Casper - KAT HARVEY!

Funko Minis (Five Below Exc) - Casper (1995 Movie) - Kat Harvey - Funko 2026

My childhood was full of exposure to Harvey Comics characters. Between cartoons and the comics my parents would grab from the spinner racks whenever we were sick, my siblings and I were fed a steady diet of Richie Rich, Hot Stuff, Sad Sack, Wendy, Baby Huey, Little Audrey, Little Lotta, etc. But the most prevalent was easily Casper the Friendly Ghost (and his troublesome uncles the Ghostly Trio). I was working in a video store when the Casper (1995) movie was released on VHS. It was very popular among kids, but I was in college and couldn't be bothered. But years later I randomly popped it in and was charmed. Anyone of my generation who was even the slightest bit of an outcast probably feels an affinity towards Christina Ricci. She was the unspoken representative for all of us. Now this movie is in my annual Halloween rotation, but I never expected to see any merchandise (Kat at least) from the movie. But 30 years later FiveBelow and Funko fill that void. Let's check them out below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - AMY ROSE!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Touma Edition Blind Box - Amy Rose - T-BASE 2025

I'm often overwhelmed at how quickly my Sonic the Hedgehog toy collection is growing. In the past 24 months, I've added fifteen figures to my Sonic shelf. And when you consider that I'm only purchasing the female characters, the number is pretty impressive. Of course seven of those are the DC x Sonic crossover series (which I know isn't everyone's cup of tea) but that leaves eight ladies from the main license. And while the vast majority of these figures have been from Jakks Pacific, there have been a few surprises from companies like JusToys and these collectible vinyl blind-boxes from T-BASE. The size and quality of these figures is a pleasant susprise. Although they are designed by the toy artist Touma, they aren't nearly as stylized as I might have expected based on his original characters. They blend in perfectly with all the traditional mainstream toys, although they are larger, with better plastic and elevated sculptural details. Let's check out the T-BASE Touma Amy Rose below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - TRIP THE SUNGAZER!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Touma Edition Blind Box - Trip the Sungazer - T-BASE 2025

When I was traveling in Japan last month, one of the most important items I wanted to snag was this blind box Trip figure. I didn't know much about it before I arrived in Tokyo, only that I had seem them pop up on eBay for $75-100 each on the secondary market in the US. I quickly learned that T-BASE is an art toy company similar to Kidrobot. And there is only one physical store left - in P'PARCO (a mall in the Toshima City section of Tokyo). This store is pretty small but full of really cool sofubi and art vinyl. These Sonic blind-boxes are designed by toy artist Touma and are exclusive to this location (and at under $15 US a box they are easily the most affordable thing in the shop). Instead of buying a whole box (which guarantees a full set - no chases), I decided to try my luck. Unfortunately it took me 10 tries before I landed a Trip, but she is amazing so I'm glad I was obsessive (and glad the employee was so friendly and understanding as I made all those consecutive purchases). Let's check out Trip below!

Little Nightmares - THE LADY!

Little Nightmares - Mini Figure Collection - The Lady - Bandai/Namco 2023

I was traveling in Japan last month and stumbled across this creepy little figurine that I instantly became obsessed with. I didn't know the context of the character, but I loved that she looked a lot like the traditional touristy souvenirs I was seeing everywhere, but with a subtle macabre aura to her. I have since learned that Little Nightmares is a popular horror-puzzle video game from 2017 that already has two sequels. The main character is a tiny little girl in a yellow raincoat named Six. But The Lady is featured very prominently throughout. I believe it's Six's visions/dreams of The Lady that starts the whole horror storyline. I read that she is the main antagonist of the series, but the videos I've watched don't appear entirely antagonistic. She is inhumanly tall and moves with a silent grace. She wears a dark brown kimono and a creepy blank Noh mask (that hides her disfigured face). I bought a lot of cool stuff in Japan, but I think this random unarticulated figurine might just be my favorite. Let's check out The Lady below!

Marvel Legends - IRON SPIDER!

Marvel Legends Magic the Gathering - Mary Jane as Iron Spider - Hasbro 2025

I remember seeing Mary Jane Watson as the Iron Spider in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #15 ten years ago and being absolutely obsessed. To my knowledge, this was the first time Mary Jane became a costumed hero. We've since seen her as Jackpot, Spinneret, and the current Venom, but this original (short) stint as the Iron Spider blew my mind. We had seen similar characters like Pepper Potts, Lois Lane, and Betty Ross don the mantles of their respective superhero love interests in the past, so it was surprising that I never even considered the same path for MJ. She only wore the Iron Spider costume for a single issue, so it is almost unimaginable to think we would have an official toy of her 10 years later. I even attempted a custom once we got good (male) Iron Spider and could pair the mechanical legs with a simple buck like Mayday Parker. But this official version is way better. Her inclusion in the Marvel Magic the Gathering game prompted this amazing figure. Let's check her out below!

Transformers - ARCEE!

Culturefly VS - Transformers the Movie - Arcee & Soundwave - Culturefly 2026

One of my favorite things about being an older toy collector is the modern trend of figures in nostalgic homage designs and scales. The most prominent has probably been ReAction figures from Funko and Super7 which feature all types of properties in a Star-Wars-type late-70s 5-poa style. But we've also seen lots of modern figures in Masters of the Universe scale, Secret Wars, and even recently the big rubbery wresting figures. One mash-up I didn't expect in 2026 however was Transformers in a Battle Beasts homage, complete with rub reveal stickers. The new "VS" line from CultureFly was first shown back in February at Toy Fair NY. So far they they've only shown eight Transformers figures (four 2-packs). But I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a new trend. I'm pretty sure they have vinyl licenses for Star Wars, TMNT, Aliens, DC, Marvel, and more. It would be so cool to see more of these quirky little toys in the next few years. Let's check out Arcee below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - COVER GIRL!

G.I.Joe: Glow Patrol (SDCC) - ReAction+ O-Ring - Cover Girl - Super7 2026

I'm so glad that Super7 is continuing their original G.I.Joe faction, Glow Patrol. I am still obsessed with their initial 2022 Glow Patrol figures released in the 5-poa Reaction format as SDCC exclusives. I always wanted there to be more, but honestly never expected any. Then four years later we got an additional six brilliantly glowing figures in their O-Ring Reaction+ format (again as SDCC exclusives). This just seems like a deco that should have been released in the 80s. Almost all the major toylines back then had at least one GITD character, so why wouldn't G.I.Joe turn that gimmick into a whole faction like they always seemed to be doing. That dream never came true, but we have them now. I only hope the fun continues and we get more next year. It would be awesome to see some characters in the orange color that S7 does so well. Jinx or Pythona would be amazing. But honestly I'd be happy with anyone. Lady Jaye in green would be great, too. Let's check out Cover Girl below!

Stranger Things - ELEVEN!

Stranger Things Season 5 - Eleven & Hopper Target 2-Pack - Jazwares 2025

I truly wasn't planning on getting this Target-exclusive Hopper and Eleven 2-Pack when I stumbled across it in the Stranger Things specialty aisle in Target this time last year. I had just bought the single-carded Eleven figure and didn't think a second purchase with a slight sculpt difference was something I needed. But in retrospect I'm glad the fomo won out because I have a hunch the 3.75" Stranger Things line is going to keep giving us surprise releases, and I would hate to have missed out on this early figure. I don't know much about Stranger Things Season 5 since I've only seen the first episode or two, but that is enough to give me a reference for Hopper looking like a lumberjack and Eleven in her survival training clothes. It would have been better to get this second figure in an entirely new outfit than the single release, but they are pretty inexpensive so it isn't a huge deal. There are lots of chances for news figure with Jazwares' penchant for unannounced releases. Let's check out Eleven below!