Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Action Figure Review: Frog-Man from Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro

 

   Ready for a look at the Fabulous Frog-Man! OK, so the Fabulous Frog-Man isn't a new release as he was part of the Stilt-Man Build-a-Figure series that showed up at the end of 2020, but he has had a pretty big moment of fame in the past couple of weeks. Yes, Frog-Man appeared in the She-Hulk trailer. Well, it could possibly be the villainous Leap Frog, Frog-Man's dad, since they both have the same costume. Eugene Patilio repurposed the suit that his father used as the supervillain Leap Frog, and became the heroic Frog-Man. From what I can gather Frog-Man is a pretty goofy character and I passed on this figure originally but knowing he's coming to the MCU got me pretty interested in picking him up before he ends up becoming the break out character in the Disney+ She-Hulk series. OK, maybe that's a bit far-fetched, but who knows? It turns out that this is an excellent figure and I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't pick him up sooner. Let's take a look at Frog-Man after the break...


Monday, May 30, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Client from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   The Star Wars: The Black Series reviews keep coming and today I'm looking at the Client from The Mandalorian. I'm as surprised as you are that the Client received an action figure in The Black Series as Hasbro really seems to be pretty conservative about which figures they make these days, unless it's an easy repaint or a kit-bash. As far as I'm aware, the Client is a completely unique figure, though, and he's got some pretty cool accessories with him. While he's not a main character in The Mandalorian, he does play a pretty significant role in the events of the series considering he's the man who hired Din Djarin to locate the Child. It's pretty wild though that we're just getting the Client about two and a half years after he debuted. Remember when so many Star Wars figures came out before the media with another series coinciding with or a month or two after the release of the media? Anyways, we now have an action figure of Werner Herzog, something I doubt anyone ever thought they'd be able to say. Let's take a look at the Client after the break...

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Action Figure Review: Synthoid Pack from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 
   
   And... here's another Final Faction review from series 1! The Synthoid was released in 2020 and so was this set of extra arms and weapons for the synthetic Kharn troopers. This is a pretty nifty set that really allows you to diversify the Synthoids in your Kharn ranks with not just a different pair of arms but also with some shoulder mounted laser guns. Pretty cool stuff. Let's take a look at the Synthoid Pack after the break...

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Action Figure Review: Boba Fett (Throne Room) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro


    Well, I bit the bullet and picked up the deluxe Boba Fett (Throne Room) figure from Hasbro's Star Wars: The Black Series. Billed as a deluxe figure, Boba comes in a larger than normal box with a price tag about $7 dollars higher than usual (around $32 at Walmart). I really feel like this is an instance of Hasbro using the "deluxe" case packing (a full case of the same character) to make Boba Fett more readily available and using the "deluxe" pricing to make him a bit more profitable. While this figure is sourced from The Book of Boba Fett, he's really based on Fett's appearance in the stinger at the end of season 2 of The Mandalorian, as he's wearing his more billowy robes rather than the pants and boots he wore during most of BOBF. I'm sure Hasbro will release that figure at some point in the future. There's a Walmart exclusive Boba Fett from Mando Season 2 when he first gets his armor (it's called Boba Fett (Tython Jedi Ruins) that seems to reuse most of this figure so it seems likely we'll be seeing lots of Boba Fett figures in the near future. Let's check out the one I've got in front of me, though. Join me after the break...

Friday, May 27, 2022

Action Figure Review: Medusa from Marvel Legends Series: Inhumans by Hasbro

 

   During the same trip to Back in Time Collectibles in Gastonia, NC when I picked up Black Bolt I also snagged Medusa. Black Bolt needs someone to hang out with, right?  Medusa was released in late 2017 as a Walgreens exclusive, around the same time that Black Bolt came out in the mostly movie based Black Panther wave and shortly after the debut of the Inhumans TV series. Since the TV series didn't do well, it seems that Hasbro has largely ignored the Inhumans in Marvel Legends, but who knows what the future might hold? While I never owned her (or any figures from the line), my first recollection of Medusa was from the Toy Biz Fantastic Four toyline where she had a display base that attempted to recreate her control over her hair. This version doesn't have any special action features or anything but she does have some amazingly long hair. Ready to take a look at a Medusa who won't turn you stone when you look at her? Then join me after the break...

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Action Figure Review: Ninja Spawn from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 

   Action figure toylines of the 1980s and 1990s were obsessed with ninjas. While it was legally mandated that every toyline had at least one ninja appear (Ninjor, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, White & Black Dragon Ninjas, Nightstick, Space Sumo), some companies just straight up released ninja based toylines. Think of lines like TMNT, Secret of the Ninja, and Chuck Norris and the Karate Kommandos. By the 1990s, the main characters were getting into the ninja game. Batman was a ninja. The Shadow was a ninja. G.I. Joe had Ninja Force. The Power Rangers became ninjas, so they were kind of double ninjas, I guess. And Spawn was a ninja. Well... kind of. The cool thing about many of the Spawn variants is that they're not actually Al Simmons, the guy most folks think of when they think of Spawn. They're often different individuals through history who have become Hellspawn. The vintage Ninja Spawn (released in 1995) was an unnamed man who lived centuries ago in Japan. This new version is also mysterious and has only appeared in the comics recently. Is this the same Ninja Spawn as the previous version? There was a Ninja Spawn 2 in 2006 which this figure seems to borrow more design elements from. Ninja Spawn's identity might still be secret but it's a cool looking figure so we can still go ahead and give him a review. Let's check out Ninja Spawn after the break...
 

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Action Figure Review: Air Assault from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   May has definitely been the month for me to go back and complete reviews of the first series Final Faction releases from 2020 and I'm continuing with another one of the first series accessory packs: The Air Assault pack. While the name doesn't specifically label this as being for the A.C.R.M., it's clearly designed for the mech as the pieces snap onto the figure perfectly. This set definitely improves the A.C.R.M. but can also be pretty fun when used with Churro's FD-0 mech. Let's take to the skies and check out the Air Assault kit after the break...

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Action Figure Review: Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 


   Well, I feel like I went through quite a dry spell with Star Wars: The Black Series figures but recently I happened to stumble into quite a few new ones that I was actually looking for. I'm sort of worn out on endless, overpriced Clone and Stormtrooper repaints but new versions of beloved characters and stuff, especially from The Mandalorian? I'm down for that. Today I'm excited to take a look at Ahsoka Tano from The Mandalorian. Ahsoka appeared in season 2, played by Rosario Dawson. While I'd always dreamed of Ashley Eckstein getting the chance to play Ahsoka Tano in a live action Star Wars project, Rosario Dawson has done a fantastic job of bringing the character to life during a different stage of Ahsoka's journey. In The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett Ahsoka is in her early 40s and is a more mature, seasoned... Force wielder? Is Ahsoka a Jedi again? While she left the Jedi Order during The Clone Wars and stated that she wasn't a Jedi in Rebels, she definitely seems to have embraced her Jedi roots again in The Mandalorian and BOBF. She's had lots of training under experienced masters and years of experience, so perhaps she's helping to teach Luke Skywalker some as well. Let's take a look at Ahsoka Tano from The Mandalorian after the break...

Monday, May 23, 2022

Action Figure Review: Black Bolt from Marvel Legends Series: Inhumans by Hasbro

 

There might be spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in this review!   

   So... Black Bolt made his MCU debut, huh? I actually haven't watched the Inhumans show but I was still excited to see the character make an appearance in a very classic looking outfit as part of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange: Strange Harder. Also, of all of the chaos that Wanda caused, I'm pretty sure Black Bolt's untimely end is the most memorable. I mean... sheesh! Like many others who skipped out on this figure previously, I quickly went back and picked this guy up from one of my favorite retro toy shops, Back in Time Collectibles in Gastonia, NC. Black Bolt was originally released in the Okoye Build-a-Figure series which contained the first set of figures released for the Black Panther movie and a few comic based figures as well. At the time I kind of remember Black Bolt being a bit of a pegwarmer. Will his cameo in Doctor Strange: The Strangening be enough to get Blackagar Boltagon and the Inhumans back in the spotlight? Who knows? Let's take a look at this nearly five year old Marvel Legends figure after the break...

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Action Figure Review: Torn Cyber Arms from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 
      When I started reviewing this series of Final Faction accessory packs a few weeks ago they were the newest releases out there. There's a new set of six packs, however, which give more gear and weapons to Alpha Team 1, particularly the first series figures. Today, though, I'm reviewing the last of the six accessory packs from this series by checking out the Torn Cyber Arms set. Torn is a very cool figure who seems to be a Kharn of some sort but who assists Alpha Team 1 disguised as a human. The comic book for this series is really quite neat and issue #1 shows Torn sneaking his file into the roster of human warriors considered for the Alpha Team 1, so his motivations are still quite mysterious. This accessory set features some cybernetic arms which attach to the back of the figure, offering him more gear and weapons for battling the Kharn (if that is, indeed, his ultimate goal). Let's take a look at the Torn Cyber Arms after the break...
 

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Action Figure Review: Commando Spawn from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 


   You now what? Other than Masters of the Universe stuff (which is the bulk of my collecting), I really haven't reviewed any older figures recently. I used to review old stuff all the time but at some point I really just started focusing on new stuff and ignored older stuff except for MOTU and horror reviews during 31 Days of Toy Terror. Since I've been getting back into Spawn I figured it was time to go back and check out some classic Spawn toys. Today I'm checking out Commando Spawn from 1995. Part of the second series of Spawn toys from McFarlane (then Todd Toys), Commando Spawn was still an early release in a toyline that still kind of continues today. The early McFarlane stuff is interesting as while the sculpts and paintwork were impressive for the time, they clearly were also designed with play features and action features in mind. It'd still be a few years before McFarlane fully moved into creating articulated ministatues/ stactions. Of course, now the Spawn figures are incredibly articulated and built to be sturdy, a fine blend of form and function. Today, though, let's take a look at a super cool Spawn that I never had as a kid. I found him a week or so ago at Gamers Alley, a pretty cool shop in Gastonia, NC. Let's lock, load, and take a look at Commando Spawn after the break...

Friday, May 20, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Vision from Marvel Legends Retro Collection by Hasbro

 

   Interestingly, GameStop and some other retailers have been jumping back and forth on their Marvel Legends Series prices with some of the newer Retro Collection figures being sold for $22.99 and some for $24.99. I was interested in the all white version of Vision, particularly due to the character's appearance in the WandaVision TV series last year (though the TV version did get a figure as well) and when I stumbled upon him a week or so ago for lower $22.99 price I decided to snag him. The all white version of the Vision appeared in 1985 in West Coast Avengers #4 as a deprogrammed version of the Vision. Fearful of his power and access to the records and databases his role as an Avenger would give him, a group called Vigilance had him disassembled and wiped clean, leaving him devoid of his personality and memories. This is a very simple figure but I definitely give Hasbro kudos for getting a comic version of this incarnation of the Vision out so soon after his MCU appearance. Often it seems like it takes a long time to see comic based versions of characters from the films and TV shows. Let's take a look at the Vision after the break...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Action Figure Review: Synthoid Evolution from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 
    
   Hey! Since I just reviewed the Synthoid on his own it seems like the right time to review one of his accessory packs. Today let's look at the newest set for the Synthoid, the Synthoid Evolution set. The Synthoids are created by the Kharn to be controlled on the battlefield and apparently they're pretty versatile, kind of like Cobra B.A.T.s. The Synthoids have swappable arms and ports on their packs for different kits and this set lets you re-arm them (literally) and give them flying capabilities. They fly now? Oh yes. They fly. Let's take a look at the Synthoid Evolution set after the break...

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Action Figure Review: Overtkill from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 
 
  I was really looking forward to Overtkill showing up in the new Spawn line and it didn't take him long to finally make his appearance. This isn't the Overtkill I remember from childhood, however; this guy is much more gruesome and zombie-like. I was actually kind of shocked at first but it appears that Overtkill has been brought back from the dead in the comics and this version is based on his more recent appearances (which I haven't read yet). I was very on the fence about this figure at first as some of the promo shots just looked off. When I saw him in stock online at Target, however, I decided to jump on him. One or two folks on some of the Spawn Facebook groups already had him and he looked pretty decent. I was pretty excited for his arrival and was thrilled when I got the notification that he had arrived at my door. I called my wife and asked how heavy the package was, as I was expecting him to be a beast like Violator. I was a bit surprised when she said the box really wasn't that heavy at all. When I got home and picked up the package I started t think that maybe Target had sent me something else but nope, Overtkill is actually way lighter than I expected. I guess he probably was intentionally designed this way to better accommodate posing and such. So, how is this version of Overtkill? Let's take a look and see after the break...

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Action Figure Review: Synthoid from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 


   Another series 1 Final Faction figure from 2020 that I neglected to review is the Synthoid. The Synthoid is a synthetic trooper manufactured by the Kharn that can be customized with different weapons and gear. The first series of figures had an accessory pack for the Synthoid, simply called the Synthoid Pack, while a recent release is the Synthoid Evolution kit. Before I get into any of those accessory packs, however, let's take a look at the standard Synthoid. Prepare for the invasion after the break...

Monday, May 16, 2022

Action Figure Review: Heavy Arms from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   When is the last time that you saw accessory packs for 1/18th scaled figures available at retail? Someone on one of my Final Faction reviews commented that it seems like a concept we haven't seen since the Star Wars: Episode I accessory packs from 1999 and, to be honest, off the top of my head I can't think of anything more recent. These Final Faction accessory sets are pretty neat and while I didn't review the first series back when they came out at the end of 2020, I'm now trying to make up for some lost time. Today we're looking at the Heavy Arms set for Alpha Team 1, a set of five weapons to add some more firepower to the heroes. Ready for a look at this small arsenal of destruction? Than join me after the break...

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Toy Review: Evil Warriors of Snake Mountain from POP! Tees: Masters of the Universe by Funko


   Target has been promoting a number of collector focused events lately with one of the more recent being the Funko Target Con 2022. There are two Masters of the Universe exclusives for this event: The POP! Rides He-Man on Battle Cat (Flocked) and the POP! Tees boxed set that I'm looking at today. I've reviewed other POP! Tees sets before and this one follows suit with a brand new colorful t-shirt and a variant of a previously released POP! vinyl. The t-shirt is pretty sweet in this set. It's way louder than a shirt I would usually wear but when MOTU is involved my sense of good taste and style goes out the window. This actually is really colorful and fun, though. The POP! vinyl included is a glow in the dark variant of Evil-Lyn #86 (who was released last year). A shirt and a POP! vinyl. Worth it? Let's take a look after the break...

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Rumbler Weapons and Armor from Final Faction by Greenbrier International


   Since I reviewed the Kharn vehicle The Rumbler earlier this week it's now time to check out the weapons and armor kit for it. What's the idea? Simple: Buy the basic vehicle for $1.25 and then buy the weapons and armor kit for $1.25 to complete it/ armor it up. It's a novel concept and while it might come across as a money grab in a more expensive toyline, considering the price of these toys it really just seems like a creative way to get these on shelves at Dollar Tree for the now largely standard $1.25 price point. Let's take a look at the Rumbler Weapons and Armor kit after the break...

Friday, May 13, 2022

Action Figure Review: Scope Long Range from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 



      Ready for some more Final Faction? You better believe it! Today I'm checking out another of the newer accessory sets from this line and this time it's a set of four rifles and a new backpack for Scope.  Scope was released last year and while he came with a nice assortment of extras himself (a backpack, 2 pistols, and a rifle) this set gives him even more toys to play with when attacking the Kharn from a distance. Ready for a look at this arsenal? Then join me after the break...

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Action Figure Review: King Grayskull from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: Revelation by Mattel




   I still haven't received my preorder of the next series of Masterverse figures (Teela, Mer-Man, and New Eternia He-Man and Skeletor) but I was surprised to receive my preorder of the Masters of the Universe: Revelation King Grayskull from Target last week. Originally King Grayskull wasn't scheduled for release until August but it appears Mattel got him in stores a bit early. King Grayskull wasn't introduced into Masters of the Universe until the 2002 Mike Young Productions animated series and he wasn't a major character in the show. Up until Revelation, his biggest claim to fame might be that he was pretty important in the development of Masters of the Universe Classics (AKA, the greatest toyline of them all). Apparently the original idea for a MOTU toyline on MattyCollector was conceived of by Scott Neitlich as a continuation of the 200x series with the first figure planned being King Grayskull using the Ice Armor He-Man figure's body as the base. When the Four Horsemen showed off their "Classics" styled He-Man, however, the game changed, though King Grayskull was the initial figured offered up as a 2008 SDCC exclusive. He showed up in the bios for MOTUC but Revelation was the character's biggest role yet. And yes, he's been reimagined in Masterverse as a black man. It definitely makes for a more interesting figure than just having He-Man in slightly different armor. Voiced by Dennis Haysbert, King Grayskull leads a pantheon of Eternian heroes in Preternia in MOTU. Let's take a look at King Grayskull after the break...


Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Action Figure Review: Shock Arms from Final Faction by Greenbrier International



   I'm sprinkling in some reviews from the first series of Final Faction figures this month as I neglected to review them when I first picked them up. Today's review from the original 2020 series is the Shock Arms accessory pack, a set of three firearms used by the Kharn. While this set nicely augmented the 2020 Kharn figures, more recent releases like General Diabol and Krepitus can also benefit from some additional weaponry. I love the options here! Let's take a look at the Shock Arms set after the break...

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Rumbler from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 


   Remember how the good guys of Final Faction got a vehicle last year? Now it's time for the bad guys to get a ride! Today I'm checking out the Rumbler, a new vehicle for the Kharn in the Dollar Tree exclusive Final Faction toyline. I'm still just amazed by how crazy the Final Faction concept is: A unique, well thought out and creatively designed toyline exclusive to a dollar store which includes vehicles and accessory packs? Yes, now the toys are $1.25 (though you can still find the first series figures for $1 at Family Dollar stores) but, still, that's crazy. With the prices of action figures, especially those targeted towards collectors, continuing to increase it would be amazing to see a renaissance of fun and budget friendly toylines. These aren't Mezco One:12 Collective items, folks, but they're pretty darn cool. Today I humbly submit for your approval the Rumbler, an alien vehicle sold in a box for $1.25. Let's check it out after the break...

Monday, May 9, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Clown (Bloody) from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 
   
   Ready for another visit from the Clown? Last week GameStop did a McFarlane day where there were some special toys and preorders available from Mcfarlane Toys. While the Gunslinger Spawn with Horse set is a preorder (though it's supposed to ship this month), the bloody version of the Clown was available in stores on Saturday. In fact, I actually saw him in one of my local GameStop's the week before. I really liked the look of the figure and his sweet chainsaw accessory but overall he's very much a retread of the previous release, complete with an oversized weapons pack. I kept telling myself I was going to hold off on this one but when I learned that the Clown's backpack has two completely different weapons, I caved. I also had my monthly GameStop $5 coupon, too, so that helped. I'm loving the new Spawn line and while I'm not picking up everything, I'm finding I like stuff more often than not. Let's take a look at the bloody version of the clown after the break...

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Action Figure Review: Fennec Shand from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   May is filled with Star Wars holidays and milestones so it's fitting that I have another review from Hasbro's Star Wars: The Black Series lined up. As I've mentioned in a few other reviews, I'm not really all that excited by many of Hasbro's Black Series offerings right now but when there's a character I want who is well done I'm still jumping in. Today we're checking out Fennec Shand from the most recent series of figures. The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have truly introduced some of the greatest Star Wars characters in recent memory and Fennec Shand is definitely one of those standouts. I've been excited about an action figure of her for quite some time and I'm glad to finally be able to add her to the collection. She's sourced to The Book of Boba Fett on the packaging but we all know she first appeared in The Mandalorian. Let's take a look at Fennec Shand, pretty much the deadliest person to appear in The Book of Boba Fett after the break...

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Action Figure Review: P-131 Thunderbolt from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   I've reviewed two of the new Kharn accessory packs this week so why don't we give a boon to the good guys and check out one of the Alpha Team 1 kits? Today I'm going to check out the P-131 Thunderbolt set, an upgrade pack for the P-131 Drone figure. The P-131 is a newer figure (I just reviewed it last month), so hopefully it'll soon be easy to find both the figure and the accessory pack on store shelves at the same time. The Thunderbolt kit arms your P-131 with two shoulder mounted missile launchers and some airfoils to give the drone some lift. Let's take a look at this set after the break...

Friday, May 6, 2022

Action Figure Review: Brute Striker from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   Today I'm checking out the second of six new accessory sets from the Dollar Tree exclusive Final Faction line and this time I'm looking at the Brute Striker set, a weapons pack loaded with goodies for the Brute. The Brute was first released in 2020 but he's still readily available so you shouldn't have trouble finding him. I reviewed the Brute yesterday in preparation for this review (I didn't review the first series of figures when they first came out at the end of 2020) so check out that review for the scoop on that figure. The Brute Striker set comes with a massive warhammer like weapon, a shield, and a backpack that can fit on the Brute or most other standardly shaped Kharn figures, particularly the bigger guys like Diabol or Krepitus. It's a neat set with fantastic colors; I love purple and green! Let's take a look at the Brute Striker set after the break...

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Action Figure Review: Brute from Final Faction by Greenbrier International


   I'm going to be reviewing a lot of Final Faction toys this month; some new and some from the first series which I never got around to reviewing last year. I'm going to be reviewing the Brute Striker accessory pack soon but before I do that I had better review the Brute. The Final Faction toys, specifically the bad guys, definitely remind me of characters from a video game like Gears of War, Halo, Doom, or Brute Force. How many games have some generic enemy cannon fodder called brutes? Well, Final Faction has a Brute as well. These are some bulky, burly Kharn troopers who are heavily armored and seem like they're ready to deal some severe melee damage. Let's check out the Brute after the break...

Action Figure Review: Drone Scourge from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and while out of town I managed to find all of the new Final Faction accessory packs. Are you ready for some more dollar store goodness? Then let's jump in with one of the Kharn set: The Drone Scourge. The Drone isn't included in this set (I reviewed him a few weeks ago, though) but these accessories are designed to work with him and I've got him in most of the pictures to show this gear off. It's pretty cool to get actual accessory packs available for a retail toyline as while many online collector lines release accessory packs, it's not common to see them on store shelves for mass market retail lines. The Drones are the basic grunts of the Kharn and this set gives you the opportunity to beef up some of your Drones with three different weapons. Let's take a look at the Drone Scourge after the break and see if it's worth adding to your collection...

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Action Figure Review: Boba Fett (Tython) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   May the Fourth Be With you! For today I've got a special review lined up: Boba Fett (Tython) from Star Wars: The Black Series by Hasbro. To be perfectly honest, Hasbro's Star Wars: The Black Series line hasn't been thrilling me for the past six months or so. With too many exclusives and repaints in the line, figures from current media not expected to drop for well over a year, and ever increasing prices, it's really taken something pretty special to catch my attention. Boba Fett, however, always catches my attention. I've really enjoyed Temuera Morrison's portrayal of the character in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett so it's quite cool to finally have a figure based on his rendition of the character. While this figure is designated as Boba Fett (Tython) and is based on his journey to that planet in The Mandalorian, this is actually an outfit he wears far more on Tatooine in The Book of Boba Fett. It's a unique look that shows off a significant period of development for the character, so let's take a look at it after the break...

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Action Figure Review: Spawn Deluxe Set from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 

   Want to hear something crazy? This is the first Al Simmons as Spawn figure available at mainstream retail in McFarlane's new Spawn line. The figures based on the vintage toys were Kickstarter exclusives, the other Spawns in the line (Gunslinger, Raven, Mandarin) aren't Al, and any other Al Simmons as Spawn figures are part of the Mortal Kombat 11 line. So, yeah, if you've been wanting an Al Simmons as Spawn from this line, this is your first opportunity. This is also a very classic comic inspired version of Spawn sitting on his throne made of trash and bones. It's a very iconic image from the comics and it makes for a very cool boxed set. When I first saw this revealed a few months ago I was incredibly impressed by it. It looked perfect: A classic Spawn with his throne. What could be better? As I looked closer and saw more images, though, I was unsure about this release, though. You're getting half a cape and parts of the cape seemed to be attached to the throne. It seemed like the figure was designed to basically be in one pose, kind of like an articulated statue. Over the last couple weeks, though, I saw some images showing the half cape was removable so, at the last, this was a great chance to get a capeless, classic Spawn and he'd look great on the throne. Having him in hand he's actually even better than I expected. Not 100% perfect by any means but still very, very satisfying. This is a great set and well worth checking out for fans of Spawn. Let's take a look at this guy after the break...

Monday, May 2, 2022

Action Figure Review: D'Spayre from Marvel Legends eries by Hasbro

 

   Last weekend on a trip visiting my wife's parents we decided to stop in Columbia, SC, eat lunch, and visit Heroes & Dragons. I had been there a few years back while in town for business and was excited to swing by again. It's a great store with a crazy selection of new and used action figures, both vintage and modern. I ended up not buying much there this visit but I did leave with a loose D'Spayre figure from Hasbro's Marvel Legends Series. While he's comic based, D'Spayre is part of the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness series of figures that started showing up in February. I didn't jump on D'Spayre when I first found him but after reading some of his earliest appearances when he showed up in X-Men, I decided I wanted to add him to my collection. When I found him loose for a good price at Heroes & Dragons I jumped on him. He's a very basic figure but still kind of cool and a decent interpretation of he character. Let's take a look at D'Spayre, the demonic fear being, after the break...

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Action Figure Review: The Dark Redeemer from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 
   
   Ready for some more Spawn reviews? A couple of weeks ago I was out at GameStop and stumbled upon the Dark Redeemer, a newer release from the current Spawn line from McFarlane Toys. I'm currently reading through the Spawn compendiums and I'm only at about issue 80 and haven't started the new Spawn Universe stuff yet so I'm not familiar with this character. I know who the Redeemer is. Like Hellspawn, Redeemer is a title for one of Heaven's antispawn warriors and a few different people have taken up the title. Jason Wynn was the first Redeemer to appear in the comics and was later followed by Phil Temper. The third Redeemer is Eddie Frank who I believe is currently active in the Spawn Universe series. Eddie Frank appeared as a young boy early in the series who tried to protect his younger brother from their violent and abusive father. While Spawn tried to intervene to stop the abuse, Eddie ended up killing his father to defend his brother. Eddie's story continues tragically until he is selected to serve as the Redeemer with a grudge against Spawn.

   So... who is this guy? The official McFarlane Toys writeup refers to him as Eddie Frank but from what I've heard he's actually a new character called the Forsaken who just debuted a few months back in issue #325 and appeared in issue #328 along with the Redeemer. Can anyone shed any more light on this guy for me? He's a straight up repaint of last year's Redeemer figure who I own but never got around to reviewing. His coolness factor just appealed to me even though I had some problems with the original Redeemer figure and his ability to stand with those massive wings. Let's take a look at the Dark Redeemer/ the Forsaken after the break and see if this guy's worth picking up...