Vintage Toy Ads > Aliens by Kenner
For the most part, I think Kenner’s Aliens & Predator toys were pretty cool, even if they weren’t all that faithful to the movies. The various animal-based Aliens were great–I still have my Scorpion and Gorilla Aliens.
The only thing that bummed me out was that they came out a few years after I was really, really into Aliens and Predator. At that time, there were no toys at all–nothing but a few tiny plastic resin figures. I remember gluing on of those sad little things together with my dad’s help, and then trying to play with it. Four years too late, Kenner.
In my humble opinion, the highlight of Kenner’s Aliens line was this two-figure set, featuring a “regular” Alien and a “regular” Predator. This idea would be repeated years later by McFarlane Toys, and just this past month, by NECA (review forthcoming).
Doc Thomas Probes > Most Wanted
These days, we collectors have a lot to be thankful for – the shift in quality of action figures over the past two decades has turned once-small, barely recognizable, barely moveable plastic playthings into fully articulated, awesomely detailed, instantly identifiable works of art that we’re glad to have displayed in our kitchen, to be briefly admired by last night’s mistake before we kick her out of the apartment. Yes, toys have come a long way, and with the expansion of the market has come a bigger range of great properties picked up and plasticized for our collecting pleasure.
If you’re anything like me, and I know I am, you can look in front of you right now and see an amazing range of amazing toys including Bender from Futurama, the Heath Ledger Joker from The Dark Knight, several Daleks, the amazing Masterpiece Grimlock, WALL-E, at least a dozen different Skeletors, Big Daddy holding a Little Sister’s hand, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cobra Commander, an entire shelf of friggin’ Muppets, and Richard Nixon’s head. That is range, my friends. The sheer mass of different characters that have been made into great toys is amazing and wonderful – and yet, there are still plenty of favourites that are yet to be immortalised in plastic. These are
<<MOST WANTED>>
Doc Thomas Probes > Action Features (Part II)
In Part I of our feature, Doc Thomas examined “Simulated Attack” action features. And now…the exciting conclusion!
Type 2: Pure Deco
The next most prominent type of action feature is that which focuses on the look of the toy, and attempts to add more life-like or just more interesting dynamic look via an internal mechanism. A good example of this is Cortana from McFarlane “Last Hurrah” Toys’ Halo line, which in addition to being awesomely scaled to be about life size included several blue leds inside which made it light up, giving it that same luminescence that lightened our lives across the galaxy’s hardship in the excellent series of games.
A different approach to a similar end is the aforementioned Metalhead from TMNT, whose eyes glowed red when light was shined above his head to nifty effect. These kind of action features are comparable to other creative approaches to action figures to make them closer to a real life representation, like the awesome SOTA Blanka sculpted entirely in glow-in-the-dark plastic, representing Blanka in his signature electrified state, or nearly every feature in the Masterpiece Optimus Prime toy, including light-up Matrix inside his chest, and the button-operated “talking” mouth. (more…)
Pic of the Day
Guest Post > Ed’s Toy Fair Videogame Figures Roundup
You all know me. Know what I do. So, you’re probably asking yourselves, why does Poe keep inviting his videogame enthusiast, Lost-obsessive kinfolk round these parts to offer up n00bish takes on something he clearly know next to nothing about? That’s akin to bringing a Master Sword to a Hammer of Dawn fight… wait, that’s a gaming reference. I’ve got to remember my audience.
It’s akin to modeling a new Weeble with 98 points of articulation. It just don’t make sense, son. (more…)
It Figures #13
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Captain Cold figure. Excerpt: “… an interesting figure that will spice up your shelf or make those battle just a little bit cooler …” (See also.)
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Nightwing and Robin figures. Excerpt: “Mattel — fix the assembly matter and then ship these things a bit more, okay?” (See also.)
Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Blue Beetle figure. Excerpt: “… the great paint applications …. make an otherwise average figure into an exemplary one.” (See also.) (more…)
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor (Aged and Ancient) set from Last of the Time Lords. Excerpt: “(Re: Aged version) He sort of eerily looks like my Grandfather.” (See also.)
Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Magnus Greel and Mr. Sin set from The Talons of Weng Chiang. Excerpt: “… I liked them MUCH more than I ever thought I would.” (See also.)
Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Captain Jack Harkness (Gelth Phantom Wave version) figure. Excerpt: “I simply love how the clothes are made on these figures.” (more…)
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 2/18/09
Michael Crawford reviews the Diamond Select Toys Ultimate Quarter Scale Han in Hoth Gear figure from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Excerpt: “… I had my hopes up that he’d be the ONE, the Neo of the line.”
Michael Crawford reviews the Mezco Toyz Cinema of Fear Jason Voorhees (hockey mask version) 7-inch figure from Friday the 13th (2009 remake). Excerpt: “Mezco has done a nice job packing in some useful weapons for Jason, as he hacks his way through your display shelf.”
Rustin Parr reviews the JUN Planning Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington figure. Excerpt: “While paint and sculpt put NECA’s to shame, the lack of thigh and especially bicep articulation really, really limit this figure.” (more…)