Well, here it is.  The last week or two of 2008.  It's been an interesting year politically and such other topics but that's certainly not what this website is about.  It's about toys.  So, I'm going to stick to talking about what I know best...toys.

2008 has really been quite a great year for action figures.  I've mentioned all the good in my top ten lists although their were many other goods.  One I have noted is I am seeing less "Nerd Hummel's" and more 3 3/4" figures.  I truly can't wait for the statue figures made popular by McFarlane Toys comes to a complete end.  I think it works well with their Sports Picks but who really wants articulated sports heroes any way?  Plastic statues make sense in that world.  As far as Transformers go, I loved the Animated series.  I wish the Universe figures weren't such a disappointment and most importantly I appreciate the brief return of Binaltech in Japan.  I wish a few more figures would have been made but I got my die-Cast Convoy.  So, my final analysis of 2008 is, other than the sky rocketing prices of action figures, it was a very good year to be an enthusiast.

As for 2009...Well, there can be so much good and so much bad.  Off the bat I will say two of my favorite series' of 2008 will be put on hold for movie versions of Hasbro's G.I. Joe & Transformers.  For me, this is a good and bad thing.  I dislike the movie character designs for Transformers and thus far what I've seen from G.I. Joe.  So, this should save me some money.  With that said, I look forward to Takara Tomy's high end Transformers items including the Grimlock Masterpiece and the new Alternity series.  I am not sure it can replace Binaltech but I like what I've seen so far and can't wait till their release in January.  I hope Takara has a few other high end robots up their sleeve, just not too many cause I'm not that well off.

Other toy lines that might interest me are Playmates 3 3/4" Star Trek & Terminator: Salvation series'.  I don't believe Playmates have ever ventured into 3 3/4" territory.  Therefore, I am very curious. Otherwise, nothing really comes to mind.  I'd like to see more toy lines and cartoons such as the amazing Storm Hawks even if it really didn't get off the ground.  The figures were fresh and the show was spectacular.  I always love seeing new properties. 

I guess we'll really have to wait till February's Toy Fair to get a better idea what 2009 holds but I expect to see a lot of the same.  You know, more Star Wars, superhero toys and more and more Power Rangers.  Can you believe those things are still around? 

I am surprisingly excited to get the new G.I. Joe Resolute figures soon.  I hope to get them by the end of the week.  I at first had little interest as when it comes to G.I. Joe, I tend to prefer only the homage figures of my childhood which is the exact opposite as to how I treat Transformers.  While everyone was complaining about Transformers Alternators being all cars, I embraced and loved it.  I welcomed the fresh approach.  So, what is it about G.I. Joe that is different for me?  Well, for one, G.I. Joe was my all time favorite toy line as a child.  So, perhaps I have more vested in the series.  On another note, an exact modern homage is a lot more practical that that of a Transformer.  Transformers deal with engineering and sometimes an old styled, unarticulated robot may not work well with modern technology and design.  Finally, for me, a cool robot is a cool robot. 
 

Back to Resolute.  The cartoon is apparently marketed towards adults which should be interesting and perhaps a bright spot for Joe in 2009 because I am already judging the movie to be trash.  Also, I like the designs.  They don't stray too far away from the originals but do provide a fresh new look for a new generation. 

I will most certainly have reviews of the three figures as soon as I get them in and I truly hope they do not disappoint.  One thing is certain, at least they are not all wearing black like the costume choices for the awful looking movie.  Argh!

So, I got one of the new He-Mans today and as I took it out of the shipping box I immediately noticed two large black dots/scratches on his chin.  I was furious!  I knew this was something I was going to have to return.  It's not like a little paint slop on his leg, it is dead center on his chin.  I call Mattycollector.com and they were very nice about exchanging this item.  That was until they advised me that I was going to have to pay for shipping.  I said, hold on there!  You are going to sit there and tell me that you sent me a damaged product and charged me eight bucks to ship it and in order to replace it, you are going to charge me another eight bucks?  She said that was the return policy.  I immediately said, please let me talk to your supervisor.  No longer than 2 minutes later she gets back on the phone and says, I spoke to my supervisor and we can make this one time exception and we'll pay for the shipping. 

I've worked in customer service for over five years and a supervisor is never that available.  Either way, that is the worst customer service ever!  How dare someone send me a damaged product and expect me to pay to ship it back to them?  Oh, when she said that this is the only time they can do this for me, I assured them they will never have to again as I will never purchase another product from Mattycollector.com.  Whether I hold myself true to that or not is to be seen but judging by what I could see of the He-Man figure, I don't see myself ever paying twenty dollars plus eight for shipping on any other figure from this line.  Sadly, I hope it proves to be a failure.  Mattel just does not get how to deal in action figures.

This has been an excellent year for G.I. Joe enthusiasts.  Hasbro has released so many good figures in their 25th Anniversary series, that I could not narrow it down to just ten.  To be honest, I really wanted to do the top twenty.  Just to be clear, this was by far the most difficult list I've done in some time.  Hasbro has produced one of the greatest action figure series since, well, the original G.I. Joe.  There were only a few figures that fell short throughout the entire 2008 series.  So, know that even if they are not on this list, I still most likely adore the figure's.

15. Bazooka - Here was an excellent homage to the big lunk with a football jersey.  He was never my favorite character but Hasbro's attention to detail with removable missiles on his backpack and bulkier body type put him on this list.

14. Cobra Commander V3 - You either like this design or you don't.  For me, it was this armored Cobra Commander and Lt. Falcon that got me back into G.I. Joe when I was probably way over the age of supposed action figure buying.  Hasbro captured this futuristic armor with great detail and just holding it brought back fond memories.

13. Specialist Trakker - Many Joe fans hate the idea of bringing Matt Trakker from the popular 1980's toy line M.A.S.K. into the world of ARAH but for me I couldn't be happier.  Accept they should have ditched the green coptor backpack.  Otherwise, this figure is a great homage to another 80's favorite and the facial sculpt is one of the best in the entire series.

12. Barbecue - Barbecue has always been an easy figure to like.  He possessed a great firefighter outfit and great colors.  Hasbro captured the coolness of the original figure with this brilliant homage to G.I. Joe's firefighter.

11. Mutt - Most kids always loved the figures that came with animals and I was one of them.  I confess to not ever being the biggest fan of Mutt.  However, Hasbro made this update as good as could be.  Therefore, there was no way this figure could not be on the list.  Even Junkyard was given his manhood.

10. Airborne - I always felt Airborne, as a character never received the appreciation he deserved.  Perhaps now with Hasbro's brilliant update of this great character he may get the respect he deserves.

9. Torpedo - Water and snow guys were always some of my favorites growing up.  I was happy to see Torpedo added to the 25th Anniversary line.  I think what really put the figure on the list are his transparent goggles.  Just brilliant!

8. Flash - Flash & Blowtorch were my very first Joe's so perhaps I am being a bit biased but Flash was definitely one of the more unique figures from the 1982 first series and Hasbro kept him interesting for the 2008 homage.  Even his face resembles the original. 

7.Snow Serpent -The original Snow Serpent was loaded with accessories and was always one of the better Cobra troops.  Hasbro gives the Snow Serpent love by giving him loads of accessories and providing him with some of the best detail in the entire series.

6. Cobra Para-Viper - Speaking of tons of accessories, the Cobra Para-Viper has perhaps the most of any figure and they all fit nicely into place.  This is a new figure and not an homage to an original ARAH.  Though that didn't stop it from making the list.  Other than some poor color choices, get this figure and you will understand why he is so loved.

5. Eel - Another one of my favorite Cobra Troopers, Hasbro captured the magic of the original with some amazing added features such as a removable helmet that fits so snug, you'd never know it came off.

4. B.A.T. - Perhaps, the B.A.T. is when G.I. Joe got a little Sci-Fi.  Nevertheless, he was cool when I was a child and even cooler now.  Hasbro amazed me with how they approached the chest plate that was once a hologram sticker.  It was cool for the time but what Hasbro did for this figure makes the hologram very dated.

3. Snake-Eyes V3 - This is probably one of the most under used uniforms that the infamous Snake-Eyes wore but it was definitely cool.  Hasbro's update made me appreciate this costume even more so than when I was a kid.  The removable knives on his chest was very well executed and fits much nicer than I could have imagined.

2. Hawk V2 - Classic!  That is the best way to describe this popular look for G.I. Joe's general.  I always liked the simplicity of the original and Hasbro did not disappoint with this updated figure.

1 Snake-Eyes V1 (black) - It always seems that my number one figures create the biggest commotion and I don't intentionally do it.  I keep my list honest and when Hasbro simply recast the awesome original Snake-Eyes in a dark black plastic as he should have been in the first place, it made all the difference.  It made this already cool figure even slicker and explains exactly why Snake-Eyes is such a fan favorite.  Now, only if they do the same with the popular V2 Snake-Eyes...

Again, this was a tough list to put together.  I went through these figures over and over but I had to do this.  With the G.I. Joe movie, I expect 2009 to be a bad year for G.I. Joe (sorry, I am always honest).  However, the G.I. Joe: Resolute figures look cool and one of my personal favorite's, Blowtorch should be hitting stores soon.  Also, My very favorite, Lt. Falcon is getting a single card figure release and I hope Hasbro makes some improvements over the comics 2-pack to ensure he'll be on my list for 2009.  YO JOE!

It was announced that mall toy store staple, KB Toys is going, going gone.  This is a sad day for toy collector's and mallrats.

Just to stroll down memory lane: I remember when I was a child, my mother would often take us to Northland mall in a suburb of Detroit where they had 2 toy stores, Circus World & KB Toys. That shows you how different the toy market was in the 80's. I also remember, these were the places where you could buy Matchbox cars that came in the little boxes. They also had a showcase of detailed mini keychain cap guns that were really small replicas of the real thing. KB was also the place as a child where, if TRU didn't have the G.I. Joe you wanted, you can always resort to paying a buck more and likely find it. That is were I found my Duke and happily shelled out $4.00 and some change. KB was also the place of great clearances: Vintage POTF figures for $1.79 each, it is where I finally found the hard Robotech figures for 3 for $10.00 and so on. Yes, the last couple years provide little memories. However, it was KB Toys that got me to say, okay to going to the mall.

I figured I'd take a little break from end of the year top ten lists for a few days.  However, I am thinking of putting together a Top Ten 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe list.  It would be very hard to do considering how many well done figures came out this year.  Plus, being objective would be hard seeing I have so many personal favorites.

On another note, I am anticipating getting in my Hot Toys Appleseed Ex Machina Snap Kit figures.  I can't think of a toy line that I have been this excited to get.  I guess for me, The figures have the potential to be everything I wanted from action figures: Highly detailed, articulated, well painted 4" figures targeted to the collector.  I see so many nice 1?6 scaled figures from several different companies that are incredible but for action figure collector's, all we get catered to us are boring "Nerd Hummels"  One thing I hope changes in 2009 is that companies such as Neca who get such great obscure licenses for toys decide to make action figures.  They have great sculpters but whenever i get one of their toys (sans TMNT) I find them so boring.  Scaling down wouldn't hurt either.  I don't have room for tons of 6-7" figures but I can always find space for 3 3/4" figures.

Also, I saw this and feel this is could be a huge breakthrough for toy collector's: http://www.thetf.net/forum_posts-TID-13204-PN-1.htm.  I look forward to trying this on my Starmax Bomber.  I hope it works.

Well, other than that, I'll probably do one more list before the holidays.  So, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I think this is now the fourth year I've put together my top ten favorite Transformers of the year.  It is always controversial as everyone has different tastes within the Transformers universe.  I was happy the movie toys were mostly gone this year as the designs less than impressed me.  We saw a slight return of Binaltech's even if they were just repaints but best of all we saw the birth of Transformers Animated, the surprisingly wonderful toy line.  I liked each and every figure from the series and could have easily just done a top ten of the series alone.  Nevertheless, there were some other good figures this year.  So, here we go!

10. Animated Deluxe Blurr - This spot was originally held by Universe Springer.  However, as I just got Animated Blurr, it wiped Springer off the list.  To be honest, I would probably trade places with Deluxe Jazz but I'll just leave it be as they are both excellent toys.

9. Chevy Aveo Swerve - Perhaps, this made the list because of how rare this figure is but I think Hasbro did a great job of making a "real" car transform into a unique robot.  The only real improvements this toy could have used is a gun and perhaps a few more paint applications.  Nevertheless, for a rare premium, it sure looks like Hasbro put a lot of thought into this toy.

8. Animated Leader Class Ultra Magnus - Finally, a cool looking toy of Ultra Magnus that isn't just a white repaint of Optimus Prime.  This figure is loaded with armory and ready to lead into battle.  If his vehicle mode was a little less generic, this figure could have made the top five.

7. Animated Voyager Lugnut - I don't know what it is about this Voyager class Decepticon but he just really appealed to me.  I like his unique head design and his bulky look. It's nice to see a new character as well instead of constant G1 homage's.

6. Binaltech Bluestreak & silver Jazz - I'm grouping these two together.  I know they are just repaints of two molds we've seen a dozen times but as usual Takara made these two shine with exceptional paint jobs for two of the best Binaltech molds to date.

5. Animated Deluxe Jazz - I've always been a fan of the original Jazz and Hasbro really captured the essence of his look with adding some new fresh blood into this character.  Plus, this toy is just plain fun to play with.

4. Universe Sideswipe & Sunstreaker - For the most part, I feel the Universe line was poorly executed.  Most of the figures had cheap plastic and lacked paint applications.  However, somehow they got Sideswipe and Sunstreaker right.  On top of that, Hasbro ingeniously created two very distinct robots out of one mold.  Bravo!

3. Animated Leader Class Megatron - I admit, I've never really been a big Megatron fan but Hasbro has made perhaps the coolest looking and fun Megatron toy ever!  Animated Megatron is well designed and has a fun transformation.  What more can you ask for?

2. Binaltech Convoy - Okay, so this mold has been released several times before but this under-appreciated mold has finally received the treatment it deserved.  There is so much die-cast metal on this toy, he is easily the heaviest Binaltech made.  The paint job is perfect and I am pleased Takara Tomy finally gave us this perfect version of the Binaltech Autobot leader.

1.  Animated Voyager Class Optimus Prime - This was my number one the minute I got it out of the box.  This toy captures all the heroism of the Autobot leader with the refreshing animated style.  He is super fun to play with, well painted & articulated.  The only aspect that is not perfect is his ax.  Nevertheless, Hasbro has made a classic toy and one of my all time favorite versions of Optimus Prime.

It's that time of year.  When it's, well, almost over and I love making end of the year lists.  To begin, I decided to make a list of 2008's best action figure series.  This was a rather difficult list because to be quite honest, this has been a spectacular year for action figures.  Yes, do to the economy, prices starting to sky rocket with retail prices but no matter because toy companies released some of the best series' in years.  So, here are my favorites and hopefully 2009 will be even better!

10. Hellboy 2 - Mezco toys accompanies the visually stunning Hellboy 2 movie with both 7" scaled action figures and 3 3/4" figures.  Both are spectacular and I hope Mezco continues to look at the 3 3/4" scale for future lines as they tackled it beautifully with great articulation, sculpts and paint application.  The 3 3/4" figures were the right price.  However, the 7" figures were a little on the pricey side.

9. Appleseed: Ex Machina - Finally, a collector friendly series of action figures with articulation, top notch materials, weapons and articulation.  The Build A Figure, Landmate is truly a work of art.  This set could have easily been number one if there were a few more figures and you didn't have to buy doubles of each figure to build the Landmate.

8. Storm Hawks - This totally underappreciated animated series received two series of action figures by Spinmasters, the ugly six inch deluxe figures and the well made and cartoon accurate 4" scaled figures.  The figures and vehicles are very show accurate.  I only wish the show faired better to get another half dozen figures or so.  The vehicles are also a highlight of this set.  If you see them, check them out.

7. TMNT - I'm not referring to the long running Playmates toy line but Neca's amazing comic book accurate anniversary figures.  I didn't know Neca had it in them to produce high quality, fully articulated and well painted figures of everyone's favorite teenaged ninja's.  I only wish Neca would treat their other licensed figures with the same respect and ditch the "Nerd Hummel's".

6. DC Universe - Mattel & the Four Horsemen has brought back everyone's favorite and obscure DC superheroes with this long overdue series.  The Four Horsemen brought their A game to the sculpts.  Other than the usual crappy distribution by Mattel and a few glitches with the series 3 paint applications, this has been an exciting series.

5. Movie Masters Dark Knight - Again, Mattel & the Four Horsemen brought to life the characters from this years most successful movie.  Not only did Mattel give us figures from the Dark Knight but we also saw figures from Batman Begins.  They also produced one of the coolest vehicles in years with the Batpod.

4. Mighty Muggs - Hasbro has created one of the most interesting entries this year with Mighty Muggs.  Perhaps, these are more of a "designer toy" than an action figure but they are displayed in the action figure isle's so...Hasbro utilized some of their most successful licenses with this series of fun figures: Marvel Superheroes, Star Wars and Indiana Jones and if that is not enough, coming soon are Mighty Muggs of Transformers and G.I. Joe!

3. Indiana Jones - I have been waiting years for Indiana Jones to return to the toy isles.  Hasbro delivered the goods with their Star Wars like series of 3 3/4" figures.  Sure, their were some bad paint applications at the start of the series but by the time the Temple of Doom figures came out, Hasbro was producing some of the best action figures in years.  It's just too bad it had to end so soon.

2. G.I. Joe - Hasbro has transformed a modest series of 25th anniversary figures into a full blown homage to one of the most celebrated action figure lines in history.  Other than a few minor short-comings, this series is spectacular.  Unfortunately, the series will be put on hold for the movie but if the movie doesn't kill interest in G.I. Joe, the series is sure to be back.

1. Transformers Animated - Most Transformers fans are probably disappointed that the Universe series is not here instead of the animated series but in my opinion the universe figures were for the most part junk.  However, every Transformers Animated figure matches up wonderfully with their television counterpart, features fun transformations, quality plastic and paint jobs and well, near perfection across the board.  I never expected to love this series but it is the most refreshing main line Transformers series in a very long time.

I finally received my new Zartan figure from Hasbro Toy Shop.  I opened it up and bent the elbow and the lower arm snapped off.  What a bummer.  Thankfully, HTS has a good return policy accept it looks like I'll have to wait 21 days to get another one.  I was excited to review this figure.  I can say, other than the skiff it did look like a good Zartan figure.  Oh well, 21 days till I really get to know.

Other than that, I had a great ten days in Michigan (my home state) and am anticipating moving back as soon as I can.  It seems silly considering the Detroit economy but as they say, there's no place like home.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their patience while I was gone.  All orders have shipped and I am still putting more new toys up for sale.  Many have asked about the status of the G.I. Joe parts page.  I have so many parts that it has become an overwhelming project.  I hope to finish listing and pricing everything in the next couple of weeks but please don't hold me to it.

I brought out my collection of Mattel's 2002 revamp of Masters of the Universe in anticipation of doing a Vintage Spotlight (even if they are only six years old).  I enjoyed looking at each and every one in all their beauty and then I got a little angry and decided not to do the spotlight.  Why did I get angry?  Because Mattel really screwed up this amazing series.  The MOTU revamp may be the best of all the 1980's revival's.  Don't get me wrong, I love the new G. I. Joe's and have always been a bigger fan of G.I. Joe than MOTU but Hasbro has taken some liberties by re-using parts but I think the main difference is that MOTU is full of creatures and such making them somewhat more interesting to look at.  The Four Horsemen did an excellent job of mixing a classic and contemporary look for each figure. 

Now, I can go on for pages on how Mattel screwed up the line.  We all know Mattel had terrible distribution problems and assumed that kids would be more interested in ten different He-Man figures than a cool looking creature and so on but what I do want to talk about is how interesting it is that Mattel is trying this again but instead they are not only selling the figures only at their website for a fairly high price ($20.00 a figure) but the overall look of the figure is rather bland in my opinion.  Gone is the dynamic look of the 2002 line.  The new series is much more like the original's with a greater level of articulation.  Perhaps they will be great.  Perhaps, they will be cooler than the 2002 series (I doubt it) but how dare Mattel insult the buying public with this series?  That's what I see it as.  They screwed something up and now want those collector's to start all over with a new series at a high price.  I think not.  If Mattel wanted to please me they would have continued where the 2002 line left off.  They could start with action figure version's of Neca's mini-statues.  Perhaps, I would pay twenty bucks a pop for those.

I don't know, I will probably buy He-Man just to check him out but I guess even after six years, I am still bitter about the whole ordeal and see this as just a way to keep website www.he-man.org going as they had nothing to talk about for the last couple of years.  I know, that's ridiculous and so is www.Mattycollector.com.  Mattel can sell Barbie and Hot Wheels but when it comes to action figures, they just don't seem to know how to get it right. 

As a big fan of Robert Burden's art, I was ecstatic to see this brilliant clip on Youtube.  It's definitely worth taking a few minutes out of your day to watch especially if you are a fan of Voltron, Robots or art.  Afterwards check out Robert Burden's Toy Box for a look at his other fine works of art!

Also, I quickly wanted to mention that Hasbro is releasing another G.I. Joe 5 pack for both the Joes and Cobra's.  The figures look impressive even if they are mostly just retools.  What was most important is we will finally get a black version of the Snake-Eyes V2 figure.  However, this is the one from the DVD Battle Pack.  It is more accurate to the 1985 figure but I'm not sure I like the sculpt as much.  I'm going to have to spend some time looking at the two side by side to determine whether Hasbro made the right choice.

After getting the G.I. Joe Para-Viper, I find myself excited about G.I. Joe again.  That figure is just so cool (other than the color choices).  I really look forward to getting Airborne and Matt Trakker.  I know the Matt Trakker has caused a bit of controversy with Joe fans but as a fan of oth series, I am extremely excited for this one.  I plan on buying two, one for my Joe collection and one for my M.A.S.K. collection.  I only wish he didn't include that ugly green backpack but I can easily put that aside. 

With the holidays just ahead of us we should see stores starting to load up on action figures.  I hope to find some of the figures I have been anticipating including the rest of the Narnia; Prince Caspian series 2 figures that I was not able to order.  I have a feeling these are going to be a challenge to find.  Seriously, who's going to order these?  The first series are still warming the pegs at retailers that didn't already clearance them out.  Hopefully perhaps KB Toys will get these and sell them at a reduced price.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.  I also hope Hasbro will be able to sneak in a few more Transformers figures before 2009.  I particularly am looking forward to the Animated Blurr.  This figure looks so good.  I think it's the color that really does it for me.  I really think Transformers Animated is one of the best Transformers series in the U.S. in sometime.  They are of a high quality that I wish they would have instilled into their Classics/Universe line.  I am still tempted to buy a few Henkei figures especially, the Cyclonus and Ratchet. 

That's about it for now.

Phew!  Finally, the election that has been consuming many people's lives has finally ended.  Whether you are happy with the results or not, we all must band together to help make this world a better place.  Hopefully our economy will pick up so we all have more money (to buy toys of course)!  This has been a wild year with the birth of my baby girl and the crashing economy.  It has affected my family greatly and I appreciate all who have continued to support Primetoystore.  I try to give back with reviews, ramblings and hopefully reasonable prices.  I suppose I haven't been able to stock new goodies as often as I'd like but again with the economy and the fact that I'm currently living in Vermont (a beautiful place but not the place for finding toys).  I hope to eventually move back to Michigan to be closer to my family and friends.  If there is anyone in the Michigan area who knows of openings for HR positions, please let me know.  My wife would love the opportunity and I assure you her work ethic is outstanding.  Okay back to toys.

I expect to get some of the illusive wave 2 Narnia: Prince Caspian figures within the next week and I am excited to pass along pictures and reviews.  I still need a few more figures.  So, you toy hunters out there, keep me in mind.   I have added a new category of toys for sale, Indiana Jones.  I am trying to obtain some of the Temple of Doom figures to pass along to those who can't find these.  The wave is truly the standout of the series.  I am also finding myself buying a few more Star Wars figures than I ever thought.  I guess I'm just trying to acquire a set of the best of the movie figures made by Hasbro.  Other than that, I find myself tempted to purchase some of the Transformers Henkei figures as they appear to be so far superior to the American "Universe" counterparts.  It's just frustrating cause there is no reason Hasbro cannot be making these figures with the same paint applications and quality control.  Therefore, it makes it hard for me to shell out double the money just to get a toy that we should be getting in the first place.

Anyways, that's about it for me for now.  I hope to be adding many new goodies in the next couple of weeks just in time for the holidays.

There was a time that I was so consumed with Star Wars that I would buy anything with the Star Wars logo on it including such ridiculous figures as a Crowd Control Stormtrooper and Han Solo with Smuggler Pack.  What was I thinking?  Better yet, what was Kenner thinking?  It's been quite a while since those days.  Now, I may pick up a Star Wars figure from time to time but it is very seldom and this is the time when Hasbro is making the best looking and most articulated figures ever but I got so burnt out on Star Wars with all the movie figures and remakes of figure after figure.  I must have seven slightly different Count Dooku's.  Why does anyone need more than one?  Hasbro has since exhausted the Star Wars series by making virtually every character from both the original trilogy and the prequels.  Hasbro has turned to the expanded universe which features characters from the comic books, novels and video games.  Absolutely not one of these figures interest me.  If it wasn't on the screen it isn't for me (accept for the brilliant Mcquarie concept design action figures).  The other current action figures Hasbro is churning out is from the CGI animated Clone Wars show.  Perhaps, if this show was better than mediocre, I might have an interest in it but to me it is just another excuse to sell toys. 

I don't know what has happened but as of recent I have found myself going back and picking up some of the fine figures from the films that I missed.  Some of the figures that sparked my interest are the Evolutions Jango Fett: finally, a Jango without some sort of action feature.  I also have warmed up to some of the "VOTC" figures.  These are the ones that were packaged on vintage cards and sold for an inflated price but now can mostly be found at clearance prices.  Most notably, I like the IG-88 and Bossk.  I will avoid many of the first series figures that contained a lot of soft goods.  I hate soft goods on 1/18 scaled figures.  It never looks good.  There just isn't enough weight to provide the proper flowing look. 

I wouldn't say I will be spending a lot of time and money with Star Wars. Again, as most new product is expanded universe pieces but I would like to go back and pick up a few of the newly improved figures that I passed on over the last couple of years.  Thankfully, many of them can be found on Ebay fairly cheap.  For example, I really liked the Luke Hoth figure that came in the over priced "tin" set.  I was able to purchase the complete figure alone for about seven dollars shipped.  Not too bad considering I pondered buying the set at retail for the one figure and it would have run me twenty something bucks.  Perhaps, I just love 1/18 scaled action figures especially when they are movie related and now the Indiana Jones series is done, I need to get my fix somewhere.

Perhaps if I was born a decade earlier, I would be fond of the good ol" 12" action doll made popular in the 1960's by Hasbro with their G.I. Joe brand.  However, I was born in the mid-seventies when Star Wars was all there was to live for.  Therefore, I prefer the smaller, all plastic action figure.  Nevertheless, we all have are vices and if you happen to be well off or financially secure then this would be an amazing time to be a collector of 1/6 scale action dolls.

Between American companies, Sideshow toys & DC Direct and Japanese companies, Medicom and Hot toys, there are a bevy of spectacular products being released. 

Most 1/6 scale products are produced specifically for collector's.  It's not like the action figure market where the companies still acquire the majority of their profits from children.  This difference results in an amazing attention to detail when it comes to character likeness, articulation and costume.  All these great improvements from yesterday's 1/6 scale action doll comes with a price.  Back when the target market was children, the average 1/6 scale action doll would run somewhere around twenty bucks but with these high quality collector driven pieces, they will run you anywhere between seventy to two hundred dollars!  Sometimes more!

It's amazing at the work some of the companies mentioned above can pull off.  It is also interesting how these companies sometimes acquire the same licenses.  For example, with the hugely successful Batman sequel "The Dark Knight, all four of these toy companies have been able to release their version of both Batman and the crazed Joker.  Each collector has their personal favorite version but I seem to notice a lot of praise going to Hot Toys.  They make incredibly detailed versions of pop culture characters but certainly at a cost.  A Sideshow or DC Direct  1/6 scale action doll might run you seventy to eighty dollars but Japanese imports Medicom and Hot Toys inch closer to the hundred and fifty dollars range.  So choice on which product you go for may be decided for you by the size of your bank book. 

Both Sideshow Toys and Medicom have the license to produce 1?6 scale Star Wars action dolls and to be honest Sideshow Toys (the cheaper of the two) make as good or better action dolls.  So, it isn't always price that determines quality.

Some of the properties these companies are getting amazes me.  Star Wars and superheroes are common place but Hot Toys just released an amazing Dallas & Kane from the first Alien film in their space suits and they look absolutely spectacular!  They even feature light up features.  Some other licenses include, Indiana Jones, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, famous movie monsters and zombies and even B-movie monsters and characters.

As an action figure collector, I am rather jealous at times that toy companies take such pride and care in producing highly detailed, accutae likenesses and articulated figures for the 1/6 scaled collector but then I look into my wallet and realize, perhaps it's a good thing that regular action figure collecting hasn't reached the level of the 1/6 scaled action doll.

Okay, I mentioned a week or so ago that some guy in a forum claimed to find series 2 of the Narnia; Prince Caspian figures but provided no pictures.  Well, I contacted Play Along Toys and they did confirm this.  I guess they are shipping to some drug stores and such.  Anyways, I very much would like a set and being stuck in Vermont, the odds are against me.  So, if anyone out there finds these, please help a poor action figure addict out.  Here is a list of the figures confirmed:

• #18 Final Battle Peter
• #19 Final Battle Prince Caspian
• #20 Final Battel Kinu Minus
• #21Final Battle Edmund
• #22:Reepicheep & His Mice-At-Arms
• #23:Electrus
• #24:General Glozelle
• #25:Bultitude
• #26: Trufflehunter &GRUMPkin
• #27:Celeus
• #28 Decmedura & Black Dwarf
• #29 Suncloud & Cheetah
• #31 Prince Caspian & Dr. Cornelius
• #30 Prince Peter & King Miraz
• #31 Telmarine Infantry

These are showing up apparently at strange places like drug store (Pamida Pharmacies) and what not.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

For fans of the Dark Knight movie (really, who isn't?), Mattel Toys has just released the Movie Masters Batpod.  That is the ultra unique and cool motorcycle from the film.  I've never really been a vehicle or play set guy mainly due to the amount of space they take up but the Batpod looks so cool, I absolutely have to have it!  It seems like Mattel is really on top of their game with the Movie Masters license.  I'm very curious where else they are going to go with it.  I'd love to see both a Brandon Routh and Christopher Reeves Superman and an Adam West Batman would be cool as well.  I think they should take the line further than just DC superheroes.  I'd love to see the Four Horsemen do other characters from classic films such as Deckerd from Blade Runner.  Perhaps, Mattel Toys wouldn't see licenses like this as a money making opportunity and would rather leave these sort of things to the Neca's of the world but it is clear that the Movie Masters series is collector driven.  So, why not take a risk?  Now, if only Mattel Toys can get their distribution problems fixed, they would finally be making an impact in the action figure category which they've struggled with in the past.

Another interesting tidbit is that Playmates toys, makers of the ever popular TMNT toys are revisiting the Star Trek license that they once had and had an incredibly successful run with.  This time, they seem to be focusing on J.J. Abrams reboot of the franchise with his big summer movie.  I wouldn't consider myself a Trekker but I do enjoy some of it for what it is.  What interests me the most about this is in addition to the Star Trek license, Playmates toys has acquired the rights to make action figures from the Terminator: Salvation film also due out this summer.  They have stated that they will be making action figures in different scales including 3 3/4" (my favorite scale).  I don't think Playmates has ever made action figures in this scale or veered much from the clunky TMNT style figure.  I am very curious how these figures turn out.  I do believe that they stated they were going the same route with the Star Trek license as well.  It should be interesting.

Back to Terminator: Salvation for a moment.  I like the first and third Terminator film just fine ( I wasn't quite as impressed with the second one as the rest of the world was) but I can't say I've ever been tied up into the Terminator universe or craved a whole lot of Terminator merchandise but with Playmates making 3 3/4" figures and Christian Bale being in the movie is enough for me to get a little excited.  We'll see. It could be an expensive summer of toys like 2008 was.

I love my lists!  I know a couple of years back I made a list similar to this but many new Transformers have come and gone and I thought it was time to create a list of the different Transformers series from worst to best.  In this list, I am grouping both American and Japanese series' when appropriate.  So here we go!

• Armada - I could easily go on alone just on how terrible the cartoon was but this list is judged by the toys themselves and when it came to Armada they just plain stunk.  They were designed for six year olds and had very little imagination.  The only redeeming quality is the Supercon Prime was an excellent toy.
• Beast Machines - After a long wonderful run of creative Beast Wars toys that took the Transformers universe in a whole new direction, Beast Machines toys were not only way out of scale from their television counterparts but they were just cheaply made and lacked a lot of imagination.  They were also far too organic for my liking.
• G2 - Generation 2 started as a vehicle to reintroduce a new generation to Transformers with horrible repaints.  However, as the line progressed it brought new molds and for the first time some real articulation to the robots in disguise.  It was the beginning of something good.
• The Movie - I did enjoy the live action movie for what it was but one thing that I never did get used to was the terrible robot designs.  Even worse is they did not translate well into toys.  There were however a few gems including the premium Optimus Prime.  It was a fun toy and looked very cool.  However, it looked nothing like the Prime we saw on the big screen.
• Titanium's - I was torn on whether this should weigh in before or after the movie as I was not fond of the designs of these die-cast metal blocks.  However not only did the series improve towards its end but I did enjoy the non-transforming three inch metal figurines.
• Energon - Again, supported by a horrible cartoon and a bad gimmick that hindered the potential of the Autobots, Energon greatly improved by the end of the line providing some great robots.
• Classics/Universe - This series should be higher on the list as this series of G1 homage's started out with some quality figures but when it turned into Universe, the quality went way down and other than a few figures, most of them stunk of quality issues.  The Japanese Henkei series seems to be a vast improvement but seeing as I don't have any of them I really couldn't confirm that.  the line is still going and has plenty of time to grow hopefully with added quality.
• Cybertron - The third part in the terrible cartoon series starting with Armada brought some surprisingly great toys.  I look back at that series with much joy as the quality and play value was for the most part tops.  Yes, there were a few misses but in general it was nice to see many new characters and fun toys.
• Generation 1 - I'm certain to get the most crap for this not being number one as it is the series that started it all but to be honest, only the first couple series contained cool toys and those were from a mish mash of different Japanese toy lines.  Once Hasbro took over with the designs it all went down hill.  There are far more bad toys than good ones.
• Animated - This series has been rather surprising for me because I generally prefer more realistic robots but the toys have been nothing short of spectacular.  They not only stay true to their cartoon counterparts but they gave some new life to the Transformers universe that was getting a little stale.
• R.I.D./Car Robots - No, I never watched the show but the toys were wonderful.  After years of Beast Transformers Takara came back with well done complex vehicle transformers.  It's only great failure is the line was so short lived.  I would have loved to see a handful of new molds.
• Beast Wars - Love it or hate it, Beast Wars changed Transformers in a big way.  To be honest, Beast Wars is responsible for my love for Transformers.  Sure their were some missteps in the line but from the Japanese exclusives and American toys their was a wide spectrum of original and fun toys.
• Binaltech/Alternators - I make no apologies for my love for this line and G1 purists can take a hike cause this line was nothing but pure love.  Finally a series of sophisticated robots that turned into real cars.  The Binaltech series was the superior of the two as they featured advanced paint applications and die-cast metal.  The series unfortunately ended a little prematurely but there is not one mold I dislike in the entire line.

Well, it appears to be official.  The Indiana Jones series of action figures by Hasbro is over.  It was a nice run and I am not so much upset that it's over.  However, I am disappointed that the Raiders of the Lost Ark wave revealed at the SDCC will not be released.  Hasbro states it is due to lack of support and I can see that at retail stores.  However, Hasbro has a website, www.hasbrotoyshop.com and I feel they could easily release them through this outlet.  Even at inflated prices, enough collectors would purchase these for Hasbro to turn a profit.  Nevertheless, that's the story.  Too bad.

An interesting and unexpected rumor surfaced on one of the action figure forums that a second series of Narnia: Prince Caspian action figures showed up at a drug store.  The poster did not provide pictures so this is just a rumor to me.  My only guess is they are being released to coincide with the DVD release.  Nevertheless, I would be very interested in getting my hands on them.  So, if anyone out there see's them, please shoot me an email with pictures or if you want to be really kind, pick me up a set.  I would gladly pay for them.

On the Transformers front, a prototype has surfaced of a Masterpiece Grimlock!  This is very good news for those like me who love big die-cast metal robots.  The price is rather expensive at near $150.00 but I suppose it's the price you have to pay for a quality toy these days.  I'd like to note that Takara Tomy states he will have light up eyes and sword.  Very cool!  I can't wait to see final painted pictures of this figure.

What's all this talk about the economy being in trouble?  If you ask me, this is the best time to buy toys and more toys!  With all seriousness, these are tough times that's why I urge all Primetoystore fans to join the Mailing List (just email me and let me know you want to be added) and I will try to send out valuable coupons to help ease the burden.

Enough about that.  Now what we are all here for, toys.  I look forward to receiving my BT-22 Convoy next week along with the Transformers Universe Sideswipe, Ironhide and Silverstreak.  Be sure to be on the look out for reviews of them.  Well, that's about it for tonight.

As a child of the 1980's it's undeniable the impact the original Star Wars trilogy had on me.  I loved them and still do (as long as I don't watch the retched "special editions").  I even embraced the prequels.  Although flawed, I still enjoyed the space battles and cool action sequences.  There aren't a great deal of science fiction adventure films these days so, you got to enjoy the few you get.  However, when the new Clone Wars CGI film came to theaters I completely ignored it not because I am tired of Star Wars or the terrible reviews.  It just seemed unnecessary (I'm sure I'll rent it).  As I was flipping through the channels last night I happened to catch the first two episodes of the new CGI Clone Wars series which is based between episode 2 & 3.  I didn't think it was all that terrible but the first thing that came to my mind was, why?

The Clone Wars already received a well done animated series.  What more needs to be explored?  I really don't understand George Lucas's thought process.  I'm going to rewind a bit.  Although I enjoyed the prequels, the thing they really lacked were great side characters.  There were no Boba Fett's (unless you consider Jango).  The great thing about the original trilogy was there were tons of characters that only had a few seconds on screen yet they had a big impact.  They made me want to know more about them and most importantly, they made me want their action figures.  There were very few characters in the prequels that had that effect.  So, back to my original question, why does Lucas keep revisiting this war?

There is so much more that could be explored most notably the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.  I think this would allow for a more imaginative series and fresh new characters.  I'm sick of Clone Troopers, Anakin Skywalker and Yoda's backward talk.  I think Lucas need to pull away from the prequels and do something fresh.  To be rather honest, I'd prefer the Star Wars franchise to just lay dormant and leave it be.  I don't care for the comic books, video games and other "expanded universe characters and stories.  For me it's always been the movies.  However, I understand the cash cow Star Wars is and don't see it slowing down anytime soon. No matter how bad the reviews may be, as long as their are junkies who buy into anything with the Star wars name, there will be new Star Wars product. 

Well the Autumn is officially upon us and soon stores will be loaded with crowds and new toys.  With the economy as bad as it is, it will be interesting to see how the general public will be spending this holiday season.  I for one have to cut back on many of my favorite toy lines and am unable to start new ones. I suppose there aren't a great deal of new toy lines being introduced this season but one that I was looking forward to was Hasbro's 3 3/4" Marvel figures.  3 3/4" is my favorite action figure scale and the initial pictures of these figures looked very promising.  However, packaged final product photos have been revealed and they look rather ghastly.  I don't know what is going on with Hasbro but they better fix their problems soon as they usually make up more than 50% of all the toys I buy.  I'm actually glad these figures look disappointing.  I have the ML Showdown figures and like them just fine and I don't need to start another collection.  I also suppose financially it's a good thing the Indiana Jones line is coming to an end.  I just hope they find a way to get that final assortment shown at SDDC out to us consumers.  This leaves really only a few lines that I am devoted to: Transformers, G.I.Joe and DC Universe. However, I am no longer a completist with the Joe line and am really thinking about picking and choosing when it comes to the DC Universe line.  There are too many figures coming out in short periods of time and they have really increased in price.  twelve bucks for an action figure is getting ridiculous.  I'm better off focusing on some of the vintage toy lines I want to finish off especially now that I've become rather addicted to the 4" Gundam Mobile Suit MSIA action figures.  They can get pretty expensive but are so darned cool. 

Other than that I just want to mention how disappointed I am with Master Collector (home of the official G.I. Joe and Transformers collector clubs).   They are selling the DTC series 4 GI Joe figures that were never released and the only ones I want are Lt. Falcon and Airtight.  However, they are selling them in odd lots of two or three.  It really ticks me off.  There is no reason they can't or shouldn't sell these individually.  Master Collector is infamous for selling over priced figures in odd assortments so I guess it's nothing new.  I do really want the Falcon but I'm not paying forty bucks to get Falcon and two figures I don't want.  I cannot and will not support that!  Perhaps, they will show up on Ebay individually.

I just couldn't resist reporting this, showing this, commenting on this or whatever.  It has really been since the Transformers Binaltech series that I found myself staring endlessly at a mere picture of a new toy but the day has returned with the revelation of the Alternity Prime!  I know the Transformers community are already up in arms because Optimus Prime is a car.  Well, I say get over it!  I have always wished the leader of the Autobots was made into a fast slick car.  I remember being a kid in 1984 when the Transformers first came out wondering why the leader of the Autobots was a big Mack truck.  I always thought Sideswipe looked like he'd make a cool leader.  He was red, a fast car and very heroic looking.  Now don't get me wrong, Optimus Prime is my favorite Transformer and I wouldn't want to change history but with that said there is plenty of room for change and for those who are really uptight about it, don't buy it.  This line will most likely be short lived if not just a one off as Takara does often but I have a hard time looking at this toy and understanding how people don't dig it.  It is so classic and has the greatest head of any transformer.  I also like the subtlety of the colors.  I get pretty sick of overly colorful Transformers.  He embodies what I like most about Binaltech's and that was the simple realism of the series.  If you prefer the silver version fine, it's very nice as well but I like the red one as it screams Optimus Prime finally as a fast car! Vroooom!!!

From time to time I like to just let it all out.  Of course I stick with the topic of action figures.  If I started to get more personal we would be here for hours. 

I will be getting the new Indiana Jones Temple of Doom wave within a week or so and I can honestly say, I'm rather excited.  Not because it may be the final wave of Indiana Jones figures but because I have fond memories and nightmares of the Temple of Doom.  It may not be my favorite of the series but it is the most sentimental.  Plus, I like all the red in the costumes.  It should add a distinctive quality to Hasbro's series.

Speaking of Hasbro, what is going on with these guys?  I know we are in a recession but boy have they gotten bad.  They were once the company that got most of my praise and money too but they've really dropped the bomb on many of their action figure lines.  The perfect example is the G.I.Joe revamp.  It didn't take long before they screwed that up.  I thought the movie would have that honor but they are making cheap repaints and not making many new characters.  This was once a series I adored and promoted.  I was once a strict completist.  Now, I just buy a figure here & there if they interest me.  I also find that they really stunk up the Transformers Classics series.  Now, I was never one of the fanboy's who thought it was the best line since G1 but they were nicely sculpted, painted and made of good plastic.  Now, the series (re-titled Universe) is full of cheap plastic and minimal or bad paint applications.  I'm glad at least the animated line is still well made.  As for Star Wars, well, I'm so far removed from this endless series it doesn't even matter.  I don't even know who they are making these days.  Every time I see a figure on the shelf I try to figure out what movie it is from only to realize it is from one of the subpar comics or the CGI movie.  I've got no interest there.  However, I know they have a Luke & Han in Stormtrooper gear planned for 2009 and I will get those.  I could also go on about Hasbro's handling of Marvel Legends but it's not worth the space.  They are so bad and are about fifteen dollars retail!  Ridiculous!  Perhaps the 3 3/4" series will redeem themselves.

Onto Mattel.  They seem to be up to the same old bull they always are when it comes to action figures.  I love the DC Universe series but the last assortment (series 3) left a bad taste.  The paint jobs were so shoddy.  Supposedly, they switched factories to improve quality.  However, from what I've heard the figures went from ten bucks a pop to twelve.  This is getting out of control.  Again, I know the state of the economy and all but these price hikes are discouraging me from collecting many of these toy lines.  Mattel's new He-Man series leaves much to be desired.  I wish they would have just stuck with the 2002 style of sculpts.  They were refreshing and exciting.  These new sculpts look pretty sad.  However, perhaps I should wait till I have one first hand to make a judgment but at twenty bucks a figure, I may never get that far.

Why are toy companies such as McFarlane Toys and Neca Entertainment still making "Nerd Hummel's"?  Most concerning is why are people buying these?  When they want to, these companies can make great articulated ACTION FIGURES but they tend to make plastic statues for metalheads and gore addicts. 

Let's see, do I have anything else?  Oh yeah, why does the Japanese continue to make awesome high quality toys and American toy companies still take too many short cuts on quality?  To go along with it, it is getting rather expensive to import these great items.  Again, blame the economy. 

One more thing, I can't believe how nice products by toy companies such as Hot Toys, Medicom and Sideshow are!  Some of the 12' action dolls are truly pieces of art but they also have the high prices to go with it.  I would love a few of these especially Hot Toys Iron-Man Mark 1 & 2 but at around $150.00 each (not including shipping) I just cannot justify it.  I wish these companies would use the same quality and make four inch figures from random films with great sculpts and articulation.  I could justify twenty dollars a figure if they carried the same quality as their large scale dolls minus the cloth.  I'm not into removable clothes (at least not with plastic toys).

Well that about does it.  I feel much better now.  How about you?

As a big Transformers fan or perhaps I should say a huge fan of transforming robots seeing it isn't necessarily the mythos of Transformers I like so much but the concept of a vehicle/beast that can turn into a robot.  I ponder what will the future hold for the "main" line?  Currently as the main line Hasbro has given us a great series of Transformers toys that represent their animated counterparts very well.  It is a great departure from any Transformers series of the past as they are ultra stylized.  I normally prefer a more serious "realistic" robot nevertheless, I have fallen for the animated series. 

After the animated line finishes off, we all know what to expect, more movie figures for the film sequel titled: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen.  Although I did enjoy the first movie for what it was I am not a fan of the overall designs.  I feel there is far too much going on.  Sometimes simplicity works better.  So, as I was saying, 2009 will be a whole slew of robots that look only slightly like their film counterparts.  However, their shelf life is limited.  Eventually Hasbro will have to create a new series to continue the great success of their in house brand.  The question is, what direction will Hasbro go in this time?  I wish they would go for a realistic line based on realistic vehicles like Alternators but I am pretty sure that will not happen as it is too expensive for them to get all the rights to the vehicles and they will certainly want to have the main line coincide with a cartoon.  Therefore, that is out of the question.  I doubt they will go right back into the animated style.  So, what other options are there?  They could go back to beasts with a Beast Wars type of show but I think they will probably not go that route because they would most likely want to stick with something familiar to the movie characters and style. 

This is a tough question because you never know.  The Animated series came out of left field but was actually quite an obvious choice considering that is the style of today's successful cartoons.  I am trying to think of the up and coming trends with toys and cartoons and I can't seem to pinpoint anything.  Perhaps, Hasbro will come up with a concept mixing Beasts and vehicles but not in the same way as Beast Machines.  This could prove successful seeing both styles have proven to be a win for Hasbro.

Whatever it is I hope it is a step up.  I like what they have done with the animated line but wouldn't mind them going back to a more serious style.  Most of all I hope Hasbro creates some new characters.  Don't get me wrong, I love the classics especially Optimus Prime.  However, with all the homage's going around these days, I think it may be time for a series with some fresh new faces.  I think there would be nothing more refreshing than creating a new set of characters as was done with the Beast Wars.  It is time for a new mythos to be created.  After awhile Starscream and Bumblebee get old.

Here's to the future.

I seem to be more than making up for the lack of Ramblings in the last month or so.  This time I'm going to go on a rant on how unfair action figure collector's have it compared to 1/6 scale doll collectors.

There are companies such as Hot Toys, Sideshow and Medicom that make highly detailed 1/6 scaled clothed figures that are super detailed.  Yes, they are priced very high and glad I'm not into them but it saddens me that the action figure collector doesn't get highly detailed and articulated action figures.  Screw the "Nerd Hummel's" that Neca and McFarlane toys make.  I want super detailed action figures of the Alien humans in space suits and other type figures.  Why can't Hot Toys and Sideshow do this for say. 3 3/4" figures.  They can price them at $20.00 a pop which is rather expensive for a 3 3/4" figure but if they are half as cool and detailed as their 1/6 scaled figures I'm in!  Take a look below at my top ten movie figure list.  Some of these would be perfect for one off figures such as Deckerd from Blade Runner.  I'm sick of action figure statues and the big toy companies taking short cuts with articulation, paint applications and sculpts.  It is obvious that action figure collecting has a large collector market so why doesn't one of these companies who specialize in pleasing  1/6 scale collectors cater to us?  I don't want dolls and I can't afford $150.00 a figure.  So, I think a high quality $20.00 3 3/4" or 5" figure is a fair compromise.  What do you think? 

Sources are saying Hasbro will be ending the Indiana Jones action figure series after the Temple of Doom wave.  I think this is good news and bad news.  Good news because I don't think this line needs to go on forever.  I don't want a series of a hundred different Indiana Jones figures and characters that had a moment of screen time.  This is not Star Wars where every minor character is a cool creature of some sort.  It is sad news because Hasbro revealed a wonderful second assortment of Raiders of the Lost Ark figures with some core characters.   I think Hasbro needs to find a way to get this final assortment to the fans somehow.  Perhaps, this would be a good way to utilize the underwhelming Hasbrotoyshop website.  Nevertheless, I think if they could get this final assortment out to the collector's it would bring a great series of figures to a positive end but knowing that there was a chance to get an updated Toht and an Alfred Molina figure would always hang heavy over collectors head and always make me feel that the collection was never quite completed.

Ah, yet another list.  I'll be honest, I love making lists and I think whether people agree with them or not, they enjoy reading them.  Therefore, I thought I'd make a list of the top ten movies I'd like to see get an action figure series.  My vision is simple: I visualize these figures to be 3 3/4" as I think it is a classic scale and works well for movie figures.  As far as the overall aesthetic I would say I think Hasbro's Indiana Jones series (or Star Wars) is a good standard.  They provide good static poses with enough articulation to add some action but not take away from the sculpt.  Some of these films have had action figures made in the past but definitely need to be revisited and some never had.  So, here we go!

10. Willow - This movie may not be the greatest or to many not even good but one thing is for sure is it had many great characters and creatures that would be nice for an action figure series.  Tonka made miniature figurines in the 1980's but were not really action figures.  I think a great Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) would be tops.

9. Logon's Run - This was a great sci-fi flick and had a great story.  It may be dated and not really that kid friendly but there were some interesting costumes and characters.  I really would have loved to see Brian Singer remake this film as he planned but it looks like it is no longer going to happen.  Nevertheless, a nice ten figure set or so would be perfect.

8. The Black Hole - Mego made a nice set of figures from this Disney film back when it was released.  However, many of the coolest characters were only released over seas and would cost any interested collector an arm and a leg.  Thirty years or so later, this movie still stands out and could definitely use a series of action figures sculpted with today's standards of all the cool heroes, villains and robots.

7. Blade Runner - One of the all time greatest sci-fi flicks ever and the only toys ever made were some die-cast Hot Wheels scaled cars.  Perhaps, this movie was too adult themed for the time but today's market is much more collector oriented.  The world needs more Harrison Ford figures and Deckerd is a must.  This movie may have faired better on the list but the lack of characters who could be made leave it at number seven.

6. Flash Gordon - Even though Big Bang Pow! is currently making a nice series of figures from this 1980's cult classic, the figures are too large in scale for such a vast universe of characters.  There are so many figures I'd want and the array of costumes they wore.

5. Dune - I love this David Lynch film no matter how many haters there are out there.  The costumes and characters are excellent regardless of how unfaithful it was to the book.  LJN made some nice figures back when the film was in theaters but due to it being a box office bomb, we never got to see some of the best characters. 

4. Alien/Aliens - We have seen so many toys of the alien creature in many different incarnations but I'd love to see a movie accurate series of the humans as well.  I wish Kenner would have released their proposed 3 3/4" series back in the late 70's.  They looked great but throw James Cameron's Aliens in the mix and you can expand the universe a great deal and hey, if it worked out I suppose I wouldn't mind some of the characters from the lackluster Aliens 3 and Aliens Resurrection as well.

3. The Fifth Element - I can't believe no one hasn't made action figures from this film yet.  Now defunct N Toys made a few prototypes that were never produced.  Maybe it's a good thing seeing the company wasn't all that great anyways but this movie had so many creatures and colorful characters and costumes, it seems like a no brainer.

2. The Dark Crystal - I love everything about this movie.  It is full of monsters, creatures and Skeksis!  Prototypes were made back in the 1980's but they were never released.  I would have killed to own them as a child.  Neca toys is releasing a Skeksis Chamberlain as part of their Cult Classics series later this year that looks great but I want the entire universe and as I've noted a hundred times throughout this website, I prefer most action figures in the 3 3/4" scale.

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Many people are huge fans of the figures Toybiz produced.  And as they weren't bad they just weren't consistent enough for me.  Not to mention they were too big making it hard to have in scaled characters such as Treebeard etc.  This is number one for two reasons:  The movies are pure genius and a series of all the wonderful characters could go on for years and possibly rival Star Wars (but hopefully without the never ending retreads and box sets Hasbro makes). 

Honorable mentions: The Neverending Story and Legend.

For those who regularly visit Primetoystore (thank you very much), you may have noticed a lack of Reviews, Ramblings and new products for sale.  Well, the truth is, there hasn't been a great deal of new products coming out that have caught my interest but that should all change this month as toy companies are gearing up for the holiday season.  I know their are many products with an expected September release date that I am greatly anticipating including, The Temple of Doom figures, BT Convoy and some new G.I. Joe's.  Plus, as always some new Transformers.  It has been a slow month but I anticipate a glut of reviews soon. 

As far as Ramblings go, I just haven't found a great deal to comment on in the world of action figures.  There has been no new great announcements or things to bring me much joy or hatred to ramble about.

I continue to search out new products for sale but I am blaming the current economy for that.  It is becoming very expensive to buy old and new toys with shipping and gas prices through the roof.  If I can't get good deals on items then I can't provide good deals.  I would rather not have to charge an arm and a leg on an item and only make a dollar or two on it.  No need to worry though.  I am finding alternative sources.  Therefore, I hope to bring you some great new products soon. 

Well, other than that the only thing I have to report is that the one thing good that has come out of the terrible economic change in America is that more toy companies are reverting back to the wonderful 3 3/4" scale.  I've mentioned it before as being my favorite scale but it is the most collector friendly scale for a standard action figure in my opinion and allows for some vast universe's of characters.  Here's hoping the economic climate changes for the better but 3 3/4" figures are here to stay.  Who has room for a bunch of 7" "Nerd Hummel's" anyway?

At the Japanese C3xHOBBY Convention, Takara Tomy revealed the silver Alternity Convoy and it is a thing of beauty.  The detail is amazing!  Although I can't wait to see the "Vibrant red" version which will be painted up to look like Convoy, you could still see how nice this piece of art is.  This is the difference between the Japanese marketed Transformers and the American marketed ones.  Hasbro is just trying to sell toys, Takara Tomy wants to make an awesome product.  The Alternity Convoy will most likely cost $50.00 each in the states and that may seem expensive for a 1/32 scaled transformers (just a tad bigger than a deluxe) but when you consider that it will contain die-cast metal and great paint applications, it seems well worth it to me especially since I paid $25.00 each for the Voyager Silverbolt and Powerglide and they were utter junk.  For me, it's quality not quantity.  It's not about the biggest, it's about the best. 

It will be interesting to see if Takara Tomy releases any other Alternity figures or if Convoy will be the sole figure from the series.  Either way, I hope this doesn't put a stop to Takara Tomy finishing off the Binaltech line.  If they just release a BT version of Mirage, Rumble & Frenzy, Ravage and perhaps a Rodimus, I would be totally satisfied with moving on from Binaltechs but I at least need a die-cast Mirage.

I figured I haven't done a list in a long while and with it slowly creeping into 2009, I thought I would run down what I think is the top five domestic action figure lines on the market today.  This obviously does not include international lines because if it did Binaltech and possibly Transformers Henkei amongst other Japanese toy lines would destroy a few on this list.  So, will stick with just the good ol' USA.  Please note:  I am not including 12" scaled dolls.  I know a lot of people like these but I've said it before, I don't classify them as action figures.

5. G. I. Joe - This series should be in a much better place on the list but due to Hasbro's recent laziness of repaints and retools plus the unnecessary multi-packs, this series has left me a bit bitter.  Nevertheless, the figures that are good are very good.  Therefore, they deserve to be on this list.

4. Hellboy - It is amazing how nice this set of figures are.  They are fully articulated, well painted and loaded with accessories.  I had a taste of the 3 3/4" series and they are sure to just solidify Mezco's Hellboy toys' place on this list.

3. Indiana Jones - Many people do not like this line and it really is their loss because Hasbro has done a nice job of making a series of figures from all four Indiana Jones movies without saturating the market like they've done with the Star Wars license.  This line will not last forever and that is a good thing.

2. Transformers Animated - Whether you like the character designs or not, one thing is for sure, Hasbro has engineered a wonderful set of fun Transformers that look very much like their television counterparts.  They are also a reasonable value in today's toy marketplace.  Transformers have always been one of the most gratifying toys to buy for me as there is more to do with them then just posing them and putting weapons in their hands.

1. DC Universe - I wouldn't quite consider Mattel's wonderful line of DC Superheroes sculpted by the Four Horsemen as the Super Powers for this generation.  They are more so the answer to Toybiz/Hasbro's Marvel Legends for DC superheroes but overall far superior.  I adore this series.  It will be interesting though because with such a large universe, Mattel could easily over saturate the market with repaints and specials but as is right now, this is the best toy line on the toy shelves and feel free to group in the Movie Masters series in with this line.

Honorable Mention - Mighty Muggs - This refreshing series of cartoon like figures was inches away from knocking G. I. Joe off the list but I felt if I wouldn't allow 12" dolls on the list it was only fair to leave off this designer toy stylized series even though they generally contain more articulation than most Neca action figure toy lines.

For those who are in the know with Transformers, you've already seen prototype pictures of Takara Tomy's new die-cast real automobile series of Transformers similar to the brilliant Binaltech called "Alternity".  However, this time they are smaller in a 1/32 scale.  Some may not be able to accept the Autobot leader as a car but for me, this is awesome!  Don't get me wrong.  I love Prime as a semi but a fast car seems so much cooler than a bulky truck and it's about time Prime get's a little make-over.  What makes this toy look even cooler is his head.  It screams Optimus Prime but is much more sleek and fits this new car form of his.  Not only can I not wait to see painted pictures but I can't wait to see what else Takara Tomy has up its sleeve.  I will always love Binaltech more than any other Transformers series but if Hasbro and Takara will not continue new molds, I'll take this series based on real cars with die-cast metal to any of the cheap plastic American lines any day.  Go Takara Tomy for taking chances with the Transformers universe!  It's a big world and it has plenty of room to grow.

Now that the Indiana Jones movie, "kingdom of the Crystal Skull" has pretty much run it's course in multi-plex's around the country, the action figures still linger on store shelves.  I think this is a good thing.  If the Jones movies had the same marketing potential of Star Wars, Hasbro would have come out with every character that graced the screen in all four movies and possibly even the TV show.  Thankfully, they are selling just good enough to warrant small future assortments but not a ridiculous amount where the series is uncollectable.  I love the new Indiana Jones figures.  Hasbro is making all the core characters I wanted but isn't over doing it.  The only aspect I could do without are the army builder 2-packs but those are released few and far between and aren't breaking the bank. 

Hopefully, we will see maybe four more good waves of characters and Hasbro will end the series leaving fans with a nice set of Indiana Jones movie figures worth collecting and not so overwhelming that you can get lost in collecting them, akin to Star Wars.

I would say it's fair to say that there are five things in life that I am truly passionate about.  They are (in order): family, friends, action figures, music & movies.  I have dedicated a substantial amount of time to my third passion which is the primary subject matter of this website, action figures.

What is it about action figures that I am so passionate about?  It's clear that they remind me of the simpler times of childhood but I think the artistic creativity that goes into these plastic play things is a big part of it.  Yes, I think action figures are a form of art.  I must not be the only one because out of toys has grown a whole industry of "designer toys" made by today's urban artists which many have truly made a name for themselves in the art world.

I surround myself with the things I love.  I have an office loaded with action figures, I decorate the walls with framed old records of some of my favorite musicians, I even have this very cool sculpture of Transformers Bumblebee made entirely of motorcycle parts but when I discovered artist, Robert Burden it was the perfect solution for framing my passion.  Artist Robert Burden paints large canvas's with the action figures that inspire him.  Thankfully for me, he has produced a few of these works of art as a limited run of beautiful prints.

Burden's oil paintings are incredible!  They aren't just paintings of action figures but each painting speaks to me in a different way.  I don't know personally what inspired his style but every time I look at the two wonderful prints I own, I see something different and have my own denotation I take from them.  The best part is my wife appreciates the art as well.   Which means the framed and matted prints are not confined to my office. 

I own a lot of action figures and I continue to buy and buy but sometimes they can bore me.  So, when you can find another median to express your passions it really is an amazing thing.

If you haven't yet seen Burden's artwork, they can be seen at his website Robert Burden's toy box www.robertburden.net.  I highly recommend adding his work to your collection as I have mine. 

When the 25th anniversary G.I. Joe series was first released it was the bee's knees.  It was exciting, fresh and it brought back fond memories of childhood.  All this for about five to six dollars.  So, now only a year later Hasbro has over saturated the market with box sets full of repaints and poorly done retools with maybe one or two figures to help justify the purchase.  The way Hasbro is approaching this line has got me in a tizzy.  I don't want to pay $25.00 to get a Quick Kick figure because he is in a box set when the figure is popular enough to justify a single card release.  What's got me really upset is the way Hasbro has treated my favorite Joe, Lt. Falcon.  He deserves a single carded figure.  He was one of the core characters in the line-up he was released in and a fan favorite and Hasbro has chosen to release a retooled Duke figure in a 2-Pack with poor colors and over all aesthetics.  I am very ticked off by this.  I haven't even mentioned the fact that most retailers have raised the figure price to about seven or eight dollars!  Now I know the economy justifies that but if I have to pay eight dollars for a 3 3/4" figure, I better not get a sub-par retool.  Hasbro rarely did this in the 1980's so why now? 

I was expecting to be a completest of this line but it's got out of hand and the final products have gotten weak.  Thankfully the sure to be horrible G.I. Joe movie will be released next summer which will put a halt to this line.  Yes, there are still so many figures I'd love to see released but if the results are that of my favorite Joe Falcon, I'd rather Hasbro just end the series now. 

Every year the San Diego Comic-Con gets bigger and better!  I always get so overwhelmed by all the new toys shown and the other great previews of things to come such as movies, comic books and other geektastic stuff!  One year I may actually go.  I'm planning on next year but I can't say for sure whether that is realistic or not.  We shall see.  Anyways, feel free to check the Ramblings section throughout the week as I plan on posting my opinions of the stuff shown on other great sites who are covering the convention.  They show the pics and I give you my thoughts.  It's fun for all!

Day 1 - 7-24-08 - So far nothing has blown me away.  I'd say the highlights are the DC Universe Hawkman looks spectacular and surprisingly the Marvel Legends Tiger Stripe Wolverine has peaked my interest.  I definitely will have to see more pics of it but the one I have seen looks pretty cool.  It has always been my favorite Wolvie costume.  Other than that Hasbro Toys had a fairly nice showing of some new 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe's.  Most notably, Airborne, Cobra Eel, Mutt & Junkyard and the Matt Trakker looks...um...interesting.  I definitely hope to see more in the lines of Transformers, Hellboy, Neca figures & DC Universe.  However, I have a feeling the majority has been revealed.  We'll see. 

Day 2 7-25-08 - I am surprised to say that Hasbro's new 3 3/4" line has peaked my interest more than any other line today.  I love the scale and the packaging.  I just hope they don't end up costing eight dollars a figure.  I am also happy to say, Hasbro is finally releasing a proper Luke and Han in Stormtrooper disguise for their Star Wars line.  It has been a long time since I've had much interest in Star Wars but these two are a must get for me.  Other than that I love what Mattel is showing for their DC Universe series.  I'm not crazy about their "Infinite Heroes" series.  They look a little boring and rushed.  However, I'm totally diggin' more JLU figures.  I just have to wait till October to roll around when a Target opens up somewhat in driving distance as they are Target exclusives.  I also continue to enjoy the Indian Jones action figures.  The second wave of Raiders of the Lost Ark look great.  I was surprised to see an Alfred Molena figure and the variant head on Tote is very cool.  I just hope it isn't impossible to find.   That about does it for day 2.  So far, overall I am not overwhelmed as there isn't a great deal of great new products.  Actually a lot of lines I enjoy collecting such as G.I. Joe are discouraging me from collecting them because of all the exclusives and repaints.  It's getting to be too much.

In other unrelated news, BT Convoy has been officially rescheduled for an October release date.  I was happy to hear that as I was afraid it might get cancelled altogether.  I am very much anticipating this figure.

Day 3 7-26-08 - So far today I've seen the coolest merchandise.  Perhaps that is due to my love for transforming robots.  Hasbro had a nice selection of plastic with their animated, Universe and 25th Anniversary lines.  I really love the Voyager scaled Inferno.  It is so boxy and lookes great in both modes.  I also really liked the Universe Cyclonus and the Deluxe Hound with Ravage looked okay as well.  The animated series is turning out to be an excellent series with the new Deluxe Blure and Shockwave.  I really dug the Blurr.  It was very slick and slender.  I like the fact Hasbro is making a new Cheetor but the robot mode shown looks a little wonkey.  The arms are too low.  Hopefully it was a transformation error on Hasbro's part.  I also liked the little Cosmos figure.  A queston was asked about the return of Alternator's and Hasbro replied. wait and see.  This could be great news.  I kind of have a feeling they will just release the Alternity figures which wouldn't be bad but it's the Alts/BT's that I have the love for.  At least until I have an Alternity figure in my hands.

Hasbro also showed more of their Marvel Universe 3 3/4" figures and they look very nice.  It's going to be hard not to want to collect them.  I'm certain to buy a few but I have a feeling they will not retail for five dollars and anything more than that is hard for me to pay for a small action figure.  The price hike on G.I. Joe has discouraged me from completing that set.  That and all the retools and exclusive sets.

Other than that haven't seen much new.  I want to see more pictures of the Dark Crystal Skeksis Chamberlain but I haven't seen any.

Day 4 7-27-08 - Not a great deal was shown on the final day of the SDCC.  Mattel showed off some more of their "Classics He-Man" series with Mer-Man and Zodac.  I'm not sure how I feel about this series.  These are literally re-sculpted versions of the original MOTU figures.  What I liked about the revamp from a couple of years ago is they were a little more stylized.  I suppose I'll have to wait till I have one in my hand before I make a final analysis.  Mattel also showed a few more DC Universe figures.  This line is turning out to be one of the best comic book superhero action figure lines of all time.  I think they are far superior to Marvel Legends.  Speaking of, Hasbro showed off more of the 3 3/4" line and they are looking mighty fine.  I also got a better look at Hasbro's Star wars Big Millennium Falcon (BMF) and I must say, it is incredible.  It's like the U.S.S. Flagg of the Star Wars universe.  There's no way I can afford it or find room for it but I wish I could play with it.  It looks like great fun. I'm sure more pictures will show up online within the next couple of days when the action figure sites that attended the show get a chance to upload everything. 

Overall, there are definitely some cool products, far too many store exclusives and most likely inflated prices making it hard for me to buy everything I want.  Nevertheless, it was not too overwhelming unless you are a Star Wars collector or superhero action figure collector as there was a plethora of products in such categories. 

I don't really review or comment on movies.  If I did it would be a whole other site.  Nevertheless, this is a site for fan boys and a comic book movie fits that category.  Therefore, I just wanted to quickly comment on the Dark Knight. 

I just got back from seeing this film and it is just that, a film, not just a comic book movie.  It is on a whole other level.  I have nothing miraculous to add that the critics haven't already said but I do want to reiterate how brilliant Ledger's performance is.  His Joker is up there with some of cinema's greatest villains like Darth Vader and Hannibal Lechter.  All the performances are great but this is definitely a "Joker" movie and I wouldn't want it any other way.  It's just sad we will never get to see Ledger as the Joker or in any other role again. 

It's the summertime.  Everything is supposed to be more laid back.  People are outside enjoying the weather and having barbecue's with friends and family right? well...in theory.  However, almost a month ago I became a new dad and boy is it a lot of work.  Don't get me wrong.  I love every minute of it (accept maybe the lack of sleep and the constant crying).  Nevertheless, I've tried my best not to neglect Primetoystore and providing new merchandise and new reviews and what not but to be brutally honest, I am still adjusting to the lack of sleep and money isn't coming in as fast as it's going out which means Primetoystore suffers.  Perhaps, no one has even noticed or cares accept me.  It is my passion and I take way too much pride into what I put into this site hoping it brings joy to others.  So, if you haven't been feeling you're getting as many reviews, ramblings and new toys to buy, hang in there.  Things will pick up.  There is still plenty of goodies on the site and so much more planned as I intend to grow.  I just need a little sleep and a little more capitol. Enjoy the outdoors and an action figure from www.Primetoystore.com for the time being.

I was thinking back to the last couple of years and seem to remember that around this time (July) that there was no new toys really being released.  I remember anticipating the fall when many stores started to reset and get ready for the holiday shopping season but this summer has been an overwhelming one for action figures starting with Iron-man than Indiana Jones, Dark Knight, Transformers Animated, Hellboy and Transformers Universe and the summer has just begun.  We still have Binaltech's, Hellboy 3 3/4", more DC Universe figures and more Transformers.  I even forgot to mention the plethora of G.I.Joe figures.  there seems to be a new assortment released every month.  I haven't even mentioned some of the other lines like DC Direct figures, Star wars, Cult Classics, Mighty Muggs, Marvel Legends, Hulk movie toys & other than Binaltech's I haven't even mentioned all the cool imports released this summer.

I always connected summer with baseball barbecue's and riding bikes and a nice break from toys but this summer undoubtedly has been an expensive one.  I can only imagine how overwhelming it's going to be when in a couple weeks most toy retailers reveal fall and springs toys at the San Diego Comic-Con.  Wow!  It's the best time to be a toy collector but undoubtedly the most expensive especially if you have such diverse tastes as myself. 

It's a tough hobby but boy do I love it!  Bring it on!

I also wanted to make a quick and obvious observation I made and I'm sure most everyone else did who has seen Disney/Pixar's new film, Wall-E.  Perhaps the biggest message was how the human race buys and wastes too many unnecessary items yet there is a large variety of Wall-E toys and other merchandising that just makes the movie one big hypocrisy.  Well, I can't say it surprises me.  It is a cartoon marketed towards children and children generally equal toys, lunch boxes, backpacks and anything else to help make these companies richer.  I can't complain cause I'm one of those who consumes but I certainly don't waste.  Therefore, I feel a little better about it.

Well, as I am trying to recover from a night of no sleep thanks to a crying baby, I was inundated with tons of new pictures from both the world of Transformers and GI Joe.  First, Takara Tomy's homepage has updated with many new pictures of the first two new Binaltech's, the silver Meister and blue Bluestreak.  For repaints, they look beautiful as expected.  Also, big news for me, at www.yojoe.com, they have revealed pictures of series five Comic 2-packs.  And why is this such big news for me?  Because this assortment includes my favorite Joe, Lt. Falcon.  I'm a little torn on how I feel about it.  I like it but I don't quite love it.  The head sculpt looks great and the body works good and I especially like the details on the backpack but something's a little off on the green color.  I'd like to think it has to do with the photograph but I'll just have to wait and see. I also am a bit disappointed with the Tripwire.  It looks great accept for the grates on his pads.   Other than that, all sorts of new toys are being released at retail including the new series of Transformers Animated. 

Between a newborn and new toys, I'll surely be broke so, buy some toys from me!!!!

As if the return of Binaltech was not enough, Takara Tomy is bringing Transformers lovers a new line of 1/32 scaled cars loaded with die-cast metal.  They will include the auotmorph transformation similar to the movie toys.  The first in the series is a Nissan GT-R.  There will be two color variations.  One in red to fit Optimus Prime (Convoy) and a silver version which is the cars flagship color. 

I am incredibly excited about this line.  It will provide realistic cars that transform into cool robots with some definite differences than we are used too.  It looks like there will be some homage to G1 but not like Classics.  I like this.  It does not limit them to making a certain character a certain vehicle.  I think it's about time the leader of the Autobot's gets a make over into a fast car.  The scale is also nice as it will give me more room to display them.

My only hope that in addition to Transformers Alternity, Binaltech will continue.  At least finish it off with Mirage, Ravage, Rumble & Frenzy and I would be just fine. 

Screw the Classics and make mine Alternity!

It's a sad day today when one of films greatest contributors passes on.  Stan Winston was not in front of the camera but behind it.  He was responsible for many films special effects including but not limited to, Jurassic Park and Terminator 2.  He was one of the last artists who did not solely use CGI to make special effects.  I hope his studio carries on his tradition and quality of work.

Well, perhaps incredible is an overstatement but as someone who was an avid reader of the Hulk comic book, it felt like I was reading a solid story ark.  It was short, sweet and to the point.  As a defender of Ang Lee's Hulk, this one worked so much better.  The problem with Ang Lee's Hulk was it was way too long and artsy and he spent too much time developing Bruce Banner.  This film was able to let you know who Banner is and how he got to be the Hulk smoothly in a few short minutes.  I respect Eric Bana as an actor but Edward Norton worked much better.   I'll stop making comparisons but overall this Hulk worked much better and kept me engaged from beginning to end and the end certainly was a nice set up for things to come.  It appears Marvel has a good grasp on their film studio now and hopefully we won't see any more Ghost Riders or Daredevils.

Last I spoke of Narnia: Prince Caspian was through a review of an action figure.  I hadn't seen the movie yet and did not want to invest too much money into the toys considering I loathed the first film but liked the figures especially the scale at 3 3/4".  Well, I can now say I've seen the movie and it wasn't half bad.  It was full of fantasy action and monsters galore.  I wouldn't say it was literature like Lord of the Rings but it was entertaining enough to buy the rest of the figures especially considering Toys R' Us had a nice sale on them.

I like the figures.  I like what Play along is trying to achieve with the line even if they are flawed but the biggest flaws are the twisty ties!  I've dealt with toys with a lot of twisty ties but Damn!  These are the twisty ties from hell!  Not only is every limb tied tightly around the plastic insert but they are small!  You really have to get in there to get these things off!  I have said this before, I understand that the twisty ties help eliminate shoplifting but do they really need that many ties?  It really is overkill.  So, my message to Play Along is, nice figures but take it easy on the twisty ties.  My hands are bloody from opening up a couple two packs and that just ain't right. 

I haven't done one of my beloved lists and I figured it was about time.  I may have done one very similar or perhaps the exact same subject before but if so, it was a long time ago and I'm ready to revisit it. With the extreme popularity of re-launching popular 1980's toy lines such as G.I.Joe and Transformers as complete homage's, I thought I would provide the top 5 1980's toy likes that need the remake treatment.

5. Machine-Robo - This line in the states is of course known as Go-Bots but with such a bad animated series let's just revisit the toys that originally came from Japan.  Most likely if this was to be done it would have to be a Japanese toy line because Hasbro owns the name Go-Bots and I don't want to see them do this. I want Bandai to make small Hot Wheels scaled die-cast cars that can fit in your pocket that transform into cool robots.  What would and could be different is articulation.  with the advancement of toy technology, they can make these small bots with great articulation. Easy nuff.

4. C.O.P.S. - This is an easy one.  C.O.P.S were sort of the pre-curser to what Marvel Legends did anyways: make six inch highly articulated action figures.  This time around they can add even more articulation.  I'd love to see what a Buttons McBoom Boom would look like today

3. Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - This line would actually need to be sort of the opposite approach as Go Bots.  The Wheeled Warriors cartoon had plenty of character and personality but the toys were way more focused on the vehicles.  This time around make both the figures and vehicle a tad bit bigger and actually make the characters from the cartoon into action figures.

2. Thundercats - I know many would place this in the number one spot but because the original figures are quite alright looking now, they got the number two spot.  With that said, oh how cool would a new line of well sculpted Thundercats could be.  The Four Hoursemen would be the perfect candidates for this project in my book.

1. The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers - The only figures ever made were by Galoob and never made it stateside.  They were pretty cool figures but they never made it past one assortment and there are loads of cool characters in this ahead of its time animated show.  I would probably recommend 3 3/4" figures so all the cool vehicles and play sets could be made but to be honest, these would look spectacular in an ultra poseable 6" ML style line. 

I consider myself an honest person.  I have always been taught to treat others as you would like to be treated.  I have spent most of my professional life in some aspect of customer service, whether management, call centers, advertising sales or primetoystore.  I value my customers and respect them.  As a matter of fact sometimes I am so honest that I've lost sales due to it.  However, I think people remember those little things and I believe in karma.

I am an avid Ebay user primarily with buying.  I live in a very rural area and it can be hard to find stores, garage sales, flea markets or conventions and to be rather honest, I enjoy using Ebay.  I felt for an auction website that has a virtual monopoly on the online auction market, they do a pretty good job.  That was until last week.  I was accused of Shill bidding.  If you are not aware of what that is, it is when you bid on someone's item to help drive up the price.  They accused me of doing this on a Super Gobot Super Couper which I bid on for my personal collection.  I bid what I was willing to pay which was about $35.00 and it surpassed that days before the auction ended.  So how is this shill bidding?  Good question.

According to Ebay you can not be related to, roommates with or an employee of the seller for you would have access to information others would not.  I am not related to the seller, I live in Vermont he lives in Michigan and I don't make enough money to hire anyone and I certainly don't work for this person neither.  So what gives?  What do I know that others don't?  Do I know the seller?  I sure do.  The Go-Bot community is small.  The odds are you may know some of the other collectors.  It is very common.  The action figure market in general is pretty small and I know many collector's.  However, that certainly doesn't mean I am in cahoots with them.  What would be my gain to drive up the price of an item I've been looking for to complete my Super Go-Bot set?  I have over 500 positive feedback and I WAS a "Power Seller".  I Would think they'd give me the benefit of the doubt.  After many (and I mean many) of emails, they still come to the same conclusion that their investigation concludes I was shill bidding yet they can not tell me any further details nor can I talk to anyone about it as Ebay has no hotline of any sort.

I am more than upset.  I am insulted.  I am sharing this with you because people have to know that Ebay, yet a wonderful tool is abusing its power in the marketplace and it's rather unfair.  They removed my "Power Seller" status and suspended my use for fourteen days (my wife is actually probably happy about that one) but I can care less about those things.  I take pride in my reputation.  I have acquired a phone number for Mr. Burk, he is in charge of the security and will continually try to contact him by phone.  It will most likely go no where and I will be wasting my time but perhaps I'll be wasting his as well.

My final thought on this situation is, be careful of those with power.  "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Unfortunately, Ebay is a necessary evil.  I only wish I could write that statement without using the word evil.

I just got back from the movie theater after seeing the 4th installment of the Indiana Jones films and I have no intention of giving a full review because it's Indiana Jones.  Good or bad, you have to see it for yourself.  However, I did like it.  My only major disappointment was it lacked the suspense the other films had. For example, I remember being on the edge of my seat during Temple of Doom when Mola Ram had the boy on the spinning thing over a pit of fire as he ripped out his heart and then lowered him in.  There was none of that.  I thought Shia Labouf was a good fit and that was a minor concern of mine.

I can't place this in any order with the other Indiana Jones installments of favorite to least favorite because it just wouldn't be fair.  I've seen the other three films more than a dozen times each where I've only seen the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull once.  I remember not being totally in love with the Last Crusade upon first viewing and now it happens to be my favorite one to watch.  Raiders of the Lost Ark of course is and will always be the best.

I know it has been mentioned before that Takara Tomy was revisiting Binaltech's with a silver repaint of Jazz and a blue repaint of Streak but it is confirmed that Optimus Prime (Dodge Ram Pick-Up Truck) and Arcee will be also added to the re-launch and also at a recent Japanese collector's show a dark silhouette of what looks to be Rumble/Frenzy or both will be next.  This also means Mirage cannot be far behind.  If this is true I will be one happy robot fan.  All I ever cared about was at least seeing the Alternators line finished off in Binaltech form.  I am especially happy to know that Optimus will get the die-cast treatment even though the Kiss Player looked as good as die-cast, there is nothing like feeling the cold heavy metal in your hands and personally, the Convoy is one of my favorite BT molds.  So, if we get a Rumble/Frenzy, Mirage, Ravage and perhaps a few other minor retools such as Trailbreaker, I think I can sleep at night feeling I have a complete set of the best Transformers series ever made!

Every couple of years Hasbro releases a new series of Transformers and in between them there is usually a lull that is a much needed break  to give me a chance to spend some money on catching up on other toy lines or experiencing new ones or maybe even save a little money and after the Transformers movie, I certainly needed a break especially with all the great action figures coming out from G.I.Joe to Mattel's DC Universe.  However, as a toy collector I'm in it for many different reasons: I appreciate the art, the collecting factor and of course, yes I like to play with them and no other toy line provides as much play value as a Transformer.  So, as I've enjoyed buying other figures and messing with them for a few minutes before they ended up on a shelf, I'm ready for Hasbro and Takara to unleash some Transformers were I can actually sit down and spend some time transforming the toy back and forth and messing around with the other features. 

It's is going to be an expensive year for Transformers fans with the Animated series, Universe and Takara's Binaltech's and what ever high end piece of beauty they release.  Therefore, I wish I was able to set aside some money cause when these Transformers release, it's going to be a flood of product and with my first baby due in June I'm going to need some money (feel free to buy some toys from me to help me out).

Anyways, yeah, it's time to transform and roll out!

I saw the trailer fro the new CGI Clone Wars film and I have this to say:  Enough with Star Wars!  Not only is this second rate CGI but I'm so sick of Star Wars especially Clone Wars related stuff.  If they felt like they had to do something, the least they could do is give us a fresh story.  Perhaps something after Palpatine takes over the Empire, somewhere between episode 3 and 4.  I'm so tired of Star Wars I don't even want to continue talking about it.

I saw prototype figures of the next series of the G.I.Joe comic 2-packs and my main concern was Lt. Falcon as he is my favorite Joe.  It looked good but was unpainted.  Therefore, I will have to wait.  I still don't see why they don't do away with the 2-packs.  They accomplish nothing and end up being the peg warmers and if they want to make comic packs, just stick with characters that were in the comic book only because I think Falcon and many others that appeared in the 2-pack series more then deserved to have their own single carded figure with that beautiful card art.

When are the Transformers Animated figures going to hit retail?  There have already been over a dozen of episodes.  Come on Hasbro, you're making us fans anxious and you don't want to lose the kids interests before they are released cause as we know kids grow up and move on to other things rather quickly these days.

I'm getting pissed that there are too many SDCC exclusive action figures I want.  If my friend in L.A. does not go this year, I'll be stuck watching these limited run toys rise to prices I can't nearly afford.  At least make them available to those that cannot attend somehow.  I would just go but my wife might get a little pissed if I miss our first baby being born.  Nor do I want to.

I think that is about it.  Till next time...

That's really all I need to say.  One of the best comic book movies to date.  Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Tony Stark!  He and the rest of the cast were brilliant!  Also, stay till after the end credits.  It's worth the wait!

I've gone to Botcon several times.  If I have to miss it, it usually has to do with financial issues or location.  This year however, Master Collector picked a great location, Cincinnati.  It's fairly centralized (unless you are on the west coast) and it's a pretty cool city with plenty of other things to do if you get Transformered out.  So, why am I not going this year?  Well sure,  I could use a little bit more money but I could get by, The location, no problem here.  I can jump on a plane to Cinci, My soon to be born baby girl.  No, My wife is getting close but not to the point where she could give birth any minute.  So why not go?  Because it is April!  It is far too early for Botcon!  It hasn't even been a year since the last one.  These trips take time to plan.  See, these aren't just an excuse to buy a bunch of robots but it is a vacation for me as well.  This is an opportunity to meet up with my geeky friends and party and get away from things for a weekend.  Now, with my friends and soon I, all having children, it is a lot more difficult to get these things organized and April is too Early.  July would be much more ideal.  Plus, by then my baby would be born and I wouldn't have to worry about my wife going in labor while I'm spending all the diaper money on new Japanese robots.  Perhaps, that sounds slightly selfish but in general April is a month wher people are still in school, the freewill feeling of Summer hasn't quite started and taxes have just been turned in.  If you got your money back already then that is great but for those who owe or haven't got their returns it doesn't help.

I guess I would like to be there but I can't so what better to do then complain about it?  I hope next year, it will be a little later in the year and how about Boston?  That's a mere three hour drive for me (again being selfish).  Oh well.

Those who are attending, have a great time!

I tried to stay quiet about my feeling towards the Transformers movie when it was being developed.  However, I certainly expressed I did not like Michael Bay as a director and did not care for the character designs.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed the movie for what it was but that has come and gone and I've moved on. 

G.I.Joe has had such a positive resurgence that the movie IS going to throw it all down the drain!  I'm going to be extremely vocal about this because this movie is going to be bad.  I'm talking Street Fighter bad!

I'd like to start off by asking, do we really need a G.I.Joe movie?  With Transformers, it was something different.  It was about seeing these giant robots transform before our very eyes but with G.I.Joe, what approach do you take?  Do you go with a more realistic military war movie or make a silly cartoon spoof of itself?  The best is trying to find a middle ground I suppose.

I don't like Michael Bay as a director but at least he is good at what he does, action movies.  He knows how to blow things up and he proved it with the Transformers movie.  However, Steven Sommers hasn't proved he is good at any aspect of film making but somehow he continuously get's scripts for high budget films that people go and see. 

Some pictures hit the web recently of some of the characters in costume and it looks terrible!  What is this the Matrix 4?  Why is everyone wearing tight black leather?  Even Snake-Eyes (who looked good in earlier photo's) is looking pretty corny. 

I really don't see any reason for them to make a G.I.Joe movie altogether.  I could live with maybe a cool animated DVD movie like some of the stuff DC has been producing. 

Argh!  I can't really express my true disgust!  At least when I was negative about Transformers I was open minded but with Joe, I know it is going to suck and make a lot of money in the process. 

Well, I better enjoy the figures they are coming out with now because as soon as Hasbro switches gear to movie toys, I am pretty confident I'm going to switch off from collecting G.I.Joe. 

Bad choices all around.  This is going to be like the Ghost Rider of Marvel movies.  Just a horrible mess!  I'd like to say I hope I'm prooved wrong but I know this time, I won't be.

First, I'd like to say, I'm sorry to those that regularly read Rambling.  I haven't updated it in a while.  I've been rather busy with a baby on the way and of course I have become the action figure editorial writer for www.comicbookbin.com.  It's been great fun but a lot of work trying to improve my writing skills and follow a specific format.  I think I am starting to find my soul with writing more professionally.  Nevertheless, it's not as I am putting that before www.primetoystore.com but it is a more read outlet for me to express myself. 

I did want to talk a little bit about a growing change I have noticed in the action figure market.  The 3 3/4" scale is becoming very popular again!  This is very good and very bad news for me.  It is without a doubt my favorite scale for an action figure but I tend to buy figures in that scale I might otherwise avoid.  Here are a few of the recent toy lines that have either released action figures in the 3 3/4" scale or announced a line:  Indiana Jones, G.I.Joe, Star Wars, Hellboy, DC Superheroes, Marvel Legends has shown great interest, Narnia: Prince Caspian, Speed Racer (actually, they are a tad bit smaller, Cards Inc Harry Potter, The Golden Compass and more that I cannot think of at this very moment.  I think with the cost of plastic and the fact that toy collectors are running out of room in their toy collections, Toy companies are realizing the advantages of this scale.  Also, the profits are probably comparable if not better then the larger figures.  A 3 3/4" figure runs about 5-7 dollars each and the average 6" figure is about 10-15 bucks.  It also allows the toy line to grow and add plays sets and vehicles. 

As I said, I am very happy about this.  However, may credit card may not.

I don't know how I totally missed this Toy Fair announcement a month ago but Neca is making a Skeksis Chamberlain action figure as part of their Cult Classics series!  I am incredibly happy about getting this figure.  However, even though this is nothing but good news, I so wish they would just do a Dark Crystal action figure series on its own.  Perhaps, this is a way for Neca to test the market to see if there is enough interest. I for one will be buying one or maybe two.  In the meantime, I expect to receive my very expensive Mindstyle Dark Crystal statues this week.  I am excited but I hear both good and bad things about these items and at the exorbitant price, they better be fantastic.  I'm sure I'll have a review soon.

On another quick note, Big Bang Pow toys announced a 2nd series of Flash Gordon movie toys and I've already have them pre-ordered.  I was rather surprised this line is continuing because it didn't appear that they were big sellers. 

It seems that I continuously find strange Tech deck figures.  This time it's no Transformer look alike.  This one was brought to my attention by a good friend.  I was hunting it down (which is probably how I discovered some of the others).  This Tech Deck is the strangest homage to a brilliant and radical writer Hunter S. Thompson and it's undeniable.  He comes with his signature hat and glasses and an I love LV (Las Vegas) book.  Even in his bio it says his favorite celebrity is Johnny Depp who played him in the film "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas based off of Hunter S. Thompson's famous book.  Oh, did I forget to mention his name is Hunter?

Wow! I'm not sure how they get away with it but the popular Tech Deck brand by Spin Master Toys have added another skating Transformer!  This time it's Ultra Magnus!  It looks cool and a novelty item I couldn't pass up just like the Megatron & Optimus Prime.  This ones names "Manga" and is numbered #150.  He also includes a pack of cards.  What they contain, I will not know as I think the figure in the package captures the kitschy look much better then if I took him out.

I'm curious who's next?  My guess is Shockwave. 

I am not only an ambitious toy dealer who wants my website to grow to offer my customers more products but I am also an avid collector myself.  This means I have to use other sources to get new merchandise for www.Primetoystore.com and myself.  This sometimes means using other websites and there are many great ones out there.  Sometimes, I buy from the big guns and sometimes from websites no larger then mine. 

However, no matter how big of a company you are or think you are, I think it is top priority to provide quick and easy customer service.  I don't want to go through a 3 page process just to send an email to find out the status of my order or to ask a simple question. 

I understand the bigger you get in business the more involved everything becomes but if you cannot make sure you provide the best customer service you can then get out of the business!

Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect or close to it but I do like to think I am fairly quick at responding to emails and shipping orders.  Of course situations arise which may on occasion put a slight delay on things but I do try to make it as easy as possible to reach me by email and get a reasonably quick response (I don't think it has EVER taken a week to respond to an email unless I was out of town which I make sure it is clearly noted)  I also like to think all U.S. orders are shipped in a timely manner (international orders as well but once they leave the post office it is out of my hands and customs can be a question mark). 

I'm a little fish in a bigger pond and I do have aspirations of growing.  However, as I grow my goals stay the same: provide an easy to use website with good customer service.  If I can no longer do this then I will end up forcing myself out of business and doing the exact opposite of why I'm here in the first place: to provide a website by a fan for a fan.

Note:  I am obviously responding to a frustrating situation on trying to communicate with a website I placed an order with.  And to be honest, they are not one of the big fish.  They just set things up to look like they are.  Looks can be deceiving.

I love this section!  It allows me to really vent.  Whether anyone reads it or not.

Toys are my hobby, they are partially my bread and butter.  So bashing a certain line that I may sell would be down right stupid.  However, with that said, that may be what sets me apart from other toy sites: my complete honesty. 

First and foremost, I am an action figure guy!  I don't really get off on 12" dolls (that's right, I said dolls) even though I do own a few.  I think Sideshow, Medicom, Hot Toys and a few others (mostly Japanese) produce some incredible looking pieces.  Nevertheless, I am still an action figure guy.

Now, to bring me to my point:  The doll maker Tonner Doll Company, what's the deal?  I've seen some of the actual female dolls they make and yes, they look pretty.  If I was a little girl, I may want one.  However, Tonner as of recent are inching their way into the male collectors market with both movie characters & Superheroes and they look awful!  Yes, I said it, awful!  They look like they were made to accompany Barbie.  They have incredibly feminine qualities to them which contradicts a strong male superhero character.  Did I mention that these "high quality" collectibles run around $200+?  Why am I going to buy these when I can get a great looking DC Direct 13" "doll" for about $70? 

Please Tonner or anyone who has any of these, prove me wrong.  I admit, the females look great but I'm talking about the male market here.  Please feel free to send me one. I will gladly provide an honest review (this is not my intent to get free toys.  Most people don't even know this site exists). 

Unless something changes with the products or you can prove me wrong, stay with the ladies.  Your Superheroes look like they are wearing saggy diapers and were made for girls who have Zac Efron posters on their bedroom wall but unless they are spoiled little girls, they could never afford one anyways.

There was no way this new confirmed information was going to get past my Ramblings!  It appears, Takara Tomy will be releasing two Binaltech's: Bluestreak, which is primarily a blue repaint of the Silver Impreza and Grey Meister to look more like the movie.  It is still an RX-8.  However, it appears there are some minor changes to the body of the car. 

As I said, not the most exciting way to reintroduce the line but I think it is more or less to test the waters.  So, if you love BT's like I do, order them!  Support this line so we can get die-cast versions of Mirage and Rumble and perhaps some new molds or retools on existing molds.

This is great news!  Now I have to start saving up.  2008 is going to be an expensive year for toys!

Popco Entertainment may be perhaps making some of the best movie inspired action figures of the last decade. I don't know much about this company accept they have a business relationship with Corgi International Limited and I suppose Cards Inc. & Master Replicas.  That's a lot of different companies. 

Cards Inc. is the company making the Harry Potter action figures in the United Kingdom that actually include play value and would probably be adored by U.S. consumers especially children but due to rights issues,  Neca holds the exclusive distribution of action figures in the United States.  So, that means Americans get non-poseable, overpriced statue like figurines with no play sets or play value for perhaps the most popular family film & book series since Star Wars. 

Anyhow, back to Popco.  They did a wonderful job on a film that flopped at the box office.  The Golden Compass was not my favorite film of the year but I liked it better then many other of the recent glut of fantasy book adaptations. 

Popco Entertainment from what I understand is primarily a U.K. based company and if sales of their merchandise does not improve in the states, we may not get an opportunity to see Popco get new movie properties which would be rather unfortunate in my opinion. 

I suppose this is just a note to Popco Entertainment that they will never read.  However, without their website still under construction, I cannot contact them and let them know how I feel.  They showed no new products at the U.S. Toy Fair this year that I saw which leads me to believe they have nothing planned.  It would be unfortunate to see a toy company that are actually making toys disappear so quickly.

So, I know I'm one of the few people who collect the Golden Compass figures and that is perhaps why only Toys R' Us is carrying them, but I need one figure to complete this set and it's bugging me!  If anyone sees the Serafina Pekkala figure, I have been searching it out.  Even TRU's website is out of it.  If you find it and it's worth $10.00 bucks to you and helping out a collector, I'd certainly be interested.  Oh, and if I do locate one I'll be sure to update and let you know.  Thanks for any help.  Cheers

Okay, okay, okay.  So, I was a little wrong about Toy Fair this year.  It was about as anticlimatic as the last four to five years.  There were few surprises.  Therefore I guess San Diego Comic-Con will remain king when it comes to revealing new products. 

Here's what I did see:

Indiana Jones figures from the new movie.  They looked cool and fit the kind of movie toys I like so yeah.

Transformers Classics.  Most I've seen in some form or another but the Prowl was nice.  The repainted Cybertron figures were a joke and I just don't understand the design of Powerglide.

Transformers Animated - I actually saw some cool stuff here like the Jazz & Ratchet.  what's up with the fat (and I don't mean phat)?  Soundwave.  Otherwise, it looks like a fun toy line.

The biggest disappointment for me was the showing of the G.I.Joe stuff.  I wanted to see more.  Not just multi-packs of characters I've already seen one way or another 5 times already.  Other then the BAT, Hasbro better get to work. 

Where was Mattel?  I wanted to see the DC Universe figures and the JLU stuff but so far nothing!

I like Mezco's Hellboy 2 figures.   Especially the 3 3/4" figures.  I hope they revisit the first movie in that scale. However Mezco's Gangsta Babies are the most disgusting thing I've ever seen next to Bratz.  It's a sign we are that much closer to the end of the world.

 I also like the plastic statue/figure of Arnold as Conan.  Brings back a lot of memories. The Neca TMNT (which we've seen already are very cool and...hmmm can't think of much else. 

I am sorely disappointed.  I guess that is what happens when you get your hopes that high.  Actually, I didn't get them that high.  I just would of liked to see say 4 to 5 new G.I.Joe figures that weren't repaints of another Snake-Eyes. 

Here's hoping Mattel pops up to save the day.  Show me more Dark Knight movie toys!  Oh, quick update:  They did reveal some DC stuff.  A 3 3/4" figure line.  Sounds like my dream right?  Well judging by the picks and the choices of characters, I can only hope they rethink the marketing and final sculpts of this line. 

I just wanted to give a heads up to all those action figure lovers like myself who are dieing to see what awaits them for the upcoming year that the 2008 International Toy Fair brings us tomorrow.

Now, I'm not going to lie.  The last couple of years have been real disappointments.  So bad that I started to look forward to the revelations of the San Diego Comic-Con more.  However, I have a real good feeling about this year.  I think we are going to see some real exciting stuff! 

Either way I'll be staring at my computer all weekend (not that I don't do that the majority of the time anyway) but I'll be particularly searching out pictures of all the new goodies planned for 2008/2009. 

Enjoy!

Okay, this will be a quick one.  I've noticed my pictures have been worse then normal and I couldn't figure out why but it really bothered me.  It's not like I own the best digital camera or anything (actually, yes I do [Canon Rebel XT] but I never took the time to play around with it so I use my old reliable).  Anyways, after messing around with my old Sony camera, I figured out the problem.  It was a simple adjustment as expected and now I want to go back and retake every picture from the beginning of the year (which is just unreasonable).  However, I have gone back and updated some pictures in the Reviews section and will probably do a few more as time permits. 

I just quite smoking, again (don't worry, I never smoked in the house or around the toys).  So, I am trying to keep myself busy so what better then to talk about Toy Fair 2008.  The last couple Toy Fair's have been lackluster and to be honest San Diego Comic-Con has provided much more insight into the future of action figures for the upcoming year, months, days, whatever. However, this year has potential to be much different.  The future of action figures for 2008 may be one of the better years and here's my opinion why:

First, I have to talk about all the potentially cool movie/toy properties for 2008.  I'll start with Indiana Jones.  This is a toy line many toy geeks and movie buffs have been waiting for for years!  Although, Hasbro has already released pics of some of the first assortment, I'd love to catch a glimpse of what else they have up their sleeve. There are also other movies such as Narnia: Prince Caspian expecting to have a line of figures.  I wasn't crazy about the first movie but the figures are in my favorite scale (3 3/4") and maybe perhaps there are some other good Sci-Fi/fantasy movies to get the toy treatment.  We also have three super hero giants guaranteed to take up many pegs in the action figure isles.  Iron-man, (which we've seen pictures of some products) really could be a fun line with all sorts of armor and figure scales.  The Hulk, well, I hope it doesn't crowd the toy isles like the last movie of less then mediocre toys.  I think Hasbro has a different marketing plan that may provide less of an overwhelming presence of green.  Finally, The Dark Knight.  This is the one I look most forward to especially their collector based line.  Little has been shown but from what has it looks to be fantastic.  I can't wait to get my hands on those figures especially the Joker (RIP Heath).  I think the Four Horsemen had something to do with this series.  So, you know it will be a winner.  At least it has to be better then the underwhelming Batman Begins figures.

While already on the subject of Superheroes, I continue to look forward to seeing my favorite DC characters in the animated style of JLU.  I just hope they find a better way to distribute them.  Also, I greatly anticipate the future of the DC Universe series.  I'm personally not interested in the long overdone Marvel Legends figures but I am curious if the quality improved and if there are any more characters worth doing.   There's also Marvel Toys series of Indie comic Superheroes.  I'm not so sure how well the line is doing.  However, I'm sure they will have some showing at Toy Fair.

Now to the biggies for me!  I can't wait to see the future of G.I.Joe!  I don't care too much about the movie but look forward to seeing better pictures of future assortments and pictures of figures haven't yet been revealed.  I especially hope for a Lt. Falcon figure and a black painted version of Snake Eyes V2 (like what was done with the V1 figure for wave 5).

Finally, Transformers.  Now we can put the movie figures behind us, we have the animated and Universe lines to look forward to.  I have been slowly warming up to the animated series but mostly due to the simple yet enjoyable cartoon.  As far as the Universe series goes: it will not replace the Alternators but what I've seen look nice.  Ah, how I miss Alternators.

Other than that there are always a few good surprises.  It would be a dream year if quality Dark Crystal action figures were announced and shown and perhaps this is the year of the return of the Thundercats!  Probably not but every new year, it has to be mentioned.

Just another two weeks and we will all be glued to the internet.  Well, at least I will be.

I know this is not toy related but in a sense it is pop culture related since Heath Ledger played the Joker in the upcoming Dark Knight film. 

I understand people die everyday both regular people and those that have inspired the masses with art or other various forms of charity.  However, I find the loss of Heath Ledger incredibly sad and unfortunate.  He was slowly making his way onto my top list of actors including: Johnny Depp & Christian Bale.  He seemed to take chances with films and also put a lot of emotion in the characters he played and yes, I even enjoyed his performance in the corny yet entertaining "A Knight's Tale". 

Heath Ledger thankfully wrapped up all post production work as the Joker.  So, perhaps his last character will be a spectacular one but one can only wonder what could have been.  He was setting up to work with director Terry Gilliam and he happens to be one of my favorite directors. 

This somewhat reminds me of the loss of River Phoenix.  He was so young and there was so much talent there.  Unfortunately, we will have to take what little both actors contributed to the world of film.

To the hardcore Joe fans, this is old news but I failed to discuss it here when it was fresh because I wanted to really ponder it.  For those who haven't yet seen this Picture, it has been rumored as Wave 8.  I have studied this picture to some degree (yes, I have that much spare time) and came to the conclusion that they are either: complete fakes or Hasbro Mock ups for Comic packs and other assortments. 

Here's my reasons why:  Starting with Major Bludd.  He was originally to be revealed as part of Wave 7.  However, Hasbro said they wanted to wait to get him just right and he would be worth the wait.  Looking at the picture, he is a complete repaint of Zartan.  Now it's not unusual for Hasbro to reuse body parts for figures but this figure even has Zartan's skull belt buckle.  This is an easy thing to remove and for a company to postpone a figure to "get it just right" leads me to believe it is either a custom figure or early mock up.

The Roadblock in itself would be a decent custom but as a final product it would be terrible.  I can do cleaner paint applications then this.  Especially on the shoulders.  The chest piece looks nice but still has an unfinished look to it (like a mock up).

As for the other three, they look to fit in with the comic pack theme much more then single packs and still they all have some sloppy paint applications. 

Here is a rumored series 8 assortment stated that it came from a Wal-Mart computer listing:

Major Bludd
Barbecue (65356932491)
Bazooka (65356932488)
B.A.T. (65356932501)
Storm Shadow (V3? 65356932494)
Hawk (V1? 65356932485)
Serpentor With Classic Head Gear (65356932499)

This assortment seems more logical and desirable to me.  Maybe I'm just hoping but Hasbro knows this line has garnered attention and is selling well.  It is also leading into the movie.  I could be wrong but I'd think they'd want to keep the positive vibe going.
 

Now, I could be very wrong here and just hopeful that I'm right as these are rather disappointing figures but something tells me I will be proved right come Toy Fair 2008 time.

UPDATE: From time to time, I am wrong and in this case, I am sad to say: I am.  Not only has Hasbro put these pictures on their official site but added two more lackluster figures: Flint "Tiger Force" & Snake Eyes with Winter Parka.  I sure hope there will be some tweaking on these figures before these hit retail because I would hate for the 25th Anniversary series to "Jump the shark" so soon. 

As I was perusing the toy isle on my hopeless hunt for new G.I.Joe figures, I went down the car isle basically to kill time as I was waiting to pick up my wife from the airport when to my surprise I saw Platoon movie action figures!  My first reaction was, what!?!?  Besides the fact this movie is over 20 years old, I just never saw this as a desired license.  Now I know there are a lot of army buffs out there that collect all the accurate military toys mostly produced by 21st Century Toys but I still found these so strange.  The set consists of four figures: Sgt. Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger), Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), Sgt. Elias Grodin (William Defoe) & Pvt. Gator Lerner (Johnny Depp).  I found all of these accept the Johnny Depp figure and yes I bought the three they had and you better believe, if I find the Johnny Depp figure, I will complete the set.  I figured movie figures at my favorite scale (3 3/4") and a movie that I NEVER expected to see figures of.

This may be old news to many but I never heard of these.  By far the strangest find in a long time for me.

UPDATE: I was able to locate PVT. Gator Lerner (Johnny depp.  I added a Picture

I find it interesting, since the demise of Alternators, my ramblings and Reviews have been more G.I.Joe related as apposed to Transformers.  Hmmm.  Anyways, Wave 7 has been announced and it sounds like an interesting assortment:

• Major Bludd- this is a good choice cause he was one of the original Cobra's that did not have Viper somewhere in his name.
• Wild Bill - I've already seen this figure and it looks great but I think they should use the pilots more for the Comic 2-Packs
• HISS Driver - Same thing as with Wild Bill.  It will be interesting though to see this figure updated.
• Cobra Viper - This will be a cool figure to have but it does open up doors for tons of unnecessary repaints and army builder packs.
• Spirit - No, I'm not going to call him Spirit "Iron-Knife".  Nevertheless, one of my favorite originals.  I hope Hasbro gets this perfect.
• Snake-Eyes #4 - What happened to #3?  If it is half as good as the custom I did, I will be happy.  However, surprisingly, I was hoping it was going to be a black version of Snake-Eyes #2.
• Duke with Jet Pack - This may be the most useless of the set.  I am a Duke fan but with the original and the new Comic 2-Pack soldier uniform, it seems like a waste of a single carded figure.  How about Lt. Falcon?

Overall, nice assortment.  The real question is, will we ever get a chance to find them at retail?

Also this list was rumored to be in the Wal-mart computer:

Hawk
Bazooka
Barbecue
Storm Shadow
Serpent
B.AT.

Beachhead/Mainframe
Snake Eyes/ Hardmaster
Scrap Iron/Wild bill

Other then the Storm Shadow this is a great list.  especially the Hawk V2.  As for the Comic 2-Packs, I think they are starting to go in the wrong direction here.

From time to time I come across something so odd and unrecognizable that I can only guess what it's from.  It's been awhile but I found one.  Now let me tell you a bit about this unique item:  It has no writing of any sort to help me out.  It is made from vinyl and reminds me of one of the many creatures from the Godzilla series.  The arms and head are poseable and the coolest part is the eyes, mouth and chest all light up.  Unfortunately, the wiring is a bit torn apart but I think I could mess around with it and get it to work.  It looks like something that would be very popular nowadays with all the designer toy collectors.

Nevertheless, if anyone can provide any information about this unique item, it would be of great help. 

2008 should be a good and expensive year for action figure collectors.  With the 25th Anniversary G.I.Joe's going strong, DC Classics, JLU, Movie toys including: Iron-Man & Hulk, Marvel Legends, Star Wars and who knows what else will be introduced?  Oh, and no, I didn't forget Transformers.

I am looking forward to the Classics line continuing and any high end Japanese products Takara puts out but I was certainly on the fence about the animated line.

For the past three main lines (Armada, Energon & Cybertron) there was a wide range of toys from awful to great.  However, the cartoons certainly did not inspire me to purchase any of these toys.   One of the great aspects of the Beast Wars series is: whether you liked the concept or not , the show was arguably the best Transformers series ever.  Therefore, perhaps inspiring some who had no interest in the series to want to add many of the great characters to their toy collection.

I caught an episode of the new Transformers Animated Series on Saturday.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the introduction movie.  Nevertheless, I did observe the attempt to give these characters personalities unlike the last three cartoons.  There also seems like there is some set up for some continuity.  Maybe not "Beast Wars continuity" but some nonetheless.  I can't say I was in love with the show after one episode.  However, it was enough for me to open my mind to the toys. I could still do without the over-exaggerated facial expressions. 

I have already revisited some pictures of the toys floating around the web and finding myself appreciating them a little more.  Some in particular are: Prowl, Bulkhead & Ratchet.  I like the Optimus Prime as well but he definitely needs his signature faceplate.  Bumblebee to me was just plain annoying but perhaps I will grow to like him. 

Where I found myself a week ago thinking I would save some money on this line, now I am getting ready to save up some money for this line.  I will definitely buy a few but weather I will be a completist is still to be determined.