Action Figure Review: Alolan Sandshrew vs Jangmo-o from Pokemon by Tomy

 A couple of years ago I discovered that Tomy was making Pokemon action figures and I picked up an Ash Ketchum and Pikachu set to go along with my World of Nintendo figures. I haven't purchased any since then but I have been tempted a time or two. On Friday I stopped by a GameStop to pick up a controller for my Switch to better play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and I found all of GameStop's Pokemon figures on clearance for half price with an additional 50% off the clearance price, meaning I paid a little under $2 for this set. Anyways, I'm not the biggest fan of the games but I really do like Pokemon and I love minifigures, so these are cool little minifigures. The Alolan Sandshrew vs Jangmo-o set features two more recent Pokemon that I wasn't entirely familiar with but I always love the designs, so who cares, right? Let's check out this set after the break...

Action Figure Review: Val (Vandor) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

   Today I'm checking out the last figure in the newest series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures and whether she's the best or not may just very well be a matter of personal opinion. Val is absolutely another star of the Black Series this year and is another figure likely to end up in the top 10. I really like Thandie Newton's role in Solo but, sadly, it was very short. Like with Rio Durant, Val really didn't get that much screen time to be fleshed out fully as a character. It's possible that this was done to not allow us to get attached to the characters and then have our hearts broken, like in Rogue One, but it still would have been great to have more time with Val. Hasbro certainly didn't skimp on the figure, though, so let's check her out more closely after the break...

Minifigure Review: Alien from Playtive Junior: Series 1 by Lidl

    Last month while grocery shopping for Thanksgiving at Lidl my daughter and I stumbled upon a series of blindbagged minifigures from Playtive Junior, a product range of kids toys that seems to be solely distributed by Lidl. They have lots of wooden food items, toy cars, games, and such, but the little blindbagged minifigures definitely were what caught my attention. Most of the minifigures were pretty standard things (traffic cop, doctor, Sherlock Holmes styled detective) but the Alien stood out t me. Thanks to his domed helmet he was easy to find and I picked him up for the somewhat steep price of.... $1! Yup! These little guys retail for $1. I'm not that into the rest of them (I do dig the Sherlock Holmes, I guess) but the Alien was a must have, especially for the price. He's a very traditional looking space alien design and seems like something out of a 50s or 60s low-budget sci-fi film. Let's take a look at him a bit more closely after the break...

Action Figure Review: Rio Durant from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

 I'm getting ready to chastise Hasbro two times, but for completely different reasons. First: Darn it, Hasbro! Why in the world was Rio Durant not released as part of the initial line up of toys for the Solo product debut? Seriously, Hasbro: You should have had characters like Rio, L3-37, Tobias Beckett, Dryden Vos, and Qi'ra in the outfit she actually wears for most of the film ready for the film's release. What the heck? Now, for the second chastisement: Darn it, Hasbro! How am I supposed to make a list of the ten best Star Wars figures of 2018 when you keep putting out better and better figures? Rio Durant is another figure could easily be one of the best of the year. Discover why this Ardennian is one of the best Black Series figures yet released after the break...

Action Figure Review: Rey (Jakku) from Star Wars: The Vintage Collection by Hasbro

 I've only bought a handful of 1/18th scaled Star Wars figures in the past five years or so but every now and then I'll snap up a new one. A week or so ago I was at a Bargain Hunt close-out store and found this Vintage Collection version of Rey in her Jakku outfit for around $4 dollars. At that price I decided to pick her up just because I really do like Rey's role in The Force Awakens and I love her costume. This version of Rey is really just a repack of the Wal-Mart exclusive 1/18th scaled Black Series Rey from the end of 2015/ early 2016 but I never owned that figure so it was new to me. Let's check Rey out a bit more closely after the break...

Action Figure Review: Princess Leia Organa (Hoth) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

   Today I'm checking out another figure from the most recent series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures and it's another one I've been really looking forward to: Princess Leia Organa in her Hoth gear. I've always liked this costume and it really ranks pretty high up there as one of my favorite looks for Leia ever (my favorite Leia costume ever is actually the Terry Dodson design from the Mark Waid penned Leia comic. This Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson Leia image is possibly my favorite piece of Leia art ever), plus it's from The Empire Strikes Back, so that automatically makes it vital for a respectable Star Wars: The Black Series collection. Let's check out this new version of Princess Leia Organa after the break...

Action Figure Review: Hero Ash & Evil Ed from Evil Dead II by NECA

    While the had released a handful of figures from Army of Darkness over the years, in 2012 NECA finally released some action figures from Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn. It's been a few years since then but NECA did release a deluxe Ultimate Ash in 2016 that largely reused pieces from the previous sets with improved leg articulation. NECA has teased this set for a few years, however, and it finally made it out this year. This set includes the "Hero" Ash figure, which features Ash Williams in his standard outfit with a ripped, bloody shirt, and "Evil" Ed Getley, Professor Knowby's assistant who becomes a deadite. It's a good concept for a two-pack as we get one tweaked Ash with lots of accessories and a brand new deadite figure. I like it and I hope that we see a few more Evil Dead figures at some point (NECA needs to take a swing at the Pit Witch from Army of Darkness, Evil Ash, and some characters from the original film). I recently received this set as a gift and I'm eager to take a look at it. Let's check it out after the break...