Action Figure Review: Stephanie McMahon (Series 40) from WWE by Mattel

 Today I'm looking at a figure of the WWE's Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon! This figure is from Mattel's "Basic" WWE line which doesn't have a special title like the Elite Collection or the Defining Moments series. While I already own the SummerSlam 2014 Stephanie McMahon from Elite series 37, this version appealed to me because it definitely captures how Stephanie looks most of the time: Ready for business, not brawling. As a long term action figure collector, it's also interesting to me to see a mass market retailer action figure that is simply a female in a suit. How often do we see that? Most toy manufacturers and lines at retail do everything they can to avoid making females and here is the WWE line getting a Stephanie McMahon figure in a simple black pantsuit. I think that either shows the power of the WWE as a brand or the fact that no one wants to piss off an owner of the company. Ready for a quick look at the most powerful woman in the WWE? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas by Diamond Select Toys

 Oogie Boogie is one of my favorite bad guys ever. He's the boogeyman portrayed as an old fashioned nightclub singer (voiced by singer and actor Ken Page) who's actually a giant sack full of bugs. What's not to like? The Nightmare Before Christmas is without a doubt one of the most toyetic films ever made and everyone knows it: I can name at least 10 companies who have released toy lines based on the movie right off of the top of my head. I had the original Hasbro Oogie Boogie as a kid but I somehow missed out on the cool Oogie Boogie versus Jack 2-pack from NECA that was released in the mid 2000s. Now that Diamond Select is taking a swing at The Nightmare Before Christmas I knew I was going to have to pick up Oogie Boogie to supplement my NECA collection. If you're at all familiar with Diamond Select's action figures, you know they typically run around $25, are usually a bit larger than your average action figure, come packaged in an elaborate blister card, and feature some very nice display bases. Over the past few years Diamond Select has been releasing some less elaborate versions of their figures at Toys 'R Us as exclusives for around $12-$15 dollars. Typically these figures feature a paint difference, different head sculpt, or are simply missing the elaborate bases and dioramas of the mainstream figures. That's the case for Jack and Sally, two of the figures in Diamond Select's first series of Nightmare Before Christmas figures, but it's not the case for Oogie Boogie. The $25 Oogie Boogie you might purchase at your local comic shop or offline is exactly the same as the $13 Oogie Boogie you'll find at Toys 'R Us. I have to admit that I've never seen an action figure company truly release the exact same figure at two different price points. How bizarre? Just note that when I'm reviewing this, I'm reviewing this as a $13 figure I bought at Toys 'R Us while on an epic toy run with my 2 year old last month. Ready for a closer look at Oogie Boogie? Then join me after the break....

Action Figure Revew: Queen Grayskull from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

 If Queen Grayskull were the last figure released in the Masters of the Universe Classics toyline, I'd be just fine. She's a really cool character that has felt like a missing spot in the Powers of Grayskull era of the toyline for quite a few years now. While Mattel is calling her Queen Grayskull in Masters of the Universe Classics, her real name is listed as Veena and that's certainly the name that fans of the Mike Young Productions animated series know her by. A precursor to the Sorceress, Veena is a larger than life character who, like her husband King Grayskull, sets a number of things into motion that will set the stage for He-Man and She-Ra to rise up! Queen Grayskull is the November figure in the 2015 Club 200x mini sub and I imagine she's probably the most popular figure in that line. She's a major player who is finally getting her due. Ready for a closer look at Veena? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Terror Claws Skeletor & Flying Fists He-Man from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

  As I said during my Perfuma review yesterday, this year Masters of the Universe Classics has been all about finishing the vintage Masters of the Universe lines. While Princess of Power is only getting the unique figures completed (no variants), Masters of the Universe is getting every figure redone, including all of the He-Man and Skeletor variants. Today I'm looking at the 2015 fourth quarter oversized set:The Terror Claws Skeletor and Flying Fists He-Man two-pack. Based on two variants released in the vintage line in 1986, this set gives us another version of He-Man and Skeletor. I'm going to say right up front that I'm not a big fan of this set. I've really liked most of the He-Man and Skeletor variants that have been released (they've been some of my favorite figures in the line) but this set really feels rather weak. Instead of doing anything to escalate the original designs and improve on them in anyway, this really feels like nothing more than a rehash of some vintage figures that just weren't that exciting. Read on and find out why this set really isn't worth your time after the break...

Action Figure Review: Perfuma from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

2015 has been the year that Masters of the Universe Classics has focused on wrapping up the vintage Masters of the Universe line and the vintage non-variant figures from the Princess of Power line. It seems like every month or two we have another faction completed and today we have Perfuma, the last member of both the vintage Great Rebellion and the last non-variant member of the vintage POP roster (I have a feeling that Mattel is never going to release Starburst She-Ra and the Catra variants). Perfuma was part of the second series of POP figures (originally released in 1986) and thus, like most of the POP ladies, has both a toy design and a Filmation design. Like with a few other POP figures, Mattel has gone for a blended look. How'd it turn out? Read on and learn more after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ceratus from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

 I've been a bit behind with all of my Halloween reviews from last month and my WWE reviews leading up to Survivor Series 2015 but I'm finally getting around to looking at the November 2015 Masters of the Universe Classics Figures. Today I'm looking at the fourth figure in the Club 200x subscription, Ceratus. A Caligar, Ceratus is the leader of his people and the brother of Skeletor's henchman Whiplash. While Ceratus didn't have a massive role in the Mike Young Productions He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, he'd definitely a cool character visually. He has a perfect barbarian/ fantasy vibe and looks right at home among the other MOTU heroes and villains. Ready for a closer look at this guy? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Fox McCloud from World of Nintendo by Jakks Pacific

   I still can't get over how cool of a concept Jakks Pacific's World of Nintendo line is. It's only been going for about a year and I now have all of the Mario crew on my shelf plus Link, Samus Aran, Donkey Kong, and now Fox McCloud! It's tough to say who is the most wanted figure from series 3 between Princess Peach and Fox McCloud, but there's no doubt that Fox has legions of fans. Today I'm looking at Fox McCloud. Ready for a closer look? Then join me after the break...