DC Multiverse - DKR WONDER WOMAN!

DC Multiverse - Dr. Psycho Collect & Connect: DKR Wonder Woman - Mattel 2017

I have such mixed reactions to Frank Miller. I pretty much can't stand to read any of his comics as an adult. I find that his work is just too infused with weird gender politics and outdated stereotypes. It's like his views on masculinity are stuck in a 90's Mountain Dew commercial and his women seem ripped from either a 1920's bordello or an 70's biker bar (depending on the character), and it's all very tedious to me. But at the same time I can admit there's a certain undeniable fun factor and I have some major nostalgic ties to the Dark Knight Returns series. I read it when I was 11 and somehow convinced my middle school English teacher that it was suitable for a book report. Funny thing is, even back then I didn't love it. I remember there being a lot of nipples and garbage in almost every frame and thinking it was just too much. I only read the various DKR sequels in a cursory manner, but I enjoyed seeing new character designs like this Wonder Woman. It's kind of amazing to get a figure of her. Let's check her out below!

DC Multiverse - WONDER GIRL!

DC Comics Multiverse - Dr. Psycho Collect & Connect: Wonder Girl - Mattel 2017

I truly thought this was one figure that would never make it to the shelves and likely only live on in photos as one of those sad Toy Fair prototypes we all fawn over but will never get. From what I remember, this figure (along with the DKIII Wonder Woman) were originally intended to be released as a comic-themed amazon-centric Walmart exclusive wave back in June to coincide with the Wonder Woman film release. The rumors were that either the production or shipment deadlines were not met and the Walmart order was cancelled. We were told that these would eventually be released, but I think we've all experienced that song and dance before. But I will gladly eat my words because luckily they showed up a mere mix months later and I couldn't be happier. Cassie Sandsmark as Wonder Girl is a very interesting choice for this line and makes me wonder if she'll play a role in the upcoming Titans show. (Speaking of, I hope that show gets lots of figures - especially Dove!) Let's check out Cassie Sandsmark as Wonder Girl below!

Black Panther Marvel Legends - OKOYE!

Marvel Legends - Black Panther Okoye BAF Wave - Okoye - Hasbro 2018

I love when Marvel Legends plans a female character as the Build-a-Figure for a wave. It's a pretty rare occurrence and I believe this Okoye is only the third. The first being 2015's Jubilee, and the Mantis from earlier this year. I appreciate that they find a way to squeeze in extra female characters, but so far they've seemed like very necessary characters who I would think would warrant a main spot in the wave. But I understand the tooling considerations and politics involved, plus I don't actually like having to splurge for an entire wave just to complete an additional figure. But when it comes to a spectacular figure like this Okoye, I'll do whatever it takes to get her in my greedy little paws. The new Hasbro method of using an advanced face-scanning for the movie figures is pretty amazing. Although I love seeing talented sculptors getting a chance to flex their artistic muscles, I can't argue with the results the machines are producing, especially if it means fast release schedules! Let's check out Okoye below!

Black Panther Marvel Legends - NAKIA!

Marvel Legends - Black Panther Okoye Wave - Nakia - Hasbro 2018

I'm really looking forward to the Black Panther movie. I don't really have much of a connection to the character beyond his 1988 comic miniseries and more modern Avengers tie-ins (and of course the storyline where Shuri became Black Panther). But as soon as details of the film started to emerge and it was revealed that the Dora Milaje was an all-female elite force of warriors protecting the nation of Wakanda. This is like a very cool twist on the Amazons from the DC Universe. Then when the toys were finally revealed, they definitely delivered with two Legends figures of the Dora Milaje - Nakia (played by Lupita Nyong'o) and a build-a-figure Okoye (played by Danai Gurira), plus a non-Legends figure of Shuri and a comic Legends figure of Shuri as Black Panther coming to TRU. The bright colors, cool costume details, and excellent actor likenesses make these some of the most impressive Legends figures I've ever seen. I hope a few more warriors are on the horizon. Let's check out Nakia below!

Titan A.E. - AKIMA KUNIMOTO!

Titan A.E. - Deluxe Assortment - Turbo Surge Phoenix and Akima - Hasbro 2000

Titan A.E. is a feature length animated film from Fox and Don Bluth. Don is the director/producer from a variety of classic projects like Secret of NIMH, Dragon's Lair, Land Before Time, An American Tail, and Anastasia (among others). Titan A.E. is a space adventure following a group of (some of the last surviving) humans as they travel to a new planet in hopes of establishing a new home world. The animation is a cool mix of CGI and classic animation and overall I think the movie is highly underrated. Akima is the pilot of their ship, the Valkyrie, and the love interest of the main character Cale. She was voiced by Drew Barrymore (with Matt Damon as Cale). I love the no-nonsense attitude of Akima plus her simple outfit paired with funky hair. Her hair actually reminds me greatly of Roxy from Gen13 (a book which is sorely lacking a good action figure line). The toys for Titan A.E. are pretty terrific and reminiscent of all those classic toys from the 1990s (despite being released in 2000). Let's check out Akima below!

Marvel Legends - JESSICA JONES as JEWEL!

Marvel Legends - Defenders Boxset 4-Pack - Amazon Exclusive - Hasbro 2017

A large part of what I love about super-heroes is their cheesiness. The characters sport their colorful spandex and spout their bravado-infused tag lines, and I just eat it up. It's pretty rare for a character to be self-aware of this without being a comedy-based hero like Deadpool, but Jewel is the perfect example of a character who does just that. When we first met Jessica Jones in Alias #1, she was already the sour gritty gumshoe we know and love today. But a huge building block of that dark and brooding personality was her distancing herself from her former life as the cheesy colorful Avenger, Jewel. I know the character was created retroactively as a flashback story element, but that didn't stop me from loving the character. I never expected we'd see her in legends form, but a hit Netflix show is a powerful incentive. I was lucky enough to snag the Amazon-exclusive Defenders boxset when it was a Deal of the Day for $55 a few weeks ago. I'm so happy to have this pink-haired hero in my collection. Let's check her out below!

Marvel Select - SPIDER-GWEN!

Marvel Select (Collectible Action Figures w/ Diorama) - Spider-Gwen - DST 2017

It's amazing how quickly Spider-Gwen has become an A-list hero. I've already decided not to be a completist with her merchandise because it's coming out at a very rapid pace. Considering that her first toy, a TRU exclusive Minimate came out only two years ago, that's a very impressive rise - especially considering she hasn't been in a film, or even had a significant role in a cartoon yet. The Marvel Select line from DST has been blowing my mind recently. Back in the day, I felt that these figures were awkwardly pre-posed and had awkward articulation and diorama pieces (I remember being very disappointed in She-Hulk). But between this Spider-Gwen and the recent Lady Deadpool, I am now super impressed with the line. The sculpt, articulation, and scale is just great all-around. The only thing that keeps me from being a die-hard fan is the very slow release schedule. Lines like Marvel Legends are much more satisfying purely due to the speedy production. I'm thinking we will eventually get a (movie) Gamora and an apology She-Hulk, but any figures with this level of quality will easily find a spot in my collection.

Funko Vynl - Thundercats Classic CHEETARA!

Thundercats Classic Vynl - Panthro & Cheetara 2-Pack - Funko 2017

While I'm not the biggest fan of this new Vynl line from Funko, I find it pretty impossible to resist any piece of Cheetara merchandise when I see it on the shelves. Of all the big 1980s ladies: She-Ra, Jem, Baroness, etc, Cheetara is the one I get the most excited about when I see her. I think as a child I loved any powerful female characters in those afternoon TV blocks, but as an adult my tastes have refined to highlight other aspects of character design I find appealing. First of all, I love animal motifs - especially when it's a felinoid. And a second aesthetic I've really grasped onto is a monochromatic color scheme. This actually donned on me as an adult collector when I saw my action figures lined up by character.. Scarlet Witch's pink and red, Polaris' emerald and chartreuse, and Firestar's yellow and red, etc, etc. I suddenly realized I had a very obvious pattern to my collecting. And I also realized that Cheetara was the only childhood muse of mine that perfectly fit my adult style.

Star Wars 6" Black Series - JAINA SOLO!

Star Wars: The Black Series #56 - (Legends) Jaina Solo - Hasbro 2017

As much as I love this current series of Star Wars movies, I must admit I'm a little bummed that they are essentially overwriting much of the Expanded Universe history. Jaina Solo was introduced in the 1994 Star Wars novel The Last Command as the child of Leia Organa and Han Solo (along with her twin brother Jacen Solo). Like a typical Star Wars story, the twins' paths diverge - Jaina becoming a Jedi and Jacen heading to a dark side. While these characters still could appear in the new movies, the events in The Force Awakens makes me think they're just ignoring all the cool backstory (Note: I haven't seen The Last Jedi yet.. So don't feed me spoilers please!). I'm really happy the the Black Series is including more obscure non-film characters. Without those interesting and colorful figures peppered into the line it would be a lot less interesting. It really opens up my future wishlist too: Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti, Oola, and Luminara are at the top. Let's check out Jaina Solo in detail below!

Star Wars Toybox - REY!

Disney Toybox - Star Wars Action Figures #2 Rey - Disney Store Exclusive - 2017

I'm kind of excited to see what the future of this new Disney Toybox series brings. While I'm not a huge fan of the stylistic design of this Rey figure, some of of the other Infinity characters looked pretty cool. So far, the sculpts of the Toybox figures have been based off the Disney Infinity video game collectible figurines. I always thought a lot of the character designs looked really weird and angry, like this Rey for example. But other characters, like Captain Marvel, Spider-Gwen, Gamora, and White Tiger look pretty awesome. The insert inside the packaging hint at ten additional figures on the horizon (spread across all three branches of the line: Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars) and four of them appear to be female. The production quality is really great so my hopes are high for some fun new figures. I bought this Rey just to check out the articulation and overall quality, and I'm very impressed. The plastic has a certain animated quality to its texture that's hard to explain. Can't wait to see what's next. Let's check out Rey below!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi 12" - REY (JEDI TRAINING)!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - 12" Series - Rey (Jedi Training) - Hasbro 2017

I have a small backlog of Star Wars reviews to post and I'm desperately trying to get them all posted before The Last Jedi hits theatres this weekend. There have been times when I used to post almost every day and I have no clue how I did it. But considering I'm about to enter my seventh year doing this blog there were bound to be some changes. I no longer live in a third floor walkup alone with excessive personal time, I have somehow accumulated a massive amount of responsibility at work, and I actually get tired now. Don't get me wrong, I'm still up past 2am most nights of the week, but I used to be a 4am guy. I've had this 12" Last Jedi Rey photographed since the day after Force Friday, but I've always been more excited to post about something else, so poor Rey gets pushed to the back burner again and again. But this is truly a nice looking 12" figure. The face and body proportions have been improved slightly since the Force Awakens figure and the result it terrific. Let's check her out (finally)!

Star Wars 6" Black Series - ROSE!

Star Wars: The Black Series #55 - Resistance Tech Rose - Hasbro 2017

Star Wars: The Black Series has become quite the powerhouse line. Ten years ago I never would have imagined a 6" Star Wars figure. They pretty much owned the 3.75" scale for decades and the thought of any other size never even entered my head. Then back in 2013 Hasbro announced a 6" scale and I got really excited. Mostly because I love Star Wars, but my personal collecting compulsions and decades worth of vintage product is a dangerous mix that I was terrified to tempt myself with. But a brand new scale? Hell yeah! The first few female characters looked great. But the inclusion of soft goods elements was not well executed and the scales were majorly out of whack. The first three Leia's literally have 0.5 inch differences in height between them. But lately this line has really shaped up. The scales have been much better, the face sculpting technique is really streamlined, and I haven't seen stiff cloth robes in a while (they're still around though). This Rose is a great example of what the line has become.

Star Wars Elite Series - ROSE (and BB-8)!

Star Wars Elite Series - Die-Cast 6" Rose and BB-8 - Disney Store Exc 2017

The Disney Store Elite Series Star Wars figures are pretty great. I wasn't sure how in-depth they'd get with character selection or if they'd take effort to make improvements as the line progressed. Well both of those quandaries were answered in the affirmative. There has been an interesting assortment of characters (all from the modern films however) and all the small gripes I had about the first few figures have been eliminated. Now I wish they would create a similar Marvel line. Even if it was just based off current movie properties, it would be a fun line to collect. I don't know much about this new Rose character yet, but considering the amount of merchandise she's already getting, and especially considering all the different outfits she's been seen in, I'm assuming she's a pretty big deal in the The Last Jedi. I'm excited to see her role, although I have no plans to see the movie until the 25th. It's going to be torture to be waiting and avoiding all the spoilers, but I'll survive. Let's check out Elite Rose below!

Star Wars Galactic Heroes - ROSE!

Star Wars Galactic Heroes - Resistance vs First Order 6-Pack - Playskool 2017

Playskool really needs to step up their game. They have access to some of the greatest character families out there, but they seem to just release the same characters over and over again...and at a snail's pace. This Rose figure was a welcome surprise, but I'm still shocked they haven't flexed their muscles with this line. There isn't even a Princess Leia or Amidala. And when they finally impressed me a few years ago with packaged solicit pics of Hera Syndulla and Sabine Wren, it was inevitable that the figures would never actually hit the shelves. And I won't even get started on the Marvel line. They have access to hundreds of characters and the only female so far is Black Widow. I was 100% sure we'd see a Gamora figure, even if it was just a Natasha repaint, but there has been nothing. A Storm, Wasp, and Invisible Woman seem like really easy characters to bring in to the line, but Playskool seems to want to coast on the same handful of characters in a constant cycle. Someday they'll hopefully up their game.

The New Female Dinobot - SLASH!

Transformers: Power of the Primes - 3.75" Series 01 - Slash - Hasbro 2017

I'm always torn about female Transformers that don't outwardly appear female. It shouldn't matter. They don't have biological forms, and including an exaggerated hourglass body shape or a gigantic chest is just ridiculous. But still, I find myself loving characters that appear typically feminine (like the upcoming Moonracer), and being lukewarm about androgynous characters like Slash here. Slash was a surprise that I first learned about last week. This is the first official toy of a female Dinobot, despite the fact that the (male) Slash character from the movie was originally intended to be female. This is also the first 3.75" Transformers figure I've ever bought. It's an interesting scale and I would definitely pick up more. I also really want to support this Power of the Primes line in any way possible because the female figures on the horizon (Elita-1, Firestar, and Moonracer) are some of my most sought-after toys ever and I want to ensure I get them in my greedy little hands. Let's check out the Dinobot Slash below!

Valerian - LAURELINE!

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets - Series 01 - Laureline - NECA 2017

I realized recently that I really don't trust Rotten Tomatoes scores one bit. I would say the majority of my favorite movies never rank above 40. I have never trusted critic reviews for anything - music, TV, movies, etc. - but I'll admit I was initially very optimistic when RT came along as an aggregate site for public film ratings. But then reality set in. People suck and they never like what I like. I don't mean to be elitist, but considering that the most popular film and TV franchises today are such vapid, hollow, and sensationalized productions says a lot. I really enjoyed Valerian. But I'm the only person I know who enjoyed it. It wasn't a perfect film, but I thought the majority of complaints were baseless. The two leads are relative unknowns in the acting world, their dynamic is intentionally weird, and their outfits are boring. But I didn't want a James Bond in space movie. I wanted lots of aliens, complex interspecies dynamics, and colorful imaginative settings, and Valerian delivered in spades. Let's check out Laurline below!

Late 2017 Collection of MARVEL MINI-MATES!

Marvel Mini-Mates Series 72, TRU 24, and Walgreens Wave 5-7 - DST 2017

Photographing small toys is a bit cumbersome for me. My photo tent is set up for 6 inch figures, so when it comes to the little guys I have to construct a stage of sorts to ensure they're properly lit. So out of laziness I tend to pile up a bunch of tiny figures and photograph them all at once. Mini-mates are a prime example of that. This post will collect all the Mini-mates I've picked up since May (when the Guardians of the Galaxy waves hit). Included will be Spiral, Hela, Gwenpool, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Black Cat, Proxima Midnight, Spider-girl (Petra Parker), Medusa, and White Tiger. Diamond Select Toys really haven't been skimping with character selection. It seems like every couple months there is some heavy-hitter heroine on the shelves. Plus I love having yet another reason to stalk all my Walgreens stores. I hope Mini-mates last a long long time and I will keep buying them as long as they keep this level of character diversity up. Let's check out this newest batch of Mini-mate ladies below!

Saga - LYING CAT, HAZEL, and IZABEL!

Saga - The Will & Lying Cat (SDCC) and Hazel & Izabel (NYCC) - McFarlane 2017

I don't think anything has made me happier this year than the release of two more Saga action figure sets from McFarlane Toys and Skybound Entertainment. Despite the insane popularity of this property in the comic community, the wide-scale release of these figures might not fare too well on the open market. So releasing them as limited convention exclusive editions is a perfect marketing plan. I hope the initial three sets have been profitable enough to warrant many more. The Stalk and Prince Robot are the highest on my wishlist for next year, with a Ghüs and Friendo right behind. But honestly almost every character would make an incredibly cool looking action figure. But for now we get new figures of the bounty hunter The Will, the spectral babysitter Izabel, the fib-finding Lying Cat, and the catalyst of the whole amazing story, Hazel. These figures couldn't be more well made and I hope everyone responsible for their production knows that. Let's check out the new batch in detail below!

Marvel Legends Vintage - BLACK WIDOW!

Marvel Legends: Vintage (Toy Biz) Series 01 - Black Widow - Hasbro 2017

I'm not an in-package collector. I open everything and recycle the excess as soon as I possibly can. So that puts me in an interesting position when the coolest thing about a specific figure is the packaging. In this case, the vintage Marvel Toy Biz graphics are reinterpreted for modern 6" Marvel Legends figures. The only female of the first wave is Black Widow, which isn't a surprise, but is a little bit of a bummer because her costume is so plain. Black Widow's role in the Avengers movies have skyrocketed her to an A-list Marvel hero and coincidentally have led to a lot of toys. This one in particular is a little lackluster because she is way too similar to the recent Mary Jane figure. I'm fine with re-used headsculpts, but at least choose a character with a different color hair. The upcoming Black Widow with Motorcycle set has two unique heads and a non-generic body. So as pretty as this figure is, if you're not an in-package collector, I would suggest saving your money for the next release. Let's check out Black Widow below!

Transformers Legends - BLACKARACHNIA!

Transformers Legends Series (Japan) - LG-17 Blackarachnia - Takara Tomy 2015

It's pretty rare to get a good robot villainess in the toy world. I would say that without a doubt, Blackarachnia from the Beast Wars franchise of Transformers is the most popular and most merchandised evil female robot out there. Which makes it pretty surprising that there hasn't been a truly iconic figure of her made yet. A couple of her early molds were actually pretty groundbreaking as far as incorporating female body shapes (like the molds used for Crystal Widow and the Transmetals figure). But this Takara Tomy Legends figure seems to be the best one of the bunch (despite her awkwardly large translucent breasts). This figure is a retooled Transformers: Animated Blackarachnia (which imo is one of the greatest fembot figures of all time), but unfortunately that earlier figure was very stylized and didn't capture the classic look too well. It was very unexpected to see that mold get a second life in this well-deserved figure. Let's check out the long-awaited Legends Blackarachnia below!

WWE Superstars - CHARLOTTE, NIKKI, and BRIE!

WWE Superstars (Girls' Line) - Charlotte Flair & the Bella Twins - Mattel 2017

The WWE Superstars line is a very interesting experiment in the action figure aisles. Women have been a rapidly increasing force in the world of WWE. There are female figures in almost every regular Mattel wave, the Total Divas reality show is in its 7th season, and even the popular Netflix show GLOW is highlighting the early rise of female wrestlers in the sport. So Mattel saw this popularity, as well as the success of female-centric toy lines like the DC Super Hero Girls, and created this WWE Superstars line aimed at girls. Similar to DCSHG, this line features 12" dolls as well as 6" action figures. The interesting thing to me is that most stores seem to stock them in the boy aisles, potentially missing their intended target audience. But fear not, they seem to be pretty successful so far and a second action figure series featuring Alexa Bliss, Natalya, and a new version of Charlotte Flair are already on the way. Let's check out the first series (Charlotte Flair, Nikki Bella and Brie Bella) in detail below!

DC Collectibles Icons - SUPERGIRL!

DC Collectibles Icons #25 - Supergirl (Rebirth) - DC Collectibles 2017

Supergirl is a character I've always appreciated but never fully embraced. A lot of this has to do with the fact that her personality never seemed well established. Every time I would read a story with her, it felt like I was meeting a new character. But then the New 52 version of Supergirl came out and I was hooked. I read the first 40 issues and loved it all. Then the Supergirl show began, and again it seemed like a brand new character, but I loved this one too. The show is truly terrific and it doing a great job of propelling her character into the mainstream. And the great thing about going mainstream is that it provides an avenue to produce classic versions of the characters. While this Rebirth Supergirl is actually one of the most modern comic interpretations of her, it has a real classic look that I think can fit in with any era. It's a shame the Icons line is being phased out so quickly after its debut. (I'm still praying that we can somehow get that purple Catwoman figure released). Let's check out Rebirth Supergirl below!

BTAS Diamond Select BATGIRL Bust!

Batman: The Animated Series - Batgirl Bust - Diamond Select Toys 2017

I really love the mini-bust format. Although action figures are my preferred collectible, there is something I love about the uninterrupted sculpt of a true statue. But hobby statues are sooo expensive. I have an "if I ever win the lottery" wishlist of statues and it's already in the thousands of dollars. But mini-busts are much more affordable, efficiently sized, and remarkably compatible across manufacturers. Plus there has been a great variety of some of my favorite characters (namely Catwoman and Batgirl) and assembling a collection has been very fun. This latest Batgirl addition is practically perfect. I've had some minor qualms with paint apps on past DST busts, but the linework on these last few BTAS busts has been great. The only odd thing about Batgirl is that she is noticeably shinier than other busts in the line. Now my fingers are crossed for a whole series of TNBA busts to compliment these (but not before a Mystery of the Batwoman and Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman). Let's check out the BTAS Batgirl below!

Marvel Legends - MEDUSA (v2)!

Marvel Legends Inhumans - Medusa - Walgreens Exclusive - Hasbro 2017

As much as I appreciate the effort put into the two Marvel Legends Medusa figures we've seen so far, I must admit that neither of them really capture the essence of the character to me. When I think of Medusa, I either think of the classic Jack Kirby design with a broad face, a mature body, and large unruly hair or a more modern look with a regal almost goddess-like demeanor, a somewhat angry detached expression, and dynamic, intimidating hair. Both seem admittedly difficult to represent in plastic. But that doesn't stop me from having high expectations. This recent Walgreens Medusa (which is a retooled 2014 SDCC Medusa) has a nondescript face, a rather thin body, and hair that looks long and dynamic, but not necessarily powerful or prehensile. Don't get me wrong, these figures are pretty terrific, but I still think we're in need of a definitive Medusa. I'm thinking she would make a fantastic Marvel Select figure. Hopefully the Inhumans show has lasting power to give her potential merchandise more momentum.

Batman Classic TV Series - BATGIRL Bust!

Batman Classic TV Series - Yvonne Craig Batgirl Mini-Bust - Diamond Select 2016

There is something so spectacular about the bright purple and yellow Batgirl from the classic 1960's Batman show. I have fuzzy memories of what my first exposure to Batgirl really was. It was either random Super Friends merchandise (like coloring books or lunch boxes), back issues of Batman Family or Brave and Bold, or the lovely Yvonne Craig in syndication on TV. I tend to think the show was the actual first glimpse, but they all happened around the same time in the mid-80s for me who know knows really. As an adult, the purple look is definitely my most nostalgic though, and that exclusive feeling is amplified by the overall lack of Yvonne Batgirl merchandise. I first saw this mini-bust in the DST booth at NYTF several years ago (I was allowed to take photos of her, but I was asked not to share them online). And I've been pining for her ever since. I actually got her as a Christmas present last year, but I didn't open her till last week. I don't know why the hell I waited, but she's worth it. Let's check her out!

Transformers Legends - NIGHTBIRD SHADOW!

Transformers Legends Series (Japan) - LG-15 Nightbird - Takara Tomy 2015

One of the most nostalgic moments from my childhood was watching the Season 2 Transformers episode Enter the Nightbird. I was seven years old and this episode formed a lot of what I still love about sci-fi stories. Nightbird was a powerful ninja robot created by human scientists. She looked awesome and was mysteriously mute. The Autobots were asked to protect her, but the Decepticons crashed the party and stole her. Without any delay, the bad guys reprogrammed her, made her more powerful, and unleashed her stealth ninja skills on the Autobots. She broke into their base and stole all kinds of valuable information. And every time she was confronted, she kicked major butt. Her downfall only comes about because of typical Decepticon in-fighting. And then as she is sadly deprogrammed and being put into storage, she stirs and gives one last ominous stare. As a kid, this episode was positively Oscar-worthy. Nightbird has received a lot of 3rd Party love, a Kre-O, and now this beautiful TakaraTomyLegends figure.

DC Bombshells - HAWKGIRL!

DC Designer Series: Ant Lucia #6 - Bombshells Hawkgirl - DC Collectibles 2017

One of my biggest collecting regrets is selling off a large Hawkgirl collection I had accumulated about 12 years ago. I had always been drawn to Hawkgirl's image. The Yellow, Green, and Red costume, the big wings, the beaked helmet. I loved everything about her design. But every time I tried to read her in a comic, I could never get interested. So as much as I loved her look, I was never emotionally invested in the character. The collecting angle had its own headaches. By nature of their bulky wings, displaying any large group of Thanagarians is a headache. They take up a ton of space, they often don't stand well, and when they topple they take a ton of neighbors down with them. I remember feeling good and decisive when I sold them, but almost instantly regretting it. Since then I've picked up about 4 or 5 new Hawkgirls and I'm always tempted to hunt down my old favorites, but for the most part I refrain. I was really surprised as how good this Bombshells figure looked in my LCS and just had to pick her up.

3.75" Marvel Legends - JESSICA JONES (as JEWEL)!

Marvel Legends 3.75" Series - Wave 5 - Jessica Jones - Hasbro 2017

It seems that whenever a Marvel-based movie or television show includes a character, no matter how obscure, Hasbro will find a way to produce a comic figure. When reading Alias almost two decades ago, I always thought a Jewel action figure would be awesome, but I immediately knew it was probably the most unlikely wishlist item I had. Jewel was created to be the cheesy embarrassing foray into heroics that the gritty no-nonsense Jessica Jones was trying to forget about. The original concept for Alias was to star Jessica Drew (aka Spider-Woman), but eventually evolved into an all-new character. I'm glad it did because the pink-haired flying hero in Jessica Jone's past is a key (contradictory) component to her morose detective life. Having a past life as Spider-Woman (who has always been pretty cool imo) wouldn't have had the same impact at all. But the thing is, I love cheesy bright characters, so it kind of backfired anyway. This toy is great. And I can't wait to get the 6" version next month. Let's her out below!

DC Justice League Multiverse - MERA!

DC Comics Multiverse: Justice League - Mera (Amazon Exc) - Mattel 2017

I'm super nervous about the upcoming Justice League movie. Despite the amazing spectacle of the Wonder Woman film, I am not very confident that lightning will strike twice. I guess I will know for sure in a couple weeks. (The trailers are not helping though!) Despite my trepidations, one thing I am definitely looking forward to is the unexpected inclusion of Mera in the movie. Not only is it awesome to get an underused fan-favorite character in the cast, but she might have one of the best costumes of all the DCU designs. It feels very cinematic while retaining all the charm of her standard comic look. The Amazon-exclusive DC Multiverse figure was an unexpected reveal at SDCC this year and it was honestly the most exciting news for me of the entire show. I was so happy with the quality of the Wonder Woman Multiverse line, that I was hungry for more figures right away. Mera totally fits the bill. She even looks like an aquatic Themysciran with all that costume detail and metallic highlights. Let's check her out below!

Halo - SPARTAN LOCUS!

Halo Universe Series: Wave 2 - Spartan Locus (Mjolinir Argus Armor) - Mattel 2017

I'm always trying to break up with you, Halo. Sure, it's always fun in the moment, but I know in the long run it's just not meant to be. I rehearse my internal dialogue "it's not fair to either of us. You won't ever fit it with the rest of my spandexy toys, you'll be lonely, and plus I've been around you for years but I still know next to nothing about you... and probably never will." We do our own things and I don't think of you for over a year. But then I find myself in a slight collecting slump. I wander into a store. I don't know why I'm there. I'm certainly not looking for anything serious. Then I see you hanging there all coy on your peg. Our eyes meet and I know I shouldn't but damn you're looking so pretty and no one has to know. Plus you're red now. I've never seen you in red before. Before I know what's come over me, I pick you up and take you home. I'm kinda skilled like that. So long story short, I start the cycle all over again. And I don't regret it for one second. More of our sordid affair below...

Iron Studios CATWOMAN Statue!

DC Comics 1:10 Polystone Statue - Catwoman (Ivan Reis) - Iron Studios 2017

I don't know what's coming over me but lately I've become more and more accepting of the 90's purple Catwoman outfit. At the time it was introduced, I hated this look so much. I was in love with the gray catsuit that preceded it in the late 80s, but that purple one looked all nude-illusion body paint with hooker boots, gritted teeth, and permed hair. I was in middle school when this look was unveiled and I just thought it was disappointingly lame. It was the first of many comic-based disappointments for me in that most-extreme-of-decades, but it was probably the one that hit home the most. But lately I've come to terms with this costume being represented in my collection (as long as I don't have to read those old comics). I think this statue from the Brazil-based Iron Studios is absolutely gorgeous. When I saw it a few years ago at a convention I knew I would have to budget for it. They had a great display at NYCC last month and I'm excited about future products from them. Let's check out this 1/10 scale Catwoman below!

The Girls of MYSTICONS!

Mysticons - Piper, Em, Arkayna w/ Izzie, and Zarya w/ Archer - Playmates 2017

When I first read about Mysticons a few years ago, the proposed team consisted of boys, but then about two years ago I read an article and it was suddenly centered around four young girls. Then I soon heard that Playmates would be making toys and my excitement has been building ever since. The actual cartoon (which began airing on Nickelodeon in August) is not exactly my cup of tea. I'm just not the target demographic at all (but I'll give it another shot eventually). But these toys. These toys are perfect for me. Bright colors. Mythical themes. Not too cartoony. Fun translucent accessories. And best of all, amazing flying griffin steeds with battle armor! It's very rare to get a female character who rides an animal, let alone actual action figures of those characters and beasts. So yeah, this property thrills me and I hope it's successful enough to warrant many more toys. Queen Necrafa seems especially ripe for the action figure treatment. Time will tell. Let's check out the first round of basic Mysticons figures below!

Funko Rock Candy - ELVIRA!

Rock Candy Vinyl Collectible - Elvira Mistress of the Dark - Funko 2017

Happy Halloween everyone! I love this holiday so much but the past couple years I've been too swamped to really celebrate. Or maybe I'm just maturing out of it, who knows. But regardless of my costume status, every year I still get very much in the Halloween mood. I get obsessed with vampy toys, I re-read my favorite creepy comics (like Courtney Crumrin and newcomer Girl from the Other Side), and I watch my classic favorites like Creature from the Black Lagoon or Nightmare Before Christmas. A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Elvira at a big Halloween Ball she was hosting in my city. I rarely talk to celebrities because I'm no good at gushing platitudes and prefer to just observe. So yeah, I was the creepy Dracula lurking nearby as she greeted fans and solidified my notions of her being a badass super-talented rockstar. She's just so cool. I'm so happy Funko has jumped on board and produced so many Elvira items recently. Now we just need a Dorbz! Let's check out her Rock Candy below!

DC Bombshells - BATGIRL!

DC Designer Series: Ant Lucia #5 - Bombshells Batgirl - DC Collectibles 2017

I love Batgirl. She is one of my longest-lasting comic book infatuations (right behind Catwoman). And she was the catalyst that made me really boil down and analyze what kind of characters I am drawn to - that being female versions of established male characters. It's easy to view this as reductive and almost following an "Adam's rib" type origin, but I have always seen it as an interesting gender-swap experiment where extremely popular characters are altered (improved) by applying feminine traits and principles. The majority of female heroes fit this mold actually, but Batgirl will always be my baseline example. These Bombshells designs by Ant Lucia are extremely popular. It took me a long time to warm up to them personally, but now I'm officially hooked. Of all the designs however, I must say that one of my least favorites is the Batgirl paratrooper look. It's not horrible or anything, just not my favorite. I'm just not a huge fan of a goggles-and-bare-midriff combo I guess. Let's check out the Bombshells Batgirl below!

DC Vinimates - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Comics Vinimates - Series 01 - Harley Quinn - Diamond Select Toys 2017

Sorry for the lag in posting recently. I've been travelling for work and super busy leading up to it preparing and rehearsing four hours of presentations. I got home Thursday and have been recovering from absolute exhaustion ever since. It's tough living a dual life as a daytime corporate (wannabe) baller and a nighttime toy nerd. I've picked up so much cool stuff in the past few weeks though and tomorrow I'm going to spend hours photographing it all. I'm really looking forward to getting back into the groove. I picked up this Harley Quinn Vinimates at Walgreens over a month ago but am just getting around to posting it now. I still much prefer standard Mini-mates, but I am pleasantly surprised at how much I dig this little pre-posed vinyl Harley. There's an Arkham Asylum (sexy nurse) Harley coming out soon too and I'll definitely be getting her as well. If this is the only way to get DC figures in 'mate form, I guess I'll take it. I only hope they expand the character roster. Let's check out the Harley Quinn Vinimate below!

Titans Return - WINDBLADE!

Transformers: Titans Return Deluxe 5 - Windblade & Scorchfire - Hasbro 2017

It's very impressive that a mere three years after her introduction to the Transformers toy line, the fan-created character Windblade has already received three unique full-sized figures, one small Legion Class and Tiny Titans figure. And that's not even counting the repaints. The Generations figure got a Takara redeco and an SDCC gold-highlighted repaint. Then the Robots in Disguise figure got a black-masked redeco and a gray SDCC exclusive. Now I'm fully expecting some interesting versions of this new Titans Returns figure. But before I'm distracted by the eventual slew of repaints, there are so many more cool figures on the horizon. Recently we've seen leaked photos of Elita One and Moonracer (both of which look great!) And I'm most excited about the Novastar (aka Firestar) which we haven't even seen yet. It's an awesome time to be a collector. Now I'm naturally going to push the envelope and start wishing for a Beta figure. If don't get anything if you don't ask. Let's check out Windblade below!

WWE Wrestling - NIA JAX!

WWE Series 72 - WWE Divas First Time in the Line - Nia Jax - Mattel 2016

There comes a point in action figure collecting when you feel like you've seen everything. Every type of person, every type of alien, every color hair, every oversized weapon imaginable. But then it hits you like a ton of bricks when you see a plus-size female action figure hanging in the aisle and it stops you dead in your tracks. It's amazing to me that there hasn't been more body diversity in this hobby. Considering the real-world diversity of body types we see every day, the only bucks we see range from adolescent to muscular, but nothing beyond that. Sure I understand that most male figures are idealized Supermen as well, but not all. Without hesitation from the toy companies we get every male from Tyrion Lannister to Andre the Giant. There was an Amanda Waller JLU figure years ago. But that is literally the only female figure I can think of who broke the body mold before this Nia Jax hit the shelves. It's about time. Now we just need an MLF Thumbelina! Anyone? Just me? Fine. Let's check out Nia Jax!

DC SuperHero Girls - STARFIRE!

DC Comics Super Hero Girls - 6" Action Figure Series - Starfire - Mattel 2017

Starfire is a character that has really grown on me throughout the years. When I was first exposed to her (in the glorious Uncanny X-Men and New Teen Titans crossover comic from 1982) I actually really despised her. I was very young and I know my distaste just had to do with her appearance. And I know my problems focused completely on her hair. I still have trouble looking at the rust-colored, poofy, and inexplicably parted hairstyle. Then years later, as much as people disapproved of her New 52 reboot depiction, I overlooked everything in appreciation of her long-overdue hair makeover. I suddenly thought she was awesome. And I even liked her detached over-sexualized alien attitude that was a major point of debate. I now saw her as aggressive, creepy, and interesting which was a total 180 from my previous perceptions. Since then, I've seen her in several other interesting incarnations including her 12-issue solo series and her role in DC SuperHero Girls. This figure is a great addition to the line. Let's check her out!

DC SuperHero Girls - HAWKGIRL!

DC Comics Super Hero Girls - 6" Action Figure Series - Hawkgirl - Mattel 2017

I feel like we've been waiting forever to get some new DC Super Hero Girls action figures. But in reality, it has only been 18 months since the first figures hit the shelves back in the Spring of 2016 and we've seen a steady release of new product since then (albeit very few new characters in that mix). Katana was the last new female character introduced and that was almost a year ago. But now two of the most colorful and exciting characters (in my humble opinion) are released at once (Hawkgirl and Starfire) with a great-looking Cheetah on the horizon. Suddenly my excitement in the line is renewed and I'm already formulating my wishlist; Star Sapphire, Killer Frost, Miss Martian, Black Orchid, etc etc. I'm always a dreamer. This Hawkgirl figure is just stunning. I always thought her color blocking made her look like a would-be member of the original Teen Titans, and this figure illustrates that perfectly. Now you just have the challenge of actually finding her (she seems extremely scarce). Let's check out Hawkgirl below!

Star Wars 6" Black Series - HERA SYNDULLA!

Star Wars: The Black Series #42 - 6" Hera Syndulla - Hasbro 2017

One thing I really love about the Star Wars universe is all the cool alien species. To me the most original and iconic of all these races is the Twi'lek. The only real identifiable feature of the Twi'Leks is the twin appendages protruding from the backs of their heads. Other than that, their appearance can vary quite a bit. Bib Fortuna is the most recognizable Twi'lek from the original trilogy, but my eyes were always on Oola. Then the blue-skinned Aayla Secura in the sequels captured my fancy. But easily the most high-profile female Twi'lek is Hera Syndulla. Hera is a main character from Star Wars Rebels who is slowly being incorporated into the mainstream storylines (a mention in Rogue One and an appearance in Forces of Destiny animation tying her to Return of the Jedi and Leia). This Black Series figure is another way she's being incorporated into the mainstream. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first Hera figure that is not sculpted in an animated style (and she looks great!) Let's check her out in detail below!

Bath Squirter - SPIDER-GWEN!

Marvel Comics Bath Squirter Toys - Spider-Man 5-Pack - Walgreens 2017

This is a pretty silly review to post, but I bought this random novelty item at Walgreens several weeks ago (I'm hunting at Walgreens daily these days) and I'm kind of obsessed with it. Walgreens has been known to carry lots of interesting exclusive action figures in the collecting world (Marvel Legends, Walking Dead, Power Rangers, PEZ, Star Wars, and every kind of Funko Product ...to name just a few), but they also carry an abundance of pop culture novelty items. This most recent purchase of mine is a pack of 5 rubber Spider-Man rubber bath squirters. My excitement of course came from the inclusion of Spider-Gwen. And while I'm certainly not taking a bath with her anytime soon (or who knows.. maybe pics coming soon?) I find that she fits in very well with my non-action-figure collection of Pops, Metals, Vinyls, etc. I also used to have quite a collection of rubber duckies when I was younger so this is an interesting merging of two hobbies for me. Let's check out Spider-Gwen below!

Kotobukiya ArtFx Plus - HARLEY QUINN!

ArtFx Plus 1:10 Pre-Painted Statue - DC Comics Harley Quinn - Kotobukiya 2017

I've really slowed down on Harley Quinn collecting. The sheer abundance of new Harley products is just too much to stay current with. However, one product I have always wanted was a Kotobukiya ArtFx Harley Quinn. Ever since Catwoman and Batgirl were released back in 2013-2014, I knew she would be next (but I didn't expect it to take three years and for the ArtFx style to have changed). The style changes in this line aren't that drastic; the faces are more detailed/realistic and the size is fractionally larger. But that's okay because there is already a new Catwoman 2.0 on the horizon (as well as a Poison Ivy) and I can only assume a new Batgirl will soon follow. The only bad thing about this figure is that she does not have the standard magnetic feet and metallic base. Instead, she has metal rods protruding from the soles of her feet that anchor into a clear resin base. This is a bummer for me because I prefer to display these pieces without bases. Curious to see how the other will be. Let's check out Harley!

Funko Vynl - BATGIRL & POISON IVY!

DC Vynl - Batgirl & Poison Ivy 2-PAck - SDCC LE 2500 Pcs - Funko 2017

I'm still on the fence about these new Funko Vynl figures. It's not a natural thing for me to be drawn toward super-deformed stylistic toys at all. Over time, Funko Pops and Dorbz have worn me down and I now accept them wholeheartedly. But these Vnyls actually remind me of all the reasons I was initially so resistant in the first place. But it didn't hurt that one of the very first offerings of this line was an SDCC Exclusive 2-Pack featuring Batgirl and Poison Ivy. I'm pretty much addicted to Bat-Family females so I was completely unable to resist this set when I found it in Hot Topic. But the second most appealing set (imo), the NYCC Lion-O and Mumm-Ra set failed to impress me when I saw them in TRU this morning. I actually really enjoy the Batgirl and Ivy set though, so I assume I'll continue to be a selective collector of this line. I hope Cheetera is next. Then Catwoman, then Jem, then the Sorceress.. yeah, with the right character selection I could get totally hooked on these. Let's check out Babs and Pam below!

Thundercats Classics - WILYKIT!

ThunderCats Classics - WilyKit & WilyKat - SDCC Mattycollector - Mattel 2016

The ThunderCats Classics line was one of the shortest-lived excitements of my adult collecting life. After basking in the glory of Mattel and the Four Horsemen's amazing Masters of the Universe Classics line for eight years, the idea of the same treatment for ThunderCats was an intoxicating notion. It was especially exciting for me when one of the first characters announced was the often-forgotten Pumyra. But before long the whole Mattycollector empire crumbled. MOTU was coming to a close and ThunderCats was DOA. I still have high hopes for Super7 continuing this line because it seemed like such a false start without Cheetara and Tygra. This ThunderKittens set of WilyKit and WilyKat was an SDCC exclusive in 2016. I'm really impressed with these two figures. The sculpt and execution is pretty much perfect. I was so deflated by the line cancellation that I've have had them sitting unopened for a year. But now that I have them out I can't believe I ignored them for so long. Let's check out WilyKit below!

Thor Ragnarok - VALKYRIE!

Marvel Legends - Thor Ragnarok (Target Exc) - Thor & Valkyrie - Hasbro 2017

I'm really looking forward to Thor: Ragnarok. My excitement is mostly focused on my obsession with Cate Blanchett, but I'm also pretty intrigued to see how Tess Thompson's portrayal of Valkyrie will be. I honestly don't have a fixed opinion on how Valkyrie should act. I have a generic impression of her being humorless gruff warrior, but it's a vague idea (and likely outdated). The one aspect of Valkyrie I did have a solid idea on was her appearance. I won't lie and say I wasn't hoping for a more traditional Valkyrie; super-tall, broad-shouldered, blonde-braided Brienne-of-Tarth Norse warrior type. This is purely based on my nostalgia for the comic design. But I am very open-minded and excited to see this new envisioning of the character in action. Hopefully she isn't just a replacement for Sif and gets a chance to shine and be an individual. It can be tough being a supporting character in a big superhero movie. (And if she's popular enough, we might even get a figure of her in her white armor!) Let's check out Valkyrie below!

ArtFx Plus - SPIDER-GWEN!

ArtFx Plus 1:10 Pre-Painted Statue - Marvel Now! Spider-Gwen - Kotobukiya 2017

I'm not a huge collector of statues. But sometimes there is a great representation of one of my favorite characters and I just can't resist. I now own four ArtFx+ statues and I've been very impressed with all of them. The 1:10 (7") scale fits in very nicely with an action figure collection, and the price point is at that medium $50-60 level where it won't break the bank, but you'll probably be selective about you character choices. This is the first Marvel ArtFx I've picked up and I'm very happy with my purchase (my advice is to find someone with a Barnes & Noble membership and snag one of their 20% off coupons. That's the cheapest way I've been able to get one). I'll likely get any future Spider-ladies they produce (A classic Jessica Drew would be amazing), but I won't be holding my breath considering there is a decent number of Spider-boys on the schedule and no other women on the horizon besides Gwen. Maybe there will be some surprises at NYCC this week though.  Let's check out Spider-Gwen below!

Transformers Legends - SLIPSTREAM!

Transformers Legends Series (Japan) - LG-16 Slipstream - Takara Tomy 2015

Sometimes posting reviews of Transformers stresses me out. I have anxiety about breaking figures as I transform them, the posing is very different from standard action figures, and they often have metallic paints which are tricky to photograph. So all that is my excuse for waiting two years to review this figure. I summoned some motivation and opened/photographed five Transformers last night that I have been procrastinating on forever. My main motivation was seeing Slipstream in robot form and she did not disappoint. Slipstream is a female clone of Starscream that was introduced in Transformers: Animated. Starscream made a lot of clones of himself in this series, but Slipstream had the most staying power. This is actually the third figure of her. The first being a weird Botcon repaint of Starscream (with lips) and then a small Kre-O block figure. This Takara Tomy Legends is by far the best one though. She is a retooled Windblade with a new head and torso, but the smirky face and bright colors make her feel wholly original.

Star Wars 6" Black Series - GENERAL LEIA ORGANA!

Star Wars: The Black Series #52 - General Leia Organa - Hasbro 2017

This was the first figure I grabbed off the shelf on Force Friday. I was the 6th person in the TRU doors at midnight (they only let ten people in at a time) and luckily all the other fans in that group were after 3.75" figures, so I had the 6" section all to myself. In Force Awakens, I thought General Organa was the most interesting carry-over character from the original trilogy. Han Solo, Chewie, Tarkin, C3PO, etc. were just continuations from their previous appearances. They hadn't evolved the way you would have expected in a world rebuilding after the fall of the Empire (Luke obviously has been through a lot, but we barely saw him). But Leia took the cake as far as cool character advancement. The leadership skills and tenacity shown throughout episodes IV-VI culminated in Leia becoming a General in the Resistance. Her powerful and authoritative presence in the movie seems like such a natural progression. I'm excitedly yet solemnly looking forward to seeing her final role in The Last Jedi this December.

Star Wars Elite Series - REY (JEDI TRAINING)!

Star Wars Elite Series - Die-Cast 6" Rey (Jedi Training) - Disney Store Exc 2017

I am really growing quite fond of the the Disney Store exclusive Star Wars: Elite Series die-cast action figures. I'm sure they don't sell a fraction as well as the similarly scaled 6" Black Series toys from Hasbro, but that doesn't seem to stop them from being produced. I got scared when I saw a ton of Elite figures (mostly Rogue One) on clearance for just $5.99 earlier this Summer, but sure enough they still pushed out a Last Jedi line for Force Friday. I hope the line stays successful because I would love a Leia or two and some Ewoks, if not a whole slew of Expended Universe female Jedis. (Also, I think a Marvel line like this would sell like hotcakes). This Rey figure is a major improvement over the Force Awakens version. The face in particular looks a thousand times more like Daisy Ridley then the first figure. I wonder if they are using the same new face-scanning techniques that Hasbro is now employing. Whatever they're changes have been, it's working. Let's check out the Elite Series Rey below!

Batman & Harley Quinn HARLEY QUINN!

Batman & Harley Quinn - Blu-Ray Best Buy Exc Figurine - Warner Bros 2017

I really love the trend of deluxe DVD/Blu-Ray sets including little figurines. The first one I remember was the 2009 Wonder Woman animated movie. This included an awesome animated-style Infinite Heroes figure of Diana. The trend soon moved away from actual action figures to stationary figurines. The next one that caught my eye was a Catwoman figurine from the Batman: Year One movie, soon followed by another Catwoman with Dark Knight Rises and a Harley Quinn from Batman: Assault on Arkham. Then there was a brief period where Schliech took over the figurine production. But now it seems like the tried and true Gentle Giant have taken over the duties. This new Batman & Harley Quinn movie is written by Bruce Timm and drawn in The New Adventures of Batman style. Even Batman and Nightwing have the classic voice actors. It's a very entertaining movie and I highly recommend it. And while you're at it, get the special edition with the cool figurine. Let's check out Harley Quinn below!