I have been a big fan of how Mezco Toys has approached the Hellboy license from the beginning.  Unlike many of their other products, Mezco Toys has filled the Hellboy movie toys with tons of detail and articulation.  Perhaps at an average of 7" per figure, they are larger than my personal preference.  Nevertheless, they are beautifully done.

Princess Nuala was a key character in Hellboy 2 and was begging for an action figure.  Long after the movie has been on DVD Mezco Toys finally released her in the second series.  I paid far more than I wanted to for both of these figures.  However, these were not heavily ordered by retailers and I wanted to complete my set and so I paid the piper. 

Princess Nuala is somewhat of a disappointment.  She is very well sculpted and looks rather beautiful.  Her colors on her dress are rather vibrant and well applied so what is the problem?  Unlike the other Hellboy figures, she is basically a chunk of plastic with moveable arms and head.  Her dress is just one big chunk.  I understand that it's not as if I am going to display her in some grand pose nor do I really need to see what's under the dress but at the high price of these figures, I would have appreciated some sculpted legs or lower her price.

Princess Nuala is accessorized with a book, the key thing and the scroll case.  These are pretty unimpressive but at least they are something to add a little value.

The other figure in the 2nd series that isn't just another Hellboy figure is the Goblin.  His part in the film was minor.  However, the design of this character was very memorable and Mezco did an excellent job translating him into plastic.

If Princess Nuala felt a little underwhelming, the Goblin more than makes up for it.  He looks like he came right off the screen and is filled with play-value.  He is fully poseable and includes his wheelbarrow and walking sticks.  One is fixed in his hand and the other is removable. 

His wheels roll very well which adds to the fun.  He also comes with some fun accessories that dangle off his wheelbarrow. 

The paint detail is spectacular!  Mezco really made up for my guilt of paying so much money for an action figure with the Goblin. 
 

I really wish Mezco Toys would produce these two in their 3 3/4" series.  However, it is doubtful considering Hellboy 2 has come and gone and the market for them would be rather thin.

Yes, these are some expensive action figures and perhaps not the best value for your buck but if you are a fan of Hellboy or unusual creatures, I recommend adding the Goblin to your collection.  Princess Nuala looks good for those who just want a pretty plastic statue to look at but I still like to play with my toys.

-RH

Princess Nuala - 3 out of 5

The Goblin - 4.5 out of 5
 

Starting with Ravage, the cassette looks very nice.  At first glance, I wouldn't be able to tell it was a new mold accept perhaps for the lack of the sticker.  Once in my hand, the lack of weight from no die-cast metal proves that this is a different product.

The transformation is rather brilliant.  Hasbro found a way to make Ravage much more three dimensional instead of a flat Jaguar. The Jaguar mode is very nicely done as well.  If I had to complain about any aspect of him it would be his head almost looks bird-like.  It's actually cool looking but not that befitting of the character.

Moving onto Hound, his Jeep mode is fine.  It isn't accurate but looks enough like a jeep that it works.  One of the big problems with the vehicle mode is the biggest problem with the entire Universe series; the colors are garish and make it look like a Fisher-Price toy.

The transformation is certainly not one of the more challenging.  However, I do credit Hasbro with throwing in a few interesting moving parts that keep it interesting and fun.

The robot mode looks like Hound and there really aren't any great complaints accept his waste doesn't seem to attach to anything which leaves it open for some wobbling.  Again, the biggest flaw is in the deco's.  Hasbro's child-like paint applications ruin what could have been one of the better figures in the Universe series. 

I do credit Hasbro with some nice innovative articulation like the feet movement that go side to side and I appreciate that they painted his shoulder mounted missile and launcher.  However, he could have really used a gun.

All in all, you get what you pay for; a ten dollar toy.  Ravage is the highlight but Hound is certainly not bad.  However, if you are a true Hound or Jeep fanatic, hunt down the Alternator's Hound.  That is sure to make you much more happy.

-RH

3 out of 5

The Beast mode is fantastic!  It truly is how it should look.  Cheetor is nice and slender and well painted as well.  He has a neat feature where the mouth opens and his eyes change from green to red.  This is a nice homage to the variations from the original series.

The transformation is pretty simple.  Like many Beast Wars, they either stretch out with a few twists and turns or are opened like a shell.  Cheetor has a little of both.

The robot mode is where the problem begins.  I always feel beyond anything, the robot mode is priority number one!  I am more than willing to take a hit with an alt mode to have an awesome robot and with Cheetor, it is the exact opposite.  Now, the robot isn't terrible.  The designers seemed like they really tried but in order to achieve such a great beast mode, the robot had to take a back seat. 

The head is nice and more cartoon accurate and that is a plus and again, the colors look good but the figure is way to spindly and thin.  The proportions aren't even as good as the original Cheetor and if you can't improve on a ten year old product, than why bother?  Cheetor also has a huge hunchback.  It doesn't bother me that much seeing I'd be displaying him from the front but it is a bit of an eye sore.

Cheetor includes some discs similar to Animated Prowl and his tail turns into a sword but no gun this time.  A slight disappointment. 

If you mess around with Cheetor enough, you can get him in a decent pose that doesn't make him look too bad but over all this is a huge disappointment for someone who really wanted to see an improved Beast Wars figure.  Maybe in another ten years Hasbro may get it right.

-RH

2.5 out of 5

Duke, Duke, Duke.  That's right, I have always been a fan of the first sergeant.  I never quite understood why so many people had a hate for him.  He looked like a leader and acted like one in the cartoon.  I didn't read the comics so if he did some awful stuff in them, well, ignorance is bliss.

This new version of Duke is fantastic!  It captures the look of the old Duke with clear updates.  One of the most noticeable updates is his face.  It looks like Duke with his blonde flat top but he looks like he was sculpted from a real person instead of the generic WASP-y looking guy.  I really love everything about this figure accept he includes a gun with no holster for it.  It is somewhat irritating since I always prefer my Joes to have a place for all their parts but that's quite a minor complaint.

The Cobra Soldier is another winner.  He captures the look of the original with some slight modernizing.  If I had to complain about anything it would be the colors.  I feel Hasbro should have gone darker with the blue instead of lighter but that probably has a lot to do with the animation.

Now we get to Cobra Commander.  Again, Hasbro did a fine job with a new version of the tyrannical dictator.  He looks a little bit more commander like which I prefer.  I love the updated helmet even though I think when it comes to the Commander, I prefer his hood. 

All three figures have me excited for this soon to be released animated show.  After looking at these figures, it makes me wonder why the movie designs don't look like these instead of the cheesy patent leather jump suits?  These designs seem natural for G.I. Joe and would have been cool to see on the big screen.  Oh well.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

I must admit, it wasn't as magical as I hoped for but it never is the second time.  However, Hasbro did a fine job of capturing the magic that made me choose Blowtorch from the array of other figures as my first. 

The head sculpt very much resembles the cocky grinning face behind the mask.  As for the mask, it fits nicely.  However, I admit to have preferred transparent goggles like Hasbro has done with figures such as Torpedo.  I think it would have made a big difference.

Blowtorch also includes his signature blowtorch and backpack with minor alterations.  One thing I learned is I have apparently been displaying Blowtorches backpack upside down for the last 25 years.  Oh well.  I really like how his blowtorch can be attached to the side of his backpack.

The only real complaint I have with the figure, is the orange highlights are kind of garish and unnecessary. 

Otherwise, Hasbro brought back my first and one of my all time favorites in style.  Is he as cool as I envisioned him all these years?  well, you can't really put that much pressure on a single action figure.  Expectations were just too high.

-RH

4 out of 5

Blurr as a classic character was never my favorite.  Yes, I found him annoying even though as a child that was what I was supposed to find charming.  I have the same distaste towards Bugs Bunny. One aspect of Blurr I do like are his colors.  As far as pastel's go, blue is the only one I can tolerate.  I always did want to get married in a powdered blue tuxedo.

I know little of Blurr's personality on the new animated show but I imagine it is very similar to that of old but enough about personalities, let's talk about toys.

The deluxe scaled vehicle is absolutely gorgeous!  This is one slick car that is unique yet looks like what a designer from the 1950's might sketch out of his vision of a future car yet perhaps a little smaller.  As I said, I love the color.  It is unique and works well with the plastic.  It does not look in the least bit cheap as many of the Universe toys do.

The transformation rather surprised me.  This isn't your Transformer from the 1980's.  What you think are the legs are the arms and vice versa.  Blurr has a challenging yet fun transformation.  I did have a little difficulty transforming him back to the vehicle but once I got it, I got it.

The robot is of course my favorite part of this toy.  I love the sleek and slender look of this robot.  Again, the colors really work well and it is important to note how cool his head design is.  He has the fin just like the old Blurr.  He also has a similar weapon but this one has a button operated feature for added play value.

Blurr is well articulated which somewhat surprised my from earlier pictures of this toy.  Perhaps, he has certain limitations in his shoulders but nothing to lose sleep over.  There is however, some minor paint slop but as I said, it is minor and not in distracting locations.

I am amazed that Hasbro is able to continue pumping out quality Deluxe Transformers for about ten bucks while many 3 3/4" action figures are hitting the seven dollar mark and they don't even transform.  Blurr will most likely have to replace someone on my top ten Transformers of 2008 list as he is that cool.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

I'll be honest, I'm not up to date on the animated series.  Perhaps if I was I'd appreciate this toy much more than I do.  Don't get me wrong, I like it fine it just isn't on my top list of my favorite Animated figures. 

His two vehicle modes are very similar.  One's a tank and the other is a crane.  As for the robot it get's a little more interesting.  Shockwave is apparently a Decepticon spy which is pretty cool.  The "Autobot" robot is fairly cool but it is the Decepticon Shockwave that truly interests me.

The transformation is fairly simple as it is just a matter of moving and flipping a few parts here and there.    The articulation is fair but he is kind of wobbly due to his long limbs and moving parts.  I have really grown to like the Shockwave head as it is definitely an homage to the original Shockwave but with his own look as well.

As all the Animated figures, Shockwave is still better than most of the other Transformers from other lines out there.  However, he does not quite live up to my expectations as you can tell from the short review.  Perhaps, if I saw him in action on the animated show and played around with him, I would find myself growing to like him much more.

-RH

3 out of 5

The first set I'm reviewing is of Dataframe (Mainframe) & a new more accurate vintage styled Beachhead.  Starting with Dataframe, there are three things I remember best about this character, 10 he never included a gun. 2) he had a bit of an ugly face & 3) if memory serves me right, in the cartoon there was always something between him and the Dreadnok, Zarana. 

This updated figure serves the character right.  This time he includes a pistol and his computer has been given legs and his face is still somewhat ugly. Nevertheless, this is a nice homage and could have easily been sold as a single pack.

As for Beachhead, he certainly looks much more like the original figure and perhaps that is his fault.  I rather like the regular 25th Anniversary Beachhead.  He looked much more heroic.  This version makes him look awkward like the original.  This figure also includes an alternate head so you can see how goofy Beachhead looks without his mask.  I'd take the updated version to this more accurate style any day.  This was an unnecessary figure in my opinion that serves little to no purpose.

The other 2-pack features Scrap-Iron and yet another Wild Bill.  Scrap Iron was my first Cobra figure as a child.  I am pretty sure he appealed to me because of his big missile launcher.  This updated figure is well done and looks just like the original.  This time around, Scrap-Iron's glasses can be removed to reveal a scarred up face.  I don't know if this is some sort of nod to the comic book but it doesn't really take or bring anything to the figure. Scrap-Iron could have easily been sold on his own.  As for this gaudy, colorful Wild Bill, again another pointless repaint.  However, with that said it does have a minor appeal to it but it is probably only because he somewhat matches the Pilot Scarlett figure.  I prefer this figure with the helicopter helmet instead of his signature cowboy hat.

I think it is time for Hasbro to say good bye to the comic 2-packs and just release the necessary figures on single cards.  It seems like it would be a win win situation for all involved. 

-RH

Dataframe & Scrap-Iron 3.5 out of 5

Beachhead & Wild Bill 2 out of 5

Wonder-Woman is my least favorite of the assortment.  Not that she is such a terrible figure but she doesn't have the same magic the other figure's have.  She is rather dull.  Still with that said, it remains the second best Wonder-Woman figure only topped by Hasbro's JLA version.

Ares was an unexpected favorite.  I know little about the character and he does look like a rather generic fantasy warrior.  Nevertheless, Mattel did an excellent job with the sculpt and particularly the paint job.  The tones of blue really make this figure shine.

Captain Atom was perhaps the figure I most anticipated.  He is so 1980's and simple.  Yet, he sort of looks like a Green Lantern repaint.  He's not a bad figure.  He is quite well done but as I said, he is very simple and lacks any real excitement.

Cyborg was another highly anticipated figure.  Yes, it is primarily because of the good ol' Super Powers figure.  Mattel did a great job with the sculpting of this figure. However, part of me misses the chrome and the attachments on his back to store his extra hands.

The Batman Beyond figure was without question the biggest surprise.  I always liked the animated show but never really thought that an updated figure for this line would have gotten me much enthusiasm.  However, this figure is very well done and the gloss black works so well and really makes this figure the stand out.

Now we get to the Build a Figure, Despero.  This figure is so 1990's.  I really hate this character design.  I don't get a chance to read comics as much as I'd like but is this costume and character really still relevant?  Nevertheless, Mattel did do a good job with this large bonus figure.  He clearly shares body parts with the SDCC Lobo but that's okay cause they look clearly different.

I am so torn with collecting this series.  Now I feel in too deep but at the rate these figures are being released and the high retail price point, I don't know how long I can commit.  However, with that said, I know I have to get the Dr. Fate, Hawk-Man and...who am I kidding?  I love these figures.  I do wish they were 3 3/4" scaled considering Mattel's 3 3/4" DC heroes are disappointing but I will collect these as long as I can afford them and of course find them.

-RH

4 out of 5

.

However, Hot Toys, Japanese manufacturer of some of the finest in 1/6 scaled figures have taken the wonderful Appleseed: Ex Machina license to try to make collector targeted 4" figures.

There are a total of five figures in this set plus a build a figure of the impressive Landmate.  Unfortunately in order to complete the complex Landmate figure, you need to purchase a case of ten figures.  Yes, these means you get stuck with doubles.  This is an absolutely ridiculous idea by Hot Toys and doesn't seem to have been well thought out.

Each figure comes in parts that can easily be snapped together accept the legs are rather difficult to snap into the sockets and caused some blistering on my finger tips.  Nevertheless, Hot Toys produced some of the most detailed, well articulated and painted action figures I've ever seen!  These are the collector targeted figures I've always dreamt up with enough durability and play value for most children.

The stand-outs are definitely Briareos & Deunan as they feature completely unique molds and weapons.  I also like Tereus as he was a favorite from the show.  The figures are made of a high durable plastic and what feels like a rubber material as well.

For a four inch action figure there is very little paint slop if any.  Hot Toys really took this series seriously. 

The biggest highlight is the Landmate.  Wow!  This is one cool build a figure!  It also has a spectacular paint job and articulation.  Yes, I still think it is ridiculous that the only way to build him is by purchasing a case but I have no regrets as these are some of the finest action figures I've ever laid my hands on.

It would be nice to see Hot Toys produce more high end 4" figures like they do for their 1/6 scale figures and to be honest the price per figure is not that bad at about $12.00 each. 

I hope if Hot Toys does continue the Snap Kit series, they rethink the build a figure.  I could just see it now, detailed 4" figures from the Dark Knight, Iron-Man, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner and anything else Hot Toys can dream up.  This could definitely be a change in how we see action figures in the future and Hot Toys is leading the pack.

-RH

5 out of 5

Snipe is easily one of (if not the most) highlighted bad guys in the Storm Hawks animated series.  He is the "big guy" of the bad guys with large upper torso.  He thankfully doesn't possess the dumber than dumb personality expected from such a character.

In the show, Snipe's colors are very vibrant.  His purple shines brightly on any TV.  With the figure, Spinmasters chose to make the colors more flat and subdued.  I think this is probably the right choice.  I think a high gloss purple might look like something from the dreaded 90's.

Let me backtrack a bit.  The sculpting on Snipe is as show accurate as the rest of the 4" Storm Hawks and fits in brilliantly with the rest of the line.  As I mentioned, he has a large torso and skinny legs.  Thankfully, I was able to get him to stand. 

Back to the paint applications.  The colors work very well together.  However, like many of the other Storm Hawks figures, some of the paint applications are a bit sloppy.  It is somewhat of a disappointment considering I probably won't have a chance to find these again at retail.  The paint isn't that terrible but the biggest flaws tend to be with the painted faces.

Snipe is accessorized with his signature mace weapons.  It's nice to see Spinmasters stick to what weapons are necessary.  Like Stork, Snipe's wild hair is a separate piece made out of a rubbery plastic.  It fits in very fluidly with the figure.

I am happy to finally have completed this under-appreciated toy line.  It's just too bad we will most likely never get some of the other wonderful characters from the show.  Perhaps, Spinmasters has prototypes of a second series.  However, it's probably best if I never see them because like Hasbro's Indiana Jones line, it would just make me more frustrated that I will never truly have the set I could have.

-RH

4 out of 5

Spin Masters did a great job capturing his look with this action figure.  The highlight is the hair.  Stork has a unique anime hairstyle.  It is a separate piece and looks very natural. 

His body type is thin just like in the show and he has a very "Stork like" expression on his face. The uniform matches great and I particularly like the colors.  If I had one complaint about the sculpt is that Spin Masters Toys gave him five fingers instead of four.  I know, this is a minor detail but it was worth noting.

Just like the rest of the series' Stork is well articulated.  His knee, shoulder & elbow joints work the best for great poses.

Stork includes a very large net shooting cannon.  I don't remember if this was his signature weapon in the show but It is well detailed.  It could have used a few more paint applications but another minor complaint.  It is very big and when he holds it, it covers up the majority of the figure.

I really love this series and am so glad I discovered it.  As I said in my review below, this series is already on it's way out of retail stores which is really too bad because after watching a dozen episodes, there are so many more characters I'd love to see made in the 4" scale.  At least I still have Snipe to anticipate in order to finish the set and another disc to watch tonight.

-RH

4 out of 5
 

As a 3 3/4" figure junky, it started out as a simple impulse buy.  I thought the figures looked unique.  There is also a six inch scaled set of figures.  However, I found them rather unappealing.  I bought three of the 4" figures to start: Aerrow, Finn and the Dark Ace.  After playing with them and writing a simple review, I found myself at the Cartoon Network's website to check out a few episodes of the cartoon.  The animation is spectacular!  The story is a bit simple but still it was action packed.  I fell in love with the flying motorcycles that sort of look like X-Wing fighters. 

The following day, I picked up both of the motorcycles available and as someone who generally doesn't buy vehicle's from toy lines, I was very happy.  The vehicle's are very detailed and fun to play with.

The day after that, I went on a hunt for the remaining figures.  However, all I could find was Junko to add to my collection.  I was somewhat satisfied with the find but I wanted to finish off the set (it's the OCD). 

I immediately turned to Ebay where I bid on both Stork and Snipe.  I won Stork first and had to purchase Snipe from an Australian dealer.  Nevertheless, I was happy to know I was able to find them.  I am still anxiously awaiting their arrival.

I suppose I haven't talked much about the fact that the figures are well detailed with plenty of articulation and include very cool weapons with the only flaw being some minor sloppy painting but now I've said it.

Sometimes I discover a toy line and just go full force.  In the case of Storm Hawks I did just that and I am very happy I did.  Ten years from now will anyone even remember this awesome toy line?  Probably not many, which will probably make them even harder to find.  I am very happy I got them while I did and if you are a fan of action packed cartoons accompanied by accurate and detailed action figures, you may want to check these out now before they are long gone.  Oh, and take a chance with the motorcycle vehicles.  They are great for adding play value to the figures.

-RH

4 out of 5

Starting with Springer, I don't think Hasbro could have done a better job.  Personally, the mold almost looks as if it was intended to be Springer from the get go.  It is most noticeable with the head design.

Springer is very well painted and made of a nice plastic which is hard to say for some of the other Universe figures.  Hasbro got the colors so perfectly especially the tone of the creamy yellow highlights.  I think Hasbro utilized an older mode to its full potential.  I am very happy with this repaint.

Ratbat is a repaint of the Cybertron Sideways.  Sideways was easily one of my favorite Cybertron figures.  I love the design and transformation.

Even though Ratbat does not transform into a cassette, I think this mold works very well with the chosen vehicle and robot.

If I had any complaint is perhaps there is a little too much purple and not enough paint applications but I guess the original Ratbat was very purple.  Therefore, it works well.

This Target exclusive 2-pack is a worthy purchase.  You really aren't getting much of a price break on these figures though.  You are paying thirty bucks for a Voyager class and deluxe scaled figure.  If the price was lowered by about five bucks it would have easily been a better bargain and perhaps I would have bought the other exclusive 2-pack even though I am only interested in the Roadbuster.

If you are a fan of the original molds and the characters, you really can't go wrong.  Hasbro did a nice job especially with the paint applications and the quality plastic particularly with Springer.

-RH

Springer - 4 out of 5

Ratbat - 3.5 out of 5

If you are not a fan of this design then I can tell you off the bat, this isn't for you.  However, if you do like this mold as I do then you should be happy.

Thundercracker has always been my least favorite of the seeker jets.  However, Takara has done a spectacular job with the paint and that is certainly the highlight.  The blue is a beautifully painted sparkling blue.

I did have some problems transforming him. His upper chest just did not want to go down all the way.  As a result there are a couple nicks.  It rather ticked me off especially when you pay about a hundred bones for a toy.

Thundercracker does come with some nice stickers to make him more G1 accurate.  However, I have not applied them.  I haven't decided whether I will or not.

The final analysis is this a nice use of this exhausted mold that I am getting rather sick of. With that said, I'm glad I have it even though he has a few nicks. 

-RH

4 out of 5

I’ll get this out of the way right off the bat; I hate the green helicopter backpack that is included. Perhaps, if this was a figure of Brad Turner it would have made sense but this green atrocity stands out like a sore thumb. The least Hasbro could have done was made it out of red or grey plastic to better match the figure.

Now I got that off my chest, let me say that the head sculpt is absolutely brilliant! The sculptor really got this perfect from the hair style down to the cheek bones.

The rest of the figure is also very well done. I am looking at the vintage figure and the new one side by side and it is pretty much uncanny. If I did have a complaint it would probably be the chest and shoulder armor. They look good but are an added feature that the vintage figure did not have.

Trakker also has his mask and it is a pretty nice homage to the original. It is in no way identical. Hasbro did some modernizing with the look. I’d probably have to say the new one is cooler looking but I am so used to looking at the original that it does feel more comfortable. The helmet fits on his head very nice and snug. He definitely looks slicker with the helmet on but part of me prefers it off mast likely because it hides the great head sculpt. Trakker also includes a nice but fairly generic gun.

As far as articulation and paint applications go, Trakker is as nice as the rest of the Joe’s. I have no complaints in either department.

Do I see this as the second coming of M.A.S.K.? Probably not but I would have no problems seeing other figures from the beloved series made. Unfortunately, other than Miles Mayhem, I’m not sure too many characters are distinct or in as much demand as Matt Trakker. However, if Hasbro decided to revisit M.A.S.K. as a whole separate toy line, I have a feeling I would bite and Hasbro would get more of what little toy buying money I have left.

-RH

4 out of 5

As I said, I don’t keep up with comics as much as I’d like too. Therefore, my knowledge of the Superman/Batman series and the artist is very limited.  What I can tell you is DC Direct has produced an awesome Green Lantern figure! I love this sculpt. I generally don’t go for the artist specific designs but this one, although unique and stylized isn’t as distracting as the Ed McGuiness style.

With all the praise, I do feel DC Direct ruined what could have been one of my favorite GL figures. I hate the transparent plastic covering the Green Lantern insignia. Perhaps, it has some meaning within the comic book but it’s a distraction to me. Another problem with the figure is he has two closed fists which means he cannot hold the lantern that he comes with, another poor decision by the sculptor.

Jordon also includes a transparent large fist accessory. Again, I assume there is some relevance to this accessory but it looks silly and unnecessary to me.

Green Lantern has a substantial amount of articulation and the paint job is well done which is important when your paying this much for a six inch action figure. He also includes a large stand with the Superman/Batman logo on it.

It really is unfortunate that this figure has the flaws I mentioned above because I really like the sculpt and this could have easily been one of my favorites released by DC Direct but that plastic over the symbol is just way to much of a distraction for me.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

I owned the original, large 8” White Ranger and thought it was a fun action figure but a little too big for my taste. So, when I heard Bandai was going to release a special fully articulated smaller version of the White Ranger, it peaked my interest. Perhaps some of that was that it is limited to 20,000 pieces.

After looking for this figure every time I went to the few retail stores that sell toys in Vermont, I was fortunate to find one in Michigan on my holiday visit and the price was definitely right.

The sculpt is very well done. The character design is very simple and sterile to begin with but the smaller scale makes this figure much more appealing to me.  I read a lot of complaints in action figure forums about sloppy paint applications but I find that the one I scored has a rather clean paint job. One of the appealing aspects of this figure is the color combinations of white, black and gold. The colors go very well together.

The articulation is one of the highlights of this figure. The White Ranger is loaded with articulation for virtually any wild pose you may desire. However, he could have been perfected with a ball-jointed neck and ankle joints.

The White Ranger is only accessorized with his signature sword. It would have been nice if he included the Power Rangers gun but I’m not going to lose any sleep because of it. I suppose you could also consider his chest armor an accessory as it is removable and fits very nice and snug.
I wouldn’t say I’m going to go and buy up other Power Ranger toys but I think the White Ranger is the one and only figure I need. Perhaps if Bandai made a green ranger or red ranger in this scale with the same articulation and detail I might bite but I wouldn’t hunt them down. The White Ranger provides all the Mighty Morphin action I need.

-RH

4 out of 5

For the few who have not seen the Dark Knight, the Batpod’s appearance is very ingenious. I liked the minimalistic design before I saw the movie but after seeing the film I appreciated it even more.
Mattel did a spectacular job with this vehicle designed to accompany the 6” Movie Master action figures. It is truly a piece of art. It looks like it jumped right off of the screen.

The detail is phenomenal! There are tons of little details and separate parts. The highlights include the real rubber tires. Rubber tires seem to be a thing of the past when it comes to toys. I miss the day when Transformers featured real rubber tires. The paint job is very well done. Mattel painted the Batpod to make it look worn in especially the dirt marks on the tires. These added details are so appreciated. Mattel could have easily skipped these details but I am thankful they did not.

The Batpod does not feature any moving parts other than the tires. You basically sit Batman on and roll it across the kitchen floor and that is the extent of the play value but with that said, I don’t know what parts would need to be moveable. Perhaps some shocks but otherwise anything else escapes me.

The Batpod is a spectacular vehicle whether you just want to stick it on a shelf for all to admire or if you want to pop a Batman on and roll it around. At the reasonable price point, I don’t think you could ask for anything else. It’s very refreshing to add a vehicle to my action figure collection and this is the perfect addition.

Thanks to Dave and Andy for the awesome birthday gift.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

The Flint in Cobra disguise in theory is a fun idea but I think Flint was the wrong character choice mainly due to his beret. Even though Joe fans are sick of Duke, I think he would have worked better. The figure itself is virtually re-used parts from other figures. I think the plastic used for the head is a little waxy looking and pale. Another issue I had was the left hand falls off very easily.

The Cobra Eel has always been one of my favorite Cobra’s and this homage to the original version is nothing short of spectacular. The sculpt is excellent and clearly resembles the original 1980’s version with added details & articulation. My favorite feature is the removable helmet. It fits so snug, you wouldn’t even know it came off. Some other nice details are in the accessories. The harpoon gun is painted silver at the tip and he includes two removable knives at the hips and don’t forget his backpack and flippers.

The third figure is of Airborne. He was a childhood favorite who I felt was under-appreciated. Airborne is definitely made with love. His colors work very well and represent the original very faithfully. I think Hasbro did an excellent job with Airborne’s skin tone by making him darker to represent his Native American roots.

Airborne’s accessories help make this figure one of the best of the line. His backpack is unique and well detailed. However, it was very difficult to get it to stay firm. His helmet fits well. It may be a tad too big but isn’t in any way distracting. His gun also features a painted bayonet which is a pleasant added detail.

All three figures are worthy of purchase but Airborne and the Cobra Eel is a definite for any G.I. Joe fan and represent some of the best work Hasbro has done with the series thus far.

-RH

Flint is Cobra Disguise 3 out of 5
Cobra Eel 4.5 out of 5
Airborne 4.5 out of 5

Chewbacca I was hesitant about buying only because there seemed to be so many good Chewy figures but when I got mu hands on the VOTC version, all the others can be tossed aside.  This figure is absolutely great!  He is incredibly sculpted to look exactly like everyone's favorite Wookie. 

The articulation is stunning.  He has two joints in his chest area and articulation everywhere else.  He can be posed in some pretty cool positions.  I also love his accessories.  The fact that his sash is a separate piece really made me happy.  It kind of gave me déjà vu of playing with the classic 12" version as a child.  His gun is well detailed and big as it should be.  This is definitely the end all of Chewbacca figures for me.

C-3P0 was actually the figure I anticipated the most.  Hasbro and Kenner has given us some great versions of this droid in the past but I expected this to have lots of detail and articulation.  Well, the detail is great.  He has a lot of wear and tear but he lacks the articulation I was so hoping for.  He is basically as good as the last C-3P0 accept he has a slightly unusual pose.  His right foot is bent and looks kind of odd.  Overall, it's a good figure but just another 3P0 and not the articulated version I was hoping for.

I really didn't have any intention of buying Greedo because I was convinced he was just a retool of Greedo's of the past but I was surprised to see it appears to be a new sculpt.  Greedo's head and body are very well done.  I like that his belt is a separate piece.  What I don't like is the soft goods vest.  It throws off the look of the whole figure.  I really really wish Hasbro would chill out on the soft goods.  It ruined an otherwise nice figure. 

I am finding myself really enjoying a lot of the VOTC figures but whenever Hasbro uses soft goods, I find myself disappointed.  However, I am curious of the Hoth Stormtrooper & Sand People.  They will most likely be my next purchases.

-RH

Chewbacca 5 out of 5

C-3P0 3.5 out of 5

Greedo 3 out of 5

I know a lot about the classic Joe's but I wouldn't say I am an expert.  From what I understand, this version of Scarlett is an homage to a foreign released figure.  Since there isn't that childhood connection there for me, I can't say I was extremely excited about her.  With that said, one look at the card art makes you convinced this was a figure released in the states.  The card art is beautiful and reminds me how important it was as a child to see the character beautifully painted in action besides their plastic counterpart.

Scarlett is probably the most popular female character.  Some may argue it's Lady Jaye but I think Scarlett, as the first female Joe gets the honor. 

The pilot figure obviously uses parts from the first 25th Scarlett.  However, there are some nice retools like the lower legs.  With her vest, you couldn't really even tell where this figure's origins are from.  The head is also new as she needs to put her long red hair in a bun in order to fit her helmet.

I think the colors of this figure is what makes her stand out the most.  I really like the tones of blue accented by white. 

Scarlett comes with a pistol and her signature crossbow.  The crossbow is nothing but trouble for me as it is two pieces and always falls apart.  On top of that, it does not stay in her hand.  A big pet peeve of mine.  As for the helmet, it fits very well but I like the overall look of the figure better without the helmet on. 

Even though this Scarlett is an homage to some G.I Joe figure I know little about, it proves that Hasbro can introduce some new figures and still keep me interested.  Hasbro continues to impress me and excite with the G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary series as I am always excited to get the newest waves at least until the movie figures comes out.  I know I shouldn't judge it till I see it but I have a good feeling that I'll be taking a break from Joe when the movie products are released.

-RH

4 out of 5

I confess, I am and have always been a bigger fan of Luke Skywalker over Han Solo.  Sure, Luke was kind of whiny but by the time he became a Jedi in Return of the Jedi, Luke meant business.  Plus, Luke got all the cool costumes which meant more figures.  Sure Han had his fair share but up until now, Kenner and Hasbro both struggled with making a definitive Han Solo. 

Harrison Ford must have one of the hardest likenesses to get right because no matter how many action figures he has received, they all had their flaws.  I really liked the POTJ Han Solo Bespin and the BAD Wal-Mart exclusive Han Solo Hoth but what about his signature outfit?  You know, the black vest and navy blue pants.  I have never liked any version of his main digs until now.

The VOTC Han Solo is by far the best regular Han Solo yet.  I big part of the success goes to the head sculpt.  It clearly looks like Ford.  The figure is rather thin which isn't a negative but perhaps his thigh's are a little too thin.  I'm not saying he should have child baring hips but they are very straight up and down.

The outfit has a lot of nice details like the wrinkles in his shirt and the back of the vest is rather nice.  The belt with gun holster is also a nice touch.

This figure is very well articulated without having too many ugly seems.  The ball jointed head is the highlight for me when concerned about the articulation.

Han Solo is equipped only with his signature blaster.  It is well scaled and fits snug in his hand.  It is molded in all black plastic.  I am not too sure whether there was any silver on the gun but it still looks fine in all black.

I still have a soft spot for the POTJ Bespin Han Solo but in all honesty, this is probably a superior figure and a must have for all Han Solo and Harrison Ford fans.  Finally, a nice regular Han Solo.  I am now anxiously awaiting the Han Solo and Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper figures that should be released early next year even more.

-RH

4 out of 5

Just like Han Solo (review above) Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan really never had a good figure.  Most of them either were posed in some funky stance or featured soft good that didn't fit properly but with the Obi-Wan pilot figure, Hasbro finally released a worthy Obi-Wan.

The figure is very well sculpted in a neutral pose with plenty of articulation offering the ability for many of cool poses.  The head sculpt is the best Obi-Wan I've seen.  I don't know if it was used on another figure but it doesn't look familiar to me.

Obi-Wan comes with his signature lightsaber, communications headgear and a plastic Jedi robe that slips nicely on his shoulders.  I love the plastic robe as it looks better than the soft goods versions.  His lightsaber can sit in his hand with the robe on without it looking too puffed out.  The headgear is my biggest problem.  I don't know why, I just don't get how it's supposed to fit.  It looks self explanatory but perhaps it just doesn't fit well.  I could do without it anyways.

There really isn't a great deal to say but I thought it was important to give this figure some credit as it is my favorite prequel Obi-Wan.  I hope now Hasbro will make a nice Obi-wan with a permanent plastic robe so he can be posed with the robe on.

-RH

4 out of 5

If your are not a fan of the Animated aesthetic than I can most likely guess right off the bat that these are not for you.  However, if you are a fan, these are a nice side series of figures.  Activators are very similar to the first series basic Beast Wars figures.  They are basically designed to transform with the touch of a button and moving a few parts here and there.  To many, this takes the fun out of the concept of transforming.  However, these are great for on the go action. 

I think the activators appeal to me so much because they are basically nice four inch action figures.  Both Megatron and Grimlock are well sculpted and full of articulation.  Grimlock's arms seem a tad bit long but they can be pushed back to shorten them some.

Megatron's transformation works very well and everything fits in place as it should.  It rather amazes me how Hasbro is able to make these figure look good in both modes without complex transformations.  Megatron does lack paint applications making him look a little cheap as he is mostly grey plastic but overall he is an impressive little robot.

Grimlock also has a pretty solid transformation and requires a little more on your part.  Just like Megatron both modes look good.  He also has a slight cheap look to him but he does contain a few more paint applications.

The big flaw of the Activators line as a whole is the retail price.  These are about seven dollars.  That is only three dollars cheaper than a deluxe transformer.  It doesn't seem to be a worthy comparison for what you get for your money.  If Hasbro priced these at five bucks a pop, I would feel much better about collecting them.  Unfortunately, the high price really affects my scoring of these otherwise cool little action figures.

  Activators may not be for everybody but if you like to carry around a transformer to keep you busy, these pocket sized robots are perfect for a quick robot fix.

-RH

3 out of 5

I'll start with the droid, FX-6.  It is very reminiscent of the good ol' FX-7 droid but it has a little more color and added surgical arms.  Overall, this is a nice droid.  However, there is no real clear instructions on how and where the arms are supposed to be connected.  It took a few minutes but I think I got it right.  At least it kept me busy longer than your average Star Wars figure. 

Breha Organa is possibly the best of the bunch.  I don't ever recall seeing her in any of the films.  I suspect she was in a scene that was cut because on the package is a photo of an actress in costume.  The figure is simple and elegant.  She lacks articulation but makes up for it in detail. 

Her husband Bail Organa on the other hand is almost a nice figure.  However, he embodies everything I hate about the use of soft goods on 3 3/4" figures.  This robe is too long in both the arms and at the bottom.  I am happy that it is at least made of a thick material but for all those Star Wars fans out there that requested more soft goods on figures, what are you thinking?  I understand that soft goods does allow for more articulation but in exchange you get a rather silly looking figure.  I've seen worse cases of the use of soft goods but I would have gladly traded the articulation for a nicely sculpted robe.

The Kamino Jango Fett is a well done Jango.  However, again with the soft goods!  He looks like he is wearing a garbage bag!  Argh!  Otherwise, he is well articulated and has some nice removable leg armor.  Also worth noting, this assortment includes a plethora of additional weapons.  This is a pretty cool added feature accept the weapons don't really have anything to do with the character.  Perhaps, just a bonus to help justify the exorbitant price of the little figure.

I think the bottom line for this batch is Hasbro needs to stop with the soft goods.  It is ruining what could be some very nice action figures.  It's too bad Hasbro probably does not read my reviews but if they do, please stop using soft goods!  It looks awful!

-RH

3 out of 5

It is amazing how sometimes it is the figures you are least looking forward to that end up being the favorites.  In this case it is the figures that I thought were just mere repaints such as Prince Caspian, Peter Pevensie & King Miraz.  These three figures are not just repaints but are greatly retooled to add a great deal of articulation and yes the updated paint jobs add a lot of improvement to these figures.  A great surprise was that both King Miraz and Peter feature removable helmets.  I am rather impressed at how snug they fit especially King Miraz's helmet due to it's unusual design.

General Glozeelle is another one of my favorite of the series as there definitely needed more bad guys and like the rest of the new series, he is well articulated and accessorized.

The other figures in this assortment are great fun especially for animal lovers.  If you like mice you will certainly enjoy Reepicheep & his Mice-At Arms.  They are well sculpted and articulated feisty little fella's.

If you like the Faun's than perhaps Celeus will be your bag.  He is far superior to the Faun from the first series.

Finally, there is Trufflehunter.  This little guy is again proof that a 3 3/4" scaled Lord of the Rings movie trilogy set of figures could be done with great sculpts and articulation.

My overall impression is PlayAlong has done their homework and could be a contender in the over-crowded action figure market.  My only complaint really is the plastic used is similar to that of companies such as Neca where moving a wrist is a scary endever.  This is when the freezer comes in play and had to be used to loosen the wrist of Prince Caspian.  At the price I paid and the seemingly limited release these figures are getting, I can't risk any breakage.

It is too bad PlayAlong Toys didn't release this sort of quality and articulation the first time around.  Perhaps it wouldn't have increased sales considering the figures were battling for shelf space against some big summer movie players such as Iron-Man and The Dark Knight.  I am happy to have gotten these even at the high Ebay prices I paid.  However, if the remaining of the figures end up on Ebay, you can bet I'll be bidding on them.

-RH

4 out of 5

I'll be honest, I know nothing of L-Gaim but when I saw pictures of him something clicked.  He just really appealed to me.  Some of my robot collecting buddies don't seem to see what I see and think he is rather plain and perhaps it's that sterile simplicity I like so much.  Also, I'm a sucker for robots with wires.  The version of the L-Gaim I really wanted was from the Soul of Chogokin series but I haven't found one for sale at a reasonable price.  I'm hoping import retailers may lower their price since he isn't the most desirable character.  Nevertheless, I am happy with the "In Action" version for now.

As expected this figure is incredibly well articulated.  There are flip up panels and plenty of moving parts to keep you playing with him.  The design for me is great.  I really like the head design of this robot as it looks like neither a Gundam or Transformer but at the same instance could easily fit in with either universe. Like I said, many may find him plain but it is that look that I find so appealing.  There is great detail in this robot from head to toe. 

The plastic is of a high quality which is nice to see on an action figure these days as so many American toy companies have started using cheaper quality plastic due to the rising costs of oil.

L-Gaim comes fully accessorized with two arm mounted blasters with wires, a shield, 2 swords and several different fists.  This allows for so many different options when displaying this piece.

With a lack of color and tiny micro details, this robot may not be for everyone but whether you like it or not Bandai has certainly put all the fine details and articulation into this four inch robot.  Now, I only hope to find the Soul of Chogokin version to accompany this fine figure.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

Forget about the packaging.  I know how great it is and I know how displayable it is in the package but I am a loose figure collector.  So there!

Of all the characters in the Star Wars universe, no one is as memorable as Darth Vader.  He is the man!  There have been MANY action figures over the years.  Some good and some bad but none were perfect.  The VOTC Darth Vader probably comes as close as we will ever get..

I first want to say that I am not normally a fan of soft goods when it comes to 3 3/4" figures.  The fabric is far too light to lay properly.  However, sometimes it does work.  In the case of the VOTC Vader it does in fact work.  If I had any complaint about the soft goods on this figure is the cape is a little thin and somewhat transparent because of it.  It would be nice if Hasbro would invest in a slightly higher quality fabric for their Star Wars line but again, I would rather see plastic capes for the most part.

The sculpt of this figure is about perfect.  His head is large as it should be and he has a neutral yet imposing stance.  I love the detail work of all the sculpted lines in the uniform and the chest.

The paint applications are also a plus.  You are probably thinking, he's mostly black, how can you get that wrong?  However, he does have more color.  Most impressive is the subtlety of his eyes as they have a very slight touch of red as they should.  Hasbro really nailed it.

The articulation is probably the only problem I have with this figure but it's only with the elbows.  Hasbro now tends to use a ball joint for the elbows but in this case they have the cut elbows that rotate.  They still allow a good amount of poseability but I greatly prefer the look and movement of the ball type joints.

Of course Vader includes his lightsaber and that is all he needs to include.  I suppose his cape could also be considered an accessory as well.

The VOTC Darth Vader is the best Vader I've seen thus far and may be the best we ever get from Hasbro.  Nevertheless, I do expect Hasbro to continue the series with another Darth Vader and perhaps they could use aspects of this wonderful figure with some updates to improve on near perfection.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

If you were not a Narnia expert or didn't see the small "New Series" label in the upper right hand corner you might not know most of these were even new figures as many of them are different characters of some of the same species we saw in series one.  However, they are clearly different.  The articulation is by far the greatest difference.  It is clear PlayAlong toys have been studying the newest Star Wars action figures for lessons in articulation.  This is most noticeable with the Dr. Cornelius figure.  He also happens to be the best of the bunch thus far.  I'll be honest, I don't remember the movie in great detail.  So, I don't remember a lot of these characters but he looks like the typical wizard with his long beard and robes.  His facial sculpt shows that PlayAlong has gotten better at character likenesses.  This is also evident with his 2-pack counterpart, yet another Prince Caspian figure.  The one thing I hated about the first series figures was that Prince Caspian looked nothing like he did in the movie.  He looked like an angry middle aged man instead of a young stud.  PlayAlong has re-sculpted his head to bring it to looking a little more like it should.

Another interesting figure is Bultitude.  At first glance he just looks like a bear action figure that would have been part of a set from the 1980's Fisher-Price Adventure People series.  However, once you get him in hand you can see he is much better detailed and very articulated.  He's a neat figure.

PlayAlong still has a lot to learn about quality control.  Some of the paint applications are still a bit sloppy and if you only knew what I paid for these, you'd expect perfection. 

Overall, I am glad to be able to add these second series figures to my collection, even if this came completely out of left field.  If PlayAlong can't get a larger distribution of these figures, expect these to become extremely expensive on the secondary market even if this line only has a small following.  I'll be back soon with another lot of these figures to show off.

-RH

3 out of 5

The Star Wars Evolutions sets of three have proven to include some nice figures.  Unfortunately, in many cases, I just want one of the figures.  Therefore, I usually turn to Ebay to purchase the one I want and this is how I got my Clone Pilot.

The Clone Pilot is a vast improvement over the first version as he includes much greater articulation and a removable helmet.  The best part of having the helmet removable is he has a transparent goggles.  This really adds to the overall aesthetic of the figure.  Like most of the recent Star Wars figures, the helmet fits very snug.  Under the helmet is the typical Jango head but he has a cap on which sets him apart from some of the others.

The Clone Pilot also comes with a blaster that fits nicely in his left hand as it was sculpted with a ready trigger finger.

If I had one complaint about this figure is his crotch area is a bit wide.  It isn't a great distraction but it was quite noticeable.

In my quest for a set of the nicest of the nicest in the Star Wars universe, The Clone Pilot is a great addition and allows me to relieve myself of the other version who's accessories take up more space than I have.

-RH

4 out of 5

The Cobra Bazooka Trooper is basically your average Cobra soldier but what sets him apart are his accessories.  He includes a nice vest which immediately sets him apart from the average soldier.  Also, the trooper's helmet has a sculpted netting which also gives the figure his own identity.

Surprisingly, what I like best about this figure is his bazooka.  Back in the day, Hasbro would have just included a plastic bazooka that was just all one color but Hasbro included a three colored bazooka.  It is also worth noting that it holds well in his hand.  I always found this a problem with figures that came with bazooka's.  This is one of the better troop builders even though it is only because of the new accessories.

The Cobra Para-Viper is in a category of it's own.  This is the kind of figure that if it was 1984 all over again, kids would be going crazy for.  Plus, due to the obscene amount of accessories, his secondary market value for a complete figure would be through the roof.

The figure itself bare boned is just a repainted Ace figure and the color choices are the week link of this figure.  The purple isn't that terrible but the fluorescent red and yellow are awful.  With that said, all is forgiven when it comes to his accessories.

This figure is loaded!  He has two guns with removable/moveable parts, a parachute vest, helmet, flippers, goggles, a gun clip, knife, a helmet and hoses.  The hoses are a transparent rubber and look awesome.  The leg straps look like they were borrowed from a Star Wars X-Wing pilot but they work well and they hold his flippers into place.  

The guns are casted in vintage Star Wars blue.  It's amazing how just holding them made me feel like I was seven years old again.  This figure is outstanding and would have made a great Rip Chord.  I am certain to buy another for customizing.  I could have easily taken a dozen different pictures of this figure but it's worth checking out first hand.

The Bazooka Trooper is perfect for army builders but it's the Para-Viper that shines.  Don't let the colors detour you away from getting him.  His play value is phenomenal!  I truly love this figure.  You can tell Hasbro put some love into this guy.

-RH

Bazooka Trooper 3.5 out of 5

Para-Viper 4.5 out of 5

I have always liked the costumes worn by Natalie Portman in the Star Wars Prequels especially the elaborate ones when she was queen.  Therefore, I ordered this figure individually.  However, had I realized that all three figures from this set were desirable, I probably would have just bought the three pack.

Like all the other Amidala in queen garb, Hasbro has done a fine job with the detail of these complex designs.  The paint is wonderful with all the detailed swirls. 

The sculpt is also well done and matches her screen counterpart very well.  My only gripe is she has a smile. I'm not sure whether this is a paint issue or if the smile was sculpted.  However, Queen Amidala never seemed to smile when dressed as queen and it does look unfitting for the character.

As expected, the articulation is very limited.  However, I commend Hasbro for adding elbow joints to this figure to add a little bit of poseability.

Luke Skywalker's Bespin fatigues is my second favorite outfit he wore next to his brilliant Jedi fatigues.  I always felt that the first version Hasbro made with the movie cell was a great figure.  Yes, it lacked the articulation Hasbro has currently added to their Star Wars series but it was well positioned and looked great. 

I decided to give the VOTC figure a try even though from pictures I have seen, I wasn't crazy about it.  Yes, this figure has added articulation and a more accurately scaled blaster that fits nicely in the holster but the overall sculpt of the figure looks a little disproportionate.  It may in fact be more accurate than the preferred first version but he looks a bit wimpy.  I also really dislike the newer Luke head sculpts.  I think they look far more generic than some of the earlier sculpts. 

The paint job is nice as he is lightly sprinkled with dirt and shading.  I also like that the belt is a separate piece but I don't feel this is the perfect Luke Bespin.  I still give that honor to the first Hasbro (Kenner) version for the POTF2 line.

I wish I could have just gone back and bought the Evolutions Amidala set as it contains three nice figures but the odds are, I can still get all three for about the same price as the box set.

-RH

Amidala 3.5 out of 5

Luke Bespin 3 out of 5

For a while, there was a lot of debate on whether the jacket Han Solo wore in Empire Strikes Back was blue or brown.  I don't intend on solving this mystery but I will say, I see it on the screen as blue.  Therefore, I'm glad Hasbro has stuck with the blue for this figure. 

These Wal-Mart exclusives are sold in two packs but since I didn't care for the other figure, I was fortunate enough to save a bunch of money and just get the figure off of Ebay.

As I stated earlier, there has been many versions of the Han Solo in Hoth gear.  The vintage figure was well done for the time and holds some very fond memories.  The first POTF2 version was less than stellar.  He was not only positioned in a wacky pose but his colors were closer to a lavender.  I believe Hasbro (Kenner at the time) were going for a snow dusted look but it didn't work for me.  They also came out with one for the saga line and it wasn't bad but it had a little too much of an odd pose.  This version also came in brown for all the angry Star Wars purists.  Following the Saga version was the VOTC version.  I do not own it so I cannot tell you whether it is good or not but I can say from pictures that the hood is not on Han's head.

What I like about this Wal-Mart exclusive version is it does resemble the original vintage figure with all the appropriate updates.  It is very well sculpted and has the hood up.  I think it would have been interesting if Hasbro would have approached it similar to how they did the G.I. Joe Snow Job, where the hood could come off.  Either way this is a nice sculpt.

The figure is not pre-posed in some silly action stance.  Instead, Hasbro just gave him some good articulation.  They achieved a good balance of just the right amount without ruining the sculpt.

One of the highlights of this figure are his accessories.  He includes a well scaled blaster, binoculars and removable goggles.  The goggles do fit pretty snug.  However, they are very tiny.  So, if you choose not to display him with them on, be careful as they can be easily lost.

It took many of years to get this figure just right but Hasbro delivered.  I'm pretty sure this figure borrows many elements of the VOTC version but I like that the hood is on his head just like the one I played with as a child.

RH

4.5 out of 5

Anyone who grew up in the 1980's are most likely familiar with the Princess Bride.  It is a wonderfully humorous fantasy film.  The star of the film is the farm boy Wesley who takes on the identity of the Dread Pirate Roberts and Neca has made this beloved cult hero into a 3-D plastic sculpture.

As with most of Neca's products, Roberts is well sculpted and looks a fair amount like he did in the movie.  As I stated he lacks articulation but at least Neca provided a nice pose for this figure.  He does have some articulation.  He has a ball jointed head and arms.  Plus wrist and his lower legs swivel. 

The paint job is very well done.  However, he is primarily just black but Neca provided high gloss black where appropriate.

Roberts includes his swash-buckling sword which fits snug in his hand.  He also includes a sword sheath which is rather unnecessary.  It doesn't fit anywhere on the figure.  It just goes on the sword.  It seems like Neca was pushing to try to add some value to the figure but it really is silly and a waste of plastic.

There isn't a great deal more to say about this figure.  If you are a fan of the Princess Bride then I recommend adding this figure to your collection as it displays nicely.  I just really wish Neca would get with the times and add articulation to the great cult licensed figures they make.  They could certainly take a look at what Mezco Toys has done with the Hellboy action figures as a guide. 

-RH

3 out of 5

This set comes with four figures a cube accessory, part of the Mass Device and a DVD of an episode of the classic cartoon which I look forward to watching as it's been a long while since I've watched those old episodes.

The Cobra Commander is just an atrocious mess.  He is a repaint of the over-used Cobra Commander body and what looks like a new head sculpt to make him look more cartoony.  I really don't get this.  I want my figures to look realistic not like the cartoon.  The cartoon look was compromised and therefore this figure is as well. Same pretty much goes with the Major Bludd.  However, he does use the prototype Flash chest without the grates which proves to me that Hasbro could have made a Tripwire figure to better resemble his 1980's counterpart. 

Surprisingly, the Snake Eyes figure is almost a completely new mold.  It probably resembles his V2 look better than the single pack figure but I think I prefer the single pack to this one.  Again, the head looks a little too cartoony and worst of all, he is painted purple.  Argh!  Why?  On a positive note he does include a nicer sword which is a lot like the one the V2 figure from the 80's came with.  I just wish Hasbro would release the V2 figure in all black and throw in this sword for a perfect figure.  It seems like a no brainer but Hasbro is Hasbro.

Finally, we get to the reason this set was bought, Quick Kick!  I think this is a great update of the Joe's Martial Arts expert.  I always liked the original figure but I always thought his face was kind of fugly.  This new version has a great head that slightly resembles Bruce Lee.  It is a great homage to the character.  I was surprised that apparently all these years I've displayed Quick Kick's backpack upside down.  I think it looks better that way but...If there were any flaws I suppose the plastic looks a little waxy and he has no ankle articulation which you would expect to get with a martial artist.  Unfortunately, My Quick Kick came with a Cobra Commander stand.  It is a bit frustrating.  I'm not sure whether this is a common error or just my misfortune.  I plan on contacting Hasbro to find out if they will replace the part but I'm not sure they will oblige

Overall, as I said in the beginning, I paid the price of four figures to get one.  I suppose it's not the first time and most likely will not be the last but Hasbro better watch it or they are going to see collector's like myself just get frustrated and just stop collecting altogether.

-RH

Quick Kick 3 out of 5

rest 1.5 out of 5

Jango Fett was in my opinion a rather unnecessary character and I think he was written in to bank off of the cult popularity of Boba Fett (his son).  Be as it may, he still looks pretty cool and Hasbro has made numerous versions of the character.  Most of them had silly action features that ruined the sculpt.  The best version I thought, was the "sneak preview" figure.  It was very well sculpted yet flawed due to his extremely dynamic pose.  It was rather unfortunate.  Hasbro has seemed to finally make the perfect Jango which will allow me to get rid of all the others I bought over the years.

This particular Jango Fett comes from one of Hasbro's Evolutions box sets but I just bought him loose on Ebay because as I said, I have no interest in supporting the expanded universe figures.

At first glance, I thought this was a straight repaint of the VOTC Boba Fett.  How wrong I was. If anything, only the chest is shared.  This made me very satisfied in my purchase even if the VOTC Boba Fett is awesome it's nice to know you are getting an mostly new figure.

I am sick of seeing this head that shows up on every clone trooper action figure these days but this sculpt is very well done.  I don't know whether it appeared on another figure before but as I said, it is well done along with the rest of the figure.

Jango is well articulated.  He has all the articulation needed without ruining the sculpt of the figure.  I sort of wish he had wrist articulation but I can live without it.

Fett comes with his two signature blasters that fit nicely in their holsters.  He also includes his head piece with communicator.  This also fits well. Most importantly, he of course comes with his helmet.  The fit of the helmet could easily make or break this figure and thankfully, it fits very nice and snug.

Whether you are a fan of the prequels or not, I think it's pretty safe to say that this is one cool character design even if it is mostly just a re-coloring of everyone's favorite bounty hunter.  It took awhile but Hasbro finally delivered with a definitive Jango Fett.  I'm just surprised they didn't release this on a single card.  Give Hasbro some time.  I'm fairly sure they will.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

I love Gundam's.  Who doesn't?  They are big cool robots.  However, I am not and don't claim to be any sort of an expert on them.  I've watched many of the series (with still only a vague idea of what it's about) and I own a fair amount of the Mobile Suit in Action 4" figures from Bandai.  To be a Gundam expert, I imagine you would have to devote a substantial amount of your life to the one property as there are so many different shows and merchandise.  I stick with the MSIA figures because I like their scale, variety, articulation and accessories.  They are also, probably one of the cheaper ways to go and that's not saying much because they are still rather expensive for a 4" action figure.

Anyways, I wish I could have a complete set of the MSIA figures cause they are just so cool but there are so many and as I said, they can be pricey but I like to pick one up from time to time and the newest addition to my collection is the newest regular Gundam, the GN-001 Exia.

The Exia has much more of a distinct quality over the subtle changes Gundam's go through over the years.  The most notable difference's are how slender this robot is.  I wouldn't say it looks female but it certainly has a more organic look to it.  Most of the usually blocky robot parts are replaced with much more rounder parts.  This isn't to say it doesn't look like a Gundam cause it most certainly does.  It has the signature colors and his head clearly fits in with the Gundam look.

Like all the other MSIA figures, the Exia is highly articulated and feels somewhat fragile due to all the small little parts.  He includes a fair amount of weapons including the typical lightsaber type swords and multiple hands.  However, he also includes two unique swords, a shield and some sort of bladed gun (very cool).

I admit to being a greater fan of blockier robots and thankfully there are still remnants of that on the Exia but with that said, this isn't my favorite of the Gundam designs but it is still very cool.  It's nice to see a more drastic design change even though I suppose to someone even less familiar with Gundam might not see the changes at all.  So, that makes me feel good that I'm a little more geekier than the average person (not really news to me). 

One thing is certain, Bandai's MSIA figures are incredibly addictive.  Every time I buy one, I immediately want another and another.  I'd really like to see the new show.  Sometimes all it takes is seeing the robot in action to help build up a greater appreciation for it.

-RH

4 out of 5

Tiger Force Duke is essentially a repaint of Duke with new arms.  So many collectors complained about Duke's arms but personally, I don't think they were that bad or there is much of a difference.  I normally don't like straight repaints but I always liked the Tiger Force figures, gaudy colors and all.  The one thing I most appreciate about this one in particular is they gave Duke blonde hair again.  I never quite understood how in the original series Duke went from a blonde to a brunette.  It always seemed rather odd.  The only aspect that does not sit right with this figure is his binoculars seem a little on the big side.  Otherwise, this is a great update.

Mercenary Wraith really didn't inspire much interest for me.  I'll be honest, when it comes to G. I. Joe, I generally just have an interest in the classic characters.  However, with that said, Wraith is a cool figure.  I particularly like how his mask flips up to reveal his identity.  He has some nice colors and fits in with the futuristic troops of Cobra.  My biggest complaint is I really don't understand his gun.  I have no idea how this is supposed to fit in his hand.  Perhaps I'm just an idiot but I researched other pictures of this figure on the web and it seems I'm not the only one with this problem.

Croc Master was one of those Cobra's I had to have as a kid.  First off, he had a cool black mask and second, he came with a crocodile.  I never really expected to see a remake of him so soon because I never really thought he was a true classic but figures with animals sell now as they did then.  This is an incredible remake of this figure.  The sculpt and paint are just beautiful and the Crocodile is surprisingly detailed with a moving jaw.  The only complaint with this figure is his Croc chain seems slightly short.

Mutt & Junkyard are the figures I most anticipated.  Now, he is a true classic and an amazing remake.  He looks exactly as he should be.  He almost makes up for all the bitterness this line has caused me as he proves to me that Hasbro can still make excellent figures.  Junkyard is updated with some nice details and paint applications and for anyone who was curious, Junkyard is definitely a male dog. 

I have such a hard time with how Hasbro is handling the G.I. Joe series these days.  I wish they would just stick with the single carded figures and forget about all these multi-packs and such.  I can't say I am still a completist of this line but when it comes to these great single packs, I'm in!

-RH

4.5 out of 5

I was one of the fortunate one's who was able to get the Wonderfest BT-17 black Convoy version of this mold that was cast in die-cast metal for a relatively reasonable price and I'll tell you, I forgot how heavy this thing was because BT-22 Convoy is heavy.  He is without a doubt the heaviest Binaltech made.  When I removed him from the larger than normal Binaltech box, the first thing I noticed was the feel of all the cold die-cast metal.  It was like heaven for me.  I love die-cast robots!  It's weight is rather intimidating to be honest.  It is that heavy! Especially when you are used to holding the all plastic Alternators version.

The paint job is just spectacular!  The red is so vibrant and shiny.  I wish my photo skills were better so I could really capture the look.

The transformation is the same but it seems a little more difficult just because the weight makes it hard to really grab on to.

The robot mode is exactly how this toy should have been in the first place.  The head itself may very well be the best Optimus Prime head ever!  This version has blue eyes as apposed to the Kissplayer's yellow eyes.  They both look good and obviously the yellow is more of a tribute to the original G1 Prime but the blue better fits in with the other Binaltech figures.

Besides the addition of die-cast metal, the aspect that I like best is Takara Tomy uses red plastic for the arms and blue for the fists.  I really think it makes all the difference.

Do to the bulky mode of this robot he is much more limited in poses when compared to many of the other Binaltech figures.  However, the poses that are achievable are perfect in demonstrating Prime's stature and tough leadership.

Each Transformer collector is different.  Some collect as a pure homage to their childhood, some like the play value of the toy and some enjoy a high quality detailed robot.  I fall mostly in the last category.  I do enjoy playing with my Transformers.  However, I would take a showcase ready highly detailed robot any day even at the higher price point.  If you really like to just play with Transformers, stick with the Alternators version but if you are looking for a showcase worthy piece of robot art, you can't go wrong with the BT-22.

Sadly, this will most likely be the final Binaltech released.  I was really hoping for a BT Mirage, Ravage and Rumble.  Nevertheless if you are going to go out, go out in style and that is just what Takara Tomy has done.

-RH

5 out of 5

Ever since the economy has been going down the drain, many toy companies are scaling down their once large action figures and extremely wasteful packaging in order to maximize profits.  Mezco Toys has decided to go both routes for their Hellboy 2 figures.  When the movie was released in theaters Mezco released a great series of seven inch action figures.  They are rather big and were certainly expensive but well worth it as they weren't "Nerd Hummel's" as expected from such a company.  Well, now just in time for Hellboy 2's DVD release. Mezco Toys has brought the consumers some of these great characters in a 3 3/4" scale.  I had already purchased and reviewed the SDCC exclusive Hellboy and absolutely loved it!  I couldn't wait for more.

The wait is over! Starting with Liz Sherman, she may be the least exciting of the box set but it's only because she isn't some sort of strange creature.  She's a girl who likes to wear black.  Nevertheless, she is well sculpted and painted with lot's of articulation.  Hell, I'll just cut to the chase!  All four figures are beautifully sculpted, articulated and fairly well painted.  They all look similar to their larger counterparts. 

Each figure comes with their appropriate accessory and a stand.  My only problem I had with the stands are they are covered with a logo sticker and my Wink stand's sticker is a little off center.  I like the stands but honestly, these figures are sturdy enough to stand on their own unlike many other action figures released today.

There are some minor paint slop but not a lot considering the amount of detail, Mezco really did a nice job.

Some of the joints were tight but they were easily loosened.  If you are concerned about breaking a part by moving it, you can always stick it in the freezer for about ten minutes.  It's always done the trick for me.

It's hard to say who my favorite of this wave is.  I do prefer the SDCC Hellboy to this version due to his facial expression.  Wink is an easy favorite just for his share mass.  Johann Krauss probably is my favorite character design.  I dig the steam punk look.

This box set is an incredible value in today's toy market.  You can pick up the set for about twenty dollars.  That comes out to about five bucks a figure!  Now that's a deal!  I not only hope Mezco continues this series as there are so many cool characters in the Hellboy universe but I hope they use this scale and overall design for their future licensed toys.  Screw the bulky "Nerd Hummel's".  Mezco proved they can make a quality action figure with great play value that rivals most anything the big guns are making.  Kudos Mezco and keep'em coming!

-RH

4.5 out of 5

Swoop is the final Dinobot from the cartoon and a welcome edition to the set.  The pterodactyl mode isn't particularly exciting but it serves it's purpose and looks as it should.

The transformation is rather simple as you more or less stand him up and move a few parts here and there.  It is definitely one of the more simple transformations but it is still fun.

The robot mode is very cool!  I really like the slender appearance of this robot.  The part I like best is the head design.  It is very unique and dynamic and much more serious looking than many of the other animated toys.

The colors are also a plus.  The blue is a nice shade and well applied.  The grey plastic is solid and looks like it is made of a high quality plastic.

Swoop is accessorized with a mace that looks much to heavy for this slender robot to carry but it is nice to see a ball on a chain with some paint applications and transparent plastic.

Swoop is another solid edition to the Transformers Animated toy line.  I am very much enjoying the animated toys.  I only wish Hasbro used the same quality materials and paint applications for some of their other Transformers brands (most notably, Universe).  I foresee the Transformers Animated toys will be fan favorites for years to come and Swoop just helps solidify that.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

Coincidentally, other than Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Silverstreak are my favorite Transformers so it was nice to get them at the same time. 

Silverstreak is a straight up repaint of the Universe Prowl which was rather lackluster.  Thankfully Silverstreak is much improved.  The colors work much better on this mold as Silverstreak.  The transformation is the same so there isn't much reason to go into that too much along with the articulation.

The big improvements are the painted missile launchers and lets be honest, all cars & robots look good in silver.  Hasbro added black as an homage to the cartoon.  I probably would have preferred him all silver but the black does make the neck look better but it still looks a bit odd.

Silverstreak's gun is the same wimpy one given to prowl.  It is worth noted that the doors are a little tacky as if the paint didn't dry but it doesn't appear that any paint comes off.

Sideswipe uses the same mold as his brother, Sunstreaker, the only Universe figure that I truly like thus far.  This toy was engineered so he can be turned around and look like a completely different robot.  this feature is well executed and a nice change from just buying a repaint.  Hasbro also provided Sideswipe with his own unique head.  It's not a bad head sculpt but I think the horns may be too exaggerated in size.

Another pleasant surprise with Sideswipe is his red plastic actually looks nice and not as cheap as many of the other figures in this series.  It's a nice tone of red.  This is quite a nice homage to Sideswipe as it truly looks like the G1 version with updated articulation.

Both Silverstreak and Sideswipe are some of the better Universe figures and I am happy to have them.  Sideswipe is the superior of the two.  If they would have tweaked the head a little bit, he could have been perfect.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

NOTE: I can't believe I forgot to mention or pictured that Sideswipes gun fits nicely on his shoulder for a missile launcher.  It looks great!

Ironhide is not only a fan favorite but he never really had a toy worthy of the character.  This was Hasbro's opportunity to make good on Ironhide's lack of a good toy. 

The vehicle mode is essentially a SUV type vehicle which works well for Ironhide.  However, this vehicle looks terrible!  It has way too many cut lines in it which makes it look like a jigsaw puzzle.  On top of that it has painted blue windows.  It really just looks a mess.

The highlight for Ironhide is his transformation.  It is unique, somewhat challenging and without a great deal of frustration.  Unfortunately, as I said before, the vehicle mode suffers for this nice transformation.

The robot mode certainly looks like Ironhide and could have been great but there are far too many quality control issues.  The head does not sit properly. Therefore, Ironhide is always looking down. Also, I find the plastic to look and feel incredibly cheap.  I also find the Oregon license plate a little bit distracting as it is front and center.  I do like how through the front window, you can see all these great mechanical silver parts.

The paint applications really kill this toy.  As noted everywhere on the web, he has a blue face.  What was Hasbro thinking?  His accessory is very cool however, it could have used a silver paint job as it suffers from that cheap plastic look.

If you want, you have the option of buying the much improved Japanese Henkei versions of these toys made by Takara which corrects all these problems but as Transformers consumers we shouldn't have to!  Hasbro has no excuse for not adding higher quality to these toys but as long as the fans keep buying them without complaint, they have no reason to change.

As far as the mold goes, this is the best looking Ironhide but it suffers from Hasbro's short cuts on quality.  It really is too bad cause this is actually quite a fun toy. If Ironhide happens to be your favorite character, I would recommend waiting for the Henkei version as it looks to be much improved.  For me, I'll just play with it and be done.  I would much rather invest in higher quality robots than buy this figure again from an importer cause I shouldn't have to.  Get your S@!$% together Hasbro and give your loyal Transfans quality toys we deserve.

-RH

2.5 out of 5

 From my research I found out that in fact this robot was from the last in a series of Takatoku robots.  This series came out right as Takutoku was selling off its assets to other companies.  I have spent the years collecting whatever few collectables there are of this robot and was happy to hear that Yamato was releasing an action figure of Batrain for their Revoltech like series.

First and foremost this toy does not transform.  Kind of a bummer but not a deal breaker by any means.  The sculpt is very well done.  The approach is definitely more inspired by the anime styling's as apposed to a more realistic robot.  What I find interesting is after all these years of Transformers and other like series,  Batrain's head design still stands out as one of the best ever. 

The plastic is surprisingly more solid than I expected.  I was assuming it would be more of a PVC plastic like the Revoltech figures. 

The paint applications are very clean and have plenty of pop.  This is a positive thing.  However, part of me wishes he had a darker more subdued tone.

Batrain has a fair amount of articulation.  However, most of it is unusable due to the robot design. You can tell that the inner body structure was made to allow for a lot of movement similar to Revoltech but you aren't going to get any of those dynamic poses from this figure.

This robot's only accessories are his signature gun and one extra fist.  For those who demand lot's of extra parts would be disappointed but for me, he comes with only what he is supposed to.

When all is said and done, this is one cool robot action figure.  It displays very well and is a pleasant departure from the same old usual robots who get many different versions of toys such as Great Mazinga or Optimus Prime.  Perhaps, their popularity demands it but I think if more people were introduced to such hidden gems then maybe we'd see more variety.

My dream is for a Soul of Chogokin treatment for this robot with full articulation and the ability to transform.  With that said, I am not complaining about this wonderful piece Yamato has made.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

The Temple of Doom may not be my favorite of the films but for several reasons it has the most sentimental value.  I remember sitting in the theater terrified when Mola Ram ripped the heart out of the guys chest but what even meant more for me regarding this film is I remember visiting my cousins in Kentucky and one of my older cousins (he was maybe eighteen years old) had the Indiana Jones figure from LJN.  I just thought it was the coolest thing especially since it was owned by an adult.  I clearly remember going to toy stores with him as he tried to hunt down the LJN Short Round & Willie Scott figures.  Naturally, we never found them.  Only later in life did I find out LJN never released them.  Hence, why this wave is so important to me plus the fact I always felt that this movie contained some great characters and costumes.  Flash forward twenty something years later...

Hasbro's Indiana Jones figures have received a less than stellar welcome from collector's personally, I don't know why.  I always wanted a nice set of Indiana Jones figures in the 3 3/4" scale and I felt Hasbro delivered.  Perhaps, it is the Harrison Ford likeness that has been the reason for lackluster reviews but let's be honest, toy companies for years have struggled nailing down Harrison Ford's mug.  This time around Hasbro has gotten darned close.

The assortment contains six figures and they are all nothing short of spectacular.  Everything Hasbro got wrong with previous assortments they got right with this one.  Every figure I opened became my new favorite.  This includes easily the best Indiana Jones with a much improved head sculpt.  Mola Ram is loaded with great accessories including a heart on fire!  Willie Scott has a nice soft goods veil.  Short Round is proof that a great 3 3/4" Lord of the Rings series is possible.  The temple Guard has spectacular colors and detail.  The Chief Temple guard (Giant Thugee) makes the LJN one look incredibly dated.

The paint jobs are spectacular! As previous waves had it's fair amount of slop, all these figures came nearly perfect.  Each figure comes with the appropriate accessories that are well detailed especially Short Rounds pack. 

I was trying to decide who was ultimately my favorite as they all brought me much joy and I narrowed it down to Indy, Mola Ram and Chief Temple Guard.  I suppose if I had to make a quick decision it would have to be Mola Ram due to his great sculpt, removable head gear and variety of accessories.

This is perhaps the best assortment of action figures Hasbro has provided in years.  They really are that good.  I wish they would make figures using a good plastic, great sculpts and clean paint applications for all of their other toy lines that have seem to been slacking a bit.

It saddens me that now that Hasbro finally get's it right, rumors float around with buzz that this will be the curtain call for the series.  I guess if it has to go, it's better off on such a high note.

I expect this series to be tough to find at retail.  I highly recommend picking them up if you ever find them and personally, they may even be worth the premium costs some online retailers are charging.  I hope Hasbro finds a way to release the Raiders of the Lost Ark figures shown at the San Diego Comic-Con.  If they are half as good as this wave, I'll be first in line to get them!

RH

4.75 out of 5

I'll be honest, I was unsure whether to add this toy to my collection due to my frustrations with the first two figure releases.  I found them very difficult to transform and a little unsteady.  Nevertheless, this was the one figure I always wanted a toy of but few if any were ever made.  So, I bit the bullet and went for it.

To my surprise, I am rather happy I did.  This is the Toynami imported version.  Therefore, it has English language instructions and I can't express how much it helps the transformation when you can actually read the words.  It made for a much smoother transformation.  So much so, I am planning on revisiting my Scott Bernard to provide perhaps a more solid figure. 

Everything on this figure holds much better than the other figures.  That isn't to say it is perfect.  It still is fragile and temperamental in certain areas.  So, be careful when transforming.

The final result is very nice.  I didn't realize how different Lancers armor is from Scott Bernard's until I had it in my hands.  Besides the obvious color difference, he has great swords that come out of his arm armor.  Also, his upper chest is different and the plates flip up to display some great weaponry.

I sort of skipped over the basic figure and bike.  These are also very nice.  The figure contains two heads, one with the helmet on with flip up visor and the other features the man/woman with his long purple hair.  Both are very nice.  He also includes a variety of hands and his signature gun.

I am happy this toy was not the disaster I felt the first two releases were.  As I said, I plan on revisiting them to see if I can get the same positive vibe from them as well. 

This is a must have for any fan of Genesis Climber Mospeada and other than the inferior CM Mospeada toys, this may be one of your only chances to have a transformable Lancer figure.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

Quick Update: I did in fact revisit the Scott Bernard and re-transformed him.  I now have a whole new appreciation for these figures.  In fact, they are my favorite Mospeada figures to date.  However, when the Beagle comes out it's sure to change.

With the Transformers Animated, you either like the aesthetic or don't.  If you don't like the cartoon look you may want to stop reading now because nothing I could say will convince you that this is a worthy robot.  I happen to like the animated style.  I've always preferred realistic transforming robots but this new style is refreshing and welcomed in my diverse collection. 

Ultra Magnus has always been a fan favorite character.  For me, I always liked the character design but never felt he had a worthy toy.  His G1 version to me was always just a white Optimus Prime with armor.  It took away from Magnus having his own identity.  I really liked the R.I.D. version.  However, his proportions were a little off.  Finally, we get another self contained version of the Autobot commander worthy of the name.

The vehicle mode is a futuristic sort of military truck.  It is fairly generic looking and reminds me of a dozen previous Transformers from a multiple of series.  Nevertheless, it is well constructed and has some nice weaponry.

The transformation is rather unique.  Parts move into places rather unexpectedly.  It has some challenge to it at first but like most Transformers, by the third time, you have it down solid.

Ultra Magnus' robot mode is the highlight.  He is one of the most armed Transformers Hasbro has produced in sometime.  He has shoulder guns X 3.  It makes him look ready and primed for battle.  His head sculpt is great and resembles the original Ultra Magnus.  He is well proportioned.  The only part I'm not crazy about is his forearms & hands.  They are very round and look very undefined.

The paint job is somewhat of an issue for me.  I ordered Ultra Magnus.  Therefore, I was unable to pick through to find the nicest one.  The paint isn't terrible as there are not many painted parts but there is a small amount of slop.  Another comment I'd like to make (and this has nothing to do with the quality of the toy) is I kind of wish UM was designed with a little more red.  I guess that is just a personal preference.

Magnus is equipped with a cool hammer.  I preferred the days when Transformers came with guns but I guess his shoulder armament makes up for that.

Ultra Magnus is a great Leader class Transformer.  He has a lot of play value and moving parts.  With that said, I'm not sure that he has enough (other than size) to justify the forty dollar price tag but at the same time, I have no regrets purchasing him either.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

I have watched a lot of Gundam anime but I couldn't tell you really what it's all about.  All I really know is there are lot's of cool robots and that is enough for me.  The MSIA action figures by Bandai are in about a 4" scale and are well detailed.  I went ahead and got the Methuss with Mega Bazooka Launcher primarily because he stood out from many of the other Gundam robots.  I liked his bright yellow color and his ability to transform plus he comes with a huge bazooka!

The figure itself is awesome like most MSIA figures.  He is chock full of detail and small moving parts.  It amazes me how many little parts move and open on this little guy. 

The transformation is somewhat weak and compromised but it is still a nice bonus as so few MSIA figures transform.  The jet does look cool and fits the Gundam style well but it is the robot that most impresses me.

He is fully accessorized with 2 swords, an assortment of hands and best of all his bazooka.  The bazooka is a toy in itself as it has tons of moving parts and play value.  I love how wires can connect the bazooka to the robot.

To be honest, I don't know anything about this character nor how new it is but I do know how cool it is.  Bandai's MSIA series is a robot lovers dream come true if you like robots  with lots of articulation in a small scale.  The smaller scale allows for a large world of robots.  I just wish the  price did as well.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

I myself lost interest in Marvel Legends due to these factors and others such as price increases and being more of a DC superhero fan, I flocked to Mattel's DC Universe series.  Nevertheless, I always liked Wolverine's tiger-striped costume.  Sure it is bright yellow but I still think of it as Wolvie's definitive costume. 

Hasbro has made some improvements since they began the Marvel Legends take over.  The sculpts seem a little better.   However, this figure in particular is just a repaint of an older Wolverine figure which would explain this.  I like this figure but there are far too many flaws and here they are: The shoulder pads sit far too close to his neck line and this in my opinion is the worst part of the figure because it throws off the entire look of the figure.  This is a bad mistake on Hasbro's part.  Another problem with this figure is unlike Toybiz, Hasbro does not use washes on their Marvel Legends.  I'm not usually a fan of washes on action figures.  However, they worked very well on Marvel Legends.  Without them the colored plastic looks very cheap.  In this case it is Wolverine's yellow that looks shoddy.

The figure does have some positives.  I really like the claws and the head sculpt but as I said before this is just a repaint of the brown outfit figure from Toybiz. 

I really wanted to love this figure in hopes it was the perfect Wolverine.  However, when I put all my Marvel Legend Wolverines together I can clearly see the flaws and loss of quality in this figure.  It is quite sad that Hasbro cannot produce a great line that was already set up as a winner for them.

-RH

2.5 out of 5

I have become a big fan of the Transformers Animated series.  I like the cartoon accuracy and the quality plastic used on the line.  Plus I find most figures to be fun without frustration.  Blitzwing, a triple changer kind of changed this for me. 

Blitzwing has two vehicle modes, a jet and a tank.  Both modes are okay but not my favorite of the series but when you have to engineer a toy to transform into three different things, you have to be willing to give a little leeway.  The transformation from jet to tank isn't very difficult but I was surprised by how many parts fall off throughout the process.  This is very frustrating.

The transformation to robot is much more smooth and the robot is definitely the high point of this toy.

He looks just like he does in the cartoon and has the cool Man-E-Faces head switching feature which is great.  All three heads are well designed. The toy his well articulated like the rest of the figures from the series and the scale is also very nice.

As I said, the robot mode is solid.  However, he has no weapons and his hands remain opened and looks a little flimsy.  A fist would have been nice but this is quite a minor complaint.

Blitzwing is one of the more entertaining Decepticons on the cartoon but the toy is one of my least favorite in the series.  Perhaps I have to play around with him a little more but the triple changer feature seems to force some compromised vehicle modes and frustrating transformations.  At least the robot makes up for it.

-RH

3 out of 5

Starting with Prowl, I actually like the compromised vehicle mode.  It looks like something that would show up on Cybertron plus this time they actually added transparent plastic for windows instead of just a painted block.  It is those little details that make the difference. 

As expected, the transformation is incredibly easy.  Almost too easy but at least this time the toy is much more durable than those of the past from the Titanium series. 

I am still not quite sure how I feel about the robot mode.  It looks a bit blocky and dull.  Worst of all, his missile launchers stand too high up.  However, it does look like Prowl if that is your main concern.

Grimlock is the exact opposite for me.  I like his robot mode but his alternate mode leaves a lot to be desired.  I suppose it is some sort of tank but the design is rather simple and dull.

Again, the transformation is way too simple for this higher priced toy.  The price on the Titanium's jumped up from fifteen dollars to twenty dollars.  That is the price of Alternators when they were at retail and you got so much more with an Alternator.

His robot mode is pretty cool.  It definitely resembles Grimlock and he has nice colors.  I particularly like his feet.  The only real problem with the bot mode is he suffers from having a large crotch.  This may not be considered a flaw with human males but toy robots look rather disproportionate with this problem.

Grimlock comes equipped with a cool sword and gun.  A nice touch that fits the character well.

These last two figures from the canceled Titanium series are some of the better figures from the series.  However, with the usual flaws and exorbitant price jump, I wouldn't have lost any sleep if these were never released.

-RH

3 out of 5

Sentinel Prime is apparently a high up commander and his brooding robot shows that.  However, I'm not sure the deluxe scale was the right size for such a character.  He might of been better suited as a Voyager class.

The vehicle mode is a plow truck and looks as it should.  It isn't my favorite to look at because it looks rather kiddish.  Almost like a plastic car for a three year old.  Thankfully, I buy Transformers for the robot modes. 

The transformation isn't especially complex but it certainly is interesting and fun.  It is unique and the end result is really quite nice.

Sentinel Prime's robot mode is very cool.  His head design screams commander.  Everything fits nicely in place and the articulation is well executed.  I also like the simplicity of this character.  Sometimes the complex designs (movie figures particularly) are over the top and very unmemorable but Sentinel Prime is very distinct with his large upper body and broad shoulders.

He is accessorized with a very classic sword and shield which fit the character well.  SP has very simple colors of, primarily blue and black with some gray and orange.

Other than the scale and the lackluster vehicle mode, this just adds to the wonderful animated line of toys.  I truly believe this series will be fondly appreciated by collectors in years to come if not already loved but the consistency and interesting direction taken within the Transformers universe is sure to make the animated series a highlight for the Transformers.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

Although the size choice is unusual, it doesn't bother me much.  The original Galvatron was huge but he was a big block and in my opinion one of the most horrendous looking Transformers.

Just like Megatron, this time around Galvatron is a tank and it fits the character well.  The tank mode is anything but exciting.  It looks very cheap due to the plastic and the lack of paint applications but I do like how the gun looks like Galvatron's gun and includes a nice transparent plastic.

The transformation isn't so much challenging as it is confusing.  I'm all for complex transformations if it makes sense but in Galvatron's case it's as if the designer took the long road to get from point A to B.  It is a clumsy transformation and expect parts to fall off the first time around but just like most transformers, the more you transform them the easier they get and Galvatron is no acceptation.

The robot mode definitely looks like Galvatron.  His head and chest are the pieces that are most reminiscent of the Decepticon leader.  However, just like the transformation the robot looks clumsy and compromised.  He isn't the worst Transformer I've looked at but for a line targeted to those who remember these characters fondly from their childhood, Hasbro certainly took the wrong approach. 

Other than the purple and the transparent orange on the gun, the colors look cheap.  Hasbro needs to start using a better plastic even if it means they have to raise the retail price by a buck or two it would be worth it and what's the deal with all the fluorescent red used in this series?  Just like Silverbolt, Galvatron has this awful color.  There must have been an overstock at the Hasbro factory.

I suppose Galvatron is well articulated but he is so clumsy with parts all over the place, it is hard to get him in a cool pose. 

For such a collector oriented series, Hasbro sure has taken too many liberties with the Universe series.  Galvatron is a prime example of this.  For ten bucks, he is a good value but to be honest you are better off getting a kid targeted animated figure which are surprisingly made of good plastic, well painted, fun transformations and look just like the character they are supposed to. 

(sigh) Boy, do I miss Alternators. 

-RH

2.5 out of 5

This series is a nice array of characters featuring, Green Lantern, Sinestro, Deathstroke, Nightwing and Robin.  If you are lucky? you may receive one of two variants, a Deathstroke without mask and Sinestro in his current outfit.  I was fortunate to get the Sinestro variant as I figure his regular version will be one of the easier figures to find at retail.  Of course, if you buy all five you can build the massive Solomon Grundy.

I could easily review each figure individually but I will do more of a group review since they all share the same positives and negatives.  Green Lantern as my favorite character is nice but to say he is the ultimate Green Lantern figure?  That honor still goes unchallenged by the Super Powers version.  I was really hoping the Four Horsemen would bring their A game for this one.  It's not a bad figure just not the best one.

If I was a kid, no doubt, Deathstroke would be the figure to grab my attention.  He is just awesome looking.  He is loaded with weapons and his color combination has always been a nice choice.  The Robin and Sinestro are both nice versions of their respected characters.  What is best about these two is they are both a slightly smaller scale as they should be.  A nice touch on Mattel's part.

Finally, Nightwing.  He looks plain but due to his dark colors, kids are sure to dig him.

Each figure like the others are well sculpted and articulated and come with their appropriate accessories but they are not perfect.  Mattel truly needs to take a look at the quality control of their factories as not one of these five figures have even close to perfect paint jobs.  I had read that this was a problem on toy forums but I was hoping it was just the nit pickiest of collector's but these collector's have a reasonable gripe.  Their is a paint glitch on each and every figure.  It really dampened my spirits on this assortment especially when you are paying $10.00 plus for what should be a six dollar figure.  I know we have a bad economy that affects action figure prices but if I have to pay a 30-40% increase in order to keep my love of collecting action figures than so be it but I expect perfection and less short cuts taken by toy companies but it seems to be the opposite.  I'm paying more for inferior products.

The Solomon Grundy does help make up for the high cost of each figure as he is really big (maybe too big) but well done and he has better paint applications than all five figures.  He really is the highlight.

I don't know if I would still keep DC Universe Classics at number one anymore.  Maybe, the Transformers Animated should take the top spot now as they consistently give me nice figures with little to no quality control issues.

Part of me wants' to stop collecting the DC Universe Classics not because this assortment was THAT bad but because toys are getting expensive and I'm forced to have to pick and choose.  It almost seems more worth my money to go back and complete some of the great vintage lines I like but with pictures floating around of the future waves featuring the beautiful Hawkman and Captain Marvel (Shazam), it is going to be mighty tough to stop now.

-RH

3 out of 5

As an adult, I am still fond of the Cimmerian.  I loved Kurt Busiek's run on the series and also ecstatically bought Marvel Toys version of the comic and book legend.  I haven't seen the Conan the Barbarian film in years (I need to add it to my DVD collection) but I remember it fondly.  So, when Neca announced a set of two figures from the movie I had to have them even knowing that I was going to pretty much get two statues of Conan.

I will first say that in today's action figure climate, it surprises me that Neca toys are still producing these static figures when it seems clear that collectors prefer some articulation.  Nevertheless, here they are and they look as good as can be.

Both statues clearly look like the Governator back when he was young and at his most fit.  His thighs alone are as wide as my entire body. 

Other than head and wrist articulation, you are truly getting statues.  The only fun you are going to get out of these are putting the bases together.  However, they are a joy to look at as they are well sculpted and painted and full of accessories (even if most are unusable by the barbarian). 

I can't say I like one over the other.  I think they are both well done but as I said, Neca could have easily made these into well articulated action figures (take a lesson from Mezco toys). 

So, these statue figures will sit on the shelf with my other toys and maybe they will get fond response by those who see them or strange looks by people who think I like men in loin cloths and big muscles.  Nevertheless, they are a welcome addition to my Conan collection and inspiration to buy the movie on DVD and hope it is as good as I once remember it to be.

-RH

3 out of 5

Now, I'm not going to lie to you, a crystal skeleton is not as exciting as a hooded Cobra Commander or the Emperor.  Nevertheless, it is worth collecting six stickers and $5.95 for shipping and handling if you plan on buying the figures anyway.

The Crystal Skeleton is a rather tall figure and is naturally skinny and light weight.  He is sculpted in an all blueinsh tinted Transparent plastic (bonus points)  and is well articulated.  He includes a highly detailed throne which he sits on nicely.  If the figure lacks detail than the throne should more than make up for it.

There isn't a great deal to say about this figure.  It is what it is.  It is the perfect mail-away.  It is a figure you don't have to have but makes a nice edition to your Indiana Jones collection. 

It is worth mentioning that the figure and thrown are nicely packaged in a box that looks like the crates that the mail in stickers came in.  It's a nice touch as apposed to the generic white mailer.

If you collect the Indiana Jones figures and open them (as you should).  I recommend paying the shipping charge to get this nicely displayable transparent figure even if it isn't loaded with play-value.

-RH

3 out of 5

I already reviewed Falcon and Nemesis Immortal so I'll just be taking a jab at Tripwire, Iron Grenadier and yet another pointless repaint of Cobra Commander and Destro.

The Tripwire figure is actually not too bad and could have been almost exactly as he should be.  The problem is Hasbro is getting recycle happy.  Instead of removing the grates on the pads from the Flash figure, they just left them in.  What I find ironic is the original prototype for the Flash did not yet have the grates sculpted in yet.  Therefore, Hasbro could have easily made a mold of that before hand and used it.  Otherwise, Tripwire has a nice new head sculpt and well matching colors.

The Iron Grenadier has always been one of my favorite army builders.  I'm not quite sure Hasbro did him true justice.  Don't get me wrong, he is not terrible but it's the little things that make the difference like his legs seeming a little thin and his sword holster is too much in the front instead of on the side.  Perhaps I am being really picky but when you try to pay homage to my childhood, you need to get it right.

The Destro and Cobra Commander are really just throw always.  Been there done that.  Which makes me wonder what is even the point of the comic 2-Pack wave?  Why not just stick to single carded figures and let me buy the figures I want and not force me to get useless repaints in order to get a figure I want?

I can't say I'm completely abandoning the G.I.Joe series because the single carded figures still tend to be good but where I once bought every figure twice is no longer.  Hasbro is making too many multi-packs and special edition bull crap that is just to get an easy buck from the collector.  For example, I really want to get the Quick Kick figure but in order to do so I have to buy other repaints and retools to do so.  This is the formula of killing a series.  Hasbro should know this but perhaps there are enough fans who will eat it up.  Not this one.  I officially am limiting my once adored Joe line to just the figures I absolutely love.  Thanks Hasbro for making this easier on my wallet.

-RH

2 out of 5

Mezco toys, the maker of Hellboy figures amongst others are following suit by offering the larger scaled Hellboy figures and introducing a smaller 3 3/4" version of those figures and what you end up getting is mere perfection.

The SDCC Exclusive Hellboy is packaged on a small unobtrusive blister card with nice enough graphics but does not take away from the toy nor would it take a lot of shelf space.  Hellboy is well held in by only one twisty tie.  It was a nice relief knowing I wouldn't be sitting there for twenty minutes trying to get him out of the package like other toy lines. 

The figure itself is literally a shrunk down version of the beautiful seven inch figure.  It includes the same great sculpt and all the articulation to boot.  Plus, the paint applications are well applied. 

Hellboy is equipped with the Samaritan and "Big Baby" guns that are well sculpted and painted themselves.  Hellboy also includes a nice stand (not that he needs one as he stands great on his own).

This figure is pure fun and brilliance.  This has to be one of the best action figures I've gotten in a long time and if I'm correct, when the four pack comes out, it comes out to about five dollars a figure!  Unlike the current price of your average Star Wars action figure, that's a real bargain!

If a small company such as Mezco Toys can pull off such a great action figure in today's striving economy, why can't the big corporations do it as well?  When I compare this Hellboy to say, the Mattel Infinite Heroes that retail for six dollars each, it really is like comparing apples and oranges.

-RH

5 out of 5 

You can imagine my disappointment when I found out he was going to be part of the comics 2-pack assortment.  He deserved to be on his own and on top of that he was being paired up with one of the figures that in my mind was the beginning of the end for G.I Joe.  Nevertheless, I was keeping an open mind.

When I first saw pictures I was very disappointed.  He was an amalgam of overused parts from other figures and worst of all his army green color seemed way too light.  However, it wasn't going to stop me from buying this figure pack.

The good news is he isn't as bad as I thought.  Yes, he borrows a lot of Duke's parts and yes, his green is way too light but his head sculpt is well done and his backpack is a clear highlight as it opens up and is well painted.  He isn't as perfect as he should be and I still have hope that they improve him and release him on a single card (it's never going to happen).  I do appreciate that at least they gave him his scarf.

I suppose I should say a few words about Nemesis Enforcer, oh I mean Nemesis Immortal.  Hasbro obviously put their resources into this figure when it comes to this 2-pack.  It doesn't appear that he has any borrowed parts.  He is well sculpted and has cool bat wings but that does not excuse the fact that he is a ridiculous figure for the G.I. Joe universe but if you are a Cobra La fan, you will be happy.

I didn't get the Lt. Falcon I wanted or deserved but he also isn't the piece of crap I was expecting either.  So, I'll live but take note Hasbro, I do think the G.I. Joe series has been going down hill as of late.

-RH

3 out of 5

Once all the dust settled from the movie and the animated series got kicked off, Hasbro revisited the Classics line now under the "Universe" banner.  The first three deluxe figures where not bad but lacked the quality of the Classics series.  Does the Voyager figures improve from the initial offerings?

Unfortunately, No! I'll start with the only ray of light from theVoyager class and that is Onslaught.  He is a pretty cool armored truck and the robot is pretty slick.  The transformation is pretty simple for a $25.00 toy in my opinion but for some, the lights and sounds may make up for that.  The quality of plastic seems poorer than I am used to.  The paint applications are fair but he is the best of the three.

Silverbolt is a complete mess.  He reminds me of the post G1 animated movie figures with his lack of articulation and silly bright colors.  His jet mode is very plain.  There is little detail and paint applications at all.  The transformation couldn't be more basic.  When I spend over twenty dollars on a transforming robot, I expect some challenge involved but Silverbolt is as simple as can be.  His robot mode is a brick.  With that said, he could have been somewhat cool but he is garnished with terrible color choices.  He has a mix of purple, fluorescent red, silver and gold.  He is seriously a disappointment.

Last is Powerglide.  I wasn't even going to get him but I was so excited to find new Transformers I went for it.  Both jet mode and robot mode are actually not that bad but as he is so incredibly plain,  if Hasbro was going to make him basically one color, why didn't they go with the original characters red instead of the bone white plastic?  I also had an issue with the brittle plastic.  I had a joint crack without using excessive force.  That is a real disaster when that happens.

I said it before and I'll say it again: at $25.00 retail, I expect a fun, detailed challenging transformer.  Alternators at $20.00 each provided all three and not one of these can offer anything close to the least desirable Alternator, yet fans still demand this sub-par product.

Hasbro's going to have to work a lot harder to get my money .  As long as they keep producing toys with all these shortcomings, I'd rather spend the extra couple dollars and buy Takara Tomy's products.  At least they get the colors right and give you a little extra bang for your buck with such great paint applications and chrome.  A little chrome goes a long way.

-RH

1.5 out of 5  

Now Mattel realizing they screwed up are about to embark on another revamp which I am not supporting.  I think they should take the statues released by Neca and release them as action figures and continue that wonderful line.  Instead they are virtually re-sculpting the dated looking characters but this time with more articulation.  No thank you.  However, I did get the King Grayskull who seemed to fit in the 2000 series and maybe could take place of the worst of the series, He-Man himself.

It unfortunately won't be that easy as this figure stands a good inch taller.  Nevertheless, the overall design is superior to any version of He-Man in the past.  He doesn't look quite as ridiculous as Mattel went for a more Conan look. 

The packaging in itself is a piece of work.  It was most likely the reason this figure was so expensive.  It includes a voice chip box.  My batteries where dead.  Therefore, I have no idea what it said.  I assume "By the power of Grayskull" but just a guess.

The King of Grayskull is highly articulated similar to Mattel's DC Universe series and as expected well sculpted.  The part I probably like the least is his facial sculpt.  I think his chin may be a tad too big.  Otherwise he is very nice. 

He is accessorized with all of He-Man's signature weapons: Sword, shield and ax.  Plus, he has a long cape that is non-removable but a nice new addition.

This is a nice figure and it just reminds me how much I adored the 2000 series of He-Man and how I would love to see action figure versions of Snout Spout, Stinkor and the rest of the Neca statues.

Mattel wants a second chance and will probably get it from many collectors but for me, I may buy one to review but I'm not sold on just a newly articulated figure that I owned in 1984.  I liked the excitement the Four Horsemen brought to each character.  I looked forward to seeing their take on the classics.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

NOTE:  I got the Giganta as well to round out my SDCC purchases.  She's a nice 2-pack set but nothing spectacular to mention.  Therefore, I opted not to do a full review.

Hasbro Toys has been in business for a long time now and they are not a stupid company by any means.  They seem to be very aware on what collector's are craving and that is a good thing for us.  However, it's kind of tough on the wallet.  Nevertheless, Hasbro toys has entered the world of designer toys made popular by such companies as Kidrobot and Toys2R.  Hasbro's Might Muggs are mighty cool (okay, so that was cheesy but give me a break.  I just wrote five or six reviews today).

To be honest, I wanted my first Mighty Mugg to be Iron-Man but when I kept finding him, I never bought him and now that I want to buy one I can't find one.  Typical.  So, I went with Indiana Jones.

I like the overall shape and design of Mighty Muggs.  They are about six inches tall which is a pretty good scale for a ten dollar designer toy.  Indiana is actually a bit heavier than I expected as designer toys are generally made of hollow vinyl.

His articulation is limited to arms and head which is fairly typical.  He is accessorized with a removable hat and whip.

The paint job is nicely done and does have the artistic vibe they seem to be going for.  He looks like a cartoon version of Harrison Ford which is good for this kind of product. 

I like these Mighty Muggs.  I really wish I had the money and space to buy more.  I definitely will pick up Iron-Man if I see him and Hasbro is releasing an Optimus Prime and Snake-Eyes (both must haves).  At ten bucks a pop these are a great value and these are the kind of toys that you can display in any room of your house and look like a piece of art as apposed to being confined to your office of toy room.  They are a step above Geek.

Good job Hasbro!

-RH

3.5 out of 5

I figure I'll give a little background on what compelled me to buy this obscure figure that doesn't necessarily fit in with my normal collecting habits.  I have always found humanoid animals very fascinating; such my love for Battle Beasts and Thundercats.  This Lion Man was just right up my alley.

First off, this isn't a figure you will find at your local toy store.  I found it at one of those over-priced educational toy stores.  I went to find something for my little girl.  Papo Toys is responsible for making highly detailed pirates, knights, dragons and any sort of fantasy genre type painted figurine and some are incredibly nice.  I'd like to own more of these but to be honest they are rather pricy for what you get.

The Lion-Man was $13.00 for a non articulated four inch figurine but damn if it isn't cool.  It was really hard to shell out the money for it but I had to have it.  It is well sculpted, designed and painted and pretty much covers all the aspects of that animal/human cross breed thing I seem to dig. 

He is loaded with armor and has both a sword and ax.  This is one cool figurine even without any articulation.

If you get an opportunity to explore one of the many educational type, high end toy stores (they're the ones where you can find Playmobile toys) check out their selection of Papo miniatures.  They are very cool.  Even at the hefty price tag I have no regrets seeing I've paid more for many toys that aren't half as cool as this highly detailed figure.  I just saw pictures of a similar Rhino warrior figure they make that I'll be sure to hunt down next.  However, I think I can find one cheaper than thirteen bucks a pop.  Sheesh!

-RH

3 out of 5

Let me start with the good. 

Oil Slick is unfortunately going to most likely be the peg warmer as he does not appear in the show and unless the writers write him in, he will most likely be the least desirable of the entire series of toys.  However, he is one of the cooler looking deluxe figures.  His vehicle mode is that of a wicked chopper styled motorcycle.  It is definitely slick and fits in with the aesthetic of the line.

Oil Slick has a solid transformation and a very cool robot mode.  The part I like the best is his domed head. He is all sorts of cool and as I said, I hope he get's written into the show.

Snarl, one of the beloved Dinobots is one of the weaker links in the series.  His dinosaur mode is nice but his robot mode does not quite appeal to me.  That doesn't mean he's necessarily a bad toy it's just a preference I suppose.  He is short and stubby and not quite as menacing as a Dinobot should be.

The highlight of this assortment is Jazz.  He is one of the best of the animated line.  Both car mode and robot are a great homage to the original and adding some new individual qualities like his nun chucks.  I love this figure.  His head is a highlight along with his overall lanky appearance.  He is somewhat similar to the animated Prowl and that is a good thing.

Now we get to the biggest disappointment.  Soundwave is such a classic character that he deserves the best and I don't think this toy provides that.  The vehicle mode is fine.  It is a vehicle similar to a Scion and I like the tape recorder design but his robot mode suffers the same problem as Snarl; he is short and stubby.  This is not how Soundwave should be.  I very much dislike the head as well and the original Soundwave had one of the coolest heads in the entire G1 series.  I also find the guitar accessory very corny.  However, the transformation to Laserbeak is very nice.

Soundwave may be show accurate but if that is the case it is just a matter of taste.

I guess you win some and lose some.  Even though this assortment pretty much went 2 for 4, all four toys are still fun and a great value.  Therefore, you really can't go wrong adding any of these to your Transformers collection.

-RH

3 out of 5

As I've stated in my Batman Begins Batman review, I was incredibly disappointed that those movie toys were so poorly executed.  Thankfully, Mattel is making up for it with the Movie Masters series.  This time around, I was fortunate enough to find a Scarecrow figure at retail.

Like the rest of the "Movie Masters" series, the Scarecrow is film accurate and makes the previous toy incarnation look like a sad joke. 

The Scarecrow looks menacing like he did in the film.  He is dressed in a long robe and wears the frightening mask that turned his victims into psychotic messes.  I sort of wish the mask was removable to reveal actor, Cillian Murphy's face but perhaps it would have compromised the sculpt.

The only accessory he includes is the silly evidence bag and a little scarecrow mask that can be used for absolutely nothing.  I wish they would just get rid of these and sell these figures for a buck less.

The Scarecrow is well articulated just like the other Movie Masters figures.  The long robe may slightly hinder his hip articulation but the character doesn't really need to be posed in any sitting or dynamic fighting stances anyway.

The Four Horseman have scored another homerun with this figure and the Movie Masters hopefully is here to stay as there are so many potentially great DC movie characters that can be made.  They just need to get rid of the accessories and lower the price a tad and these would be perfect.  I would also like to mention that the chase figures need to be easier to find for they are cool.  I wouldn't mind paying a couple more dollars to get them but their going rate on the secondary market is beyond what my ability to pay is.

-RH

4 out of 5

When I first pulled the package from the shipping box, I was surprised at how big he was.  He is huge!  He could have easily been a "Build-a-Figure".  I don't recall him being so large in the comics but I suppose it all depends on who drew him.  Lobo was commonly painted and drawn by the amazing Simon Bisley (Biz) and the Four Horseman definitely captured a little of his style in this Lobo figure.

The sculpting is pure excellence.  I don't have one complaint at all.  I particularly like the knee pads, belt and head sculpt.  They really captured DC's anti-hero well.

Lobo is loaded with accessories.  I love the chain wrapped around his wrists and the gun in the side holster.  I'm honestly not crazy about the big gun.  I think it looks kind of like something that would have come from some silly toy line from the 1990's.  Nevertheless, that is really the only complaint.  He also includes 3-D glasses for him and you.  Kind of silly but a nice touch.  Oh, don't let me forget his dog.  Who is also sculpted better than most action figures from competing toy lines. 

I wasn't sure whether he'd be worth the price I paid but I was very happy to see I got a great value.  Lobo is sure to be a desired figure on the secondary market especially now that he is sold out from Mattel's website. 

Lobo is near perfect.  His only flaw for me was his larger gun.  If you are a fan of Lobo, the DC Universe series or just well sculpted and articulated action figures, get him now before he gets too expensive.  He is that cool, way to cool to be an exclusive but Mattel said that he was too violent of a character to release to the mass market.  Therefore, I am glad they found a way to add him to the DC Universe series.

The DC Universe series is proving to be one of the best comic book superhero toy lines ever and Lobo is a welcome addition that just improves on the series.  The Four Horseman really deserve praise on this wonderfully executed action figure.  Kudos.

-RH

4.75 out of 5

It takes a lot of balls to where a shirt with your own name on it but I suppose if your name is Flash and you are a pro Football player, you could probably get away with it.  There is no way I could get away with a "Randy" shirt not that I am that narcisstic to ever attempt it.  However, if they ever produced the shirt Flash wears from this well sculpted action figure, I would wear it.  Call me a geek... Wait I am.

This Flash figure appears to be a completely new sculpt from the other two with perhaps the same head and features Flash in a pair of khakis and that infamous white Flash shirt I just wrote about.  He  also comes with a Mongo football from what happens to be one of the corniest scenes ever put to film yet still endearing.

Flash stands about 7" tall and features a substantial amount of articulation at the hips, knees, shoulders head and elbows.  Anymore could ruin this Alex Ross inspired sculpt.

This figure is for fans only but as a fan I couldn't have asked for anything more.  If I could change anything, I probably would have gone with a smaller scale but perhaps if Bif Bang Pow! did, the detail would be lost. 

I look forward to future releases and will continue this series as long as new fresh figures are released.  Now I have 3 Flash's, bring on the bad guys!
 

-RH

3.5 out of 5

The Hasbro Design Sketchbook Volume One is the size of a graphic novel and printed on very high quality paper.  The photo's of the artwork are wonderful.  Most sketches are apparently from more contemporary toy lines such as Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers and Indiana Jones.  However, snuck in there is a Battle Beast sketch and many others that I can not quite identify and that is the greatest problem . 

Other than the introduction there is no written dialogue identifying what is what.  This Sketchbook would be much more interesting if there were stories behind the sketches and from what lines they are from or attempting to create. 

Ultimately, this is a great coffee table book that can be appreciated by anyone who likes art, superheroes and action figures alike.  Had Hasbro spent the time to add something to read regarding the sketches this would be a must have for toy fans but without it it makes it just a book of pretty pictures of what is or could have been.  Hopefully this is common feedback Hasbro receives and makes the changes for the inevitable volume two.

-RH

3 out of 5

I told myself I was going to stay away from Mattel's DC Infinite Heroes line because I new it was going to be expansive in the long run and initial photos did not impress me but than I bought a few and liked them and here I am reviewing both 3 pack sets that are available at retail.

The Commissioner Gordon 3-pack is the weaker of the sets.  I could care less about two identical GCPD SWAT guys but I liked the Gordon so I bought it.  The Swat figures are more pose able than I originally anticipated from early photos.  Nevertheless, I could do without them.  The Commissioner looks great even for being just a guy in a suit with a gray mustache.

The "Flash" set is much more interesting.  I love this Flash figure.  It looks sleek like he's ready to run miles and miles.  The Mirror Master has nice colors with a sharp dull finish.  I don't know a great deal about this villain but he looks pretty cool.  The Weather Wizard is kind of cheesy but maybe that's what makes him appealing. 

All figures have pretty basic articulation.  I don't mind it.  I actually like the simplicity of it.  However, with that said I think when Hasbro releases it's series of 3 3/4" Marvel Universe figures, it's going to make DC's Infinite Universe figures look much inferior and dated but until then these are a nice change from the usually larger superhero action figure.

I am honestly going to try very hard to not be a completest with this line.  I have a feeling Mattel will make that rather easy for me by releasing some forty figures a year.  That just isn't in my budget even at the reasonable retail cost of these figures.  However, I like them enough to pick up the figures I like and maybe some obscure characters if I have the extra money.

The bottom line is if you like this scale and you like DC superheroes, you will like these toys.  Even with their limited play value, they are quite collectable for other OCD collectors out there like myself.

-RH

2.75 out of 5

The fanboy loved Classics series gets a new addition of a straight up repaint of Optimus Prime into the Nemesis Prime.  The transformation and accessories are all the same.  So if you liked the Classics Prime, there is only one thing that can stand in your way of liking this repaint and that is the color choices.

For the most part I like the colors used.  It resembles the character well.  With black, gray and teal as the primary colors.  My only complaint is that instead of leaving the lower legs black, Hasbro went with a blueish color that kind of throws the whole aesthetic off.  Had they kept this black, I would have no complaint at all..

In the past I have been very unkind to the 6" Titanium line.  I think most of the molds are poorly designed for a collector targeted series.  So, it may be a surprise that I got this one at all.  However, I somewhat liked this mold originally used for Thundercracker and then Starcream and now my favorite of the seekers, Skywarp.

Skywarp is nicely painted and resembles the character we know and love.  My only complaint with this figure is the usual complaints of all the Titanium figures.  The overall designs are very American similar to the end of the G1 Transformers series.   I'm not saying Americans aren't capable of designing good Transformers but let's not kid ourselves, the Japanese know and love their robots.

These are neat repaints and are perfect for exclusive territory.  Neither of them are must haves but are cool enough to own.  If you are a fan of either series or character, I recommend them as you can still get them at a reasonable price but you better hurry up cause they won't last long at the SDCC prices.

-RH

2.75 out of 5

This series follows Hasbro's other series of similarly cute miniature versions of such major properties as Marvel Comic characters, Star Wars and Transformers.  These are super cute for lack of a better term but they are not cheap.  A two pack will run you about seven to eight bucks for two small figures with limited articulation. 

At the San Diego Comic-Con Hasbro thought it would be a good place to launch this series with fan favorite Snake-Eyes V2 with his faithful wolf, Timber.  I really had no intention of buying any of these figures.  However, if I were to buy one, this would be the set. 

Both figures are well sculpted and emulate their action figure counterparts very well accept perhaps Timber is too happy for a Cobra hungry wolf.  Snake-Eyes looks great.  He is black with the appropriate gray ( I wish Hasbro would release a regular figure with this color scheme).  He is even accessorized with his signature arsenal of an Uzi and sword (both are non-removable).

This set is well done but over-priced as I believe all the Hasbro Heroes lines are but if you dig them and collect them than this set is a must have.  It is Snake Eyes after all.  I'm sure Hasbro will release another version of the fan favorite but if it will feature this great dynamic pose and his pup, Timber is yet to be seen.

-RH

2.5 out of 5

I think the Cobra Commander in black suit is superior to the exclusive anyways and yes I opened one of mine.  Remember, I am a toy collector before anything.  I am passionate about action figures not the potential money they can bring in.

This Cobra Commander is the perfect exclusive.  It is a core character that has been done to death.  So if you couldn't get it, it probably isn't the end of the world.  With that said he is definitely worth getting.  This is the Hitler of Cobra and what I mean by that is this is Cobra Commander with podium trying to convince the world he is the good guy. 

I love the suit.  I'm not sure if this mold was used before for another figure but it's likely you will see it again if necessary but it really is the podium with the large cobra symbol that is so striking.  Cobra Commander not only hides behind his cloth mask but the podium as well.  I like how the microphone is removable and can fit in his hand should he choose to walk away from the podium to talk.

I don't usually talk packaging but in this case the painting that accompanies this figure is well done and captures what a true menace that Cobra Commander is.

It's tough when the San Diego Comic-Con rolls around and I go through the pain just like everyone else.  Is this figure worth the now secondary value that has to be paid to get one?  It depends on your level of commitment to the series and love for G.I. Joe or Cobra.  If you are a diorama builder this is a must as this figure and podium could be surrounded by Cobra Soldiers. 

I really like this figure and like the price I paid.  If you want one, they are still somewhat reasonably priced at about $40.00.  However, I assure you this figure will be greatly desired in the future more so than a Pimp Daddy Destro. 

Ultimately, Cobra Commander does not have a great deal of play value as he is certainly targeted to the collector market but he does look great leading his Cobra army.

-RH

3.5 out of 5
 

Fast Forward a couple years later after watching the even greater Dark Knight film now having an option to buy a great looking Batman figure as long as you stick with the collector friendly "Movie Masters" sculpted by the Four Horsemen.  They did such a service to all Batman fans everywhere.  This line is so great, I can now own a Batman from the Dark Knight and one from Batman Begins.  The question is which do I like better?  We'll get to that later.

The Batman Begins costume is much more simplistic compared to the armored Dark Knight uniform and this figure displays that perfectly.  If you looked at either Batman figure on their own, it may be hard to notice a difference but putting them side by side it is clearly obvious that these are two different costumes.

As expected from the Four Horsemen, this figure is beautifully sculpted and looks identical to Christian Bale as he donned the costume on the big screen and even though the target audience for the Movie Masters series are collectors, these are more fun than the inferior kid friendly movie figures.  This figure has great articulation.  He can probably pose in more positions than Bale himself (the figure's neck turns).  Honestly, Mattel would be nothing in the action figure category without the Four Horseman. 

If I was forced to say anything negative about this figure it would be that I did have to stick him in the freezer for a couple of minutes to turn his wrists without risking breakage and the ridiculous "evidence bags" with oversized accessory is completely unnecessary and they'd be better off eliminating it altogether and charge a buck less for the figure.

Now to answer the question which Batman figure I prefer?  Both.  I know that is a cop out but I can't choose because both films where excellent and each costume represents Batman from that specific film.  Part of me likes the more simplistic look of the Batman Begins costume but I also love the armored Dark Knight.

Both are worth having along with all the other figures in the Movie Masters series.  That is if you can find them.  They aren't quite as plentiful as the kid targeted Dark Knight toys that are reminiscent of the dull Batman Begins figures of yesterday.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

The vehicle mode is very similar to what you see in the cartoon.  It is sort of a cross breed of a Semi truck and a fire engine.  It carries Optimus Primes signature colors of red and blue and no flames. The design is unique and futuristic and fairly appealing.

The Voyager Class Optimus Prime's transformation is very fun.  It is not hard at all but there is enough parts to move around to keep you busy and best of all everything fits nicely into place.  It truly is amazing what these engineers can do with transformers these days.

The robot mode is spectacular!  Prime stands in all his glory.  He is very sleek and streamlined with sharp edges.  He screams Optimus Prime!  The two things I like best are, he has a faceplate (but also includes a button that can lower it for those who want to see his mouth) and the scale.  For the last three or four Transformers main lines, Optimus Prime was a Leader Class scale.  I always felt that was too big for Optimus Prime but Hasbro isn't stupid.  They know if they are going to get forty dollars retail for any character it's going to be Prime.  This time around they did the smart thing and kept him in scale with the rest of the figures.  The Voyager scale is just about perfect; not too big and not too small.

The articulation is also a plus.  Prime can be positioned in many action poses.  I have no complaints there at all.  I also want to comment on the wonderful paint job.  I love the primarily dull coat of the animated figures.  The paint is cleanly applied with little to no slop at all.

I love this figure.  However, not everything can be perfect and in this case the weapons are the one aspect that...well, kind of suck.  The ax is only detailed and painted on one side and the water squirting pistol looks childlike and silly.  I really wished they could have found a way to have improved on his the accessories.

It is obvious Optimus Prime is always going to be a part of every Transformer series.  Some are cool and some suck but when it comes to the Animated Voyager Optimus Prime, whether you like the show and style is irrelevant because this is one kick ass toy and very possible the best Transformer to come out this year.

-RH

4.5 out of 5

I went with Obi-Won Kenobi because I like the way he looks in the Clone Trooper armor with his Jedi vest over it.  It would have been cool if he wore it in the movies but nevertheless, I thought he was the best looking of the ones I found.

Kenobi is sculpted in the style of the films CG which is second rate to me.  There are so many better looking CGI movies or series that look better, Appleseed Ex Machina for example.  Either way the figure is well sculpted

The paint job is okay but I had to study a few figures to get one that looked good.  I don't usually have to do that with Hasbro products.  Perhaps they were in a bit of a rush to get them to retail.

The articulation is much weaker than the average Star Wars figure of today.  It's not terrible but Hasbro should have at least provided knee joints especially for the inflated price of a single action figure.

Obi-Won comes equipped with a lightsaber, an additional head and a missile firing backpack (yuck).  I'm not a fan of missile firing action figures unless it's a Transformer and even then, I usually can do without.

The Clone Wars is over for me.  This is the first and last figure from the series that I will purchase unless somehow the movie is soooo good it reels me back into Star Wars which I highly doubt will happen.  This figure is a good figure for those who still devote all their time and money exclusively on Star Wars products but if you are a casual collector, you could probably skip over the Clone Wars figures and not lose any sleep.

-RH

2.5 out of 5

I was happy to find these figures even if they cost a ridiculous amount of money at retail especially at the mall stores but I got the ones I wanted in the first assortment of the Legacy collection accept for the Ewok and baby.  I still want that one.

The sculpts seem to constantly improve with the Star wars line.  All four figures are well sculpted with the six breasted Jabba dancer being the best.  She is a joy to have as she had more screen time than many other figures that were made years before Hasbro finally released her. 

The Luke and Han are not bad.  However it seems like their waists are a bit thin.  Other than that the only complaint is the hole in the side of Luke is not big enough to fit the Lightsaber hilt.

As for the Darth Vader removable helmet, this is a new figure as far as I know and a fine one at that.  The silver chain around the neck is a little funky and doesn't fit right but other than that this may be one of the best Vader figures.

This assortment is nice but I do feel like I could have spent the money in better ways.  Other than the Yarna d' al' Gargan, these figures have in one way or another been done making them just updated versions of figures done a dozen times over. 

I think it's time for Hasbro to take a couple years off from Star wars but it surprises me that there are still so many collectors willing to shell out their hard earned money for all these figures.  And there are a LOT of figures!

-RH

3 out of 5

4 out of 5 for Yarna d' al' Gargan

To my surprise these figures aren't half bad.  They look so small.  I wasn't quite convinced they were 3 3/4" but I stood them next to a Star Wars figure and they are certainly that scale. 

The figures ended up with a nice dull coat finish with only minor glossy paint where appropriate.  That made me happy as it makes the figures look far superior to the glossy paint jobs on the prototype pictures I've seen. 

The best of the lot are Professor Zoom and Adam Strange.  They are the better sculpted figures.  The Professor Zoom is sure to be repainted into the Flash.  I will appreciate that figure much more as he is a classic hero.  The Guy Gardner is perhaps the weakest mainly due to his head sculpt.  It is less than flattering.  The Shazam is pretty nice but it seems like his torso is a little long.

Part of me wishes I hated these figures because due to the increasing price of oil, action figure prices are getting ridiculous plus Mattel Toys is planning many figures for this set and some will come in multi-packs and some will be store exclusives.  It may start to get out of hand.  At this point I plan on just buying the figures I like.

The articulation is fairly limited and when Hasbro releases their Marvel Universe 3 3/4" line, I have a feeling they are going to make the Infinite Heroes look quite weak.

Things to watch out for:  Some of the paint applications are rather sloppy.  If you have the option look over a few of them before purchase.  I'm glad I did.

I commend Mattel for showing terrible prototypes and producing fairly nice action figures.  These are nowhere as cool as the DC Universe six inch figures but they are neat little pocket sized figures.

-RH

3 out of 5 

This time around, Takara Tomy repainted a mold heavily under used and under appreciated, the Honda S2000.  This is a great mold both in car and robot.  However, this robot is a bit more controversial than any other BT released.  That is because they took the American released Decepticharge and repainted it into the infamous female, Arcee.

Before we get to the robot, I'd like to start with the car.  The S2000 is in my opinion the best car choice for a female bot.  It is a small slender car very reminiscent of the Mazda Miata.  The pearl white paint job is the perfect choice as well.  Earlier pictures looked to be of a silver car.  I think the Pearl white works better. 

The transformation is no different from the toy this was repainted from.  I think this is one of the easier molds to transform but not too easy where there is no challenge at all.  That was really what Binaltech's and Alternators was all about.  Appealing to a more adult collector who would hopefully appreciate a more complex transformation.

The robot mode is where we get to the controversial part.  I'll start by saying, I was never really an Arcee fan.  I don't really see the need to have sex's on robots but nevertheless, even though it looks much more masculine than feminine it is still the most feminine looking mold in robot mode and works for me.

The head is where we get a little problematic.  It is a straight repaint of the American Decepticharge and really looks male.  I do wish Takara Tomy would have given Arcee a new head.  With that said, Takara Tomy did paint it up as nice as can be to make it look vaguely feminine.

I've read other reviews on Arcee complaining about bad paint jobs.  Well, either I got lucky or they were unlucky cause my paint job is spectacular and of the high quality expected from Binaltech's.

Due to the mostly white and pink paint job, this figure is sure to stand out amongst the rest of my collection and will most likely interest my daughter the most of all my toys (accept perhaps my Dark Crystal Fizgigg stuffed animal).

The more I look at it, the more I see Arcee in this mold.  As I said earlier, I do believe Hasbro should have provided a new head but the paint applications do help dramatically.

This isn't my favorite Binaltech but is perhaps the most unique.  I have embraced it and look forward to further releases.  This may not be for everyone but if you like die cast metal robots and can handle all the pink, you may want to add this nice figure to your collection.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

In the first wave of Robot Heroes post movie, Hasbro gives us: Sunstreaker, Hound, Galvatron, Blitzwing, Cheetor, Black Arachnia, Rattrap and Beast Wars Megatron.  Each figure has the cute appeal and are well sculpted to emulate these fine characters.  This is the first assortment to feature Beast Wars characters and that is a nice addition.

Each figure stands about two inches high and is limited to arm and head articulation.  They are made of a soft plastic allowing for a lot of room for bashing them around.  They don't transform (obviously) but if I was a kid, they would get plenty of abuse and they look like they could take it.

The Robot Heroes come in two packs each featuring one good guy and one bad guy.  These are great fun to collect.  With that said, they are far too pricey for what you get.  At retail, they are almost seven dollars for two little plastic figures about the size of my thumb.  Now, I am aware oil prices are through the roof but the two packs are really not worth more than five dollars per set and that is on the high end. 

The standout figures for me are Cheetor, Rattrap, Hound an Sunstreaker.  I love the fact that Hasbro has included Beast Wars characters.  It helps continue the legacy of the best Transformers television series to date.

These are not for everyone but if you like collecting little chochkies and can afford toys these days then I recommend them.  These are more for the OCD collector more than anything else.  I suppose I am included in that category.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

The new Transformers animated series of figures has really grown on me and the "activators" which I never intended to buy have that same auto-transformation as the early Beast Wars basics.  However, they certainly don't carry the same price tag.  The activators are about nine bucks a piece.  That's about a buck or two less than a deluxe scaled figure.  Seems kind of a hefty price for a figure half the size of a deluxe figure.

With all that out of the way, The activators are very cool.  They look very much like they do on the show.  They are like 3 3/4" scaled (my favorite scale) transformers.  So, it is obvious why I like them.  They easily fit in your pocket so you can travel with and play.

The transformation is as easy as it gets.  With the push of a button and a few things you have to move in and out of place on your own, you get a robot.  On the package it lists them as a skill level 2.  I can't imagine what would be a skill level one. 

I understand some collectors may not appreciate these figures since they do all the work for you but they are still great fun. 

I like these figures and look forward to the second series with the Optimus Prime.  If anything makes me hesitant to buy them it would definitely be the price.  The price really need to be lowered by a couple bucks but with the cost of oil these days, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro actually raised the price.  If that becomes the case, I'll pick up Prime and leave the rest of the Activators on the shelf for wealthier collectors and mothers who can afford to spoil their children.

-RH

3 out of 5

Prince Nuada is definitely the glowing star of these three.  Nevertheless, they all share the great articulation as the other three and equally good sculpts with Abe Sapian being the weakest of the entire bunch.

The first three I reviewed, I had very little negative if anything bad at all to say about any of them but for these three I have a few problems.  Other than Prince Nuada the paint applications are less than spectacular.  Especially, with Abe.  His colors lack the pearl tone that he had with the first movie toy.  The Liz Sherman isn't all that bad but I did have to compare two figures and pick the one with less slop. Her paint on her face is fairly nice.   Other than that she pretty much wears just a black jumpsuit.

My biggest problem with Liz and Abe are the accessories.  I like the removable arm on Liz with the fire but both Liz and Abe come with another removable arm and hand with a sculpted pistol.  I don't see the point of this.  They could have easily just given them the pistols.  Nevertheless, that is my biggest gripe.

Overall, As I said earlier, Prince Nuada is the standout figure of these three.  He has some great paint applications and sculpted details and he doesn't come with unnecessary removable limbs. As for Liz and Abe, they are mediocre but still better than a lot of other action figures out there but at the price of the average 7" collectable figure, Mezco should have pushed a little harder especially on Abe Sapian's colors.  I'd also like to note there is something wrong with my Abe Sapian's left foot.  I believe it was put together incorrectly as it isn't flush to the ankle.

I still look forward to seeing this movie and other figure's from the movie.  I hope to see this movie soon but now that the Dark Knight is out in theater's, it may have to wait a little bit longer.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

I no longer collect vehicles and play sets.  I just don't have the room.  It's hard enough collecting Transformers when they are the large vehicles themselves.  Nevertheless, you have to cut yourself off somewhere.  I did buy the first assortment of the 25th Anniversary vehicles so I could add Clutch and especially the Tele-Viper to my army.  I figured I could sell the vehicles to those who like a mass army and have the space for them.  So, was it worth it?

I'm going to be frank here, No!  Hasbro cheapened out and gave us really bad quality repaints and retools.  It certainly isn't like the days of old. 

Clutch, well, he's okay.  He looks like Clutch and was never that exciting anyways.  The vest sets him apart along with his signature beard.  Steeler doesn't even remotely resemble Steeler.  He does not include the visor nor are the colors even remotely similar to the original.  He is as generic as it gets. Breaker is about as boring as it gets but I really didn't need him since the comic 2-pack was adequate.

As for the Cobra's, The Cobra HISS Commander is just a repaint of the cool single pack figure released a couple waves ago but in much cheaper plastic but the blue looks kind of neat.  He may actually be the highlight.  I didn't even bother removing the Serpentor as it is no different than the disappointing single pack version Hasbro Toys released.

Now we get to the main figure I wanted.  A core character chosen to pilot the trouble bubble instead of being released on his own.  I have no idea what a Tele-Viper is doing as a pilot but nevertheless, I was excited for this figure and guess what?  I'm disappointed.  The figure has a new head sculpt that isn't terrible but the paint applications are sloppy.  His purple vest seems a little too short and thin.  His legs are too skinny and their are such a lack of details.  Judging by this figure, I have to assume Hasbro Toys plans on releasing a slightly better single carded version with the appropriate accessories as he comes with none. 

I could have skipped out on these guys and been all the same as happy without them (accept maybe Clutch).  At least they came with stands unlike the Target exclusive packs but those where only ten dollars and the pilots were far superior. 
 

Oh well, they can't all be winners.  I am afraid Hasbro Toys is getting close to "jumping the Shark" on this series.  With all the other cool toys coming out maybe it's a good thing, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up forever.

-RH

2 out of 5

The first action figure was David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King in a his darker more frightening fatigues.  This time around Neca has given us Jareth in his more worn costume along with an action figure of the little Hoggle.

Neca Entertainment has done the toy collecting community a great service by providing us with well sculpted action figures of properties we would most likely never see the light of day and I thank them for that.  Neca Entertainment are usually consistent with great sculpts and paint jobs.  However, they have helped create the term "nerd Hummel" (figures with little or no articulation) but they are slowly improving that aspect of their toy making.

The second Jareth is well sculpted as expected.  This is definitely David Bowie from the cult film large cod piece and all.  There are many minor details that allow for some long term staring and the same goes for first time action figure, Hoggle.  Hoggle includes many little bits of pieces of objects he collected that hang off his uniform just like in the movie.

The paint applications are fair.  Sometimes Neca Entertainment overdoes the washes and dry brushing to help bring out the detail of the figure and I think these two figures suffer from that but they also benefit.  Hoggle particularly benefits as Jareth may have too much wash in his face making him look a little odd but it is minor and does not take too much to get over these minor issues.

The biggest complaint I have from these action figures is, are they even action figures at all?  They have great upper articulation in the head and arms but without hip articulation, it makes me think of these more as statues.  Now don't get me wrong.  I don't need Bowie to be posed in a ninja fighting position but it's nice to have the option should I choose to. Nevertheless, they at least are in nice neutral poses.

Hoggle comes with the poison apple given to Sarah which fits nicely in one of his pouches and Jareth includes his staff, crystal ball and an additional hand.  These parts are very small and can easily get lost.  So, keep a close eye on them.

I never expected to ever have an opportunity to get one action figure from this great film but now I have three and I am very happy that Neca Entertainment are producing fine action figures of cult characters from some of my favorite films.  Now, if they could only work a little bit more in the articulation department they would easily be one of the top toy manufacturers for collectors and geeks alike.

-RH

3.5 out of 5

Series nine features General Hawk, Bazooka, Barbecue Snow Serpent, B.A.T, and a black Storm Shadow. 

Starting with Hawk, this is a great update of a great figure and character.  The original Hawk was always great and simple.  I always loved his brown jacket and helmet.  The one thing that kind of bothered me about the original was the face.  As most Joe fans know, Hasbro used Hasbro employees' faces as the inspiration for many of the Joe's and Cobra's. This was a great idea to give each figure a unique look but unfortunately, some employees were better looking than others.  Some of the worst looking were Cross-Country and Hawk.  The new Hawk has a more generic face but even though it does lose that personal touch, it looks better.  This is a top notch figure and a worthy homage to the good general.

Bazooka was always a fan favorite and again Hasbro nailed it.  The sculpt is great!  He is thicker than some of the other Joe's as he should be and his missiles from his backpack are actually removable and fit in his Bazooka.  His Bazooka also hooks on his pack in case he doesn't feel like holding it.  Another great figure.  We're 2 for 2.

Barbecue was always such a cool original figure.  Anyone who is willing to fight fires has my respect.  However, I was always more of a Blowtorch fan (I hope he comes soon).  Barbecue really is the epitome of homage.  He resembles the original figure so fine that I really need to put them side by side to see the difference.  I'm sure the wonderful new body style will show it's superiority.

The Snow Serpent was always one of my favorite "army builders" simply because he looked darn cool and he was a snow trooper.  I always liked the snow guys.  This is an incredible homage to the original with all the accessories we'd expect.  What I like best is his missile can attach to his backpack.  It really is a nice touch.

The B.AT. could very well be a loved or hated character.  He was definitely one of the first figures that started to lean towards the science fiction element but even though he was so cool with his interchangeable hands and holographic chest plate.  This time around the chest plate is no hologram but a transparent window into his mechanics.  This is by far the best homage to the popular B.A.T. character.  He is well detailed and I love the wash on the metal.  If there was one complaint is he only has room to store 2 out of the three extra hands on his pack.

Now we get to the question mark, the black Storm Shadow.  The Storm Shadow mold is great and perhaps one of the best in the entire series however, it has been repainted, retooled and redone far too many times.  There is no question that the black and gold color look great on this figure but had they chosen a fresh new character for series 9, this could perhaps had been the most solid assortment yet.

One note I'd like to make is I love that the Joe stands have added a second hole to better stand the figure.  It really makes a difference.  It's too bad they didn't sell a pack of these for some of the older figures such as Gung-Ho and Roadblock.  However, even though the Cobra's stand okay with one peg hole it would be nice if they added a second one for them as well.

This assortment was so close to perfection.  As I said even though the black Storm Shadow looks cool, the over-used mold is getting old.

4.5 out of 5

-RH

I don't care what anyone says, I'm not here to debate the die-cast vs. plastic issue but there is nothing like holding a nice heavy, cold die cast car or robot in your hands.  Yes, you are dealing with a more fragile and more likely to scratch item but it is all worth it to me.

BT-19 and BT-20 are not the most exciting figures to re-introduce the Binaltech series but the two molds, the Subaru WRX and Mazda RX-8 are perhaps the best and most used two molds of the series.

The Bluestreak is the Silverstreak mold with what I  think to be the better head but this time around painted the cars signature blue color without all the racing decals. Perhaps, many will think he looks more bland but even though I liked the decals and it fit the character, Smokescreen, it's nice to see the all blue version of this car.

I've transformed this toy so many times that it was second nature.  There were no quality control issues.  Everything is pretty solid.  If you look close you may see very minor paint chips but they are very minor and were there before I played with it and if they're not enough to bother me than they certainly won't be noticeable to anyone else.

Silverstreak was my favorite.  However, I loved the slick blue of Smokescreen.  So when you put them together you get one fantastic bot.  As I said earlier, he is a bit boring because I've been looking at this mold in one way or another for years but just holding a Binaltech in my hands feels so good even if it is a fairly plain repaint.

The Meister car body this time around is the retooled one used for Shockwave and is painted a sharp silver.  It truly looks beautiful.

Meister in my opinion has the most solid and smooth transformation of all the Binaltech's and Alternators.  So, again, there was no issue with that and just like the Bluestreak, he is made of solid construction and there are no quality control issues.

The robot which is inspired by the movie version of Jazz looks great.  Yes, I've seen it a few times before.  However, I have no problem welcoming this gorgeous repaint to my collection.

These may not have been my first choices for reintroducing the amazing Binaltech series to the world but nevertheless, these are still pieces of art in my eyes and worthy of any high end robot collection.

-RH

Like most of the other Transfans, I was into the Classics line.  It was fun to see most of my favorite classic Transformers redone with added articulation but they weren't a collector's line like Binaltech's.  They were still toys and they were designed to take a lot of abuse and these three Universe figures follow the same design.

All three look great in vehicle modes and are easily identifiable as the characters they are homage's too.  It is especially neat to see another Triple changer and it works as well as it did back in 1985 but of course with added articulation.

The transformations aren't quite as easy as the toys from the mid 1980's but still easy and fun enough to want to transform them back and forth many times over.

All three robot modes are nice with Sunstreaker being my definite favorite.  I just feel he translates the best plus he probably needed an update more than the other two.  Sunstreaker's head is spectacular. A real homage to classic Takara heads.   Prowl is also nice but I think his head sits a little too high and Tankor (Octane) has the opposite problem where his head sits a little low.  I do appreciate that these figures come with simple guns.  Not colorful flashy missile launchers bigger than the figures themselves.

The biggest problem with these three figures are there are so many missed opportunities.  For example: Prowl could have used some silver paint on his legs and missile launchers and it would have added so much to the overall look.  This is my problem with Hasbro Toys.  They take many shortcuts.  Now, if you want to wait and pay double the price, Takara Tomy will most likely release perfected versions of these figures as they did with the Classics figures but to be honest, I look to Binaltech's for my high end collectable Transformers.  The Universe/Classics line are more for playing with but it's sad that Hasbro doesn't go those extra steps.

The Universe series is going to be a mixed bag.  There are going to be a lot of pointless repaints but these three (especially Sunstreaker) does prove that Hasbro Toys will give us some new molds to keep us happy but I'll be honest, I'd be a lot happier if they just stepped it up a notch or two.

-RH

The Leader class Bulkhead makes me wonder not only why Hasbro made a Voyager Class scaled Bulkhead but why I even bought it?  The Leader class is everything the Voyager is and then some.

The vehicle mode is great!  It looks just like in the show.  He even includes some cool missiles on each side.  The scale of the vehicle is also more appropriately proportioned to the rest of the series. 

The transformation (as expected) is more complex than his Voyager counterpart.  It takes a few times to get it down but just like most Transformers the more you do it the easier it gets.  Next thing you know it becomes second nature.

With the robot, again, the scale is more appropriate with the rest of the figures in the series.  He is big and imposing as he should be.  He is well designed and articulated.  The only part that is more mobile with the Voyager Class is the head but this is due to his push button light, mouth and head turning feature.  It's a fun feature and a worthy trade off.

As far as accessories go, as I said he has some missiles but the best accessory is his "Headmaster" head that was a major plot point in a specific episode.  I think incorporating such details really makes this toy line stand out.

As far as Megatron goes, I've never been a huge fan.  Other than the Masterpiece and maybe one or two other versions of the Decepticon leader, I never really liked him.  However, Hasbro has finally gotten it right.

This time around.  Megatron is a Helicopter and a darn cool one too.  Just like all the other Animated figures, the helicopter looks just as it does on the show. 

The transformation was a bit tricky the first time but just like Bulkhead, after a few times back and forth it soon becomes second nature. 

The robot mode is where Megatron really shines.  This is no goofy looking bot!  Megatron looks menacing as an evil leader should.  His face sculpt in particular is spectacular.  Hasbro also got the colors right with Megatron.  A nice shade of grey with black and red highlights really brings out the classic look Megatron deserves.

Meg's also has lights and sounds and a moving mouth that all work quite well.  His helicopter blades turn into two very cool swords fit for this menacing tyrant.  He also has his signature arm blaster.

This is my second favorite Megatron ever next only to the Masterpiece but I will say as a toy, this version is far greater fun.

What more can I say, Hasbro has taken a great risk with their huge Transformers brand and I think it has really paid off.  As long as the series does not over stay it's welcome, I think it will go down in Transformer history as one of the most beloved Transformers series and Leader class Bulkhead and Megatron are certainly a big part of creating this future classic.

-RH

To my knowledge this is the first time since the days of Mego's kitschy Pocket Superheroes series that superheroes got the 3 3/4" treatment and it's rather refreshing.

This set consists of Batman, Joker, Scarecrow, Bruce Wayne, Thugy and a plethora of colorful Batmen.  These figures are virtually shrunk down versions of the Mattel movie Batman toys with diminished articulation (think Star Wars with knee joints). 

The regular Batman is the true highlight of this set.  The figure is well sculpted and thankfully my brother searched for a good paint job as I've heard they can vary with facial slop.  Batman's cape is made of cloth and is well done and is the perfect length.

Bruce Wayne is probably the second best of the bunch.  Yes, it's just a guy in a suit but it's Christian Bale in a suit.  It sort of resembles him but if you had me try to guess what actor it is,  I wouldn't have an instant response.

The disappointment (there always has to be one) is the Joker.  Not because it is badly sculpted but because they chose the more cartoon, kid friendly look over the brilliant "Masters" version.  It makes him stand out as if he should be part of the animated series figures. 

The Scarecrow is nothing to write home about but he serves his purpose in this set.

Overall, I like this set but It's the scale that wins it for me even without excessive articulation.  I'd really like to see the Thug and them revisit the Joker using the "Masters" mold.  At the retail price for two figures, you can't go wrong.  I don't know who else they could add to this collection besides a Commissioner Gordon, Alfred or perhaps Two-Face and if they left it at that,  that would be just fine with me.

-RH

The second Luke X-Wing figure was actually rather nice but his buck toothed face ruined it all.  I tried to rationalize that this is what he looks like but the truth is, it looked bad.  So, as I was rummaging through the toy isle at Wal-Mart before going to the diaper isle, I saw these sets.  I looked at this Luke and I thought it looked great.  I looked at the price and had to start getting into rationalization mode.  As usual, I found some sort of bull reasoning to buy him and I guess I'm happy I did.

This is in fact a great figure and the best Luke X-Wing figure out there.  He is well articulated, painted well and best of all does not have a goofy face. As for the R2, well, I could really care less and the droid arm as well.  Maybe someone will be interested in trading those parts for the other great figure in these two packs like the Han Solo in Hoth gear.  I was close to buying him but there was no way I was spending forty bucks on two Star Wars figures.

It saddens me that the Star Wars figure collection is so over-saturated cause they are making some nice figures.  However, if you feel the need to do an over-priced two pack that I will definitely buy, give me a nice Luke and Han in Stormtrooper outfit.  I know I could easily make my own but I'm surprised with all the other crap characters being made, these two have not been redone.

-RH

Sloth, unlike the rest of the figures is not sculpted with that cartoony look.  He actually is well sculpted and looks fairly movie accurate. 

As far as articulation goes, Sloth falls very close to the "Nerd Hummel" category.  Simply because he has no hip articulation.  Arms, waist and head, that's what you get.

The paint is the real problem here. I had to study two figures on the shelf to determine which one's paint smears were less detrimental.  I think the lack of the Superman symbol makes this figure look rather plain but you can't blame Mezco Toys for that.  Warner Brothers was obviously not going to lend their iconic symbol to a figure made by a competing company for a movie released by Paramount studios.

Sloth does come with nice accessories.  He comes with a nice fitting pirate hat, sword and a candy bar (no Baby Ruth logo).  I'm happy they left out the stand as it would be completely unnecessary.  It just sort of says to me that the other figures got them to throw in some extra plastic to rationalize the exorbitant price these figures retail for.

I like Sloth but the problem here is, I just did a review of Mezco Toys BEAUTIFUL Hellboy figures.  It just blows my mind how a company can be so inconsistent.  For the same price, the Hellboy toys gave you a 7" (or taller) figure loaded with articulation, great paint applications and fair accessories.  Sloth is the best of the Goonies figures by a landslide but standing next to some of Mezco Toys other properties, he looks somewhat amateur.

- RH

Just like the other figures these emulate the looks from the cartoon very well.  The vehicle modes are pretty much what you see when you watch the cartoon.  Both figures look great.  I especially like Prowl's motorcycle mode.  It is rather slick and I like the colors used.

The transformations are pretty basic.  Because you know what a truck and motorcycle looks like the transformation back to vehicle isn't much of a challenge especially after doing it a few times.

Both robot modes are very nice.  I'll start with Prime.  He is very slick looking and resembles Prime well.  I've expressed many times that I hate the fact that his mouth can be seen and I haven't changed my opinion but if one figure has to have his mouth exposed, I'm glad it's his Cybertronian mode and not his regular mode. I particularly like his ax and transparent blue chest plate.

Prowl is quite a surprise for me because at first sight from pictures, I wasn't so into him.  however, to my surprise he is one of my favorite Autobots.  A lot has to do with his slender appearance and colors.  My only issue is I still don't care for the Jay Leno chins but I suppose it is part of the look this series is going for.  If there is one negative aspect of Prowl is I think the streetlight weapon is stupid and could have been done without.  Perhaps there is something significant about it I don't know about but nevertheless it is really goofy.

These are two great figures and a great value.  I think ten years from now this series is really going to be looked upon as a major fan favorite.  So, stock up now.

-RH

Mezco Toys are hit or miss with me.  They've released some sub par figures but they certainly came through with the Hellboy two 7" movie toys.  They are awesome!

Hellboy emulates the hero well with his enormous fist and trench coat.  I was hoping he came with "Big Baby" but he does come with his signature gun, "the Samaritan".

Johann Krauss is also incredible.  I love his overall look with his copper piping and steam punk look.  He comes with a regular clear dome and a cracked one as well.  He also comes with two sets of hands, regular and hands with some smoke like effect attached.

Wink is huge!  He towers over the other figures and weighs a good couple pounds.  He is also awesome!  He comes with a removable mace hand and iron box.  He is most likely going to be the tough one to find simply because he's a big cool monster.

All three figures are well articulated, accessorized and painted.  They fit in beautifully with the first Hellboy movie figures.  I wasn't going to collect these but now I'm in too deep.  I almost wish I could drive back to the store and get the Liz Sherman, Prince Nuada and Abe Sapien.  However, I probably spent enough money today.  It will give me something to look forward to next time I visit the mall.

Mezco came through again.  I just wish they would be more consistent with all their brands.  Now I greatly look forward to the 3 3/4" figures which should hopefully arrive soon.

-RH

I have been very supportive of Mattel Toys DC Universe line and am curious how expansive they get with the DC universe but something tells me Jonah Hex isn't making the list anytime soon.  Therefore, I broke down and bought the DC Direct figure.

I'd like to mention, to my knowledge this is the first time DC Direct has used the clamshell packaging.  I like clamshell packaging from the standpoint that it keeps the figure safe and doesn't ruin the cards (even though I open all my toys anyways).  However, in today's economical climate it surprises me that they went this route.  It is also in my opinion a big waste of plastic but onto the toy.

Jonah Hex is beautifully sculpted.  I don't think I could ask for anything more.  He wears his traditional gunslinger outfit and has his ugly facial expression.

For DC Direct, Hex is well articulated.  Perhaps the only thing that could be added is side to side hip joints but otherwise he has all the expected joints. 

Jonah Hex is accessorized with his hat and two pistols and that is all he needs.  He also comes with a circular stand which is not too big. 

I really like the paint job on this figure.  They captured the color of his denim very well and I like the stone gray coat he wears.  There are no noticeable sloppiness that I can see.

I am very satisfied with this figure and so will you as long as you appreciate action figures and Jonah Hex in all his gruff appearance.

-RH

I was very excited for this wave.  Primarily for the Dr. Henry Jones and the Young Indiana Jones (River Phoenix RIP).  However, the other figures in the series were the perfect choices. 

The sculpting on this series is phenomenal especially on Dr. Henry Jones.  This is as good as a 3 3/4" figure gets.  It clearly looks like Sean Connery and not just a slight resemblance either. 

The Young Indie isn't quite as spectacular but it is still a great figure.  I love that they sculpted the Cross of Coronado on his belt.  Another wonderful figure is the Grail Knight.  This was a figure I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever have a chance to get.  The Dr. Elsa Schneider and Colonel Vogel are also as good as could be when it comes to their sculpt.  The Indiana Jones with machine gun is a good figure as well but I'm getting a little tired of the Indiana Jones figures himself.

The paint is where there is a little problem.  On Dr. Henry Jones there is a dash of gold paint on both sides of his beard.  At first I thought it was a paint glitch but I searched for other pictures of the figures and looks to be just part of the paint application.  Also, Dr. Elsa Schneider was a little sloppy on the face but they are all livable minor flaws.

The accessories as expected are fantastic!  Especially, Dr. Henry Jones.  He includes his diary, briefcase and umbrella plus a gun which he could have probably done without. Both his hat and glasses are removable and fit like a glove.  However, I'm sure his glasses are going to become the hard to find piece in the future for loose collectors. All the other figures include their appropriate accessories.  I like how Dr. Elsa Schneider comes with the incorrect grail.

This is a great series.  I think I made it plainly obvious that Dr. Henry Jones is the true winner in this assortment and I expect he will be harder to come by than some of the other figures.

Now, I anticipate  the next assortment (wave 4) of "Temple of Doom" figures to come out.  I can't wait for a Short round and Mola Ram figures. 

-RH

Each figure comes in a cool plastic crate with chains and locks.  When you open the lid there is a rubbery, slimy bag containing your figure in about six pieces.  The rubbery bag that holds the parts is really quite gross feeling but something a kid would totally be into.  Perhaps even more than the figure itself.

The figure is easy to put together.  You just snap the legs, arms and in this case, wings together and viola, you have a cool looking ghoul perfect for Halloween. 

The sculpt is very well done.  There is a lot of detail and to bring out the detail Mega Blocks did a great job with the paint applications.

The Ghoul is well articulated for this low price point figure.  It has the typical arms and hip joints but I love that you can open his mouth.

Surprisingly, Mega Blocks makes some nice little inexpensive action figures that can easily get lost in the action figure isle amongst all the over-priced Mattel and Hasbro toys.  There is no cartoon to support this or any other advertising.  It's just a good ol' fashioned series of monsters and creatures that every boy (and some girls) would love.

-RH

Neca created a box set of just what I was talking about and it's actually been out for some time that it is probably no longer available at retail or is on clearance (which is how I found it).

The sculpting is exceptional as Neca has proved to be climbing to the top of the toy chain when it comes to this category.  Both figures are loaded with details so small and minut.  Those are the things a collector like me appreciates.  I like the MacLeod figure better but the Kurgan figure is a great bonus and it's good for him to have someone to battle.

The paint is also at the highest level.  Just take a look at the skirt and you will know what I'm talking about.  Both figures have a great deal of weathering and dry brush techniques that work beautifully to bring out all the details.

Both these figures are given the appropriate accessories.  MacLeod has his infamous sword and a shield and Kurgan includes his sword of choice.  Although, this is not an accessory, I thought I'd mention Kurgan's feathers.  They look good (kinda goofy) but work well in capturing the look of the costume.  I have a feeling the longevity of these feathers will not be so extensive.

Now we get to articulation.  I am really, really sick of "Nerd Hummel's".  I don't need 30 points of articulation but I don't want a statue.  Thankfully, MacLeod has enough articulation to take him out of the "Nerd Hummel" category but without leg articulation, Kurgan falls somewhere in between.

I am also nit a fan of large scene stands.  I think they go with the whole statue aspect of the figure.  MacLeod's is sized to the figure so it's not that bad but Kurgan's extends a little longer.  It's not horrible but it definitely will take up more display room.

I think I've made it very clear that it's Medieval MacLeod that sold me on this set.  It's most likely the best Highlander figures we will get unless they do TV show figures.  I really think Neca's growing a lot as a toy company.  Hopefully they will do what many other toy companies are doing now and shrink their figures to a 3 3/4" scale.  It just makes it so much easier to collect all these different toys coming out.

-RH

So, again, there is a substantial amount of green in the action figure isles but not like last time.  I think retailers learned their lesson the first time around. 

As a fan of the Hulk, I always wanted a great Hulk figure and I just don't think it was ever accomplished.  Perhaps the Marvel Legends version was close but it was way too inspired by the early days of Hulk and not a more universal appearance which I was looking for.  The first movie toys where just too much and too many.  After watching the new movie (which I enjoyed) I thought it would be worth giving Hasbro's take on the Hulk a try.  I chose to go with the Mega Clap Hulk (dumbest name ever!).  It was the only one with purple pants and reminded me most of a regular Hulk.

The sculpt itself is rather nice.  It looks like what you saw on the screen and emulates the comic book version quite well.  There is plenty of detail on this figure that could have put this in the running for best Hulk toy but there are far too many flaws. 

Starting with the action feature:  There is a big button on his back that when pushed, he, well...claps.  It is rather silly but if I was a kid I suppose it would be fun.

A big problem with this figure is in today's day and age, the articulation is awfully limited.  especially for a Marvel action figure.  I know this is not part of the Marvel Legends series but in my opinion, Hasbro needs to keep their Marvel lines consistent.

Finally the biggest problem (or smallest problem) is the figure seems a little small for being the Hulk.  Again, this is Hasbro not keeping their Marvel brands consistent.  The Iron-Man movie figure is even a little taller and that's just not right.

It's too bad that such a nicely sculpted figure is so flawed.  Oh, did I mention that this figure retails at ten bucks and you get nothing else but a hand clapping Hulk?

-RH

The concept of a Transformer spoof is so easy, you or I could have done it but we didn't; Jeffrey Brown did it. 

The most important thing about being fanatical about something is knowing you are so and also being able to laugh at yourself for being a fanatic.  I know I'm a total geek who spends way too much money and time on action figures but I am passionate about it and it is sorta my lively hood.  Even if it wasn't though, I have always been proud of my hobby and my geekyness and have never taken it so serious were I couldn't laugh at myself.

I want to start by mentioning that the art and character designs are quite crude but I think it was done intentionally and if it wasn't it still fits the nature of the book. The characters emulate those of the most famous Transformers.  For example the leader of the Awesomebots is named Big Rig and turns into a truck and the leader of the Fantasticons is named Shootertron and guess what he is?  you got it, a gun.

The comic is incredibly silly and makes fun of the ridiculous concept of the G1 Transformers cartoon.  It does a good job at it too.  There are plenty of laughs in this book and it's interesting how it is never truly defined who the true good guys and bad guys are even though it is intended that the Awesomebots are the "heroes".

The writing, like the artwork is fairly amateur.  As I said earlier anyone with the smallest knowledge of Transformers and a sense of humor could have written and drawn this book.  However, it is Jeffery Brown who has done it and with great success.

If you are a Transformers fan, I think it is a solid read.  However, if you take the hobby and the Transformers universe too serious, it may be in your best interest to stay away as you may be offended by the obvious ridiculousness of the basic story of the Transformers.

-RH

Over the last ten plus years there has been a plethora of Alien toys based off or inspired by the many movies related to perhaps the coolest looking movie monster of all time.  Whether it was Kenner , McFarlane Toys or Neca, there have been, oh so many.  Well, throw them all away because the perfect Alien toy is here!

First I want to say, in the movie series, I prefer Alien over Aliens (the other's were either complete garbage or mediocre).  Aliens was a great action movie but Ridley Scott's Alien film was a true thriller.  I also prefer the design of the famous monster from the first film as well.  Particularly because of the transparent dome.

Neca has produced the end all to be all of Alien figures (unless you want the designs from the other films).  This figure is so perfectly sculpted it is a true work of art.  There is so much detail it is like a three dimensional HR Giger painting.

The paint job is also spectacular!  This figure has that sort of black steel color with silver wires and finger nails.  Most impressively are the veins in the dome. The only thing I'm not sure about is I thought the interior mouth was silver.  In this case it is a bone white color.

The articulation is almost perfect.  There are plenty of moving parts and they are all well hidden not to ruin the sculpt.  However, there are no ball joints at the hips but I think it may have ruined the sculpt anyways.  The only problem I had was the inner mouth was very difficult to get out.  I wasn't sure if there was a button but I looked and it appears you just have to open up the jaw and pull it out.  It may not have been so difficult if I didn't bite my nails.  Also, worth mentioning is the tail is bendy and works great.

The Alien comes with no accessories.  I'm okay with this.  I suppose the only things it could come with are a face hugger or egg.  It's probably better off without them so you can display this beauty without any distractions.

Finally, after a hundred different versions of the popular movie monster Neca got it just right.  This is a true winner and one of my new favorite toys.  Bravo Neca!

-RH

If you are immersed in geekdom as I am.  Than you probably read many of the related magazines and online websites with news and editorials of what's going on in the world of whatever geeky is available or soon to be.   Therefore, you've probably read about artist, Robert Burden's remarkable collection of action figure art.  If not you can check out an editorial I wrote at www.comicbookbin.com (look in the action figure section). 

Anyways, the first article and pictures I read and saw, I know this was something I wanted but assumed I had no chance of affording such items.  Nevertheless, I contacted Burden (who happens to be one of the nicest guys I've had the pleasure to communicate with) and he informed me that he would be making prints of some of his work. 

As soon as they were made available, I ordered one.  The one I found most to my liking was the Battle Cat.  It not only had a mix of vibrant colors but fit my taste in art.  Not to mention my wife is a big fan of cats and therefore it was the one she also liked the best.

Shortly after I ordered it, I received it in the mail.  Signed and numbered.  Each one is only limited to 100 each.  That is a pretty limited run of prints.  I was happy to see I got 2/100.

The print was beautifully done on a glossy paper and seeing the artwork in person allows you to see all the detail and work that went into it.  Pictures cannot do this print justice. 

I immediately got it professionally framed and just got it back.  It now hangs proudly in my dining room for all to see.

I highly recommend Burden's limited prints for any toy collector or even someone who appreciates art in general.  However, at such a reasonable price and limited numbers, I'd hurry up before they are all gone and you regret not having one.  You can see more and purchase prints at www.robertburden.net.

I know this may sound like I'm just pushing product for this nice guy but I have always considered myself an honest person and would never recommend something I did not believe in and this is art and a true artist I believe in.

-RH

Note:  I am obviously not a professional photographer and the glares from my photos certainly get in the way.  Just go to his website to see professional pictures.

A couple years back my toy geek buddies and I made a pilgrimage to Wizard-world in Chicago and had a blast!  There was so much to do and so much to buy.  One of my dear friends took the plunge and bought a Gundam styled robot made out of screws and bolts and metals of such.  The artist he bought it from had an array of super cool pieces.  Some were of monsters like, Aliens and Predators but many were of robots similar in style to Gundams.  Ever since we walked away from the convention I was regretful that I did not as well purchase one of these stunning pieces of art. 

Years later I still think of some of the cool metal robots this artist had but did not have a name or a business card.  So, I relied on the internet to see if I could locate this artist.  I did not have any luck but what I did find was a website, www.metalpark.org.  I spent some time looking around at their stunning art all made from pieces from motorcycles.  They were all very nice and reasonably priced.

I narrowed it down to two pieces, a robot from a game called Bio-Shock and a movie version of Bumblebee.  To be honest I liked the Bio-shock robot better.  However, the Bumblebee fit my personality better.  Therefore, I went for the Bumblebee.

Only a couple days later I got the package in the mail.  Before I discuss the piece itself, I think I forgot to mention that not only are these well constructed sculptures made entirely of motorcycle scrap parts but they are each one of a kind.  Therefore, I know no one else owns this exact model.

My first impressions when removing it from the box was it seemed smaller than I expected but perhaps it is only because the robot my friend purchased at Wizard-World was twice the size.  However, this did not make me feel the item was any less worth the price I paid. 

It is a true piece of art.  It is amazing work that went into this sculpture.  Every bend and screw fits perfectly to resemble the Transformers movie Bumblebee. 

There is no articulation here, no accessories.  Just a refreshing edition to my growing collection of art that fits my personality.  Some of my favorite features are his wings (or doors if he was in car mode) and the wheels next to them. Also his midsection has a lot of detail.

This item is very sturdy and also sharp, so keep it away from children if you have any.  It is coated with a lacquer to prevent from rusting. 

I am very happy with this piece.  Part of me wished I would have gone with the Bio-Shock but only because now that I have this one, I want to see that one up close in person but my financial budget won't let me have more.  However, Metal Park informed me they add new pieces in September and I will certainly be ready for a new one by than (I hope).

Check out www.metalpark.org for one of a kind art that is a change of pace from the usual plastic you invest in.

-RH

Ever since the DC Universe line began, I had to ask myself, why ever buy a DC Direct figure again? The DC Universe figures are generally superior in every way.  They are less expensive, consistent in sculpting and better articulation.  However, after buying DC Direct's Booster Gold and Animal Man I realized why there is still a place for DC Direct action figures.

Every once in awhile an artist has the potential to capture a character better than anyone else.  In this case I am referring to Kevin Maguire.  Maguire was Keith Giffen's right hand man on Justice League International.  JLI was an incredible series full of humor and character development and a big part of it was Maguire's ability to create the perfect facial expressions for these characters and this is why I had to have the DC Direct version of Booster Gold regardless of whether Mattel's DC Universe releases a Booster Gold figure sure to be great.

As for Animal man, it isn't quite as clear whether he was inspired by Maguire's art work but nevertheless he accompanies Booster Gold wonderfully.

Since I got these at a discounted price's, I can't complain about DC Direct's over-priced action figures but normally they are.  however, with that said, what they will give you is a well sculpted, adequate articulated and cleanly painted action figure.

Perhaps this isn't so much of a review of Booster Gold and Animal Man but more or less a way for me to realize and communicate why DC Direct still has a place in the crowded action figure market.  I won't be buying many of their figures as their are few artists that draw a certain character in a way that must be had but if there is, I will very much appreciate the opportunity to own it.

I just love looking at Booster Gold's smirk.  It's sculpted as if  it jumped right off the pages of the JLI comic books containing Maguire's unique and incredible style.

-RH

When I first saw pictures of them, I really didn't know how to react.  Other than Sloth, they sort of looked like figures based off of a Goonies cartoon (there never was one).  Nevertheless, I was still in.

Then I saw them for the first time in the store (a specialty store of course) and I picked them all up ready to buy them and then I looked at the price, they wanted twenty bucks a piece.  I quickly put them back on the shelf accept for Sloth.  I thought he may be worth it.  Then I looked at my wife and back at Sloth and put him back on the shelf with the rest of the Goonies.  As I continued to find them in specialty stores they still held that ridiculously high price for a bunch of 5" kids with little to no articulation surrounded by an enormous clamshell package.

Finally, I found three out of the five figures at a price worth paying.  So, here are my thoughts.  A little late but better than never.

As I stated earlier, the figures looked a little off.  I think it probably has to do with the fact they are kids.  I imagine sculpting that scale may be a little harder even though Neca Entertainment did a fine job with Harry potter. I'm not in love with the sculpts.  Each figure sort of looks like the actors.  Mouth looks like Corey Feldman, Mikey looks like Shawn Astin, etc. but the heads look kinda big and maybe that is what makes them look cartoon like.

The paint jobs are well done.  the colors fit each character and the tone of the film just fine.  There isn't too much slop either.

Articulation is very limited.  They are pretty much statues (not that I need them to be super articulated but...) Most of the articulation is in the head, arms and waist.

I suppose the highlight are the accessories.  Each figure comes packed with the appropriate accessories especially Data.  Each figure also includes a base.  Each base represents a different scene from the film so putting them together as a set may look slightly awkward.

I find it odd how a company like Mezco Toys can do such an outstanding job on their Hellboy figures and charge about twelve dollars a figure and then the Goonies figures are less than satisfying and cost almost double that at most retailers.

I make them sound terrible and they really aren't but to price such an item so high at retal makes you much harsher on an item. I will attempt to complete the set since I'm only missing Chunk and the must have, Sloth. However, If I didn't find these at the reasonable price I did, I may have just avoided these all together and been just as happy.

-RH

Transforming him back was a different story.  Perhaps this is why I prefer Alternators or Transformers lines where the robot turns into something that looks like something I'm somewhat familiar with.  What I mean about that is, Megatron's Cybertronian mode does not really look like anything.  I suppose it is supposed to be some sort of jet but it looks very compromised.  I had to look at the instructions to figure it out and I really hate having to do that.

So, I'm not crazy about the vehicle mode and the robot mode isn't bad but I feel the same way about the Voyager Megatron as I do the other Voyager figures.  They should be a Mega class like in the days of the Beast wars.  They aren't quite worth double the money as a Deluxe.  As I said before, maybe $15-$16 dollars seems more reasonable.

It's not a bad figure but it's the Leader class Megatron that I'm really looking forward too.  It could be the second best Megatron ever (behind the Masterpiece of course).  Judging by the pictures, the Leader class looks top notch plus he's a helicopter, one of my favorite vehicles.

If you are a completest or in other words, you're OCD, than you won't be entirely disappointed by this figure but if you can hold off another month, you may be better off saving your money for the Leader class Megatron which is sure to be one cool robot!

-RH

I am a fan of the film Legend.  It is sort of Ridley Scott's fantasy film answer to Blade Runner but does not get nearly the same amount of accolades as Blade Runner.  It is a slow, moody film and I can understand if someone told me they weren't into it but for me I like slow and moody and if you throw in Tim Curry as the best representation of the devil ever put on screen, then I'm in.

Tim Curry's Darkness was not the only cool creature in the film actually there is a nice little list I could put together of other great potential monsters and fairies that could be turned into plastic figurines.  However, Meg Mucklebones is perhaps the most terrifying and a good choice.

When pictures where first released of this figure by SOTA toys from their mediocre "Now Playing" series, I actually had plans on buying it for retail price but...

I'll start with the series in general.  Now Playing is a good concept.  It gives the freedom for SOTA Toys to include any cultish character they want without any limitations but from the very beginning they did it all wrong.  Both the figures and packaging was much to big.  There was as much plastic in the packaging as on the toy.  That just isn't necessary.  They are also "Nerd Hummel's" to the extreme.  There is so little articulation on these figures and it's such a surprise coming from the same company that brought us the hyper articulated Street Fighter 2 action figures.

The sculpt on Meg really isn't too bad.  She has a fair amount of detail, saggy boobs and all but you don't really notice any of it because the paint applications are so terribly wrong.  The figure has been panted almost completely a light green with dark green seaweed that hangs off of her.  This is where paint washes and dry brushing techniques could have really been used to bring out the detail.  She comes with a stand that shows her rising from a dirty bog.  So, it only makes sense that she is very dirty but instead the paint job is rather clean.  I also want to mention that early prototype photos showed her with more seaweed coming off of her body.  It really added a lot to the figure but instead they limited it quite a bit.

Her feet are removable so she can look like she is coming out of the bog and it makes sense but I'm glad they still gave you the option to put on feet as some collectors including me just don't have enough room for these large bases.  Unfortunately though, this figure really needs the base to capture her scene from the movie.

This figure is a great disappointment and it's unfortunate because I'd be surprised if any other company ever tackles Meg or any other Legend figure again accept for perhaps Darkness but I think McFarlane Toys produced the end all, be all for that character.

I was interested in the American Werewolf in London set and the Dog Soldier werewolf as well but after this figure I think I'm done with SOTA Toys (accept for the Attack of the Killer Klowns figures.  Those are an absolute must for me regardless). 

If this was not the low price I got it for, I would have never added it too my collection and to be honest, I'm not sure it will stay with the rest of my movie toys much longer.  What a shame when such an obscure character from a movie you care for gets made and they totally drop the ball with it.

-RH

NOTE: Seeing I've already said so many nice things about this figure, I thought I'd add : as I was posing it to take pictures, one of the hands just fell off.  Good job on quality control there SOTA.

I never collected wrestling figures, not even in the old days when LJN made the big rubber wrestlers.  However, when I heard Jakks Pacific were going 3 3/4" I was somewhat interested because I have some strange obsession with that scale.  It just seems so perfect to collect but I wasn't going to buy a wrestling toy because of it.  So, I have to thank a kind man for sending me a a figure out of kindness so I can check it out.  The figure he sent me was Batista.  I have heard the name but like I said I do not follow wrestling.  I would like to mention before I review the figure, he is missing a hand.  I checked the box through and through and nothing but that's okay I still feel I can get the gist of the figure.

As I said, I've seen these in stores and they really did not impress me but now that I hold one in my hand, my opinion has changed.  Jakks Pacific has come such a long way since their humble beginnings.  The figure is well articulated and well detailed.  From what little I know of Batista, it does look like him.  He has all the tattoos and I like the elbow and knee pads.

The shoulder joints are a bit tight and the rest of the joints are a bit loose but he is a wrestler and needs to be able to twist and turn with ease.

Jakks Pacific hasn't turned me into a wrestling fan but what they have done is made me believe in them as a company that can compete with the best of them.  I would love to see Jakks Pacific tackle a movie toy line or perhaps this scale and style would work well with their Dragonball Z license (now those I would buy).

With the WWE license in its last year with Jakks Pacific, they need to grab something new quickly and this figure proves they can make quality fun toys.  How about Thundercats or maybe something in-house?

-RH

When the toys for the new animated line were shown at Botcon 2007, I knew it was not my style of robot but I would give them a chance nevertheless.  First, I watched the cartoon and it is without question a vast improvement over the crap that's been churned out over the last five or so years.  Second, I grew to like the designs and commend Hasbro for trying something completely different just as they did with Beast Wars and look what a great series that was!

I was fortunate to have an advance peak at the Animated toys as I reviewed some time ago; Bumblebee and Starscream and I generally liked them but now I have more of a variety to comment on.

I'll start with the Deluxe scale, I purchased Black Arachnia, Ratchet and Lockdown.  I am very pleased with the results.  The vehicle (bug) modes are great and look just as you see them on TV.  The transformations are great fun and not too difficult.  The plastic is perhaps my favorite part.  It has a unique texture to it.  Both dull and glossy when needed.  The plastic is also very durable accept I did break Lockdowns hand off.  It just seemed like it should have been able to be pushed forward more.  The robot modes are also great and are the closest to an exact replication of the cartoon as any Transformers series ever.  It must have taken some incredible engineers to pull it off.

The Voyagers are no different accept they are naturally larger in scale or girth.  However, I think in comparison to the Deluxe figures they are only a tad bigger.  I think $15-$16 dollars would be a better price bump then the doubled price they are.

My surprising favorite is Lugnut.  He slightly resembles Shockwave, yet still has a look of his own.  They are all actually quite nice though.  Black Arachnia is certainly the best version of her we've ever received and the best female Transformer ever made from plastic.

I also got the Deluxe Optimus Prime and Megatron two pack with DVD.  This is a nice introductory set.  I think it would have worked better if they would have just skipped out on the pointless battle damage.  It would have been a better choice to have a regular looking deluxe scaled Optimus Prime and Megatron especially for the youg'ens.

The Transformers animated figures are not generally my style of robot as I stated.  I prefer a more "realistic" robot with a lot of small parts, die-cast metal, smooth paint applications and a little chrome here and there but with that said I like this series enough to collect and I rather enjoy playing with them. And,  who's to say you have to know every facet of every character and like everything about Transformers to be a Transfan anyway?  Yes, I AM A TRANSFAN AND PROUD OF IT!

-RH

I'll start with Copperhead and Shipwreck.  I've always been a fan of Copperhead and his water moccasin and Hasbro certainly did Copperhead justice.  They did something with him that they have not done with any other 25th Anniversary Joe; they used a weathering technique with the paint on his legs to make him look like he was playing in the dirt.  It actually looks good but in the future Hasbro should probably keep these sort of paint applications to Marvel Legends.  The other figure is Shipwreck.  This figure is rather nice.  Although, it looks like it should have been Cutter because other than the head and the accessories, he looks just like him.  This is a nice take on Shipwreck even if it is not a homage to any original RAH figure.

Next we have Duke in regular army fatigues.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am a Duke fan.  This is a great figure and a welcome addition to my collection.  Duke comes with some nice accessories including his good ol' binoculars. Interesting enough,  If you leave his helmet on he looks like any generic soldier. So I think I will display him without it to show that he is the infamous first sergeant.  Accompanying Duke is the October Guard, Red Star.  This is a great figure.  He is loaded with straps and all sorts of stuff hanging off of him.  He is fully accessorized.  he comes with what I believe is a land mine that he could probably do without.

The final set and the one I was most concerned about is surprisingly very nice.  well, at least nice and a half.  The Firefly is absolutely brilliant!  He differs from the original by wearing a vest and goggles and a huge backpack loaded with goodies.  This is a top notch version of Firefly and I was surprised how much I liked it seeing I'm rather particular about this set representing those figures from the original line.  His counterpart is yet another Storm Shadow.  I believe this outfit was used in the Devil's Due comics (I wasn't a fan).  It is a ridiculous outfit and whoever designed it should probably find a new line of work but that aside, Hasbro turned it into a nice figure.  Storm Shadow is well sculpted and includes a variety of weapons.

I was overall surprised by this assortment of 2-packs and it brings me hope for the most important figure in the entire Joe universe and that is the Lt. Falcon figure that will be release in wave 5.  I've seen early unpainted prototypes and it looks good but this wave brings me hope that it has the potential to be great.

-RH

Kurt Cobain was my youth.  He represents my teenage years.  An unplugged figure was made but it didn't spark any interest from me but when I saw Kurdt in his signature stripped T-shirt, I knew I needed one to represent.  He is well sculpted and painted and what I expected.  His face is somewhat generic but if you compare the facial features of Cobain and Joey Romone, it is obvious that Joey had a lot more character.  It is well painted and I love the guitar with strap.

Next is John Lennon.  If I ever meet someone who is not a Beatles fan, I will automatically have a hard time relating with you.  This pre-posed figure does not represent my favorite period of Johns career but still a well done statue.

Finally, we get to the flamboyant yet brilliant singer for the rock group Queen, Freddie Mercury.  Many love them and many hate them.  My wife for example is not a fan but the harmonies to me are brilliant and Mercury's voice was incredible and beautiful.  As far as the figure goes, it represents him perfectly.  He is dressed in white with a bright yellow jacket.  The best parts are the mustache and the detail on his Adidas shoes.  Mercury has the most articulation of the three.

You won't see me buying any Jon Bon Jovi anytime soon and I'm not going back to pick up the now expensive Hendrix figure but going forward if Neca made a Bob Dylan or David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust period preferred) I'm in.

-RH

When I first saw pictures of this assortment, I was certain these were customs or unfinished prototypes and I was very wrong.  They are what they are: the worst overall assortment Hasbro has given us thus far.

I'm going to skip over Cobra Commander because he's pretty much the same figure just with perhaps better colors and a new accessory.  Therefore, I haven't opened him yet and I did not find the Baroness so, I'll perhaps review her later.

I'll start with what was almost an excellent figure, the Arctic Snake-Eyes.  I did not read the comic so I have no affinity for it.  However, I like arctic soldiers and I like Snake-Eyes.  This figure is superbly sculpted and looks like you'd expect Snake-Eyes to look if he was in the snow.  He is geared up with his signature Uzi, a backpack with snowshoes and an amazing sword with a lot of great detail.  The only flaw lies in the color of the head.  Hasbro chose a dark blue instead of black.  Perhaps to better resemble the comic book but the only reason it would have been blue in the comic book would be to allow the use of other colors for shadowing and detailing.  If they would have painted his head black, this would easily be one of my favorites of the line thus far.

The huge disappointment award goes to Major Bludd.  Major Bludd is such a core character that he deserves better than he got.  He is virtually a repaint of Zartan with a new head and arm.  The least they could have done was change his pants.  The colors are right on but how can you mess that up?

In the middle is The Python Patrol Cobra Officer and Tiger Force Flint.  I was never a big repaint fan but for some reason as a child I took to the Tiger Force and the Flint is well done.  They even changed his arms from the original figure to better suit the original character.  The Cobra Officer is a good homage but to me he's just another army builder that I don't have room for.

Finally we get to Roadblock V2.  I never disliked this brightly colored design but it was a slight step back from the original look.  The figure is a straight repaint with a new vest.  It's not that bad but the flaws from the first version carries on to this one.  such as the small head. 

This is the worst assortment Hasbro has released yet.  If I hadn't already seen pictures of the awesome looking series 9, I would claim series eight as where Hasbro jumped the shark but I'm pretty sure the movie will take that honor.

-RH

The big difference between this doll and the one of old is this one talks and the mouth can move with the words he speaks.  I must admit it was an attractive selling point.  The sound quality is rather nice and the mouth movement is pretty neat.  The only aspect that I don't like about the talking feature is the speaker holes in his chest.  However, they can be pretty much well hidden by his shirt

I'm not an expert on the 12" scale but Indiana seems to be fairly well articulated.  Everything that needs to move does accept perhaps it would be nice if his head moved up and down but I'm sure this would pose a problem with the talking feature.

The sculpt is well done.  It looks like Harrison Ford from twenty or so years ago.  It isn't the best likeness but it is passable.  I suppose if you want the best likeness you will have to go with a Sideshow or Medicom version of Indie and that will cost you between seventy to a hundred & fifty clams and I'm not willing to shell that out.

The paint job is few and far between but kind of makes this figure a slight failure because his eyes look rather empty and as everyone knows, the first thing you notice about someone is their eyes.

The clothing and accessories are well tailored for the price.  He has his shirt, pants, boots belt with gun holster and foe leather jacket.  He also comes with a gun and two whips: one that goes in his hand and the other that attaches to his belt.  This is very similar to the 3 3/4" figures.  Oh, and how could I forget his hat and the Idol.  The hat is another flaw.  It seems like the rim is a little two small or angled down too much similar to the hat that Henry Jones Sr. would wear.

I don't regret buying this figure even though it will stick out like a sore thumb in my action figure dominated collection but I think just showing people the talking feature makes it worth the small investment.

-RH

The Stand Tall Display Systems have been out for some time now but I had no reason to check them out because I was no longer displaying my vast collection of Star Wars figures.  As my G.I. Joe collection was growing I needed an answer to how I would display them..  I emailed the owner and creator of the Stand Tall systems and asked if they would work with the square stands that come with the Joe figures.  He quickly responded with pictures and it didn't look too bad but I wasn't sure I wanted to invest in them as this solution just yet. 

I fortunately found the perfect display pieces for my GI Joe collection.  Therefore it seemed as I would not need to try the Stand Tall Display System.  However, I was looking at my new Indiana Jones display and found myself dissatisfied with the way it looked.  Enter:  The Stand Tall Display Systems.  I knew these would work because the Indiana Jones figures are compatible with the Star Wars collection.

I want to start off saying, the Stand Tall Display Systems are more fun to put together than playing with any of the Indiana Jones figures.  It was a great joy to figure out how I wanted to set this thing up.  How it would look was trial and error yet without any frustration.  This set is very durable and easy to put together and take apart again.  The basic set comes with more than enough pieces to create your display masterpieces.  I had plenty of parts left over accept (of course) the bases themselves.  Each basic set comes with ten bases which is very reasonable for the price you pay.  Maybe twelve would be a tad better but as an American, we all want a little more so...

As I said, these have been out for awhile and work well with Star Wars figures and just about any other 3 3/4" figure line you could think of.  I am very satisfied with this set and almost want to order more just to build them. 

Note: You can find the Stand Tall Display Systems on Ebay.  Also, I should have taken pictures of all the disassembled parts but I put it together before I intended to review them and I didn't want to have to guess how I put together my perfect display.

-RH

My opinion of the figures are not vastly different from my review for Prince Caspian.  I'm going to be totally honest by saying this isn't much of a review of the figures but more or less an opportunity to expand on an argument I made several times regarding another film series:  Lord of the Rings.

I am not a fan of how Toybiz approached the LOTR line even though many of the figures were great, they were inconsistent.  Many figures came with silly stands, some were a bit too pre-posed and worst of all they were to big for such an expansive universe of figures.

With The Hobbit film finally getting the green light, this would be a perfect opportunity for a toy company to grab the license.

Where as I think Play Along did an okay job with the Narnia figures and helped prove that LOTR figures could be done in a 3 3/4" scale (back to that later), I think a company like Popco or even Hasbro would be better suited.  Personally, I'd like to see Popco Entertainment get the license because they did such an excellent job on the underrated Golden Compass figures and where as Hasbro would most likely be more capable of taking on such a project financially and with the manpower, I think sometimes they get a little sloppy on the paint jobs of such lines as Star Wars and Indiana Jones.  Zizzle is another new company who helped prove that a small Hobbit could be done with great detail with their "Marty" figure from Pirates of the Caribbean.  However, I'm not so crazy about their rubbery plastic and sometimes sloppy paint applications.  Most likely Hasbro would be the likely choice.

Now back to the Narnia figures for a moment.  What I like about them is that Play Along toys has proven that size is not a limitation with sculpting in today's toy market.  They prove this best with Trumpkin & Trufflehunter.  Both figures are small yet full of detail and articulation.  I also have to give props to the very small Reepicheep figure that comes with the Susan Pevensie figure.  It is amazing how well detailed this little guy is and articulated as well.

The biggest downfall of Play Along's Narnia figures is their need to add action features.  Some of them are simple and well concealed and others are obvious but all in all they are all pointless and really don't add much to the play value of the action figure.

As I said, I still haven't seen this movie and perhaps after I do, I will appreciate these figures a tad bit more but as it stands, Play Along has done a great justice to helping the resurrection of the 3 3/4" scale figure. 

I'm just more focused imagining an awesome expansive world of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings action figures in a 3 3/4" scale.  Yes, I'd be even more broke but what joy it would bring.

I suppose I've gotten this far with the Narnia collection that unless the movie is a real stinker, I might as well keep it going.  I need some sort of fantasy film figure line to collect and this may as well be it for now.

-RH

I'll start with the Duke.  First and foremost, I am a Duke fan.  He represents the American hero and I always liked the original and I like the 25th Anniversary figure as well.  Whether we need so many Duke figure's however, is a different question.  This figure more or less represents the moment in the G.I.Joe movie introduction when Duke flies to the top of the Statue of Liberty with flag in hand.  It is a straight repaint of the original 25th figure and very little changes have been made.  It's the accessories that make the difference.  It is a fun variation but with that said, somewhat unnecessary and personally, I think they are throwing these Duke's in to start familiarizing kids with the future star of the future movie.  One thing worth noting is he does have a grey stand and a hole to place the flag.  Why the color change? beats me but I like the hole for the flag.

Moving on to Wild Bill; I can't say I was ever a big fan of the original even though he came with the second coolest vehicle in the G.I.Joe universe.  Hasbro pulled this figure off beautifully.  If you are a Wild Bill fan, you will not be disappointed.  He looks like a true Texan and the colors used are spot on perfect.  Wild Bill includes two Colts and a removable hat and that is all he needs to kick some Cobra butt!

Spirit Iron-knife was difficult for me because his original figure was one of my very favorites.  Therefore, I want perfection and he came up a little short.  Most of the damage is in the face.  He has very Native American features.  However, I think it's his thick eyebrows that kind of make him look a little off.  Other than that, he comes with amazing accessories and his faithful eagle. 

On the the Cobra side of things, the Viper is almost perfect.  This is going to make a lot of army builders very happy.  He stays true to the original design and his goggles are going to become very expensive in about 15 years from now when all the kids have lost them.  The only downfall of this figure are his wrists are bent in a specific position to hold the gun a certain way.  This was a bad idea and I'm sure will be altered in many army builder packs to come.

Finally, the H.I.S.S. Driver.  A figure I never expected to see in such an early assortment but I am very glad Hasbro made him.  He is like Wild Bill, perfection.  I have no complaints.  He represents the original very well and only includes a handgun. 

All in all Series seven is very satisfying and I hope Hasbro continues.  If they continue making figures like this, we can at least have another year before the movie comes out where G.I.Joe will almost certainly jump the Shark.

-RH

I, as a huge music fan haven't really bought into the music figures accept the Yellow Submarine Beatles but those are in a different category as they are colorful and cartoony.  Don't get me wrong, I like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison & Kurt Cobain just fine (I'll certainly skip over Jon Bon Jovi though) but I just never gravitated towards them.  Perhaps it's because these artists took themselves too seriously and therefore the figures seem like idol worship but with Joey Ramone, the father of punk rock, he was sort of goofy and cartoony in his own right.  He was tall and lanky and appeared in the cult classic film, Rock n' Roll High School.

Neca sculpted this figure beautifully and very accurate in detail down from his, leather jacket,  ripped jeans and shoes. 

To my surprise there is even a little bit of articulation in his wrists, arms and elbows.  I truly appreciate this "nerd Hummel" and will display it proudly as it does not come off as idol worship to me: just a lanky guy who wrote catchy 2 minute pop/punk tunes.

I don't expect to collect many of these musician figures primarily because they probably wouldn't make too many artist I respect enough that are worth having.  Perhaps if they did a Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie or Bob Dylan then I may be in but as of now, I'm happy with my Joey.

Gabba Gabba Hey!

-RH

Doc made the perfect candidate for a mail-away exclusive.  Perhaps the fact that he is "dead" according to the comic book and a core character that fans would actually want.  As a child, I remember forcing my little brother who wasn't so much into G.I.Joe to buy DOC.  Of course, it was really for me.  Nevertheless...

What make this mail-away even more unique is it comes carded and in a plastic case.  Therefore, carded collectors get to have the figure displayed on the beautiful art of the card.  I made sure to order a few as I collect this particular toy line both loose and carded.

The figure itself, like the rest of the 25th Anniversary series is an excellent homage.  No shortcuts where taken.  The beige color of his uniform work perfectly along with the helmet.  Hasbro also included his signature green sunglasses.  The only minor flaw is without his helmet, his head is a tad too small.

His accessories are impressive.  Yes, he comes with that doodad that the original figure came with but he also comes with a small silver gun that fits nicely in his leg holster.  What impresses me the most is the detail on the stretcher.  Hasbro took the effort to add paint applications to.

Also, worth noting that Doc includes the new style stand with two feet pegs to insure him standing straight like a good soldier should.

If you haven't ordered this wonderful addition to the G.I.Joe collection, there may still be time but it is a must have for any RAH collector!

-RH

When this "nerd Hummel" was released, I wanted to get it.  However, whatever was going on in my life at that time did not allow it.  In many cases, these figures end up ignored and forgotten about and never revisited.  However, as I was thinking of an old friend I felt it was my responsibility to follow through on getting this figure.  This old friend that I unfortunately don't have contact with these days would nerdout about Phantasm for hours and how scary and iconic the tall man was to him and if they ever made an action figure of him, he would buy it without thought.  I only assume he owns this toy but it's been a good seven to nine years since those days.  Anyways, he introduced me to all the Phantasm series accept number 2 which I had seen on my own.  He would watch these movies with me and express his love for the writer/directors continuity (accept number 2).  I learned to appreciate the series on my own.  Not nearly at his level but I too felt a Tall Man figure needed to be made.

So, I had a couple extra bucks and got a good price and about a year later I finally got him and although I am happy to own this true cult character, I cannot say I am incredibly satisfied.

For all who read my reviews, you already know how I feel about Nerd Hummel's".  They really aren't for me.  However, in the same instance how much play value can an old man have?

The sculpt is not bad.  It is definitely a tall figure and resembles the actor.  However, the paint job is so bad that it almost renders him unidentifiable.  A very big disappointment. The bad paint is really only on the face because the rest of the figure is rather clean even on his wonderful accessory, the evil minion.

Accessories really are the high point of this figure.  As I said, the Tall Man comes with his Jawa look-a-like minion and his stand features the silver Portal beams and of course he would not be complete without his sphere.

The Tall Man does have a slight problem standing on the base as he tends to lean forward quite a bit.  It perhaps has to either do with his height or the flexible plastic used.

This isn't the Tall Man that my friend and I stayed up late nights imagining.  However, it is satisfactory for what it is.  Perhaps better paint applications on the face and head and I could be more kind.

-RH

So, if I already reviewed these figures then what am I here reviewing?  Well, to my surprise their was a highly unadvertised exclusive Flash Gordon figure offered at the Adventurecon convention in Tennessee on June 13th-15th. Nope, I've never heard of it either.  Thankfully some of my friends brought this exclusive to my attention because very little publicity surrounded this limited run variation.  There were only 850 of this figure produced and best of all, for free Flash Gordon himself, Sam J. Jones autographed the figures.  So of course I ordered two.

This may be more a spotlight then a review seeing that there are very little difference to the figure itself.  The primary difference is the added lightning bolt to his tank top and he is accessorized with a laser gun instead of a sword.

I admit, it was very difficult opening this figure but no worries cause the one I opened packaging was a bit crushed.

I think BifBangPow! has done a wonderful job with this figure.  They really resemble DC Directs Alex Ross figures but I suppose that makes sense since he had a lot to do  with the process of these figures.

I am very happy to have this very limited figure even f the difference is very subtle.  It really blows my mind how limited these figures are.  Now there are only 848 figures because I certainly have no interest in parting with either of mine and now that I have them I would be slightly disappointed if they re-released them somehow.  Not because I don't want others to have the chance to enjoy them but because I opened an autographed figure.  Nevertheless, I will save the autographed packaging.

-RH

This assortment of deluxe figures which either contain a set of two figures or a figure and a play set or vehicle.  For your money these are probably the better value and probably the best way to introduce children to the world of Indiana Jones. 

Four of the seven sets feature good ol' Indie.  You've got Indiana with horse, Indiana with Ark, Indiana with Temple Pitfall and Indiana with Temple Trap. For play value, the last two are the one's I recommend for a kid.  Each set features a well sculpted Indiana Jones in his classic fatigues and a play set with an action feature.

The other two Indiecentric sets are more for collectors and to my liking.  Indiana Jones with Ark is great as he dons his white robes.  However, I'm not so sure this needed to be a deluxe set as it only comes with the Ark that isn't that big.  The other one is a classic set of Indiana Jones with horse.  I was actually quite surprised by how detailed the horse was.  I guess I still think back to the one Kenner used for the vintage line and reused for any other toy line they produced that needed horses.

The least desirable set for me is Marion Ravenwood and Cairo swordsman.  The Cairo Swordsman is a great new figure but the Marion is exactly the same as the single packed figures.  Which makes me wish the single packed figures would have been Marion in that awful fluffy dress.

For troop builders there is a nice set of German soldiers.  Both these figures are basically just repaints but still a nice value set.

The final set and perhaps the best is the German soldier with Motorcycle. Not only is the motorcycle well done and full of detail but so is the figure which also includes two guns and a removable helmet.

Hasbro is definitely milking Indiana Jones for all they can and by the end of the run, I'm not going to want to see another figure of Indiana Jones himself but the deluxe figures ae a great value with fair play value.

NOTE: The deluxe figures do not include the mail away stickers for the exclusive figure.  I was rather disappointed by that but a great value nevertheless.

-RH

Snake Eyes version 4 in the original series was Snake Eyes V3 and it was highly underrated.  I am not sure why.  Perhaps, it had big shoes to fill following Snake Eyes V2 (arguably the most popular of the Snake Eyes uniforms).  I remember first seeing the original at a Service Merchandise.  This was a little after I stopped collecting Joes but I bought it anyways cause after all, it is Snake-Eyes.

Hasbro has updated this figure in a way I never thought possible.  It is pure perfection.  It is the perfect homage to the original with updated sculpting and articulation and best yet, the swords on his chest are now removable.  I was concerned how they would approach this because it could have looked rather bulky but they pulled it off.

He comes with virtually the same accessories as the original but this time he comes with a night vision scope which is a nice touch.

Another change that has been made with the overall line is the stands have two pegs to better stand the figures.  This was a smart choice on Hasbro's part.  Now if I could only get my hands on some of those for some of the figures I've already purchased like Gung-Ho and Roadblock.

I think one of the aspects of this figure that makes it look so brilliant is that his primary color is black and not a Smokey grey like the V2 figure.  I feel the dark black and the silver just mix very well together and wish Hasbro would go back and release Snake eyes V2 in black. 

If Snake Eyes V4 is a sign of what to expect from the rest of Wave 7, then I am in for a real treat.  It's just too bad that this great road G.I.Joe has been traveling will all end when the poor excuse for a movie is released and Hasbro puts all their resources in what looks to be an abomination that they may not be able to bounce back from.

-RH

I want to say first of all that I don't remember a toy line that released such a large assortment of action figures at one time since the hay day of Star Wars and G.I.Joe.  In total (not including the Deluxe figures) there were sixteen individually carded figures.  It was great fun yet a bit of damage on the credit card.

It is very obvious that these figures were produced by the team that brings you the Hasbro Star Wars figures.  They are identical in sculpt, articulation, plastic and accessories.  This is by no means a bad thing.  I actually imagined if anyone ever did a series of Indiana Jones toys they would look like these.

Starting with the eight different Raiders of the Lost Ark figures, these are all familiar faces.  As we've all seen the movie (if you haven't then know your life is not quite complete and won't be unless you go out and see it ASAP). 

As I said, these figures fit right in with the Star Wars figures accept without all the Sci-fi elements.  I have waited a long time for a series like this and I think Hasbro did it justice.  Each figure is well sculpted and fairly well articulated.  each figure comes with the appropriate accessories and not too much more.

However this line is not perfect.  There are some paint issues.  So, choose your figures wisely.  My other major complaint is the figures are made with a soft plastic and this can cause some problems with holding some of the accessories.

Each figure comes with an inventive bonus item, a little cardboard box that looks like a top secret crate.  Inside each one includes a non-figure scaled artifact plus a sticker but this isn't just any sticker to be used to put on your Trapper Keeper.  No, these are to be used to send away for an exclusive figure from the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! 

Speaking of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, eight figures from the new movie were also released today.  Each figure contains the same qualities as the Raiders of the Lost Ark figures accept other then Indy, none of these other characters are familiar to me (yet).

This is a great start to a potentially great collection.  I look forward to seeing figures from the other movies especially Short Round from the Temple of Doom.  However, I hope Hasbro Toys knows when enough is enough.  If they plan on carrying this line on for too long they will loose me.  The last thing I want to see is a hundred figure collection featuring the most minor characters.  This isn't Star wars.  I don't need a figure of some guy standing in a background shot. 

-RH

I have always been a fan of robot styled toys which Eon Kid fits in perfectly.  The style is a little too modern Anime for me but overall the character designs are interesting. 

Gaff is perhaps the coolest looking of the good guys as he slightly resembles Ultra-Man.  He is well sculpted and looks to be great fun.  However, what I discovered is he lacks all the articulation that he deceptively appears to have in favor of a "Sword Slashing" action feature.  This is rather disappointing for me as I would have much preferred a fully articulated action figure over the action feature.  However, if I was a child the squeeze leg action would provide a good amount of fun. 

The paint job is very clean as expected from Playmates Toys but the plastic is very glossy just like most other Playmates products.  I prefer dull coat figures with the occasional gloss paint when needed. 

This is a nice looking set of figures that will most likely disappear from toy shelves fairly quickly with no intention of returning.  I almost wish perhaps a different figure I bought was already opened instead because some of the other characters look great such as: Scar and Steeljaw Jack. 

For a kids toy line this is probably more in line with what they would want but for this collector I wanted more articulation and less action feature.

-RH

With the first Series of the Movie Masters Series', Mattel has given us three very fine figures.  Finally a movie Batman that is worthy of my collection. 

The sculpt is well done and full of detail.  The different textures and tones of black work perfectly.  My only issue is I don't like the how the mask looks around the face but I think that has more to do with the costume design then the actual sculpt.

Up next is the Joker.  Heath Ledger tragically died before the movie's release but if it means anything, he was immortalized in plastic in a respectful way.  This figure is genuinely scary and I'm glad that Mattel did not change his movie look in order to detract frightened consumers (that's what the kid friendly line is for).  The Joker is well detailed and articulated just as Batman.  However, with so many vibrant paint applications, some can get sloppy.  Therefore, take a look at a few different figures if you have the option.

Finally, to round out the set is the Gotham City Thug, sure to be the peg warmer.  Just like the other two figures, the Four Horsemen sculpted him beautifully.  He is also terrifying especially if you are like many people who find clowns frightening. 

The only aspect of this line that loses points with me is the accessory department.  The only accessories these figures come with are either a miniature head of the particular character or the Joker card.  If you thought those are useless, they also come with an empty "evidence bag.  I think they could have left these silly and unnecessary accessories out and saved me a buck on the retail price.

It will be interesting to see if Mattel and the "Four Horsemen" go back and revisit some of the other Batman movies.  I wouldn't mind seeing a Scarecrow, Michael Keaton Batman and Jack Nicholson Joker but please for everyone's sake, avoid Mr. Freeze, Robin and the Riddler. 

-RH

To my surprise, the box for the Walker Gallia is rather large.  When I opened it I realized that half of it was the die-cast figure and the other half was the model kit.

I'll start with the robot.  The quality like the other SOC figures is top notch.  Bandai Japan in my opinion makes the highest quality robots for their SOC line.  There is no fear of paint scratches and the detail is remarkable.  The small detailed pieces would never pass US child safety inspections. 

The transformation from two unique vehicles: a motorcycle of sort and a UFO type jet are neat and easy to form the robot.  I'm not a hundred percent sure I have the vehicle modes exactly right but they look like what's shown in the pictures.  They are a bit simple looking but remember these were designed in the 1970's.   All the joints are smooth and the robot contains plenty of articulation.  I actually prefer the robot mode of the Gallia to the Xabungle.  It looks more war ready.  Perhaps, it is due to the plethora of accessories expected when purchasing an SOC robot.  Actually, it isn't so much that the Gallia has more weapons it's that the robot has more girth.

The model kit is great fun and is much better then the one that accompanied the first Xabungle release.  This time, you get a rather large vehicle of sort with some pre-painted finishes.  It wasn't incredibly difficult to build but has many small parts which means a good hour of fun putting it together.  You also have to build the sled that holds all of the Gallia's accessories.  It also has some nice colored plastic to make it look more like a toy then a model kit.

The final product of the combined robot and model make for an excellent companion piece for the original Xabungle robot.  To be honest, it looks equally as good on it's own. 

If you can find this item for around $45.00 shipped, I think it is a great bargain for any die-cast robot collector even if you're like me and know nothing about the series that inspired the toy (I hate calling this a toy because it is beyond that).

-RH

For Andy

For a long time, you couldn't get a DC superhero action figure at retail without it being part of a Batman or Superhero line.  I don't know why Mattel (holder of the DC character license) was withholding the DC Catalogue up until recently (probably due to their profiting from DC Direct action figures).  Thankfully, they've opened the vault.

In order to express my love for the DC Universe series of figures, I have to give many thanks to Toybiz" Marvel Legends.  Without that line Mattel & designers: the Four Horseman could not perfect this line or probably would not have come up with the ingenious build-a figure concept.

DC Universe Series one was a great introduction to the line but it the characters used were not quite the most exciting choices and their were some paint issues.  Thankfully series two not only fixed most of the paint problem but most of the entire wave contains fantastic characters!

The most lackluster for me is the Superman Red or Blue.  I think the figure is well executed but the desire to own them really isn't there.  Also, the Harley Quinn (a fan favorite) is also great looking but something always bothered me about the fact that she was a character created for a cartoon.  Why? I have no idea.

The standouts are definitely Black Manta, Firestorm and the incredible Aquaman.  Aquaman in theory is silly but the sculpting and colors are so great that it's hard to not appreciate it.  Black Manta has the perfect body for costomizers out there and Firestorm has been strangely one of my favorite characters since he first appeared on the Super Powers cartoon.

Now we get to the big guy!  Gorilla Grodd, the build-a-figure is amazing!  He looks like an ape and the sculpt could easily be used for a series for National Geographic authentic animal figure series.  He does lack the chest, waist and knee articulation but that does not affect my opinion on this brilliant bonus figure one bit!

Marvel Legends may have started the trend of super articulated six inch superhero action figures but it's Mattel's DC Universe line that has perfected it!  I just can't wait till series three's Green Lantern!

-RH

The sculpting is beautiful as expected from McFarlane Toys.  It looks as close to the real thing as you can get. 

The paint job is also superior to many other toy lines out there.  Especially take note to the fade on his jeans. It looks like it could be a 3-d photograph and to be honest that's really all it is.  As I said it has no articulation.  Therefore no play value.  It just looks nice sitting on a shelf.

Sawyer comes on a large display base of the raft he helped build.  As I said, it is rather large but this is where the sound chip and batteries go.  Mine either had dead batteries or none at all and personally, I did not really have any interest in unscrewing the battery cover to hear the quotes from the movie.

This is a great looking little inexpensive statue but as I've said over and over, to classify these and other numerous McFarlane Toys as action figures is heresy. With the Halo 3 figures McFarlane toys have proven they can provide well sculpted toys and good articulation without compromising the sculpt and other then their Sports Picks figures, I hope they add articulation to the rest of their products.

I don't expect to buy the rest of the Lost figures.  However, again at the great price I got this at, I figured I needed one to represent and who better then Sawyer?

-RH

The last series I can remember were Sideshows well sculpted giant action figures that went beyond the core six.  They were great sculpts but incredibly large, heavy & fragile.  In my mind nothing will beat Remco's glow in the dark series of 3 3/4 inch figures from the 1980's.  They were excellently sculpted and the glow in the dark feature was so awesome and new for the time.  Through that series I grew to love the Creature from the Black Lagoon.  Perhaps it was due to his bio-glow color or the fact he was the most monstrous looking.

This time around and out of nowhere,  toy company Toy Island, mostly known for poor quality toys has gotten a hold of the license for these classic monsters.  Toy Island decided to follow the recent trend of "Marvel Legend" style action figures, meaning about 6 to 7 inches tall and featuring many points of articulation.

The sculpt is fairly well done.  I think the head looks a little goofy but otherwise it captures the character just fine. 

The articulation isn't quite Marvel Legends status but he has nice ball jointed hips, rotating shoulders, wrist, knee and ankle articulation.  So, there is enough play value there.  I wish his head could be moved up and down for some nice swimming poses but it may have really compromised the sculpt.

The paint job is perhaps the highlight of the action figure.  There is a nice dry brush technique used to bring out the details.

The only accessory the Creature comes with is a stand and I like it that way.  I think Sideshow Toys over did it with their release of the Creature.

I should also mention that Toy Island really followed Marvel Legends lead by including a Frankenstein monster build-a-figure. Judging by the parts each figure came with, it looks as if the same attention to detail was put into the large bonus figure.  Personally, I don't really get the purpose of a 14" Frankenstein monster but you can't complain about a bonus figure. 

I'll still take the Remco series any day but for Toy Island to come out of nowhere with this pretty nice set of the Classic Universal Monsters action figures was a pleasant surprise.  Perhaps, Toy Island could follow this series up with another toy line and step it up a notch or two.

-RH

Starting with Duke, it is the same figure we've all seen before but this time he wears an unusual pastel green shirt.  Perhaps, Hasbro had Spring time in the air when choosing his colors. 

The Hawk figure is rather nice.  There are some nice touches on this figure such as, the hawk logo on the helmet and the American flag on his left shoulder.  He also now is wearing Duke's button up shirt.  He is a nice tone of green and looks like a General on the battlefield.  His only flaw is I can't seem to get his pistol to stay in his hand very well and that is rather frustrating. 

Grunt, A needed figure in the G.I.Joe collection is the new figure (using recycled parts)  I'm not sure why he is included in a "Senior ranking Officer" set seeing he is at the lowest end of the totem pole but, Hey!  We got a grunt figure!  He is fairly nice.  I like the stubble and looks similar to the original Grunt figure.  However, my biggest problem is his green uniform is a bit too light.  It should be a darker tone like the Hawk figure.  The lighter green they used would better match a character such as, Zap.

Even though I don't have the red figure set in this exclusive series, I feel pretty confident in saying this is the set to get if any but I've always been more of a Joe fan over the Cobra's plus, I am not an army builder and don't expect to be but the way Hasbro's pumping out these troopers, I may be forced into it regardless.

-RH

When word got around that Neca Entertainment got the rights to do a series of turtle's as they appeared in the original comic book, I knew I'd have to at least get Raphael.

After almost twenty years of the TMNT license, Playmates produced some nice figures but who'd a thought Neca would be the company to produce the best turtle figures? 

Raphael is everything a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle should be.  He is incredibly well sculpted as if he jumped out of the pages of Eastman & Laird's original comic book, very well articulated (even more so then any past Playmates figure) and the paint job is highly detailed!  On top of these great features, he comes with his signature weapons and other neat accessories including, a cool base stand of a street and when connected to the other three turtles, you have a complete scene!

I love the facial expressions on Raphael.  Neca really captured his more angry expression and from what I can tell from pictures of the other figures, they also have expressions to match their character. 

I also want to mention my surprise with the durability of this figure.  I usually don't have much faith in Neca when it comes to the plastic Neca Entertainment uses.  I also commend them for the use of articulation.  It proves that they could do away with the "Nerd Hummel's" altogether and just make good ol'  articulated action figures.

I had no intention of buying the rest of the turtles but I like this one so much, I am very much thinking about it.  Kudos Neca!

-RH

Before I go into the comparison, I want to say, I'm happy that Hasbro wants to improve their products.  However, when it comes to a forty dollar toy, I really would rather they get it right the first time cause I've now virtually paid eighty dollars for the same mold of a toy.  Now with all that said...

The Premium edition Leader Class Optimus Prime is naturally superior then the first version of the Leader Class Prime.  It has a newly sculpted head that better resembles the movie design and a cool flip around blade instead of the original flip around gun.  What really makes the difference though is all in robot mode.  Most of the grey plastic has been painted silver.  This really does improve the figure ten fold.  It allows the robot to truly shine.  Most of the silver painting is in the legs.  For some reason Hasbro skipped out on painting the arms and hands silver. 

There are also minor paint changes on the Premium edition including on, the shoulders and the legs.

As far as the truck mode goes, I really could not find any differences..  If there are any they are minor.

Yes, the silver paint and new head added to this figure makes it even better but it is still the same fun toy and is only really worthy of shelling out the extra cash to buy if you are an Optimus Prime freak like me or you want a more authentic reproduction of the leader of the Autobots but wait!  Don't go out and buy this just yet because surprise, surprise!  Japanese sister company, Takara Tomy are doing their own Premium edition and from the pictures I have seen, it blows this one out of the water.  If I had known this before hand, I may have waited for the Takara Tomy version.  However, expect to pay maybe even double the US price to have it imported and I haven't seen enough pictures to determine whether it will be worth eighty dollars.  I for one am going to skip out on it.  Two is enough for me. 

Either version, this is a wonderful toy.  If you just enjoy the play value and already have the first version, you may want to ignore the Premium Edition but if you have the extra cash and want the shiny silver legs and new head then go for it! 

-RH

As a kid, I walked into a local mid-Western drug store chain and looked at the generic brand toys and this one car called out my name.  It was the Dome Zero or Dome-0.  I thought this was the coolest looking car.  Even sleeker then the ever popular Lamborghini Countach!  On the bottom of the car it said Dome-0 and that was how I know what it was but for some reason I thought the zero was an "O".  Therefore up until recently, I called it a Dome-O.

As a kid I found one other die-cast Dome-0 toy but it was soon forgotten up until about a month ago.  With a little extra time (a rarity these days), I decided to do some research on the car and that is how I primarily found out what it was truly called.  Before I review this toy I will give you a little background on the car taken straight from an insert in the package.  "A prototype sports car, exhibited at Salon de Genève 1978.  Designed and built by Dome directed by Minoru Hayashi.  Countach-inspired body with swing-up doors is made by prastic.  Midship mounted 2.8 six is from Fairlady Z.  Their dream of small production was not fulfilled".

This small 1/43 scaled reproduction is amazing!  It is smaller then the pictures conveyed but the detail is all there.  The doors and headlights both open and the paint job is beautiful. It has rubber wheels and many small separate pieces.  This is most likely the nicest Done Zero I will ever get a chance to own.  The only thing I'm not crazy about is it is screwed into the base.  Not that it is difficult to remove but...

Now for the second interesting fact that I just recently found out that even most Transformers geeks don't know that make this review even more relevant to this site is the Dome-Zero was the inspiration for Autobot Hot Rod's car mode.  Finding this out made me appreciate both the car and Hot Rod even more.

I don't collect Die-cast cars (unless they turn into robots) but every once in awhile I'll pick one up if it looks cool or unusual or is movie related but when it comes to the Dome-Zero, I will buy every different version and color I can find.  They are out they're but boy, are they hard to find.

-RH

Swerve is a completely new mold.  No, it does not borrow parts from any other known Transformer.  It looks great in Automobile mode.  It looks exactly like the Aveo.  I have always preferred Transformers based on real automobiles.

The transformation is as unique as the toy.  It was not especially difficult but like most Transformers, the first time always takes an extra minute or two. 

The robot mode is rather fantastic and it is due to the figures head.  It is very unique and gives this figure it's own personality.  I also like that the figure is very symmetrical.  Swerve fits in perfectly with the "Classics" line. 

Swerve naturally does not come with any weapons.  The paint applications are limited as well.  However, the figure is well articulated. 

It still amazes me that Hasbro made a perfectly good toy as an exclusive for Chevy.  I have recently heard that they will be offered through Japan's E-Hobby for about a hundred dollars.  Is he worth it?  It depends on your level of desire .  He is small and simple but very unique and as long as he does not get a U.S. release, he will stay that way.

I still am not sure how much I paid for this figure with shipping and everything but I'm glad I have him.  I now wish he was to scale to Alternators but he still looks great on his own or with the rest of the Transformers: Classics figures and future Universe line.

-RH

Play Along toys are known for their wonderful series of miniature Lord of the Rings figures and play sets that failed at retail but they are back to try again. 

The Prince Caspian was my first choice of purchase just because he appears to be the primary hero but he certainly wasn't the coolest looking figure.  This figure's sculpt is mediocre.  No where near the wonderful and under appreciated Golden Compass figures by Popco Entertainment. 

Prince Caspian's head looks a little on the large side and he looks much older then the actor who plays him.  The figures actually resemble Zizzle Toys' Pirates of the Caribbean series in plastic and articulation.  This is not necessarily a bad thing but I always felt this plastic is too flexible.

Prince Caspian is well accessorized with a cape, strapped bag, horn and sword.  He has an "action feature".  When you rotate his body he is ready for sword slashing action!  It is unobtrusive to the figure but does not add anything to the value of the product either.

This isn't a bad figure and if the movie is good, I may complete the already large collection of 3 3/4" figures even at the slightly inflated price.  If the movie bores me like the first one, then I will save a great deal of money.  I'm actually hoping for the later. 

Some of the cooler looking figures were, King Miraz, Final Battle Peter Pevenste, Tyrus & Telemarine Soldier.  The Centaur was actually the one I should have bought as he looked awesome but he was a deluxe and I wasn't prepared to invest twelve dollars into this series just yet.

I am happy more toy companies are going back to the practical 3 3/4" scale and this figure is mediocre but as I said if the movie is good, expect me to have more praise in future reviews of these figures.

-RH

I always liked the way the character, the Darkness looked.  He does epitomize the "90's look" but I still thought he looked vicious and mysterious.  I never once read any of his comic books so I have no idea about his story.  Years ago, now defunct indie toy company, MAC Toys made a nice looking Darkness toy and I was tempted to buy it but my past experience with MAC Toys was not very favorable.  I bought a Purgatory figure and the brittle plastic snapped in many places within hours of opening it and it's not as if I throw my toys around.  So, I stopped supporting them. 

The Marvel Toys Darkness is as cool as it gets.  To sum it up, it's like all the other Marvel Legends toys.  It is well sculpted, well articulated and comes with two cool little demon figures.  Of course, like the rest of Marvel Legends, some of the paint applications can be sloppy.  So be careful and choosey if you can.

With Sin Cit's Marv, he has had a few action figures but none with as much articulation as this one.  McFarlane Toys came out with a nicely sculpted static figure and Neca did the same with the popular Sin City film.  Both were great but neither were action figures.

Again, Marvel Toys brings a Marvel Legends style Marv that not only is well articulated but looks great!  The only problems is, he could use a gun and his trench coat is permanently closed limiting the use of the articulation without breaking the coat.

Both figures have articulated fingers!  This amazes me that each finger is articulated without looking oversized!

Marvel Toys' Legendary Comic Superheroes have sadly come to an end.  They are great figures with the potential of seeing so many of my favorite independent comic book characters.  Hopefully Shocker toys will pick things up where Marvel Toys left off with their series of independent comic book character action figures.  I guess time will only tell.

-RH

What we have here first is Crankcase.  This figure captures the original nicely.  The colors match and other then the edition of the strip beard, he looks as good as can be expected.  His face is rather ugly but not all of us can be beautiful.  However, I was rather disappointed that he did not come with a gun.  He does come with a removable helmet and a knife (only cause they recycled the legs of a Cobra Trooper.

Grand slam works perfectly as he was virtually just a repaint of Flash anyways but I like that the army green color is darker and the silver really stands out.  As far as the head, it is the same as Flash's with darker hair.  He includes his signature helmet and visor.

The big disappointment with these figures is neither of them come with personalized stands nor any stand for that matter.  Thankfully, I may have a few extra lying around but Hasbro needs to keep that aspect of the line consistent.  I like the stands and hope they don't get rid of them or change them.  Hasbro needs to keep it real and stick with what they started which was a good thing.

Had I paid ten bucks per figure and had a vehicle I could mess around with a little bit, I would be much more enthusiastic about these mere repaints but I'm still in shock of how ripped off I was.  However, I have no one to blame but myself for not doing my research.

-RH

I don't know what it is with Hasbro toys and six inch figures.  They just can't get them right.  The sculpt itself is not horrible but the plastic is the same cheap looking unpainted plastic used for the Transformers movie figures.  Perhaps, it's not the plastic but the lack of paint applications.  There are some lost opportunities here for some great washes and makes me wonder what this would have looked like had Toybiz retained the license.

There are plenty of points of articulation but most of them are useless due to the clunky design of the Mark 01.  Maybe this isn't Hasbro's problem but I think with a little more thought and ingenuity, they could have found a way to trouble shoot this problem.

Unfortunately, there isn't much more to say about this huge disappointment of a "toy".  It just gets to me when the leader of boys action figures still just don't get it when it comes to making superhero toys.  At ten bucks retail, there is no reason some rusty washes couldn't have been applied or some of the articulation could have been better thought out.

I know I seem to continuously be hard on Hasbro for their Marvel action figures but I have to tell it how it is for those who read my reviews.  I'm not saying don't by this figure because you may love it but I am just giving my opinion.  You are better off spending your money on Mattel's terrific DC Universe line.

Well, I may be rough when it comes to Hasbro's Marvel lines but I certainly make up for it when I review their G.I.Joe's and Transformers.  I guess you can't get everything right.

-RH

Two years after the release of the Classics series in the U.S., Takara finally decided to release this wonderful series and as expected raised the bar especially with the Megatron figure.  In America he was released with bright orange, purple and any other shiny colors Hasbro could throw in.  Takara toned down the colors to better resemble the Megatron we all know and love (or hate).  In theory, he would have been the obvious choice for me to purchase because of the extreme differences but Optimus Prime is my man and when I saw some side by side photos of the two versions, I decided it was worth the exorbitant price to import this figure I technically already own.

I'm not going to get into the sculpt or transformation because I did this already but for those that don't want to go back and read it, they are well sculpted and have fun transformations.

So, what sets these figures apart?  The paint applications.  As I said earlier, Hasbro takes many short cuts that Takara does not.  A big example of that is the silver pained legs on the Henkei version as apposed to the dull grey plastic of the American Classics counterpart.  Other noteworthy differences in paint are the toned down yellow on the Henkei version.  It really makes this Optimus Prime feel more classic.

On top of all this, Takara added chromed parts to each figure in the Henkei series.  Chrome really does add a certain level of realism.  It helps the figure or vehicle pop!.  Optimus Primes chrome is on the grill of the truck. 

Part of me wishes I would just wait for all of Takara's versions of the American toys Hasbro makes but along with the greater quality comes a heftier price tag.  The higher price is worth it if you can afford it but as the economy goes, the average hard working American does not have the extra money to spend double the price of a toy plus it is very hard to wait as most Takara releases are a good year after they've been on toy shelves.  The temptation is nearly impossible. 

I have committed myself to Binaltech's  and will continue to buy each and every one of those (thankfully, they've started those up again) and may pick up a few more of the Henkei figures like Mirage for his chromed feet.

I find it rather confusing why such a large corporation that pushes much more product then Takara on the small Japanese island, can't follow their example and provide a slightly higher quality of paint applications to their extremely loyal following and don't forget the kids.  They aren't as stupid as you think.

-RH

After getting the Optimus Prime Revoltech figure, I was completely sold on these.  So much so that I was willing to pay the inflated price for a five inch action figure and get not only Megatron but the repaint of Optimus Prime into Ultra Magnus (which was more limited and expensive). 

I was happy to hear they were continuing to do more Transformers as these are the ultimate action figure versions of these famous robots (Action Masters have nothing on Revoltech)!  I was definitely set on getting Hot Rodimus but I can't say I'm a huge Starscream fan but how can I have them all without one of the most notorious Decepticons?  In the end, I'm happy I did.

Both figures are extremely well articulated and I love the clicking sound they make when you move certain joints (it never gets old). 

The paint applications on these five inch figures are clean and match up well with their respective character.  Surprisingly, I like Starscream's paint a little better.  Kaiyodo used a great ruby red that really makes this figure shine.

Both figures come with interchangeable hands and a cool stand that allows for some great poses.  Starscream naturally also includes Megatron in gun form and his signature missiles.  As for Hot Rodimus, he includes two very cool guns.

These really are great toys.  They aren't overly fragile and have tons of play value.  I would genuinely collect more of these guys if they were a little more cost affective.  They usually will run you $25 bucks each and that does not include shipping.  That is about ten to twelve dollars too expensive for what you get in my opinion.

Having said all that, I'm sure they will eventually do a Skywarp repaint out of Starscream and him being my favorite seeker, I'll want him and if I get him then I will feel obligated to get a Thundercracker if they make him.  Gosh, it can be very expensive to be OCD.

-RH 

When I first heard of the limited edition vinyl statues produced by MINDstyle in limited numbers for the San Diego Comic Con my stomach dropped and when I first saw pictures of these works of arts my stomach dropped even further and then when I heard how much they were retailing for, my stomach dropped till it was on the floor.  I contemplated and contemplated.  I had a friend who was going to the SDCC and could probably front the me the money but I just wasn't sure I was ready to drop over 200 dollars on anything accept the stack of bills starting to pile up.  Therefore, I sadly passed.

After the fact, I heard these were more like interpretations as opposed to authentic movie pieces.  So, I felt a little better about not having them even though every picture I saw looked like it was a direct design from the movie so...I was still sad I could not own these limited pieces but we can't have everything right?

Then I got a second chance.  Word got out pretty quickly that a limited number would be distributed to online stores and specialty retailers.  My financial situation really did not change but would it ever really?  Aren't we all going to be in some sort of debt the rest of our lives?  So, I went ahead and pre-ordered them.

As the UPS truck pulled up I was more then giddy to finally touch these pieces of art from one of my favorite childhood films.  I was in complete surprise by the size of the box.  It was huge!

I quickly opened the box to find some of the most beautiful packaging I have ever seen for a product of this kind.  The gold lettering, the photography, the colors and tones.  They were all so gorgeous.  Now if only the statues were equally amazing.

I opened the large Landstrider with Jen first seeing that was not only the more expensive of the two but the one I really wanted more and all I could say is wow!  This is without a doubt a work of art.

This is no toy.  There is no articulation and thankfully it does not appear to be incredibly fragile.  The detail and paint job is outstanding!  I never expected to ever see anything produced like this before in my life and can not be happier to own it.  I'd also like to mention that this is an extremely tall statue.  Just looking at it I'm guessing it stands 16" or so.

Now it was time to open the uRac.  The uRac or Mystic has all the beauty and detail as the Landstrider but in a much smaller scale (and cheaper price).  He actually comes with a removable staff as well.  Naturally, because of his size he isn't nearly as imposing as the Landstrider but he is equal in quality.

I'd like to mention, each statue comes with a keychain with a photo of the statue and a plastic credit card like card of authentication.

Both figures do (in my opinion) very much resemble what was on the film if not then at least the final sketches done by designer Brian Froud.

I haven't been transformed into a statue collector by any means.  However, when it comes to the Dark Crystal, I'd probably shell out more money if they continued to make these especially if they made a Skeksis.  However, I kinda hope they don't for my pocket books sake.

-RH

I should probably start by saying, no, these toys are not in stores yet.  I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a few.  So, don't go racing around from store to store looking for these until at least June.

The vehicle modes of both of these figures are quite nice.  Bumblebee looks very similar to the car design from the "Classics" series but a little more bubbly and cartoony but certainly fits with the animation of the show.  Hasbro Toys thankfully provided separate window pieces instead of painted plastic.  This line is definitely more kid focused but it's not Armada.

Starscream is naturally much cooler as a futuristic styled jet.  It does not necessarily look quite as cartoony as Bumblebee's car.  It fits with the tradition of Starscream's character.  However, he is more of a blue then a grey. 

Bumblebee's transformation was surprisingly confusing the first time around but after transforming him back and forth once, it all makes sense and is rather simple yet entertaining.  As for Starscream, he pretty much transforms himself.  Yes, he's that easy but I did have some minor problems getting him back to jet mode but again, once I figured it out once, it is very simple (maybe too simple).

The robot modes are where I'm a little torn.  I admit to having a preference for a more realistic style robot.  I am in fact a huge Alternators/Binaltech fan.  With that said, I also have an open mind.  Bumblebee looks like he does in the cartoon. whether that's a good thing or not, I'm not so sure.  He looks a bit too much like a "my first Transformer" type toy.  His head is unusually large and he carries a silly grin.  As for Starscream, he doesn't have quite as much of the same problem.  He is rather sleek and interesting until of course, you get to the head.  He has a chin that would put Jay Leno to shame and a smile/smirk that matches the cartoon. 

These are good toys and they will satisfy both collectors and kids alike.  I for one will stick with it for now due to my enjoyment of the show but personally this is not my preference of how I like my robots.  I'm not saying there isn't room for both but I will say I'm thankful it looks as if Takara will be continuing the Binaltech line (even if they are just repaints) and the magnificent Masterpiece series.

-RH

As an action figure and bike, these are both outstanding pieces.  The sculpting is well done, the colors are rich and it is chock full of articulation and the interchangeable heads and hands are a nice touch.

The transformation is where I totally switch gears on how I feel about these items (I'm not sure I can call them toys).  This five inch figure and motorcycle took well over an hour to get right and hold together properly.  This is the most fickle transforming product I've ever purchased.  Once you got one piece locked in another one came loose and that happens throughout the whole process.

Finally when I thought I had it right I decided to put him on the popular styled stands they come with that gives the appearance the toy is flying in action and that was a mess of its own.  The toy is so top heavy and the stand was cheaply constructed to not hold the weight.  A bad design on MegaHouse's part in my opinion and could/should have been easily re-engineered.

Once you get him on the stand in a pose you like, don't ever touch this toy again and you will be happier for it.  Trust me!

It's really quite sad because I look at this fully transformed armored cyclone and I see 100% awesome but this is no toy nor a model.  It is a beautiful mess.

I was so frustrated after finishing Stick's transformation, I decided to just leave Rand on his bike and he'll most likely stay that way.  I'm not sure I'm going to even attach all the additional parts he has for the bike mode.

This is a tough one cause no matter how many times I felt like throwing him against the wall, I look back at him behind the lit glass of the showcase and I see the coolest looking Cyclone in my collection.

I guess what I said earlier pretty much sums it up:  These are a beautiful mess.

-RH

With the Speed Racer movie coming out, there will be a lot of merchandise to go along with it:  Toy cars, action figures, accessories and what ever else Mattel can think of.  Mattel has put all Speed Racer products under the Hot Wheels brand name.

Before I start reviewing the actual product, I want to go in to the difficulty of purchasing one set of two action figures from a Toys R' US.  They had a huge end cap display of all the products with prices and everything.  When I got to the register, it rang up saying it could not be sold until 3-30.  I told them there was a whole display and to get a manager.  They gave me a hard time but I put up a fight over an item I was sort of impulse buying anyways but it was the principle.  I would not give up and they ended up giving in and sold me the item.

As I said there are many different products but the one's that interested me the most are the action figure two-packs that also feature a little vehicle.  I figured if I was going to test this line out, I would start with two of the main characters, Speed Racer & Racer X. 

The figures themselves really remind me of M.A.S.K. figures from the 1980's.  they are very similar in size and overall look.  They are slightly more articulated.  They have a little bit of side to side  shoulder articulation but similar to the Marvel Legends Showdown figures the limbs easily fall off.

There is nothing very exciting about these action figures.  Mattel are obviously putting the focus on the vehicles (as they should). 

I was surprised how much Racer X (even with mask) looks like Mathew Fox.  That is a nice touch.  Racer's helmet fits nicely and has a transparent visor.

What really makes this set worth the inflated price is the vehicle accessory.  It is basically a rolling wheel on a track.  It is actually quite fun to put the figure in and roll it around.

I'm not sure how this movie will turn out and I was hoping for a slightly nicer set of 3 3/4" figures (these are about 3 1/2").  If they go on clearance or I really get into the movie, I may complete this line of figures but otherwise these are just mediocre action figures made to help support the sale of race cars.

-RH

When I saw the Iron Man Mark 03 figure on the shelves, I had to check it out!  I am very much looking forward to this movie.  Iron-Man is not only one of my favorite Marvel comic book characters but the trailers for the movie look awesome!

Ten bucks retail is a buck too steep for a basic six inch action figure but I've excepted it as the standard.  So, there was no hesitation.

The sculpt of the Mark 03 is very well done.  It looks like what's been shown in the movie trailers.  I particularly like how they captured the helmet.  It gives Iron-Man a menacing look.

The high point of this figure though, is the paint job!  Hasbro used a great high gloss ruby red with a nice gold.  These vibrant colors really make this figure stand out. 

One of Hasbro's biggest problems translating their product from Toybiz' is articulation.  There is not nearly the same level of articulation as Toybiz' Marvel Legends.  However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  I think Toybiz perhaps overdid it sometimes but I think the Mark 03 is missing a few opportunities in the articulation department most notably in the feet.  There is a prime opportunity there.  There is even bolts painted on showing that there should be mobility there.

Iron-Man comes with a simple arm mounted missile launcher.  I'm not sure if this is an accessory used in the movie but it isn't too obtrusive to the figure.

I think the biggest problem with this figure are the moveable shoulder pads.  They tend to pop off every time his shoulders are moved. 

Hasbro is making some improvements with their Marvel products but I still find it strange that there is still something lacking from their Marvel products.  Hopefully they will get it right but right now I prefer Mattel's DC Universe action figures anyway.  Perhaps, Hasbro can take a look and see what they are doing so well.

-RH

In addition to these figures from this assortment, I also got the Plo Nudo & the Tri-Droid but really had nothing to add to these beyond the words I wrote above.

I'm going to start with the Commander Gree:  I suppose he is a pivotal Stormtrooper since he attempted the murder of Yoda (and failed miserably).  He also has a jungle like camo which sets him apart from some of the other Stormtroopers.  Other then that, one thing I have noticed is now that the face of all the clone troopers are revealed, Hasbro has made their Clone Troopers with removable helmets.  I suppose this is a nice addition.  However, I can't express how sick I am of seeing the same face over & over.

This is a great lead in to the Kashyyyk Trooper.  This is primarily a biker scout with jungle camouflage and a funny name but what I like about this figure so much is the flip up helmet to reveal that face I am so sick of seeing.  Nevertheless, it is a nice innovation. 

Finally we get to the 2-1B Medical Droid first seen in The Empire Strike Back.  He was always one of my favorite droids due to his transparent chest and light blue color.  This figure is well sculpted and articulated and almost a great figure.  Actually it's not the figure I have a problem with, it's the design.  Like most of the designs of the prequels, everything has a rounder shape as opposed to the sharper edges of the original Trilogy designs.  I especially find this a problem on the design of the hips and feet of the 2-1B droid.  It looks far too contemporary to be twenty years older then the one we saw in ESB.

One great trade off Hasbro has made is the useless yet nice looking coins for the stands that have an actual purpose.

I will end these reviews by saying: These are well sculpted figures with some nice features.  However, they are a buck or two over-priced in today's toy market and finally, I think the there is already an over saturation of Star wars merchandise on the shelf.  Yet, I keep buying more figures then I should.

-RH

The last full series (series 4) I ordered a box.  Therefore, my wife and I enjoyed opening 25 of these little suckers but as it goes, sometimes the timing financially is off and so I was only able to order four of the sub-series of French art inspired Dunnys.

Overall, judging by pictures on the package and on the internet, I like this series more so then series 4 but that's not to say I didn't enjoy Series four.

My biggest fear in ordering just four figures were the chance of getting doubles.  Sure, I could probably find someone to trade with but is it worth the work unless you got a double of a rare figure? 

Fortunately I got four different ones, and I like all of them and two of them happen to be harder to get figures. 

My favorite (without a doubt) is the transparent KOA Dunny.  It may be my favorite of all I own!  I love transparent toys!  I actually grabbed it out of my wives hands when I first saw it like a child would.  It was rude but just instinct I guess.

I wish I had more to share with you but I recommend going to Kidrobots website and ordering them before they are gone and knowing their previous series', that will be very soon.

-RH

There have been many ( I mean many!) Halo toys, statues and what not but nothing for actual play.  So it was an extreme surprise to hear that McFarlane had the license to Halo 3 and were making fully poseable action figures.

I have a love/hate relationship with McFarlane Toys.  They arguably changed the action figure market forever in both good and bad ways.  The good:  They forced companies to improve detail and paint applications.  The bad:  They also are responsible for "nerd Hummel's" and increased height of action figures.

With the Halo 3 Master Chief, we have a completely different toy from McFarlane Toys.  First, he is a smaller scale (about 5 inches) which is about perfect and second he is fully articulated.  Very much reminiscent of Organic Hobbies Revoltech series.

However, when you cut open the clam shell packaging you know it's a McFarlane toy simply by the smell.  It has that awful toxic plastic smell.  The plastic also has a sort of greasy feel to it. 

With all that said, I'm not sure you could ask for a better action figure of Master Chief.  McFarlane Toys has produced a fun, good looking action figure!

The paint jobs can be a bit varying. So, take a look at a few if you have the opportunity. 

The articulation is perfect and well hidden.  You can pose MC in various stances and  his rifle looks great in his hand or attached to his back or leg.

I think other then paint and the smell & feel of the plastic used, my only complaint is his waist looks a little wide but maybe it's just me.

If McFarlane toys used this formula more often on their toy lines, I would be so much more likely to buy them.  How much cooler would their military figure line be? Or Spawn for that matter?

I'm not sure I'll be buying many other figures from this series (accept I did buy the blue Spartan Soldier as an impulse) because how many of virtually the same figure in different colors do you need?  Perhaps if I was more of a video game junkie I would need them all.

-RH

Who would have thought that I could say anything negative about this series seeing I've giving it nothing but glowing reviews?  You'd think I was a Hasbro stooge but I think a couple of these sets have turned me away from being a completest of this series.  We'll get to that later.

Starting with Tomax & Xamot, they are certainly Cobra icons.  These twins could only really be told apart by a single scar. 

The overall sculpt of the body is well done and the way they added the waist articulation around the crimson strap is well done.  I am not totally in love with the facial sculpts.  They look a little thin.  Perhaps they modeled them after Hasbro employees like they did back in the old days. 

Most of the paint is well applied however, there are some minor "out of the lines" paint but nothing to get too upset about.  What bothers me is the skin tone is sort of that waxy looking plastic used on a lot of the Star Wars figures and some of the G.I.Joe lines from the early to mid 2000's.  It almost looks transparent.  It somewhat bothers me but not as much as the choice of colors of the guns.  Hasbro chose green for these guns!  Come on!  What a clash!  We have two figures both red blue, silver & black and they have green guns?  That's just bad planning!  Just stick with black or even silver would have done!

So, I like this set but I am a little worried that Hasbro is taking shortcuts with the Comics two packs and this mostly worries me because it has been announced that my favorite Joe (Lt. Falcon will be part of this line and if Hasbro messes that up, I may stop collecting them out of spite.  I know it's a bit drastic but when you are a passionate person you make a strong stance.

I opened Ace & Wild Weasel hoping they could restore some hope in the Comic 2-packs and thankfully they did.  I'll start with Wild Weasel because he is as good as could be expected.  No short cuts were taken here.  It is the exact opposite.  Hasbro even took an extra step of providing removable goggles that fit like a glove.  This is an overall great figure.

Ace is a tricky one.  I'm not an army buff and personally, I'm not sure what pilots of F-15 fighter jets would wear but I always figured something similar to the movie "Top Gun".  The original Ace (even though a great figure always looked like he was more prepared to shoot out into space and thus so does this version.

Ace from the 2-Pack isn't identical to the original but it is a good update and I am okay with the minor changes.  So, far he appears to be the only unarmed Joe.   Ace comes with no gun nor knife.

Now, very quickly, I did buy the other two sets featuring the Storm Shadow with 2 hoods and bright colored ninja weapons and the Snake Eyes with battle damage and fluorescent green grenade.  The other set was the Crimson Guard with removable helmet (which is a a rather nice figure down to the head sculpt) and yet another cobra soldier with hair painted on his bald head.   That is all I really want to say about those two sets.  I just hope that is not the future direction Hasbro plans on taking with G.I.Joe.

So, what we have here are some disappointment but overall satisfactory:  Other than Wild Weasel, this is the first time I've been less then gung-Ho (no pun intended) about some of the G.I.Joe 25th Anniversary figures.

-RH

Surprisingly Battle Armor Cobra Commander was part of the reason I started collecting G.I.Joe's when I was walking that thin line of whether it was okay to be playing with toys for a boy my age.  I remember being at a KB Toys and seeing him and Lt. Falcon and the two of them immediately connected with me.  Falcon, because he went back to the army roots of G.I.Joe and Cobra Commander perhaps for the exact opposite reason.

The 25th Anniversary Battle Armor Cobra Commander is much nicer then any picture of him I've ever seen (which tends to be the case). The design was made for this articulated style.  All the articulation is well hidden accept perhaps the chest but it still looks quite good.  The colors mesh perfectly and I love the contrast of the color of the belt.  Best of all is the removable helmet.  It fits like a glove!  I would also like to say it's nice to see Hasbro make new weapons instead of recycling the old which I found them getting in the habit of lately.  It's interesting, because they kept the unique style of the backpack but now it's twice the size.  It looks great!

Rock N' Roll, one of the remaining original 13 was never one of my favorites.  I just didn't think his blond beard matched his name.  I guess, I associated Rock N' Roll with long hair, etc. Nevertheless, other then the bullet straps along his chest and his large gun, the beard was the only thing that really set him apart from the other 13.  With the 25th Anniversary version, these are the same things that make this figure stand out.  It is a well done figure and provides everything this basic figure could provide.  I particularly like him better without his helmet.  I think the wonderful salon styled yellow hair differentiates him quite a bit from the other early Joe's.

I never had Torpedo as a child and I'm not sure why.  He had everything I liked in a Joe: He was a deep sea diver, had flippers and a cool harpoon gun and his black and grey colors meshed perfectly.

The updated version of Torpedo is definitely my favorite of the bunch.  They took a great figure and found ways to make him better without destroying the integrity of the original.  The oxygen tanks are now removable along with his goggles and breathing mask with wire that connects to the backpack.  He include a gun and knife in addition to his trademark harpoon gun.  Best of all is his flippers have holes in the bottom so he can be displayed on the stand with his flippers on.  This is such a simple concept that makes such a difference.  Torpedo is easily one of my favorite of the entire series.

Although a small assortment of only three figures, they are all winners and I would prefer it that way.  I look forward to seeing the future offerings of what I think is Hasbro's best toy line to date and this time I will not make any judgments without the figure in my hands.  Who am I kidding?  I'm still going to give my two cents but at least if I feel somewhat negative, I know there is hope Hasbro will prove me wrong.

-RH

I'm not saying this is going to be the "Power of the Force" of the 21st Century because the action figures never reached the impact Star Wars figures did.  Star Wars figures were a phenomenon!  

I suppose this is more of a farewell to the series more then a genuine review of Lord Beckett himself.  Since he generally follows the trend of the rest of Zizzle's 3 3/4" figures.  He is well sculpted with nice paint job and a good representation of accessories.

I will add that I rather enjoyed the characters in the historical soldier outfits quite a bit.  I was attracted to them the same way I loved all the basic soldiers and commanders from the Star Wars action figures.  I don't know why that is because I'm no army builder I guess I just appreciate a soldiers attire.

Zizzle came barging out the door as a new toy company with a great franchise in their hands which perhaps made them a few bucks.  I hope they continue to invest in future films that could use a nice accurate set of 3 3/4" action figures and some appropriate play sets and vehicles.

Lord Beckett, although a simple character in appearance is a fine example of a final figure for a full series of figures worth collecting and the truth of the matter is, they saved the true bad guy for last.

-RH

I'm hoping this is the last assortment of movie style figures but I know we will see at least repaints until the release of Transformers Part 2.

One thing I can say, is that the movie toys do have it's own unique style and I do embrace that.  When you look at the collection in its entirely, you can see that all these figures fit into this universe whether the character is actually from the movie, the video game or made just for a toy.

Landmine attracted my attention first because the vehicle was actually in the movie and I thought that was an interesting angle for Hasbro to take.

Landmine's vehicle mode is solid.  From what I can remember he looks like the Army dune buggy you saw in the film.  I particularly like the working shocks (it reminds me of something Alternators would have done).

The color looks a tad bit off.  Instead of being an army green, it has a blue tone to it.  It's kind of off putting but not enough for me to hate this figure.

The transformation is as simple as virtually pulling the figure apart.  This is one that you don't need instructions for.  Everything fits in its place.  However, I do want to commend how the wheels fold in to add support for the figure to stand.  It took me a couple minutes to figure that part out.

On to the robot.  The most important part to any transforming toy, Landmine is pretty sharp.  I find it funny how I like most of the movie style figures not used in the movie better then those that where but I think a big part of that is due to the head design.  Hasbro has reverted back to something more closer to the classic Takara robot look.  Accept, I wouldn't say that is too true for Landmine.  His face is very unique; as if he is wearing a hockey mask.  Landmine is well proportioned and well articulated.  Oh, and one more note: great gun!

Stockade is a non-descript SUV.  I was trying to decide what kind he best characterized and it is kind of tough.  From the front he looks like one of the gas guzzling over-sized Escalade type SUV's but from the back he looks like your standard run of the mill SUV.  Nevertheless, he looks like he could easily be a real brand name SUV.

Stockade's transformation is similar to Landmine's in that you don't need any instructions.  You can basically just pull him apart and everything just kind of goes in the right place. 

The robot mode is not half bad.  I like the color combinations and the head is especially a winning feature.  His head captures the classic Takara robot better then any other movie inspired character.  He is A little wide in the chest and his arms are a bit long and his special feature of "Auto-Attack Punch" doesn't help the monkey arm syndrome. 

No matter how sick I am of the movie aesthetic, Landmine and Stockade are two fine Transformers.  However, if they don't change the designs up a little for the next movie I may just avoid getting any of the toys.  Eh, who am I kidding.  I'll be there as soon as I hear they are hitting the stores.

-RH

The design of the ship is rather unusual.  It basically looks like a boat with hot air balloons to make it float.  Actually, that is exactly what it is. 

The detail is phenomenal.  It sort of reminds me of the days of buying an old Star Wars vehicle as a kid.  It has all the appropriate signature parts to it but maybe perhaps slightly smaller in scale because if it was in scale it would be four feet long.

I love the earthy colors used.  Lot's of browns & grays.  And with what little paint applications there are, they seem to be well done.

The hot air balloons are actually blow up balloons like a beach ball and work well with this toy.  Any other way of approaching this would have made it too top heavy and too big for packaging.

There isn't a great deal of play value with this toy.  On the bottom there is a retractable handle which allows you to hold it and fly it around the house.  Other then that, just a few moving parts.

I admit, I wouldn't have paid full price for this toy.  Perhaps unless the figure was more unique then it is.  Nevertheless, it is a cool toy and was fun to put together and play around with for a bit before it ends up back in the box to store.

-RH

I have made it no secret for my love of  this action figure scale but nevertheless, there were some very nice figures. 

To my surprise, there was one last hurrah: A final series for "At World's End".  Some of these figures I had no idea were even released.  I was fortunate to find the final series Pintell. Regetti, Battling Barbossa & Human Davy Jones at clearance but I think this is the end of finding any of these at retail.  I knew I was going to have to resort to other means to find the Hadras & Desert Weary Jack Sparrow.

But wait!  What's that? This isn't the final series?  Who else is there?  To my discovery, there is also: Last Stand Will Turner, Singapore warrior Elizabeth Swan, Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker and Lord Cutler Beckett!  I was enthused and frustrated at the same time.  Where was I going to get these?  It seemed my only option was Hong Kong dealers and so the search began.  I was able to locate them all at fair prices accept on shipping.  Lord Beckett also seemed to cost me more because there seems to be a little more demand for him.  Actually, I am still waiting for him to arrive (I will post pics when he does).

If you like these figures then this wave of tail enders will not disappoint especially Hadras and Human Davy Jones.  I also assume Lord Beckett will be a winner.

I think they saved the best Will Turner for last and the Singapore Elizabeth Swan is also very nice.  I'm not sure I remember the Jack Sparrow from davy Jones Locker.  Perhaps, I'll have to watch the movie again.  Nevertheless, the detail is very nice.

My only complaint is like with all the figures:  the paint jobs can be hit or miss and unfortunately I did not have a chance to pick and choose.

I wish we could see one more series featuring Captain Teague and the rest of the Pirates at the table plus Tia Dalma would be cool but overall, this line had a good run.

I doubt these are going to show up at any discount store but if they do, I recommend them.  I have a feeling these are going to become very expensive figures for those who want to complete their set.

-RH

Batman looks great! He reminds me of the days of watching him on Super Friends!  The colors are that of which I always think of Batman the most (sans the black on the mask).

Like the rest of the DC Universe figures, Batman is well articulated and hides some of it well.  I think Mattel has done a much better job in this category then Toybiz/Hasbro does on Marvel Legends.

The paint wasn't too bad on any of the three I had to choose from but I think it is one of the biggest flaws of this line thus far.  Mattel really needs to solve this issue ASAP.

Batman comes with a Batarang and a grappling gun.  Nothing I care much for but the kids will have a blast with these.

The Penguin was the least desired of the set for me.  Perhaps I am still stuck in 1985 when he wore a blue tuxedo but upon further review I quickly grew to like this figure and the color choice certainly makes more sense then blue. I like the stripes painted on the pants and was impressed that Mattel was able to keep this heavy -weight villain well-articulated.  My biggest complaint about the sculpt is the mouth.  The lack of an upper lip looks odd to me.  This is why I usually prefer action figures without too much facial expressions.  They can be hit or miss.

The Penguin comes with his signature Umbrella with a hidden machine gun.  This is certainly an appropriate accessory for the Penguin and I wouldn't expect anything else.

Rex Mason The Element Man is the first Build-A-Figure for the DC Universe.  I think they are calling them Collect & Connect but whatever. 

I think most fans were disappointed that this wasn't a huge in size character.  Personally, it doesn't bother me one bit.  I think the BAF concept is better used for figures that may otherwise never see the light of day. 

The Element Man is again well sculpted by the Four Horseman and includes additional hands and a leg attachment that fit rather nice.  The paint job is also well done.  But this figure does not get off that easily.  I know this is The DC Universe's first wave and they still have a lot to learn but my right leg does not stay in place very well.  This is rather frustrating.  I could only imagine the anxiety this would cause a young child who just wants to play with his figure without the leg falling off. 

Perhaps, this is an isolated incident and I just got a raw deal but when I buy five figures, I don't want any quality control issues on one of the primary reasons I broke down to buy the complete wave.

Mattel has some things to learn but compared to what Hasbro is putting out for Marvel Legends, Mattel is light years ahead of the game.  I only hope the few problems with wave one are part of the past with wave two.

-RH

Nevertheless. I have the two final figures needed for series 5 and they are as good or better then expected.

When I first saw pictures of the Crimson Guard, I wasn't as excited as I wanted to be.  The Crimson guard was and is my favorite "army builder".  However, the head looked off to me.  I couldn't quite figure out if it was the shape or size but again, it didn't look quite right.  Now that I have the figure in my hands, it looks fine.  It's very strange how a photo cannot quite capture the look of holding the actual 3-D object. 

So, I'm happy with the head and love the shoulder pads and gold rope things (sorry, I don't know the technical name for them).  Actually, the entire figure is quite nice. My only complaint is that the lower body is a bit thin and almost feminine looking.  The gun in the holster helps provide some girth and so do the large boots. 

My favorite parts are what I am afraid are going to eventually disappear from this excellent line  and that is the little things.  For example:  I love that they painted the knife at the end of the bayonet, and the little silver detailing at the bottom of the boots.  It truly is the little details that separate these from your average action figure and especially shows Hasbro's desire to please Joe fans of old & new.

The Iron Grenadier Destro has always been my favorite Destro.  I'll tell a quick childhood story:  As a kid, My best friend and I Jeff would play McDonalds Monopoly and agreed if either of us won we would share the winnings equally.  I happened to win a $25 dollar gift card to Sears.  At this time, Sears was virtually out of the toy game.  So, my friends mother was kind enough to trade the gift card for the cash and took us to TRU.  To get to the point, we were getting to the age of toys to Baseball cards but I knew I would never be fully assimilated.  So, along with a bunch of packs of Baseball cards, I couldn't resist the new gold headed Destro. 

Okay, back to the review.  The Iron Grenadier Destro is as perfect as can be.  The boots are especially well sculpted and I love how the soft goods cloak lays over his shoulder.  The hand gun fits nicely in the leg holster and the sword as well in it's sheathe.  The sword has a painted blade.  The accessories can be as important as the figure and Hasbro has recognized that.

These are two fine figures and series six looks to be another great one.  However, judging by early pics, it looks like Hasbro may be taking some short cuts on future assortments but as I learned with the Crimson Guard, do not judge till the item is in your hand.

-RH

So, here we are.  Hasbro has given us a visual of what Optimus Prime might have looked like if Mr. Bay would have skipped out on the flames and gone with the classic Optimus Prime paint deco.

I think it is a better choice to have done this on the Voyager class figure rather then the Leader class for two reasons: 1) even though the leader class figure is more fun and overall better, this version is a little more movie accurate & 2) I would have never shelled out $40 bucks for it.

I am going to avoid talking about the sculpt & transformation altogether.  If you are interested in that refer to my Review in the achieves for 2007.

The question is which one is better?  I'm  not sure there is a clear cut answer.  First, I am comparing this to the Target exclusive "Robo-Vision" version. 

As a truck I am pretty confident to say I like the First Strike version better because it easily reminds me of Prime.  However with that said, the flames do add some interesting aesthetics.  Perhaps giving you more to look at.

The robot mode was much more difficult to decide because I much prefer the lighter blue tones used on the Robo-vision Prime.  I also like the lower legs.  There is much more blue.  On the First Strike Prime, I like the blue hands and light blue paint applications on the chest and shoulders.

This comparison does not answer any questions because there are things I like about one better than the other and vice versa.

I think the best solution would have been to have given Michael Bay less input in the creative process & look of the robots altogether as even though I like the movie and some aspects of the character designs, they could have been so much better.

-RH

It is amazing how far the Ewoks have come in the form of action figures since 1983.  The 1995 Ewoks were not such a drastic improvement over the originals but Romba and Graak are leaps ahead of all Ewok figures before them.

Most of the improvements are with the articulation.  Who ever though short, fat fuzzy creatures could have so many moving parts?  Or needed them for that matter. 

Grakk comes with a bow and three arrows that fit snug in his pouch that is attached to his removable head piece.  Romba includes a staff and removable head piece.  Underneath those head pieces are the cutest little teddy bear faces.  If you want to get your girlfriend or wife interested in your collecting hobby, just show her these two and you'll surely get an awww!

I think with the edition of Romba & Graak we are probably all set with all the Ewoks needed for any Star Wars collection.  That is unless perhaps, they came out with an Ewok baby.  Now that would be something.

-RH

I find Orion as a first series figure choice rather unusual.  I know that Mattel has to mix it up so all the popular characters aren't done in the first three or four waves but, Orion?  Maybe, I haven't kept up with comics in awhile and he's become a central character.  Nevertheless, I never found him one of Jack Kirby's greatest creations.

The figure is well sculpted by "The Four Horseman" and like the rest of the line includes a great deal of articulation and detail.  Orion's accessory sort of limits his playability.  Therefore, in order to really move him around, you have to remove it.  What you may find is a potentially great figure to use for customizing due to the simple nature of his costume.

My biggest problem thus far with this series is the paint jobs have been rather shoddy.  Red Tornado is about the worst.  I've seen a few different figures of him hanging from the pegs and the yellow is always terribly painted.  Orion isn't quite as bad but there are some minor sloppiness with the painting.

I like this series thus far but the character choices may become an issue.  The DC Universe is so large and expansive that surely they have a large catalogue of characters to work with.  I also fear this line will end up becoming a Batman/Superman line with a few other characters thrown in.  Already assortment one includes two Batman related characters which I still have yet to get to complete the set.

I'm pulling for Mattel, the Four Horseman and DC Comics on this one.  Let's get these bugs out early and learn from these mistakes and we could be looking at a great series of action figures.

-RH

I'll start with Destro because there isn't much to say about him.  This figure embodies everything I didn't want the Comic Packs to be:  bright colorful repaints of figures I already have. 

Destro's colors are atrocious!  He is primarily blue with some purple, light blue & red.  I'm no art major but I can tell you right now that these are not an ideal color combination.  The only benefit of having this figure is if you wanted to switch the chromed head from this figure onto the regular Destro.

As fro Breaker, he is another green suit.  One of the first 13.  Therefore, somewhat boring.  The vintage Breaker always seemed unique to me because he had the headset, beard and no gun.  I am actually glad they added a couple pistols to this figure.  As for the no beard, well, this could be debated.  The art work on the package never showed a beard and he never had one in the comic book.  So, I guess I'm okay with this and they did give him a little stubble. 

Breaker also comes with a bubblegum bubble that attaches to the tip of the microphone.  It is a cute touch but I don't want to display a soldier with a bubble from chewing gum. 

Other than that, he comes with the same backpack as the original version did and I believe the headset is the same as well.

Breaker makes this set worth buying but I do want to note: if you are lucky enough to look at a few different one's for nice paint applications, I would.  Mine were a little sloppy which I don't expect from Hasbro.

This is the weakest of the Comic Packs thus far that introduces a new character but I am happy to have the Breaker and look forward to the future of the Comic Packs and the future looks brighter.

-RH

There are few choices for a fully transformable version.  There is the original Gakken.  However, not only is it expensive but they can be quite difficult to find and I had my heart set on Scott Bernard's blue Legioss.  Their is also Toynami's Alpha's.  I had a chance to play with it a couple years back at one of the Botcon's but I was less than enthused by it.  Mostly due to it's dull coat finish and the small size. Also, I have had problems with Toynami's quality control issues in the past.

The other choice and the one I went with is the Aoshima version.  First let me say for all that don't know: this is just the Toynami version imported to Japan with a new paint job and a few other bells and whistles. 

I was a bit apprehensive about getting this version because of my lack of enthusiasm for the Toynami version.  However, there is nothing I can do about the size but perhaps the glossier paint job would bring the toy to life.

The jet mode is very cool!  it has a lot of moving & opening parts.  Everything attaches nicely.  I particularly like the little Scott Bernard that fits in the cockpit and the colors are much improved.  I will say, some of the opening and moveable parts are a bit tough to either open or fall off easily.  However, it does not seem to be fragile with a chance of permanent damage.

The transformation is quite smooth.  I had no real problems figuring it out without the instruction manual.  However, I kept it close by just in case (this toy isn't cheap).  The robot looks very nice.  Again the paint job and glossier finish makes all the difference. 

The Legioss is somewhat weak with the articulation.  I wish you could do more with the movements of the hips.  He comes with a fair amount of accessories that all have a place to go in both modes (which is especially nice for those who lose parts easily). 

The Aoshima Legioss may be the way to go right now when it comes to Alpha's.  However, at only about 7" tall I hope for a toy company to make one a little larger and perhaps less brittle.  I think this robot needs to be at least 10-12" tall to show it's true imposing stature. 

Although a reasonable robot, you may be better off trying to hunt down the original Gakken Alpha or wait to see if another toy company jumps on the chance to make an ultimate version of the Mospeada Legioss.

-RH

The first series of Comic 2-packs were all really a waste to me accept for the Hawk figure.  I really don't need colorful repaints of figures I already own and it looks like Hasbro has realized that moving forward to series two. 
 

I was lucky enough to spend inflated Ebay prices in order to get this set of all new Dreadnok Torch & Ripper.  Now with Buzzer, I have the original three.

I was very fearful at first that these were going to resemble the cartoony bright colors as apposed to following the single carded realistic paint schemes.  I was fortunate it was the later. 

Starting with Torch: he is well sculpted and definitely isn't a complete retool of older parts.  However, his weapons are the same as the vintage 1985 version but Hasbro had the decency to at least paint the gas can on his backpack which adds some needed detail.  I am a bit confused by one thing in this set:  The extra gun that originally came with Ripper is set in the package to look as if it goes with Torch.  I am confused by this but soon enough I'll manage to get the official word on who's it is.

Ripper is also very well done and uses new body parts as well.  Again though, he includes the backpack and "thingy" the original version came with.  However, this time the "thingy" is articulated.  This is a very nice touch added by Hasbro.  The wire that fits from the backpack to the "Thingy" is incredibly frustrating as it does not fit in either of the holes.  I think they need to work on these sort of simple quality control issues before releasing them to the public.

My biggest fear with the Comic 2-packs are is it will be used as a way to cheaply pump out retooled/repainted figures.  If anything, the Dreadnoks prove I may be wrong.  I still prefer the beauty of the single pack figures and the ability to buy just one figure at a time but at least it looks like Hasbro is not cheapening out with this extension to the G.I.Joe brand.  Which is a good thing cause I hear rumors that my favorite Joe: Lt. Falcon will be in a 2-Pack coming soon.  Hasbro better get him perfect or I may turn my back on this wonderful homage to my childhood love.

-RH

When I first saw pictures of this Disney Theme Parks exclusive I was a bit apprehensive about getting one.  First thought was:  I live no where near Florida or California.  Second, I'm not a huge fan of such large scale figures.  Third, I am also not a huge fan of big diorama bases & finally from the pictures I saw, I couldn't tell if this was even supposed to look like Harrison Ford or just some guy that does the stunt show at the theme parks.

Nevertheless, I was able to get access to a few and being a sucker for Indiana Jones I figured why not?

I'd like to say, overall, I am pleasantly surprised!  This figure has tons of detail and even though (for some reason) Harrison Ford is one of the hardest actors to capture in plastic, Gentle Giant did a good job.  It is definitely modeled after Mr. Ford.

Usually with large scaled figures, they tend to sacrifice articulation for sculpture but not here.  Indiana has the right amount of articulation to make him an action figure but not too many to distract from the design. 
The paint job is very well done.  However, if you have a chance to look through a few of them I would because there is a lot of weathering and that can sometimes translate into sloppy paint. I love all the earthy tones used here.  Every detail is painted with great attention down to his signature stubble.

Dr. Jones comes with a lot of accessories!  Maybe even perhaps, one two many.  He includes:  his signature whip, fedora,  gun, sword, book, golden statue and what I thought was a cigar.  I questioned that because I don't recall Indiana being a cigar smoker. Than I read another review (which was not nearly as favorable to this figure as I am) that it is the antidote vile from "Temple of Doom".   I think perhaps this accessory could have been left behind or at least painted green or was it blue. 

Even though I am not a fan of large play set bases (I think they take up too much room and find them to clog my toy shelves & force me to spend more money when all I want is the figure), Gentle Giant did a good job of making a dirty, grimy surrounding that fits perfect in the world of Indiana Jones.

I was really surprised at how much I like this toy.  I really went into it thinking very negatively.  It didn't help that I read a review the day before getting mine complaining about many very minor details.

I am still a 3 3/4" figure guy and I can't wait to see what Hasbro has up it's sleeve but if your Jonesing (pun intended) for a new Indy figure, this is not a bad choice at all.

-RH

So, here we are 25 years later and I have a whole new homage to that first figure that helped start a life long addiction.  I have said as many good things as I can about the 25th Anniversary line.  It is the best homage toy line ever made and Flash continues that streak.

The sculpt on Flash (just like the original) is a little more unique because he has pads on his legs, arms and chest.  Hasbro captured the likeness perfectly especially on the head sculpt.  He even looks like the original Flash.

The paint job is well done and match the original colors very well.  I particularly commend Hasbro for matching the green perfectly. 

Sgt. Flash's accessories will seem quite familiar.  The gun, backpack , helmet & visor appear to be the same as the originals.  I don't particularly have a problem with that although I do like the newly sculpted weapons.  My only issue with the accessories is I had a problem getting the plastic hose to fit in the small hole in the backpack.  It was rather frustrating as I didn't want to create any stress marks on the plastic hose. 

This well done homage brings back so many memories as it is intended to.  Hopefully we'll see a Blowtorch in the near future as he was my favorite of the two firsts.

-RH

Somehow DC/Warner Brothers came up with an agreement with Mattel toys to do a mainstream series of DC Superheroes and who better to make them but the elusive Four Horseman!

The Four Horseman have provided some of the best action figures in the last five or so years with Masters of the Universe and some other Mattel products but now we get to see what they can do with the DC Universe.

I decided to start this series with Red Tornado and the Demon, Etrigan.  They struck me to be the most interesting.