Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Action Figure Review: Santi from The Guillermo Del Toro Signature Collection by NECA

    January is almost over and today and tomorrow I'm finishing up my reviews of all of the cool stuff I picked up in 2018. I've only got a few things left I'm checking out and today I'm checking out a very cool Christmas present I received: Santi from NECA's The Guillermo Del Toro Signature Collection. NECA has absolutely been putting out some incredible stuff lately and the Guillermo Del Toro collection brings together the modern NECA penchant for spectacular action figures with the classic NECA habit of picking up licenses no one else is doing. Guillermo Del Toro is one of my favorite directors, easily in my top 5, and while he definitely crosses multiple genres he's known for the unique horror themed characters in his films. Santi comes from Del Toro's 2001 film The Devil's Backbone. It's a great movie that simultaneously manages to be a murder mystery, a coming of age story, a war tale, and horror film. It's definitely the kind of horror film that even someone who doesn't like horror films should appreciate as it feels like a good old fashioned ghost story. Anyways Pacific Rim and the Hellboy series have received action figures but Del Toro's other films have not, which is where NECA's line comes in. So far figures from The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth have been announced. Santi here is the lone figure from The Devil's Backbone and the first release in the series, so let's check him out today. More spooky goodness after the break...

Monday, January 28, 2019

Toy Review: Banjo-Kazooie from Totaku by ThinkGeek

    If you were a Nintendo fan during the end of the SNES era and throughout the Nintendo 64 era, you definitely know the name Rare. While they moved to developing for Microsoft in 2002, Rare's years with Nintendo are easily their most popular. During that time they released hit after hit including the Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land series, Killer Instinct, GoldenEye: 007, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini, Blast Corps, and Banjo-Kazooie. Banjo-Kazooie is a game I have a ton of nostalgia for as not only is it still a very solid adventure game/ collect-a-thon, but it' a game that I picked up one summer while staying with my grandma. We spent so much time playing it together and had a blast with the game. While for years I just assumed that Banjo-Kazooie were Nintendo characters, it turns out that Rare owns them and thus they'll never show up in the World of Nintendo toyline. That doesn't mean they won't be able to stand alongside that line, however, thanks to ThinkGeek's Totaku line of figures. Featuring characters from many non-Nintendo properties, Totaku is a series of non-articulated mini statues reminiscent of Nintendo's Amiibo or the now defunct Disney Infinity series. The biggest difference between Totaku and other similar lines, however, is that there is no in-game functionality. These are simply mini-statues and nothing more. Still, I realize I use my Amiibo and Infinity figures far more as just cool figures rather than use them for games, which probably is something ThinkGeek realized, too. Let's check out Banjo-Kazooie, the 28th figure in the Totaku collection, after the break...

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Action Figure Review: Beast Man + Sorceress from VYNL: Masters of the Universe by Funko

   I'm making my way through the last reviews of stuff I purchased in 2018 and today I'm wrapping up my reviews of the Funko Vynl Masters of the Universe line hat was with a look at the Beast Man + Sorceress two-pack. This set was a Funko 2018 Spring convention exclusive limited to 2500 pieces. It's not hard to find or very expensive, however. None of the MOTU Vynls have been which is great for collecting but might not be so good for the long term health of the line. I like these a lot more than the MOTU POP! vinyls, although the selection is more limited. All of the Vynl sets feature two characters but the pairing on this one is kind of unusual. Beast Man and the Sorceress? I guess it makes sense becuase you get a hero and a villain, but it seems like a thematic pairing would have been better (as that seems to be one of the characteristics of the Vynl line). Maybe the Sorceress and Teela or Beast Man and Stratos, Man-At-Arms, or Ram-Man? The only theme I can detect here is that we get the wisest person on Eternia paired with the dumbest person on Eternia (Beast Man sure isn't known for his brains, you know.). Anyways, these are still two A-list MOTY personalities so let's check them out after the break...

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Minifigure Review: Early-Bird Collector's Package from Mythos in My Pocket by HH Toys

     This Christmas I told my wife there was only one thing I wanted: The Early-Bird Collector's Package from HH Toys' new Mythos in My Pocket line. Released on December 15th, 2018, the Early Bird Package kicked off the new H.P. Lovecraft inspired Mythos in My Pocket line. You're telling me there is a new set of Minifigures inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, M.U.S.C.L.E., and Monster in My Pocket? Sign me up! Well, my wife delivered and this package was under the Christmas tree for me on Christmas morning (along with lots of other stuff, too!). It's taken me a little over a month to get around to reviewing them but I just had to check them out before I close out all of my 2018 reviews and start my annual best of the year awards. There were only 100 of these sets made although you can still order both of the three packs. Let's check out this very cool line of minifigures after the break...

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Action Figure Review: Skeletor + Faker from VYNL: Masters of the Universe by Funko

  I never paid much attention to Funko's VYNL line of Masters of the Universe figures but after getting the incredibly adorable Prince Adam and Cringer set for Christmas I decided I wanted to pick up a few more of these. It turns out that while half of them are convention exclusives none of them have gotten to be terribly expensive yet. Heck, I picked up the other three available sets for retail or less. Maybe that's not such a good sign for the line's future? I hope not, though, as I love the wacky style of the VYNL renditions of the MOTU cast. Today I'm checking out the Skeletor + Faker two pack which was a Funko 2018 Summer Convention exclusive. Let's check out this pack of villainous vinyl figures after the break...

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Minifigure Review: Cyborg, Robin, Slade, Starfire, and Wonder Woman from Teen Titans Go! To The Movies by Mattel

    A little over three weeks ago I reviewed the first of two 5-packs of Teen Titans Go! The Movies minifigures from Mattel. Released alongside the movie this summer, most folks probably never saw these because they were probably intended for distribution at Toys R Us, the only store that seemed to ever consistently carry Teen Titans Go! merchandise. Fortunately 5 Below was carrying these at the end of last year which made these an attractive pickup. Teen Titans Go! To The Movies was a great superhero flick and I really enjoyed it. These figures are fun, too. Plus, you get a minifigure of "DC Comics Slade." Yup. That's exactly what the packaging calls Deathstroke. DC Comics Slade. This is clearly one of those "we don't want to use the name Deathstroke on the packaging of a kids toys but Slade is just too generic so we gotta identify him" scenarios. Anyways, let's check out this set that gives us three more Teen Titans, another key member of the Justice League, and a villain after the break...

Action Figure Review: Raccoon Mario from World of Nintendo by Jakks Pacific

   I didn't review too many World of Nintendo figures in 2018. There weren't as many releases as in years past and what was released was often ridiculously hard to find as the distribution on this line was pretty poor in 2018. 2019 looks better, however, as Jakks is going to a new packaging format with more unique characters. Hopefully that means a renewed commitment to the line. That seems like a great idea considering how big of a hit the Nintendo Switch and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is right now. Today I'm checking out a figure from Wave 2-7 that has been one of my longtime wants: Raccoon Mario! Super Mario Bros. 3 was possibly the first video game I remember actually waiting to be released and seeing Mario on the cover in his Raccoon outfit was such a huge thrill when my dad finally brought it home when it was released. Let's check out this cool variant of Mario after the break...

Monday, January 21, 2019

Action Figure Review: Hammer Bro. from World of Nintendo by Jakks Pacific

     As I'm wrapping up my 2018 toy pickups in anticipation of the upcoming end of the year awards season I'm getting ready to review a couple World of Nintendo figures I picked up this year. While Jakks Pacific looks ready to gear up for a soft relaunch of the line with new packaging and such, 2018 was a bit of a rough year for this line. I'm not sure I ever saw any figures from Wave 2-6 and figures from both that wave and Wave 2-7 have gotten to be ridiculously expensive. I did manage to track down a Hammer Bro. however, which is great. While I have the S.H. Figuarts version of the Hammer Bro., it's nice to have an official World of Nintendo version, too. Plus, they're usually referred to as the Hammer Bros., so having two of them just makes sense. I love these guys ( a Fire Bro. has just been released and I'd love a Boomerang Bro. in the future, too) and having this classic villain is really fun. Let's check him out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Prince Adam (Laughing) from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Super7

    While my wife no longer thinks it's funny, I still find the Fabulous Secret Powers/ "HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA" video hilarious, especially the part that features the cover of 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up?" Super7 still thinks it's funny too and that's why they releases this action figure of Prince Adam laughing/ singing as a 2018 SDCC exclusive in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe line. While I've not been a huge collector of the more Filmation focused line (I love the Filmation cartoons but I'm most interested in figures that mesh well with Masters of the Universe Classics) this was one I couldn't pass up. Let's check out this rocking version of Prince Adam after the break...

Sunday, January 20, 2019

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

    Over the next week I'm going to be wrapping up reviews of the stuff I picked up in 2018 that I want to make sure I review before I start my annual "best of the year" awards at the end of January. Masters of the Universe Classics is my favorite toyline of all time so I'm pretty glad that 2018 was the year that Super7 really started continuing the line. There were some incredible figures released this year, such as Karg, Quakke, and Wrap Trap, but there have been a few less than impressive releases as well. While figures with a true Filmation aesthetic have a home in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe line, Super7 seems to be trying to work them into the standard MOTUC line, too, and the results are less than impressive. Dylamug has long been one of the most wanted figures in MOTUC due to his role as one of the earliest Horde villains in She-Ra: Princess of Power. Getting him as part of Super7's second series is a real treat but, aesthetically, he feels like he almost belongs more in the Filmation line rather than MOTUC. Join me me after the break so I can show you why.

Minifiigure Review: Advent Calendar from Star Wars: Micro Force by Hasbro

   Yes, we're near the end of January. Yes, I'm reviewing an Advent Calendar. I actually didn't hear about the Star Wars: Micro Force Advent Calendar until after Christmas so I tracked mine down in early January. I got it on clearance, too (although I've hear they're down to around $8-$9 dollars at Target). Star Wars: Micro Force is a fun little line although the fact that they're typically blind bagged mixed with the terrible distribution of the single packs means there are a few of the series I haven't even seen in stores. The Advent Calendar is a fun idea and includes figures from the various series released thus far as well as some "exclusive" figures for this set. I'm going to buzz through these pretty quick, which is kind of the opposite of the intent of an Advent Calendar, but considering we're far past Christmas and Epiphany, I think we're OK. Light your advent wreath and join me after the break...

Friday, January 18, 2019

Toy Review: Michelangelo from Eekeez: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by FOCO

    Today I'm checking out the last item from the very cool box of stuff that FOCO sent me last month and it just so happens to be another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eekeez figure: Michelangelo! This party dude really looks incredible in the Tiki inspired aesthetic of the Eekeez line, doesn't it? I'm really a pretty big fan of this line and I hope to add the other figures from it (Raphael, Donatello, and the Shredder) to my collection in the near future. As someone who has collected various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures since 1988, it's nice to see there are still unique depictions of the TMNT to be had. Let's check out Michelangelo after the break...

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Minifigure Review: Captain Phasma from Star Wars: Micro Force Wow! by Hasbro

 Hasbro has started putting the Star Wars: Micro Force figures in new lightsaber packaging and is now calling the line Star Wars: Micro Force Wow! While the name and packaging are different, the figures are the same as the previous Micro Force figures, which are essentially the same as the Fighter Pods figures from a few years back. I'm pretty sure these are all new sculpts, though. One of the figures I got in my pack was Captain Phasma. While Phasma's not one of my favorite characters or anything, she definitely does have a great look.  This figure depicts Phasma with her Quicksilver Baton from her battle with Finn in The Last Jedi. Ready for a quick look at a small figure? Then join me after the break...

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Toy Review: Master Splinter from Eekeez: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by FOCO

       Today I'm yet again checking out another item from the big box of cool stuff that FOCO sent me last month and the subject of today's review is another Eekeez figure from their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection: It's Master Splinter! Master Splinter is one of my favorite characters of them all: He has an incredible design, he's a master warrior, and he's a caring father. I love this guy and I'm really excited that FOCO has released him in the Eekeez line. FOCO has lots of Eekeez figures from various Nickelodeon owned properties and while it's been quite some time since TMNT became a Nickelodeon owned property, it still always takes me by surprise. If you dig shows like Invader Zim, Rugrats, Ren and Stimpy, and SpongeBob SquarePants, check them out. Of course, I'm eager to check out this Splinter, so let's get rolling!

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Minifigure Review: Star Wars: Micro Force Wow! by Hasbro

    While I plan to offer up "micro" reviews of all of the minifigures from this package, I'm taking a bit of time today to show off the new Star Wars: Micro Force Wow! packaging. Micro Force Wow! is the successor to Hasbro's Star Wars: Micro Force (which is itself the successor to Star Wars: Fighter Pods) and is differentiated from that line because of its unique packaging. While Micro Force featured standard foil bags containing two minifigures for around $3 dollars each, Micro Force Wow! figures come four to a package in a plastic lightsaber container for around $8 dollars. While you're getting more figures and a reusable miniature lightsaber, you are paying a buck more for the packaging. Is it worth it? That's up to you, isn't it? While these will be released everywhere in 2019, they were exclusive to Walmart for the fall of 2018 and that's the only place I've seen them so far. Let's check out what's in one of these packages after the break...

Toy Review: Joker from Eekeez: DC Comics by FOCO

    Today I'm checking out another really cool item from the box that FOCO sent me last month: The Joker from Foco's DC Comics Eekeez line! I reviewed the Eekeez Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a few weeks ago and I really, really liked it. I was pretty excited to check the Joker out, too, as not only am I really partial to Joker themed collectibles but I absolutely love the Eekeez style. While these are made of resin, they really do have the look and feel of actual painted wood. FOCO seems to have a history of releasing lots of bobbleheads but Eekeez are a new venture for them and one that seems it could have some real potential. Let's check out this Tiki inspired collectible of the Joker after the break...

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Minifigure Review: Sergeant Scrubadub from Transformers BotBots by Hasbro

 It's time for another Transformers BotBots review! Today I'm checking out Sergeant Scrubadub, a member of the Toilet Troop I picked up in one of the blind packs (which actually are not 100% "blind" as there is a code system to help you identify who you're getting. Of course, I picked these up the first time I found them and I had no idea who I was getting. I'm going to be honest: I really dig this guy. A robotic transforming piece of soap is kinda weird, but I dig it. Let's check out Sergeant Scrubadub after the break...

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Toy Review: Pennywise from It: The Movie by FOCO

   Man, Stephen King's It has had quite the renaissance over the past couple of years, huh?  The 2017 film was obviously a huge hit (with the second film scheduled for this September) but the book and the 1990 television film have also received a lot of attention. Tim Curry did a fantastic job as Pennywise in the 1990 film but I'm still surprised by how popular the film apparently is with folks. 2018 was a huge year for Pennywise merchandise based on both the Bill Skarsgard and Tim Curry depictions of the character and FOCO released their own take on Curry's depiction of the evil clown. This Pennywise bobblehead was part of the box of cool stuff FOCO sent me last month and I definitely want to show this one off. Float on down below and check out my thoughts after the break...

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Minifigure Review: Frostferatu from Transformers BotBots by Hasbro

    I've never been much of a Transformers fan. I remember having a few G1 and G2 Transformers as a kid, obtained from random places, and I had a couple from the first Michael Bay film, but that's about it. I have a couple of Optimus Prime items, such as a Christmas ornament and a Mighty Muggs figure, but mostly it's a property I've just never been drawn too. Of course, when I heard about Transformers BotBots, a kind of hybrid Transformers/ Shopkins minifigure line, I was pretty interested. The fact that these are disguised as little random household objects definitely appealed to me so I began hunting these down. They're available in mulipacks (5 and 8 packs) and in little blind boxed single packs. I pulled the subject of today's review, Frostferatu, out of a single pack from a Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart hasn't been stocking these with the other Transformrs or with the Shopkins styled toys. Instead, they're hanging out in the stocking stuffer bins that have been near toys. Those will probably go away soon, so who knows where these will end up after that? Let's check out the first figure I picked up, Frostferatu: The Mystical Cupcake Vampire!


Saturday, January 5, 2019

Toy Review: Batman from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by FOCO

 A couple of weeks ago I reviewed a Leonardo Eekeez figure that FOCO sent to me in a big box with some other cool stuff. Today I'm checking out another item I received from FOCO: A bobblehead of Batman from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. I'm pretty sure I've reviewed more figures of Batman than any other character, (yes, even Batgirl!) so this bobblehead of Batman will be in good company. Frank Miller's depiction of an older, angrier Batman is one of my favorite depictions of the character and I've checked out a number of collectibles based on that interpretation of the Dark Knight. FOCO's release adds another item to my collection so let's check him out after the break...

Christmas Haul 2018: Prince Adam + Cringer from Vynl: Masters of the Universe by Funko

   I was really excited to get this two pack of Prince Adam and Cringer from Funko's Vynl line for Christmas. While Funko's bread and butter is POP!, Funko does attempt to try new things fairly often. Vynl started in 2017 and features 2-packs of stylized characters. They're not too different in size from Funko POP!s but their heads feature more unique headsculpts while the bodies seem to be a bit "flatter" than POP! figures. To be honest, I kind of dig the style a bit more than POP! but the character selection isn't nearly as expansive as POP! and it's doubtful Funko will release anything else that will ever dwarf that line. Still, I wanted these because I love Masters of the Universe and the opportunity to get both Prince Adam and Cringer in one swoop was irresistible. I mean, is there any cartoon duo as lovable as these two? Let's check this set out after the break...

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Wrapping up 2018: Magik from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

    I'm currently working to wrap up all of my reviews for 2018 purchases and today I'm reviewing what I believe will be the last of my 2018 Marvel Legends purchases: Magik. I say this often, but I'm not a Marvel Legends collector in the same way that I collect other lines like MOTUC, Star Wars: The Black Series, or most 6 inch scaled DC lines. I'm a casual Marvel fan whose experience with the property is mostly due to the MCU and childhood nostalgia for Toy Biz's offerings in the early 1990s. That being said, man does Hasbro release some great toys! I know little about Magic, AKA Illyana Rasputin, other than that she is Colossus's younger sister, she can teleport, and that she's a magic user. While reading up on her for this review, I also learned, interestingly, she's going to be played by Anya Taylor-Joy of The Witch in this August's The New Mutants. How magical, right? Anyways, Magik is a Walgreens exclusive figure who I had been looking for for a couple of months but finally found in early December while doing some Christmas shopping. She's loaded with accessories and is just a really fun toy. Originally released in 2015 in the Book of Vishanti SDCC set, Magik has been one of the more difficult figures to obtain on the aftermarket. Let's check this new version of her out after the break...

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Christmas Haul 2018: Millennium Falcon vs TIE Fighter from Star Wars: Micro Force by Hasbro

    Today I'm back with another item I received for Christmas and this time it's the Star Wars: Micro Force Millennium Falcon vs TIE Fighter 2-pack! I really like the Star Wars: Micro Force figures but they're darn hard to collect because A. They're blind bagged, and B. The distribution is pretty terrible. I actually haven't seen these anywhere except at Target although this two-pack managed to show up under my Christmas tree, Fortunately, the vehicles themselves are not blind boxed so you know exactly what you're getting. This set is cool as you're getting the Solo version of Han and the Millennium Falcon along with a classic Original Trilogy TIE Fighter Pilot and TIE Fighter. The format of these kind of reminds me of Galoob's Acton Fleet, although these are definitely more stylized. Ready for a closer look at this cool set? Then join me after the break...