Marvel Universe - MISTRESS DEATH!

Marvel Universe SDCC '14 Exclusive - Infinity Gauntlet Boxset - Hasbro 2014

Happy Halloween!  I didn't have the forethought to do my typical series of Halloween reviews this year, but I did save this spooky lady that I've had on my shelves since August.  My first exposure to Mistress Death was in 1991's Infinity Gauntlet.  To be perfectly honest she always confused me.  I didn't know if she was the Grim Reaper, Thanos' wife, some sort of God, whatever.  All I knew is that she was omnipresent and creepy and she definitely made an impression.  She was honestly one of my favorite things about that series.  If I can rant for a second: that comic series was the first time the comic market made me feel like a sucker.  I was thirteen and busting my butt mowing lawns and delivering newspapers to fund all my emerging hobbies.  I got sucked into the "Infinity" storyline and spent all my pennies on a million crossovers and follow-up events.. a three year endeavor.  I approach all "big event" comics with trepidation now because that was a soul-sucking experience for an impressionable young nerd.  Rant over!  Let's check out Death below!

WWE Canadian Superstar NATALYA (Take Two)!

WWE Superstars #43 - Natalya (Version 2) - Mattel 2014

It's been a while since I've had a new WWE girl to review.  I never found the Naomi and Cameron 2-Pack and I've skipped a bunch of AJ Lee and Bella Twins repaints, but I never stop cruising the WWE aisle just to see what's new.  I've mentioned before that I know nothing about Wrestling, and I also don't pay (obsessive) attention to this WWE line from Mattel.  The end result is that this is the one toy line that still has the potential to surprise me when I find a figure in the stores.  I have no idea who is in the lineup.  I just look for figures, and if I see one I like, I buy it.  That's why it was super confusing for me when I found this figure at K-Mart a few weeks ago.  I thought she looked great, and she didn't look familiar, but something was making me think I had somehow reviewed her already.  So I checked my blog only to discover that Natalya had an entirely different figure in 2012.  I don't know how common a resculpt is in this line, but I tend to think it's pretty rare treatment.  Kudos to Natalya for making the cut!

Target Exclusive MONSTER HIGH Figurines!

Monster High -  Scary Cute Howl-oween Figures - Target - Just Play Toys 2014

I don't know anything about Monster High.  I don't collect dolls (contrary to what my father thinks) and I've never seen the cartoons.  Despite that though, it's hard not be at least peripherally aware of this uber-popular brand.  The impact these characters have had on the toy world is undeniable.  I personally love how they took a girly medium (fashion dolls) and made it edgy and cool.  The fact that Toys R Us has an entire girl's aisle that isn't pink is startling.  Plus they regularly have convention exclusives aimed at adults (which greatly increases their street cred in my opinion).  I've always wanted some representation of this brand in my collection, but I just couldn't get past the "doll-ness" of them.  Then luckily these Target exclusive Halloween figures came around.  They aren't too large; They aren't too expensive; And the series seems finite.  Basically they are the perfect resolution to my Monster High vacancy.  Now I'm secretly hoping they make some more characters.  Let's check out these 5 ladies below!

Marvel Legends Infinite Series - MS. MARVEL!

Marvel Legends Infinite Series - Target Exclusive 3-Pack - Hasbro 2014

Ms. Marvel is a character that I've always had mixed feeling about.  I would definitely enjoy the occasional back issue, but the character never grabbed me the way others did.  It wasn't until very recently when Carol Danvers took up the mantle of Captain Marvel that I really began to appreciate the character.  Carol Danvers became Ms. Marvel during a very interesting few years at Marvel Comics in the late 1970s.  In a brief timeframe, many outstanding female characters were created and given solo series.  Spider-Woman, Dazzler, She-Hulk, Red Sonja, and Ms. Marvel seemingly came out of nowhere and added some much needed girl power to the Marvel roster.  Similar events were happening at DC, but their new characters just didn't have the staying power of the Marvel ladies.  I grew up mainly knowing Carol as the source of Rogue's base powers.  In my mind, she didn't have a defined personality or interesting story.  Then came her renaissance in the 2000s.  Suddenly she became a major player in the Avengers and finally became the staple character she's always had the potential to be.

Voltron Classics - PRINCESS ALLURA!

Voltron: Defender of the Universe - Voltron Classic Princess Allura - Mattel 2012

I have such powerful childhood memories related to Voltron.  Those colorful robotic cats had little 6-year-old me geeking out way before He-Man, ThunderCats, or G.I.Joe ever caught my eye.  At the same time, I was too young to get many of the original action figures.  When I finally got them all as an adult, my standards had elevated and the blobby, minimally-articulated figures were a little underwhelming.  Then the angels at Mattel revealed this wonderfully retro line to satisfy all my nostalgic impulses.  I was beyond ecstatic.  Then I suffered a major setback when they changed the release plan last minute and suddenly the figures weren't available separately from the cats.  I just couldn't afford the $300 set at the time and I was really let down.  It took me two years to finally get the pilots (sans cats) at a decent price.  Luckily I found a seller who just want the collect-n-connect "Blazing Sword."  Then of course I needed to resort to China eBay sellers to get extra bodies to display the alternate heads.  My first world problems are ridiculous I know, but it all pays off when I have my little beauties all lined up.  Let's check out Allura!

Kickstarter: Heroes of the World - DURGA!

Heroes of the World - Durga the Warrior Goddess (and Lion Steed) - Brillist 2014

I just backed my third Kickstarter campaign!  Unfortunately this one is off to a much slower start than my previous backings, which is a total shame because I think this concept and figure are brilliant.  Durga is a ten-armed Hindu Goddess who rides a Lion steed.  Without any further history lessons, that visual alone should have you throwing your money behind this endeavor.  Eastern religions always intrigue me with their other-worldly deities.  And the ornate decor and animal themes just add to my fascination.  Western religions are very boring in comparison (speaking visually of course).  Unfortunately for me, the history and stories behind individual Hindu figureheads is knowledge I am never able to retain.  I just read her entire wiki page, but barely absorbed a thing (aside from the fact that it made me want her in action figure form even more!)  Let's all rally behind this project people! :)

DC Keychains - WONDER WOMAN & HARLEY QUINN!

NYCC Exclusive DC 3D Figural Keychain 5-Pack - Monogram 2014

New York ComicCon was a bit of a bummer this year in the toy department.  Mattel's absence, Hasbro setting up shop at a different location (again), and no DCC exclusives all combined to bring the bar down a bit.  This 5-Pack of DC Keychains from Monogram was one of only two (!) purchases I made at the show.  I saw them listed in the exclusives guide before the show and I wasn't overly impressed.  But when I saw them in person at the Monogram booth I was hooked.  What I like most about them is how they look like the Little Big Planet characters which I've always been fond of.  The Keychains are also larger and heavier than I expected.  Their heads are about the size of a walnut shell and heavy like a dense ball of rubber.  I found myself handing the box to my friends just so they could feel the weight.  The box was fairly expensive at around $40-45 (I forget).  But it was one of my only purchases so it seemed justified.  Let's check out the adorable little novelties below!

Masters of the Universe Classics - SWEET BEE!

Masters of the Universe Classics - Club Etheria Mattycollector Exc - Mattel 2014

This figure is exactly the reason why I love MOTUC so much. In the classic She-Ra cartoons, my least favorite character by far was Sweet Bee.  I didn't like her looks, I didn't like chemistry with He-Man, and I absolutely loathed her voice. Of all the POP characters to be made into MOTUC figures (back in the day when it was just a pipe dream to get them all), she was very low on my list of wants. Never underestimate the Four Horsemen though.  When this figure was revealed earlier this year, I didn't waste any time before eating my words.  She's gorgeous. The best part about it is that this figure makes me totally reappraise my feeling about the original animated Sweet Bee.. kind of like how a cover of a song makes you appreciate the original. When it came time to make a decision about subbing up for 2015, the excellent interpretation of Sweet Bee was my deciding factor. Perfuma is another character I've always kind of dreaded for this line, but now I'm excited to see what they can do with her. Let's check out Sweet Bee!

Kamen Rider - BEE WOMAN (HACHI ONNA)!

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010 - Bandai 2010

I have a major obsession with female monsters (kaijin) in Japanese serial television programs.  Whether it's the newest incarnation of Power Rangers, Metal Heroes Series, Ultraman, or Masked Rider, the female villains are right up my alley.  There's just something about their theatrical presence, their formidable strengths, and their de-sexualized nature makes them awesome.  (I say desexualized because 90% of the Japanese pop culture properties I pay attention to are inundated with girls in bikinis).  I think the most successful Japanese action figures these days are high-end, super collectible, and super-articulated toys like Figma or S.H.Figuarts.  These companies produce all the major characters quickly and within a reasonable budget.  But sometime $40-80 bucks for a 6-7" action figure is not a feasible prospect.  That's where these amazing vinyl Super Sentai-type action figures come into play.  You can get the same detailed character selection, but at an extremely  low price.  Let's check out Bee Woman below!

Darkstalkers 3: Vampire Savior - Q-BEE!

Capcom's Vampire Savior - SR Super Real Figures Series 01 - Q-Bee - TYC 1999
 
Welcome to (possibly) the penultimate review of Bee Week!  I say possibly because there's a figure I was dying to review that slipped through the cracks.  Hopefully I can get to her Monday.  Vampire Savior was a 2-D fighting game from Capcom in the late nineties.  Q-Bee was a fan-favorite character due to her speedy and focused attacks.  This figure is essentially a gashapon.  I ordered mine from an eBay seller in China and it came in pieces to assemble.  I honestly don't know if the original packaged figures were originally puzzle toys like this or not.  There are two versions of this figure: one in purple (the true-to-life game version) and this black variant.  Since I purchased mine from a questionable seller, the quality of my specific piece should be taken with a grain of salt.  I'm assuming a true release of this figure had tighter-fitting joints and cleaner paint lines.  After reading all about this character, I really wish a true action figure of her would be made.  We see Morrigan and Felicia all the time, I think Q-Bee deserves the spotlight for a second.  In the meantime, let's check out this little Q-Bee mini-figure below!

Teen Titans - BUMBLEBEE!

Teen Titans - Teen Titans Go! - Bumblebee (Bumble Bee) - Bandai 2004

Teen Titans made major comeback in the early 2000s with their extremely popular animated series on the Cartoon Network.  This show definitely wasn't my speed at all (it was totally geared towards kids), but I loved seeing all these cool characters being reinvented for a younger audience.  The massive amount of merchandising was a bonus, too.  I doubt we would have ever seen a Bumblebee action figure if not for the popularity of this show.  This Bumblebee figure can fetch a pretty penny on the secondary market, so I confess that this is a figure I bought for a few dollars from a seller in China.  The real release of this figure had cleaner paint lines and came with either a bee-themed vehicle or another 3.5" figure in the 2-Pack series.  Bumblebee has no true superpowers, but derives her unique skills from technology.  She can fly, her armor is strong, her speed is increased, and she can emit stinging blasts.  Occasionally she shrinks in size a'la Wasp, but that skill seems par for the course with an insect-themed character.

Earthworm Jim's PRINCESS WHAT'S-HER-NAME!

Your Favorite Video Game Insect Princess from Playmates 1994

I first became aware of this figure early on in my collecting days (roughly 10 years ago).  She was raved about on my favorite online toy resource at the time, Action Girl's Guide to Female Figures.  At the time, however, I was very picky and would only buy non-cartoony 80's figure like GIJoe, He-Man, and ThunderCats.  So it wasn't until very recently that I picked up this figure in a lot on eBay.  I must say I'm very impressed with this little lady.  She's fun, well-sculpted, and a great likeness of both her cartoon and videogame counterparts.  I'm not too knowledgeable on the Earthworm Jim franchise, but from what I can gather it was a pretty unique development.  Playmates developed the characters for an original videogame with the intent of creating merchandising potential.  The original Sega/Genesis game was released in 1994, the same year as the first action figures.  The cartoon series didn't debut until a full year later in 1995.  However, the action figures seem to incorporate the details of the cartoon moreso than the videogame.

The Ladies of MAYA THE BEE!

Maya the Bee - Articulated 3.5" Figures - IMC Toys/Giochi Preziosi 2012

Welcome to my third Bee Week review!  When started to plan this series of reviews earlier this summer, the first "bee" girl I thought of was Maya.  She was originally presented in a German children's book from 1912 but really became the iconic character she is now when the animated series was created in 1975 (and was subsequently aired all over the globe for decades). These action figures are from her newest incarnation, the Studio 100 CGI animated series from 2012.  Maya is an inquisitive and adventurous little bee struggling to reign in her curiosities in a rigid and protected hive. She sneaks out of the hive to explore, makes friends, and often get into trouble.  It's a classic recipe for good children's storytelling a'la Curious George and Fraggle Rock.  I never thought I would find actual action figures for Maya.  Everything I've seen previously has been either plush or PVC.  I hit the Jackpot with these guys though.  Let's check them out in detail below!

Lego Mini-Figures - BUMBLEBEE GIRL!

Lego Minifigures Series 10 (71001) - Bumblebee Girl - LEGO 2013

Welcome to my second Bee Week review.  This Bumblebee Girl figure is just about the most adorable Lego I've ever seen.  When Lego introduced the first series of blind-bagged minifigures back in 2010, I honestly don't think they had any clue what kind of effect they would have on the toy market.  Sure, blindbag figures existed before, but I'm pretty sure it was the first time this marketing technique was used on such an established brand.  It was an unprecedented success.  Now consumers are obsessed with these collectibles and all the other brands are scrambling to jump on the bandwagon.  I'm pretty obsessed with these little guys myself, but luckily I can satiate my brick craving by living vicariously through a coworker who gets everything Lego.  The figures I do buy are limited to superheroes, Chima girls, and the adorably weird characters dressed up like animals.  Bumblebee Girl falls into that latter category and is one of my favorites from the bunch.  Lets check her out in detail below!

DC Direct's QUEEN BEE!

Silver Age Justice League of America (Villains) - 7-Piece PVC Set - DC Direct 2001

Welcome to Bee Week here at She's Fantastic!  Due to a wonderfully insectile beauty that should be arriving in my mailbox at the end of this week, I decided to do a anticipatory review series of some of my favorite bee-themed ladies out there.   Queen Zazzala is an alien from a civilization where insects have evolved into humanoid form.  Queen Bee is obsessed with her own immortality and having her hive of bee-men loot other planets.  She is such a classic DC villain that it's a little shocking that we don't see more of her.  In her more modern incarnations, she is very alien/insectile looking, but I much prefer this classic look.  DC Direct used to be great at putting out high end collectible figurine sets.  These were usually full of characters that you would be unlikely to see in a full 6-7" scale.  The best thing about them for me is their size.  They're not as tiny as you would think from a PVC figurine and are actually perfectly in scale with modern G.I.Joes.  Let's check out Queen Bee below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic Boom STICKS!

Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Boom - Action Figure Series 01 - TOMY 2014

I love when I am completely caught off-guard by a toy.  In the modern toy collecting hobby, we are pretty much aware of every product six months before it ever hits the shelves.  I wrote yesterday how I was still mourning the end of the Jazwares Sonic line when I discovered the new Tomy Amy at Toys R Us this weekend.  I knew that Amy was coming out of course, but this figure of Sticks the Badger was a total surprise for me.  When I first saw her, I assumed it was Marine the Raccoon (who I just became aware of in the pack-in comic with Blaze the Cat last year).  The two characters share a lot of similarities, but are in fact different characters (and species).  Sticks is a jungle badger who brings a little Tarzan-esque barbarism to the Sonic family.  Her weapon of choice is a homemade boomarang - which would have made an amazingly simple accessory - but alas, she comes empty-handed.  Regardless though, I am obsessed with this new addition to my video game shelf.  Let's check out Sticks below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic Boom AMY!

Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Boom - Action Figure 2-Packs Series 01 - TOMY 2014
 
I was very sad earlier this year when I finally caught on to the fact that Jazwares had lost the Sonic the Hedgehog license.  I had been a fan of Sonic since I got my first Game Gear way back in Middle School.  I had watched the franchise grow long after I stopped playing video games and I was always upset that I no longer had ties to any of it.  Like I said, I stopped playing games, and the comics just weren't my speed.  Then I discovered Jazwares amazing 3" line of hyper-articulated Sonic action figures.  I was immediately trying to figure out who all the new characters were so I could predict the toy lineups.  I was pleasantly surprised to find an abundance of cool females in Sonic Universe.  Amy, of course, is the most popular of the bunch.  She's always the first girl released in any Sonic toy series, so she's not necessarily indicative of a heavily female-inclusive line, but I have a really really good feeling about this new Tomy line.  Despite the loss I still feel about the axed Rouge and Cream figures from Jazwares, I think Tomy will keep this line and scale thriving for many years to come.  Let's check out this new Amy figure below!

Photos from NYCC 2014!

A Small Collection of My Favorite Action Figure Reveals at NY ComicCon 2014

If I was to be perfectly honest, I would have to say that this year's New York ComicCon was the most disappointing toy-wise than it has been in a long long time.  There was a lack of vendors.  Mattel was absent; Hasbro is continuing the tradition of setting up shop several blocks away (and by appointment only); and DCC showed us nothing new.  And on top of that, my favorite small vendor seemed to be a no-show as well.  This is a booth that usually has tons of large bins of loose action figures in little baggies.  You have to be patient to get close enough because this booth magically turns everyone into kids digging for buried treasure.  I always look forward to spending a good hour there, and I was sad that I couldn't find it (although it may have been there for all I know.. I was an unplanned mess this year tbh).  Despite my overall disappointment on the toy front, I still enjoyed myself and found a few great gems to share.  Let's check them out below!

DC Super Heroes Grab Zags - CATWOMAN!

DC Comics - DC Superheroes Grab Zags - Series 01 - Blip Toys 2014

These little figures are kind of tough to name.  Technically the term "Grab Zags" isn't anywhere on the packaging.  But last year the Marvel Grab Zags were everywhere and these generically-named DC Figures are clearly the same type of figure and from the same manufacturer. Blip Toys are the geniuses behind the Squinkie phenomenon (which has seemingly died down.. unfortunately).  The sheer markup of those little collectible rubber blobs must be astounding, so I'm a little surprised we aren't seeing them flooding the market.  These Grab Zags have more oomph in the collector's market in my opinion, but their biggest downfall is that they are kind of hard to find.  Luckily Target has stocked them in their Halloween toy section this season making them readily available for all.. albeit temporarily.  The women in this first wave are Catwoman and a New 52 Wonder Woman.  As far as I can tell, there is no code system to the blind bags, so hone your squeezing skills and let's check out Catwoman below!

DC Collectibles HAWKGIRL (EARTH 2)!

DC Comics: The New 52 - Earth 2 - Hawkgirl - DC Collectibles 2014

I think the costume redesigns in DC's New 52 has been hit-or-miss.  In most cases I prefer the classic look over the new modernized designs.  Hawkgirl is definitely a huge exception to that judgement, though.  Don't get me wrong, her signature yellow, red, and green is perfect.  I just also happen to love this blue redesign.  In the New 52, Hawkgirl of Earth2 is Kendra Munoz-Saunders, a famous treasure hunter who was bestowed with wings from the Egyptian God Horus while on a mission.  She dons a unique blue costume that looks great with her skin tone.  In the New 52, Kendra is a dark-skinned Hispanic girl.  That ethnicity change is part of what makes Hawkgirl so intriguing.  Despite having the same name and wings, you just have a feeling that this is an entirely new character that you have to (and want to) get to know.  DC Collectibles is on a major roll this year. Aside from a couple cases of weird face paint, they've hit every lady out of the park.  Let's check out Earth 2 Hawkgirl below!

Transformers Generations WINDBLADE!

Transformers Generations Deluxe Class S02 - Wave 10 - Windblade - Hasbro 2014

The season of the fembot begins!  This Windblade figure is an amazing addition to the sparse, but soon to be not-so-sparse collection of females in the Transformers toy line.  A long-awaited Arcee and Chromia are due out in the next few weeks, but leading the pack is the mysterious and exciting Windblade.  Windblade has the unique distinction of being the first official fan-created Transformers character.  Her name, color palette, gender, vehicle mode, weapons, every single detail was determined by the fans.  Adding to that interesting origin was her actual storyline which was unveiled in an unheard-of female-centric solo comic series.  Windblade is Cityspeaker from Caminus.  In her solo series, she is an outcast on Cybertron charged with communicating with the injured and dormant Metroplex.  Maybe I just haven't read enough Transformers comics lately, but I was really impressed with the history and mythology unveiled in this story.  She's a great new character that I already love.

Funko Pocket POP Keychains - HARLEY QUINN!

Pocket Pop! Keychains - Series 1 - Harley Quinn (DC Comics) - Funko 2014

Funko has a goldmine on their hands with their amazing Pop! line.  I actively try to resist buying them because I can see the wriitng on the wall and I know that I could easily be drowning in these adorable little suckers if I don't look away.  Even my non-toy friends are starting to buy collect them.  People ask me advice on where to get "those cute Ghostbusters toys" or "those Domos dressed up like superheroes."  It's kind of surreal.  I now own 23 and I somehow convince myself I'm keeping it all in check.  The only potentials on the horizon for me are Poison Ivy, Sif, and maybe Storm.  That was of course until Funko announced these tiny 1.5" keychains.  Now they could potentially release my favorite characters all over again in this addictive little scale.  The best part is that I won't even try to resist it if they do.  These Pocket Pops are showing up in Target stores mixed in with the trading cards near the front registers.  (I never would have thought to look for them there).  Let's check out this adorable mini Harley below!

G.I.Joe Kre-O Series 5 - ZARANA!

G.I.Joe Kreon Figure Pack - Collection 5 - Zarana - Hasbro 2014

Zarana is one of the very few female villains in the G.I.Joe universe.  Like just about every female character on the show, she was a master of disguise (seriously, think about it, they all had a remarkable talent for wigs and voices).  Zarana, however, has the family lineage to back up her skills.  Her brother Zartan and Zandar are masters of disguise and espionage.  The one skill her brothers exhibit that Zarana never did was the ability to change their skin color in a chameleon-like fashion.  Her original toy did this of course, but costumes and makeup were her main means of deception in the cartoon and comics.  This 5th wave of G.I.Joe Kre-O blindbags was a surprise to find on the shelves so soon.  Series 4 hasn't even appeared yet.  The inclusion of Zarana in this line is a great thing.  So far we've seen the requisite Scarlett, Baroness, Lady Jaye, and Jinx.  Zarana is a total bonus.  Although now we need a Cover Girl and Pythona.  Let's check out Zarana below!

DC Collectibles Arkham Origins COPPERHEAD!

Batman: Arkham Origins 3-Pack - Copperhead - DC Collectibles 2014

It isn't often when I have to give props to a video game for introducing a new character.  But Batman: Arkham Origins has done just that with this updated female version of the classic DC rogue Copperhead.  This character is the daughter of the original (New52) Copperhead and will soon begin appearing in the comics.  This action figure is amazing on a number of levels.  The most notable features of this toy are the incredibly detailed paint applications, and the high level of articulation.  Copperhead is a snakelike contortionist assassin, so the added articulation is really nice and appropriate.  I actually think the toy looks better than the video game screenshots on the web (I still don't play any games).  And that is a major rarity.  It's also nice just to get another female villain in the Bat-universe.  I know there are already a lot of ladies taunting Bruce, but a new character is almost always welcome.  Let's check out this creepy new villainess in detail below!

Marvel Legends SDCC Exclusive MEDUSA!

Marvel Legends - Thanos Imperative SDCC Exclusive Boxset - Hasbro 2014

Convention Exclusives are getting harder and harder to come by in recent years.  I remember even a just a few years ago lazily logging onto Hasbrotoyshop a month or so after ComicCon and casually deciding whether or not to pick up some of the exclusives.  This was the case with Sunfire, Ka-Zar and Shanna, and the Pink Prime Arcee at least.  But lately it's become a ruthless sport of screen refreshing and speed typing.  I'm horrible at that game.  Luckily I have made a few real-life toy friends who totally help me out (thanks again, Carl!).  Medusa is the Queen of the Inhumans, a prehistoric race that lives on the moon. I've read my fair share of comics starring the Inhumans and I always view Medusa as having a cold, detached, royal demeanor.. only to contradict herself by being fiercely protective and maternal.  This action figure was a long time coming.  I see Medusa as an underused A-list Marvel heroine with criminally few representations in plastic.  At least we got this beauty.  Let's check her out below!