How's it hanging? Today is Halloween and I have the spookiest, scariest, most frightening review ever lined up for you....David S. Pumpkins!!! He is going to scare the hell out of you! As you may know, this is David S. Pumpkins, man. He's his own thing and Funko has made him into a POP! so you can have a thing of your own, too. Since he's kind of Halloween's Santa, I figured it is appropriate to review him today.Any questions? Then enter at your own risk as we check out the scariest review at Action Figure Barbecue on All Hallow's Eve. Please hold on as this elevator goes "bump" in the night...
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Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: King Shark from DC Comics Multiverse by Mattel
I try to cover characters and creatures from all different genres of horror each year during 31 Days of Toy Terror so now, for your reading pleasure, I'm checking out a giant shark creature. King Shark is the build a figure from the the DC Comics Multiverse series released in early 2017. Sharks seem to freak people out so I figures this malicious, man-eating malcontent will probably give a few of you some chills and thrills on the day before Halloween. Are you getting excited? I hope so! Let's let a vicious, violent shark man named Nanaue walk us into the day before Halloween. More after the break...
Monday, October 29, 2018
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Mummy & Grim Reaper #9308 from Playmobil
Earlier this month I went to a very cool toy shop in Hendersonville, NC, Dancing Bear Toys, where I found all three of the new Playmobil Halloween themed two packs. I had been looking for these as I knew they would be just perfect for the The Revenge if 31 Days of Toy Terror. First up is the Mummy & Grim Reaper two pack which includes, fittingly, a Mummy and a Grim Reaper. These are pretty creepy looking, right? What is it about the Playmobil horror themed figures that is just so unsettling. Lego has released quite a few horror figures, but they're a bit more cartoonish and charming. Playmobil figures are just... odd. I really don't know how to describe them. Tell me what you think in the comments below! Let's jump in and check these out, shall we?
Sunday, October 28, 2018
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Oogie Boogie #450 from POP! Disney by Funko
Considering both my love for The Nightmare Before Christmas and the fact that it is the 25th Anniversary celebration of the film, you probably knew that 2018's The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror would be filled with reviews of the residents of Halloween Town, didn't you? Sometime in August Funko released quite a few new POP! vinyls from The Nightmare Before Christmas and one of them that really appealed to me is the Oogie Boogie figure I'm reviewing today. Rather than just being your garden variety boogie man, this version of the big bad boogie daddy reveals his true form: A massive cluster of bugs! While various companies, all the way back to Hasbro's original offerings in 1993, have implemented Oogie Boogie being stuffed with bugs as a feature in the toys, so far as I know Funko is the first to offer this very specific variant of the character. I actually received this guy as a birthday gift way back in September but I just knew he'd have a special place on this year's countdown. Let's check him out after the break...
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Action Figure Review: Spoiler (Detective Comics) from DC Comics Multiverse by Mattel
Can you believe that the Spoiler, aka Stephanie Brown, has been around since 1992 and yet this is the first action figure of her? Yes, DC Direct did release an extremely rare version of Stephanie Brown as Batgirl, but she has been the Spoiler much more often and for much longer. Finally! Stephanie is a main part of the DC Rebirth Detective Comics team which seems like a team Mattel is eager to complete in the DC Comic Multiverse line. Along with the Rebirth version of Harley Quinn, Spoiler is a Walmart exclusive figure that is meant to tie in with the upcoming Multiverse series including a Collect & Connect Lex Luthor. There's been no sign of that series for the past month or more but Stephanie and Harley have been hitting Walmart shelves in pretty good numbers, hopefully meaning these will be fairly easy for fans to pickup. Let's check out the Spoiler after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Mummy Army by Dollar General
Every year there is some random, inexpensive Halloween themed toy that just seems like a must have for the Halloween season. In 2018, that toy might be the Mummy Army set of minifigures sold by Dollar General. These are very similar in scale and style to your traditional plastic army men and come ten to a pack for only $1. One thing that I find really nice about this set is that you get the same ten unique figures in every set. That's pretty impressive, don't you think? Since Dollar Generals are located nearly everywhere you should have a pretty good chance of finding these. Thanks to my parents for finding them, as I know that hunting down plastic skeletons for their 35 year old son is how they enjoy spending their retirement. Anyways, to make this review even crazier and more off the rails than it already is, I'm going to bring back a way that I've reviewed random sets of minifigures in the past: By pretending that each unique sculpt is an enemy in some obscure and hypothetical classic Nintendo game and giving them a bizarre name and description! (I've done this before with Skeleton War, Monsters, and Zombies at War!) Pretend it's 1990 and you're riding home from your local Toys 'R Us in the backseat of your parents' car with a brand new copy of Mummy Army, an action adventure side-scroller similar to Castlevania III. Overcome with excitement, you scroll through the manual. In the game it is 1922 and the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen has unleashed the curse of King Tutankhamen, awaken an army of mummies. As either archaeologist Kensington Carter or adventurer Evie Herbert, you must reclaim the 9 chapters of the Mysterious Book of the Underworld to break the curse! Let's take a peak at Mummy Army after the break...
The Facts:
Height: Around 2 1/8ths inches
Set Includes: 10 unique mummies
Non-Scalper Price: $1
Goo Drops:
Goo Drops hang from the ceiling in ancient tombs and crypts, waiting to drop down on unprepared adventures and deliver a mighty blow with their ax! Don't get caught. Dodge them and the fall will finish what thousands of years of decay has already started.
* Wrappers:
Wrappers wait in hiding behind holes in the walls of ancient tombs or open windows in nearby Cairo, prepared to pop out and deliver a final bear hug to their prey. Either avoid them or destroy them as they peak out looking for their pray. Look for their telltale glowing eyes in any opening you might pass!
Sphinx Stepper:
A true 'old school' kind of guy, Sphinx dances across ledges looking for his final dance partner!
Crypt Creepers:
These mummies were dull in life and in death they're not much more exciting: They simply shamble back and forth, causing trouble if they run into you. Simply avoid them or take them out!
Morgans:
Upset that their organs were taken as a result of their mummification, Morgans are looking to replace them. While they stand in one place they launch their ancient ax in a vicious arc in order to cut loose a few pieces you're not needing. Deny them that opportunity by getting close and finishing them off!
Disem-bo:
Armed with a bo staff, Disem-bo likes to attack from above or below. His long staff allows him to attack you whether you are above or below him. Be careful as they can be tricky!
Cleave-o-Patra:
Cleave-O-Patras like to keep their distance, but that's not really much help as they tend to hurl deadly blades at adventurers in their tombs. You'd better duck or jump unless you want join them!
Natrons:
The Mummy Army is as numerous as the grains of sand in the desert and Natrons are a large part of that army. Running across the screen directly at their enemies, Natrons rely on speed and the strength of their numbers rather than any clever strategy. Keep moving!
Sneak Peak at the Boss of Level 1- Aswan and Luxor
Aswan and Luxor are inseparable and work together to defeat your adventurer. Learn their patterns and dodge their scythes and you just might obtain the first piece of the Mysterious Book of the Underworld! Only eight more to go...
The front of the package is pretty dully (it's a purple blister card) but the back has this crazy 1980s-ish line art of the figures. Pretty accurate, right? I like how some of them are clearly knocked down in defeat.
Mummy Army is one of the great surprises of Halloween 2018 and if you dig mummies, minifigures, or just cheap toys you'll want to track it down. The mummies are very cool and the poses are nice. There are 10 different figures although there isn't a lot of variation since each figure looks like, you know, a mummy. Still, it's nice to see something out there other than zombies and skeletons, right? This is a Great set and the fact that you're only paying 10 cents each for these mummies makes them a potential trick 'r treat offering for the kids. If I know your house is giving out minifigures, I'm going to show up, change costumes, and then come back again.
Do you like kind of generic and strange minifigure sets? I've reviewed quite a few of these, including:
Defender Military Set by Boley
Monsters by Hing Fat
Skeleton Toy Figures by Ningbo/ Walgreens
Skeleton War by Hunson
Super Hero by Toysmith
Zombie Playset by Boley
Zombies at War by Brilliant Novelty Co./ Spherewerx
The Facts:
Height: Around 2 1/8ths inches
Set Includes: 10 unique mummies
Non-Scalper Price: $1
Goo Drops:
Goo Drops hang from the ceiling in ancient tombs and crypts, waiting to drop down on unprepared adventures and deliver a mighty blow with their ax! Don't get caught. Dodge them and the fall will finish what thousands of years of decay has already started.
* Wrappers:
Wrappers wait in hiding behind holes in the walls of ancient tombs or open windows in nearby Cairo, prepared to pop out and deliver a final bear hug to their prey. Either avoid them or destroy them as they peak out looking for their pray. Look for their telltale glowing eyes in any opening you might pass!
Sphinx Stepper:
A true 'old school' kind of guy, Sphinx dances across ledges looking for his final dance partner!
Crypt Creepers:
These mummies were dull in life and in death they're not much more exciting: They simply shamble back and forth, causing trouble if they run into you. Simply avoid them or take them out!
Morgans:
Upset that their organs were taken as a result of their mummification, Morgans are looking to replace them. While they stand in one place they launch their ancient ax in a vicious arc in order to cut loose a few pieces you're not needing. Deny them that opportunity by getting close and finishing them off!
Disem-bo:
Armed with a bo staff, Disem-bo likes to attack from above or below. His long staff allows him to attack you whether you are above or below him. Be careful as they can be tricky!
Cleave-o-Patra:
Cleave-O-Patras like to keep their distance, but that's not really much help as they tend to hurl deadly blades at adventurers in their tombs. You'd better duck or jump unless you want join them!
Natrons:
The Mummy Army is as numerous as the grains of sand in the desert and Natrons are a large part of that army. Running across the screen directly at their enemies, Natrons rely on speed and the strength of their numbers rather than any clever strategy. Keep moving!
Sneak Peak at the Boss of Level 1- Aswan and Luxor
Aswan and Luxor are inseparable and work together to defeat your adventurer. Learn their patterns and dodge their scythes and you just might obtain the first piece of the Mysterious Book of the Underworld! Only eight more to go...
The front of the package is pretty dully (it's a purple blister card) but the back has this crazy 1980s-ish line art of the figures. Pretty accurate, right? I like how some of them are clearly knocked down in defeat.
Mummy Army is one of the great surprises of Halloween 2018 and if you dig mummies, minifigures, or just cheap toys you'll want to track it down. The mummies are very cool and the poses are nice. There are 10 different figures although there isn't a lot of variation since each figure looks like, you know, a mummy. Still, it's nice to see something out there other than zombies and skeletons, right? This is a Great set and the fact that you're only paying 10 cents each for these mummies makes them a potential trick 'r treat offering for the kids. If I know your house is giving out minifigures, I'm going to show up, change costumes, and then come back again.
Do you like kind of generic and strange minifigure sets? I've reviewed quite a few of these, including:
Defender Military Set by Boley
Monsters by Hing Fat
Skeleton Toy Figures by Ningbo/ Walgreens
Skeleton War by Hunson
Super Hero by Toysmith
Zombie Playset by Boley
Zombies at War by Brilliant Novelty Co./ Spherewerx
Friday, October 26, 2018
Action Figure Review: Jeff Hardy from WWE Zombies by Mattel
Guess what we got lined up for today? Another WWE Zombies review! Today I'm checking out he Zombie version of Jeff Hardy. Considering the crazy and awesome stuff the Hardy Boyz come up with, it seems like an actual possibility that they could become zombies at some point and continue to wrestle in matches. Seriously, if anyone would try that gimmick and make it work, it would be these guys. Jeff Hardy is a very original, very popular talent who has been wrestling since the mid 90s. While he returned to WWE last year, Jeff has wrestled with nearly every other promotions that you can think of. He's a popular guy and a great choice for series 3 of the over the top WWE Zombies line. Let's check out zombie Jeff Hardy after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack Skellington (D31) from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Metalfigs by Jada Toys
Happy Halloween everyone! We are getting closer and closer to the big day and it is time to check out something else related to one of my favorite things ever: The Nightmare Before Christmas! I've been a fan of Jada Toys' Nano Metalfigs since they first hit in 2017 but I've only owned a few of the traditional Metalfigs. As soon as I learned that these very cool The Nightmare Before Christmas figures were showing up at Walgreen's I had to track them down and I finally found some near the very end of September. It looks like there were two figures that Walgreen's was carrying initially (Jack Skellington and Sally) but other retailers seem to also be getting Zero and Jack the Pumpkin King, so I'll be trying to track those two down as well. Let's check out this neat little diecast metal Jack Skellington as today's installment of The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror after the break...
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Action Figure Review: Quakke from Masters of the Universe Classics by Super7
If you read my review of Karg the other day than you know that Super7 has gained my confidence and I'm back in the Masters of the Universe Classics game. Top be honest, it took Super7 a year or more to get "new" Masters of the Universe Classics figures to market and so while Quakke is part of the first series of figures from Super7, he was only released earlier this year. Quakke has long been one of my most wanted figures as while I'm not a huge fan of the New Adventures of He-Man cartoon, I love the toyline. I had Quakke as a kid and he was one of my favorites. The Evil Mutants are a great faction and Mattel did a nice job at building them up, particularly considering the relative unpopularity of anything related to the New Adventures of He-Man. Quakke is an impressive looking figure, though, and his bright colors and cool gimmick make him a nice fit with the rest of the line. Let's check out Quakke after the break and see how cool he really is...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jabba/ Mos Eisley Spaceport Transforming Action Set from Micro Machines: Star Wars by Galoob
Back in 2016 Jabba the Hutt made an appearance during the 31 Days of Toy Terror representing that special type of horror that only giant, slimy slug creatures involved in organized crime can instill, so guess what? Jabba is making another appearance for The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy terror! Today I'm getting the chance to combine a few of my favorite things: Star Wars, a horror toy review, and Micro Machines! For this, the 25th day of The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror, I'm checking out the 1997 Micro Machines Jabba/ Mos Eisley Spaceport Transforming Action Set from Galoob. Released in 1997 to coincide with the release of the Special Editions of the Star Wars films, this set shows off many of the additions made to the Special Edition of Star Wars: A New Hope: A ronto, improved dewbacks, a swoop rider, an Imperial landing craft, and Jabba the Hutt himself. It's not a terribly expensive set on the aftermarket but it is one of the less common ones you'll find due to its appearance later in the line. Let's check out this awesome Micro Machines playset housed inside the body of a hideous Hutt after the break...
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Action Figure Review: Finn Balor from WWE Zombies by Mattel
Since I found series 3 of WWE Zombies after I had already finished writing all of the reviews for The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror you can consider these as bonus reviews to ensure you have an extra super spooky October! Today I'm checking out the WWE Zombies Finn Balor. Finn is easily one of the five greatest professional wrestlers wrestling today and he's also one of my favorites. While Finn Balor by himself is still a worthy opponent, when Finn takes on the identity of the Demon King things get crazy. If you've never seen his entrance into a WWE ring, you need to check it out. Already being a bit of a horror themed wrestler, Finn is a natural fit for the WWE Zombies line (he's already been in the WWE Mutants line, too!). Let's check out this crazy looking guy after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Deathlok from Marvel Legends Series: Deadpool by Hasbro
One of my favorite things about 31 Days of Toy Terror is that I get the chance to show off action figures from a variety of different toylines. Today I'm checking out a figure from one of the Deadpool themed Marvel Legends series released earlier this year: It's Deathlok! So, why does Deathlok warrant a spot on this year's The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror? Well, first up his full name is Deathlok the Demolisher. That's pretty fearsome, right? Secondly, he has been known to both fight against and assist a guy named the Devil-Slayer which is unarguably pretty metal. Last, but not least, Deathlok just so happens to be a reanimated corpse brought back to life to fight in the future. Yup. Reanimated corpse with a massive gun. This is truly 31 Days of Toy Terror material right here, folks. Any questions? There have been lots of Deathloks but this one from the Sasquatch Build-a-figure series is meant to be Luther Manning, the original Deathlok. When I first learned this figure was coming I definitely liked the look of it, but you know what really excited me? I had the Toy Biz Marvel Superheroes Deathlok as a kid and he was always one of my favorites for some odd reason. I'm pretty sure the dude peg-warmed into the mid-90s but there was something unusual and sinister about him that I liked. Today we're going to give this cyborg a chance to shine like a Halloween Jack O' Lantern on today's installment of The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror. Let's check him out after the break...
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Action Figure Review: Harley Quinn (Detective Comics) from DC Comics Multiverse by Mattel
It has been over 6 months since the last series of DC Comics Multiverse hit but within the month or so the Aquaman movie series has shown up along with the newest comics based Walmart exclusive figures. Yeah, Walmart has two exclusive DC Comics Multiverse figures, Spoiler and Harley Quinn, and so far they seem fairly easy to find. Today's review is Harley Quinn and the packaging lists her as coming from Detective Comics. Has Harley even been in the Rebirth era Detective Comics book for more than a cameo? This is clearly Harley from either or self titled book or, possibly even, Suicide Squad. It really could be either. To be honest, it's not that big of a deal though because the figure looks fantastic and I am always down for new Harley Quinn figures. Let's check out the Harley Quinn Walmart exclusive figure after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack Skellington's House from The Nightmare Before Christmas Nano Metalfigs by Jada Toys
We're getting really, really close to Halloween and today I'm checking out a very cool new item from Jada Toys' super fun Nano Metalfigs line: Jack Skellington's House, a new Nano Scene from their The Nightmare Before Christmas Nano Metalfigs minifigure line. A few days ago I reviewed the 20-pack and now I'm checking out this Nano Scene that gives your figures somewhere cool to stand. While last year's Nano Scenes (the Batcave and Hogwarts) were quite large, this year's scenes are quite a bit smaller, although only half the price. Along with Jack Skellington's House Jada Toys has also released a scene of Mickey Mouse from The Sorcerer's Apprentice and a Marvel scene Spiderman on the Daily Bugle. Jack's house was the only one of those that I was interested in and I picked it up a few months ago in an order from the excellent Ferrara Market. I'm really excited for this because it kind of fulfills one of my childhood wishes: As a kid playing with my original Hasbro Nightmare Before Christmas figures, my dad and I would use a large, round, yellow plastic lid from some canister as a moon backdrop for Jack. Now, Jada Toys has given me an official playset, although for the smaller toys. Ready for a closer look at Jack Skellington's House? Then join me after the break...
Monday, October 22, 2018
Action Figure Review: Karg from Masters of the Universe Classics by Super7
It has been nearly two years since my last Masters of the Universe Classics review. Two years. What happened? At times in the past I have declared Masters of the Universe Classics my favorite toyline of all time and, all things considered, that's probably still true (it could be tied with Star Wars: Micro Machines by Galoob). Unfortunately, Mattel went out with more of a whimper than a bang in 2016 as they had some serious snafus that and began to focus more heavily on Filmation variants of popular characters. I certainly love the Filmation cartoons of He-Man and She-Ra but the figures didn't appeal to me all that much with their simpler style. Initially I was skeptical of Super7's and the higher cost of the figures as well. I sort of sat back for awhile to see what would happen and guess what? Super7 really seems to be getting their act together. I was waiting for a sign to hop back in and, for me, that signal was Karg. I love the Masters of the Universe movie. Love it. Love. It. Yes, bringing the battle to Earth was a horrible idea that was used to lower the budget but there is so much right about that movie. One of the things I love are the new Evil Warriors introduced in the film. Blade and Saurod both received action figures in the vintage Masters of the Universe Toyline and in MOTUC but Karg was left high and dry. Various licensing issues kept Karg from being made for so long but various things have popped up or changed which made the figure seem possible over the years and have kept fans championing for him! Technically, this version of Karg is based on a 1987 comic appearance rather than the film. You know what? I'll take him. Despite whatever comes of Super7's tenure with the Masters of the Universe license, they have given us Karg and we ought to sing songs of their heroism and mighty deeds. Let's check Karg out after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Scareglow from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel
When you look at Scareglow, do you become overly terrified? Maybe your palms get sweaty, your heart beats a bit faster, and you begin to experience uncontrollable feelings of dread. If that's the case, you just might have ostiophobia, an irrational fear of bones. Of course, you may also look at Scareglow and feel an overwhelming sense of awe: Perhaps your heart starts beating faster, you hear some heavy metal music playing as if out of nowhere, and you get a sudden urge to paint Scareglow's visage on the side of a paneled van. That happens simply because Scareglow is straight up rad. Scareglow was the November 2009 release in Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics and he's making an appearance in this year's The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror both because he's a wicked cool skeleton with a neon green Scythe of Doom and because Masters of the Universe Classics appeared in five separate installments during the first three years of 31 Days of Toy Terror. Today Scareglow, the evil ghost of Skeletor, will have his revenge!
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Action Figure Review: Typhoid Mary from Marvel Legends Series: Typhoid Mary by Hasbro
This might be the last Marvel Legends Series review I write for a month or so as I think I've picked up most everything I want from the currently released series (I'm still looking for the Walgreens exclusive Magik, though). Typhoid Mary was released as part of the Monster Venom Build-a-Figure series but was given her own logo on the card front, so I guess you could say that Typhoid Mary is currently the first and only figure in the Typhoid Mary subset. I'll go ahead and admit that I know very little about this character. She's apparently a name reference to the real Typhoid Mary, she has some level of psionic powers, and she has been a foe of Daredevil and Deadpool. Well, that's it. That's about all I know. I'll be honest, I just picked this one up because she was inexpensive, she looks really cool, and I remember from the old X-Men/ Marvel trading cards. Let's check Typhoid Mary out after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Henry Bemis (Now in Color!) from The Twilight Zone by Bif Bang Pow!
"Witness Mr. Henry Bemis, a charter member in the fraternity of dreamers.
A bookish little man whose passion is the printed page but who is
conspired against by a bank president and a wife and a world full of
tongue-cluckers and the unrelenting hands of a clock. But in just a
moment Mr. Bemis will enter a world without bank presidents or wives or
clocks or anything else. He'll have a world all to himself, without
anyone at all."
When we look back on the toy trends of 2014 and 2015 we have to remember the prevalence of the faux retro Kenner styled action figures released by companies like Funko, Warpo, and Bif Bang Pow! While the passion for these lines has definitely faded (the current retro focus is on retro styled packaging and Masters of the Universe-styled figures) I have to admit that I still have a bit of a interest in these, particularly the horror themed figures. While I never picked up any beyond the first series of "Now in Color" figures from SDCC 2014 Bif Bang Pow! (of which only 456 were made) has released three more series of The Twilight Zone figures over the past couple years. Today I'm checking out one of the figures from the original series, Henry Bemis, from the season 1 episode "Time Enough at Last." Played by Burgess Meredith, Henry Bemis has become one of the most recognizable characters from The Twilight Zone despite not being anything more than a normal man. He himself isn't terrifying but the episode he's from is chilling in a completely different way than you might expect. I'm willing to let him in for The Revenege of 31 Days of Toy terror, aren't you? Let's check him out after the break...
When we look back on the toy trends of 2014 and 2015 we have to remember the prevalence of the faux retro Kenner styled action figures released by companies like Funko, Warpo, and Bif Bang Pow! While the passion for these lines has definitely faded (the current retro focus is on retro styled packaging and Masters of the Universe-styled figures) I have to admit that I still have a bit of a interest in these, particularly the horror themed figures. While I never picked up any beyond the first series of "Now in Color" figures from SDCC 2014 Bif Bang Pow! (of which only 456 were made) has released three more series of The Twilight Zone figures over the past couple years. Today I'm checking out one of the figures from the original series, Henry Bemis, from the season 1 episode "Time Enough at Last." Played by Burgess Meredith, Henry Bemis has become one of the most recognizable characters from The Twilight Zone despite not being anything more than a normal man. He himself isn't terrifying but the episode he's from is chilling in a completely different way than you might expect. I'm willing to let him in for The Revenege of 31 Days of Toy terror, aren't you? Let's check him out after the break...
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Action Figure Review: Mario with Cappy from World of Nintendo by Jakks Pacific
Wow! I haven't reviewed a new World of Nintendo figure since last Christmas (when I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away! OK, all silliness aside, Jakks Pacific has definitely not been releasing many of these figures. I still don't have wave 2-7 and the current wave that this Mario is from, wave 3-1, has two repacks and one slight variant of Luigi. That's not terribly exciting overall but I really did want this Mario with Cappy figure from Super Mario Odyssey. I bought my Nintendo Switch last year when Odyssey came out and both me and my daughter loved the game. It's a ton of fun! I've been waiting for Jakks to release something from the game and, finally, they have. Let's check out Mario with Cappy after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th Part 2) from Friday the 13th by NECA
Since October 2018 is The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror I'm going to try to get all of the big guns out here this year. While there really isn't any new Leatherface action figures out, I do assure you that this year's countdown will include Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees. Today I'm checking out NECA's rather new Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th Part 2. This isn't NECA first time releasing this version of Jason as they have released him before in a 25th Anniversary 2-pack (which I used to own) and in their Cult Classics line back in 2006 as well as a version in their Mego styled range of figures. This version of Jason is released as one of their Ultimate versions meaning it has some impressive articulation and lots of extras. I believe the head sculpts and some of the accessories might be the same but from everything I've read, the body is completely new. While some versions of Jason look somewhat similar, this one stands out out from the pack as being a representation of the character before he donned his now iconic hockey mask. This guy's just a maniac in overalls and plaid with a burlap bag over his head. Are you down for this? Then join me after the break...
Friday, October 19, 2018
The Night He Came Home Again 2018: Michael Myers from Halloween: One:12 Collective by Mezco
Guess what? While today may not be Halloween, it is the release date for the new Halloween film, titled Halloween! Are you ready? Are you excited? I actually got the chance to see the film last night at one of the later evening showings. I had high hopes for the film as the original Halloween is one of my favorite horror films (and one of my favorites overall, to be honest) and I will say I'm not too disappointed. I'm not going to say much more yet so you can go in with as blank of a slate as possible. I've been looking forward to Mezco's take on Michael Myers for quite some time and while I've had this figure for a couple of weeks now, it has driven me crazy to hold off on posting a review of it until today! I wanted to make today special, though, so think of this as a mid-October treat for you if you're waiting to see Halloween later tonight or, heaven forbid, sometime after that. Anyways, Mezco has heavily relied on DC and Marvel in their One:12 Collective line but it seems they do have a good deal of horror stuff planned. Michael Myers is the first of their horror properties to come out and he's kind of a big deal as Michael Myers action figures have been far and few between. While we've had multiple versions of Leatherface and NECA is intent on giving us every version of Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees ever made, Michael Myers has been more reclusive. Apparently the rights for Halloween are pretty crazy (see yesterday's review) which is why it's pretty impressive that this Michael Myers is from the original (and still best) Halloween film. NECA hasn't tackled Michael Myers in about a decade and thus Mezco's is currently going to be the most desirable version of the character. Let's check out Michael Myers after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Finkelstein from The Nightmare Before Christmas Trading Figures by Jun Planning
Since there isn't a character in all of The Nightmare Before Christmas who isn't simply incredible, it's always worthwhile reviewing any version of them as part of 31 Days of Toy Terror. This year, since this is The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror, I'm revisiting a Nightmare Before Christmas toyline that I first checked out last year: The 2010 The Nightmare Before Christmas Trading Figures by Jun Planning. Target carried these as part of their Halloween offerings that year and they came unassembled in little marked boxes, similar to blind boxed toys but without the whole spending lots of money in order to possibly buy a duplicate. One of the figures in the first series is the brilliant Dr. Finkelstein, the resident mad scientist in Halloween Town and the one responsible for the creation of the heroic Sally. He also provides valuable assistance to Jack Skellington in helping him on his ill-fated quest to take over Christmas as well. Let's take a closer look at this man of science after the break. Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Action Figure Review: Charlotte Flair from WWE Zombies by Mattel
Well, well, well... isn't this a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting to get my hands on the third series of WWE Zombies so soon but not only did I find 5 of the 6 figures in this series in stock at Ringside Collectible but I also found figures with damaged packaging that saved me quite a few bucks. Woo! The WWE Zombies line has been one of my favorites for a few years now and I'm glad to see it continue with a mixture of new Superstars and a few old favorites as well. I actually had already finished the Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror lineup before I received these so I'm going to just stick them in during the day as bonus reviews. You're welcome! Today I'm checking out Charlotte Flair, the lone female in this series and one of the most talented individuals in wrestling today. Period. Charlotte is the daughter of Ric Flair but she absolutely has cultivated her own image and style. And now we have her as a zombie in her famous peacock entrance outfit from Wrestlemania 33. Unless you watch this video, this action figure might be the craziest thing you see all day! Crazy awesome, though. Let's check out Charlotte Flair as a queen zombie after the break. Woo!
The Night He Came Home Again 2018: Michael Myers from Savage World: Horror by Funko
Guess what? Tomorrow night one of the biggest events of the Halloween 2018 season will happen: The new Halloween film, simply titled Halloween, will hit theaters across the U.S. It really and truly has been 40 years since the first film was released and this one is, oddly enough, just a sequel to original 1979 classic. Yup. Every other sequel is being ignored. I'm optimistic, although doing away with Halloween 2 definitely is going to be very hard for me to accept. Anyways, let's talk about this action figure as it is kind of cool. Savage World is a new Funko property that takes various characters and renders them in the style of a Masters of the Universe styled action figure from the 1980s. It's a cool concept and while I'm tempted by some of the other characters (and by the upcoming DC based Primal Age), Michael Myers is my favorite. He's also a character who is sometimes difficult to license. I'm not an expert but my limited knowledge is that the rights to the character are tied up with different studios for different films. Hence, that's probably the reason why this version of Michael Myers is being billed as hailing from 2002's Halloween: Resurrection, AKA the film where Busta Rhymes kicks Michael Myers out of a window while yelling "Trick or treat, motherf&*$%#!" Yup. It's definitely not one of the series highlights but it must be cheaper to license, as why else would Funko pick this specific film for this figure? That's not a big deal, though, as for a stylized figure like this most Michael Myers' costumes look alike. Let's jump in and check out this figure after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Pennywise from It by NECA
This year's The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror is filled with some real hits, isn't it? Today I'm checking out what very well may be one of the biggest horror action figure releases of the year: Pennywise from the 1990 TV movie It. Based on Tim Curry's portrayal of the evil clown Pennywise from Stephen King's 1986 book, NECA has now released one of the icons of horror that had yet to exist in action figure form before now (although Funko did release a POP! vinyl). While Bill Skarsgård's portrayal of Pennywise in the 2017 film version of It draws from older depictions of clowns, Tim Curry's version is based on the popular birthday and TV clowns of the 20th century. Somehow, that's even more disturbing to me although I do enjoy both portrayals of the character. I'm also enjoying the product that NECA is putting out for both films. I've already reviewed one of the figures from the 2017 film so today it's a look at the classic version. Pennywise is another of NECA's "Ultimate" figures that includes multiple heads, hands, and lots of accessories in a fairly collector friendly box. Ready for a closer look at this creepy clown? Then join me after the break...
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Action Figure Review: Taskmaster from Marvel Legends Series: Avengers by Hasbro
Who is a highly skilled comic villain co-created by George Perez that first appeared in 1980, uses multiple weapons (including a sword), wears orange and dark blue, and is decked out in pirate styled boots? Whether you said Taskmaster or Deathstroke, you would be correct! While they're distinctly different characters, they sure do have a lot of similarities, don't they? Did you know that for a short while Taskmaster had a secretary named Wilson while Deathstroke had a secretary named Masters? OK, I may have made that part up (so far as I know, anyways). A couple of years back Hasbro released a modern Taskmaster as part of the Captain America series of figures who was released under the banner "Mercenaries of Mayhem" alongside of Demolition Man. This classic version of Taskmaster was released earlier this year in the Thanos Build-a-Figure series as part of the movie tie ins for Infinity War. I owned the Marvel Universe version of Taskmaster as one point (I've since sold probably 95% of my Marvel Universe collection as I just like the Legends figures better) so this was my chance to get the character back in my preferred scale. Let's check out this classic rendition of Taskmaster after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: 20 Pack Figure Collectors Set from The Nightmare Before Christmas Nano Metalfigs by Jada Toys
If you read Action Figure Barbecue often then you know that Jada Toys' DC Nano Metalfigs line is one of my favorite active toylines. I haven't picked up all of the other Nano Metalfigs line (although I do have the Street Fighter series) but I've been anticipating their The Nightmare Before Christmas line ever since it was first announced. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorites and this year is the 25th Anniversary Celebration so we are getting lots of cool product. It's pretty crazy to be celebrating like this that has become so nostalgic while still remembering my parents taking me to see it in theaters as a kid when it was first released. Jada Toys only has three releases announced for this property thus far and the first is what I'm checking out today: The 20 Pack Figure Collector's Set. The set includes 20 diecast metal minifigures covering the majority of the residents of Halloween Town and Santa Claus himself. Ready for a closer look at one of the most ambitious The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror reviews yet? Then join me after the break...
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Action Figure Review: Carnage from Marvel Legends Series: Venom by Hasbro
It's time for another Marvel Legends Series review and this time it's the early 90s Marvel mass murderer Carnage! During the early 90s Venom was a huge deal. Even as someone who never really read Marvel comics, I knew who Venom was and totally thought he was cooler than Spider-Man at the time. I had some Venom action figures and even owned a Venom tank top, probably the only tank top I've ever owned in my life (I was probably 9 or 10, so that kind of makes it less lame, right?). Of course, this was the 90s so after Venom's huge surge of popularity Marvel had to top him and go more extreme, thus along came Carnage! Again, my memories of Carnage come from his appearance on the Spider-Man cartoon, the Maximum Carnage SNES game, and the Toy Biz action figures. While I love the MCU, most of my Marvel Legends Series action figure buying is either based on just how good the action figures themselves are or fueled by nostalgia for the toys of my youth. Carnage is another figure I picked up for a fraction of the retail price due to him not coming with his Build-a-Figure piece for Monster Venom, whom you can build if you pick up all of the figures from the new Venom themed series of figures. Let's check out Carnage, shall we?
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Take Along Haunted House 9312 by Playmobil
For The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror I'm definitely checking out quite a few Playmobil sets, eh? You can credit that to Playmobil releasing some very cool spooky themed sets this August and the fact that my daughter and I have been having a blast playing with these. Today I'm checking out the largest "horror" set that Playmobil has released this year: The Take Along Haunted House. The concept here is simple as this is a small, portable haunted house. You may see some similarities to the 2015 Play Box Haunted House set (which I have and which might show up this year, too) but don't be fooled as the Take Along Haunted House is a completely different and much larger set. I love the often bizarre charm of Playmobil and every few years I seem to return to it to pick up a few items that interest me and, believe me pals, a haunted house playset definitely caught my attention. I originally considered making this the review for Halloween, but I believe I have something even spookier awaiting you. Any questions? Ok then! Let's get ready to tour the Take Along Haunted House...
Monday, October 15, 2018
Toy Review: Deep-Dive Submarine (Battle Damage) from Marchbox: Jurassic World by Mattel
Today I'm checking out the last of the five new Battle Damage Jurassic World Matchbox vehicles that are exclusive to Wal-Mart: The Deep-Dive Submarine. The Deep-Dive Submarine appeared during the incredible beginning of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which was one of the best parts of the film. The Deep-Dive Submarine and its inhabitants have a fateful meeting with the Mosasaurus (one of my favorite Jurassic Park creatures now), which was pretty terrifying. That encounter is the inspiration for this vehicle which features the same Deep-Dive Submarine model that was released earlier this year as a single pack and in the Island Transport Team 5-pack and adds a cracked paint job to the bubble. Let's check this one out a bit more closely after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Mothra from Big Bucket of Monsters by SCS Direct
Last year during The Curse of 31 Days of Toy Terror I featured quite a few minifigures from the Big Bucket of Monsters by SCS Direct. While these are sold as a large bucket or tube of figures with 13 different sculpts, I picked these up individually so I decided to start reviewing them individually. Since I reviewed the Big Bucket of Monsters Godzilla last year I decided that it is only fitting to check out Mothra for this year. First appearing in the self titled 1961 Toho film Mothra, Mothra soon became an adversary of Godzilla. I'm not a kaiju expert by any means but Mothra is definitely one of the most recognizable creatures in the genre and this minifigure is pretty recognizable, too. Let's add some giant monster mayhem to The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror after the break...
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Action Figure Review: Cable from Marvel Legends Series: Deadpool by Hasbro
While I am absolutely 100% a DC reader (within the past 24-48 hours I've read Batman White Knight, Rebirth Harley Quinn vol. 5, and volume 2 of Batman: Knightfall) I've never been a huge Marvel reader at all. My Marvel fandom has always been based more on the films, the cartoons, and toys. In the early 90s I was absolutely a fan of Marvel due to the Fox Kids X-Men series and Toy Biz's long running toyline. While I dig Cable because of his portrayal in Deadpool 2, my main draw to Cable is because of how awesome he was in the Toy Biz X-Force line. Cable was definitely the Wolverine or Spider-Man of the X-Force line as Toy Biz put at least one Cable in nearly every set. Hasbro certainly hasn't shown Cable that much love but he absolutely did get a figure in the popular X-Men Series about 2 years ago and now they've released another version of Nathan Summers in his classic Rob Liefeld based look. That means lots of pouches and big guns! Let's check out Cable after the break and see how this bastion of the late 80's/ early 90's comics scene fairs today...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Gremlin from Monster in My Pocket by Matchbox
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror just wouldn't be a Halloween themed toy countdown without the presence of Matchbox's 1990 minifigure line Monster in My Pocket, would it? So, having any trouble with your computer or other internet browsing device today? Maybe it's because of a Gremlin! My guess is that when most of us think of Gremlins we either think of Gizmo and his nastier ilk from the 1984 Joe Dante film or the creature that menaced William Shatner in the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" but gremlins first became popular during 1920s as an excuse for the many problems and failures that inexplicably occurred with aircraft (possibly due dealing with hallucinations at high altitudes, many pilots claimed to have seen gremlins messing around with their airplanes). Today Gremlins get blamed for lots of problems with technology in general, although it is doubtful they really hack into Twitter accounts and write offensive tweets despite claims to the contrary. Let's check out a cool, ghastly little green Gremlin after the break...
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Toy Review: Armored Action Truck (Battle Damage) from Matchbox: Jurassic World by Mattel
Today I'm checking out another vehicle in the Wal-Mart exclusive Battle Damage Jurassic World Matchbox line. This time it is the Armored Action Truck, which I've reviewed on two different occasions in two different paint schemes. The original single packed Armored Action Truck was my first review from this series, so it's kind of interesting to see this one out there again with such a different look to it. This is the first vehicle from the Battle Damage series I noticed since unlike the other vehicles in the series, this one is really different in color. Let's check this one out after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Night Walk #9156 from Family Fun by Playmobil
I don't just love doing 31 Days of Toy Terror every year because it is a chance to look at spooky action figures but also because it gives me a chance to look at toys that I may not normally pay attention to. Today I'm checking out another cool item from Playmobil that I think is one of the coolest toy releases I've seen (it was released last year and somehow I missed it). It is called Night Walk and it is from the Playmobil Family Fun series, which is comprised of sets featuring people camping, biking, and just generally enjoying the great outdoors. Usually this wouldn't be the sort of Playmobil series to catch my eye other than to just appreciate the general artistry involved in creating the sets but as I was looking through a catalog I discovered the Night Walk set. The general idea behind this set seems to be that two kids are taking a walk through the woods at night as they imagine the various trees and shrubs to take the shape of faces. I love how unique the concept is for a toy set. It reminds me of some of the kids books I grew up reading like Bears in the Night and The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree. There is something both undeniably fun and spooky about being outside at night as a kid. Sometimes you think you see things and other times you pretend to see things just to get a reaction from your friends. This set captures that feeling of childhood wonder perfectly and while it isn't really terrifying, it definitely awakens some nostalgia for the adventures I imagine most of us had by flashlight as a child. Let's check out this very cool set after the break...
Friday, October 12, 2018
Toy Review: '14 Mercedes- Benz G 550 (Battle Damage) from Matchbox: Jurassic World
Today I'm looking at another vehicle from the Walmart exclusive Battle Damaged Jurassic World vehicles, and this time it is the '14 Mercedes- Benz G 550 that Owen and Claire drive through Jurassic World while they're looking for Claire's nephews. This set seemed to show up at Walmart last month to coincide with the release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on home video and each vehicle in the set is also available as part of a battle damaged 5-pack version of the Island Transport Team set that was originally released in late spring. Let's take a quick glance at this one after the break...
The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Goblin from Hellboy 2: The Golden Army by Mezco
Throughout the 2000s Mezco put out some great product for both Hellboy films and
the comic series. Today I'm checking out the Goblin from the second
series of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army action figures. Back in 2014: The Year There Were Only 24 Days of Toy Terror I reviewed the Angel of Death from Mezco's Hellboy 2 action figure line, a great toyline based on the 2008 film by Guillermo del Toro. Sadly, del Toro never got the opportunity to direct a third film in the series to complete the trilogy but we are getting a new film in January of next year that seems like it could be pretty good. Hopefully we'll get some cool toys with the film as it has been a long time since we received a robust Hellboy toyline. Mezco did a nice job of putting out a great mix of main characters and variants along with some cool side characters like the Goblin, the builder of the 4,900 soldiers in the titular Golden Army. He's not really a terrifying creature, more sympathetic really, but being a goblin still gets you a slot in The Revenge of 31 Days of Toy Terror. Let's check him out after the break...
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Action Figure Review: General Veers from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro
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