Batman the Animated Series - BATGIRL!

Batman the Animated Series (Maxie Zeus Wave) - Batgirl - McFarlane Toys 2024

With McFarlane Toys slowly re-releasing all of the old DC Collectible Batman the Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures figures, I have decided to be very selective. Some of the figures, including the TNBA Batgirl and TNBA Catwoman, have been essentially identical to the original releases (which I still have and love). But occasional there is something new, like the Batman '66 repaint of the TNBA Batgirl and this BTAS Batgirl in a distinctly-different deco. As much as I love the DCC BTAS Batgirl, the colors always seemed very dark and broody. I was very happy for this redecoed version, and I hope future BTAS/TNBA releases will have similar updates instead of boring re-releases. Plus, and I will always repeat this, we desperately need a Batwoman figure from Mystery of the Batwoman in this line. She would be such an easy figure from existing sculpts to make and a fantastic new character. Fingers crossed for a future reveal. Let's check out the updated BTAS Batgirl below!

ThunderCats Ultimates - CHILLA!

ThunderCats Ultimates - Series 9 - Chilla (the Icy Lunatak) - Super7 2024

ThunderCats is one of my childhood properties that I have a fierce love for. But as an adult, I can acknowledge that my obsession was purely based on general concept, toys, and character design. Because my knowledge of the characters who were not merchandised and even my memories of the actual cartoon are scant or non-existent. Until fans started begging Mattel for an action figure of Chilla back in 2016, I honestly never heard of her and would have wagered that there weren't any cool female villains in the series. I do have vague memories of the Lunataks, but thinking they were a bit silly. In concept they are a formidable collective of ancient evil warriors from each of Plun-Darr's moons. But in actuality, they are a bit like a bumbling group of misfits. With the sole exception of Chilla. On her own merits, she is very cool (pun intended). She had the most traditionally human body of the Lunataks and her abilities are reflected in her icy appearance (I love a monochromatic design and elemental powers).

Fraggle Rock - RED!

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock - Series 1 - Red - Boss Fight Studio 2024

Despite being constantly exposed to Sesame Street and The Muppet Show all throughout my childhood, it was actually Fraggle Rock which made me a lifelong Jim Henson fan. The subterranean society of lovable adventurers, artists, explorers, and performers captured my imagination like nothing had before. Red is one of the two main female Fraggles in the show and is presented as a daring athlete and stuntwoman. She often challenges her friends to join her in competition or gathers the whole Fraggle community to watch her perform a daring high dive. I won't lie, she was easily my least favorite character. I am neither sporty nor competitive, so I just didn't relate. But at the same time, I think she is the most iconic with her big red ponytails and boisterous tomboy personality. This Fraggle line from Boss Fight Studio is technically from the new Back to the Rock reboot on AppleTV+, but luckily the character designs are mostly identical to the classic looks. They are amazing. Let's check out Red below!

G.I.Joe Classified - AGENT HELIX!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #104 - Covert Operations Agent Helix - Hasbro 2023

Agent Helix is an intriguing but frustrating character for me. I was first exposed to her when I picked up a solo comic introducing her in conjunction with the upcoming G.I.Joe the Rise of Cobra live action movie. Soon she had an action figure released and I was very excited to see this new character on the big screen. But, unfortunately, she was not in the movie, but was rather an original creation for the movie tie-in video game. I was pretty disappointed to say the least. Only because I don't play video games (and the movie was so bland to me that I don't even remember it). I still liked the original 2009 toy, which surprisingly had a completely new sculpt, but I figured the character would fade into obscurity. (Interestingly, her head was reused for new B-list legacy figures; Dialtone and G.I.Jane). Needless to say, I was pretty surprised to see her added to the Classified lineup last year. But she actually fits in with the aesthetic of the line (and her armblades are wild). Let's check out Agent Helix below!

G.I.Joe Classified - COVER GIRL!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #59 - Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger - Hasbro 2023

Cover Girl is a very interesting character. As the second female G.I.Joe character produced, and after having a prominent role in the first G.I.Joe mini-series (albeit with a very different design), you would think she had the momentum to be a major character in the franchise. But as a kid, and even later as a young adult collector, she is a character that I constantly forgot about. This might be because her vintage figure resembled Scarlett in a bomber jacket (to my young eyes at least). Or maybe because her figure only came with an expensive vehicle, which made her inaccessible for most. But I think the biggest factor was her scarcity in the cartoon. I have almost no memories of her in the show. I remember having taped an episode where she blurred by in an action scene for a split-second cameo. I would rewind and pause it in fascination. I was into the Marvel G.I.Joe comics at the time, and I had thought she was a comics-only character until these rare animated glimpses. But they were few and far between.

G.I.Joe Classified - JINX!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #124 - Kim "Jinx" Arashikage - Hasbro 2024

Jinx was one of the first female action figures I ever owned (I think I got her and Zarana around the same time). I had taped the G.I.Joe the Movie episodes as they aired on afterschool television and was obsessed. Pythona was above and beyond my favorite character. But Jinx was a close second. When she snapped that training staff in half, spun them like dual propellers, and took down Beach Head, my adolescent jaw hit the floor with wonder. I was many years into my martial arts career at the time, and interest was waning hard, but Jinx rejuvenated that spark for a few more years. Interestingly, 25 years later, the hasbrotoyshop exclusive Kim Arashikage (and specifically my inability to acquire her) killed my interest in G.I.Joe for a decade until Classified started. So Jinx marks both highs and lows of my collecting hobby. I actually think this Classified figure is the nicest representation I've seen. I love her unmasked head - it's so reminiscent of the cartoon design (but with a realistic flare). Let's check her out below!

G.I.Joe Classified - QUARREL!

G.I.Joe Classified - Nightforce Falcon & Quarrel (Walmart CC) - Hasbro 2024

Hot on the heels of the Glenda post from yesterday is Quarrel, another early Scarlett variation that became a solid character in her own right. In Europe, the early G.I.Joe molds were used for the Action Force toyline by Palitoy. This produced a lot of well-loved character variations like Red Laser, Jammer and Skip. But my favorite was always the blonde Quarrel with her green and black outfit and her motorcycle. These original figures were not as rare as most of the foreign G.I.Joe variations and pretty easy to get cheaply on eBay. I still love the simple redeco though and I'm glad Hasbro commemorated Quarrel with a figure in the Classified line. It's surprising that this figure isn't also a simple Scarlett repaint, but I appreciate her differentiation as a wholly independent character. She was released in a Walmart Collector Con 2-Pack with Falcon under the Night Force theme. (The Night Force theme applies more to Falcon's specialized dark redeco, as opposed to this rather tradition Quarrel deco). Let's check out Quarrel below!

G.I.Joe Classified - GLENDA!

G.I.Joe Classified Haslab (Dragonfly) - Jane "Glenda" Mulligan - Hasbro 2024

I've made a turning point with Haslab campaigns. Almost every release has a single character or two that I want, and up until now I have backed almost every campaign solely for a small figure, leaving me to store and resell a giant vehicle or figure. This past Summer I finally bucked up and sold my Sentinels, Galactus, H.I.S.S. Tank, etc. And honestly the ordeal was a pain. Buyers kept backing out after the sale was made (i get it, it's a big purchase), the packages took up the entire back seat of my car, and I discovered only certain local facilities can even accept packages over 3 feet. Anyway, when this Glenda was announced as a stretch goal for the 2024 Dragonfly Haslab campaign, I knew I needed her, but I would be resorting to eBay to pick her up after the fact. Luckily it went smoothly and I think the upcharge was a good tradeoff for the hassle-free experience. If I only had limitless space and a penchant for vehicles, this hobby would be much easier. Let's check out the Haslab-exc Glenda below!