Action Figure Review: Arrizak from Mythic Legions by Four Horsemen Studios

 

   I usually only pick up a couple Mythic Legions figures a year, typically just the Masters of the Universe tributes, but the wizards from the new Poxxus series of figures really appealed to me. They just released this month and I was able to snag some from both the Four Horsemen's booth at HeroesCon on the 15th and from some other vendors at the show. It's pretty cool walking up to the booth and not only having the crew from Four Horsemen Studios there but also getting to see so many of the figures displayed out of the package in a variety of poses. They even had some customs out for display, too. Arrizak is an evil sorcerer who is part of the Circle of Poxxus, the followers of Poxxus, the evil god of sickness and decay and a new threat to Mythoss. Arrizak reminds me of Kelek, the evil wizard from the vintage LJN toyline. I've never owned Kelek but I've always liked the look of the figure. The Four Horsemen have been working more and more soft goods into this line and the is incredibly impressive. Ready to check out Arrizak? Then say some magic words and join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ken from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   Jada Toys seems to have big plans for their Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers toyline, though they stated off slow with only three characters last year: Ryu, Chun-Li, and Fei Long. Series 2 has been hitting slowly over the past few months and it seems that Ken shipped before M. Bison and Dhalsim, the other two figures in the series. While Ken was a bit of a Ryu clone in the game Capcom worked over time to differentiate him from his best friend and rival. The Jada Toys Ken uses much of the same body as Ryu, but his outfit is different so they're not just the same figure with different heads and paint jobs. Ready to check out Ken and see if he's "Kenough" to win the World Warrior Tournament? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Iron Man (Model 01-Gold) from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Iron Man by Hasbro

 

      For well over a year now I've really cut my Marvel Legends collecting down to just X-Men and mutant related characters (X-Force, Alpha Flight, etc.) and just the random figure here and there I really like. I've sold off quite a few Marvel Legends over the past 6 months that I'd lost interest in or that didn't fit into my collection. I did keep my core Avengers and villains, though, particularly in their most classic looks. I had multiple Iron Man figures but I sold off about half of them, keeping just my favorites. I didn't pick up the Mark I Iron Man last year but when I saw this gorgeous Iron Man (Model 01-Gold) from the new Iron Man Retro Collection I had to bite. These are packaged on cards that look like the old Toy Biz Iron Man cards that tied in with the cartoon, the only Marvel line I collected after I stopped collecting the X-Men line, so the nostalgia hit. But this guy really just appealed to me. I think he'll look great with the other core Avengers. I think the gold suit was Tony's third design, painted gold because he thought people found the original suit too frightening and one of his girlfriends thought gold would make Iron Man look like " knight in shining armor." Cute. I saw him at a local shop and debated grabbing him but I ended up picking him up at my nearest GameStop. With my Pro discount and my monthly $5 reward I ended up with him for less than a Jackson. Let's check out Iron Man (Model-01 Gold) after the break...

Action Figure Review: Batgirl Cassandra Cain (Batgirls) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   

I haven't been reviewing too many DC Multiverse figures from McFarlane Toys lately as so many of the characters I've been interested in have been only offered as those McFarlane Collector Edition figures that are $5 to $10 dollars more than your average figure. I'm just not seeing the value their for me. I did really want he Cassie Cain version of Batgirl, however, and I managed to get a preorder for her from Target's website (she's a Gold Label figure and is exclusive to Target). Cassie has had a number of different personas, including Black Bat and Orphan, but being a Batgirl is probably her most well know. I really would like a figure of Orphan at some point, but this is definitely the best choice for a first DC Multiverse figure for her. This one is technically sourced to the current title Batgirls, though the costume does make me think of a bit older look for her, closer to even the No Man's Land look. Let's check out Batgirl Cassandra Cain after the break...

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

 

Today's a pretty big review of a smaller character: It's Orko! This version of Orko is a 1/6th scale figure from Mondo's Masters of the Universe toyline and he was available as a timed exclusive back at the beginning of the year. Interestingly, he was a timed exclusive, so as many people as wanted him could buy him from Mondo's website between January 23rd and January 30th, and yet he's already shipped! He surely wasn't made to order, then, was he? Usually open, timed exclusives like this have a longer waiting period as the company uses the timed window to plan the size of their run. Orko shipped right on time, though, and I've had him for a week or so at this point. I really like Mondo's 1/6th scale MOTU figures but the prices have really gotten pretty high on these guys. He-Man and Skeletor were $160 when they first came out in 2019 and now the recent Teela figure, who didn't come with any little companion figures, was $250. Yikes! I've been pretty selective with my purchases over the past few years and the last one I picked up was She-Ra. I kind of regret skipping Teela, but I just couldn't get myself to pull the trigger at the time. Orko was an instant buy, though. I love the guy and I love how many little unique smaller figures you get with him. Besides Orko you also get a smaller "animated" Orko, Dree Elle, and Daimar the Demon. Interestingly, the three smaller figures feel like they could integrate into a Masters of the Universe Classics collection, so that's part of what sold me on Orko. Let's take a look at most everyone's favorite Trollan (I know Uncle Montork has some fans) after the break...

Action Figure Review: Scarlett (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   So far, four of the five series one G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures have received updates in the retro carded subset (Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, and Destro) while Roadblock got a mostly retro update with the Heavy Artillery Roadblock figure. I looked at retro Duke earlier this month and today I'm checking out Scarlett. I really like the original Scarlett figure and her "field" variant but there's obviously a large contingent of collectors who want figures that are as close to the original vintage toys as possible, which isn't a bad thing. Scarlett had a unique look that was more superhero or superspy than straight up soldier, so I'm not sure there's anything about her that looks really outdated. This is a completely unique figure from the first release and she's loaded with accessories. Let's check out Scarlett after the break...

Action Figure Review: Sla'ker from Turtles of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   

   I'm actually following up the recent review of the Turtles of Grayskull Krang with another Turtles of Grayskull review: Sla'ker! Sla'ker is an experiment of Krang, combining the evil mutant turtle, Slash, with the He-Man replica robot, Faker. So, my question is how would you pronounce this guy's name? Slay-ker, using the long "A" in Faker, or Slack-er, using the pronunciation you'd get from saying Slash? I've been saying Slay-ker for a bit, but the more I think about it, the more I think Slack-er might be right. It's also kind of funny. Who would have ever thought we'd need a cross between Faker and Slash? I had both of those figures as a kid and I'm probably more thrilled now with them as a comb than I would have been back then. Let's check out Sla'ker after the break...

Action Figure Review: Krang from Turtle of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   If someone had told you a few years ago that Mattel would be releasing a Masters of the Universe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mashup toyline at mass retail, would you have believed them? I mean, this line's starting to get pretty deep! Today I'm checking out the deluxe Krang figure which is actually Krang in an android body modeled after Megator, one of the rarest MOTU toys of them all! I remember getting the vintage Krang figure as a kid and then wondering why he didn't have the cool android body like he had in the cartoon and video games. I remember finally getting that figure when they made it and loving it! I had the full sized one, though Playmates did eventually release an android body for Krang that was scaled like a regular TMNT figure. This one combines the android with the giant Megator, or a "Megator android body" as the back of the package calls it. ready to check out the brains of the Foot Clan and his mega sized robotic ride? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ka-Zar from Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro

 

   It's about time Hasbro updates Ka-Zar and Zabu, right? A Savage Land three pack with Ka-Zar, Shanna the She-Devil, and Zabu was an SDCC exclusive 3-pack way back in 2007, pretty much right around the time when Hasbro took over the Marvel Legends license. I remember the set so well because I actually bought a Zabu from someone because he used a mold from the G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 Adventure Team sets that didn't end up getting released. I've been wanting the trio in the modern Marvel Legends line and last year at some point I sold off my 2008 Zabu as I had a feeling this one was coming. It worked! I will say that I'm a bit disappointed with this series as it has three X-Men related characters and an X-Men related build-a-figure with four non X-Men characters. Usually the X-Men BAF series have tended to be all X-Men or mutant related, so I'm not sure what happened here. Why couldn't Shanna the She-Devil have been part of this set? This one is a bit of a wildcard. I ended up buying all of the BAF figures and selling off who I didn't want (Ikaris, Red Widow, and Black Winter), and it actually worked out pretty well. Let's pounce into action and check out Ka-Zar of the Savage Land after the break...

Action Figure Review: Sy-Klone from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 

   2024 might be the craziest year yet for Masters of the Universe Origins (wasn't the line supposed to end a year or two ago? 😅). Besides having Mattel Creations exclusives pretty frequently that are getting us towards completing the vintage lineup we've also got the Turtles of Grayskull subset and the Filmation series subset. Eternia shipped, vehicles are still coming out, and we're supposed to get a playset for the Snake men faction. This line is like a quiet juggernaut, continuing to march towards toy domination. Today I'm checking out Sy-Klone, the Heroic Fist- Flinging Tornado and defender of Anwat-Gar. Sy-Klone has an interesting role in my childhood Masters of the Universe collection as he's one of the only figures I can think of from my childhood that I had two of. I seem to recall finding him abandoned at a park somewhere or one of my cousins giving him to me. Maybe I received him as a gift from an aunt or uncle and then found a loose one abandoned? I was pretty young when MOTU was still coming out, so some of my memories are a bit hazy. Sy-Klone is a deluxe figure and Mattel really made him worth the deluxe price tag here. Not only does he come with some cool new extras but he also is fully functional. Yes, he rotates incredibly well! Let's check out Sy-Klone after the break...

Action Figure Review: Toxie from Toxic Crusaders by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   I somehow missed that Trick or Treat Studios is releasing updated action figures from the vintage Playmates Toxic Crusaders toyline but I discovered them in store at an FYE while on a business trip last month. Of course, FYE's prices are ridiculous, so I simply ordered it from another online retailer for the regular retail price. I loved this line as a kid and it's one I forever regret selling off at some point(I still have a couple of them). Who knows how deep this line will go, but so far Trick or Treat Studios has released Toxie and has Dr. Killemoff on the way. While these really resemble the vintage Playmates figures, there are some differences here. The line is a collaboration between Trick or Treat Studios and Varner Studios (who designed the original line), so you're getting some real talent here. Ready to check out Toxie? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Duke (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   
   It's been almost four years since I wrote my first G.I. Joe Classified Series review and it was for the series 1 Duke figure, back when the line had a different, unique look that felt more futuristic (though some called it Fortnite inspired). I thought that was a darn good figure back then and I still think it's a pretty good Duke figure now, but Hasbro has found that there are lots of collectors who pretty much just want 6-inch rehashes of the vintage line. I'll admit that I do like the Retro figures, but they're rarely my first choice, especially for a regular military guy like Duke. Could Destro still be rocking the same outfit he wore in the 1980s? Yeah, he's an exaggerated super villain and arms dealer. It doesn't look or feel off. But it does feel off to me when we get a soldier from what is supposed to be the most elite special forces team in the world with antiquated gear. I've talked about it in the comments of a few reviews with some of y'all and I think it's just different expectations I have for G.I. Joe versus, say, Masters of the Universe, TMNT, superheroes, or Star Wars. Anyways, we do have a really good Classified Series Duke already along with a Tiger Force repaint, so now we get a retro version. Not a bad way to handle it, really, and don't take my bellyaching as my thinking this is a bad figure. Not at all. let's check Duke out after the break...