Marvel Legends Vintage - DARK PHOENIX!

Marvel Legends Vintage (Toy Biz) - X-Men: Dark Phoenix - Hasbro 2023

The Marvel Legends Vintage line on the large retro Toy Biz cards are very hit or miss for me. For the most part, when I think of this line I am in awe of the amazing new characters or character upgrades that we've received: Tigra, She-Hulk, Hallow's Eve, Blue-suited Wasp, Spiral, Titania, Gwen Stacy, Dazzler, etc. All of these are amazing figures that might not have easily found a home in a traditional BaF Wave. But on the flipside, I also see all the lazy repaints or kitbashed releases that fill the toy aisles: Black Widow, Storm, the newly-announced Mystique, Black Cat, Lady Loki, Scarlet Witch, and even Spider-Woman (which I loved, despite her just being a repaint). The problem is that there are much more interesting options for these slots. This Dark Phoenix is a good example of a slight retool and repaint that I feel wasn't entirely necessary. The bright colors and pinless joints are great, but the older version just looked more dynamic (IMHO) in darker colors and with longer legs. Let's check her out below.

The Flash 3.75" - SUPERGIRL!

The Flash (Movie) - 3.75" Action Figures - Supergirl - Spin Master Toys 2023

Between the new Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie coming next year and the seeming demise of the Spin Master DC toylines, I figured it was about time to finally post this figure. Back in 2023 when she was released, I had a very frustrating time with this Supergirl figure. Her facepaint apps were inconsistent at best, and absolutely horrendous most of the time. I ended up purchasing several before getting a decent one. I love the Sasha Calle version of Supergirl from The Flash (2023). She reminds me of Dana Dearden or Elna Kent but with a tough persona all her own. I was excited to see her get so much merchandising from a (presumably) one-and-done character. Especially from a company like Spin Master who seems to greatly under-utilize their DC license and miss opportunities to product great toys. It's amazing that this figure exists before a Gal Gadot Wonder Woman, Margot Robbie Harley, or a Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman. But I'm glad she does. Let's check out Supergirl below!

The Sarah Jane Adventures - SARAH JANE!

Sarah Jane & Star Poet Deluxe Action Figure Set - Character Options 2009

In 2007 the Doctor Who Spinoff, The Sarah Jane Adventures, premiered on BBC One featuring the fan-favorite character Sarah Jane Smith, an early Doctor Who companion from the early 70s (and a recurring mainstay ever since). This show was unique for being aimed toward a much younger audience than traditional Doctor Who storylines. The show ran for five successful seasons but was cut short when lead actor Elisabeth Sladen died unexpectedly, four short months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sladen played the character of Sarah Jane Smith in over 150 television episodes (across several series), 4 movies, and 2 radio serials over the course of 38 years. I'm a novice to the world of Doctor Who, but I'm impressed by her legacy and I'm glad I have a representation of her in my collection (even if the paint apps need some work). Now I just fear all the other Doctor Who figures I've been eyeing for years will quickly drain my bank account. Let's check out Sarah James below!

The Sarah Jane Adventures - STAR POET!

Sarah Jane & Star Poet Deluxe Action Figure Set - Character Options 2009

In 2007, there was a Doctor Who Spinoff series featuring the fan-favorite companion character, Sarah Jane Smith (who appeared in Doctor Who from 1973-1976). The show was called The Sarah Janes Adventures, starred the same actress (Elisabeth Sladen), and ran for five seasons. I have personally never watched any Doctor Who, nor the Sarah Jane series, but the toys (mainly from Character Options) have been intriguing me for twenty years now. With import expenses from Europe, most are cost prohibitive for me. But this Star Poet figure intrigued me enough to splurge. The character is a lost Arcateenian who seeks out Sarah Jane to help her find her way home. Visually, she reminds me of the classic creatures that fascinated me as a child in movies like Cocoon and Abyss (and even in more modern movies like Bubble from Valerian). Something about translucent, often ethereal, creatures triggers something primal in my imagination. This figure is the only think like it in my collection, and I think she's great.

Lego LED Keychains - BATGIRL & HARLEY QUINN(S)!

DC Super Heroes LEGO Keychain LED - Harley Quinn & Batgirl - Santoki 2016-17

I have several things going on in my life right now. Firstly, I'm on sabbatical and have ample free time for the next month. Secondly, I have a new computer and I'm struggling with all sorts of software and operating system issues. And thirdly, I have been focusing on finishing long-outstanding unfinished art projects and also reorganizing my toy room. The larger effects of all these events is that I will have less time for blog posts this month and the posts I do make will likely be products and photos from 5+ years ago that were never finalized (I have quite a backlog). This post features the latest three Lego LED Lites featuring the Gotham Girls. I've always loves Legos, but collecting minifigures is a who different genre from my norm that I find intimidating. But these larger 3" figures appeal to me greatly. The larger scale lets them blend in with my traditional action figures much better. And the limited character selection is actually obtainable. That said, it's been eight years and I'm ready for more. Let's check them out below!

Epic Hero Series - GHOST-SPIDER!

Marvel Epic Hero Series - Spider-Man VenomVersus - Ghost-Spider - Hasbro 2025

With all the popularity Gwen Stacy has garnered in comics, television, and film in the past ten years, it's surprising that this is the first 3.75 figure she's received. She's been around for the Marvel Universe (2009-2015), Marvel Legends 3.75" (2016-2017), and Marvel Legends Retro (2021-2023) lines. But it took until the current Epic Hero Series (2023-Present) to finally get a figure of her in this classic scale. Considering my Spider-Gwen shelf now dwarfs all the other Spider-Ladies combined, this is very unexpected. I first saw unpainted prototypes of this figure last month when she showed up in eBay searches. I was excited and expected her to show up in some big multipack next Christmas season. But to my amazement, I picked her up at my (worst) Walmart last week in a single pack for $7.84. I love a quick turnaround, especially with a character I love. Now I secretly hope she gets a million zany variants like the rest of the Epic line characters. Let's check out Ghost-Spider below!

Epic Hero Series - MANTIS!

Marvel Epic Hero Series - Guardians of the Galaxy V3 - Mantis - Hasbro 2023

I love a good 1:18 scale action figure line. When they are done right they can push out a lot of great characters in rapid succession without hurting your toy budget too severely. The unfortunate thing is these modern lines tend to be almost exclusively marketed to young audiences and the parents who purchase for them. Therefore they mostly focus on blockbuster movie promotions and rarely feature any female characters, so the aspects that would appeal most to me personally are usually non-existent. The Marvel Epic Hero series is a current Hasbro 1:18 line featuring evergreen comic representations and also Film and TV properties. This Mantis was the first female released in the line (back in 2023) and I had hopes that we would see many more. I thought for sure Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and Scarlet Witch would be announced soon. But two years later and we only have four females. The recent Ghost-Spider was a surprise drop this month though, so anything is possible. Let's check out Mantis below!

Marvel Legends - MANTIS!

Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (Cosmo) - Mantis - Hasbro 2023

I have a serious backlog of toys to open. Sometimes I forget what is buried in the back of my closet until a series of random events forces me to go digging. In this case, I found the new Ghost-Spider Epic Hero Series figure at Walmart last week. That made me think of how few female characters have been in that line so far - Rogue and Storm from X-Men '97 immediately spring to mind. But also that random Mantis from the third GOTG movie. I had her somewhere. But I could review her until I also unearthed her Marvel Legends figure. Truth is, I didn't enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3, so although I always love Mantis and these figures are great (I didn't hesitate to buy them), I was just unmotivated at the time. But a few years later, with almost zero memories of the movie, I can fully appreciate these toys on their own merit. I even like the blue and red "Rawhide Kid" uniforms that disappointed me so much in the theatres. Time heals all critiques I suppose. Let's check out GOTG3 Mantis below!