Batman the Animated Series - POISON IVY!

Batman the Animated Series #49 - Poison Ivy - DC Collectibles 2019

One of the biggest disappointments in my adult collecting life would have to be the release of the 2017 Batman the Animated Series GCPD Rogues Gallery 5-Pack. This deluxe set retailed for a prohibitive $175.00 and featured the final figure I needed for my personal favorites collection: BTAS Poison Ivy (and as an added insult:  $175 ÷ 5 = $35, which was noticeably more than the single release figures at the time). I almost caved a dozen times over the years and bought the whole set. And on eBay the single figures were almost always over 80 bucks. But I had faith that DC Collectibles would eventually re-release her in a single, or at the very least a Gotham Girls set. It took a little over two years, but I finally have her in my greedy little hands. And while this particular animated likeness isn't the strongest in the line (the face and hair from most angles seems a little off), it's still very good and I'm ecstatic to finally have her in my collection. Now I'm wishing for a Huntress in the JLA line! Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Chronicle Collectibles - ALL-STAR BATGIRL!

Batgirl (Jim Lee) Statue - ThinkGeek/Gamestop Exc - Chronicle Collectibles 2019

All-Star Batgirl is an interesting iteration of the Barbara Gordon character. All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder was a limited series created by Frank Miller and Jim Lee from 2005-2008 (ten issues in 36 weeks.. sheesh). The title quickly became notorious for being over-the-top with story and dialogue. I'm not a huge fan of Frank Miller simply because I feel he bases his modern storylines on shock value (but I guess you need outrageous headlines to spark interest when the release schedules are so dragged out). The scandal-of-the-issue for Batgirl's first appearance (in Issue 6) was a bunch of dialogue that DC had to redact. It was a stunt worthy of a huge eyeroll (especially considering you could read the words through the redactions, which felt super intentional and cheesy). But that said, seeing a young energetic Barbara Gordon as Batgirl was really exciting. Cassie Cain was great, but our favorite redhead hadn't been in costume in so long. This statue was a welcome and nostalgic surprise. Let's check her out!

Power Rangers - PINK RANGER!

Power Rangers - Playskool Heroes Mega Mighties - Pink Ranger - Hasbro 2019

I find it amusing that before the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toy reboot in 2010, I didn't own a single Power Rangers figure and I was basically indifferent to the property. But those new toys in 2010 were inexpensive and fun and I soon found myself hooked. I even found myself as an adult actively watching Power Rangers Dino Charge every week. Now it's a full blown category of my collection (even though I still have never seen a single episode of MMPR). This Mega Mighties Pink Ranger was quite a surprise when I found her at Target a few weeks ago. Especially considering how often the ladies are excluded from the toylines (especially the preschool lines or toys with action features for rough play). But it seems like quite possibly Playskool is turning a new leaf recently with this Pink Ranger and the Captain Marvel hitting shelves at the same time. If this trend continues the next year could be very exciting. I can imagine Rey, Spider-Gwen, Yellow Ranger, and Black Widow. Let's check out Pink Ranger below!

3.75" Fortnite - GINGER GUNNER!

Fortnite: Gingerbread Set - Ginger Gunner & Merry Marauder - Jazwares 2019

Merry Christmas! I was holding out on posting this review because it's the only holiday-themed toy I think I've bought this year. There is something about this Target-exclusive Fortnite Gingerbread Set that thrills me. Gingerbread men are such an iconic Christmas theme, but I almost never see them used in fun ways. So when I see two gun-toting murderous action figures with this wholesome holiday decor, I am just hooked. I kind of want to pack them away with my ornaments and give them a spotlight in my annual trimmings (along with my Funko Miser Brothers!) Fortnite is known for combining cute and savage characteristics, and I think that's one of the reasons the brand is so popular. I really hope we see Ginger Gunner in different formats. A 12" and 6" version would be amazing additions to the line. And the best part about it is that new figures usually just show up on the shelves with little or no advance notice to us collectors - so there is always hope for the unexpected. Let's check out this festive little freak below!

Star Wars - JANNAH!

Star Wars 6" Black Series #98 - Jannah (Rise of Skywalker) - Hasbro 2019

I thought Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was fantastic. The story was solid, the characters were on point, and it was surprisingly funny. My biggest gripes with movies like Star Wars are when certain scenes defy the laws of physics. I can suspend my disbelief for the moment but my sciencey brain scoffs (usually laughing out loud in the theatre). But these impractical scenes never ruin a movie for me. I'm saying this because the scene that make me guffaw the most in Skywalker featured this new character Jannah. I don't want to give away any spoilers for the movie, so I'm just going to talk about my impressions of this toy. I'm always impressed by the new focus on racial diversity on the Star Wars franchise, and I especially love seeing kickass women of color. I also have a fascination with archery and crossbows, so this character is a natural draw for me. Naomi Ackie is a new actor to me, but I was excited to see that she was cast in that unaired Game of Thrones prequel pilot. Let's check out Jannah below!

Super Hero Adventures - CAPTAIN MARVEL!

Marvel - Playskool Heroes Mega Mighties - Captain Marvel - Hasbro 2019

Playskool has been such a disappointing company since Marvel Super Hero Squad era fizzled out a decade ago. They've managed to release only a handful of female characters since then. Their Star Wars line has the most with two Reys, Phasma, Rose, and Enfys Nest.. yes, only five. The Marvel line has two different Black Widow sculpts and a Spider-Gwen. The fact that Gamora, Hela, Scarlet Witch, or Captain Marvel haven't been included yet are sinful (I didn't list Wasp because I still have hopes they'll released the cancelled figure). But in the past two weeks I've found two surprise female additions to the oversized Mega Mighties line. These figures are 10" tall with 6 points of articulation at $9.99 price point. I must admit I wasn't always sold on these figures, but these ladies are kind of winning over (only kind of). They're still big and weird to me, but I still found myself excitedly googling to see if there was a Spider-Gwen coming (I don't think there is). It's going to be a slippery slope. Let's check out Carol below!

Batman Returns ViniMates - CATWOMAN!

DC Comics ViniMates - Batman Returns Catwoman - Diamond Select Toys 2019

There are far too few representations of Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in my collection. I still maintain that this was the best representations of a female comic character on screen. Every so often I find myself searching YouTube for that iconic "Meow" scene and every time it's just as good as I remember. When the ViniMates spinoff line of MiniMates was first announced, I wasn't too impressed. I love the blocky tiny MiniMate line so much, but these larger, unarticulated cousins just didn't make much sense to me. But then they started rolling out amazing DC characters in a variety of different eras, and I was hooked. It had been 10 years since the original DC Mini-Mate line had fizzled out and I didn't realize how much I was missing it. This Michelle Pfeiffer figure is absolutely perfect. Now I have an expanded wishlist for Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt versions. Not to mention other cinematic ladies like Alicia Silverstone Batgirl and Uma thurman Poison Ivy. I want them all! Let's check out Catwoman below!

Bendy and the Dark Revival - INK AUDREY!

Bendy and the Ink Machine - Series 03 - Ink Audrey - PhatMojo 2019

PhatMojo has a way of surprising me with new action figures just appearing out of nowhere in the toy aisles. I actually think every wave of toys so far has been a surprise to me: Bendy waves I and II, Showdown Bandit, It, The Office... the only one I guess I was expecting was DuckTales (and I'm still eagerly awaiting that second series). This Ink Audrey figure is apparently the protagonist for the upcoming Bendy and the Dark Revival game due in January 2020. You will actually be exploring the Bendy world as Audrey. I'm assuming we'll witness her slow transformation into the ink monster we see here. Many of the Bendy figures from Series I and II come in both the black and white and yellow and white versions. I've always been jealous of the yellow ones because I think they look very striking. But this Ink Audrey is the first female figure in a yellow and black deco. I especially love the darker yellow eyes. These figures are also improving greatly with every wave and I'm always excited to see what they'll do next.

Fortnite Legendary Series - VALKYRIE!

Fortnite - Legendary Series (6" Action Figures) - Valkyrie - Jazwares 2019

I'm very excited for this first female character in the 6" Fortnite Legendary Series from Jazwares. We've seen a lot of high-quality product from Jazwares over the years, but this is the first time we've seen a Marvel-Legends-type line from them (if you exclude that Hanna-Barbera Space Ghost from 2012). Fortnite shows a ton of potential and will hopefully earn Jazwares all kinds of new licenses in the coming years. I'm generally just excited to see a new big player in the action figure aisles. I don't know much at all about Fortnite except that I find the toys very exciting and quirky. That's why I'm so intrigued by this Valkyrie figure. She's quite possibly the least quirky character I've seen in the line, but she's absolutely gorgeous. I'll probably end up displaying her with my Magic the Gathering or other sci-fi fantasy figures. The pajama party aesthetic of the property is absent in this one. Also, in researching Valkyrie I kept seeing images of a fire variant. I certainly hope we see that in plastic. Let's check out Valkyrie below!

Star Wars - CARA DUNE!

Star Wars 6" Black Series #101 - Cara Dune (The Mandalorian) - Hasbro 2019

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about The Mandalorian when it was first announced. Growing up, my older brother was obsessed with Boba Fett but I just didn't see the fascination. Considering that I never watched a Star Wars television series before (there have been so many!), I thought this would be yet another skippable show. But then the baby Yoda memes started surfacing and I was super intrigued. Then last weekend I borrowed a Disney+ password and I dove right it. And as much as I love baby Yoda, I'm actually more intrigued by the Mandalorian himself and the mercenary Cara Dune. I've only seen one episode with Cara so far (directed by Bryce Dallas Howard!), but considering she has a toy and posters, I'm assuming she'll be a regular character. Cara is played by Gina Carano, the MMA champion who you might know from Deadpool and Fast & Furious. She exudes strength, beauty, and a no-nonsense personality that is somehow very quirky. Let's check out Cara Dune below!

12" Fortnite - PANDA TEAM LEADER!

Fortnite - Victory Series Squad Mode Box - Panda Team Leader - Jazwares 2019

Surprisingly there aren't many panda-themed action figures out there. As one of the most universally recognizable animals, they somehow never get the same anthropomorphic-action-figure attention as the big cats, reptiles, and birds. Besides the obvious Kung Fu Panda product, I can't think of any. This Fortnite Victory Series 4-pack appears to be exclusive to Sam's Club exclusive (I don't believe they have been found anywhere else), and at first glance you might think they are all simple repaints of the single-pack figures. However, this Panda Team Leader has several sculptural differences from Cuddle Team Leader. The most obvious change to me is the chest piece: Cuddle Team Leader has armor while Panda Team Leader has sculpted fur. Also, Panda is now missing Cuddle's trademark facial scar. I feel like every day I'm hearing about new Legendary or 3.75" figures, but the 12" Victory Series isn't getting much press. I would love to see more. Let's check out Panda Team Leader below!

Marvel Legends - TIGRA!

Marvel Legends - Nemesis B-a-F Series - Tigra - Walmart Exc - Hasbro 2009

I had a conversation with a friend the other week and he started scoffing at this old Tigra figure. I agreed that it wasn't terrific, but that it's also not that bad. The sculpt is decent and I have no complaint about the paint application. The only problems are a bland facial expression and the awkward articulation (this was about 5 years before Hasbro perfected the female Marvel Legends buck). So I thought I would dig out my figure and give her a little love with a photo shoot. Especially since I have a hunch we'll be getting an updated figure very soon. She's definitely one of the Marvel characters most deserving of an update, and the recent Tigra: The Complete Collection TPB (that was released today!) is a definite sign that the character has something brewing. It would be especially interesting to see her get some attention at the same time that Cheetah has a starring role in Wonder Woman 1984.  It could be a clash of the felinoid women, and I would love every second of it. Let's check out this 2009 Tigra below!

Masters of the Universe Vintage - EVIL LYN!

Masters of the Universe Vintage Wave 4 - Evil Lyn - Super7 2019

Oh Evelyn Morgan Powers, I was always rooting for you to wrest power from Skeletor and lead the Evil Warriors of Eternia. But alas, those annoyingly perky heroes would always win. When this Vintage-Style Evil-Lyn figure from Super7 was announced, I was a little bummed that they weren't using this platform as a pathway to get us characters that never before had MOTU-style vintage figures (like She-Ra and Shadow Weaver). I would have loved to see Scorpia, Queen Marlena, or Delora before re-hashes of Teela and Evil Lyn, but once I had them in hand, I realized how vastly different the Filmation designs were from the vintage toys. So it's nice to have a proper update, especially since He-Man and all the boys were getting them. Of course, now I will lament that we will never see a Sorceress in this line since she is that only remaining MOTU female without a refreshed action figure. (I only hope Mattel's Origins line does the brand justice and give us lots of characters). Let's check out Evil Lyn below!

Masters of the Universe Vintage - SHADOW WEAVER!

Masters of the Universe Vintage Wave 4 - Shadow Weaver - Super7 2019

Shadow Weaver is one of the most iconic vampy women from my childhood. Her shadowed face and raspy voice actually made her one of the scariest characters in the (expanded) MOTU world. All the other bad guys got silly very quickly and devolved into outright buffoonery, but Shadow Weaver was always sinister. Of all the characters from the Filmation series, it was always a shock that Shadow Weaver never got an action figure made. She appeared in a whopping 52 episodes, while "main" characters like Mermista, Frosta, and Queen Angella were only in a handful. But somehow we haven't seen a vintage-style figure until now. Although when I imagine what a vintage POP Shadow Weaver would look like, I cringe. She would probably be pink and glittery with sparkly gemstones and gauzy fabric. So I'm actually glad it took so long. It's a shame this wave appears to be the last of the Super7 vintage line, because there are so many more characters deserving of this treatment. Let's check out Weaver below!

Two Years of DC Heroines from IMAGINEXT!

An Assortment of Imaginext DC Super Friends Ladies - Fisher-Price 2018-2019

I love Imaginext so much but I get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of figures I've collected over the years. So this post is collecting 23 amazing DC Super Friends ladies I've assembled over the past two years (and there are at least two I couldn't locate amidst my clutter to photograph).  I'm exhausted from editing 214 photos, but giddy about having them all unpackaged now. Way back in early 2012, the release of the Imaginext Catwoman was the push I needed to start this blog - which is funny because I never ended up reviewing that particular figure. But every time there is a new release I feel a nostalgic sense of excitement. The presence of female characters in the line is increasing at a shocking rate, and the two female-centric 6-packs in 2018 is a perfect example of Imaginext's new focus on gender inclusion. It was a very slow trickle for may years, but lately it's been an absolute flood (and I couldn't be happier about it). Let's check out two years of DC Imaginext ladies below!

SDCC Metropolis ReAction - MARIA!

ReAction Retro Figures - Metropolis' Maria (SDCC Exc) - Super7 2019

Smaller toy companies have a leg up on the big guys for one crucial reason: they're almost always geeks like us. That scenario tends to give us great character selection, attention to detail, and amazingly nerdy easter eggs. Hence this truly fantastic SDCC exclusive Maria figure. Maria is the iconic robot from the 1927 film Metropolis, one of the earliest science fiction films ever made. That setup would normally be plenty to excite us collectors (and it did, with the two previous releases of this figure being very popular). But then we add in the super-cool trivia that Maria was the design inspiration behind one of the most popular Sci-Fi robots of all time, Star Wars' very own C3PO (specifically the originally Ralph McQuarrie concept designs), and our collective heads can explode. So in homage to this connection, this Super7 exclusive Maria is deco'd in super shiny gold (complete with a silver leg!) and packaged in classic Kenner style with a retro collectible coin. Maria is totally the droid we've been looking for!

Justice League International - FIRE!

Justice League International - Action Figures Series 02 - Fire - DC Direct 2009

My first exposure to Beatriz da Costa was in the pages of Super Friends when she went by the name Green Fury. I was always drawn to monochromatic characters, even at such a young age. But on the flipside, I was also so young that the idea of fire that wasn't red or orange baffled me. That's honestly why I remember her so well.. because her powers confused me. I didn't even realize she was she same character as Green Flame and Fire until very recently. When she was Green Flame in the Global Guardians, she first started being paired with Icemaiden. And when Icemaiden was re-created as Ice in Justice League International, Green Flame followed suit and shortened her name to Fire. I really don't know much about the pair, except that they seem so iconic - like a female Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. There have been a handful of good action figures of this pair, but I personally think these DC Direct Justice League International versions are the best. Let's check out Fire below!

Justice League International - ICE!

Justice League International - Action Figures Series 01 - Ice - DC Direct 2009

Fire and Ice are two characters I know next to nothing about. I never read any Justice League books when I was young, let alone Justice League International. But when I got into toy collecting in my twenties, the official DC Direct message boards were overflowing with fans begging for action figures of the pair. There was also a fair amount of shipping going on, but as far as I can tell that was all just fanboy fantasy. Once I started reading about the characters, though, I became kind of obsessed. I love the theme of elemental opposites with coinciding temperaments. Ice is Tora Olafsdotter, a naive girl from a magic wielding tribe of Norsemen. There is some confusion with the character Icemaiden who debuted a decade prior. Apparently the JLI writers thought Icemaiden never had a fleshed-out history when they introduced Ice (who they intended to be the same character). But Icemaiden had a very detailed origin previously published which led to Ice being an (unintentionally) original character.

Marvel Toybox - CAPTAIN MARVEL!

Toybox - Marvel Action Figures #18 Captain Marvel - Disney Store Exclusive - 2019

The Disney Store exclusive Toybox line is really on a roll these day. When the line launched just a little under two years ago, I had high hopes, but low expectations. The first female offering was Rey from Star Wars and I had mixed feelings. The scale, articulation, and overall quality was great, but the face looked creepy.  Thankfully two years later all the faces now look great, and the character selection has been exciting. This Captain Marvel is my 5th figure so far, and I hope there will be many more. (I skipped all the Disney ladies: Jessie, Minnie, Bo Peep, and Incredibles). I like how this Carol Danvers figure is a blend of her comic, MCU, and Disney Infinity designs. Hopefully future figures will be the same (Gamora? Valkyrie? Scarlet Witch? Pepper Potts as Rescue?) I kind of like how the new figures are kept a secret until pictures are leaked just a few weeks before they hit the stores. Really keeps us collectors on our toes and reminds me of the old toy hunting days. Let's check out Captain Marvel below!

Alpha Flight - SNOWBIRD!

Marvel Legends - Alpha Flight Boxset (Amazon Exc) - Snowbird - Hasbro 2019

I think Snowbird just may be the most memorable member of Alpha Flight for me. Similar to characters like Thor and Valkyrie, Snowbird is actually a deity (the demi-goddess Narya specifically) that is living on Earth under the guise of a mortal. Her presence in the comics was mysterious and creepy. Her black eyes and her cold countenance is a recipe for intrigue. and the fact that she can transform into any animal of the north just adds to her allure. As a kid, animals were my obsession, so any character with animal-based powers was a natural draw - let alone the ability to become almost any animal. Her appeal must have been universal among fans, because she actually has a decent amount of merchandise. But this is the first Legends-scale figure released (and she had been of my wishlist for a long time). I actually just read that John Byrne created her years before he even entered the comic industry, making her technically the original member of the group! Let's check out the long-awaited Snowbird below!

Alpha Flight - AURORA!

Marvel Legends - Alpha Flight Boxset (Amazon Exc) - Aurora - Hasbro 2019

One thing I always loved about Alpha Flight was the great gender diversity within the team. Right off the bat the team had three interesting and diverse females, and within the first couple years they added two more. The original three ladies were so mysterious and intriguing. Snowbird was a cold and distant goddess, Marrina was a scaly aquatic creature with no memories of her origin, and of course Aurora, the powerful mutant with two distinct (and contradicting) personalities. Aurora and her twin Northstar have almost identical powers of super speed, strength, endurance, and flight (one twin may be more skilled at one power than the other, but it balances out), but Jeanne-Marie Beaubier really stands out from her brother by having disassociative personality disorder. When she is Aurora, she is bold and provocative, but when living as Jeanne-Marie she was timid and devoutly religious. Although her brother has garnered more headlines over the years, Aurora was always the more interesting sibling to me.

Alpha Flight - VINDICATOR!

Marvel Legends - Alpha Flight Boxset (Amazon Exc) - Vindicator - Hasbro 2019

This new Amazon-exclusive Marvel Legends Alpha Flight 6-Pack is a dream come true for me. I have wanted a full inclusion of this team into the Legends line for a long long time. There have been a handful of false starts in both the Marvel Legends and Marvel Universe lines with an occasional Guardian, Sasquatch, Puck or Northstar released, but the entire team seemed like a pipe dream. The 90's ToyBiz lineup was surprisingly good (and thorough), but the scale and sculpt could never hold up to modern scrutiny. In the past two years we have seen an updated Sasquatch and Guardian which gave me hopes that we would see some more members. But I never would have predicted this. I was especially scared that we wouldn't see a Heather Hudson as Vindicator since she wasn't an original hero on the team (she took over the role later on after her husband died). She ended up leading the team and is honestly the most iconic character on the whole roster for me. Let's check out Heather McNeil Hudson as Vindicator below!

Miraculous Ladybug - RENA ROUGE!

Miraculous Ladybug Action Figures: Wave 04 - Rena Rouge - Bandai 2018

I just made a new friend who works for Nickelodeon and it made me realize I never reviewed this amazing Rena Rouge figure. I know that Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is on Disney now. But I will always think of it as a Nickelodeon show. Rena Rouge is another akumatized version of Marinette's best friend, Alya. Earlier in the series, she had been tricked into becoming the villain, Lady Wi-Fi, but this time around she joins with the Kwami Trixx to become the fox-themed hero, Rena Rouge. In this identity, she assists her friends Ladybug and Cat Noir with her powers of illusion and trickery. I always love the eastern-inspired folklore of foxes as supernatural tricksters, and I'm super glad that the Miraculous toyline has given us two fox-themed ladies so far. I just love these bright, colorful action figures and I hope Bandai continues to produce more (even if they are impossible to get in the US). I'm only missing one character now (Multimouse) and I don't want the hunt to end! Let's check out Rena Rouge below!

Star Wars 12" Last Jedi - CAPTAIN PHASMA!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - 12" Action Figures - Captain Phasma - Hasbro 2017

I had a lot of high hopes for Captain Phasma. A female storm trooper captain in silver armor with an intimidating stature and a cape is a recipe for awesome. But in actuality, I felt that she was very underused. I don't know exactly what I expected from her, but a glorified drill sergeant that plummets down an abyss of a crumbling Starkilller base seems very lacklustre. I thought I had picked up all the Phasma action figures until I saw this 12" figure at FiveBelow and realized I had skipped it. I vaguely remember seeing a 12" Phasma for Force Awakens at TRU and thinking it looked like a generic silver Stormtrooper. I passed on it at the time. The funny thing is, I believe this Last Jedi version is a straight-up re-release, but for some reason it is now infinitely more appealing (especially for five bucks!) Spoiler: In fact-checking this post, I learned that there are deleted scenes on the Last Jedi DVD that imply Phasma is not as dead as we might think (although I highly doubt she will have a role in Skywalker). Let's check her out below!

Terminator Salvation - BLAIR WILLIAMS!

Terminator: Salvation - Blair Williams w/ Resistance A-10 Warthog - Playmates 2009

This action figure was a major mystery to me for a long time. I saw her once for sale on eBay in a loose lot and was instantly intrigued. With the absence of G.I.Joe in the toy aisles, I was kind of starved for new 3.75" ladies. The movie Terminator: Salvation was really under my radar. I never saw it, and I'm not sure I ever realized it had a toy line. But in true 3.75" fashion, there was a single female character made and she was rare and came exclusively packaged with a large vehicle (reminds me of Cover Girl and her Wolverine, Maria Hill with the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier,  or Uhura with the USS Enterprise bridge). In Salvation, Blair Williams is a pilot with the Resistance under John Connor who suffers from survivor's guilt and serves as a romantic interest for Marcus Wright. Her action figure comes packaged in a large deluxe vehicle set with her A-10 Warthog and seems to have been largely released in Europe with minimal (if any) release in the US.  Let's check out Blair Williams in detail below!

Star Wars - SECOND SISTER INQUISITOR (x2)!

Star Wars 6" Black Series #95 - Second Sister Inquisitor (& Variant) - Hasbro 2019 

When I first saw images of this Black Series Second Sister Inquisitor, I got really excited. Of course, that excitement was based on two big misconceptions and a subsequent errant theory. I assumed that this wave was all characters from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And I thought that her red lightsaber was the same one shown wielded by Rey in the teaser trailer for the film. This made me wrongfully theorize that this movie would show Rey fully turn to the dark side and don a costume similar to Kylo Ren's. This thrilled me. I love the idea of a character switching allegiances in a grand way. But of course I was mistaken on every front. This character is an antagonist from the new game Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order. The Inquisitorius are an elite group of force-sensitive agents working for the empire. I forgot about the Seventh Sister Inquisitor which had a figure in the animated Rebels line. Maybe eventually we'll meet all the sisters? The game just released yesterday so I guess we'll see. Let's check her out below!

Star Wars 12" Solo - ENFYS NEST!

Solo: A Star Wars Story - 12" Action Figures - Enfys Nest - Hasbro 2018

I thought Solo: A Star Wars Story was an unexpectedly entertaining film. Before I actually saw it, I felt the previews looked uninspired, the casting seemed off, and many of the costumes seemed too modern to fit into the Star Wars Universe... especially for a story that pre-dates A New Hope. But once I actually saw it, all my hesitations went out the window. The story was fun. The casting was great. And the easter eggs were a'plenty. One of my favorite parts of the movie was the antagonist, Enfys Nest. This character was mysterious, dangerous, and just looked really cool. It's been several years so forgive the spoiler, but the surprise gender reveal at the end really shocked me and made me like the character even more. This is the first Enfys action figure I own. The Black Series and Galactic Heroes figures were both included with big sets so I held out for clearance. This 12" figure never really hit stores, perhaps because she's in a wider box and required a separate peg. But she's available on Hasbro Pulse or the Walmart website.

Marvel Legends - JEAN GREY (90'S JIM LEE)!

Marvel Legends - X-Men 3-Pack: Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Cyclops - Hasbro 2019

The 1990's Jean Grey design always seems a little problematic in toy form. On the page, it looks great and iconic. But giant hair, shoulderpads, and a thong-over-bodysuit design  often looks awkward in plastic. This new Marvel Legends figure is easily the best interpretation so far, but even still, from some angles she looks extremely awkward (in my humble opinion). I imagine a Marvel Select version will arrive at some point at the future to go with Rogue and Psylocke and hopefully she'll come with excessive power accessories. The 1990's nostalgia boom in the Legends line is pretty amazing right now. It honestly wasn't my comic favorite era as far as storyline and costume designs go, but back then I was as excited as anyone by the thrill of a fresh take on these characters. I bought every issue with gusto for a little over a year until the thrill wore off. Jean comes in a set unofficially called the "Love Triangle 3-Pack" with Wolverine and Cyclops (scandalous). Let's check out this long-awaited Jean Grey figure below!

Marvel Legends - POLARIS (X-FACTOR)!

Marvel Legends - X-Men 2-Pack: X-Factor Havok and Polaris - Hasbro 2019

This may be a very unpopular opinion these days, but I was never a huge fan of the 1991 X-Factor relaunch. Most of this had to do with my love for two of the main characters, Polaris and Wolfsbane, and my extreme dislike of their costumes and personality changes in this run. However, seeing these characters showing up on the shelves in toy form still hits me with a powerful wave of nostalgia. I remember buying and reading those issues like it was yesterday. I may even have to did out the old comics and give them another chance. At this point I'm probably going to have to hunt down a couple Madrox the Multiple Man figures then budget to build the Strong Guy build-a-figure next year. And of course I think we all expect to see a proper X-Factor Wolfsbane now. Plus the new furry arms and legs can be re-purposed for Feral, Tigra, and Hepzibah (And Squirrel Girl's tail for Hepzibah!). I'm imagining a fun few years for the Legends line. Let's check out the emerald-haired beauty in detail below!

The Women of ROBOCOP!

Robocop - Nancy Miner, Anne Lewis, Lisa Madigan - Toy Island & Kenner 1988-98

I've been wanting to do this review forever. I literally took some of these photo 6 years ago, but am only now getting around to posting them. I was listening to a conversation lately about how many R-rated properties in the 1990s were turned into kid-friendly cartoons and TV shows with the express interest in selling toys to a younger demographic. It seems like a crazy notion, but it happened all the time. Robocop had three R-rated movies produced between 1987-1993, but spawned four different television series (2 live-action, 2 animated) between 1994-1998. Almost every version had a toy line geared towards kids. I find this amusing because my primary memory of the entire franchise is in the beginning of the first film when the ED-209 prototype malfunctions and obliterates the businessman in the most gorey fashion possibly. My brothers and I must have played that scene in slow motion a thousand times. Hardly a property I would expose kids to. Let's check out the ladies of the franchise below!

MOTU Minis - SHE-RA!

Masters of the Universe Minis - Series 02 - She-Ra & Horde Trooper - Mattel 2014

Back in 2014 Mattel released a terrific series of Masters of the Universe Minis. There were 12 figures in the first wave, and if you purchased them all you could construct a mini Castle Grayskull diorama. At the time, a lot of fans viewed these figures as overpriced ($20 per 2-pack + Shipping), but I personally thought they were pretty great and would have jumped right on board... if they had included some females. The second wave showed a lot of potential and momentum for the line. It featured a Snake Mountain diorama and included the first female: She-Ra. Unfortunately the subscription numbers didn't support production so there was never an official release. But years later the 2-Pack of She-Ra and Horde Trooper started hitting Chinese sites like Aliexpress. I managed to snag a set and I adore it. It makes me want to pick up all the figures I've missed (you can often find them at GameStop). Or I can wait to see how many molds get re-released in the new 2020 blind box line. Time will tell!

Bendy and the Ink Machine - ALLISON ANGEL!

Bendy and the Ink Machine - Series 02 - Allison Angel - PhatMojo 2018

Bendy and the Ink Machine is part of a great new evolution of video games featuring realistic textural worlds come to life. In Five Nights at Freddy's a haunted pizza joint where the animatronic mascots come to life. In Unravel, the hero Yarny is a sentient string man exploring his world. In Cuphead you're immersed in the world of classic rubber hose animation. In Showdown Bandit, and classic marionette shows has come to life. And in Bendy, an animation studio is somehow giving life to all its insane characters. I love this trend. I feel that creativity was missing from the genre for years and suddenly it's on overdrive. I don't actually know who this Allison Angel character is. I made the mistake of Googling her name at work trying to learn more, and I'm expecting the call from HR any minute. Her namesake seems to be quite popular if you're into the blonde busty type. This figure is pretty awesome looking though. She's creepy without being overtly "horror." I try to avoid gore in my hobbies. Let's check her out in detail below!

The Shape of Water - AMPHIBIAN MAN!

Guillermo del Toro Collection - The Shape of Water - Amphibian Man - NECA 2019

Your eyes aren't deceiving you. I'm breaking a big rule by posting a review of an ostensibly male character here on this blog. But to my credit, amphibians can have very ambiguous genders, and I honestly don't have any other outlet to post these pictures (I've pretty much withdrawn from the forum and message board scene). The Shape of Water was easily my favorite film of 2017. It combined all my favorite genres: forbidden romance, historical noir, science fiction, cryptozoology, archaeology, and of course a gill-monster. Apparently Guillermo del Toro watched Creature From the Black Lagoon as a child and had the same reaction I did: why doesn't the monster ever get the girl? I saw the Creature as a misunderstood romantic, and this new film tells the story I always wanted. The Guillermo del Toro collection from NECA is a line with a lot of potential. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any more figures on the horizon, but my fingers are crossed for Mimic and Crimson Peak. Let's check out the Amphibian Man below!

Universal Monsters - THE DAMSELS!

Universal Monsters Mini-Mates - The Damsels - Diamond Select Toys 2010-11

I'm pretty classically-minded. So whenever Halloween rolls around my fascination with the Universal Monster movies kicks into high gear. It wasn't long ago that I learned the beautiful Julia Adams had passed away back in February. The Creature From the Black Lagoon is easily my favorite monster movie and she was perfect in the role of Kay Lawrence. But this got me thinking about all the "damsels" of the Universal Monsters library, and then I had the realization that I already owned a bunch of them in Mini-mate form. Back in 2010 and 2011, Diamond Select Toys released a fantastic collection of Mini-mates based on these classic films, and in the process they included the oft-forgotten (at least in the merchandising department) ladies of Universal Monsters. All of these movies fail the Bechdel test miserably (a lot has changed in the past 60 years luckily), but these characters are still memorable in their own way and make really fascinating little collectibles. Let's check them out below!

Showdown Bandit - MISS UNDERTAKER!

Showdown Bandit - Action Figures Series 01 - Miss Undertaker - Phat Mojo 2019

Autumn is my favorite season and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but October is also a month that has become extremely busy for me professionally the past few years. I tried to get a series of Halloween-themed posts ready before the end of the month, but alas, it is now November. So bear with me as I extend my holiday celebrations a bit.  Phat Mojo is a really fascinating toy company. Something about their products reminds me of the toy industry when I was a kid. I keep finding colorful, simply-articulated action figures on the shelves that I was in no way expecting. Showdown Bandit is a horror videogame from the makers of Bendy and the Ink Machine. It's features a defunct television studio where a Howdy Doody-type show was once filmed. The puppets are all now sentient in true Bendy/Five Nights at Freddy's fashion. This action figure line was a perfect surprise find in the lead-up to Halloween. Lorelei Undertaker looks like a weird witchy saloon girl, and I'm kind of obsessed. Let's check her out!

Masters of the Universe Vintage - FROZEN TEELA!

Masters of the Universe Vintage Wave 3 - Frozen Teela - Super7 2019

There's something about translucent plastic action figures that mesmerizes me. I remember having Blackstar toys as a kid and being obsessed with their translucent chests. Same with the Golden Pharaoh from Super Powers and all the Crystar heroes. My only caveat is that I like them to have a color tint, plain clear is not appealing for some reason. I didn't know the reasoning behind this Super 7 translucent blue vintage style Frozen Teela until after I bought it. There was a single episode in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season 2 (titled "The Ice Age Cometh") where the new villain Icer touches Teela and she freezes. It's a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but it sure translates into a cool variant of this fantastic sculpt. In the episode, when He-Man finds Teela frozen like a statue, he does the logical thing and punches her. In cartoon-trope-land, punching ice is apparently the same as thawing I guess. I've seen it a thousand times and it's always ridiculous. Let's check out Teela below!

PJ Masks - ANYU!

PJ Masks - Action figure 2-Packs - Catboy and An-Yu - Just Play Toys 2019

I think the use of CGI in children's animation is making the genre explode. When I was a kid. There were very few new cartoons (aimed towards the preschool market). Most shows were syndicated classics like Looney Tunes and Smurfs. In the mid-80s there was a boom of cartoons seemingly intended to sell stuffed animals (Get-a-Long Gang, Shirt Tails, Monchichi, etc), but it was nothing like it is today. Nowadays, there's always something new on the TV and the preschool toys aisles appear to be in constant rotation with new product. Lately though, there have been two lines that seem to be withstanding the test of time: Paw Patrol and PJ Masks. The only issue with these toy lines is that they rarely introduce new characters. The core characters are the breadwinners and there's always a new wave of kids being freshly exposed to them. But every so often we get a gem like this AnYu the Dragon Girl. Her design is really fun and she adds some much needed diversity to this popular show. Let's check her out below!

Buzz Lightyear - MIRA NOVA!

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command - Mira Nova - McDonald's Australia 2001

There's something about Happy Meal toys that thrill me when they're made right. I feel like a majority of the time I only see weird gimmicky plastic contraptions or my favorite characters inexplicably in the driver's seat of a little car. But every so often you get these cool little action figures. Of course, the downfall is the best ones have an annoying habit on being Australian and very tricky to obtain on the secondary market. This Mira Nova figure is a prime example. The American Happy Meal line were little "launch vehicles", but the Australian set were four well-designed action figures. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command was a Toy Story spinoff from 2000. It expanded on Buzz's "fictional" life before ending up in Andy's toy bin. Mira Nova is a rookie Space Ranger and Princess of the Tangean people. She has telepathic abilities and can phase through walls. There were a number of toys produced for this cartoon, but Mira was always left out. Until Australian McDonald's swept in to save the day! Let's check her out below!

Batman Universe Busts - CATWOMAN '66!

Batman Universe Busts #28 - Catwoman '66 - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Every time I see an image of a 1966 Catwoman I get overwhelmed by nostalgia. Whether it's Julie Newmar, Earth Kitt, or Lee Meriwether, there is something about the costume that sweeps me back to my childhood in the early 80s. I grew up without air conditioning or cable, and during the hot summer months my siblings and I would block out the shades, haul out the electric fans, make tons of juice pops, and settle in for long marathons of Godzilla movies, Star Trek the Animated Series, and the 1966 Batman show (all of which were in constant Summer rotation on our weird local stations). This was my first exposure to Catwoman and I was instantly entranced by her. I've loved almost every iteration of the character since, in both comics and movies, but I think I will always hold this version as the gold standard. It's only a shame that the likeness to the actresses are so consistently off-base. The merchandise doesn't look bad per say, but they certainly don't resemble Julie, Eartha, or Lee. Let's check out Catwoman below!

Batman vs TMNT - BATGIRL!

Batman vs TMNT - Batgirl & Donatello - Gamestop Exc - DC Collectibles 2019

Who would have expected that (1) there would be an animated Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, that (2) the movie would inspire a collector-grade toyline, and (3) that Batgirl would be included in the lineup?? I feel like this Batgirl figure has a very unlikely existence, but I'm so glad the stars aligned because she is such a great addition to my collection. A lot of recent animated DC movies have had styles that were a bit too cartoony, but this one leans a lot more toward comic styling. Plus the majority of Batgirl's Burnside comics were drawn in a more animated style, so this figure ends up being a surprisingly versatile design. (PS, she's voiced by Rachel Bloom). I haven't seen the movie, but I see from screengrabs and imdb that Poison Ivy and Harley also have roles.  I know it's impossible, but I would love to see them in this style as well, especially Ivy as she suffers from way too many cancelled or lackluster figures. Maybe GameStop and DC Collectibles will surprise us. Let's check out Batgirl below!

Eaglemoss BTAS - GOTHAM GIRLS!

DC Super Hero Collection - BTAS Gotham Girls - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Batman the Animated Series did wondrous things for the female contingent of the Batman universe. Sure, Catwoman was a pretty major presence in the comics at the time (She recently had her first self-titled comic mini-series and she starred in Batman Returns just a few months before the BTAS debut), but Poison Ivy was practically forgotten and Batgirl had recently been paralyzed. Then BTAS burst onto the scene and made them all major players again, and of course the cartoon soon introduced us to the iconic Harley Quinn. Not only did these characters suddenly have a higher public profile, but their personalities and relationships with each other were developed into the intriguing dynamic we still see today. I was really excited when Eaglemoss first started soliciting this BTAS sub-line of the DC Super Hero Collection, I had hopes to get all four of the main girls, and thankfully my wishes were fulfilled. (Now I will patiently wait for The New Adventures of Batman versions). Let's check out the ladies below!

Batman Universe Busts - BATGIRL!

Batman Universe Collector's Busts #10 - Batgirl - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Burnside Batgirl was a really fun phase in the evolution of Batgirl. It's amazing that she's already mostly phased out after only 3.5 years. In 2011 when the DC universe rebooted into the New52 and Barbara Gordon re-assumed the mantle of Batgirl, I personally felt the comic was almost unreadable. Part of it could be that the main casuality in this shift was the amazing Stephanie Brown Batgirl (who was written out in the reboot). It would be hard for anyone to take the place of Steph, but even without that competition, the rebooted Batgirl comic was just a lackluster snoozefest. I wanted really really bad to like it, but it had no heart. The feeling must have been mutual because in a few short years (2014), Barbara was revamped into a younger, hipper, more independent Batgirl. She wore a very utilitarian version of the iconic costume and she was relocated to Burnside (essentially Brooklyn to Gotham's Manhattan). It was a breath of fresh air. And this bust is a great homage to her first cover. Let's check her out below!

Batman Universe Busts - BATWOMAN!

Batman Universe Busts #21 - Batwoman - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Kate Kane as Batwoman is such a great character. Not only does she have a terrific costume, but her backstory and personality have natural depth and believably (at least once her run in Detective Comics started... the 52 stuff just wasn't fully fleshed out yet). Also, the mantle of Batwoman itself has a great political history. She and Bat-Girl were the original beards of the comic world, so Kate's sexuality is a brilliant reimagining. I think she is going to be a solid fixture in the Gotham scene for many many years to come (and hopefully her costume doesn't change, because it's honestly perfect). It should be really interesting to see how the new Batwoman TV show effects her popularity. At the very least we're likely to see more toys. Look how Supergirl's show has amplified her toy aisle presence in the past few years. (I'm not being facetious... we've seen several action figures and statues as a direct result of the show.. and I have the same hopes for Kate). Let's check out the Batwoman Eaglemoss bust below!

Batman Universe Busts - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS!

Batman Universe Busts #3 Harley, Catwoman #5, Poison Ivy #8 - Eaglemoss 2019

I have a backlog of Eaglemoss products I've been dying to review forever. Last weekend I finally unpackaged a ton of my hoarded busts and figurines and photographed them and now I'm excited to post them all. For sake of brevity I will be lumping certain ones into groups, and the most logical grouping to me is the Gotham City Sirens trio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. As much as this trifecta seems timeless, I did some research and discovered that Catwoman and Poison Ivy only ever crossed paths five times in the 27 years leading up to Batman the Animated Series (and I didn't actually read those five stories, but from the descriptions they seem like huge ensemble casts where it's very unlikely that the two even talked). Yeah, Batman books didn't really pass the Bechdel test until fairly recently. But once Harley was introduced, it wasn't long until these friendships formed and they haven't looked back. Let's check out Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn below!

Batman Universe Busts - BLUEBIRD!

Batman Universe Collector's Busts #35 - Bluebird - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

It's been a long time since a new Batman character has caught my attention. Something I've always loved about DC Comics is the long historical canons behind almost all of the heroes and villains. But something about Bluebird caught my eye and soon as I saw her suited up in the pages of Batman Eternal back in 2015. No, she didn't have an outlandish cape or some obscure tactile weapon that I crave. She wore utilitarian gear and carried guns. Plus she had a mohawk (I've known one too many folks with mohawks in my life, and they always end up a major disappointment.. so the haircut is now a red flag to me). But despite it all, the tempestuous hacker/engineer Harper Row in her new punky vigilante role quickly became an obsession for me. It was actually a few years until I realized her costume was an obvious homage to Nightwing, and that only made me like her more. This Eaglemoss bust is the first official piece of Bluebird merchandise and it's honestly a terrific debut. Let's check her out below!

Marvel Select - CAPTAIN MARVEL (STARFORCE)!

Marvel Select - Captain Marvel (Movie) Starforce - Diamond Select Toys 2019

The Marvel Select line from DST has had an amazing year. This Starforce Captain Marvel marks the fourth Marvel Select female in 9 months. And I only hope the momentum continues. There's potential for so many more great figures. I know we're very likely to see a new Storm and Black Widow next, but I have hopes for so many more. This Starforce Captain Marvel figure is terrific. She's articulated beautifully and the sculpt is great. The only downfall is the unmasked head has pretty lackluster paint apps and looks almost nothing like Brie Larson. This same issue existed the with Marvel Legends figure from Hasbro. Maybe she has a tricky face to scan or a unique color palette that has to be precise to look right, but either way the problem seems to be consistent across multiple product lines. Luckily (for me at least), I could care less about unmasked alternate heads. If a character has a mask or helmet, that's always the way I will want to display her. And Carol's masked head is perfect. Let's check her out below!

Mini-Mates SPIDER-GIRL (ANYA CORAZON)!

Marvel Mini-Mates - Spider-Girl & Doctor Octopus - Walgreens Exc - DST 2019

It's been a long time since I've given a single Mini-Mate its own review. Instead, I stockpile them and review a whole bunch at a time. But over the years, my favorite personal theme in my Mini-Mate collection has been the vast assortment of Spider-Ladies. There have been so many, in fact, that I didn't even realize that my absolute favorite Spider-person, Anya Corazon as Spider-Girl, hadn't been included yet. (She is such a great iteration of the Spider-Girl mantle and I really hope she gets another solo series some day). I love that Diamond Select Toys does such deep-dives into character selection. I actually have faith that we will many more Spiders down the line: Scream, Agony, Mania, Lady Spider, Charlotte Ritter, Spider-Woman in her modern costume, and maybe even a Valerie Spider-Woman from Electric Company. If anything, DST has proven that the sky is the limit. I'm really excited to see what new product they will show in a few days at NYCC. I'll be there with bells on. Let's check out Anya below!

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - DEET & AUGRHA!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - Action Figures Series 01 - Funko 2019

Few things in pop culture get me quite as excited as The Dark Crystal. Back in 2016 when Funko released a slew of retail products and exclusives, I was in collector heaven. I never expected this iconic movie from my youth to get this kind of love from a modern toy company, and I couldn't have asked for more. But then the Netflix prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was announced, along with even more action figures and Pops, and suddenly I realized my well-of-want could go a lot deeper. This first assortment of action figures is amazing, but the show was so vast that I want several more waves of toys at the very least. Hell, only two of the three main heroes are included, so at the bare minimum we need a Brea from the the Vapra Clan. But of course my actual (impossible) wishlist is dozens of characters long. Plus if we get another season, I will be completely insatiable. I can't wait to see what comes down the line in the next few years. Let's check out Aughra, Deet, and the rest of Wave One below!

Galaxy of Adventures - REY!

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - Galaxy of Adventures 5" - Rey - Hasbro 2019

I'm unexpectedly ecstatic about this new Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures line from Hasbro. I am only vaguely aware of the Disney animated mini-episodes featuring an assortment of the most popular Star Wars characters. Last year I noticed the tie-in wave of 3.75" figures on the shelves in tubes with animated-style graphics. But the figures inside seemed like the same old style I had seen a million times. But then a couple days ago I came across this new 5" impressively articulated, adorably stylized series of figures at Target. I love how Rey has this mischievous grin and big ears. It's almost as if Hasbro was as let-down by the Toy Box Rey as I was and decided to give us an apology figure. I can't wait to see what future characters will be included. At the very least I know we'll see a Leia since she is featured in so many of the Galaxy of Adventures illustrations. I'm excited for what other surprise releases we'll see this time next week on Force Friday. I'm already planning out my hunting route. Let's check out Rey below!

Overwatch Ultimates - ZARYA!

Overwatch Ultimates: Series 02 Single-Pack Figures - Zarya - Hasbro 2019

I'm in love with this figure. I've never played Overwatch (nor any modern video game for that matter), but I've really been drawn to the character design in this Overwatch Ultimates line. Sometimes I feel like I have a stereotypical female aesthetic cemented in my brain. I'm naturally drawn to an hourglass shape and a pretty face on my collectibles, which is fine. But sometimes I worry that the characters that don't fit that mold get undeservedly ignored. This observation surfaces a lot with robots and Transformers, where a character that doesn't have exaggerated features doesn't register as female at all. But then a figure like this Zarya comes along and makes me think I'm not as close-minded as I fear. Her body is a powerhouse, she has a thick neck, huge biceps, a decidedly unfeminine haircut, and she sports tattoos and scars. But she still presents as a fantastic example of feminine masculinity. I think this might go down as one of my favorite figures of the year. Let's check out Zarya below!