Release Date: October 2025
RRP: £44.99
The Doctor Who toy line's move to (predominantly) B&M exclusivity has allowed for the reissue of figures long out of production, but among them there's always been one significant adversary that's been curiously forgotten. Despite being the longest serving incarnation and the only one to face off against all seven classic Doctors, the Anthony Ainley version of The Master has only ever had one release - a Planet of Fire two-pack alongside the Fifth Doctor all the way back in 2010. Even more curious is that the figure isn't even of his standard costume, instead being the three-piece suit he wore in that story. For years fans have wondered when a new Master would join the collection, and now 15 years later the wait is finally over. The Master & TARDIS (Vortex Edition) set is the latest figure to join the Character website exclusive range - sporting a "higher specification deco applied over base colour plastics for extra detail" to their general retail counterparts.
The Master comes packaged in the new style white boxes first debuted alongside the Vortex Edition – rectangular but with the top corner cut out to create an almost “D” shaped box. Packaging width has varied release to release, with the Master’s considerably wider than normal to accommodate the extra accessories. On the front of the box is a big window section to show off the set’s contents, alongside a TARDIS graphic, Doctor Who logo and character name against a blue vortex backdrop. The spines of the box simply feature the Doctor Who text logo, while the back features an expansive biography of Anthony Ainley’s incarnation of the Master. It’s quite an informative little blurb that not only covers the show itself, but also how Ainley himself cherished the role. Alongside the text are some boxed off sections highlighting the figure scale, set contents and what’s so special about the Vortex Collection. There’s even a Master quote from The Five Doctors thrown in for good measure. Inside the figure and accessories are neatly stored on a moulded plastic tray, held down by a combination of paper ties and tape.
An added bonus returning to this Vortex Edition figure is the cardboard diorama backing card, this time depicting the Pharos Project Radio Telescope control room from Logopolis (the final adventure of the Fourth Doctor and full debut of the new Master). The tray features a very nice print with clear details, but goes one step further by including 3D elements. As well as a control box that extends outwards, there’s also a cut-out doorway with the sky visible behind it. The dioramas have always added a nice play/display element to the releases (and I was sad when they removed them from the mainline figures), but this one really stands out as something extra special. A great way to display both the Master and the season 18 version of the Fourth Doctor figure.
For the very first time we have the Ainley version of the Master in his iconic gold collared outfit - something which he sometimes stray from in the classic series but always eventually came back to. Straight away the figure lives up to both the "Vortex Edition" name, with an improved head sculpt compared to the previous Planet of Fire version - both in terms of actor likeness and paintwork/skin tone. Dare I say this (along with the alternate head included with the release) are among the best head sculpts in the entire Doctor Who range, the quality of the eyes being a particular improvement. Meanwhile the suit itself may rely on sculpted detailing rather than elaborate paintwork, but it's a great resemblance to Ainley's all-black ensemble. The collar detailing isn't quite as elaborate as the real thing simply by virtue of being smaller, but again captures the likeness well. Further adding to the detail are all the clothing folds moulded in, as well as those fittingly flamboyant puffy sleeves.
While the “Vortex Edition” tagline primarily refers to improved sculpts and paintwork, for some figures (such as the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday) it’s also meant improved articulation. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for this new Master figure, suggesting that the body has been potentially reworked from a previous release. His articulation consists of;
- Ball jointed head
- Shoulder, bicep, wrist and hip swivels
- Hinged elbows and knees
- Swivel hinge hips
It’s a little disappointing, but at this point also kind of expected. It’s clear that for the most part Character want to keep the articulation relatively consistent in the line, which is understandable given how long it’s been running but it would have been nice to at the very least get the swivel hinge shoulders present on some of the new(er) figures. The ability to raise the arms outwards as well as forward/backward would make a big difference even if it doesn’t seem like much. As such the Master is fairly limited in terms of poseability, but remains pretty representative of the line as a whole. That said, the head articulation is surprisingly well done – it sits on a double ball joint, technically giving him both head and neck articulation. It’s nothing you wouldn’t see on similar collector-oriented lines, but it sure beats the usual swivel joint these figures tend to have.
That all said, Character have absolutely tried to make up for articulation woes with the accessory count. This is one of the most packed single-character releases yet, and comes with a mixture of brand-new and reissued accessories. Among these pieces are an alternate head sculpt sporting Ainley’s trademark manic grin, his Master’s version of the Tissue Compression Eliminator (with open and closed emitters) and the Master’s TARDIS disguised as a Doric Column – previously seen as part of 2011 Castrovalva set. This new version sports a darker paint job, as well as (rather curiously) a few extra millimetres in height. Despite having the outline of a door moulded into it, the Column is unfortunately hollow and the door does not open/close without additional modding. Functionally it’s a bit of an oversized paperweight, but display-wise it goes brilliantly with the figure. The two different versions of the TCE are also great, with the open version sporting additional silver paint on its open parts. The real winner here though is the alternate head, not just because they’re a rarity in the line but also because the sculpt might be even better than the default one. It captures Ainley’s brand of pantomime menace perfectly, and will almost certainly be most collectors’ head of choice when it comes to this release. Each head pops off the body easily thanks to use of ball joints, so swapping heads isn’t difficult at all.
However this release is particularly special in that it doesn’t only include for the figures itself. Also featured here are the Matrix Internment Orb and Time Lord Funeral Casket, used by the Doctor to transport the Master’s remains to Gallifrey (following his execution by the Daleks) at the beginning of Doctor Who: The Movie. These might seem a bit unusual to include with an Ainley Master, but given rumoured difficulty around releasing figures from the movie (other than the Seventh and Eighth Doctors that is) this is a great way to get those accessories out. Presumably it was the Ainley Master exterminated at the beginning of the film too, so thematically it works. The Interment Orb is small but looks great with its copper paint job, while the Casket is beautiful detailed with both similar paintwork and the Seal of Rassilon moulded on the front. The Casket opens up and features red (painted) lining inside, allowing the Interment Orb to be stored inside. They’re a nice little set of accessories that further bolster an already strong accessory count, and go great with the movie version of the Seventh Doctor from a few years ago.
Between the rising cost of figures and the initial vagueness of what it's supposed to be (such as the earliest releases advertising improved articulation as well as sculpting/paint), it's understandable if some collectors still have some scepticism about the Vortex Collection. However this is a release that feels like it's been nearly two decades in the making, and as arguably one of the biggest gaps in the entire classic Doctor Who line The Master & TARDIS (Vortex Edition) set might just be one of Character's most special releases yet. This truly is the definitive version of the Ainley Master, and sports not just one but TWO of the best head sculpts the line has ever put out. While the basic articulation is slightly disappointing (but ultimately expected), the set itself more than makes up for it with a plethora of accessories and a packing presentation to fit such an exclusive release. While there are plenty of other characters I'd like to see in the Doctor Who line, I don't think I wanted any of them as much as I wanted this.
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