No one can say that McFarlane hasn't released enough Batman figures in their DC Multiverse line, but they keep putting out awesome figures, people keep buying them, and I keep wanting to add to my collection, so who can blame them, right? Today I'm checking out a recent release in the DC Multiverse line: Batman from Batman: Hush. While one of the major selling points of this line is that most figures feature completely unique sculpts, this figure does borrow the body from last year's Batman Vs Hush 2-pack which used a black and gray suit instead of the blue and gray suit seen here. This one is much more iconic, though, and when I think of Batman: Hush this is this is the suit I think about. Hush is a great story (I'm rereading it right now with my daughter, who has never read it before) but besides that, it's amazing how much of an influence the Jim Lee artwork and the character designs have had on Batman's allies and villains in the years since. I loved DC Direct's Batman: Hush action figure line as it was one of the first times a DC line went so deep in such a short period of time, but those figures definitely are a product of their time and were intended for display rather than play. This version of Batman is absolutely intended for play and posing, though. He's fantastic and one of my favorite Batman action figures ever. Let's check him out after the break...
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Sunday, March 19, 2023
Friday, March 17, 2023
Action Figure Review: Longshot from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: X-Men by Hasbro
It's St. Patrick's day, so how about a little luck for you?
Would you believe that I haven't reviewed a Marvel Legends Series figure since last year? It's true! While Hasbro's Marvel Legends team showed off some cool upcoming things recently, there just hasn't been a lot out there lately that interests me. Pair that with the price increases that have kept me from picking up figures randomly and I've become much more selective with Marvel Legends. I love X-Men characters from the mid 1960 through the mid 1990s, though, and I'm thrilled that Longshot was released as part of the Marvel Legends X-Men Retro Collection. Packaged on a classic Toy Biz inspired card that actually lets you see the product you're buying, Longshot is a slight variant of the figure released last year in the Hasbro Pulse exclusive Mojoworld set. I didn't buy that set as I picked up Mojo separately, already have two versions of Dazzler, and I assumed that Longshot would get rereleased. Ta-da! I never owned the vintage Toy Biz Longshot as a kid, nor any other ones, so this is the first figure of the character I've owned. Let's take a look at Longshot after the break...
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Action Figure Review: Grifter (Infinite Frontier) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Today I'm checking out another DC Multiverse figure from last year, but it's one that I just picked up recently (and for a good price, too): Grifter. If you're kind of old, like me, you'll remember seeing Grifter in Wildstorm's WildC.A.T.S. series back in the early 1990s. I never read WildC.A.T.S. myself but Grifter was definitely an "it" character that showed up on lots of comic covers, promotional images, and in Wizard magazine all the time. While Jim Lee sold Wildstorm to DC Comics in 1999, Grifter didn't appear in the DC Universe until The New 52 reboot in 2011. I haven't ready many ongoing DC books lately and I haven't ready anything from the Infinite Frontier yet, which is where this figure of Grifter is sourced. He's now a bodyguard for Lucius Fox and a rival to Batman. Crazy, right? I haven't reviewed a ton of DC Multiverse figures yet but this is the first figure I've reviewed that shows a weakness of this line. What is it? Read on and find out after the break...
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Action Figure Review: Kill-Switch from Action Force by Valaverse
Valaverse continues to put out some amazing stuff and it looks like they have many more cool releases on the way, including some character specific accessory packs and a vehicle. Today I'm looking Kill-Switch, one of the series 3 releases from earlier this year. Series 3 introduced female figures into the Action Force line, so now we can expect a better mix of men and women in future waves. Kill-Switch is a new character created for Valaverse's Action Force. Her real name is Layla Richardson, she's from Bay City, Michigan, and she's an EOD and BUD/S instructor. Well, she was a BUD/S Instructor; now she's member of Action Force. Ready for a look at Kill-Switch? Then join me after the break...
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Action Figure Review: Nekron (Blackest Night) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Today I'm checking out another DC Multiverse Megafig from last year: Nekron! I honestly probably wouldn't have picked up Nekron on his own even though he's a really cool looking figure, but the only way I could manage to get Bane at retail price was by preordering a set and Nekron was the other figure in the case. On second thought, if I had seen Nekron in person and on sale, I probably would have picked him up. While I'm a huge DC fan (mostly because of Batman and everything/ everyone related to him), I really don't care much for the Green Lantern Corps stuff. I like the Green Lanterns just fine as part of a Justice League story, but it's just my least favorite part of the DC Universe. I'm familiar with Blackest Night, though, and that's the story that this figure is "sourced" to in this line. Nekron, the personification of death and ruler of the Land of the Unliving, is a pretty powerful being in the DC Universe and he's been tackled before as an action figure by Mattel in DC Universe Classics (he was a build-a-figure) and by DC Direct in their Blackest Night series. I've never owned those previous figures, but McFarane's looks the most impressive. Let's see how he measures up after the break...
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Action Figure Review: Bane from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
During the time when I was most into comic books as a child, Knightfall was an absolute juggernaut of a storyline and I'll still argue it's one of the best Batman stories ever, quite possibly the best. It's long but it consistently delivers and really tells a layered story worth telling. I'm a fan of Bane and it took me longer than I expected to pick up this DC Multiverse Bane from McFarlane Toys. I managed to find a retail priced preorder at Entertainment Earth for a case which contained both Bane and Nekron for less than most folks are currently selling Bane, so I jumped on it. There was already a Last Knight on Earth Bane build a figure and now there's a Dark Knight Rises Bane build-a-figure, but this is the most classic, comic looking Bane yet, and he's pretty nice. Let's check out Bane after the break...
"KRAKT!"
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Action Figure Review: Cosmic Terror Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel
It's Skeletor in boss form! Masters of the Universe: Revelation gave us Skelegod and the Netflix CG animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has given us Cosmic Terror Skeletor. This is a pretty amazing take on Skeletor, who has a pretty fantastic journey during the show. Yeah, there are some really silly parts of the CG series, but there's also some fantastic storytelling and some very respectable character arcs. Even though it seems like the show is probably over, Mattel seems to still be trickling out releases and while I haven't picked up all of them (yet) I definitely made sure to grab this version of Skeletor depicting him after his ghost form has gained the power of King Grayskull. He's big, he's bad, and he's pretty reasonably price. Let's take a look at Cosmic Terror Skeletor after the break...
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Action Figure Review: Doctor Aphra from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Action Figure Review: Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro
For a few years now the G.I. Joe: Classified Series has been my favorite ongoing action figure line with one solid release after another. The most recent series of figures has started showing up, consisting of Cover Girl, Mad Marauders Barbecue, Falcon, Outback, and a Crimson B.A.T. I skipped the B.A.T. for now but I received everyone else in the mail on Thursday. This series is maybe the first that I've felt disappointed in. It's not a terrible series of figures but there are definitely some weak links here. Three of the figures are straight up repaints (Barbecue, B.A.T., and Outback) and the three figures with exposed faces have some weird issues with their headsculpts. It should also be noted that while their have already been a few plastic free packaged releases, this is the first full series to have the plastic free packaging, a fact that makes the flawed faces seem particularly egregious. I'm starting things off with Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger as she's probably my favorite figure in this series. The vintage Cover Girl was before my time (she was included as the driver of the Wolverine in 1983) and she didn't get another figure until the 2006 comic pack that was part of the DTC releases. That was the first Cover Girl I owned, though she was called Agent Courtney Krieger on the packaging. Obviously a trademark/ licensing issue. I'm glad Hasbro has Cover Girl out in the line and overall I like this figure quite a bit, but there's something just a bit off about the face. Let's take a closer look at Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger after the break...
Friday, March 3, 2023
Action Figure Review: Batman (DC Vs Vampires) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Action Figure Review: Pig-Head from Masterverse/ Sun-Man: Rulers of the Sun by Mattel
Who's up for some more Masterverse reviews? Today I'm looking at Pig-Head, another figure from the newest series of Masterverse figures and the first figure from the Masterverse "Sun-Man: Rulers of the Sun" subset that I've reviewed. Yeah, I don't actually have the Masterverse Sun-Man yet. I've had a preorder through Target since July but he's apparently not shipped yet. I didn't expect Pig-Head to beat Sun-Man out. I reviewed the Masters of the Universe Origins Pig-Head back in August and while I have the Target exclusive 3-pack with the shiny Pig-Head, I never got around to reviewing it. This guy definitely warrants a review, though, as he's incredibly cool. I'd really like to hear from someone who was a Sun-Man fan as a kid. I know many MOTU fans know the cool story behind Olmec Toys and the line and quite a few remember the figures, but I'd love to hear from someone who has been waiting for Sun-Man and the Rulers of the to get revisited. If that's you leave me a comment. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the Sun-Man revival. For now, let's check out Pig-Head after the break...
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Action Figure Review: Recondo from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro
I couldn't possibly review the new Target exclusive Tiger Force Recondo figure from the G.I. Joe: Classified series without remembering the lyrics to ABBA's hit song about the character:
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Recondo
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Recondo
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Recondo
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Recondo
Yes, who could forget those stirring words about a raid on Cobra Island by G.I. Joe forces sung from the perspective of Outback.... wait, I'm getting a note....
My editor says I'm apparently remembering this all wrong and the song in question is "Fernando" and it's a 1975 ABBA song about the Mexican Revolution.
Huh......
Well, in that case we'll just talk about Recondo. This version is from Tiger Force and while the vintage Tiger Force Recondo figure, released in 1988, came with the Tiger Fly, a Tiger Force themed repaint of the Dragonfly, this one comes packaged solo. That was originally the plan for the vintage Recondo, but for some reason Wild Bill got skipped. We'll definitely get a regular version of Recondo in the line at some point but this Tiger Force version is pretty nice. Let's take a look at Recondo after the break...
Yes, who could forget those stirring words about a raid on Cobra Island by G.I. Joe forces sung from the perspective of Outback.... wait, I'm getting a note....
My editor says I'm apparently remembering this all wrong and the song in question is "Fernando" and it's a 1975 ABBA song about the Mexican Revolution.
Huh......
Well, in that case we'll just talk about Recondo. This version is from Tiger Force and while the vintage Tiger Force Recondo figure, released in 1988, came with the Tiger Fly, a Tiger Force themed repaint of the Dragonfly, this one comes packaged solo. That was originally the plan for the vintage Recondo, but for some reason Wild Bill got skipped. We'll definitely get a regular version of Recondo in the line at some point but this Tiger Force version is pretty nice. Let's take a look at Recondo after the break...
Monday, February 27, 2023
Action Figure Review: Man-E-Faces from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel
Last weekend I drove to Needless Toys & Collectibles in Lincolnton, NC where I found three of the four figures from the newest series of Mastervere action figures. This is a fantastic toy store that not only carries lots of great vintage toys (they had a G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Defiant in the box) but also stocks new product from smaller companies like Four Horsemen Studios, Mezco, the Nacelle Company, Super7, and Boss Fight Studios as well as product from Mattel, Habro, NECA, and McFarlane. Since they actually have accounts with these companies, their prices are really competitive. The newest series of Masterverse figure includes the Sorceress from MOTU: Revelation, Pig-Head from Sun-Man, Shadow Weaver from Princess of Power, and a New Eternia Man-E-Faces, which I'm checking out today. By the way, Shadow Weaver was the figure I didn't pick up yet, so I'm still on the hunt. Man-E-Faces is one of my favorites and is always such a fun figure, so I was really looking forward to him. Ready for a cool new take on Man-E-Faces? Then let's check him out after the break...
Friday, February 24, 2023
The Best of the Rest: My 10 Favorite Individual Toys of 2022
While the list of my 10 favorite toylines from the past year is always the main event for my annual awards, I've always liked to recognize that not every great toy is part of a larger toyline or a toyline that I fully collect. As a collector, I'm naturally driven to lines where I can build a large roster of diverse characters or where there is a steady stream of releases, so those tend to be my favorites. It seems kind of unfair, however, to never acknowledge figures from smaller toylines or one off releases. Sometimes I just grab one figure or toy from a larger line because it really appeals to me in some way. What to do? That's where the list of my Top 10 Favorite Individual Toys for the year comes in. So who is eligible? Most any toy or collectible released in 2022 could have made this list. Who isn't eligible? Any toy from a line I picked in my 10 Favorite Toylines of 2022 list. Remember that these are listed alphabetically, not in order of merit. Last year I definitely spent a lot of my focus on more expansive lines with lots of releases and picked up fewer "one off" releases. Like last year, most of the entries here tend to be one-off horror themed items or Masters of the Universe items from lines I enjoyed but that didn't make my best of the year list. There are also a couple of pop culture icons that I picked up and just loved. In some ways, this list might be seen as more prestigious as these figures aren't part of a larger group that kind of build each other up but must stand on their own merits. I'm going to go through these alphabetically, as usual, so let's take a look at the best of the rest list for 2022 after the break...
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Action Figure Review: The Flash from DC Page Punchers by McFarlane Toys/ DC Direct
It's time for some more DC Page Punchers and today I'm checking out Turbo-Man! Oh, wait, that's not Turbo-Man, is it? It kind of looks like him, though. While some of the DC Page Punchers from McFarlane Toys and DC Direct are quite faithful to their mainstream comic looks, others, like the Flash here, are a new design that ties in with the included "The Flash" comic book. Did the folks at DC Comics create the new comic first or was this comic create around McFarlane Toys' designs? Tough to say, here. Still, I kind of like how different this version of the flash looks. He's still a sleek and slick version of the Scarlet Speedster, but this time around he's wearing an outfit that looks more armored. Perhaps Barry decided he needed a few upgrades for some new threat? Let's take a look at the Page Punchers version of the Flash after the break. It's Turbo Time!
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Action Figure Review: Two Bad from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel
I actually have four new Masterverse figures to review (I found Pig Head, Man-E-Faces, and Sorceress over the weekend) but I'm going to start with Two Bad, a deluxe release that showed up at the very beginning of the year already swinging to be one of the best Masterverse releases of 2023. I'm sure we'll get plenty of other really solid figures this year in Masterverse, but wow, this one is going to be tough to beat. Two Bad is part of the New Eternia subset and their packaging tells the story of Tuvar Baddrah as the captains of rival mercenary ships who fall victim to the cursed treasure of Horde Prime. The curse fuses them together, leaving them as one terrifying individual wrestling with their egos. Interestingly, the package calls Two Bad "him" but wouldn't it make more sense to say they? I mean, they're two distinct individuals fused together, not just one being that has multiple heads but one mind. Anyways, it's a cool setup for Tuvar and Baddrah in New Eternia which borrows from the Mike Young Productions concept for the characters a bit. Ready to check out what all there is to love about Two Bad? Then let's check him/they out after the break...
Friday, February 17, 2023
Action Figure Review: Eclipse from Action Force by Valaverse
Ready for some more Action Force? Last week I received three of the new series 3 Action Force figures from Big Bad Toy Store and I'm excited to start checking them out in the coming week or two. First up I'm taking a look at Eclipse, a member of Action Force. Valaverse is using the "base body" model for the Action Force line, so most figures are made from one of a few standard base bodies with different vests, gear, portraits, and color schemes to keep them feeling fresh and unique. Series 3 introduces women to the line with three new named characters and a Steel Brigade army builder. I haven't read any of the Action Force comics yet (I'm waiting for a trade paperback) but there's definitely a lot of thought put into the bios. Eclipse's is really well done and nicely mixes a personal history of the character along with some details about her role in the events of the Action Force universe. Eclipse (real name Dyani Tamayo) is Airborne qualified, has been through Ranger School, and operates extensively in covert operations in the Middle East. She's definitely bringing a lot to your Action Force team, so let's take a closer look at her after the break...
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Action Figure Review: Python Patrol Officer from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro
The Target exclusive Tiger Force vs Python Patrol G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures have been a rather cool subset and the Python Patrol Officer is a nice surprise because he's not just a repaint of last year's Cobra Officer; he actually contains parts from the Cobra Officer and the Cobra Infantry/ Cobra Trooper to create a more unique aesthetic. The Classified Series Python Patrol Officer is an interesting figure as he's actually based on the vintage Python Trooper and not the Python Officer. In the vintage Python Patrol subset the Python Trooper was a repaint of the 1982 Cobra Officer while the Python Officer was a repaint of the 1982 Cobra (the basic trooper). This figure is based on the vintage Python Trooper but uses the torso and arms from the Classified Series Trooper/Infantry with the boots, head, and harness of the Officer. It's a nice bit of Franken-Joeing that creates a more unique and memorable figure. Let's check out this Pythnonized Cobra Officer after the break...
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Action Figure Review: Black Adam from DC Page Punchers by McFarlane Toys/ DC Direct
The last couple years have been huge for Black Adam. He's had a movie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, he's joined the Justice League in the comics, and he's had multiple action figures released featuring his likeness. Today I'm checking out the 7 inch Page Punchers Black Adam from last year. I looked at another Page Punchers figure from this same series, John Constantine, a couple weeks back. As I mentioned in that review, the DC Page Punchers figures are released by McFarlane Toys under the DC Direct banner as McFarlane has been releasing and managing DC Direct product over the past year couple of years. The 7 inch Page Punchers are built and feel just like DC Multiverse figures, though, so they feel like they belong perfectly in your standard DC Multiverse collection. Ready for a look at Black Adam? Then join me after the break...
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Action Figure Review: Duke & RAM from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro
The series 1 Duke was the first figure in the G.I. Joe: Classified Series that I picked up and reviewed. While I skipped the "Field Variant" repaint, I definitely wanted this Tiger Force version, both because I love the Tiger Force look and because this was the version of Duke that I had as a kid. Getting into G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero later in the line (because I wasn't born until 1983), the Tiger Force subset gave me a chance to get some of the G.I. Joe mainstays who had disappeared from store shelves by the time I was collecting. The Target exclusive Tiger Force vs Python Patrol figures have been much easier to find than past releases, which is really nice. I've seen this set a few times in stores, so hopefully you can find one if you're looking for him. Let's take a look at Duke and the Tiger Force version of the RAM cycle after the break...
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Missing in Action: Toylines That Didn't Make the Cut in 2022
Since 2015 I've supplemented my Top 10 Toylines of the Year awards with a list called Missing in Action. This is a reflective list where I look back at the Top 10 Toylines list of last year and determine why some of the lines from that year failed to return for the current year's list. 2022's top 10 list only had seven toylines returning from the previous year, which is a pretty good number. (2021 only had four toylines returning from the 2020 list). I find it interesting to look at the lines that failed to show up again in order to diagnose why they went missing. It's also fun to whine and complain a bit. There are a few reasons why a toyline might make this list:
Missing
in Action: This is a toyline that gets cancelled, ends, or just didn't
have any releases during the year. It happens a lot, unfortunately, and
often to some of my favorites it seems, though not as much as in the past.
Demoted:
Sometimes a toyline just gets outdone by others. This isn't
specifically related to the quality of the demoted line and more
reflective of the quality of the lines that supplanted it or of my
interest shifting to other things.
Drop in
Quality: This is when a toyline has a severe drop in quality that causes
it to fall from grace. While most toylines get better as they go, some
do indeed get worse and worse due to cost cutting, mismanagement, and
quality control issues. Sometimes the price just gets higher, too,
making a once impressive toyline now seem less so, and that can cause it
to end up here as well.
Let's jump in and check out who went missing in action in 2022 after the break...
Friday, February 10, 2023
Action Figure Review: Batman Duke Thomas (Tales from the Dark Multiverse) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Today I'm looking at DC Multiverse figure from McFarlane that was released last year but that I've only picked up within the last month or two. It's Batman Duke Thomas from the limited series "Tales from the Dark Multiverse" a kind of "What If?" or Elseworlds take on key events from the DC Universe. I haven't actually read the series yet but I picked this figure up because it's really frigging cool and it was on sale at GameStop. It's a heavily armored up version of Duke Thomas wearing a batsuit crafted from the hide of the defeated Dragon, Barbatos. Oh, and he's carrying the Parall-Axe, a cross between an axe and an electric guitar. Originally Dick Grayson/Nightwing was toting it around but now Duke has it. There's a DC Multiverse figure of Duke Thomas as the Signal coming soon, but it doesn't have a wicked death metal guitar that's a multiversal frequency disruptor. Let's take a look aht the Dark Multiverse version of Duke Thomas as Batman after the break...
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Action Figure Review: Wonder Woman from Super Powers by McFarlane Toys
Today I'm checking out the third of the figures in series 3 of McFarlane Toys' Super Powers line: Wonder Woman! Wonder Woman was one of the original figures from the first series of the vintage line and it's about darn time she showed up in this new series, right? She's wearing a more modern outfit but still looks absolutely recognizable as Princess Diana of Themyscira. She's also been given a cape here, but you ca easily take it off if you'd like. She's versatile. Let's take a look at the Super Powers Wonder Woman after the break...
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Action Figure Review: Deadman (DC Rebirth) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Deadman is one of the newest "Gold Label" figures from McFarlane Toys' DC Multiverse line and is exclusive to Target. From DC Rebirth, this is the first time McFarlane has released a figure of Boston Brand in the DC Multiverse line and it's a pretty standard take on the character that ought to please most folks. McFarlane is definitely doing more standard or "classic" versions of characters than they were during the first year or two of DC Multiverse and that's definitely helped get me more into this line than I was. There have been more Deadman figures released over the years than I thought but my favorite is still Mattel's DC Universe Classics version. Does this one surpass the ones that have come before it? Let's take a look and see how this incarnation on Boston Brand fares after the break...
Monday, February 6, 2023
Action Figure Review: Nightwing from Super Powers by McFarlane Toys
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Action Figure Review: John Constantine from DC Page Punchers by McFarlane Toys/ DC Direct
McFarlane Toys' DC Multiverseline made my Top Ten Toylines of 2022 list that I published yesterday, so I wanted to show off another figure from the line since I didn't review many of them last year. Well, a figure from a companion line, I guess. This figure of John Constantine is from DC Page Punchers and it's released by McFarlane Toys and DC Direct. McFarlane has been releasing and managing DC Direct product over the past year or two and while these 7 inch Page Punchers are built and feel just like DC Multiverse figures, they have different branding. It's been a long time since we heard the DC Direct name, hasn't it? For years they were using DC Collectibles. Just a note: There is also a Page Punchers line of 3 inch figures with comic book reprints. These 7 inch figures come in sets of four with a new comic for the full series. I certainly haven't read everything ever released with Constantine or under the Hellblazer title, but I do really like the character and love the Justice League Dark concept. Let's take a look at this new figure of street mage John Constantine after the break...
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
My Top 10 Toylines of 2022
I feel like I say that every year is an interesting one for action figures, but it kind of feels like the truth. There's always some fascinating, unusual stuff that happens. So, what happened in 2022? As the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions largely waned, at least here in the United States, product releases seem to have returned more to normal. The toy product on shelves largely matched up with media releases, many conventions were back to being in-person, and retail shelves went back to their regular ebb and flow of feast or famine when it comes to finding new stuff on shelves. Inflation was a big factor last year with most companies raising prices, some more than others. While I know many smaller companies had to raise prices, Hasbro seemed to draw the most attention for some truly bizarre price increases, many of which seemed to be largely arbitrary. Their switch to plastic free packaging on most releases was also a point of contention with many collectors.
While toys are still available at retail (this year 8 of my top 10 lines had a retail presence), we're seeing more companies, even the larger ones, having a dedicated online presence. Previously it seemed like some of the larger companies didn't want to upset their retail partners, so online offerings directly from the company were more limited but now you can find most everything direct from the manufacturer. Preorders are also becoming more and more prominent with many scattered releases being favored over traditional "series" or "waves" of figures. While we still toys based on current media, we're seeing lots of 1990s nostalgia lines now. TMNT and Power Rangers are always huge, but even smaller 1990s properties like Gargoyles and Barnyard Commandos are getting a shake.
While Hasbro still seems to be the 800 pound gorilla in the retail toy aisle, Mattel still had a significant presence at retail in 2022 as did McFarlane Toys, Jakks, Spin Masters, Jada Toys, Funko, and Jazwares. NECA and the Loyal Subjects also had a nice amount of product at mainstream retail, typically in designated collector focused sections, and Target is even carrying product from Super7 and other smaller companies. Playmates is still being Playmates, selling decades old TMNT figures and returning to Star Trek. While the fourth quarter is always a big deal, Hasbro, Mattel, and I'm sure a few others really shipped out a lot of product, much of which caught collectors (and their wallets) by surprise. It was crazy to see product expected for this coming Spring show up in October, November, and December. Of course, delays are still a thing, especially with companies like Super7 and Mezco who are notoriously slow at getting product to market.
While toys are still available at retail (this year 8 of my top 10 lines had a retail presence), we're seeing more companies, even the larger ones, having a dedicated online presence. Previously it seemed like some of the larger companies didn't want to upset their retail partners, so online offerings directly from the company were more limited but now you can find most everything direct from the manufacturer. Preorders are also becoming more and more prominent with many scattered releases being favored over traditional "series" or "waves" of figures. While we still toys based on current media, we're seeing lots of 1990s nostalgia lines now. TMNT and Power Rangers are always huge, but even smaller 1990s properties like Gargoyles and Barnyard Commandos are getting a shake.
While Hasbro still seems to be the 800 pound gorilla in the retail toy aisle, Mattel still had a significant presence at retail in 2022 as did McFarlane Toys, Jakks, Spin Masters, Jada Toys, Funko, and Jazwares. NECA and the Loyal Subjects also had a nice amount of product at mainstream retail, typically in designated collector focused sections, and Target is even carrying product from Super7 and other smaller companies. Playmates is still being Playmates, selling decades old TMNT figures and returning to Star Trek. While the fourth quarter is always a big deal, Hasbro, Mattel, and I'm sure a few others really shipped out a lot of product, much of which caught collectors (and their wallets) by surprise. It was crazy to see product expected for this coming Spring show up in October, November, and December. Of course, delays are still a thing, especially with companies like Super7 and Mezco who are notoriously slow at getting product to market.
When it comes to specialty stuff, many of the smaller, collector focused companies are really rivaling the mainstream companies in terms of output and quality, especially as prices are becoming more comparable. Valaverse, Fresh Monkey Fiction, Lone Coconut, Boss Fight Studios, Four Horsemen Studios, Diamond, Super7, Premium DNA and others, continue to release collector focused product directly to buyers and to smaller retailers. Hasbro, Mattel, and Jada are clearly trying to cash in on these trends with things like Haslab, Hasbro's $50 starting line-up figures (that just went "on sale" for $30) and Mattel offering up a remake of Eternia. Some of have been wildly successful while others haven't.
Creating my "Top 10" lists is always one of my favorite things to do at Action Figure Barbecue and I always spend plenty of time pouring over my notes from the previous year to determine which toylines I thought were the coolest and most fun to collect. This is the eleventh year I've created a list (the earliest ones were posted at The Epic Review) and it's always interesting too see how my lists change from year to year, often reflecting my changing interests and collecting trends. 2022's list wasn't as difficult as years past for some reason; I feel like I bought more things, but from fewer lines. I also made fewer "one off" purchases unless it was stuff that really fit in with one of my other collections. While Masters of the Universe is still my number one collecting focus as a whole, there seemed to be a bit less of it this year. Funko seemed to largely ignore the property in 2022, which was quite odd. There were definitely a good number of returning lines on this year's list, most of which are 6inch or 7inch scaled, well articulated and durable lines. I've realized that while I love displaying stuff, I still want action figures to feel like toys. You know, something I can pick up and mess around with without any fear of breakage.
A number of years back I divided my Top 10 list into two separate categories: My Top 10 Toylines and My Top 10 Individual Releases. I always start with My Top 10 Toylines as it's my standard best of list. These are the 10 toylines (action figures, statues, minifigures, etc.) of the past year that I had the most fun collecting and enjoyed the most. They may not always be the best or the most expansive lines, but they're my favorites for one reason or another. As I reiterate every year, the two key word for this list are "my" and "favorite." My list isn't necessarily based on a toyline's true merits and I really don't go outside of what interests me. Take this as a snapshot of the ten toylines I had the most fun collecting last year. As always, these are listed alphabetically rather than by any order of merit. And now, for My Top 10 Toylines of 2022...
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Stratos from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel
The New Eternia releases in the 2022 Masterverse line seem to have been very well received. While I love the character selection and variety of the Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Princess of Power subsets, the New Eternia designs made for some of the coolest figures of last year. I mean, they've even made Stratos really interesting. I've talked before about how I've never been a big Stratos fan; I didn't have him as a kid, he doesn't usually have any weaponry, and he's usually a bit dull to me. This one's a real winner, though. Ready for a look at a Stratos figure who really soars? Then join me after the break...
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Mace Windu (Clone Wars) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro
Once February hits I'll definitely be reviewing far fewer figures from 2022 unless things get slow, but I've still got a few I want to show off before I get around to doing my best of the year lists and today I'm checking out the Clone Wars version of Mace Windu from Star Wars: The Black Series. Mace Windu, along with a few other figures, are part of a special subset exclusive to Walmart based on the 2003 Clone Wars animated series that aired between the releases of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. While they supposedly were released earlier in 2022, I didn't see them until the last two months or so. I found a pretty good deal on Mace Windu and decided to pick him up since he just looks so cool with his Clone Trooper armor on. Ready to get this party started? Then let's check out Mace Windu from Clone Wars after the break...
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: She-Ra from Masters of the Universe by Mondo
There aren't many collectibles of She-Ra herself that I don't have in my Masters of the Universe Museum and if you had asked my prior to December which one was my favorite piece, I would have quickly responded the Sideshow 1/5th scale She-Ra statue. Mondo's 1/6th scale She-Ra shipped in December of 2022, however, and I have to say that it's probably my new favorite She-Ra collectible. She might not be as dramatic as the 1/5th scale maquette, but this is without a doubt the coolest She-Ra collectible ever made. She-Ra was a Mondo timed exclusive who went on sale for 48 hours beginning on July 12th, and she comes packaged with her buddy Kowl, so she's not having to handle the Horde all on her own. It's taken me some time to get around to this review because 1. There's been so much stuff coming out and 2: My She-Ra shipped with a flattened nose and a duplicate hair piece so I had to wait for Mondo to ship me replacement parts, which they absolutely did. The customer service was really fantastic. I don't dabble in the 1/6th scale much but I definitely make an exception for Maters of the Universe and I absolutely love She-Ra, Princess of Power. Ready for a look at She-Ra? Then join me after the break...
Friday, January 27, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Man-Bat (DC Rebirth) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Last year I started getting into McFarlane's DC Multiverse line a bit more, particularly because of the release of more characters who look like standard comic depictions of the characters rather than really story specific variants (think Metal, Last Night on Earth, Dark Knight Returns). It looks like we're in for more great releases in the months to come and I've went back and picked up some of the figures I want, mostly Batman centric heroes and villains and characters associated with Justice League Dark. Hey, Man-Bat fills both of those criteria! This version of Man-Bat is a Megafig (oversized deluxe release) and is based on his Rebirth look, so pretty much his mainstream look in the current era of DC Comics. He's a hefty figure and McFarlane's first take on Dr. Robert Kirk Langstrom, so he's particularly monstrous. Ready for a bat man who's more bat than man? Then look no further than Man-Bat! Let's check him out after the break...
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: King Hiss from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Action Figure Review: David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen (Tiger Force) from G.I. Joe Classified Series by Hasbro
I've only got a few 2022 reviews left to finish up before the end of January but I'm anxious to jump into the 2023 G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures since it's pretty much my favorite line currently on the market. Target's current theme for their exclusives is Tiger Force versus Python Patrol and I've got a load of new troops from both subsets to check out. Let's start by taking a look at Bazooka, or David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen, as the packaging calls him. That is his file name, after all, so it's not something Hasbro just went and made up new. They've clearly lost the trademark or whatever for just Bazooka as they started calling him Sgt. Bazooka in 2004 (even though that figure always looked more like Zap to me). Thinking back to my childhood Joes, there were quite a few major characters that I only was able to own because of the Tiger Force subset. Flint, Duke, Bazooka, Dusty, Frostbite, and Tripwire were all earlier releases that I only had a chance at because they were rereleased. I've always had a fondness for the subset and I'm quite glad that Hasbro's utilizing it (I'm not usually all about repaints but I'm hoping for Night Force, too). While he wasn't released until the 1985 lineup, Bazooka was a recognizable character who had a lot of presence in the line and various marketing and licensed materials. I mean, a big guy in a jersey with a missile launcher stands out. I was curious to see how the current Hasbro Classified Series team updated Bazooka, and the answer is "Not much." He's definitely a figure who is overwhelmingly just a bigger, better version of the vintage toy (or the 25th Anniversary figure; take your pick). Is he worth adding to your Classified Series lineup? Let's check him out after the break and find out...
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Hordak from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel
Near the end of last year I received the newest series of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe figures from Mattel's toyline based on the CG animated Netflix cartoon. While the toyline has been hit or miss, the show itself has been quite fun if you're up for a very different take on the Masters of the Universe mythos. The newest series of figures are labeled as "Savage Eternia" and, rather than the Power Attack feature that the earlier figures had, these figures now have slightly better articulation, most notably balljointed shoulders. Since I'm trying to wrap up my reviews of 2022 stuff, I opted to only check out Hordak from this newest series since he's a pretty unique depiction of the leader of the Evil Horde. Let's check him out after the break...
Wrapping Up 2022: Crimson Guard from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Ben Kenobi #572 from POP! Star Wars by Funko
I'm close to wrapping up my 2022 reviews and while I don't review a lot of non Masters of the Universe Funko POP! vinyls (which were pretty scarce last year, actually), I did want to show off this very cool Ben Kenobi POP! based on the original Marvel comic series from 1977. The art, especially the covers, was fantastic and very colorful in that series and these POP! vinyls are very eye-catching. I actually found Ben Kenobi #572 at the bin store I frequent for $4 bucks, though I'd seen these before at Target and really liked them. This one is based on the cover of issue #24 (by Carmine Infantino and Bob Wiacek), "Silent Drifting," which tells a flashback story set in the days of the Galactic Republic. It's actually the first Star Wars story to be set in the Galactic Republic era when the Jedi were high flying and not being hunted down. Let's take a look at Ben Kenobi #572 after the break...
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Accessory Review: Accessory Pack #2 by McFarlane Toys
Last year McFarlane Toys released a very cool accessory pack, the Munitions Pack, that was filled with 17 different firearms for your 1/10th scale McFarlane action figures. It was a nice assortment of figures that nicely complemented the Spawn line as well as added some needed firearms to McFarlane's DC Multiverse line. Since Warner Bros. has a ban on their products coming with guns (even though they can use them in movies, television, and in comics), this is a great way to supplement figures who need these weapons to feel complete. That set sold out quickly, so I guess collectors were eager for these weapons. A second set just shipped out this month and it's loaded with 17 more weapons to equip your figures with. This one's called the Accessory Pack #2 and has a mixture of more realistic firearms and some futuristic firearms. It's a fun collection that ships directly from the McFarlane Toys Store. It's a new year and this release ought to keep your collection fresh and armed for 2023, so let's take a look at this instant armory after the break...
Friday, January 20, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Zombie Santa from The Naughty or Nice Collection by Fresh Monkey Fiction
I only picked up three figures from The Naughty or Nice Collection last year and today I'm checking out the weirdest and creepiest of them: Zombie Santa. Listen, Zombie Santa is pretty cool. He's a green, zombified Santa. I have at least a shelf of zombie action figures and he'd look just fine up there, maybe as some random guy dressed like Santa Claus who has been turned into one of the living dead. It wasn't the zombie Santa that sold me, however; it was the alternate Evil Santa portrait that comes with this figure. That's the guy you see in the picture above and it's a design that makes this perhaps the creepiest action figure of 2022. Whether you want a Zombie Santa or an Evil Santa, Fresh Monkey Fiction has you covered. Let's check this guy out after the break...
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Action Figure Review: Deathstroke from Super Powers by McFarlane Toys
This isn't a "Wrapping Up 2022" review at all: It's a brand new for 2023 review! Just a week or so ago I saw that folks were finding the newest series of McFarlane Toys' Super Powers line, a tribute to the 1984 Kenner classic toyline, and I made a trip to Walmart. I was amazed to find full cases of the three series 3 figures (Deathstroke, Wonder Woman, and Nightwing) and snatched them all up. I didn't review any of the Super Powers figures last year as I wasn't sure how long the line would last but now it seems to be doing a lot better and the figures of both series 2 and series 3 are more impressive than series 1. Deathstroke was originally planned for future inclusion in the vintage Super Powers line but he never made it; the line was cancelled in 1986 and only the third series was produced. The McFarlane Super Powers version of Slade looks quite a bit like the proposed Kenner version, though McFarlane's figures don't have any action features. This is a great looking figure of Deathstroke, a character who almost always looks fantastic no matter what he's wearing. The dude just has incredible costumes, doesn't he? Let's take a look at Deathstroke after the break...
Wrapping Up 2022: No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin from Madballs by Premium DNA
Preface: Some collectors may be very aware that Premium DNA Toys has/ had had affiliations with Toy Overlord, Inc. and Megalopolis: City of Collectibles, a collectible. This is a great write up about the history of the companies with information about how many customers lost money on items they preordered but never received. The past couple of years have seen a few smaller companies fold, leaving customers out of money (i.e. Dorkside Collectibles). After this brief preface, this review will strictly be focusing on the merits of the toy that was purchased. Fee free to discuss this in the comments if you'd like, though. For full disclosure, I obtained my figure through Big Bad Toy Store on my own dime.
I love action figures with jack o'lantern heads. That's kind of my thing. I mean, look at the background image to your left or right. Anyways, while I did have a few Madballs as a very young child, I don't really have a ton of nostalgia for them. They're cool and all, but I don't have a lot of memories of playing with them. When I saw No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin, however, I was immediately in love. This is a new character created by Premium DNA toys for this action figure revival of Madballs and he has ties with the videogame Need For Speed: No Limits. I'm not really much into racing games, so I was completely clueless about this particular installment in the Need For Speed series or how a giant pumpkin man could tie in with a sports car racing game. I guess he was released as a decoration to appear on cars or something for a Madballs promotional. Who cares, though, right? I picked this toy up because he's a jack o'lantern guy who looks like he has a bad attitude. This is what I look like when I'm out and about on a toy hunt and come across people swapping parts in packaged figures (aka Toy Aisle Trolls) and selves of the same old stuff. The pumpkin is my spirit gourd and No Limits' Trashin Pumpkin is me when I get nasty and have to pull out a tire iron from my trunk to dispense some street justice on those stockboys hoarding all the good stuff. 😠💥💀
Whew. I think all of those years of reading ToyFare magazine just hit me. I need to sit down! Anyways, I was originally hoping that No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin would close out 31 Days of Toy Terror for 2022, but I didn't get mine until December. He's here now, though, and he's a stellar toy. Let's check out No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin after the break...
Whew. I think all of those years of reading ToyFare magazine just hit me. I need to sit down! Anyways, I was originally hoping that No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin would close out 31 Days of Toy Terror for 2022, but I didn't get mine until December. He's here now, though, and he's a stellar toy. Let's check out No Limits Trashin' Pumpkin after the break...
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Frosta from Masterverse/ Princess of Power by Mattel
Another Princess of Power Masterverse review? You better believe it! Mattel is offering up an excellent character selection in this line and I'm chilled... er, I mean thrilled, to be checking out Frosta, the Ice Empress of Etheria. The last time we got a full action figure of Frosta was in Masters of the Universe Classics back in 2012 so it's very exciting to see her here again. MOTUC kind of felt like a line that was delivering characters in action figure form who we had never seen before and would likely never see again, but Frosta definitely seems to be a fairly popular character and one worthy of getting an action figure more than once per decade (I really want her in MOTU Origins as well). When I review toys at the end of the year it's often kind of difficult to decide whether they're technically end of the year releases or beginning of the year releases. I'm counting Frosta and this final series of 2022 Masterverse figures as 2022 releases, so let's take a look at another figure from Masterverse that shows why it was such a fun MOTU toyline last year....
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Sgt. Santa from The Naughty or Nice Collection by Fresh Monkey Fiction
Get ready for joy old Saint Nicholas to deck the halls and jingle the bells of any enemies of the good ol' US of A. Whether they be threats foreign or domestic, Sgt. Santa is ready to light them up like the Fourth of July! There's something inherently funny about the concept of Santa Claus as a warrior, and popular culture has touched on that for years. In The Santa Clause, Tim Allen makes fun of a proposed toy commercial where Santa Claus is driving a tank. The Bill Murray Christmas classic Scrooged starts off with a trailer for a film The Night the Reindeer Died where Lee Majors joins forces with a rifle toting Santa Claus from terrorists. The John Boy & Billy Big Show had a radio skit in the early 2000s ago where Sean Connery payed Private Claus, a military operative who wanted some milk and cookies in his C Rations. This past Christmas season even had the film Violent Night, a fantastic film with David Harbour as a tough Santa Claus forced into a Die Hard-esque scenario. Now, Fresh Monkey Fiction delivers us the perfect figure to go toe-to-toe with Krampus: Sgt. Santa. He might not be lean, but he's mean enough to stuff your stocking with plenty of lead. Let's check out the Big Bad Toy Store exclusive Sgt. Santa after the break...
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Evil-Lyn from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe Revelation by Mattel
I really liked Masters of the Universe: Revelation and one of the best characters in the show was clearly Evil-Lyn. Man, Evil-Lyn was amazing in the show. Lena Headey was excellent as Evil-Lyn and the show gave her a fantastic character arc and some really amazing costumes. We received the traveling Evil-Lyn from the "modern" part of the show and now we've gotten Evil-Lyn as the Sorceress of Grayskull. The art for the show call this the SkeleSorceress look, so I'll go with that. I think it's definitely the most desired look at this point, though I have hopes that we'll eventually get Classic Evil-Lyn, GodLyn, and Liberated Lyn. Will Mattel deliver? I'm hoping so. For now, though let's check out this cool new SkeleSorceress version of Evil-Lyn after the break...
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: He-Ro from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe: Revelation by Mattel
While we haven't gotten an official date for Masters of the Universe: Revolution yet, we do know it's coming. We're also seeing Mattel continuing to support MOTU: Revelation, which is pretty cool. Masterverse is really becoming a nicely expansive line and quite a few cool figures leaked out at the end of 2022. Today I'm going to start making my way through them and we'll kick things off with He-Ro. He-Ro seems to be a shared exclusive with Big Bad Toy Store and Entertainment Earth, so that's where to find him. He-Ro wasn't a main character in Revelation but he did play a pretty important role. Heck, just the fact that we're getting a new action figure of He-Ro and new media with He-Ro in it is pretty wild. Who would have ever thought that He-Ro, a character who never made it into the vintage line, would go on to have success in the future? I do find it interesting that he's King Grayskull's son in this version of MOTU, which is an element borrowed from the 2013 DC Comics series. MOTU Classics had He-Ro and King Grayskull as two unrelated warriors who fought together, and I kind of like that take a little better. Still, both He-Ro and King Grayskull were well done in Revelation. I still want to see some of the other legends dwelling in Preternia, though. C'mon Mattel! Let's enjoy what we have now, however, and take a look at He-Ro after the break...
Friday, January 13, 2023
Wrapping Up 2022: Lexa (Mechafusion) from Fortnite: Victory Royale Series by Hasbro
Ready for another bargain find I picked up last year at a bin store near me? How about we return to Hasbro's Fortnite: Victory Royale Series with a look at Lexa (Mechafusion), a very cool and fairly new release in Hasbro's 1/12th scale action figure series based on the popular video game. I didn't set out to purchase any of these but finding this figure for $4 bucks was worth it just for the cool sniper rifle alone. It turns out that Lexa is a really well made action figure as well, with some excellent articulation. She just has a fantastic, smooth feel to her movement even though she looks heavily armored, which makes her really fun to mess around with. I don't know much about Lexa but, from what I was able to find in my research, she's actually an anime styled character living in an anime or manga styled world in the larger Fortnite universe. She looks different from most other characters, but that's part of her actual, in-game aesthetic. This Mechafusion version of Lexa is based on her armored form where she looks like a robotic samurai of some sort. She kind of makes me think of one the Guardians from Halo 5, too. Anyways, let's take a look at Lexa (Mechafusion) after the break...
Wrapping Up 2022: Batwoman Unmasked from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys
Near the end of last year I picked up Batwoman Unmasked, only the second figure I've picked up from McFarlane Toys' DC Multiverse line. I found her on sale for a really good price at GameStop and snagged her just because I liked the look of her. That black and red is sharp! She's an unmasked variant of the Batwoman Beyond figure from 2021, but I don't remember that one coming out. This is Elainna Grayson, the daughter of Dick Grayson, in the batsuit this time. She takes over for Terry McGinnis in the Futures End setting of Batman Beyond but soon establishes her own identity. I've been taking more notice of McFarlane's DC Multiverse line lately as the character selection and quality of the figures released just keeps getting better and better. The upcoming Batman from Hush and 1990s Catwoman really have captured my attention, so maybe I need to keep a closer on this line, huh? Let's take a look at Batwoman Unmasked after the break...
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