Action Figure Review: Carbon Series from Overwatch: Ultimates by Hasbro

 I've been so busy getting reviews ready for The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror that it's taken me nearly a month to get my review together for the Overwatch: Ultimates Carbon Series 4-pack, but here it finally is! GameStop had two exclusives for the Overwatch: Ultimates series hit: Lucio (Bitrate) and this boxed set of four figures in their Carbon Fiber and Midnight variant outfits. This is an interesting set as you're getting one figure from series 1 (Pharah), two figures from series 2 (Zarya and Genji), and one new figure that hasn't yet seen a standard release (D.Va). It's a nice mixture but I did have one big disappointment upon opening this set: The three previously released characters are missing some accessories from their prior releases. You're actually getting less stuff with this release than you get with the regular or 2-pack releases of these characters. Genji is missing his alternate gesturing left hand, Zarya is missing her alternate fists, and Pharah is missing her alternate fists and the display stand (though it could be argued that it's Mercy's accessory). It's weird that Hasbro chose to not include the alternate hands here. Still, it's a nice looking set and offers up some great color combinations for the crew. It's also been on sale a couple of times since I picked it up, meaning some folks have gotten it for $40 bucks instead of the standard $80.  Let's check out the set after the break...

The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Freddy Krueger from Toony Terrors by NECA

    Guess who's making an appearance today for The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror?  That's right: Freddy Krueger from NECA's new Toony Terrors line! Easily one of the most recognizable of the modern movie monsters, Freddy Krueger definitely transcends the films he is in and has become a bona fide pop culture icon. Seriously, despite the fact that it's been almost a decade since the remake and 16 years since the last film in the main series, Freddy Krueger is probably still recognizable to most kids, even those who haven't seen any of the films. I grew up surrounded by Freddy Krueger despite never having seen any of the movies until at least my late teens. Still, we had Freddy on random kids toys, Freddy on television, Halloween costumes galore, and even Freddy hawking 1-900 numbers to tell you scary stories. Yup. Anyways, despite really only liking the third and first movies in the series, I've always had a soft spot for the character and I was intrigued by NECA's Toony Terrors line. The idea here is to take the modern movie monsters and design them in such a way as to make them look like they were part of a 1980s Saturday morning cartoon. Imagine Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, and Chucky all running around and... I don't know, solving mysteries or something. Seriously, how crazy would that have been? Considering the number of cartoons based on R-rated properties we had back in the day, I can't believe it never happened. Anyways, let's check out NECA's Toony Terrors Freddy Krueger after the break...

Action Figure Review: Orko from Masters of the Universe by Super7

   I love Orko! Believe me, I absolutely dig the early minicomics and the Frazetta inspired burliness of the early MOTU line, and I really appreciate the more nuanced storyline of the 200x MOTU series, but, as I've gotten a bit older, if you ask me to picture MOTU in my mind, I'm picturing Prince Adam, Cringer, and Orko hanging out and doing something goofy. I definitely love nearly every area of Masters of the Universe but there's just something wholesome, fun, and carefree about the Filmation cartoons that warms my heart and just gives me an overall better sense of well being. Orko is such a fun character and while he has a long history in MOTU toys, Super7 may have just made the best Orko toy ever made. This Orko is from Super7's neo-vintage Masters of the Universe line which is intended to give Filmation styled versions of vintage styled toys. This Orko can work in your vintage line but I really think he'd be a darn fine MOTUC Orko as well. Let's check out one of the most fun Super7 MOTU toys after the break...

The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Pennywise (Well House) from It by NECA

   Since writing a review for each of October's 31 Days is rather time consuming, I do start writing these as early as July. Today I'm checking out NECA's Well House version of Pennywise from It and, as of writing this, I just saw a Thursday night preview of It: Chapter II last night. By now I'm guessing anyone who cares to has seen the film. Wow, right? The casting of the adult versions of the Losers was some of the best casting I've ever seen. Uncanny, really. Of course, Pennywise had lots of creepy new disguises as well. NECA hasn't really shown any new figures for the second film yet but I'm hoping that by the time you're reading this something has floated up from them, even if it's just some news about new toys or something. This version of Pennywise is from the middle parts of the first film, particularly from the scene where the Losers watch the film on the projector and from the first time the Losers go to the old Well House 29 Neibolt Street. While the general body is the same as the original figure, GameStop exclusive, and Dancing Clown versions, the multiple new portraits are what will get your attention here. As always, NECA does excellent work with the different Pennywise visages and fans will probably end up wanting all of them. Let's check out Pennywise (Well House) after the break...

The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Kroenen from Hellboy by Mezco

    While currently Mezco is mostly known for One:12 Collective and the Living Dead Dolls, there was a point in time where they released an eclectic mix of action figure lines based on their own unique properties as well as film and comic based lines. One of my favorite properties Mezco worked with is Hellboy. They did action figures for both of the Guillermo del Toro films and a decent range of action figures based on the Mike Mignola comics as well. Today's installment of The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror features Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, a surgery addicted Nazi with a clockwork heart. Kroenen was one of the most interesting villains in a film filled with interesting looking villains and Mezco put him in the first series and the 1.5 series. I've never been able to get my hands on the 1.5 Kroenen but I did manage to track down a series 1 Kroenen about a decade or so back. He's a really creepy figure, plus he gives you an evil, occult, piece of trash Nazi for Hellboy to fight. Ready for a really creepy and evil installment of The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tomatohead from Fortnite: Legendary Series by Jazwares

    Series 2 of Jazwares' Fortnite: Legendary Series figures began shipping early last month and, oddly, not every figure seemed to be released at the same time. DJ Yonder came out first with Tomatohead and Leviathan shortly after. Jonesy and Abstrakt showed up near the end of September/ early October and, as of now, Valkyrie is nowhere to be found. Weird, huh? I've been seeing cases at Wal-Mart that have DJ Yonder, Tomatohead, Leviathan, and Jonesy, but no Abstrakt. Anyways, Tomatohead. Yup! These guys just get stranger and stranger. Apparently an employee of a pizzeria (maybe a delivery person?), Tomatohead's real name just might be Uncle Pete. He's well armed for sure, and makes another really out there figure for this collection. Ready to check him out? Then join me after the break...

The Scream of 31 Days of Toy Terror: Saurod from Masters of the Universe by Mattel

   Most folks would not consider 1987's Masters of the Universe to be a standout in horror cinema. Or sci-fi cinema. Or any cinema, really. Yeah, the movie just ain't that popular. It has flaws, no doubt, but I do really like the movie. It scared me as a kid, however. Skeletor really did. Frank Langella is awesome in the movie and, fortunately, Super7 is finally working on an action figure of the character for the Masters of the Universe Classics line. There are some other cool creature designs for the film, too, and one of those is Saurod. Played by Pons Maar, Saurod is one of the new Evil Warriors introduced in the film (part of the "Curious Quartet") and one of the few figures from the film to get an action figure in the vintage MOTU toyline. For being a movie made for the purpose of selling toys, Mattel sure didn't put a lot of effort into giving the film a robust toyline. Blade, Gwildor, and Saurod were all we got. Since I like the movie, love MOTU and Saurod, and love going off the beaten path for 31 Days of Toy Terror, today we're checking out my original childhood vintage MOTU Saurod figure. Enjoy!