Action Figure Review: SWARM Trooper from Action Force by Valaverse

   

   Valaverse recently released a Special Deployment Series at the beginning of the December that shipped to me before Christmas. I picked up lots of cool stuff, mostly accessory packs (including the super cool Crimson Shadow Arsenal tin with 98 weapons), but the only full figure I grabbed was the SWARM trooper. I can't completely remember why I skipped this guy the first time around but this reissue was back in stock and I snagged him, along with the SWARM Gear Pack. I received the SCARAB for my birthday a few months back and since I liked the design and color scheme so much, I opted to add the SWARM Trooper to the ranks. Let's take a look at this very cool army builder after the break...

Action Figure Review: B.A.T. (Python Patrol) from G.I. Joe: Cassified Series by Hasbro

   The standard Cobra B.A.T. showed up at the very beginning of 2022 (with a few sneaking out before then) and was a really impressive figure. B.A.T.s are always a hit and the Classified Series version, while adhering closely to the the vintage G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero design, was perfection. As part of Target's newest exclusive theme we have a Python Patrol version of the B.A.T., a variant of the android never released in the vintage line or any of the subsequent 1/18th scaled lines so far as I'm aware. It's a new variant and a pretty cool looking one at that. He's also been fairly easy to find. I've seen him on shelves at Target in droves and scored mine online. Is the distribution of exclusives actually improving? Let's hope so. Let's check out the Python Patrol version of the B.A.T. after the break...

Action Figure Review: Apocalypse from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   My introduction to Marvel was through Toy Biz's Marvel Super Heroes and X-Men action figure lines, so these Marvel Legends Retro Collection release always give me some warm and fuzzy nostalgia. I have a pretty decent Marvel Legends X-Men collection but I never had the Apocalypse Buid-a-Figure and, while I like the Age of Apocalypse version of Apocalypse I have, I really wanted this classic version of the First One. While Apocalypse is an ancient mutant, he was actually a fairly new character when he appeared in Toy Biz's original X-Men line (his first appearance was in X-Factor in the summer of 1986). I'm pretty sure I got the original Apocalypse figure at a KB Toys and I distinctly remember his "extending" action and his weird staff with a hidden jewel inside. This one mirrors the classic colors and packaging of that vintage toy but the accessories are different. He doesn't grow, either. Let's take a look at Apocalypse after the break...

Action Figure Review: Serpentor & Air Chariot from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I've had Serpentor in hand for about a month now and while I originally intended to have him posted for Christmas day, well, that didn't happen. You see, I received the vintage Serpentor figure on Christmas back in 1987. I was four years old and it might be the first Christmas I truly remember. Since my dad managed retail, we rarely went away for Christmas but that year we went to visit my relatives in Ohio. We spent Christmas Eve with my maternal grandma and grandpa ( I remember getting the Bionic Six Secret Headquarters) and then went to my aunt's house on Christmas day where my paternal grandma joined us. I remember her buying me lots of G.I. Joe figures, so maybe she thought it was some way to help connect me to my grandpa who passed when I was only two or so (my paternal grandpa, Pappy, was in the Army in World War 2 and the Navy during the Korean War), or maybe they just weren't as weird to her as the Masters of the Universe? Who knows. I remember getting Serpentor at my aunt's house along with Ecto-1. When we got home that night (we lived outside of Cincinnati at the time) I remember getting the Fright Zone, the G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center, and the original Nintendo Entertainment System, though that was more of a gift for my dad at the time I think. Anyways, despite being a key part of the Cobra legions (and a crazy part of the animated movie and the Marvel comics storyline), Serpentor first stands out to me as a Christmas gift. The Classified Series version of Serpentor is another figure with minimal updates; he's a snake themed armor clad warrior. He's not exactly outdated, so it works here. All of the detail is just upgraded. He does have better accessories than the original figure, however, so that's a huge plus. He was sold through Hasbro Pulse during the PulseCon 2022 and started shipping in November. Ready to ride with Serpentor? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Caustic (Geometric Anomaly) from Apex Legends by Jakks Pacific

 

   For most of the late 2010s it seemed like the only makers of traditional action figures on mass market retail shelves were Hasbro and Mattel. Over the past 3-5 years, though, it feels like a number of other companies have shown up, delivering toys to mass retail. NECA has dramatically improved their retail presence, McFarlane has reemerged with their successful DC Multiverse, and smaller companies beginning with the letter "J" like Jazwares, Jada Toys, and Jakks Pacific have been offering lots of solid toys, mostly based on video games. Jazwares has had success with Fortnite and Halo, Wicked Cool Toys with Pokemon, Jada Toys is getting ready to deliver some solid looking Street Fighter figures, and Jakks Pacific has been putting out lots of Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and figures from Apex Legends. I've seen the Apex Legends figures on shelves for at leas a year and while they've always caught my eye, I've never snagged any. When I stumbled upon Caustic in his Geometric Anomaly skin at GameStop one day when there was a sale going on and I had some Pro rewards bucks, I picked him up. While he certainly looks like the character from the popular video game, I picked him up because he looks like he could make a good Cobra agent. He's straight out of the G.I. Joe Eco Warriors designs of the early 1990s. I'm not very familiar with Apex Legends but I'm always down for a good figure. Let's check out Caustic (Geometric Anomaly) after the break...

Action Figure Review: Camo Khan from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 

   Shortly before Christmas I received my Masters of the Universe Origins version of Camo Khan in the mail from Mattel Creations. I'm still trying to get a standard Kobra Khan but I've got this one to tide me over. Actually, this one is just a bit cooler due to having an extra head based on the Masters of the Universe Classic acid spewing head. The figure itself is based on a variant released by the Argentinian company Top Toys which was called Kobra Khan Camuflado. It's one of the most well known international variants and has a couple different variations, each with a different weapon. Mattel made this a more "deluxe" Origins offering with resealable packaging, two portraits, and two weapons to correspond with the two most well known of the three vintage variants. There's also a cool new story where Skeletor transforms Kobra Khan into Camo Khan and sends him back to Preternia to build an army. Of course, Since Koba/ Camo Khan is really loyal to King Hiss, shenanigans happen and Eternia is faced to deal with the rise of the Snake Men! Let's check out this key part of the Rise of the Snake Men storyline in Origins after the break...

Happy Festivus: Frank Costanza from Seinfeld by Culturefly

 

   Happy Festivus! No matter if you're celebrating this evening by hosting a dinner complete with the Feats of Strength and the Airing of Grievances and dining on meatloaf on a bed of lettuce with a side of peas or just sitting back and watching "The Strike," Festivus is a special day worth celebrating. No tinsel and no gifts, though. Today I'm checking out a very special figure: The father of Festivus himself, Frank Costanza. Culturefly has apparently made quite a few cool Seinfeld collectibles but this year's Frank Costanza (complete with an aluminum Festivus Pole) is a true Festivus miracle. Let's celebrate this Festivus for the rest of us after the break...