed Evil Dragon.”The box prominently displays an image of the Tiamat dragon, which is red and has five distinct heads, each in a different color: blue, red, green, black, and white. The dragon toy is posed with its wings outspread and multiple heads visible.
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Why does growing up in Taiwan mean I had a ton of vinyl toys?
Partly because of proximity. Taiwan was flooded with Japanese soft vinyl toys — kaiju, Ultraman, Ultraman villains — the good stuff. And then there were the *Taiwan-made* knockoffs of those properties. Soft vinyl everywhere.
Image: Red and yellow toy box with a large clear plastic window displaying a dragon figure inside. The box is for the “Dungeons & Dragons: The Animated Series” line, as shown by prominent white and pink stylized text on the left side.
The dragon depicted on the packaging is Tiamat, a five-headed dragon figure. The illustration on the box shows each dragon head in a different color: red, blue, white, green, and black, all emerging from a central red body. The figure itself is partially visible inside the packaging, and you can see the colorful heads through the clear plastic. The box has a bright yellow border around the window, creating a bold contrast with the red.
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But there was another reason: people in Taiwan quickly realized knock‑off vinyl toys were cheap and easy to produce. So *everything* had a vinyl version.
A legit Bandai Dragon Ball Z Super Saiyan Goku import might cost $40.
I could walk through a night market and buy a knock‑off vinyl Super Saiyan Goku for $5.
And here’s the kicker.
That $40 Japanese Bandai Goku? He had swivel joints at the shoulders.
My $5 knock‑off vinyl Goku?
Cut joints at the shoulders, neck, *and* waist.
LOL.
Image: Large, red rectangular box with a clear plastic window displaying the “Tiamat” five-headed dragon figure inside. The box is from the Dungeons & Dragons animated series line, noted by the white and pink styled “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS” branding along the left edge.
The display window reveals the toy: a massive red dragon with five separate heads—blue, white, black, green, and red. The heads are positioned to face outward, each with a distinct facial expression.
A bold yellow border surrounds the clear window. On the right side in white text, it reads:
“TIAMAT Five-Headed Evil Dragon.”
A yellow text box in the upper right of the clear plastic window says:
“Stands OVER 15” Tall, 19” Long, and 16” Wide!”
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Back then, articulation on injection‑molded figures was limited as hell. Vinyl didn’t really suffer from the so‑called “lack of articulation problem” people like to complain about now — especially when compared to what we had in the ’80s and ’90s.
So when Super7 announced their *Dungeons & Dragons* Tiamat vinyl figure for **$300 USD**, I laughed. Out loud.
Image: v
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No vinyl toy is worth $300.
Not unless it’s life‑sized.
Yes, she’s roughly 20 inches long and wide, and about 15 inches tall. But let’s be real: most of that size comes from tail, necks, and wings — parts that barely use any material. Strip those away and suddenly she’s… not that big.
Image: Red box lid with a large, stylized ampersand (&) logo in dark red and black, featuring a dragon head incorporated into the design (the classic Dungeons & Dragons logo). There is a transparent window cut into the logo, revealing a glimpse of what's inside the box.
On the left side of the lid, white text reads:
The Adventure Is Yours
The overall look is bold and minimalist, with the focus on the iconic Dungeons & Dragons logo and the inspirational phrase.
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On top of that, Super7 went with a **cartoon/animated** aesthetic. That means smooth surfaces, minimal sculpted detail, and heavy reliance on paint instead of texture. You can’t seriously tell me the labor costs justify the price.
So I did what I do best.
I waited.
When she finally released, I waited some more. And about a week before Black Friday, I told a reviewer friend:
> “There’s no way I’d ever pay $300 for this shit. She’s getting a deep discount soon.”
Image: The bottom of a large, red box lying flat. At the center in large white text, it reads:
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
THE ANIMATED SERIES
There are several blocks of small white text and logos above, including barcode, manufacturer information, and legal details typical for toys or collectibles. The manufacturer's name “Hasbro,” the Dungeons & Dragons logo, and other copyright or safety icons are visible.
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How did I know?
Simple.
**1.** Most collectors agree no vinyl toy is worth $300. That already nukes a huge chunk of the buyer base.
**2.** Four Horsemen Studios is putting out a *six‑foot‑long* fully articulated dragon for about $600 — flame effects, alternate wings, the works. Anyone okay with $300 for vinyl would rather save and go all‑in on *that*.
**3.** Not everyone likes the cartoonish look.
**4.** Retailers want this thing *gone*. The box alone takes up ridiculous shelf space.
And sure enough…
Black Friday hits.
EntertainmentEarth drops Tiamat **40% off**.
$193.
Still overpriced — but you know what?
My birthday was coming up. I’d had a decent year income‑wise. Screw it. I bought myself a birthday dragon.
Image: A person is standing in a room wearing a dark robe with a shiny collar and round sunglasses. Resting on their shoulder is a large Tiamat dragon figure. The dragon is quite prominent—its five colorful heads (red, blue, green, white, and black) extend across the person’s upper chest and head area, with the body and wings covering a significant portion of the person’s upper torso and reaching outward past their shoulder.
The dragon’s size in relation to the person is substantial—the heads and necks rise nearly to the level of the wearer’s head, and the wingspan appears to stretch almost the full width of their shoulders. The figure is bulky and eye-catching, clearly designed to be a centerpiece collectible and showing that the toy is much larger than most standard action figures, nearly the size of a small pet.
An orange tabby cat sits on the countertop in the foreground, adding further context for scale—the dragon toy is much larger than the cat’s head and comparable in size to the cat’s body. The overall effect demonstrates that the Tiamat dragon is an oversized, dramatic piece that makes a significant visual impact when displayed next to a person.
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## The Figure Itself
Let’s talk reality.
Super7 advertises **20 points of articulation**.
Image: Close-up side view of the large Tiamat dragon figure. The dragon's body is bright red with defined sculpted scales and muscular limbs. Its tail curves prominently, and its wings are large, extending high above the body and showing detailed structure and veins.
You can see some of its five necks and heads, featuring different colors like green and blue, sticking out toward the left side of the image.
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In practice?
They don’t do shit.
Every joint is a basic cut joint. Turn the tail or necks and the sculpt and paint break up immediately. You lose visual flow, the colors misalign, and suddenly the dragon looks… wrong.
Image: In this image, the tail of the Tiamat dragon figure is posed quite differently compared to the previous shot. Here, the tail is arched upward in a dramatic curve, rising higher above the dragon’s back legs and body. It extends more vertically, making the pose appear dynamic and lively, as if the dragon is alert or in motion.
In the last shot, the tail was positioned more horizontally, extending straight out behind the dragon’s body, parallel to the surface it stands on. The new upward curve in this image shows that the tail is flexible and can be posed in different ways for display, adding to the figure’s expressive options and overall sense of movement. The change also emphasizes the tail’s length and sculpted detailing.
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And before anyone says, *“But it’s vinyl — it can only use cut joints!”*
Bullshit.
My rotocast **Sagat** figure by SOTA from **2002** had ball‑jointed neck, shoulders, and hips. That figure retailed for about $30.
If SOTA could do ball joints on vinyl *over twenty years ago* for $30, Super7 can damn well do ball‑jointed tails and necks for a $300 toy.
Next issue.
**$300… and no blast effects?**
Tiamat’s entire identity is five heads, five elemental breath weapons — fire, ice, poison gas, acid, lightning.
For $300, I expect five removable blast effects that plug into her mouths.
Anything less is laziness.
Image: An orange tabby cat is perched on a countertop, appearing very curious as it sniffs or investigates a spot right in front of it. Just beneath the cat, the large and colorful Tiamat dragon toy peeks out, its five dramatic heads (blue, red, green, white, and black) and one wing visible, as if the dragon is looking up at the cat.
The way the cat sits almost protectively over the dragon, or possibly treating it like a new friend or playmate, gives the scene a humorous and adorable vibe. The dragon’s size makes it look like a mischievous companion for the cat, adding to the playful atmosphere of the photo.
Around them, various homey kitchen items create a cozy, cluttered backdrop, but the focus stays on the cute interaction between the big dragon figure and the curious cat, making it a fun and charming moment.
Then there’s the tactile problem.
Most of the figure is **smooth vinyl with painted detail**. That might look fine from across the room, but for a tactile, blind collector like me? It’s deeply underwhelming. There’s very little surface information to explore.
Image: Extreme close-up of the Tiamat dragon figure's body. The image shows the bright red, smooth, and rounded scales along the dragon’s side and underbelly. The segments have a shiny, plastic finish and curve gracefully, emphasizing the large, toy-like quality of the figure.
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And finally — what the hell happened to the **stinger**?
In D&D lore, Tiamat’s wyvern‑like body ends in a venomous stinger capable of killing foes in agonizing pain.
That defining feature?
Not represented here.
Image: A person stands in a cozy, cluttered room wearing a dark robe with shiny accents and dark round sunglasses. They are holding the large Tiamat dragon figure, with its five colorful heads (blue, green, red, white, and black) and big wings clearly visible and spreading outward, making the dragon look huge against the person’s torso. The person’s hand is raised playfully toward the camera, perhaps as if casting a spell or saying “stop!” in a fun, dramatic way, adding a sense of humor and action to the scene.
On the counter nearby, an orange tabby cat is sitting among some kitchen items, including a white takeout bag and a paper towel roll, appearing relaxed and slightly curious about all the activity. The warm lighting, shelves filled with figures and photos, and the dynamic pose create a playful and lively atmosphere, highlighting both the impressive size of the dragon figure and the personality of the people (and pets) in the room.
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## Context Matters
Let’s put this in perspective.
HasLab figures like **Sentinel** and **Galactus** sit around the same $300 price point.
Those are:
* Fully articulated
* Around 30 inches tall
* Loaded with accessories
* Lights and sounds
* Bonus figures
* Massive licensing fees
Hasbro: Marvel Legends Galactus Review
Four Horsemen sells a **1/12 fully articulated rider and mount** set for around $100 — beautifully sculpted, gorgeously painted, stacked with accessories.
NECA made a **18‑inch Knifehead** from *Pacific Rim* for about $110 — massive, articulated, detailed, and it even came with a display base.
Mattel routinely sells **30‑inch Super Colossal Jurassic World dinosaurs** — some with sounds — for under $100.
Image: Two large toy figures side by side on a table create an impressive showdown. On the left is the colorful Tiamat dragon, with its bright red body, muscular limbs, and several long necks and heads visible (white, green, and blue in this view) all facing forward with fierce expressions. Its size and presence are striking, taking up almost half of the visible table space.
On the right, there’s a massive dinosaur toy, textured and painted in shades of brown and tan, resembling a T. rex. The dinosaur's body and strong legs dwarf much of the scene. Its head looms over the dragon’s necks, almost as if it's about to chomp down or is facing off with Tiamat in a playful, giant creature standoff.
This angle highlights just how large both figures are, as they’re almost the same in height and bulk. The details of the toys’ skin, scales, and claws are all easy to see, making it a fun and dramatic size comparison—two “monsters” together in a way that really shows off their impressive scale for display or play.
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So yeah.
If you’re charging $300 for a Tiamat figure, it had better be the **definitive** Tiamat.
Not just the *only* one available at the moment.
Because the second NECA or Hasbro decides to do a premium Tiamat?
This thing gets absolutely blown out of the water.
Image: Two large toy figures on display, facing each other on a tabletop for a fun size comparison. On the left is the Tiamat dragon with a striking red body and muscular legs, its three visible heads—white, green, and red—stretching boldly forward with fierce, dramatic expressions. The dragon’s wings and body look powerful and colorful, making it eye-catching.
On the right is a big gray dinosaur toy, resembling a sauropod with a long neck, massive body, thick legs, and textured skin. The dinosaur’s body is broad and substantial, easily as tall and bulky as the Tiamat figure next to it. Both toys are nearly the same height at the shoulder, showing that the dragon is just as impressive and sizable as the giant dinosaur.
The scene feels playful and imaginative, as if both creatures are meeting for a prehistoric/fantasy face-off. The details on both figures stand out, and the image clearly highlights their huge scale compared to typical toys, making them look like epic titans ready for adventure or display.
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The Missed Opportunity Nobody at Super7 Wants to Talk About
Anyone who has actually messed with vinyl toys or model kits knows a simple truth: vinyl loves modularity.
A lot of soft vinyl figures can be pulled apart and reassembled easily. Necks, tails, wings, limbs — separate pieces, friction-fit or socketed, no problem. This is old news to anyone who’s customized toys, garage kits, or kaiju vinyls.
Which makes Super7’s approach here especially frustrating, because they missed a huge opportunity.
They could have made this Tiamat dramatically bigger without increasing the box size at all.
Image: Two oversized toy figures are shown side by side for a dramatic and playful size comparison. In the front and lower part of the scene is the Tiamat dragon figure, with its striking red body, muscular legs, outstretched wings, and visible heads—green and white, both showing fierce expressions and detailing. Tiamat is positioned low to the surface, with its body and heads extending forward.
Standing directly behind and towering partially over the dragon is a large mechanized gorilla figure. The gorilla has shiny metallic armor with elaborate sculpted mechanical details, combined with black fur texture on its arms and legs. Its pose is powerful and hulking, clearly as large as—if not larger than—the dragon. The silver armor and bulky body give the gorilla a strong presence, while the contrast with Tiamat’s colorful fantasy appearance makes the scene fun and striking.
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Here’s how:
Detach the necks, tail, and wings. Pack them separately from the torso in the same oversized box. Then scale everything up.
Suddenly, when fully assembled, you’re looking at a Tiamat that’s roughly 40 inches wide, 40 inches long, and about 30 inches tall.
Now that is an imposing Dragon Queen.
Now that justifies a $300 price tag.
Same box footprint. Same shipping logic. Just smarter engineering and a willingness to think like people who actually understand vinyl.
Instead, Super7 played it safe, kept everything permanently attached, and delivered a figure that relies on presence alone — not ingenuity — to sell the illusion of value.
Image: A colorful and impressive side-by-side display of two large action figures for a dramatic size comparison. In the foreground and bottom half of the image is the Tiamat dragon figure, showing off its bulky red body, powerful legs, outstretched wings, and three of its distinct heads (green, white, and red), all posed with lively expressions.
Towering above and behind Tiamat is a large Megazord figure from Power Rangers. The Megazord features bold primary colors—blue, yellow, red, green, and black—with mechanical details, wheels, and a sword in hand. Its arm is extended forward, positioned above the dragon’s heads, as if ready for battle. The Megazord’s equally gigantic stature makes it nearly as tall as the Tiamat, with its mechanized parts and gleaming sword creating a classic “robot versus monster” vibe.
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## Final Verdict
This is a **fantastic $100 toy**.
At $150? I’d recommend it without hesitation.
At $200? Still a stretch, but defensible.
Image: Action figures showing a dramatic size comparison: In the foreground, several Avengers action figures—Captain America with his shield, a silver female (possibly representing a character like Silver Sable), Thor with his red cape and raised hammer, and another muscular figure—stand together. These characters are all posed as if confronting an immense foe.
Towering over them in the background is Tiamat, a massive dragon depicted with multiple long necks and heads (one clearly visible, colored white with yellow eyes and sharp teeth), and huge, sweeping red wings that span almost the entire width of the image. Tiamat’s body is much bigger than any of the Avengers figures, making the heroes look small and almost overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the dragon. The dramatic difference in size emphasizes the power and threat of Tiamat compared to the much smaller superheroes. The setting is indoors, but the focus is clearly on the impressive contrast in scale between the figures and the dragon.
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At $300?
No.
That’s not ambition.
That’s Super7 banking on nostalgia, shelf presence, and the lack of competition.
And as someone who grew up knee‑deep in vinyl toys — who *knows* vinyl — I’m calling it exactly what it is.
Overpriced.
If you grabbed her on deep discount like I did? Enjoy your birthday dragon.
If you paid full price?
I hope you really, *really* love her.
Image: In this scene, several action figures are each being held by the jaws of a large, orange dragon with four different colored heads—blue, red, green, and white. Each head has its mouth open wide, gripping one character.
From top to bottom:
The blue dragon head is holding a figure dressed in a red cape, blue pants, and yellow boots (resembling Thor).
The red dragon head is gripping a figure with orange-striped pants and black boots (the character appears muscular, possibly a villain or hero).
The green dragon head is biting onto a metallic silver figure, who looks robotic or like a silver superhero.
The white dragon head has captured a figure in blue with a shield painted with a star and stripes (resembling Captain America).
All the characters are depicted as if they are being dangled or bitten by the dragon, with their bodies hanging in various dynamic poses, emphasizing the powerful grasp of the multi-headed dragon.
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*For more tactile art, figure reviews, and unapologetically honest collector takes, visit* **johnnytiger.com** *and* **tigertactile.com**.
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#Super7 #Tiamat #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #VinylToys #ActionFigures #ToyReview #BlindCollector #TactileArt #Kaiju #DragonQueen #CollectorRant #ToyIndustry
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