Action Figure Review: Fabian Cortez from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   

   I'm moving slowly through latest X-Men series of Marvel Legends figures and today I'm checking out a villain from the set: Fabian Cortez. Fabian Cortez has certainly had some more recent appearances in the comics as part of S.W.O.R.D. and during the Krakoa era of X-Men but most folks will remember him from when appeared in 1991's X-Men #1 or his appearance in the animated series. A mutant who can enhance the powers of other mutants (or hamper them),  Fabian Cortez (sometimes known as The Power) is a complicated character. He's also never had an action figure before, so he's another figure in this series that not just new to Legends but new to any Marvel line. This version of Fabian is based on his look as the founder of the Acolytes which he also sported in the animated series. Ready to check out Fabian Cortez? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Batman (Batman 1989) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   If you haven't been paying attention lately, Mattel has won back the rights to the DC license beginning in the second half of 2026, leaving things up in the air for McFarlane Toys and Spinmasters. Personally I'm not optimistic about Mattel's upcoming DC product as I like McFarlane's DC Multiverse toyline and how it blends well with most of DC Direct and DC Collectibles' releases from the past. I still have favorites from Mattel's years with the line but I don't find that most of their figures have held up all that well. Their last few years with the line were pretty rough, too. I'm optimistic, though, that since DC/ Warner Bros. still has the DC Direct brand, that McFarlane could still continue to release a more limited range of product through there. Things like Page Punchers and the figures with the digital counterparts. Maybe even online exclusive types of things. That being said, it makes the news of McFarlane losing the main DC license when we get excellent figures released like the Michael Keaton version of Batman from Tim Burton's 1989 film take on the Caped Crusader. Back in 2023 McFarlane Toys did release two takes on Keaton as Batman from The Flash as well as a 1989 Batman and Batmobile 2-pack and a Keaton Bats with the 6-figure Batman: Ultimate Movie Collection. I skipped those two larger sets, though, holding out for a single release, and I'm glad that I did. This is an excellent figure with plenty of gadgets to really make for lots of fun display options. Ready to check out this very classic Batman? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Scarecrow (Batman Begins) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   

   Hello there, action figure fans! Today is a day that you might want to mark on your calendars as it's sort of a big deal. Know what it is? Today is the day I'm reviewing my first McFarlane Toys Red Platinum Edition figure, and I believe it's actually the first Red Platinum Edition figure released: Scarecrow from Batman Begins. What's a Red Platinum Edition (or a Platinum Edition, for that matter)? Glad you asked. While I love McFarlane's DC Multiverse line, it's still stuck in the 1990s in a couple ways, one of those being the love of chase figures. In DC Multiverse, there are standard figures, Gold Label figures (which are typically exclusive to a particular store), and, until this year, there were just Platinum Edition figures. Platinum editions were essentially "chase" variants and came short packed in a case. Usually the Platinum figures were variants of another figure in the series and initially they were simpler things like all grey "artist proof" figures or silver and gold variants. Later on we started seeing palette swaps, head swaps, and then full on different characters. Last year there were even unique characters who were Platinum Editions (The Question and Shining Knight come to mind). For 2025, any figures who aren't a variant of another figure but are just a more short packed figure of a character are now classified as Red Platinum Editions. Make sense? OK, good. While we've had a Batman Begins version of Scarecrow already (back in in 2023), this version is a bit more basic like, like we see him in most of the film and in The Dark Knight. He's wearing his mask but just sporting a standard suit. Ready to check this guy out? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Batman (Batman Begins) (Gold Label) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

  Batman Begins is getting ready to turn 20 years old this year. I easily remember that because it came out less than a month after my wife and I got married and we're about to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Imagine that, right? McFarlane has really leaned heavily into the Christopher Nolan directed film series and there are a few new releases so far this year: The Scarecrow in a regular suit, the standard Batman from Batman Begins, and the Gold Label Batman I'm looking at today, which is actually the fear gas induced hallucination that the Scarecrow sees. Surprisingly, I actually found this figure (and Scarecrow) before I found the standard version of Batman. This is a pretty crazy looking Batman figure and while it's not a look Bruce sports for long in the film, it is a pretty memorable moment. Ready to check out this Gold Label Batman (he's exclusive to Target)? Then join me after the break...

Statue Review: Nami from One Piece: Battle Record Collection by Bandai/ Banpresto/ Bandai Namco

 

   I'm in no way a One Piece expert but my wife has been nuts about the show for a couple years now and I've really been getting into it as of late. Last week I was browsing at GameStop when I saw this really nifty Nami statue. I think I still had my monthly $5 bonus coupon, plus I had my Pro-Membership discount, so I decided to scoop her up. She looks to be about in the same scale as the S.H. Figuarts line and maybe close to the Bandai Namco Anime Heroes line as well, so I thought she'd scale well with the few figures I have in those lines. I haven't seen this outfit in the anime yet but it's apparently from the Egghead or Future Island storyline, which is pretty recent. I'm nowhere near that far in the show! I like the somewhat futuristic look of this outfit, though, plus the sculpt makes Nami look like she's just about to whack someone with her Clima-Tact. This statue is from the One Piece: Battle Record collection which means that the statues are in dynamic, battle ready poses, hence the cool "about to whack someone" pose. Ready to check out Nami, navigator extraordinaire? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Skelcon from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel

 

   The Masterverse New Eternia Skelcon was released at the end of 2024, but I found mine at retail at a toy shop local to me just last month, so I'm just now getting around to him. It's pretty cool to have a new army builder for Masterverse. Who doesn't love the Skelcons, right? Originally appearing in the Masters of the Universe picture books from Ladybird released in the UK in the 1980s, the Skelcons made their way into the 2012 DC Comics series, the Masters of the Universe Classics toyline (paired with the Roton), and Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation. I love these weird, creepy guys and I'm pretty sure that this version of the creature is the creepiest yet. This guy seemed to be exclusive to specialty market retailers and e-tailers and, surprisingly, you can still find them available. Ready to check out Skeletor's malicious foot soldiers from the Dimension of Infinita? Then join me after the break...

Two-Face (DC: The Silver Age) Platinum from McFarlane Toys Digital: DC by McFarlane Toys/ DC Direct

 

   I've reviewed a bunch of DC Multiverse figures (and I've got a handful waiting to be reviewed soon) but, technically, this guy is part of a separate line. Like McFarlane's DC Page Punchers, the McFarlane Toys Digital figures are often stocked in a separate location at stores that carry them and they're listed as being released by McFarlane Toys and DC Direct. What separates these figures from DC Multiverse? Well, figure-wise they're no different but they do include a card which includes a download code for a digital figure on the McFarlane Toys digital app. I'm going to be honest and say that a digital figure does nothing for me. I did buy the Rebirth Batman with the alternate Bruce Wayne head and the Silver Age Joker last year, but I never even redeemed the digital rewards. The line-up for this line seems to be filled with some classic heavy hitters, so it's certainly still worth the attention of folks not interested in the digital codes. I was surprised to stumble upon the newest series of these this week and I grabbed Two-Face. While the figure is listed as a Silver Age Two-Face, that's actually for the standard version, which I didn't see (he comes in the orange and purple suit). This version is the Platinum version and is a more modern take (though not that modern, since Two-Face first wore black and white in Batman: The Animated Series). Batman villains are probably going to usually be my go to picks in any DC line and I'm glad to have a traditional Two-Face figure from McFarlane. Ready to check this guy out? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Butt-Head #1591 from POP! Television: Beavis and Butt-Head by Funko

 

   For my money, last year's Saturday Night Live sketch of two random guys who look like Beavis and Butt-Head sitting in on an interview about the future of A.I. was one of the funniest things in 2024. Mikey Day, Ryan Gosling, and SNL's makeup team nailed the characters and watching Kenan Thompson seriously ask them questions while Heidi Gardner couldn't keep from laughing just made things all the better. It was such a goofy yet clever sketch and it definitely had my daughter asking me about Beavis and Butt-Head. I didn't watch a lot of Beavis and Butt-Head as a kid but I did see some episodes and they were such a pop culture juggernaut for a period that you couldn't avoid them. My wife and I ended up showing our daughter some clips of the show just for context and to talk about how controversial they were back in 90s when they debuted. I'm not really a huge fan of the characters but for Christmas my daughter bought me a Funko POP! of Beavis in his Burger World outfit holding up a dead rat. It's actually pretty funny and definitely an interesting addition to the collection. A few weeks ago we were at Needless Toys and Collectibles in Lincolnton, NC and she snuck up front and bought me this Butt-Head so Beavis wouldn't have to be alone. I thought it was a sweet gesture and decided I'd make sure to review this one. Ready to check out Butt-Head justifying why fast food restaurants need to pay higher wages to attract better candidates? Ready to find out if this figure sucks or if it's cool? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Crimson Shadow Infantry from Action Force by Valaverse

 

   The weekend before last there was an Action Force drop on Valaverse's website, offering up three new figures and two new weapons packs. I scooped up most of the new releases (I skipped the Maritime Corps) and they arrived in the mail very quickly. Today I'm excited to check out my favorite of the new releases, the Crimson Shadow Infantry. Crimson Shadow Technologies has been around since the beginning of Valaverse's Action Force and seems to be their take on the Red Shadows, the enemy unit lead by Baron Ironblood of Palitoy's vintage Action Force line that eventually becomes Cobra (Baron Ironblood becomes Cobra Commander in the "Battle Action Force" comic strip. In Valaverse's Action Force, Crimson Shadow Technologies is a weapons development group that grows into a massive private security force. This guy is also just a really cool looking troop figure with lots of nice accessories. Whether you're only collecting Action Force, mixing this guy with all of the other excellent 1/12th scale military lines available right now, or using him for some other purpose, there's a lot to love here. Let's check out the Crimson Shadow Infantry after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cosmo from Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 by McDonald's

 

   

   Back in February my wife and I went to the Hickory Comic Con in Hickory, NC, and I ended up with a few cool finds. One of the ones I was most thrilled about was a McDonald's toy that I either paid 50 cents or $1 for (I can't remember): Cosmo from McDonald's Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 Happy Meal promotion. Besides the main Avengers films, Guardians of the Galaxy has been my favorite of the MCU series of films and I did love Volume 3, but man, what a rough film in places, right? After watching it, I was shocked there was a McDonald's promotion for the film. An F bomb, some pretty intense violence, and animal cruelty? I'm kind of remembering how people flipped out at the Batman Returns Happy Meal toys when I was a kid. I rarely collect McDonald's stuff these days but when I saw Cosmo at a table at Hickory Comic Con I knew I had to take her home with me. I like to pick up toys that look like my dogs and for about 8 months, including during when GOTG3 was released, we had a beautiful golden retriever mix with reddish fur who looked a lot like Cosmo. She was a stray who came to our house and we kept after spending the first couple months trying to find her owner, but, unfortunately, we had to rehome her after she decided our senior Jack Russel/ beagle mix was her arch enemy. She was a great dog other than that and the family that has her now adores her. She guards their kids and their chickens. I've been picking up Cosmo stuff over the past year or two as she I love the character and Cosmo reminds me of our dog who we only had for such a short time. Ready to check out this fun little McDonald's Cosmo? Then join me after the break...

Toy Review: Harley Quinn from Teekeez by Cryptozoic

 

   A couple weekends ago my wife and I were traveling through Marion, North Carolina. We walked through the downtown, found a couple Geocaches, and stopped at All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds, a comic book shop inside of an old factory that's been converted into a mall. It was a pretty neat place and we walked around inside for at least 30 minutes. I didn't find much I needed but I did grab this little Harley Quinn vinyl tiki figure from Cryptozoic's Teekeez line. I remember these coming out in 2017 but I never had any of them. I did have some of the Eekeez from FOCO, though, which came out in 2018. These are different than the Geeki Tikis from Beeline Creative, which are actual drinking mugs. Looking at it, it's kind of wild that three different companies (off the top of my head, at least) have made DC Comics themed tiki items in the past decade. I grabbed this Harley for my Harley Quinn collection. At $7.99, she was at a pretty good price, too. Ready to check out a very stylized take on Harley Quinn? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Brook from Anime Heroes: One Piece by Bandai Namco

 

   No, I'm not going full on otaku or anything, but I do have another One Piece review for you today. This time it's Brook, the swordsman, musician, and senior officer of the Straw Hat Pirates. Having eaten the Revive-Revive Fruit, Brook came back from his death and is now Soul King Brook, a skeletal musician. I don't actually know as much about Brook as I do some of the other characters, but my wife thinks he's hilarious (though he's a bit of a perv, from what I hear), and he's a funky soul musician who dresses a bit like Jimmy Hendrix. This version is from after the time skip in the show, so he goes along with the other post-time skip pirates. I've never reviewed any figures from Bandai Namco's Anime Heroes line but I have seen them and admired them simply because they seem pretty affordable, I always see new characters from multiple different licenses, and they seem to actually get restocked at Walmart quite frequently. They're still available at retail for the $19.99 price point which is pretty darn impressive these days. It doesn't seem to me that Brook has been released in either the S.H. Figuarts or Megahouse Variable Action Heroes lines yet, so for $20 bucks I decided to snag him. Ready to see what this figure delivers? Then let's groove on in to this review after the break...

Action Figure Review: Husk from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   I was not expecting the newest Build-a-Figure series of X-Men Marvel Legends to hit stores until late spring but Hasbro surprised us by dropping them early. So far Husk is the only one I've picked up (I also saw Wolverine, but I'm slowing down on Wolverines for a bit and that design isn't one of my favorites or anything) and I've seen her at multiple GameStops. Weird, right? I like Generation X and I'm always excited to add more members of the team to my X-Men shelves. Husk is a very cool figure and it's especially nice to have her since Toy Biz didn't release her back in the day as part of their Generation X line. They didn't release a lot of the main cast, though, like Husk, Monet St. Croix, Leech, Artie, and Synch (though Synch did get a ToyFare exclusive release in 1998). Husk was planned for a third series of figures, but that never came to fruition. I do wish Hasbro would move a bit faster on Generation X, but they're working on so many X-teams right now that at least there is always something exciting to be found. Ready to take a look at Husk, the Kentucky born mutant (Sam Guthrie/ Cannonball is her big brother)? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ardath Bey from Universal Monsters/ Classic Monsters by NECA

   While Imhotep wrapped in his bandages is the more iconic look for the titular mummy in the 1932 Universal Studios film The Mummy, it's definitely not the way Boris Karloff appears throughout most of the film. Instead, we mostly see the resurrected Imhotep in the guise of Ardath Bey, a Turkish historian with a tremendous knowledge of ancient Egypt. Ardath Bey has definitely been one of my most wanted Universal Monsters figures after NECA has completed the main roster of the usual suspects and it's nice to see they're continuing. The Invisible Man in his robe/ smoking jacket is set to show up any day now and at Toy Fair 2025 last week NECA also showed the Masque of the Red Death Phantom and the Metaluna Mutant. I'm still hoping for Henry Hull from Werewolf of London, Countess Marya Zaleska from Dracula's Daughter, Rondo Hatton as the Creeper, Bela Lugosi as Ygor, Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein, Abbott & Costello, Kharis, and Acquanetta from the Wild Woman/ Jungle Woman series, so this line, but the Toy Fair showing was a nice start. Ready for NECA's newest figure based on the legendary Boris Karloff? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tony Tony Chopper (Reissue) from One Piece Variable Action Heroes by Megahouse

 

   Hey, don't leave! You're in the right place. You're probably surprised by the fact that I'm reviewing something from One Piece or an anime in general. I'm really trying to think if I've reviewed anything else from an anime before as I don't really watch anime all that much. Maybe something from Pokemon? Well, on this one I'm going to have to blame my wife. Over the past couple years my wife has gotten really into One Piece, having watched  through the anime series at least once and the live action Netflix show. Me? I'm just picking up pieces of the show as I go. So I know very little about it, but I do like the characters for how expressive they are and their designs. There are multiple companies who have put out One Piece merchandise, and it seems the presence of the Netflix live-action show really catapulted the popularity of the show even higher. My wife has quite a few little knickknacks that we've bought her as gifts or that she's picked up, but at some point in the last couple months I purchased a S.H. Figuarts Luffy at a GameStop sale and decided to add a few more characters to my shelf. I've seen the Bandai Anime Heroes Chopper a few times in Walmart's collectibles section but I ended up ordering this figure of Tony Tony Chopper from Megahouse's One Piece Variable Heroes line. This is actually a reissue figure, as the original version came out in 2016 while this one was released sometime in 2024. It seems like Megahouse (they're a company under Bandai) is really cranking out rereleases of this line due to the increased popularity of the show. So, who is Tony Tony Chopper? He's a reindeer who was rejected by his tribe because of his blue nose and is now the doctor for the Straw Hat Pirates. He's a humorous character (we like to reverse hide like Chopper at our house) and kind of a mascot for the series at this point. He's naturally a smaller character, too, so this figure is noticeable than the other One Piece Variable Action Heroes. Ready to check out the reissue of Tony Tony Chopper? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Zandar from G.I. Joe Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   The wave of the Classified Series gives us yet another 1986 figure and another Dreadnok: Make way for Zandar, a Dreadnok who is supposed to be such a master of camouflage and blending in that folks just tend to forget he's there. Honestly, that's a bit how I always felt about Zandar, at least as a kid. Back then I didn't know what to do with him. Not getting into G.I. Joe until late 1986 or early 1987, I never had Zartan or the early Dreadnoks and I never really had a huge use for them until later figures started coming out like Road Pig and Gnawgahyde who just kind of mixed in with my general Cobra figures. Zandar just always seemed odd to me and was definitely one of my least favorite figures. While he and Zarana always get brought up because people love Dreadnoks and they have a connection to Zartan, oddly enough Zandar only ever had two figures prior to this release: The 1986 vintage and the 2011 figure from the 30th Anniversary era Dreadnoks Battle Set. Like Zarana (and most other Dreadnoks in the Classified Series), this dude is pretty awesome and might be the stand out figure in this series for me (I don't have Dial-Tone yet, so we'll have to see). The Classified Series version just hits different than the prior figures of Zandar. Ready to check out Zandar? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Panthor from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe New Eternia by Mattel

 

   Just a couple weeks ago Mattel offered up a New Eternia version of Panthor on Mattel Creations and I decided to go ahead and snag him. I have a ton of different Battle Cat items, but Panthor doesn't always get the love that good ol' Cringer does. The Masterverse Battlecat (from Masters of the Universe: Revelation) was released in the summer of 2021, so it took almost 4 years between getting a Masterverse Battle Cat and the Masterverse Panthor. Like you might have guessed, there is some parts of this figure shared with Battle Cat but Mattel did give Panthor new paws, a new head, and all new armor and accessories. There really is a lot unique here. Panthor isn't flocked, but he does have an incredible metallic sheen to him. For the same price as Battle Cat in 2021 (and coming with a bit more stuff) this guy is definitely worth checking out (he is still on sale as of my writing this). Ready to ride with Panthor? Then join me after the break...