Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 2, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Stratos Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “…. he looks a lot better with the wings in front of his arms.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Stratos Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “While Stratos might have his own individual problems, I have to say that this line is a tremendously fun series of toys.”

Michael Crawford (part 2) reviews the Sideshow Collectibles Indiana Jones Dr. René Belloq Sideshow exclusive 1/6-scale figure from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Excerpt: “Perhaps more interesting than the figure itself is the Fertility Idol Environment that the exclusive version came with.” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 2/18/09

February 19, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy 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…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 2/11/09

February 12, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Jeff Parker reviews the Enterbay Fist of Fury Bruce Lee 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Both the heads are sublime sculpts …”

Corey Tincher reviews the Mezco Toyz The Spirit The Spirit 7-inch figure. Excerpt: “… I’m glad that I picked it up.”

Erin Snyder reviews the Wild Planet Skeleflex Aliens Akafly and Dinos Spinosaurus sets. Excerpt: “These guys are pretty cool.” (See also.) (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 1/31/09

February 1, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy yo go re reviews the DC Direct Watchmen Rorschach figure. Excerpt: “This figure is only slightly above mediocre’ by 2009 standards …”

Jeff Saylor reviews the NECA Gears of War 2 Marcus Fenix vs. Locust Drone two-pack. Excerpt: “… the best Marcus Fenix figure ever released.”

Philip Reed reviews the Mezco Toyz HB II Hellboy San Diego Comic Con exclusive 3.75-inch figure. Excerpt: “As nice as some of the other Hellboy figures out there look, I really prefer this 3.75″ version …” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode) 1/2/2009

January 2, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy yo go re reviews the Hasbro The Incredible Hulk Bi-Beast figure. Excerpt: “Bi-Beast has some definite flaws (his shins, his action feature, his paint) but the design is good, and it’s not like he’s ever had a figure before.”

Artemis reviews the DC Direct All Star Batgirl figure. Excerpt: “Maybe DC Direct figures don’t grow knees until they’re 16?” (more…)

News round-up, 12/17/08

December 17, 2008 | Poe

newspoeRed Kryptonite promises me she’ll make a graphic for these news round-ups…but so far, nothin’. But I kid my bestest friend! [UPDATE: Here it is!]

I’d like to ask–how are you all enjoying these news round-ups? I know they’re pretty biased toward my own interests (for instance, there’s hardly any coverage of Japanese toys or, say, Power Rangers) and it seems to me that if you want, say, G.I. Joe news, you go to Hisstank, whereas if you want Transformers news you go to Seibertron and so forth.

Also, I’ve been considering doing round-ups of figure reviews from around the Web. How does that grab you?

News round-up, 11/20/08

November 20, 2008 | Poe

—New G.I. Joe 5-packs on the way “[…] bringing characters back to the fold that new collectors may have missed the first time around” including Snake Eyes. Did anyone miss Snake Eyes? I don’t even collect G.I. Joe and I own Snake Eyes. Looks like it’s a different sculpt, though.

—2008 “Worst Toys” List They’re all just toys with safety issues–talk about boring! I miss Reverend Rose’s list of “warped toys” that will condemn your soul to eternal torment.

–Figures.com has a Gears of War toy giveaway going on. You’ll be able to enter once the site finishes loading tomorrow morning (seriously, the ads on that site are out of control). On a side note, can anyone tell me where the series 2 Marcus has more articulation than the series 1 fig?

–CornerStoreComics is having a big sale on DC Direct figures.

–With the economy sliding down the tubes this year, there are going to be more than a few kids going without toys under the Christmas tree. Do your part by donating to Toys for Tots.

News round-up, 11/18/08

November 18, 2008 | Poe

Unfortunately, I don’t think these news round-ups can be a daily thing. There just isn’t enough significant toy-related news on a daily basis. But I’ll try to get them out every other day.

—Rustin Parr’s King Grayskull review Long, but well worth the read. Rustin seems certain MOTUC is going to crash and burn. Personally, I really like the design of the line, but those of us who do seem to be the minority.

—NECA’s Gears of War Lancer production issue

—New DC Direct announcements (HDCU Series 2, Watchmen variants, 13″ Golden Age Flash)

—Jason Voorhees Living Dead Doll, based on the 2009 remake

—Mattycollector.com announces still-MIA DCUC TRU exclusives

—Hasbro’s Star Wars Q&A round-up If I put a round-up within a round-up, does the universe implode? (Looks around hopefully, sighs in resignation.)

On DC Direct’s History of the DC Universe

October 21, 2008 | Poe

While the line’s existence was announced months ago, DC Direct raised a few eyebrows this week when it released the first photos of its upcoming “History of the DC Universe” line. Inspired by the 1986 book by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, the figures are based on Perez’s art. The figures appear to share certain body parts, such as torsos and limbs, resulting in the inevitable conclusion by some collectors that this is DC Direct attempting to cash in on the popularity of DC Universe Classics. (More pics below the jump.)

The figures appear to have at least the following articulation: ball-jointed heads, shoulders, torso and perhaps even hips; swivels at the biceps, forearms, waist, and calves; and hinged joints at the elbows, knees [and wrists – update]. That’s a lot more than your average DCD figure–the only one I can think of having anything close to that is the 2003 Superman figure. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > Dream Warriors

October 21, 2008 | Poe

ODD: I still can’t believe I found a Batpod on my first try. I still haven’t seen a single DCUC4 figure anywhere. I’m going to briefly interrupt the DCUC4 reviews for a Batpod review this week–BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!!! And also to hopefully head off any other reviewers. (more…)