Action Figure Review: Batwing (Batman Inc.) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   I'm first and foremost a fan of Batman, the Batfamily, and Batman's villains when it comes to my comic book action figure collecting, so anytime we get a new member of that group I'm thrilled. Today I'm very excited to be checking out Batwing! Specifically, the David Zavimbe version of Batwing. I really liked Batwing in Batman Inc. and in the New 52 and it drove me nuts that neither DC Collectibles nor Mattel ever released a version of Zavimbe as Batwing. Mattel did release the Luke Fox version of Batwing back in 2017, but never David Zavimbe. I really enjoyed Batman Incorporated and I really hope McFarlane Toys mines that series for the gold within as there were some great characters and fantastic designs. Let's take a look at Batwing, a never before released character who is finally getting their due...

Action Figure Review: Mer-Man from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: Revelation by Mattel

   With Masters of the Universe: Revolution coming sometime next year, it's pretty impressive that Mattel is still supporting Masters of the Universe: Revelation with figures around two years after its release. Last year they released the "modern" version of Mer-Man from the parts of the show that took place in the present and this year we've received a "classic" Mer-Man from the flashback segments. So, yes, this is really a rather classic take on Mer-Man (voiced by the late Kevin Conroy in the show) but in the style of MOTU: Revelation. He turned out pretty nicely, too. Ready to check out Mer-Man? Then dive in, after the break...

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

 

   Shipwreck has been one of my most anticipated figures in the Classified Series and I'm really excited that he's finally here. I didn't have any version of Shipwreck as a kid as the original came out before I was old enough to collect G.I. Joe figures and I just never had the Battle Corps versions. I purchased  a vintage Shipwreck sometime between 1998 and 2000 when I got back into collecting G.I. Joe figure as a young high school student, but I lost him in a swap at some point. I've owned plenty of the Generation 2 and Generation 3 Shipwreck figures and I've really liked about every costume they've ever used for the character, but the traditional sailor suit is definitely the most recognizable and best choice for the first version of Shipwreck in the line (though I'd love to see a version in the sweater and toboggan from the 2000s G.I. Joe vs. Cobra series). Let's take a look at this raspy voiced sailor who can "splice a line, fry powdered eggs in the tooth of a gale and eat them, tell taller tales than a Senate Appropriations committee and take a three day liberty in Thule, Greenland and come back smiling." 

Hop aboard, after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Flash (Flashpoint) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   As of my writing this, the fourth figure in the Target exclusive Flashpoint build-a-figure series (with Cyborg as the build-a-figure) has not yet been announced. I think most folks think it's going to be Wonder Woman, but I'd honestly love to see Martha Wayne as the Joker. That's probably wishful thinking, but then again, McFarlane does put out a lot of Batman and Joker figures, so is it that far out of the realm of possibility? The third figure is the Flash, and I'm checking him out today. Based on the 2011 DC event Flashpoint, this version of Barry Allen is pretty significant and makes for a perfect standard Flash for your DC Multiverse Justice League. It's crazy to think that Flashpoint is now 12 years old, isn't it? Let's take a look at the Flash after the break...

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

 

 

  The Masterverse hits continue as today I'm checking out Faker and, wow, let me tell you, this is probably the best Faker figure released to date. The New Eternia figures have released new versions of the MOTU cast inspired by concept designs, packaging art, and other related pieces of MOTU media and Faker is largely inspired by the magenta armor wearing Faker on the vintage cross sell art (that's the image of the figures available on the back of the package that says "Collect them all!"). We've seen a magenta wearing Faker a few times previously but this figure is just superb. Seriously, there are so many things Matte did right with this guy and I'm anxious to show them off. Let's take a look at this evil, robotic He-Man imposter after the break...

Action Figure Review: Edward "Torpedo" Leialoha from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

      I'm slowly but surely making my way through the newest series of G.I. Joe: Classified Series releases and it's taking me a bit both because I received all of these figures at different times over a period of a month or more and because Hasbro dropped quite a bit of product at once. Today I'm checking out Edward "Torpedo" Leialoha, a figure I've been very excited for. Being comprised of the bests of the best in their respective fields, it definitely makes sense that the G.I. Joe team would have a few Navy S.E.A.L.S. in their ranks. Torpedo was the original S.E.A.L. on the Joe team and was released in the vintage A Real American hero line as part of the second series of figures in 1983. That was before I was collecting Joes as a kid (and probably a few months before I was even born) and my first Torpedo figure would actually be the 1997 Toys 'R Us exclusive with the raft. Torpedo had a few figures released during the late 1990s and early 200s revival, as well as during the 25th Anniversary, often being referred to as Chief Torpedo or Lt. Torpedo, but now Hasbro's going with the characters actual name of Edward Leialoha with "Torpedo" in the middle Works for me. This guy turned out great and I'm really excited to have him. Let's dive in and check out this Navy S.E.A.L. and underwater demolitions specialist after the break...

Action Figure Review: Robin (Batman: Fighting the Frozen) from DC Page Punchers by McFarlane Toys/ DC Direct

 

   

   Today I'm checking out the final figure in the DC Page Punchers "Batman: Fighting the Frozen" series of figures: Robin! Like Batgirl and Batman, this version of Robin isn't overtly named as any specific Robin (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, etc.); since this is kind of an Elseworlds tale set 16,000 years in the past, it's just an alternate take on the character of Robin. Robin isn't from the Bat-Clan like Batman and Batgirl, but is a member of a neighboring tribe affected by Mr. Freeze's icy experimentations. While he's still a "caveman" take on a DC character like the other two heroes in the series, Robin does add a bit more color and a different aesthetic to the set. My Robin shipped a bit later than the rest of the figures in the series, so I didn't have him until a week or two after the rest of the crew. This series is one of my favorite releases of the year and I'm very excited to finish my review of the full series. Let's take a look at Robin after the break...