Masters of the Universe - DREE-ELLE!

MOTUC Club Grayskull - Dree-Elle & Uncle Montork - Power-Con - Super7 2018

When I was a kid I had a theory about Orko. Here was this playful magical being, with a mysterious hidden face, blue skin, and a high pitched voice. This wasn't too many years after I had outgrown my first childhood love, The Smurfs. The Smurfs were also blue-skinned, had high voices, and displayed occasional (often backfiring!) magic powers. I was certain I had figured it all out. But my siblings weren't convinced by my arguments. But then we met some additional Trollans: Dree-Elle and Uncle Montork (who were clearly Smurfette and Grampa Smurf) and I was finally vindicated! (Right?) Fine. Even if Dree-Elle isn't actually Smurfette, she is definitely a prime example of the Smurfette Principle. She appeared in five episodes (4 He-Man, 1 She-Ra, Plus the Christmas Special) along with an assortment of male Trollans. Only in her final appearance was another female Trollan shown (Foosabella the Muckess), but honestly Dree-Elle is the most memorable. I'm so glad she got a figure. Let's check her out below!

Marvel Legends - SILVER SABLE!

Spider-Man Legends - Kingpin Build-a-Figure Wave - Silver Sable - Hasbro 2019

Before I saw The Dark Knight, I never liked the Joker. Before I read her 2000 comic series, I never liked Harley Quinn. And similarly, I never really cared for Silver Sable until I got my hands on this gorgeous toy. I never had anything against the character per-say. In fact, I fondly remember reading her 1992 solo series. But in the wide spectrum of awesome female comic characters, I tend to lean toward the outlandish costumes, with tights and capes, rather than militant types with guns and headbands. Silver Sable's saving grace is in her namesake color and thematically consistent costume. So she's always been on my radar, but I never elevated her to my typical obsessive levels. However, when I found this new Marvel Legends figure in Target last week, I was genuinely intrigued like never before. Now I'm finding myself googling this morally dubious bounty hunter and wanting to read all her backstories. (And I expect her movie to further lead me down this rabbit hole). Let's check out Silver Sable below!

Marvel Legends - BLACK CAT!

Spider-Man Legends - Kingpin Build-a-Figure Wave - Black Cat - Hasbro 2019

With all the great Marvel heroines who have yet to be immortalized in plastic, it's hard to justify a character getting a second figure within five years. Even sticking to the Spider-Man theme, the fact that we don't have a Firestar or a Julia Carpenter yet is shocking (Not to mention all the awesome second and third-stringers like Lady Spider, Madame Web, Mania, Charlotte Witter, etc). But I know the (now cancelled) Silver & Black movie meant we would be getting Silver Sable and Black Cat, and that Felicia would need a costume variation since her 2014 figure still holds up nicely. My initial reaction to her new look wasn't a positive one (I first saw it with her 2017 Minimate). But the weird cat eyes on her jacket are kind of winning me over. Plus I was always 50/50 on the big puffy white details on her classic look. Sometimes I thought it cool, and other times I thought it was ridiculous. At the very least, this new look retains a lot of the same elements while being much more utilitarian. Let's check out Black Cat below!

Star Wars Black Series - L3-37!

Star Wars Black Series #73 - Solo: A Star Wars Story - L3-37 - Hasbro 2018

The new series of Star Wars films inspired me to look back at the prequel trilogy (which I hated) and analyze what was so wrong with them. The list of grievances was pretty extensive, but I thought one of the most glaring faults was the absence of likable droids. Imagine episodes 4-6 without C3PO or R2D2... it's really hard. From the very beginning droids were an essential part of Star Wars lore. Luckily the new movies are fully embracing the formula. The main trilogy has given us BB-8, Rogue One gave us K-2SO, and of course Solo gave us L3-37. This is the first "female" droid with a major role in the series (voiced by British actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge). She is Lando's pilot and navigator and is notable for her ability to self-improve (by taking parts from other droids and rebuilding herself) and also for being atypically political and independent instead of subservient. I thought she was terrific. Funny though, I really thought she was voiced by Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma). Let's check out L3-37 below!

Marvel Legends - CAPTAIN MARVEL (Movie)!

Marvel Legends Kree Sentry Series - Captain Marvel (Helmeted) - Hasbro 2019

I'm very excited about the Captain Marvel movie. When I was a kid I was obsessed with the comic Spidey Super Stories. In issue #22 I was first exposed to Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel and I just thought she was fantastic. As I grew older I realized how dated her costume and hair were, but I still loved her. Her black thonged Warbird outfit made me cringe so I ignored her as a modern character for decades. But then in 2012, she took on the iconic mantle of Captain Marvel and finally fulfilled her destiny. Suddenly her costume lacked both a bare midriff and thong, and predictably she looked better than ever. I always thought it was interesting that the after-thought female version of an established male character has become more popular and long-lasting than the original. There are tons of gender-swapped heroes like this, but none has surpassed her predecessor quite like Carol. I'm so happy that this movie will launch her into the public eye in such a spectacular fashion. Let's check out Captain Marvel below!

Marvel POP! Vinyl - SPIDER-WOMAN!

Marvel POP! #392 Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) NYCC/EE Exc - Funko 2018

I told myself a while ago that I was going to stop doing full photo reviews for Funko Pops. They're just so abundant (and stationary) that they don't make for exciting reviews. Instead, I now just post a few simple shots on instagram and leave the full photo sets for action figures. But then this NYCC 2018 Spider-Woman POP was announced and I knew I would backtrack and give her the full treatment. I love the bright iconic costume of the classic Jessica Drew Spider-Woman and I always thought she was a glaring omission from the Marvel POP lineup. Unfortunately she was a NYCC exclusive (shared with Entertainment Earth) so she wasn't super easy to come by. It was actually very hard for me to obtain one with a decent paint job (this particular lady was my third purchase). But I think she's my favorite Pop in years so she was worth it. I'm really hoping we somehow get a Rock Candy of her. The Pop, Pint-Size Hero and Mystery Mini need a taller companion. (C'mon subscription boxes!) Let's check out Spider-Woman below!

Marvel Titan Hero Series - SPIDER-GWEN!

Spider-Man Into the SpiderVerse - 12" Spider-Gwen - Wal-Mart Exc - Hasbro 2018

I have to start off with a huge shout out to my Instagram friend Dean (xii22loop) for helping me get this figure. I'm totally smitten over her and I probably couldn't have gotten her any other way. I owe you! As popular as 12" figures are becoming over the past few years, the distribution is erratic. I missed out on the 2011 Cheetara (from Brazil), the Halo Spartan Vale, and even the recent Enfys Nest. All of which are still on my grail list. So when I discovered this Spider-Gwen and read that she's apparently a Canadian Walmart exclusive, I didn't waste any time trying to procure her. She looks really good. There often isn't a lot QC scrutiny given to kid's products (like Titans), and I feared the scale of the head would be mismatched with the re-purposed Spider-Girl body (like the standard release Black Widow Titan last year). But she looks great and now I want a Silk and Jessica Drew (for the upcoming Spider-Women movie perhaps?) I can hope. Let's check out the Titan Hero Series Spider-Gwen below!

Marvel Legends Black Panther - DORA MILAJE!

Marvel Legends - M'Baku Wave - Dora Milaje (Avengers Infinity War) - Hasbro 2018

I'm kind of new to the whole "army builder" concept. For someone who collects mostly female figures, there really hasn't been a lot of opportunity for a female army of any kind. Sure, 3.75" figures have had a few fun armies: female Cobra Troopers from G.I.Joe and the Gorgons from Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S., but in larger 6-7" scales I don't believe historically there have been any. However, in the last few years we saw an Amazon Army in Wonder Woman (which sadly received no real army builder toys), several varying-species ladies from Mythic Legions, and of course the amazing Dora Milaje from Black Panther. When we got the Okoye and Nakia figures this time last year, I was smitten. But I wanted more and wished for some more Wakandan soldiers. I honestly never expected Hasbro to come through with this amazing solution though. This Dora Milaje figure comes with three unique heads and really fills out the ranks. I hope they do the same with classic New Mutants figures someday. Let's check her (them) out!