I open a toy & post it here... VOL 2!

[Team Jetfire]

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Hasbro- Marvel Legends: Polaris



Anyone else remember the Marvel Masterpiece card set that was released in the early nineties? In truth, the only way you would forget is if you weren’t born at that time because they were a. everywhere and b. really freaky amazing. For those younger than 30 years old, Marvel Masterpiece was a series of collectible card sets featuring high quality portraits of some well known and not so well known Marvel characters. I know very little about the more recent series of cards, but I was a massive fan of Series one. This could be because I was the perfect age to both collect and enjoy them, but also because they were legitimate works of art. This is mostly due to the fact that each card, all 100, plus specials, were painted by well-known fantasy artists Joe Jusko. And while not every picture is a winner, the consistency gives the set a truly complete feel in that all the pictures are of the same quality and style. The other benefit was that the cards were quite literally a gateway to new comic characters that some people may not be familiar with as they feature a fantastic picture along with a little bio on the back of the card. Unfortunately Polaris did not make an appearance until Marvel Masterpiece Series 2 and it’s not nearly as cool as all of Series 1, but if she did, I would actually know something about her.

Pros: A character that I’m not really familiar with, but really is fantastic. She’s a great overall use of the base figure with an extremely attractive head sculpt, standard articulation and some nice pack-ins including a nice cape and two extra energy effects.

Cons: I got nothing; I love Polaris way more than I thought I would have.

[Team Jetfire]

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Hasbro- Overwatch: Mercy and Pharah




What truly makes a good action figure? It’s a question that I think we all need to address based on our own opinions, but I feel there is also support that sometimes a certain action figure is quantifiably good.

For starters, there is the obvious motivation to pick up a figure from a known franchise or character that you enjoy. In this day and age, it’s very rare that a toy line would be based on some unknown quantity. Sure, there are some outliers and specialized collector lines, but general release figures by the big players are tied to something.

The second motivation could be based on the overall style and design of the figure. This is less about who the figure is and more about appreciating the 3d rendered, fully articulated sculpture that many of these figures represent. And while it sounds hyperbolic to say, I really do feel that an action figure has an art type quality to it and appreciate the differences over the years and in each toy line.

Last motivation is cost and the range is getting harder and harder to stomach. I’ve written at length about my issues with getting less figure for more money, but also allows for some interesting purchases if the price is right. I mean, there are lots of opportunities to buy the best of the best figures of the greatest characters but you need to drop the cash. Case in point is Hot Toys. They are truly the gold standard of action figures, however are priced accordingly and while I would love a collection full of Hot Toys, I just cannot afford it. On the flip side, I’ve picked up some really amazing toys that were on sale that have blown me away. The NECA TMNT movie line comes to mind given that I had all but passed on them at retail, but picked up all four at $15 at my local LCS and absolutely love them. Would I have loved them at $30? Possibly, but the fact I got a deal made these figures that much better.

With all that said, my motivations have changed over the years and am way more driven by a cool figure and price over franchise these days hence why I picked up the Hasbro Overwatch. Sure, I’ll support certain lines like Gi Joe Classified, but some of my favorite figures of this year have come from interesting lines.

Pros: Mercy- I’m not going to bury the lead on this one. Mercy is amazing and could be in my top ten favorite action figures in my entire collection. She has an amazing sculpt with lots of detail, a good amount of usable articulation and some really killer accessories.

Pharah- While Mercy is the object of affection in this two-pack, Pharah is no slouch either. The sculpt is fantastic in its own right and has a great overall look and the jetpack/accessories make for an awesome looking figure.

Cons: Mercy- Not a thing. I adore this figure.

Pharah- Unfortunately all that great looking armor and bulk comes at a bit of a price. In Pharah’s case it interferes with the figures' articulation and overall poseability. Also, given they are flight type figures, I would have loved it if Hasbro included 2 stands.

[Team Jetfire]

[Team Jetfire]

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Hasbro- G.I. Joe Sigma Six: Wetsuit




We are finally getting into what I think is really the “cool” stuff that Sigma Six had to offer. Don’t get me wrong, the first few waves include some of the best action figures that I have in my collection to date, but there are only so many Snake Eyes and Storm Shadows that I can get excited by. With that said, the later years of Sigma Six evolved into a general Joe and Cobra release where other characters (who weren’t Duke) were given the Sigma Six treatment which was a real bonus for collectors because there was a chance that one’s favorite character might make the cut.

Which brings me to something that I’m not sure Hasbro has really grasped even after all this time: G.I. Joe wasn’t popular because Snake Eyes is a super human Commando, or because Duke is a great soldier or even because Cobra Commander is a great leader; it was popular because there was diversity in the hero’s and every fan would gravitate to their own favorite for one reason or another. For example, I never liked Duke; I didn’t care that he almost died in the movie and never saw him as being integral to the appeal of GI Joe. That said one of my favorite Joes was Ambush, the survival specialist who likely got limited screen time, but was key to my personal adventures which is really what is important.

And while I understand that it would not be economically feasible to produce as many Joes as they did back in the day, why can’t they (Hasbro) cut back on one or two Dukes or Snake Eyes and include an Ambush to the roster.

Pros: Wetsuit is a great figure with tonnes of play value. A solid Sigma style sculpt with a good amount of usable articulation, a bunch of accessories for diving adventures and even a spring loaded underwater Cobra mine.

Cons: Honestly, I really have no issues with the figure.

[Team Jetfire]

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DC Collectables- DC Essentials: Flash



Is it just me or is DC putting a lot of effort into making the Flash the new face of DC? They continue to push a TV series that should have been dead years ago, the next live action DC flick involves a terribly miss cast Ezra Miller in a shoe horned multiverse storyline and the latest DC animated feature, Justice Society of America, revolved around Flash in a Flashpoint “lite” storyline. When did Flash become the center point of the DC universe? I mean, I don’t really mind as I like the Flash well enough, but can’t help but feel it’s a missed opportunity to introduce the Green Lanterns back into the fold properly.

Pros: Well, it’s a toy that looks like the Flash so that is a plus.

Cons: I’m just going to come out and say it: this figure is terrible. Yes it has a decent sculpt, but everything else sucks: The articulation scheme is great, yet the pose-ability sucks. There are no accessories or even spare hands and the figure originally retailed for $32. I realize that it’s not fair to speak ill of the dead, but DC Collectables really phoned it in on this guy and I suspect that Reverse Flash coming up next round will fare no better.

[Team Jetfire]

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Hasbro- Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Shockwave



Another Transformers review with yet another Shockwave. Not sure why, but it really seemed like I had an inordinate amount of MISB Shockwaves to open and review. And for the record, I don’t have any particular strong feelings about the character either; it’s not like I am a super fan or anything, just that there must have been a lot on the shelves back when I was actively buying Transformers. I suppose the good/bad news is that after this one, I don’t have any more nor do I plan on buying any new releases, unless maybe there is a decent RED version produced.

Pros: This Prime Shockwave is a (rightly so) much better version of the character than the previous basic version that I recently reviewed. He looks solid in both modes and I like the additional Beast Hunters armor. Transformation is a bit tricky, but only because his tank mode has a unique design and I really like the treads that turn into a gun belt for his arm cannon.

Cons: Throughout my reviews a constant pain point has become feet as they relate to a figures ability to stand easily and Shockwave is particularly bad for this. The issue is that the pitch of the feet is downward, almost as though he’s pointing his toes down ever so slightly and there is no articulation point to counter it. The effect is that any poses or stances are messed up because his legs need to be straight in order to counter the effect of the foot position so he doesn’t fall backwards. The other issue is really just personal opinion in that I do not like the look of asymmetric vehicle modes, but that’s really just a minor quibble.

[Team Jetfire]

[Team Jetfire]

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McFarlane Toys- Fortnite: Overtaker



I’m not sure that I understand the naming convention for calling this guy Overtaker. I assume it’s because he’s a racing bike enthusiast of some sort, but I don’t really think of Overtaker as a specific racing term? Also, what type of motorsport requires a sword as found molded to his backpack? The other issue is my immediate reaction to the name as it relates to the world of Pro-Wrestling. Perhaps it’s a stretch to say, but the opposite of Overtaker is Undertaker and this design has really very little to do with the wrestler of the same well known moniker. I suppose a case could be made that when ‘Taker’ (what he’s called in the biz) relaxed the whole zombie shtick for a Hells Angels biker type persona would be quite opposite to this crotch rocket racer who was decked out in white leather.

Pros: As with all other McFarlane Fortnite figures, Overtaker has a really unique, cool looking sculpt with a lot of detail. Articulation is McFarlane standard and is good enough for a number of decent poses and he comes with the standard gun, Pickaxe, backpack accessories that all look great.

Cons: the only issue that I have with Overtaker, outside of the general issues that I have with McFarlane figures that includes frustrating articulation, is the helmet and its effect on the ability to move his neck.

[Team Jetfire]

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Toybiz- Lord of the Rings- The Return of the King: Goblin Armor Frodo Baggins




My nostalgia for a 20 year old franchise is hitting a fever pitch and there is really no end in sight for me and these Toybiz figures are the perfect cure for me. I’m not even kidding; I wish I could explain it, but there is something so great about Peter Jackson’s films that really stands the test of time. I get that it’s not exactly an unpopular opinion, given that people still really love the series, but I think it has actually gotten better over the years. No because Jackson pulled a Lucas and changed a bunch of stuff in effort to improve the film, but because, and I hate to say this, most current movies are just not that good anymore. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of movies that I have enjoyed watching, but it just seems that a good many of these studios are more focused on making a franchise rather than developing a good movie. And while I recognize that LOTRs had all sorts of merchandise to sell as part of growing the franchise, it never felt like it was anything but a re-telling of Tolkien’s original work by Jackson and his team, not a movie made by committee that was focus grouped to death and tailor made to sell lunch boxes. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I appreciate movies made by people with a singular vision and hope that studios allow for the Peter Jackson’s, James Gunn’s and Russo Brothers of the world to create stuff untethered.

Pros: I love this version of Frodo and Toybiz managed to pack a surprisingly good amount of fun into a little figure. Overall the figure has fantastic detail throughout sporting the armor that he donned to sneak past the Goblins of Mordor, an awesome helmet that fits well over his head and a janky goblin sword for protection. Lastly the articulation is great for the size and the age of the figure and I can only hope that most of the other LOTR figures match.

Cons: I got nothing; Frodo is great!

[dinga]

Overtaker is a reference to the Stig from Top Gear.