Marvel Mini Bust - LADY DEADPOOL!

Marvel Mini Bust - Lady Deadpool - Action Figure Xpress Exc - Gentle Giant 2011

When I first saw images of Lady Deadpool when she was introduced back in 2010, I honestly wasn't a big fan. I normally love female versions of established male characters. But adding breasts and a ponytail was just a little too simplistic for me. However, about a year later I saw this very bust advertised in a catalog and I suddenly found myself really appreciating the design. I specifically remember thinking the sculpt of the abdomen and bustline looked very strong and feminine, but not overly sexualized like all the other minibusts flooding the market at the time. Of course I was a much different person seven years ago and I couldn't justify the expense. But this bust was always in the back of my mind, and when her Marvel Select figure came out last year I suddenly had an interest in assembling a little Wanda Wilson collection and my hunt for this bust was on. It took a while but I finally got her at a great price (and just in time for her new Legends figure in the coming weeks!) Let's check out Lady Deadpool below!

Power Rangers - PINK & YELLOW ZEO RANGERS!

Power Rangers Legacy GameStop Exc - Zeo 1 Pink and 2 Yellow - Bandai 2018

Power Rangers Zeo is the 4th season of the American Power Rangers franchise from 1996 and based on the Japanese Chouriki Sentai Ohranger. At first glance of the costume details and the Megazord, I always assumed this series was Egyptian themed (with weird "shape" vizors). But in reading about it now, I learned that they are based on an ancient unknown (fictional) Pangaean civilization. Each of the Ohrangers is also numbered - Pink 1, Yellow 2, Blue 3, Green 4, Red 5, and Gold 6. The visor symbols are representative of those numbers, Pink with a circle, Yellow with two lines, Blue with a triangle, Green with a square, etc. I always though the designs were random, so it's nice to know there's some sort of order. These two female Zeo Ranger figures were conspicuously absent from the waves hitting the big box stores and the rumors were that they would be GameStop exclusives. And sure enough this week they showed up at GameStops everywhere (on the website too). Let's check them out below!

Power Rangers - PINK & YELLOW SPACE RANGERS!

Power Rangers Legacy Collection S3 & S4 - Space Pink and Yellow - Bandai 2017

Power Rangers in Space is the sixth American season of Power Rangers from 1998. It is based on the Japanese series Denji Sentai Megaranger. I like pointing this out because there is a major discrepancy between the two series that I find amusing. The original Japanese version has a computerized/digital theme with lots of microchips and lights. (I swear my old Texas Instruments computer in the 80s had the same color strips that they wear on their chests). The American interpretation of this theme was... space. I guess the helmets could sort of be viewed as space helmets. But for that matter, all iterations kind of look like spacemen. Power Rangers in Space is also known for giving us the Psycho Rangers. I love the trope of evil doppelgangers so I'm excited to see these in Legacy toy form.  I'll be interested to see if the Yellow and Pink Psychos come on a female buck. The television versions definitely looked all male, but I hope they'll break the rules for the toys. Let's check out the Space Rangers below!

Infinity War Basic - GAMORA!

Avengers: Infinity War - Basic Series 02 - Gamora - Hasbro 2018

One thing I keep hoping for with each new Gamora movie appearance is for her character to be more ruthless and violent. My comic references are roughly thirty years old so maybe she was always a loving and vulnerable character, but my main takeaway is that she was the "deadliest woman in the whole galaxy." Unfortunately we don't really get to see that side of her. Her fighting prowess seems equal (at best) to the other characters. I hate to think that in such a groundbreaking property that they felt the need to soften her for general audiences. This basic series Gamora is sadly the weakest of the line. I've seen her in stores about six times now and every single one had really off-kilter eyes. All my photos here were taken after I impatiently touched her up (with no before pics unfortunately). But note that I mimicked the paint job that was already there, I just made her eyes line up. The detail in the irises and pupil was much less that the other figures. Let's check her out below!

Infinity War Basic - SCARLET WITCH!

Avengers: Infinity War - Basic Series 02 - Scarlet Witch - Hasbro 2018

This Scarlet Witch figure from the Avengers Infinity War Basic Series is one of the nicest budget figures I've ever purchased. Sure, the leg articulation is basically non-existent, but the overall sculpt and the upper-body poseability is terrific. The face paint in the Hasbro basic lines has been very inconsistent. I usually feel a desire to touch up a part of the face to augment to company's obvious cost-cutting methods. But this Scarlet Witch has a great paintjob. In comparison to the Gamora released in the same wave, Wanda has a perfect simple face (complete with irises!)  I'm hoping we'll see a lot more basic figures in the future. I'm thinking Wasp, Captain Marvel, Nebula, and Mantis are the most likely next candidates, but only time will tell. The Shuri figure from Black Panther was a big surprise, so who knows what other unpredictable characters will be thrown into the mix. I only hope that they all share the Scarlet Witch's same balance of budget constraint and detail. Let's check out Wanda in detail below!

Black Panther Basic - SHURI!

Marvel's Black Panther - Basic Series 01 - Shuri (w/ Customization) - Hasbro 2018

I think I'm the only person I know who wasn't blown away by the Black Panther movie. My expectations were set really high, and by the time I saw it, it was almost inevitable that I would be let down. My biggest complaint it that the Dora Milaje didn't really have a chance to shine. I was expecting some crazy spectacle on par with the beach invasion in Wonder Woman. I also really disliked the Erik Killmonger character. I usually love all villains but I found him disappointing and overly cocky. Some things I loved about the movie included the snowy Jabari tribe on the mountain, Wakanda itself, and T'Challa's genius little sister, Shuri. She was just so smart, funny, competent and cool. I hope that she will get the full Marvel Legends treatment when the sequel hits, but in the meantime I was excited we got this basic series figure to tide us over. I got her when she first came out, but I waited to post a review until I got a chance to customize her a little (her figure was a little too basic IMO). Let's check out Shuri below!

Halo - SPARTAN VALE!

Halo Universe Series: Wave 2 - Spartan Vale (Imperial Grunt BaF) - Mattel 2017

Mattel's Halo Universe Series is one of the most irregular action figure lines in recent years. When Mattel got the Halo license from McFarlane Toys back in 2016, I think everyone thought it would get the full Mattel-level treatment that we usually see with their superhero action figure lines. But surprisingly there has been very little product and very little promotion for that product. I almost thought this Series 02 Spartan Vale figure was an urban legend. There's little or no Halo representation at Toy Fair these days and solicit images usually just randomly pop up and disappear on Amazon. I'm skeptical by nature so I often think they're fake if I can't link them to an real source. In fact, images of Wave 3 surfaced this way back in January, but there hasn't been a peep about them since. I'm not even a big Halo fan (although I always love non-sexualized female warriors), but the scarcity of these recent figures always earns them a high spot on my wishlist anyway. I finally got this gem last week. Let's check her out below!

Justice League Action 12" - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Comics Justice League Action - 12" Batman & Harley Quinn - Mattel 2018

Sometimes poor Harley can't catch a break. This is Mattel's second attempt at a 12" classic-looking Harley Quinn and both have been pretty far misses. The funny thing is that it all comes down to proportion. The first Harley from 2016's Batman: Unlimited line had a bizarrely tiny head on a really tall slender body. And now this new Justice League Action Harley has a bizarrely oversized head on a shorter body. The new figure's body construction is interesting. She appears to have the Torso and Arms of the original Harley, but with new shorter legs which are a shrunken version of the legs from the Justice League Action Wonder Woman figure (complete with high heels and articulated knees). If she had a more stylized Bruce-Timm-like body she would look teriffic, but the contrast between body and head is a little too extreme. I both hated and loved this figure when I first discovered it last month. But now I kind of adore its weirdness. And it makes me very excited about future JLA figures. Let's check her out below!

DC Comics ViniMates - BATGIRL!

DC ViniMates - Nightwing & Batgirl - Free Comic Book Day Exc - DST 2018

It satisfies a long-forgotten need of mine to finally be getting some Minimate products based on DC Properties. My first exposure to Minimates was the early C3 products way back in 2004. In that line we got a great Catwoman and Cassandra Cain Batgirl. Then in 2007-08, there was an official DC Minimate line which gave us a whopping seventeen female figures (Including my favorites, Harley, Batgirl and Batwoman). But in the 10 years since then there has been nothing (not counting the Gotham products). So although I would always prefer a traditional mini-mate form, I'm quickly warming up to the larger, pre-posed Vinimate design, especially if all my favorite characters are getting new product. This Batgirl and Nightwing 2-Pack was a 2018 FCBD exclusive. It had a shipment delay and didn't arrive in stores until mate May. I snagged it at my lcs last week. My only wish is that these figures offered some articulation. Just a neck or a single shoulder would add a lot. Let's check out Batgirl below!

DC Multiverse - GREEN LANTERN JESSICA CRUZ!

DC Multiverse - Clayface Collect & Connect: Jessica Cruz - Mattel 2018

Jessica Cruz is one of these newer DC Comics characters that I literally know nothing about. She appeared in 2014 and I thought she looked awesome, but somehow I've never read a single issue she has appeared in. I was really excited when a DC Collectibles Icons figure of Jessica was announced a couple years ago at SDCC, but if we were only destined to get one figure, I'm glad it was this Multiverse version in the larger scale. The Batwoman and Jessica Cruz Green Lantern have spectacular new bodies. I'm really impressed with the articulation and overall silhouette. It's makes me extremely excited for the upcoming Stephanie Brown Spoiler and (rumored?) Balent Catwoman. Hopefully this new phase of Multiverse inspires Legends-level SDCC exclusives (because I want obscure characters dammit!) This figure makes me want to catch up on this character's comics because I really dig her classic Lantern costume. Previous efforts for female Lanterns weren't as on-brand. Let's check out Jessica Crew below!

Star Wars Toybox - PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA!

Disney Toybox - Star Wars Action Figures #7 Leia - Disney Store Exclusive - 2018

These Disney Store Toybox figures are getting better with each purchase. Last year's Rey figure was pretty weird looking - enough so that I questioned if I would really buy any future figures. But then the Black Widow figure was revealed and I suddenly had renewed interest in the line. This newest Princess Leia figure is keeping the momentum going. She embodies this great blend of modern animated styling with classic movie details. Now I'm really excited about future figures. I'm guessing we'll eventually see a Queen Amidala and Hera Syndula. But I'd also love to see some more obscure choices like Oola, Darth Talon, and Shaak Ti. The Marvel line has teased a new Wasp figure, but I also expect a Captain Marvel and Gamora figure in the near future. Not forgetting classics like She-Hulk and Spider-Woman which would be awesome. I should also mention that the Toy Story and Incredibles lines both have females in them as well, but I'm limiting myself to Marvel and Star Wars. Let's check out Leia below!