Besides the ridiculous name, Rodimus wasn't half the bot as Optimus but he still had his own thing going.  The original Rodimus Prime toy was about as lackluster as can be.  This was unacceptable to me.  The leader of the Autobots must have a cool toy! 

Over the last ten years, Hasbro has produced several new incarnations of Rodimus.  A few of them were cool toys but nothing of the standard he deserved.  Enter: Takara. 

In Japan, Hasbro's sister company Takara has been producing Transformers Masterpiece toys of the highest standard and a high retail price.  No matter the high two hundred dollar price tag I had to add this to my collection.

The first reviews of MP-09 were starting to show up about three days before I got mine and most of them were not kind.  Many complained about quality control issues and difficulty in the transformation.  I was getting a little nervous but I was still excited.

Rodimus arrived and I was excited to finally have it yet nervous he may break or cause me stress.  I am happy to report that he is worthy of the Masterpiece name. 

As far as the toys go, G.I. Joe was the one for me.  There was a great variety of characters both good and bad.  The action figures were loaded with great articulation and accessories and could be had for under three bucks.  Which meant I had a better chance of convincing my mom to buy me a Joe than a Transformer. 

Snake-Eyes was a definite favorite of mine and most kids my age.  How could you go wrong?  He wore all black and had swords.  Well, at least the second version of this character did.  Snake-Eyes started out as a Commando but soon his mythos got more complicated and he was turned into the silent ninja.  Over the last twenty-five plus years,  Snake-Eyes has become one of G.I. Joe's top brand characters.  Therefore, in nearly every new incarnation of G.I. Joe you can almost guarantee to see several newly designed Snake-Eyes action figures.  It  has gotton to the point where I, and many other Joe fans are sick of seeing this once adorned hero. 

With Hasbro's most recent (and  greatest) series of G.I. Joe - Pursuit of Cobra, Hasbro has already given us two new Snake-Eyes figures.  However, this time- three's definitely a charm.

The designers at Hasbro clearly were going for the end all be all of Snake-Eyes figures here as they went all out and skipped no minor details. 

The sculpt is absolutely brilliant!  The figure's design is modeled after the 12" collector version released by Sideshow collectables a couple of years back and features much to gaze upon.  He shares both the aesthetic of the original commando and the popular ninja. 

The articulation is where this figure really begins to get fun.  Any modern Joe collector is familiar with the extent of the pose ability of the current action figure line but what sets this Snake-Eyes apart from the rest is the added wrist articulation.  The wrists don't just turn but can be moved up and down to add some exceptional posing.

The accessories are a plenty.  Perhaps even too much for one figure.  He includes two swords with sheaths, a samurai sword, a couple hand guns, a larger machine gun and his signature Uzi.  In addition, he has two silencers which not only attach to three of the guns but one can actually be stored in a holster attached to his leg!  However, the best accessories (if you can call them that) are his two different heads.  Hasbro clearly did not want to pick favorites with this design and gave us both the original styled commando head and the famous ninja head with the visor.  Both heads look fantastic and I believe the favorite is an issue of personal preference.  I prefer the ninja head myself.  However, I do believe the body may be a better match for this more realistic uniform.

I really could go on and on about this brilliant action figure.  I myself have gotten a little carried away as I seem to buy this figure every time I see him on the store shelves (I think I am up to eight).  In my defense, I often give them to friends hoping they see the brilliance in it and share some of my enthusiasm.

Whether you grew up with G.I. Joe or not.  If you have any appreciation for action figures of any kind, YOU MUST PICK UP THIS ACTION FIGURE!  You will not be disappointed especially for the seven dollar retail price.  I've loved G.I. Joe all my life but the new Pursuit of Cobra series by Hasbro has truly brought out the kid in me.

YO JOE!

5 out of 5

The original Cobra H.I.S.S. is a classic vehicle.  It may be the signature Cobra vehicle.  When I saw pictures of the new version, I liked it but didn't really see the need to own it.  When I saw it in the store in the box it gave me a slight feeling like I was a kid again and just discovered a great new Joe vehicle.  I picked it up out of curiosity and I am fairly glad I did.

What I think I like the best about this toy is out of the box it reminds me of that feeling as a kid when you got a new Joe toy.  You have to put it together and it includes a comprehensive sticker sheet that is sure to take up some time to apply.  Putting together the H.I.S.S. isn't difficult but is certainly fun. 

The color does bother me a bit.  The original H.I.S.S. was black and made it seem more imposing.  The new one is a dark brown.  Perhaps it is to match the desert theme and I am sure they will release a black one within the next year or two. 

The H.I.S.S. features some action features.  There is a button that lifts the main body from the bottom.  It is a cool feature.  However, I find it difficult to keep it locked into place before activating.  It also features rotating guns, shooting missiles and two opening canopies.  The main canopy in the front is not transparent.  I do wish it was but I suppose with modern war machines, they have camera's and computers to navigate.  The back canopy is a bit cooler as it opens for a surprise attack.

The H.I.S.S. comes with a new H.I.S.S. driver.  I am not sure how much of this mold is a new sculpt but it looks refreshing while remaining true to the original character design.  He includes a gun and a Cobra banner on a pole.

The stickers are perhaps the most fun aspect of this toy and there are a lot of them.  So many that I did not apply every one.  It is clear that the team at Hasbro working on the current GI Joe toys are genuine fans of the originals and are doing a great job of creating something fresh while still paying homage to the original Real American Hero.

I probably could have gone without owning the new Cobra H.I.S.S.  but that does not mean I regret buying it.  I think Hasbro is showing that they can create new & interesting vehicles as part of the new GI Joe line instead of repainting and reissuing the originals.  Out of all the toy lines Hasbro continues to pump out there, GI Joe provides the greatest quality & freshness while giving this child of the 80's the nod to the past I so desire.

4 out of 5

Blue Devil is a rather obscure DC superhero but as a child of the 1980's, I remember the character fondly and knew I was going to break down and buy the DC Classics version if I ever found it.  Fortunate, I (obviously) I did find one and at a reasonable price for this expensive toy line.

Like every other action figure I ever picked up in the DC Universe Classics series, Blue Devil is very well sculpted and represents the comic book counterpart as good as I could have hoped for.  He likely shares body parts with many of the other figures in the series but still looks unique.  The head is my favorite aspect of the sculpt as it really does look like he did in  the comic book when I read it when I was a kid.  Other than the head and perhaps the collar, there really isn't anything mind-blowingly unique here.

The paint and plastic colors are perhaps where the figure shines.  The color combination is especially nice.  The mixture of both tones of blue and yellow make Blue Devil stand out from many other superheroes.  The plastic quality is excellent.  This has become increasingly important to me as many toy companies seem to have gone to cheaper plastics due to the economy.  The paint applications are fairly well done.  However there is some minor paint slop.  Mostly with the yellow but it may just stand out more because yellow is such a bright color.  Nevertheless, it is acceptable.

Articulation is typical to DCUC figures and is as good as one might hope for with a superhero action figure (or any action figure for that matter).  The neck articulation is slightly limited due to the large collar.

The Blue Devil's only accessory is a pitchfork and that is all he really need.  He does include build-A-Figure parts and a small character button.  The button adds no value to this toy at all and if I could have saved a buck without it, I would welcome the discount.

I do want to mention that the packaging continues to specify "Adult Collector" which I absolutely hate.  This is an action figure sold in the toy isle.  I appreciate the high quality and detail but the only purpose I can see for that label is an excuse for Mattel to charge their exorbitant prices because there is nothing fragile about this product to lead a parent to believe their child should not play with this item.  DCUC figures are actually some of the most fun action figures on the market these days and it is unfortunate that many children are advised not to play with these.

Blue Devil is a great action figure and makes me wish I could afford to keep up with the collection.  Nevertheless, I am okay with only buying one once in awhile but if Mattel ever changes their mind about making these accessible to the general collector, I would consider coming back for the ride.

4.5 out of 5

As I said, Thrust isn't really new so I am going to spend the majority of this review focusing on Drift but I would like to say, it is nice that Hasbro has recognized how ridiculous it was for them to make this highly desired toy as part of a over-priced premium for the Botcon convention.  Hasbro did a good job bringing him to retail with a quality paint job and plastic that does not feel like it is from a gumball machine toy.

Drift's vehicle mode is of a rather generic car.  It looks like a Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and every other Japanese automobile that can be tinkered with to be race ready.  This isn't a complaint but it is not very memorable.  The car is white with some Japanese lettering graphics on the side to try to add a little character.  I am happy that some of the windshields are made out of a separate transparent plastic but I think Hasbro could have worked in the back windshield as well.

The transformation is fairly easy yet fun.  There are no groundbreaking twists and turns but it is smooth and entertaining. 

The robot mode like the vehicle mode, is fairly generic.  I am not too familiar with Drift in the comics but from the pictures I remember seeing, it seems to fit.  Even though the robot is generic, it is still appealing.  Drift looks heroic and classic.  I'll take that over any movie character design any day.

What makes Drift really shine are his weapons.  He includes two small swords that fit into side holsters (the doors of the car) and one long sword that can be held by both hands and also can be stored on his back.  I like that the swords are casted in a silver/grey plastic instead of a brightly colored or transparent plastic.

The plastic used on Drift is very high gloss which does make him look a little cheap.  I so wish Hasbro would step up the quality of the materials used on Transformers even if it costs me another buck or two per figure.  The paint applications are clean but limited.

Thrust is more or less a nice piece using a mold that has been done to death already but I am still happy to fianlly have it.  Drift on the other hand is of a character never done before as an official toy.  Even though he has many generic qualities and could use a plastic upgrade, he is sure to be a fan favorite due to his heroic appearance and cool ninja weapons.

3.5 out of 5

The first thing I noticed with the Optimus Prime and Bumblebee is they are packaged in robot mode.  I prefer my transforming toys to be packaged in alt. modes because I feel the robot is the pay-off.  However, if you saw these vehicle modes first, you might pass on purchasing them.  Bumblebee is not that bad.  It looks like what Bee might look like if he was immersed in the Tron movie universe.  Prime on the other hand is much more compromised.  I wouldn't say I hate it it just really doesn't look like anything.  However, the colors let you know it is a Prime.

The transformations on both these guys are pretty fun.  They are rather challenging on the first try but the more they are transformed, the smoother they get.  I like a transformation that takes a little to figure out and then can be perfected.

Both robot modes are solid.  Bee is pretty much what you would expect.  He looks like, well, Bumblebee.  I am a bit sick of seeing these guys over and over even if I am a big fan.  With that said, I love this Prime!  The robot design is very sharp with lots of details.  The head design (although small) is very dynamic. 

Now here is where I get a bit infuriated.  Hasbro continues to insult the great designers and engineers who work so hard on Transformers by using poor plastics and a lack of paint applications.  Bumbleebee is better than Prime but still lacking.  Prime is made out of a cheap model kit red plastic and a dull grey.  I have accepted that rubber wheels are not used anymore but I cannot deal with this kind of plastic.  I would gladly pay another buck or two for a higher quality product.  As far as the paint goes, I know Hasbro is following the colors of the video game but the pink highlights look wrong and would make so much better sense in yellow. 

Both figures each come with a gun.  Bee's is a small little pistol and Prime has a big'un.  I am very happy to see Prime's gun casted in black and actually look somewhat like a gun.  I have gotten rather tired of all these transparent or brightly colored weapons.  Prim's gun does have some sort of transforming mechanism which I still am trying to figure out its real purpose.

I am so happy to be getting non-movie toys and Hasbro almost nailed these guys (even with the compromised vehicle modes).  However, the lack of quality materials insults me as a collector and a child at heart.  In 1984 we didn't get this kind of trash so why are we allowing this almost 30 years later?

quality 2.5 out of 5

design and play 4 out of 5

She-Ra is the third female and the first Princess of Power action figure in the Masters of the Universe Classics line.  She shares body parts with Teela and Evil-Lyn but is distinctive nonetheless.  The body is well sculpted just like all the other figures in the series thus far.  She is rather tall and very amazon like.  There are two heads here.  I suppose these could be considered accessories.  She comes packaged with the "vintage" styled head attached which I think is the inferior one.  It's not that it is poorly done.  It emulates the original figure well but it just isn't as appealing.  The cartoon accurate head is much more heroic and fitting to the character.

The articulation is slightly inferior to that of the male body style but still has plenty of play value.  She-Ra lacks a waist joint which I think is a good thing as it would take too much away from the sculpt.  The ankles are a bit loose which is rather frustrating when trying to stand her up.

The paint job is spectacular as expected from the "classics" series.  There isn't a great deal of paint applications but the gold and white are very well done alonge with the face details.

She-Ra comes with plenty of accessories: A sword, shield, comb/ax, cape and if you consider the additional head.  As usual, they are all well done.  I could have lived without the comb but I'm sure fans of the original appreciate it.

I am starting to get used to the high retail price of each figure since I think these are some of the best done domestic action figures being produced.  However, I am not accepting of the stress and difficulty in obtaining them.  Considering they each sell out in mere minutes, it seems pretty clear that Mattel are not meeting the demand.  I see no reason for Mattel to not produce more of these figures and easing the frustrations of the consumers of these products.  Until then, the Masters of the Universe Classics action figures will continue to create a love/hate relationship for those like myself who are collecting them.

4.5 out of 5

I have always been a Duke fan.  I make no bones about it.  He is a pretty cool team leader to me.  When I first saw pictures of the new POC Duke, my biggest concern was the head sculpt.  It looked a little to cartoony for my taste  and the headband was hard to get used to but I am happy to report that the head sculpt is perhaps my favorite aspect of this action figure.  Hasbro really captured the look of this Joe leader.  He looks far less generic than expected.

 Actually, there is only one aspect of this Duke action figure I don't care for and that is he is wearing the chest armor from the silly movie.  This seems rather lazy to me for Hasbro to do this but now that I think about it, I believe POC was initially intended as an extension to the movie series.  Thankfully,  the chest armor can be covered by the great utility belt, straps or whatever you would call it.  You can still see a little of the armor but other than the little gold GI Joe emblem, it is not too distracting.  However, knowing it is there sort of takes a little away from this otherwise brilliant action figure.

Other than Duke's belts, he includes some great accessories such as: a huge backpack, knife that fits nicely in its holster, two big guns with 2 clips, pistol and flashlight.  Perhaps it is a slight accessory overload but I really like how Hasbro seems to be starting to give the figures personal accessories again.  Also, it looks like Hasbro has returned to the 25th anniversary style stands.  I just hope the cobra figures have two pegs like the Joe's do.

The paint applications really impressed me.  Hasbro could have easily cheesed out (as they have been doing with Transformers) and skimped on the paint but instead he is loaded with paint details.  What I was most happy about was Duke was not given yellow hair.  Hasbro went with a normal more realistic blonde color.  The camouflage is very nicely done both on his skin and pants.  He does seem to feature more brown on the lower legs to emulate dirt.  I am generally not too crazy about these kind of paint applications but it certainly does not look bad.

Articulation really is a non-issue with GI Joe.  Hasbro has consistently done a fine job with their GI Joe figures and Duke is no different.

The chest armor upsets me because without it this could have easily been one of my favorite Duke figures ever.  With it, it is still excellent, just a step away from the realism I prefer.  However, if Duke is any indication of how POC is to shape up, I think I am going to be incredibly disappointed when the new GI Joe Renegades toys start up as POC may turn out to be some of the greatest and refreshing GI Joe designs to surface since the originals from the early 1980's.

4.5 out of 5

What drew to me to the toys was primarily the scale.  I love me some 3 3/4" action figures.  In addition, these are made by Spin Master Toys.  Spin Master has the master toy license for winter's Tron: Legacy action figures which I am anticipating more than any other movie that I know of that is coming out soon.  So, I am very curious of what I might expect as far as action figure quality goes.

The character's from the Last Airbender are certainly not as aesthetically pleasing as what might come out of Tron: Legacy and that is perhaps the biggest downfall of the action figures in general.  Each of the five action figures are rather well sculpted and resemble (style-wise) what Hasbro is doing with Star Wars figures.  I like the plastic used.  In comparison with Jazwares A-Team figures, these blow them away.  The sculpts are clean and detailed.  They appear to represent what we will see on the big screen.  Blue Spirit is easily the most interesting looking of the five figures as he is almost all blue and wears a scary monster type mask.  There are two Aang figures that are nearly identical except one has pupils in the eyes and the other does not. 

These are well articulated action figures and I really like the thigh joints.  I do prefer the ball joints Hasbro uses on their Star Wars figures over the joints used on the knees and elbows used here by Spin Master.  Perhaps that is my only articulation complaint.

Each figure includes what appears to be a movie accurate accessory or two.  They all seem well sculpted.

The paint jobs are a bit sloppy and I had to look over a few figures at the store before settling.  However, I like the matte finishes and colors used. 

I also got the Appa creature which looks very nice with the set and adds a more fantasy element.  The only major criticism with it is there is only articulation with the head and compared to the excellent creature toys Mattel made for Avatar, the Appa is inferior.

The absolute greatest complaint I have is not with the toys themselves but the retail price.  I paid eight bucks a figure and that seems ludicrous for a 3 3/4" action figure even in today's economy.  The worst part is I am pretty confident these will go on clearance but I not only wanted them now but I feel obligated to support these sorts of action figure series because ultimately this is what I want from a movie toy line.

Overall, The Last Airbender movie action figures are very satisfying and best of all is it gives me great hopes that the Tron: Legacy action figures could be one of the best movie action figure lines since I can remember but I suppose I'll still have to wait and see.

4 out of 5

First and foremost, I am not a Transformers purist.  I don't have a problem with a character who once turned into a jet switching alt modes.  I am perfectly okay with these seekers turning into cars and I think for those who do not like this, Takara chose the best car possible to fit the bill.  However, I do like when a character shares the same face and colors that they originate with.  The Mitsuoka Orochi is an extremely unique sports car.  It almost has an organic look to it.  Takara did an excellent job on the vehicle mode as the toy looks just like the car (at least from every resource I have come across).   The colors on both cars are excellent.  The purple on Skywarp has a beautiful high gloss as Starscream is more of a matt finish.  The vehicle features an interesting feature similar to G1 Tracks.  The back wheels turn to reveal wings.  It is a cool feature to help satisfy those who have a hard time accepting that these two seekers are cars.

The transformations are much more entertaining than I anticipated.  I don't know why I expected more frustration but overall, it is smooth.  There are a few spots where certain parts have to be perfectly adjusted and the occasional part falls off but this isn't anything unusual for a complex Transformer. 

The robot is where I have the most issues.  The design is of a more tall and slender robot.  I do prefer my robots a bit chunkier but it fits the characters.  They are reminiscent of something that would have come out of the RID series.  The only aesthetic difference between the two besides the colors are the head sculpts.  Skywarp has a well sculpted head and looks similar enough to the original character.  However, with Starscream, Takara took a different approach.  The head resembles a bug like creature (perhaps, loosely inspired by the movie design).  He has large bug eyes and a long face.  I rather dislike the head design completely.  It is amazing how a head design can easily change a toy so drastically.  I'll say it again:  I really dislike the head!  I thought I would get used to it and I would start to grow fond of it but I have not.  Moving on, the top of the car becomes wings that I found somewhat awkward at first but have since started appreciating the creativity of how they work.  The rest of the robot looks nice without any major complaints.

Just like with the vehicle modes, the robots are well painted.  I prefer the Skywarp overall but perhaps there may be a tad too much purple.  The Starscream stands out better as it combines a better contrast of colors with white on black with blue highlights.  I like the dark tone of blue used.  However, he may have better benefitted with a lighter blue paint.   I did not have any problems with paint chipping but keep in mind that these are not your typical Transformers toys designed for children so it is smart to be cautious when transforming.

The only accessories these guys include are missile launchers that attach to the arms.  These are typical for these characters and are a nice nod to the originals even though I generally like hand weapons.

Other than Starscream's head, these really are some nice figures and are superior to most of what Hasbro is releasing in the US.  With that said, these are the most disappointing figures from the Alternity line.  This is not to scare anyone away from adding these to their collection.  I am happy I have them.  I just hope future Alternity figures step it up a notch.

3.5 out of 5

The sculpts are not too bad coming from a smaller company like Jazwares who have been progressively better over the years.  The faces definitely resemble the actors.  Other than Lynch, I can clearly identify all of them. The bodies all have a similar structure other than "Face".  Face wears a suit and I predict many customizers will be using this body for many future suit wearing characters. 

The sculpts get completely muddled in the rough paint jobs.  The paint work almost looks hand painted.  The colors aren't so bad but the washes don't look as good as they could.  The paint used really ruins the head sculpts on these figures.  It isn't all bad though.  I kind of like the wash on BA's jeans.

The articulation could be better, could be worse.  They have good arm and leg movement but I would have liked a waist joint. 

I think the accessory department is what frustrates me the most.  Each figure comes with the same exact weapons accept for Hannibal.  Each figure includes a pistol and machine gun.  Hannibal comes with the same pistol but also includes a different, nicely painted machine gun.  I haven't seen this movie yet but I have to assume that these characters will be using a plethora of weapons and it would have been nice if Jazwares would have provided these figures with their own personal arsenal.

After seeing the first pictures of these action figures, they are not as good as I hoped for.  However, they are also not as bad as they could have been.  When you put all of them together they look pretty neat.  These action figures have enough flaws to give them a worse score than I have given them but I am a sucker for 3 3/4" movie accurate action figures and that is pretty much what these are and at a reasonable price too.

3 out of 5

The sculpt of Optikk looks far more complex and unique than the other fuzzy loin cloth wearing figures before him.  Optikk has a much more unique armor.  It is especially refreshing considering many of the MOTUC figures have been mostly repainted previous figures with slight retooling.  Even though the original Optikk figure is pretty solid the new one's size makes him look far more imposing.  The head (as you can see) is a big giant eyeball.  two heads (or eyes) are included: one with a green pupil and the other is orange.  I prefer the green pupil one because there is a nice contrast of orange lines within.

The paint job is the only real disappointment here.  The gold, red and grey which is the majority of paint is done quite well but both heads had some white paint bleeds onto the cool pupils which are the focal point of this figure.  I was able to chip most of it away but for the premium price I paid for these, I shouldn't have to. 

The articulation follows the trend of the other MOTUC figures accept perhaps the torso joint may be a little hindered by all the details in that area.  I am perfectly fine with that.  The head (eye) rotates side to side and slightly up and down. 

Aside from the eye variants, Optikk includes a very cool blaster similar to the one that was included with the vintage figure.  He also comes with a shield that fits this character very well.

Collector's may have held off on Optikk because he wasn't a part of the original Masters of the Universe toy line.  If so, it was a mistake as this is an incredibly cool figure with a unique character design.  Whether you are a fan of MOTU or strange sci-fi aliens, Optikk is a must have and continues MOTU Classics trend of producing some of the finest action figures for the US market.

4.5 out of 5

I was looking for Thor ever since he was released.  I've always liked Thor and even though this is a new modern costume for the Norse god that I am not that familiar with, it stays true to the character.  I unfortunately did not find him at retail and paid a premium that I would not normally pay for an item like this but I was at the Motor City Comic-Con and felt like splurging. 

I think Hasbro has done an all right job with MU but overall they have not been nearly as good as they could be.  That was up until Thor.  This is perhaps the best looking action figure in the entire line.  There are some very fine details in the armor and the texture of the costume.  The cape is also very well done and I am particularly glad that Hasbro hasn't gone with soft goods like they have with their Star Wars figures.  The head is quite unique because it looks more artist specific than any other figure in the series.  I couldn't tell you who the artist may be but you can see by looking at it that it is of a unique design. 

The paint job is well done.  Hasbro has applied some nice washes to both the armor and the costume.  The plastic used on this figure seems a little rubbery especially on the head but it at least makes him durable.

Thor is well articulated and can be posed in as many positions as he would ever need.  The only accessories included are his hammer and a stand which is really all he needs.  I'm glad Hasbro started including stands with these figures.  They are still a buck or two overpriced but it at least adds a little added value.

I quite like this figure and hope this is a sign of the future for the Marvel Universe action figures.  They are nowhere near as cool as the DCUC action figures but it is definitely a step in the right direction.  If Hasbro can improve some of the plastics used and lower the price, I think they could get me to buy a few of the characters I wouldn't normally pick up.

4 out of 5

Without question, Masterpiece Convoy (Optimus Prime) is my all time favorite toy.  I genuinely do not think it could have been done any better.  With that said, I always wished Hasbro would release a smaller version and not so I could put it with the Classics but because I wanted one that was a bit more portable.  Igear has done what Hasbro would not but it is at a cost.  The Faith Leader cost roughly around a hundred bucks which was what I originally paid for the Takara Masterpiece. 

I really like this scale.  Don't get me wrong.  I like my robots big and prefer the 13" MP but it's nice to have a 9" one that I can mess with when I'm lying around on the couch.  The first thing you will notice when you pick this up is how light it is.  The MP was loaded with die-cast metal and the PP01 has none.  The plastic itself is even fairly light for a standard action figure which felt almost too light to me at first but the more I played with it, the more I got used to it and it started feeling like a rather comfortable weight. 

The plastic is actually rather durable which was a relief as one of the main reasons I bought it was to play with it and with a third party company, you never know what you might get.  I also like the texture and the colors of the plastic.  They look of a very high quality.  There is a fair amount of chrome just like in the original MP.  The rest of the paint applications are very well done with no noticeable slop.

The transformation and sculpt is identical to the MP Prime so there isn't much reason to go into that.  They are top notch.  However, the opening chest area seems to latch much better with the PP01.   The joints are also fairly tight accept a little in the legs.

One of the big differences with the PP01 and MP are the accessories.  They both come with a gun, Megatron gun and ax but the PP01 also includes a gun that can be held by the Classics Prime as well as additional hands.  The extra hands feature some great finger articulation but they must be screwed on and to be honest, I am perfectly okay with the regular one's.  Therefore, I will probably never try them on.  The coolest extra accessory the PP01 includes is an extra head that is more cartoon accurate.  It is very well done.  I am not sure which one I will keep with him on display but I'm leaning towards the regular version because the cartoon head must be removed before transforming him.  The head also includes a pretty cool display stand for it.  The PP01 also includes the Matrix but the light up feature has been removed.

I really do love this toy but the way I see it; Hasbro should have released this and it should have retailed for about forty bucks.  I paid a huge premium to add this smaller scaled Prime to my collection and I have absolutely no regrets as it was done very well.  Perhaps, it could have used just a tad bit more weight but otherwise it is as good as can be.

4.5 out of 5

The thing that most surprised me about this figure is the thirteen dollar price tag!  How can Mattel justify charging thirteen dollars for a 3 3/4" figure?  By adding the words "Adult Collector" apparently.  Personally, I think this is crap!  Why are they marketing a small action figure for Toy Story 3 to adults?  Nevertheless, I am a sucker and I bought it.  So, perhaps it is me who is the fool.

I figured for thirteen dollars I was going to at least get one of the most incredible action figures made in this scale with tons of articulation and flip up wings.  Well, guess what?  I am pretty disappointed.  Don't get me wrong; Buzz is a well sculpted action figure with good articulation.  However, there are some missed opportunities here.  For this price, there is no reason Buzz should not have ankle joints and wings that fold up and down and perhaps some sort of ball jointed waist.  However, what he does have is a cool dome that opens and closes and some nice shoulder, elbow, thigh and knee joints. 

The paint job varies.  I found two of these Buzz figures and they both had some minor paint sloppiness.  Nothing I would normally lose sleep over but at thirteen bucks...

This Buzz Lightyear action figure is actually fairly nice.  If he was priced at six bucks or even eight, I probably would have been fairly satisfied but this is nowhere near worth what I paid and I don't know who Mattel Toys think they are to charge such an exorbitant price.  I regret paying for this and wish I would have just waited for these to go on clearance cause at this price, only compulsive fools like myself are going to oblige Mattel and this crap like calling something "Adult Collector" in order to ask a premium.

3 out of 5 Figure

1 out of 5 Value

Let me begin by saying, I am not a big fan of McFarlane Toys.  To me, they are responsible for changing action figures as I knew them in the mid-1990's.  I admit at first I was along for the ride but after realizing the lack of quality control and the ever decreasing articulation, I was no longer on the band wagon.  I have no need for mini plastic statues.  With Prince of Persia, McFarlane Toys has not completely let go of the statue like collectable figures.  In addition to the 3 3/4" action figure series, there are three figures similar to McFarlane Toys signature "Nerd Hummels".  I have no interest in them at all.  Nevertheless, back to the PoP figures at hand...

When I saw these on the shelves at my local Target, it was more of a curiosity for me.  I thought McFarlane Toys has been doing a good job with their Halo figures but I am not really into it.  However, these just grabbed me.  I instantly grabbed one of each figure including the one that came with the horse. 

There are four basic figures: 2 Prince Dastan figures and 2 bad guys.  The Desert garb Dastan is a Target exclusive and has a translucent arm.  The characters themselves don't look very interesting.  They are all clad in browns and dark earthy tones. However, the sculpting on all four are phenomenal.  Other than Jake Gylenhaal, I'm not sure who the other actors are but Jake looks dead on.  The details in the sculpts are really incredible.  I haven't seen movie toys since the Golden Compass that I liked this much.

The paint applications are love/hate for me because there are some great washes and details but it may be in your best interest to study the figures before buying them as there is some sloppiness.  I was happy to find a nice set with only minor paint issues. 

The articulation is top notch with only one flaw.  The hip joints do not stay on that well.  They are ball jointed and will fall off if forced too much.  Thankfully, they pop back on. 

The Prince Dastan and Aksh (horse) set is better than I expected.  The horse is well articulated and reminds me of the horses that came out in the 1980's as part of the Lone Ranger and Zorro lines but with better sculpts and with softer plastic.  The Dastan figure includes a cloth cloak.  I am not generally a fan of soft goods.  However, at least it is made of a better quality cloth than what Hasbro is using for their Star Wars lines.

I am very impressed with the outstanding job McFarlane has done with these figures.  No matter whether the movie does well or not, I have a feeling these are not going to sell well because the characters are just not interesting enough.  There are no monsters or robots and that seems to be what sells with kids.  In addition, these figures are not cheap.  I picked them up at Target for $7.99 each.  That is a buck too high in my opinion. Though, I have heard that Toys R Us are getting these for $6.99 which is a little better.   Nevertheless, if you are a fan of highly detailed, well articulated 3 3/4" action figures, you can't go wrong.  If McFarlane continues to follow this trend with future toy lines, consider me a fan.

4.5 out of 5

I am rather happy that they went with the classic figure design instead of the cartoon or 2002 look because I particularly like the yellow skin.   Mattel did an exceptional job with it as well.  The skin isn't just yellow but has some subtle orange shading to it.  Normally, I don't go for this kind of thing on an action figure but it is done very well and isn't overwhelming.  The rest of the colors are outstanding.  I love the two tones of blue on the outfit.  They are classic and classy. 

The sculpt is pretty much Teela with a new head.  The head is exactly what I expect from the Four Horsemen; a wonderful re-vamp of the original figure.  The headdress has some nice details such as the skull that sits at the top.

The accessories are what really makes this (mostly) repaint figure worth the money.  She includes a staff with crystal ball at the top like the original figure but what makes this truly unique is the crystal ball is removable and can be attached to a smaller staff.  To be honest, I would have been perfectly fine with just the longer staff.  The other accessory that I do really dig is Evil-Lyn includes her falcon (who's name escapes me right now).  What separates this falcon with the one that came with Teela is this one has the armor that was included with the original toy and a stand.  The stand really is a welcomed addition as I can actually display it unlike the one with Teela.  Evil-Lyn also comes with a knife that is well painted.  However, I would have preferred a silver blade instead of it being blue.

The articulation is exactly like Teela.  It is very good but lacks a waist joint.  I can live with this because I think it helps the overall sculpt.

Evil-Lyn was never my favorite character or one that I was hotly anticipating.  With that said, she is a necessity to the Classics line and one that was done as good as possible.  Now that it seems that Mattel is taking a break from some of the core characters from the original Masters of the Universe series; I am glad I picked her up and so will you.

4.5 out of 5

The first Movie Masters Joker was a very fine figure.  Sure, I could find things that could be improved on but overall it was satisfying.  With the new Joker figure, we get an even more detailed figure in a slightly different outfit.  Well, not really a different outfit just sans jacket.  The detail on the patterned shirt is phenomenal and my favorite aspect of the figure.  The colors on the rest of the figure are vibrantly dark especially his green vest.  The color combinations really make this figure stand out.  

The only other real noticeable difference is this figure has been given a new head sculpt.  This time with more slicked back greasy hair and a lot messier (intentionally) paint job on the face.  I particularly like the paint on the face as it is less clean than the original Joker figure.  However, I think Mattel may have overdone the red on the lips a bit as it hides a lot of the sinister look on the Joker's face.

This figure has similar articulation as the other Movie Masters figures.  He really has as much articulation as you could ask for from an action figure of this scale of a guy who is virtually wearing casual clothing.

The only accessory the Joker includes is a giant missile launcher like the one he used in the film.  It is painted in cartoony colors with a Joker face on the missile.  I can't remember if this was how it was done up in the movie.  I would have to watch the film again to confirm the accuracy.  If it is in fact how it looked on screen than I can accept it.  Otherwise, I would have preferred a less colorful missile launcher.

This figure is priced fairly normal for a six inch quality action figure but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  It is still hard for me to take in I had  to spend almost thirteen dollars on this.  Nevertheless, it is a nice addition to the Dark Knight Movie Masters collection and I suppose I'd rather spend the thirteen bucks on it than not have a chance to own it at all.

4.5 out of 5

First off, I absolutely love this toy!  It is one of my all time favorite's.  The design and playability are excellent.  I don't usually get in the habit of buying repaints (especially at fifty bucks) but I had to get this and I am glad I did.  I won't go into the transformation and all that because this toy has essentially been around for a couple of years now.  What sets this version apart from the US released figure is the amazing paint job.  You can always rely on the Japanese to make a toy look really amazing.

Convoy features an amazing sparkled blue and red plastic that is perfectly matched with the paint.  He also features silver gloss for the thighs, face and other details.  The colors definitely provide a more realistic appearance for this toy that makes it stand out. 

There really isn't any slop or other issues with this figure.  However,  I wish Takara Tomy would have given Convoy better weapons but I suppose these are fairly accurate to the animated counterpart. 

I suppose I could provide a bit more of a detailed review but it really boils down to how much you like Optimus Prime or Animated with whether this is a worthy purchase.  In the end, I prefer the US paint schemes over the Japanese ones as a whole but for aesthetics alone, the Takara Tomy Convoy is beautiful and makes for a great stand alone piece in my collection.

5 out of 5

I think the main motivation behind checking out the Water Slaughter and Fangore toys is the action figures and that I had never seen Water Slaughter & Sever at retail.  The figures, yet small are interesting and well sculpted for what they are.  I really like the bad guys in this series as they are mostly humanoid animals.  Kalus is the cooler of the two.  He is a lion type humanoid with cool non-removable armor.  He lacks great articulation but I appreciate the moveable tail.  Sever, a shark like creature is unique looking and unlike Kalus, features pretty good articulation.  However, this was mainly done so he can fit into his vehicle.  In addition to the standard joints in this series, Sever has dynamic neck movement.  I don't think it really adds to the play value but It is still appreciated.

The vehicle is what most kid or collector would be buying these for and although they look fairly interesting, they truly disappoint as far as play goes.  I suppose I look at this line as a sort of M.A.S.K. like series.  Judging by the cartoon, you'd think the vehicles would have all sorts of moving parts but that is not the case.  Each of these vehicles have one action feature: Water Slaughter has three shooting discs and Fangore has a rotating "arrow thing" (he also has a shooting missile but this is pretty common place for toys these days). 

The Water Slaughter vehicle has a neat color pattern worth noting.  There is a swirl of white embedded in the blue plastic to simulate a water look.  Fangore looks like a futuristic chariot which is perhaps the most unique looking of all the BF5 vehicles. 

Well, I guess the bottom line is, these toys are worth the ten bucks or so at retail considering you get a nice little figure with vehicle.  However, I have a hard time understanding why toys like these don't have even close to the play value as many others from over twenty years ago.  These have a lot of potential to being very fun but as it stands, they are just mediocre.

3 out of 5

To date, I have been able to acquire all the action figures from the Masters of the Universe Classics line that I have wanted and to my surprise, each one has been better than the last in almost every way.  Moss Man is a unique situation because he was designed as a bit of a gimmick both back in the 1980's and is still now with the new action figure.  If you are not already familiar with Moss Man's roots, he was a green repaint of the popular Beast Man character.  However, he was flocked in green (moss like fur) and smelled like pine.  Mattel has kept the new Moss Man true to his origins but this time around he includes both a head of a repainted Beast Man and one of an all new original sculpt.  I, without question prefer the new head sculpt.  The Beast Man head works well with its primal scream expression but the new head really captures the feeling I get when I think of a creature living in the forest that controls plant life.  The body is the same as your standard "Classics" action figure but of course,  it is covered with mossy fur that does hide much of the details in the sculpt.

Mattel did an excellent job with the flocking of the fur.  I was fearful that the fur pieces would easily fall off the action figure but they appear to be well attached.  Also, the decision to avoid flocking in and near the articulated joints was a good one.   The other unusual feature on this action figure is the pine fresh smell.  It is a rather potent smell.  The moment I opened up the package, the pungent smell of pine filled the room.  I have since gotten used to it.  Moss Man would be put to great use hanging from the rear view mirror of my car.

Moss Man includes some pretty cool accessories:  a staff and a shoulder strap with a knife.  They are very intricately detailed for accessories.  They are covered with vines that have a nice array of paint applications which make up for the few colors throughout the action figure itself. 

Moss Man is an incredibly difficult toy to obtain and like the rest of the Masters of the Universe Classics action figures, a tad bit too expensive.  Nevertheless, Moss Man is an awesome addition to this growing collection and one that comes recommended for those who are fans of the warriors and creatures that inhabit the world of Eternia.

4.5 out of 5

Barricade from the first Transformers series is a cool Mustang Saleen police car that is super slick and as far as movie designs go, I suppose he is one of the better looking robots as he looks somewhat like a traditional Transformers robot.  The vehicle mode on this toy is rather nice but is a far cry from the Alternators level of detail.  Gone are the rubber tires, the nice plastic and all the other subtle details.  Nevertheless, this car is fun and looks fairly good.  It is a unique vehicle that is rather attractive.

The transformation on first try was kind of strange.  It isn't difficult but because of the robot designs being so unusual, it is really important to make sure all the parts are in the right place.  After a good few tries, I started to really enjoy it.

The robot design is as good as it could be.  I sound like a broken record but I dislike the robots designed for the movie but with that said, Barricade is somewhat reminiscent to the designs I know and love.  After the first transformation I felt that perhaps I wasted my money on this guy but after playing with him for some time and getting everything in the right place and getting him in that perfect pose, he really grew on me.  So much so, that I may even like him as much or more than the HA Bumblebee.  However, there are some problems, mostly with the articulation.  The knee articulation is not really useful and frustrating.

Barricade is a bit weird to handle due to his size and proportions and of course all the crazy parts hanging off of him.  He is mostly made of black plastic with some grey/silver and the white doors with the police logos.  Barricade is quite imposing and looks like a true villain.   Barricade includes a little Frenzy that looks fine for what it is but if this is how Hasbro rationalizes the price, I'm not buying it.

The Human Alliance line is definitely over priced especially compared to their Alternators counterparts.  With that said, if they were charging thirty bucks for new Alternators, I would be more than okay with it but this is not an Alternator.  Nevertheless, considering the source, this is still a fun, well designed Transformer.

3.5 out of 5

As a child, I was not fortunate to own Battle Cat.  I did have Skeletor's cat, Panthor and loved it dearly.  He was flocked in purple and looked ferocious.  I was thinking of passing on this new Battle Cat due to the higher price point but I decided to go for it as I thought Battle Armor He-Man would look cool riding him like in one of the famous paintings of the two and boy am I glad I did.  The Four Horsemen did not miss a thing on this excellent toy! 

The original Battle Cat had no articulation.  This one is loaded with moving parts.  He has ball joints every where!  He also has a moving jaw.  The details are phenomenal! No detail has been overlooked.  The armor (which is removable) stands out.  There are even loops to hold He-Man's sword. 

The paint job may be what really makes this toy.  Besides the dead on green with yellow tiger stripes, I love the two toned burgundy used on the armor.  And, although I usually don't go crazy for washes, it really works here.  He-Man fits very snug in the saddle and helps recreate the painting I was referring to above that I like so much! 

I really can't find one thing wrong with this toy.  Even the price is very reasonable for what you get.  The Four Horsemen outdid themselves with Battle Cat!  I can't use enough exclamation points to express my satisfaction.  If you don't own this quickly sold out item, make a point to get a hold of one if you have any interest in the MOTU universe!

Trap-Jaw has always been a popular and recognizable villain in the MOTU universe.  He has a very unique and appealing design and yet again the Four Horsemen hit a home run.

The sculpt is a brilliant homage to the original figure with many great updates such as the guts underneath his moveable jaw.  The most noticeable feature of this figure is the ability to transform him into Kronus.  The Kronus head is rather cool and almost makes me wish I would have broken down and gotten a second one to display.  One minor fault on this figure is when you remove the arm and armor to add the Kronus' arm, there is a slight gap between the chest and arm.  It is minor but still a distraction.

The paint is well done and brings out the amazing details of this figure.  I'm not 100% sold on the pearl blue tone on the upper arms.  It looks cool but does not completely blend with the chest. 

Trap-Jaw also includes his hand attachments for his robot arm.  The robot arm is surprisingly articulated.  I didn't expect it to rotate at the shoulders. 

I am continuously amazed by the figures in this line.  Every time I get a new one, it becomes my favorite and Trap-Jaw is no exception.  Even with my minor gripes. this is an amazing action figure.  Even though I still think the Masters of the Universe Classics figures are five dollars too expensive, I really don't have any regrets buying them.

5 out of 5

The vehicle is that of a Stealth and looks mighty nice.  I don't know how authentic it is considering I am not an expert on military vehicles but it looks close enough to convince me.  I like the transparent red cockpit that tends to be a trend with Decepticons.  I am not crazy about the markings on the wings.  It is supposed to represent some sort of language graffiti but adds nothing to the toy for me.  I also have a problem with the color of the plastic used.  Hasbro has been using this dark brown plastic to substitute for black as of late and in this case it makes no sense to me.  Why not just use black?

The transformation is rather disappointing to me as it is far too simple for a Voyager class figure.  It is not nearly as complex nor as interesting as either deluxe Lockdown or Brawn.  It is a good couch Transformer though.  Which means: you can sit around on the couch while watching TV and fiddle with it. 

The robot mode is lackluster.  I am not a huge fan of the robot's head.  What I find strange is the head is probably proportionate to the body but because I am used to small headed Transformers, it looks big.  The robot also has a thin bug look to it.  It really isn't terrible but other than the bulk, it does not translate into a twenty dollar Transformer to me.

Mindwipe features two non-removable knives permanently attached to his hands.  They wouldn't be so terrible but the knives' point down and look odd.  I do like the auto-morph feature with the wings.  It is kind of fun to mess with.

Mindwipe is probably not as bad as I am making him out to be but when I just picked up two deluxe figures for nearly the same price as this Voyager and they had tons more play value, it makes it hard to fall in love with Mindwipe.  He fits in a bit more with some of the other movie toys and perhaps that is my biggest gripe.

2.5 out of 5

Starting with Lockdown; what I find so interesting about him is that instead of classic characters being done in an animated style, this is an animated character done in a more modern style and Hasbro really nailed it!  His vehicle is very similar to the animated counterpart.  It looks like something right out of Mad Max.  The transformation is well done and features a fair challenge.  However, the one major flaw with this figure becomes an issue during the transformation.  The left arm falls off every time I have transformed him (and I've done it a bunch).  It is due to a few issues:  the joint holding in the arm, is not very tight & for some reason the arm just doesn't rotate properly to prevent it from falling out of socket.  It is a big frustration.

The robot is phenomenal!  I am not sure it could have been done better.  If you are a fan of the Lockdown character, you will be very happy.  Lockdown is perhaps the tallest deluxe figure.  His head articulation is truly the highlight on this figure.  I could probably describe many more details but this is really a figure that Transformers fans should check out on their own.  Especially at twelve bucks retail.  I do want to mention that Hasbro chose to use an unusual dark brown plastic instead of black.  I, surprisingly don't really mind it too much.

Brawn is the other new figure that caught my fancy.  The vehicle mode isn't anything exciting.  It is a pretty typical army vehicle. The transformation for Brawn is rather unique and fairly smooth.  However, like the Lockdown, I did have a problem with a limb falling off but with Brawn, it was his leg.  It isn't as consistent as with Lockdown's arm but still a little frustrating.

The robot is very slick and unique.  He is a short and squat warrior with two long arms.  The highlight with Brawn is his head design.  I am also digging his unique color scheme.  Note: he also features the same strange dark brown color plastic as Lockdown.  Brawn has two guns that fit in his hands as well as a cool shoulder gun. 

Both these figures are some of the best offered by Hasbro in quite a while.  Had they not had the loose limbs they may have gotten a perfect score but the frustration was enough.  These are really worth the money and help restore my faith in the future of Transformers.

4.5 out of 5

The first thing I noticed when I picked the figure up off the shelves was how heavy it was.  I was thinking that there might be some die-cast in it.  That would have been so cool and appropriate but no luck.  The second thing I noticed is, in order to check this figure out, I would have to pay $8 bucks!  Wow!  Action figures are really expensive.  Nevertheless...

The Mark 1 really surprised me.  Hasbro did a nice job with the sculpt.  There is a fair amount of detail here for a smaller figure.  You can see a lot of the unusual parts used to make this armor.  It is far superior to the first figure released from the first movie. 

The paint job was also refreshing as Hasbro put in a nice amount of paint applications.  The best parts are the colors in between the armor.  It really brings out the details in the armor.  There is a slight wash on the grey armor that also works well on this figure.

Iron-Man is fairly well articulated especially for such a bulky armor.  However, the joints are almost too tight.  It isn't necessarily fragile but it was a little frustrating trying to loosen them.

The Mark 1 includes a flame thrower that attaches to his arm and a base that includes a trading card.  I've never been a fan of this type of base but Hasbro did a good job with it.  The card is smaller than a typical trading card and the base isn't too busy.

I am pleasantly surprised by this figure.  I don't necessarily think this is the new standard for Hasbro's Marvel figures but they did a good enough job to get me to check out the Mark 3.  However, there is still one major problem here; Eight bucks is just way too much for an action figure of this sort.  I try not to let it affect my score too much but Hasbro is pricing this two bucks too high and for that, I can't be too nice.

3.5 out of 5

The vehicle mode is that of a Cybertronian race car.  It looks very sleek and fast.  This is also the closest looking to the original Arcee design from the movie (1986).  The color is worth mentioning off the bat because it isn't a pink color as expected.  I can't say I am disappointed as pink isn't particularly my favorite color nor do I feel the need to have the character to be identical to the original design.  The color is more of a deep red/purple/pink.  It looks as if Hasbro was trying to make it as girly as they could and still appeal to the boys.  I didn't like the color at first glance but I got used to it very quickly.  It is also worth noting that there is a nice sparkle to it.

The transformation is great fun like the majority of the Animated figures.  It is simple enough with some nice unique twists and turns.  The only turn off to the transformation (and the figure for that matter) is the wings are removable and tend to fall off quite easily especially during transformation.

I love this robot.  It is in the great unique animated style.  Arcee's head is a great homage to the character that never got her due.  Arcee has great articulation which surprised me as I expected her to be somewhat of a stick figure.  She comes with two great swords.  They are made of a transparent blue plastic and fit tight in the back of the car that can double as sword hilts in robot mode. 

Arcee is very well made and designed.  It would have been a shame had she never been released.  Thankfully, Hasbro found a way with this Toys R Us exclusive.  If you are at all a fan of Transformers Animated or Arcee, you can't go wrong.  We'll see how the rest of the year goes but Arcee could very well make the top ten of the year list.

4.5 out of 5

The Luke Skywalker Snowspeeder pilot is the second version we have received of this modified X-Wing pilot outfit.  The first one being way back in the very beginning of Power of the Force 2.  The sculpt of this new version is leaps and bounds better than the first one.  Hasbro has really nailed the rebel fighter pilot gear.   This Luke features a wrap to keep his head warm.  I watched ESB recently and could not spot Luke wearing this.  Nevertheless, it still looks fine but there are a few irritating flaws.  Most notably is on the package, the figure is pictured to have a belt clip were the grappling gun can clip on.  Unfortunately, the clip is nowhere to be found leaving the grappling gun chord hanging around.  Another flaw I found is again with the accessory.  There is a string for the hook of the gun but it also goes nowhere.  It is rather frustrating and makes this nice figure an eye sore when displayed with his weapon.   On the other hand, the helmet fits snug and I like how Luke holds his lightsaber hilt.

Now we get to Zuckuss.  I believe this is the third POTF2 version of this bounty hunter that had 6 seconds of screen time.  The first version was nice but is now quite dated.  The second one really still looks good to me which brings me to this third one which I find atrocious.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, soft goods do not lay properly on such small figures!  I don't know who these collectors are who prefer it but it makes no sense to me.  I suppose it would add some articulation if Hasbro had ball-jointed hips.  Also, who is begging to put Zuckuss in a dynamic pose?  If Hasbro insists on using soft goods then why can't they use a thicker, higher quality material?  After all, they charge about eight bucks a figure.  To add to the awful cloth, Hasbro has added terrible paint applications to the material to help it look like it is dirty.  Seriously, this looks so half-assed.  The rest of the figure is acceptable but I think the brown color appears a tad bit too dark. 

So, here we are.  Hasbro continues to crank out updated versions of figures we've seen a few times over.  The Luke is good but the grappling hook takes all the joy away for me.  The Zuckuss may end up in the trash.  Seriously, if you are going to update a figure, please...make it look better!

Luke - 3 out of 5

Zuckuss - 1 out of 5

The Cybertron mode Ratchet is perhaps the one figure from the final releases that I was the least interested in.  However, I was still very excited to get it.  The vehicle mode is fairly simple looking and appears somewhat incomplete but I suppose it looks as it should.  It looks somewhat like a futuristic camper type vehicle.

The transformation is very basic but is still very solid.  It only takes a few moments to transform but everything fits in its proper place.

The robot mode at first glance appears to look like the regular ratchet but side by side it is easy to tell that this is a very different toy.  The head shows a younger more happy ratchet before war started wearing on him.  The chest is not as bulky on this version.

Ratchet is well painted like the other animated figures with nice dull colors.  He looks great next to his Earth mode counterpart. 

Ratchet features substantial articulation and has plenty of play value.  He is accessorized with two fist weapons that really don't add much to the toy as they are just two plastic covers for his fists.  He also has a punching action feature that is rather useless.

Cybertron Ratchet fits in great with the rest of the animated figures.  He certainly is not my favorite of the line but I am very happy this Toys R Us exclusive made it to toy shelves as it has more personality and quality than virtually all the movie toys in my opinion.

3.5 out of 5

Hermann stands about 5 1/2" tall and is well designed and sculpted.  It is very obvious in many ways that this was not created for an American market.  The most obvious is how many sharp points this figure has.  I would never let my daughter even hold this guy.  He is simply dangerous.  The sculpt has incredible details.  The Asian market continues to amaze me with how detailed they can make a figure.  There are so many tiny lines that really bring this to life. Most of the plastic used is a strong model like plastic which I believe helps bring out the details. 

Hermann is well articulated from head to toes.  I do have a problem with the figure being a bit loose in the waist/chest joint.  It makes it a bit hard to maintain a nice pose but with enough care, it can be done.  The figure is given some nice weapons including two ax like weapons with two options to connect them into one massive weapon.  One is a simple connector to make it a huge double bladed ax and the other has a chain attached.  He also includes many nicely sculpted hands and a base,

There aren't a great deal of paint applications on this action figure but those that are present are rather amazing and bring out many of the fine details.  He is mostly made of a nice deep red plastic that shows off nicely.

I can't say that this figure has encouraged me to hunt down the rest (mostly due to their somewhat high import prices).  However, I am very happy I have this figure.  He is great fun to pose and who knows, if I could find them at a reasonable price, I could very well bite.

4 out of 5

How happy I am I did.  Like the other Armor Plus figures, you get a fairly blank, highly articulated body and the armor must be attached by you which provides them with added play value.  Tekkamamn comes with plenty of armor, extra hands and weapons.  The armor is made of a mixture of plastics and some very heavy die-cast metal.  I am a sure sucker for die-cast metal.  The cold feel is enough to make me giddy.  The armor attaches rather nicely with little problems.  Limbs do however need to be removed in order to attach the leg and arm armor.  This is perfectly fine for me.  However, the hands do not seem to snap back in securely which caused a great deal of frustration.  Enough so that what could have been a perfect figure, now gets a half off the final rating.

The sculpt and articulation are phenomenal!  The figure stands about nine inches tall which easily makes him the tallest in the Armor Plus series.  He comes with two heads.  One appears to be a more normal mode and the other features a far more dynamic look.  It is worth noting that many pieces on the armor are very sharp.  They don't appear to be to delicate but you may be extra careful not to break the tips and/or break through your skin.

The paint is clean as expected from high end Bandai figures.  I just hope the white does not discolor in the future.  Much of the white is paint so I am hoping that will make the difference.

Tekkaman features a nice array of weapons:  two single blades, a double bladed staff and the tail part becomes a arrow shooting arm weapon.  The weapons are well designed and painted.  I do wish the blades where painted with chrome like the Ryo No Roko figure's weapons were.

This figure has some nice moving parts.  Most notably are the rib cage armor and the shoulders open to reveal some awesome green blasters of sort.

I bought Tekkaman on looks alone and the fact I like the Armor Plus series and as soon as I finished putting him together I immediately added the anime to my Netflix queue.  I think that says a lot for my enthusiasm for this slick mech.

4.5 out of 5

Please note:  I apologize for the lazy photos.  There is so much more to this item.

I skipped Beast Man the first time it was released because I wasn't committed to this expensive series and I was only planning on buying a few figures that I had a childhood history with.  That has all since changed and I was fortunate to get Beast Man with this second release.  Beast Man always looked cool to me but his cartoon character sort of ruined him for me.  I saw him as a savage beast and the Filmation cartoon depicted him as a stupid lackey.  Nevertheless, he is a core character and the Four Horsemen did him right. 

Beast Man is excellently sculpted and designed.  Like the rest of the figures in the line, the figure captures the look of the original figure with added articulation and modern design.  The face really says it all with his vicious expression. The one aspect of Beast Man I always loved was his colors.  The orange and light blue go so well together and this figure displays that well.  Beast Man's one main flaw to me is he seems a little short.  I thought of Beast Man as a larger broader character but this figure stands shorter than the rest.  Beast man is accessorized with a whip.  It is of much higher quality than the vintage version which is more or less a string tied to a piece of plastic.

With most action figure lines, the main characters receive many costume changes.  In many cases, they are strange and unfitting to the character or are specific to one moment or climate.  With Battle Armor He-Man, his subtle change is equally as cool as his original outfit.  For anyone who knows anything about MOTU, knows how cool the action feature was on the figure.  You gently hit the chest and the plate would flip to reveal one or two slash marks.  This was a very fun feature to me when I was a kid.  The new version of this classic armor does not include this feature but instead has three plates that can be slipped into the armor to display the battle marks.  The chests plates look great but it is a hassle to change them.  Nevertheless, this figure is great and one of my favorites in the series. 

Other than the chest armor and changeable plates, Battle Armor He-Man only includes his ax.  Sure I would have loved his sword but the ax works just fine and this figure will look great sitting upon Battle Cat when he gets released next month.

I am glad I was given another chance to add Beast Man to my Classics collection and I am also happy that Mattel offered the excellent Battle Armor He-Man figure this month since I have no interest in the Princess Adora figure.  But who knows?  A month from now I may be hoping Mattel gives me a second chance to own her.

4.5 out of 5

There are six figures in the set.  Two of which are of main character, Zak Saturday.  I have been unsuccessful at finding Zak Saturday with Fire Sword but with a little more searching I am sure I will find one.

I have watched an episode or two of the animated series and thought it was pretty fun but I will admit, having a child as the main character sort of turned me off.  Mattel has done a nice job of capturing the style of the animation.  There are some similarities of the boxy shapes with Mattel's JLU series of action figures but the Secret Saturdays are scaled a bit taller.  The plastic used is much stronger than the flexi stuff used for JLU but the articulation is very similar with maybe the addition of elbow joints (some JLU figures did feature elbow joints). 

The paint jobs are fairly well done.  However, I did look at a few different figures to find the best ones as some of the paint applications were a bit off.  The colors are rather brilliant.  I like the use of the dull colors.  All the figures look really well together.  The good guys are predominately black, orange and yellow with some browns.  The baddies are distinct in color.  Accessories are limited to only what seems like the necessities.  I do like the simple bases that are included with each figure.

My favorite figure is Doyle.  He stood out to me particularly cause he reminded me of Thall Joban from the Star Wars Droids toy line (mostly due to the hair).  He looks like the true hero of the line.  Bad guy Van Rook is also pretty cool.  He looks sort of ninja like.

This is one of those toy lines that children may remember fondly of twelve years from now and they may be hard to find as toy collector's over looked it.  It is an easy collection to complete as there are only six regular scaled action figures produced.  I would have never bought these at regular retail as they don't have quite enough play value but with that said, if I can only find the Zak figure I am still missing at retail price, I will be okay with paying it.

3 out of 5

For those who may not know, Bludgeon was a character and toy from Transformers G1 Pretenders series.  I am not a huge fan of the Pretenders series and am completely surprised that Hasbro has brought back a character from the series.  I find it somewhat refreshing from seeing the same characters being redone over and over again.

This time around Bludgeon is not a human shell that breaks open to reveal a robot but he is a tank.  The tank is pretty nice.  It looks fairly generic and if you showed it to me I wouldn't necessarily be convinced that it was a new toy.  Nevertheless, it isn't too Sci-Fi looking and could easily fit in one of many different Transformers series.

The Transformation is pretty fun.  I particularly like the rubber tank treads that separate.  I can't remember the last time Hasbro used rubber on any Transformers series (except Alternators). 

The robot really impresses me.  He is clearly an homage to the original Bludgeon character design.  He reeks of samurai.  The highlights for me include the chest and surprisingly the head.  At first glance the head didn't strike me but upon more studying, I really feel it fits well and is very unique for a Transformer.

The paint and plastic are surprisingly good.  The chest has a nice high gloss orange that really stands out.  I also want to express my gratitude on what appears to be an improvement in the plastic especially with the grey plastic.  Normally Hasbro uses an almost transparent looking grey plastic but this time around the plastic looks strong. 

The accessories could easily be a selling point for many as he comes with a long and short samurai sword that connect to form one long double edged staff.  What is even cooler is the tank turret opens up to make a sword sheath.  It looks so natural and is rather ingenious.

Bludgeon is a rather bulky figure which limits some potential articulation but it isn't too bad and it makes up for it with multiple arm joints. 

Bludgeon is one cool robot and a great way to start out the new year.  He has a unique design that can fit in with other Transformers series which is good news for me and others who took a long break from Transformers with the tired movie designs.

3.5 out of 5