Action Figure Review: Robert "Grunt" Graves" from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm checking out Grunt, one of the original 13 G.I. Joe team members from the 1982 vintage toy line. This Classified Series version of Grunt (officially names Robert "Grunt" Graves) definitely borrows from the very basic looking vintage figure but still adds some fantastic update to make Grunt fit in with the Classified Series aesthetic. I never had Grunt as a kid as he was a 1982 and 1983 release and it wasn't until reading the comics later and collecting the 1991 Impel trading card that I really came to be familiar with the character. Personally, until this release I'm not sure there's been a great Grunt figure. Yeah, the original figure is classic, but he's also kind of dull. V3 was OK, though quite different from what you'd expect. The comic pack version was also cool, but too issue specific. The Retro release from a year or two ago looks nice but I've long moved on from smaller scale Joes except for my old favorites. This Classified Series Grunt is just awesome, though, plus his alternate helmeted head lets him serve as an army builder, too. I managed to get my Grunts (three of them) when Target was offering for a really low sale price. It was off, but it worked for me. Let's check out Grunt after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tunnel Rat from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   

   Lately Hasbro has absolutely been releasing some of my favorite vintage Joes into the Classified Series: Low-Light, Shockwave, Chuckles, General Hawk, and now Tunnel Rat. 1986-1988 were my prime G.I. Joe buying years as a kid and when I first got into the lines, so my childhood favorites tend to come from those years. Tunnel Rat was another top tier favorite for me. I loved his outfit and just his general vibe. His flashlight holding backpack and oversized weapon were favorites, too. Based on the likeness of Larry Hama, the vintage Tunnel Rat was an impressive figure and Hasbro has translated him into the Classified Series nicely. I've always liked Tunnel Rat and even cosplayed the Sigma 6 version of Tunnel Rat at HeroesCon one time (maybe HeroesCon 2013 or 2014?). Ready for a look at the G.I. Joe team's E.O.D. and Combat Engineer? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Low-Light from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I looked at a few repaints last week but for this Thanksgiving week there are plenty of new characters two check out. Today is a look at one of my childhood favorites, Low-Light. I had this guy as a kid and have always loved his cool uniform, his red goggles, and his sniper rifle. Low-Light had some great figures over the years in the traditional 1/18th scaled line and he's been a figure I've been looking forward to in the Classified Series. Hasbro did an excellent job with him, drawing inspiration from the vintage figure and the 2011 Pursuit of Cobra figure. Ready to take a look at Low-Light? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Firefly from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Firefly is the first figure of my second week of G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews during this marathon of reviews and, man, is he another excellent figure. I'm just throwing that out there right from the get go: This guy is an absolute banger. I'm still a fan of the first release of Firefly that was a Target Cobra Island exclusive, too, but this guy manages to be surprisingly different. Really, both figures complement each other nicely. Firefly is a popular character and while Hasbro doesn't go crazy in releasing variants of the saboteur, they definitely put a lot of effort into them. ready to check out Firefly? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Range Viper from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   The November G.I. Joe Classified review series isn't a mini-marathon, is it? It's a full blown marathon! Hasbro has been releasing these guys like crazy during the last third of the year and I'm honestly wondering if the Classified Series reviews will last through the rest of the month! Today's review subject is the Range Viper, another Walmart exclusive figure paired with the G.I. Joe: Night Force releases. The Range Viper is another figure I didn't own as a kid though I do remember him being out there. I had the DTC version from 2005 and the 25th Anniversary Range Viper from the Defense of Cobra Island set, but I was a married adult when those ones came out. I've always been curious about the intent behind the Range Viper's design. Older file cards describe the Range Vipers as troops who are survival experts and are simply dropped into the field by Cobra with minimal supplies, as they are expected to survive off of the land and steal or scavenge for everything else they need. What's the deal with the skull-like helmet and the extreme backpack, though. Personally, always wondered if they were intended to be troopers for highlands or more mountainous regions (but not mountain climbers). They seem oddly dressed for long term survival and concealment. Their helmets being so intimidating makes me wonder if they utilize fear to frighten villagers and indigenous peoples in more remote areas to make taking supplies from them easier. However you use them, the Range Vipers are pretty intimidating and armed to the teeth. Ready to check out the Classified Series Range Viper? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Flint (Tiger Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro)

 

   It's time to check out another Target exclusive figure released within the last few months and it's one I've really been looking forward to: Tiger Force Flint! I've said many times that I was just starting to get into action figures around 1986 or so and thus I missed out on Flint at retail. Tiger Force Flint was my Flint as a kid (though I did have the shampoo bottle Flint). I loved Tiger Force and I'm really excited that Hasbro is continuing to grow the subset. While Tiger Force Flint is a repaint of the 2021 Flint figure, Hasbro did give him a few accessories and a new sheathe borrowed from Tiger Force Recondo. My biggest complaint with the previous Flint (who is one of my favorite Classified figures still) was that he needed a rifle and a knife. Lo and behold, that's what we get there. Ready to head off into the action figure reviewing jungle with Tiger Force Flint? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Crimson Viper from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

   My November G.I. Joe: Classified Series marathon continues and today I'm looking at a figure I like but that's less exciting than many others since it's just a repaint: The Crimson Viper. Over the years Hasbro has released many crimson painted Cobra troops to supplement the Crimson Guard and I've got reviews of a few of them coming soon, including the Crimson Strike Team set. The Crimson Viper was originally released as a 1/18th scaled figure in the 2002 G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Crimson Strike Team set and has been a popular Viper variant ever since. Now that we've got our Classified Series Crimson Strike sets in hand, we can add as many Crimson Vipers as we want(the 2002 convention set came with 12 Vipers!). Ready to take a look at this new repaint? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: David "Big Ben" Bennett (Night Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

      I love the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters in the Classified Series (for me, anyone pre-1990) but I get really excited when post 1990 figures and characters from various non-vintage media sources make it into the line. Today I'm checking out David "Big Ben" Bennet in his Night Force gear. Big Ben is a member of the British SAS and was originally a 1991 figure. He was re-released five more times in different color schemes between 1991 and 2003, so someone at Hasbro really liked him. I'm not sure I've ever owned Big Ben but I was definitely looking forward to this guy and, let me tell you, he's an absolute cracker. Big Ben is part of the Wal-Mart exclusive Night Force series which focuses on the Night Force team (so far just Big Ben and Shooter) investing a source of Dark Energon. Big Ben is loaded down with weapons and ready to deliver some serious firepower. Ready to check out Big Ben? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Desert Commando Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today is day 2 of my G.I. Joe: Classified Series marathon and this time I'm checking out Desert Commando Snake Eyes. Another Snake Eyes variant? Yup. I do have to admit that while Hasbro has done quite a few Snake Eyes variants in the Classified Series thus far, they've definitely been exercising more restraint than they did during the 2000s and early 2010s. They've also been all really good figures. Desert Commando Snake Eyes is noticeably different from his other brethren in that he's wearing brown and tan rather than black and grey. He's a repaint/ kitbash, yeah, but still he's noticeably different. There was a desert version of Snake Eyes released in a 6-pack at Toys 'R Us back in 2004 (that's almost 20 years ago), so it's nice to see ol' Snakes geared up for some arid regions again. Ready to check out Snake Eyes? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Snow Job from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today begins the first day of a G.I. Joe: Classified Series marathon. This is my favorite ongoing line right now and the amount of figures that Hasbro has squeezed out in the last four months of the year has been insane! Today starts at least 2 weeks of non-stop G.I. Joe reviews.!

   We've had some colder weather here in the Carolinas and it has me in the mood to review Snow Job, another new(er) deluxe figure from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. I didn't have Snow Job as a kid as he was before my time. Instead, I had Iceberg, Blizzard, and Stalker in his tundra gear. While I'm sure we'll get to those two at some point, Snow Job was the original arctic trooper for the Joe team. I had the 25th Anniversary version of Snow Job, which is still a fine figure, but the Pursuit of Cobra Snow Job was downright amazing. This figure may borrow a little from all of those previous releases though he's still fairly faithful to the vintage figure as well. In Hasbro's Star Wars: The Black Series, many of Hasbro's deluxe efforts are laughable as they don't look or feel any more deluxe than a standard figure. Most of the Classified Series deluxe releases have felt worth the extra effort. How about Snow Job? Is St. Harlan W. Moore worthy of being a deluxe figure or is Hasbro trying to pull a Snow Job on us? Zip up, read on, and find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Blade from Marvel Legends Series: Marvel Knights by Hasbro

 

   Looking back through my 2023 Marvel Legends Reviews, only 1/10th of the figures I reviewed were not X-Men characters. I stuck to my resolution to focus my Marvel Legends collection on X-Men based characters pretty well, didn't I? Today I'm looking at one of the newest figures I've picked up and possibly my last Marvel Legends Series review of the year (barring a good sale on the X-Men '97 releases): Blade! I do remember Blade from Spider-Man: The Animated Series but it was the 1998 Wesley Snipes film Blade that cemented my love for the character. Still, it's the three films in that series that pretty much informs everything I know about Blade, the dhampir and Daywalker with incredible fashion sense. All of their strengths and none of their weaknesses, baby. Other than seeing a few minutes of Howard the Duck, Blade was the first Marvel movie I ever saw. My dad took me to it and I remember being 100% blown away. I loved movies about vampire and monster hunters when I was a young teen and From Dusk till Dawn, Blade, Army of Darkness, and John Carpenter's Vampires were absolutely my jam. I have the previous Marvel Legends Blade (from the Man-Thing Build-a-Figure series) but this one definitely evoke the feel of Wesley Snipes' Blade more, so I absolutely wanted it. I stumbled upon Blade at GameStop last week and was thrilled. Ready to check him out and keep your Morbius figure in line? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Storm from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men '97 by Hasbro

 

   Wow! It's been.... 24 hours since I last reviewed a Storm action figure! Time for another one! Today I'm checking out Storm from Hasbro new Marvel Legends X-Men '97 series based on the upcoming revival of the classic animated series that I am really looking forward to. X-Men '97 is now scheduled to air on Disney+ early next year after being rescheduled from this fall due to the writers' strike and so many of the Marvel film and television projects being shuffled around. I'm quite excited for X-Men '97 as the original animated series was definitely one of my favorite cartoons when I was in grade school and a big part of the earliest days of my X-Men fandom. I was looking forward to the action figures for the show but I'm kind of holding off on buying most of them for the time being due to the current prices on them. I did have to get Storm, though, as I've really wanted a white costume Storm for quite some time and I missed the previous one that Hasbro released. Alison Sealy Smith is returning to voice Ororo Munroe which is really exciting. Her voice is absolutely the voice I hear when I read any comics with Storm in them. Let's take a look at Storm after the break...

Action Figure Review: Forge, Storm, & Jubilee from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

      It's been almost two months since I reviewed the first of the two 3-packs that recreate the X-Men team in their matching uniforms from the cover of X-Men #275 and about a month since I reviewed the Retro Collection Wolverine that goes with the team. As part of a series of mini marathons of figures from the same line which will probably run through the end of the year, I'm excited to check out another Marvel Legends Series release. While the first set was pretty desirable (Banshee was the main draw, Psylocke doesn't have too many different figures out there, and Gambit is just always a favorite), this set seemed a bit less exciting. I have quite a few figures of Storm, Forge isn't all that different from the previous release of the character, and this version of Jubilee seems a bit plain. Still, this is a set of three X-Men heavy hitters on newer pinless bodies, and when I managed to snag them on a GameStop sale they were even more appealing. Let's take a look at the final three members of the X-Men #275 cover depicting the Strike Team. Join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ch'od from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   The Marvel Legends marathon continues and today I'm (finally) finishing up this year's Marvel Legends X-Men build-a-figure series by taking a look at the build-a-figure itself. Yes, I skipped the Cyclops figure (he didn't have a BAF piece with him) but I did purchase Corsair, Emma Frost, Chamber, Monet St. Clair, Fang, and yes, even Kid Omega, in order to build Ch'od. I grabbed all of them on sale/ clearance, so I feel pretty good about waiting a few months to pick up the figures to complete this guy. I definitely am familiar with the Starjammers but I know Ch'od best because of his vintage Toy Biz figure. I'm really trying to think if I ever had Ch'od or not. If I did, I got him a bit after his main, probably around 1995 or 1996 from a KB Toys sale. He was everywhere, though, and probably just seeing him hanging around in stores has made me nostalgic for him. Honestly, I'm a sucker for the characters released as vintage Toy Biz figures. Ch'od is a big, tough Saurid, a member of the Starjammers, and is old friends with Rocket Raccoon. Honestly, who would be down for the Starjammers to appear in a fourth Guardians of the Galaxy film? That'd be a great way to continue things. Or make a Starjammers movie with the Guardians being a part of it. Man, I dig it. Let's take a look at a massive green hero who's not the Hulk or She-Hulk, after the break.

Action Figure Review: Kid Omega from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm officially beginning a series of review mini marathons as we approach the end of the year and star to wrap up 2023. I'm starting things off with Hasbro's Marvel Legends Series and a bunch of mutants I'm finally getting around to reviewing. Full disclosure: When it comes to Marvel Comics based stuff, I don't know much about the X-Men post 2000. There are definitely major plot points I'm familiar with or characters that stand out, but overall I'm kind of oblivious. Huh. Thinking about that, that's like the last 23 years or so. Wow. OK, anyways, all that's to say that I do not know who Kid Omega is. I wasn't familiar with him when this series hit and from what little I've read about him, well, I only bought this guy to build Ch'od. I kind of hope I can sell him at some point because he is just so darn boring! He also just looks like a doofus. Pink energy glasses with a pink mohawk? And what is he doing with his mouth. Gargling? Is Kid Omega sitting here swishing around mouthwash? What the heck is wrong with him? The worst part is that I had to buy this guy three times (all on discount) before I managed to get one that actually had Ch'od's torso included. I returned the others, don't worry, but it still was a frustrating process. Let's check this goofy looking guy out after the break...

Re-Halloween Special! Mr. Bones (Fluorescent) from Mr. Bones ReAction by Super7

 

Happy Re-Halloween! Today I'm checking out a really cool treat of leftover candy I received during the Halloween season but just didn't get around to reviewing: Mr. Bones! Mr. Bones was a novelty candy released in 1977 by the Fleer Candy. The candy was kind of like PEZ or a SweeTART but was shaped like various bones. It was sold in a little plastic coffin and, in theory, you could build a skeleton with the different pieces as they snapped together like jigsaw puzzle pieces. It was pretty unlikely you'd get all of the pieces needed in one coffin, though, and I don't remember having more than one coffin full of candy at once. I wasn't born until 1983, but I still remember Mr. Bones being around as a kid and I had quite a few of the plastic coffins floating around in different drawers. Apparently the candy was discontinued in the mid 1990s, though plenty of other companies have released similar candies without the great gimmick. Super7 has recreated Mr. Bones as a ReAction figure and has released a few different variants. There's the standard Mr. Bones, Fluorescent, Orange & Black (in a coffin box), and a Glow-in-the-Dark variant. I picked up the Fluorescent Mr. Bones as I really like the brighter colors. Ready for a look at an undersung candy mascot? Then let's check out Mr. Bones after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   The newest figure and vehicle set for the G.I. Joe: Classified Series has been out for a month or more but now that Halloween (and Re-Halloween) is over, it's time to get back into plowing through the crazy amount of stuff that's showing up at the end of the year. Today I'm looking at the Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble) set, a figure and vehicle combination based on two 1985 releases from the vintage G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline. Since 1986 was really when I got into G.I. Joe I never had the vintage version of either of these figures. The Python Patrol Tele-Viper was my Tele-Viper but I didn't have a Cobra Flight Pod until the 2008 25th Anniversary release. The Tele-Viper was depicted as the pilot of the Trubble Bubble on the vintage package, so it's pretty fitting to have him included here. This Tele-Viper has three portraits, though, but being packaged with a vehicle makes him tougher to army build. Is this a cool set? Let's take a look and find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Monet St. Croix from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm checking out a figure of another X-Men character I'm not that familiar with: Monet St. Croix. I've said before that I'm not all too familiar with most X-Men characters past the mid-late 1990s, so the time after the earliest years of Generation X is kind of my cut off point. That being said, Monet St. Croix was definitely a huge part of the early years of the book, though her story is a bit confusing. Granted, this is X-Men in the 90s, so that par for the course, isn't it? It turns out that Monet (now known as M) was actually the character Penance and the character we new as Monet St. Croix was actually the real Monet's two younger twin sisters, Claudette and Nicole. When he ruse was discovered, Monet took back her body and Claudette and Nicole became Penance. Right? I haven't read that far in the Epic Collections, but it's on my to do list. Still, is this the real Monet or is this Claudette and Nicole in her body? Tricky! Along with Chamber, this figure adds a second member for the Generation X team. Ready to check her out? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Robin- Tim Drake (Robin: Reborn) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   McFarlane Toys has put out a ton of Batman related product this year and I'm really liking it. I'm perhaps a bit overwhelmed, sure, but I'm still liking it! Today I'm checking out another new Tim Drake s Robin figure (I found him back in September) based on Robin: Reborn, a collection of stories from 1990 through 1991 covering the time when Tim Drake became the third Robin. My daughter and I have been reading through the complete Knightfall collection together (we're in the middle of Prodigal right now) and Tim Drake is a huge part of that series and was a major part of Batman's world in the early to mid 1990s. It's obvious that this is intended to be Tim from that era but it's also clear that this figure is a retool of red and yellow Gold Label Robin from last year. How'd this one fare? Let's check out Tim Drake as Robin after the break...

Action Figure Review: Fang from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

    I'm still crawling my way through this year's X-Men themed Marvel Legends Series and today I'm checking out another more obscure character: Fang. Fang is a character I mostly remember from Wolverine wearing is costume but he did have quite a few appearances over the years as a member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. One of the Lupaks, Fang is actually a title as whichever member of the Lupaks serves in the Shi'ar Imperial Guard at any given time is referred to as fang. He kind of resembles a skinny Sabretooth, doesn't he? I picked up most of this series on discount, so they've been out for quite a few months now. Still, they are 2023 releases so they're relatively new. It's just taking me forever to get to all of them. Let's check out Fang after the break... 

Re-Halloween Special!: Werewolf of London from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   I've got another Re-Halloween special for all you spooky people out there: The Werewolf of London. Awooo!! While this figure doesn't come with a Chinese menu in his hand, he does have on a rather nice purple robe and his hair is indeed perfect. While the package simply says Werewolf of London, the figure is Dr. Wilfred Glendon in his werewolf form from the 1935 Universal Pictures horror film Werewolf of London. And, yes, the film (or at least the title) did inspire the song by the late, great Warren Zevon ("Excitable Boy" is easily one of my top 25 albums of all time). Henry Hull played a tortured werewolf in Werewolf of London six years before Lon Chaney Jr. played Larry Talbot in 1941's The Wolf Man, and while it's not the better film, Werewolf of London did come out first and has a unique charm to it. I quite like the movie and I was extremely excited to get this figure for my birthday a couple months back. I originally planned on reviewing this figure for The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy terror but he got bumped back to Re-Halloween. Ready to check out the Werewolf of London? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Riddler (DC Classic) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   If you're a Batman fan and collector like me, then you've probably been very happy with McFarlane Toys' DC Collectibles line. While the DC Universe as a whole is coming together very slowly (a standard comic Wonder Woman was just recently revealed well over 3 years into the line) McFarlane is definitely putting out lots of versions of Batman, the Batfamily, and Batman's rogues gallery. Usually we get figures in very specific appearances or from very specific storylines but this new version of the Riddler is a very classic Silver Age take on Mr. Edward Nygma/ Nashton. We've seen a few Batman villains get this treatment now and it's really quite welcome. While I prefer the look of the Riddler in a suit, the question mark adorned unitard is a pretty classic look for the character. Ready for a riddle from the Riddler? Then join me after the break...

Re-Halloween Special!: Grimsword from Dungeons & Dragons by NECA

 

   
   Welcome to today's Re-Halloween Special! Yes, Re-Halloween. Wait, you've never heard of Re-Halloween? It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. You'd better read up on it, then, as it's on it's 13th year! I don't have a full seven days worth of Re-Halloween stuff this year but I do have a few leftover treats sprinked in. Today I'm checking out Grimsword from NECA's Dungeons & Dragons line based on the vintage 1983 LJN Advanced Dungeons & Dragons line. Grimsword was part of the second series and was released in 1984. I reviewed Zarak as part of 31 Days of Toy Terror so let's check out one of his compatriots, the evil knight who is obsessed with snakes. Grab some left over peanut butter cups and join me after the break...

Happy Halloween 2023: The Masque of the Red Death from Figure Obscura by Four Horsemen Studios

 

   Happy Halloween! Before we delve into today's spooky review, let me thank everyone who has dropped by Action Figure Barbecue for this year's installment of 31 Days of Toy Terror. I know that now most folks are into posting collecting stuff to sites like Instagram and Facebook and doing video reviews on Youtube, but I still love the traditional website and blog format. If you stopped here this year, thank you so much! Your comments, emails, and using me as a reference at any point is what keeps me going. Also a huge thank you to cryptkeepers Michelle and Dex at Countdown to Halloween who have kept the excellent Halloween Countdown running. Your efforts are truly appreciated!

  Now, onto the October 31st review: The Masque of the Red Death from the Four Horsemen Studios' Figure Obscura line. This was a huge surprise dropped by the Four Horsemen at the end of last month and it really delivers up a cool horror legend for fans of horror literature and 19th century Gothic spookiness. Last year the Four Horsemen gave us the Headless Horseman, so its pretty incredible to see them taking on another literary classic. Based on Edgar Allen Poe's 1842 short story "The Masque of the Red Death" (originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death: A Fantasy"), this figure depicts the Red Death, a supernatural personification of the story's titular plague who pays a visit to the masquerade ball held by Prince Prospero. The masquerade (or masque) is intended to be a sort of quarantine, keeping the prince and 1,000 other nobles away from the common folk afflicted with the disease. It's not a long story though it's definitely worth a read if you're not familiar with it. In fact, the figure actually includes a small, illustrated book of the story. Ready to check out the Red Death? Then join me after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Black Falcon from The Worst Ultimates by Super7

 

   Black Falcon is definitely my least favorite figure from Series 1 of the Worst ReAction figures that I reviewed back in 2016. Let's be honest: When you're going up against a vampire bat, a Mike Mignola-esque armored guy with a gas gun, and a snake headed mummy, an armored skeleton is a bit tame. The Worst typically have really strange designs but Black Falcon comes off as a pretty standard skeletal villain you'd see in Dungeons & Dragons, Lone Wolf, or The Elder Scrolls. As a larger figure, though, Black Falcon is cool. Very cool. He's actually quite impressive, which is nice as I had forgotten I had preordered these figure back in February of 2022 so they surprised me when they showed up at the end of last month. We're just a day from Halloween, so let's celebrate with an evil, undead skeleton! Let's check out Black Falcon after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Zarak from Dungeons & Dragons by NECA

 

  Since we've made it through all 26 letters of the alphabet I've got a few days to do some random stuff. Today my frightening figure selection is Zarak from NECA's Dungeons & Dragons toyline. 2023 has been a huge year for Dungeons & Dragons toys! Hasbro released has released figures based on the 1980's cartoon series and figures based on the film and various novels and manuals in the Golden Archive collection, Super7 has ReAction figures based on vintage artwork, and NECA has started a line based on the vintage 1983 LJN toyline. The first two figures came out at the beginning of 2023 (Warduke and Grimsword) but I initially skipped them as I don't really have any nostalgia for the LJN toyline. I never owned any except for a Bugbear and an elf I found at a yard sale as a kid and I'm not sure I ever even knew the line existed (I wasn't born until '83). When I saw Zarak, though, I was immediately tempted. The vintage figure is just OK, but NECA's take on this Half-Orc Assassin is incredible. This year for my birthday I went with my family to an incredible toy shop (Needless Toys & Collectibles in Lincolnton, NC) and was given the chance to pick a few things out. Zarak was one of my gifts and, wow, I'm absolutely loving how devious he is! He's cool, sneaky, and really quite creepy, too. Let's check out Zarak after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Hyde from Rambo: The Force of Freedom by Coleco

   Wow! Now that we've successfully gone through all of The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror, I guess we can just go home now, right? As if! We've still got a little under a week left and I'm planning to fill it with as many terrifying toys as I can. Today I'm really excited to show off a particularly rare figure from my collection that I've had in my possession since originally procuring it at a Toys 'R Us as a kid: Dr. Hyde from Coleco's Rambo: The Force of Freedom. Military based cartoons and toylines had a surge in popularity thanks to Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Coleco's Rambo toyline was one of the best. If there is still a vintage action figure line that needs to be revived, it's between Rambo and Hasbro's C.O.P.S. for me. I loved both of those lines as a kid and still have them.

   Dr. Hyde is a creepy character who was part of the second series of figures. He even appeared in the accompanying animated series, too. A dishonorably discharged army surgeon convicted of war crimes, Dr. Hyde's face was reconstructed after an undisclosed accident, or possibly just due to him experimenting on himself. Now enclosed in a dome that enhances his vision and toting around oxygen tanks, Dr. Hyde is a cybernetic warrior for the evil S.A.V.A.G.E. and an enemy of Rambo. Let's take a look at Dr. Hyde after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Zartan (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   

   Today's the last day of the ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror, though there are still a few days till Halloween, so for those I'm just going with some other special stuff I want to review. Today, though, we've got the Retro version of Zartan from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. This figure is based on the standard Classified Series figure from 2021 but has a color scheme closer to the vintage toy and comes on one of the rather sharp looking (but flimsy) retro styled cards. Zartan isn't your typical monster or creature of the knight but he is kind of spooky. Hypnosis. Mystical Powers. Shape shifting. Wears a belly shirt. Man, he's downright terrifying! Let's take a look at the Walmart exclusive Retro Collection Zartan after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Y is for Bela Lugosi as Ygor from Universal Monsters Reaction by Super7

 

   Today for The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror we've got Ygor for the letter Y! Yes, Ygor. Not Igor, Ygor. That's actually what he's called on the packaging for the figure and in the the material for 1939's Son of Frankenstein. The lab assistant for Dr. Frankenstein in the original film was named Fritz, but Bela Lugosi's character is Ygor, a blacksmith with a broken neck from an unsuccessful hanging attempt who has an axe to grind with the people who attempted to execute him. I love how deep Super7 has gon with their Universal Monsters Reaction line and I hope they keep going! For now, let's check out Bela Lugosi as Ygor after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: X is for Xenomorph Newborn from Alien Reaction by Super7

   Hey, look! It's another Xenomorph on the countdown! I was really struggling with finding something for X and decided to go with a Xenomorph. I didn't want to review another Kenner figure but I have  this Super7 ReAction the Newborn from Alien Resurrection as part of my Aliens collection and decided he'd be a perfect fit. Despite Alien Resurrection being fairly unpopular, I've always thought the Newborn human/ alien hybrid was a creepy creature design. I remember seeing the film at a dollar movie back in early 1998. My mom didn't want to see the movie so she took my friend and I to a dollar theater, bought three tickets, got us in the theater, and went and saw something else. Few toy companies have released merchandise from the film but when they do it usually is this guy. Or girl. The film model had both male and female inspired genitalia, though it was removed in post production. Different sources have referred to the Newborn Xenomorph as being male or female. The Newborn alien is born via livebirth rather than from an egg but I don't remember it being covered in blood like this. It definitely makes for a more gruesome figure, though. Let's check this little tyke out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cobra Valkyries from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Y'all know that Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series is pretty much my favorite toyline out there right now. Honestly, it's become one of my favorites ever, even eclipsing my beloved G.I. Joe: Sigma 6. Hasbro has been putting so much G.I. Joe: Classified Series stuff out there lately that I'm way, way behind in reviewing it all! I've had the Cobra Valkyries for well over a month but I'm just now getting around to checking them out. Female Cobra Troopers actually appeared in the Sunbow animated series and were released by the G.I. Joe Collector's Club in a few different sets. We're building a huge Cobra army in the Classified Series and Hasbro decided to help us out by releasing two Cobra Valkyries in one set. Now, I will say that while this set does have some deluxe elements to it like lots of firing effects, it still feels like Hasbro seems to misunderstand the idea of buying in bulky. Why are there Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series, and G.I. Joe: Classified Series multi-packs always more expensive than buying two normal figures? What a weird concept! Fortunately, this set is a good one and it comes with lots of great stuff to full equip the Valkyries. We don't get file cards or bios anymore but there is a blurb on Hasbro Pulse that says: "The Cobra Valkyries stalk the battlefield as 'choosers of the slain' ushering any enemies who cross their path straight to Valhalla." That's pretty grim and definitely makes them seem like some sort of elite unit, though it could always be bravado. Still, darn cool stuff. Let's check out the Cobra Valkyries after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: W is for Wurdulac from Monster in My Pocket by Matchbox

   Monster in My Pocket always has a place in 31 Days of Toy Terror and today, representing the letter W, is the Wurdulac from the fourth series of MIMP minifigures. The fourth series was called the Super Scary series and the figures were a little bit larger, had higher point values, and even had a couple paint applications. Today I'm checking out the Wurdulac, one of my child original MIMPs. According to the Monster in My Pocket lore, the Wurdulac is: "European; a ravenous vampire who torments loved ones and places them under his spell to carry out his deeds."

   It's actually a creature from Slavic folklore with roots in Serbia and Russia. The Wurdulac is kind of like a vampire but it often feeds on the blood of it's own family, eventually desiring to turn them all into wurdulacs like itself. It also might have some connections to werewolves as it's name is a corruption of the western Slavic word volkodlak, which refers to someone who wears the fur or hide of a werewolf. Apparently in older Slavic mythology, the soul still roamed the world 40 days after the death of the body, but if someone was so evil that they were denied entry to the world of the dead, or if they died suddenly, violently, or with improper funeral rites, their soul could return to their body. The name gained more popularity because of the  1839 Aleksey Tolstoy novella "The Family of the Vourdalak."  The Wurdulac has even made an appearance in the horror anthology Black Sabbath and there are Canadian and Norwegian death metal bands named after the creatures. Pretty spooky stuff, right? Let's check out our representative of the letter W, the Wurdulac, after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: V is for Vampira from Vampira ReAction by Super7

 

   I actually struggled to find someone for V in my collection but fortunately I had two figures on the way, both which qualified. Vampira came in first so she wins the coveted spot in the countdown! It also is fitting that she arrived first because while the idea of a horror host is just a cultural staple and something of an archetype these days, Vampira was the first. Maila Nurmi created the character and the concept and everyone following in her footsteps owes her a lot of credit. Elvira, Joe Bob Briggs, Svengoolie, Penny Dreadful, Peter Vincent, Dr. Gangrene, Zombo, Coffin Joe, all of those fine folks and more have followed in Vampira's footsteps. Most modern goths, too. It's a real shame that she might be most well known for appearing in Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space or as being played by Lisa Marie in Tim Burton's Ed Wood rather than as the innovator that she was. Super7 has just released her as a ReAction figure so she can hang out with other horror greats on your shelf, particularly the large cast of Universal Monsters figures. NECA has a Toony Terrors figure of her out right now as well, so Vampira is getting quite a bit of attention at the moment from toy makers. Let's take a look at Vampira after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: U is for Umbreon from Pokemon: Let's Go Eevee Evolution Series by Funism

   For today's installment of the ABC's 31 Days of Toy Terror we have a guest from my daughter Adora's Pokemon collection: Umbreon from the Let's Go Eevee Evolution Series by Funism. This is a blind boxed import set of all nine forms of Eevee (so Eevee and the eight Eeeveelutions) featuring nine different minifigures, each with their own unique decorative display base and a foil card. By purchasing a case we ended up with the full set and Adora got these at the end of the school year back in late May. They're a really nice set of decorative figures and since Umbreon is my favorite of the Eeveelutions, fits the Halloween theme, and helped me cover the letter U, I decided he'd make a great review. For my daughter's Eevees, all of the Eevees and Eeveelutions are girls expect for the Umbreons, which are all boys. Let's take a look at this very cool Umbreon after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: T is for T-1 Terminator from Terminator Salvation by Playmates

   Hey kids! Want to hear a story about a true haunting? It's the story of the Playmates Terminator Salvation toyline, released in 2009, and how it haunted the action figure aisles for years to come! Ooooohhh! Try as they might, no retailer could get rid of it!

   Ok, yes, the Terminator Salvation toyline was not very impressive, even by 2009 standard; incredibly bland figures, a lack of likeness rights, and too many scales. It didn't help that the movie wasn't particularly well received, either. These figures sat on shelves for what felt like a few years, even at clearance prices. I think at some point I had grabbed a couple of the smaller figures on deep clearance just for the accessories, but the only figure I went out of my way to pickup when the line was new was the T-1. Part of the 1/12th scaled "deluxe" line, the T-1 was actually scaled more properly to the smaller 1/18th scaled figures. These battlefield robots first appeared in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and had a larger role in Salvation. I grabbed the figure because it reminded me of something that could have popped up in Kenner's 1993 Terminator 2: Future War toyline. It's a killer robot, so perfect for some toy terror, right? Let's check out the T-1 after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: S is for Skeletor (Savage Eternia) from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel

   Well... it's about time that Skeletor showed up for this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror! Remember the year that the theme for 31 Days of Toy Terror was Skeletober? That was crazy! This year Skeletor isn't showing up nearly that much, but he has to make his presence known for the letter S, doesn't he? Today I'm checking out the Savage Eternia Skeletor from the Netflix inspired He-Man and the Masters of the Universe toyline. The toyline really fizzled out this year as the show has ended, leaving some of the latter figures, like Moss Man, to be incredibly rare. Having my Moss Man preorders cancelled drives me nuts! That's some toy terror, right there (he's my favorite character, after all). Skeletor isn't as common a you'd, but he's not fetching the crazy prices of Moss Man. the Savage Eternia moniker showed up on both new versions of He-Man and Skeletor as well as on Hordak, Mer-Man, and Moss Man. My assumption is that this was Mattel's attempt to refresh the line until another season was greenlighted and completed or to just keep things going if it proved to be a success, but these have mostly just been showing up at select e-tailers and at places like Ollie's. We definitely have had multiple Skeletors in the line previously, but this one looks way cooler. Is he a better figure? Let's find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Whiplash from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel

 

   It's no secret that I love Masterverse and the Masters of the Universe: New Eternia figures are my favorites of all. Today I'm checking out Whiplash, one of the newest New Eternia releases. Like with most of the New Eternia figures, Whiplash works perfectly well as a new take on the character (inspired by vintage concept art) and a straight up classic version of the character. I've been hoping that we'd get a MOTU: Revelation version of Whiplash with his Motherboard outfit on but this guy is still a very welcome treat. In the information on the back of the box we learn that Whiplash is the leader of the Caligar, a species living in the Demon Zone. The cataclysmic event mentioned in some of the other bios opens a portal between Eternia and the Demon Zone, allowing the Caligar to invade Eternia.  Ready to check out Whiplash, the Tail-Thrashing Warrior? Then join me after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: R is for Robot Reaper from The Worst Ultimates by Super7

 

   I reviewed the original "Midnight Special" variant of the ReAction Robot Reaper back in 2016 as part of the Re-Halloween festivities so it's kind of fitting that I'm reviewing the Ultimates version as part of 31 Days of Toy Terror. The ABCs of Toy Terror, more precisely, and today R stands for Robot Reaper. Robot Reaper is my favorite character of the series 1 The Worst crew and I'm really glad to have the Ultimates version. I actually forgot that I had preordered this guy directly from Super7 (though that was back in February of 2022) so he surprised me when he just showed up out of the blue at the end of September. I picked up the series 1 The Worst Ultimates last year but I wasn't overly impressed with them. They were nice looking and quite funny, but there were lots of weird little QC errors and stuff that was downgraded from the sales renders. How did Robot Reaper turn out? Let's find out the facte of this binary bad guy after the break...

Action Figure Review: Emma Frost from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   The slow but steady series of reviews of the Marvel Legends X-Men series with the Ch'od build-a figure continues and today I'm looking at Emma Frost. This version of Emma Frost is in her costume from her time as part of the Astonishing X-Men series, so she's not a villain here and can pal around on your shelf with the other heroic mutants. See the X-logo on her belt? Yup. She's one of the good guys. Emma Frost has received quite a few figures from Hasbro over the years, so Hasbro clearly views her as a pretty popular and bankable character. Ready to take a closer look at this incredibly powerful mutant marvel? Then join me after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Q is for Quasimodo/ Lon Chaney as the Hunchback of Notre Dame from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

   Q is for Quasimodo and while this figure isn't billed as Quasimodo on the package (he's listed as "Lon Chaney as the Hunchback of Notre Dame"), we all know that's his name. We here today about how Hollywood can't release anything new, but did you know that when Universal Pictures released The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923, directed by Wallace Worsley, the book had already been made into a movie six times prior. Lon Cheney's version is undoubtedly the most famous adaptation simply because of Lon Chaney's performance. The man owns the film and really shows off his uncanny acting skills which will shock you. He conveys emotion amazingly, particularly for this being a silent film. This version of Quasimodo is from Super7's Universal Monsters ReAction line. I collected all of Funko's 2014 Universal Monsters ReAction figures, but Super7 has had the license and the ReAction brand name for a few years now and they've been going much deeper than Funko. Quasimodo is part of the third series of figures. Ready to check out one of the most famous bell ringers around? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Joker- Sonar Vision (The Dark Knight) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

   Today I'm looking at the third and final of the McFarlane Dark Knight Trilogy SDCC 2023 exclusive figures that are also being sold on McFarlane Toys Store and this one, well, this one isn't any better than the last two. Besides being about $8 to $10 dollars higher than a normal figure, Bane in his Trench Coat was pretty much the same as the basic figure but with fewer paint applications and no extra hands. The Bank Robber Joker was actually a pretty nice figure but he definitely needed an accessory or two, especially given the inflated price. This guy, well, he's a translucent blue version of the Joker. He's based on a scene near the end of 2008's The Dark Knight where Batman uses the sonar vision to infiltrate a building where the Joker and his goons have taken multiple hostages. Maybe if this had been paired with a version of Batman with the white lenses and some additional gadgets it would have made more sense but, as is, it comes off like a bizarre ghost of the Joker variant. Let's take a look at the Joker- Sonar Vision after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: P is for The Phantom of the Opera as the Masque of the Red Death from Universal Monsters: ReAction by Super7

 

   We have to have something from the silent era for 31 Days of Toy Terror, so let's bring on the Phantom of the Opera! Back in 2014 Funko released Universal Monsters ReAction figures, but just a few years later Super7 began releasing the ReAction line on their own and greatly expanded their offerings. They also improved the quality of the line and still continue to release figures in the ReAction product range today. In 2018 Super7 released a variant of the Phantom from the Lon Chaney film, clad in his red robes and skull costume based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death." The Phantom wears this disguise during a masquerade ball in one of the scenes in the film which features color, a pretty shocking thing to see in a mostly black & white silent film. I picked this guy up a year or two ago assuming that I'd get around to checking him out for 31 Days of Toy Terror at some point and, lo and behold, he's proving us with the letter P for the ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror. Join me after the break....

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: O is for Graf Orlok (Black & White) from Silent Screamers by Aztech Toys/ Art Asylum

   I love digging out some old favorites from my collection and today I'm very excited to show off one of my Silent Screamers figures: Graf Orlok from the 1922 film Nosferatu. I still will argue that even with the advances in makeup, special effects, and CGI over the past 100 years, it's pretty difficult to find onscreen monsters as oddly unsettling and terrifying as Max Schreck's Count Orlok (Graf is the German equivalent of a count). Back when McFarlane Toys had just begun to create toys for an untapped horror market with their 1998 Movie Maniacs line, Michael Markowitz (better know as Mez, the founder of Mezco Toyz) partnered with Art Asylum in 1999 under the brand name of Aztech Toys and released Silent Screamers in 2000, stylized figures based on iconic characters from silent films. Aztech Toys apparently went out of business after the release of the first series of figures, but Mezco Toys was formed shortly thereafter and continued the line for another series in 2001. Mezco just released an updated Silent Screamers Count Orlok from Nosferatu recently, but this is the one that you could say stared it all for Mezco. Graf Orlok was released in two variants, a more grayish version that's actually the "color" variant (visibly red blood) while the one I'm looking at today, which is more of a sepia toned figure, is the "black and white version." Ready to check out Graf Orlok? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Starjammer Corsair from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   It's time for another installment as I slowly make my way through this year's X-Men themed Marvel Legends build-a-figure series and today I'm looking at Corsair, Cyclops' daddy! Or Starjammer Corsair, as the package calls him. Because he's one of the Starjammers, a group of space pirates flitting about the Marvel Universe and the X-Men books since 1977. Corsair's real name is Christopher Summers but as a space pirate he's take on a much cooler moniker. I'm most familiar with Corsair from the vintage Toy Biz figure and his appearances on the 1990s animated series, plus I'm always down for a space pirate. Ready to check out Corsair? Then join me after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: N is for Nightstorm Predator from Predator by Kenner

   We've had an alien already so now it's time for a Predator! Today's installment of The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror is Nightstorm Predator from Kenner's 1990s Aliens and Predator line. I definitely liked the Aliens stuff more as a kid but I had a few Predators in my collection. This wasn't one of them, though. The Nightstorm Predator came out in 1994 and was a repaint of the series one Predator figure Scavage. Kenner definitely reused molds and they did it frequently in the Alien and Predator line to make more figures. Ready for a look at another Predator? Then join me after the break...

The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: M is for Muck Master from Trash Bag Bunch by Galoob

    At Halloween it's said that old toys and mutant monstrosities make their way back into the land of the living for another scare and today we're receiving a visit from the one and only Muck Master! Yup, the Master of Muck himself is here to cause some Halloween havoc and smash some pumpkins with us. Don't you feel special? You should! I love the Trash Bag Bunch and it's a thrill to dig one of these little guys out every year show off during 31 Days of Toy Terror. Muck Master is one of the villainous Trashors and he looks like a somewhat standard alien augmented some very makeshift weaponry slapped together from a scrap yard. These little guys are so unusual and fun and they're still one of my favorite lines of minifigures ever made. Back in the day they came in little trash bags. You through the trash bag in some water and the effervescent tablet inside caused everything to bubble up, revealing your new warrior. This is another one original to my childhood collection. Let's take a look at the Muck Master after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror- Friday the 13th Special! Jason Voorhees from WB Horror by Fetch for Pets

 

   When I realized that there was a Friday the 13th this October I just knew that I would have to take a break from the ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror for a special review! Guess which of my family members most recently received a Friday the 13th themed toy? Our dog Zoey! Zoey absolutely loves stuffed toys and carries them around with her all the time. She carries them, licks them, chews them a bit (though she is rather gentle), and uses them like pillows. Her favorites are the Kong Wild Knots bears but my mom bought her this Jason Voorhees dog toy at the end of last month, just in time for the spooky season. Ready to read a (dog) toy review written by Zoey, our 5-year old Kelpie/ terrier rescue dog? Then read on!

[Editor's Note: Zoey is a very, very good dog, but she's not best speller. She also doesn't always use the correct words. We are working on this with her.]

Hi! I Zoey. I good girl. Good dog. Best dog. Please pet?

Today I review toy that my Gram Gram gave me. I like her. She nice. She pet me, rub my belly, and talk nice to me. I best dog. I very tentious. I also viligant and telligent. Gram Gram show me this toy. I say, "Want. Want. Please give." So she give me this. She say it Jay-sun. I not know Jay-sun. I call it Scare Bear.

He based on movie. I not watch many movies. I sit in living room and watch family watch movies. They watch and pet Zoey, cause I good dog. I do like noises and I bark when I hear knocking sounds. Or when I see bears on screen. Love bears. Want bear. Please give?

I ask who Scare Bear is. They tell me he from scary movie. I not like being scared. I scared of many things. Loud people. Any people I not know, really. I also scared of cars and trucks. And brooms. I not like little vacuum either. Or mailbox. Or neighbors. Or plastic bag blowing across yard. But I not scared of Jay-sun. He my Scare Bear. He soft and yummy. He snack. I type more after break. Please read. Thamks.

Action Figure Review: The Joker- Bank Robber (The Dark Knight) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   It's been... what, two days since I last reviewed an action figure of the Joker? Sounds like it's time for another Joker review then! Today I'm checking out the Bank Robber version of the Joker from McFarlane's DC Multiverse line. Like Bane in the trench coat, the Bank Robber Joker is a Gold Label figure that was exclusive to SDCC 2023 and McFarlane Toys Store after the show. Also like Bane, he's basically a simple rework of the standard Dark Knight Trilogy Joker figure released earlier this year in the Bane build-a-figure series. McFarlane Toys Store had the set of three figures for $90 (Trench Coat Bane, Bank Robber Joker, and Sonar Vision Joker) but the Bank Robber Joker himself has been selling for between $50 and $70 dollars, so I opted to just grab the full set. I absolutely love The Dark Knight (easily one of my top 10 movies) and I was excited to get this guy on my nicely growing McFarlane Batman movie shelf. Ready for another figure based on Heath Ledger's iconic performance as the Joker? Then join me after the break...