Toy news roundup, 2/20/09

February 20, 2009 | Poe

Good morning folks! My apologies–there is no actual news roundup today. I did my usual perusal of the toy websites and found virtually nothing I deemed newsworthy. Feel free to post anything you found interesting in the comments below.

The only thing that caught my attention was that reportedly, the Mattycollector.com news page briefly had an item up yesterday that said the site would be offering cases of DCUC Wave 6 for $120, and possibly singles in the future. However, the news item isn’t there now, so who knows.

Obviously, if MC were to offer regular retail figures on the site, it would have serious consequences for other online retailers. On the other hand, if they were to offer cases of Wave 5, there would be much rejoicing.

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…)

DCUC Hawkman gets a new mace

February 19, 2009 | Poe

While I like the mace Hawkman came with, it sits a little too loosely in his hand, so I went looking for a replacement. On eBay I found a range of approximately 1/12th scale diecast weapons under the brand name “Mononofu.” I ordered the mace, which also came with a shield and a little stand.

The price and shipping were surprisingly cheap (particularly since it was coming from Hong Kong). The weapons are well-sculpted and look almost tailor-made for Hawkman. The mace head is made from diecast metal, while the shield and the haft and handle of the mace are made from plastic.

The shield also has a handle, which unfortunately means Hawkman can’t hold it properly, since his right hand is a fist. However, the mace fit in his left hand like a charm, and I think it looks even better than the mace he came with. But don’t take my word for it!

The weapons came in a box that features one of the finest examples of Engrish I’ve ever come across:

Leave and go up! It has weapos in your hands.

For justice, I keep honor of the soldier who came through a battlefield of 100 training for a person, and the thing which I defeat an enemy and defeated may say with true arms.

I inherit will of a great brave man, and I can revive with thunder now, and it is “MONONOFU.”

I think that about says it all, don’t you?

Review > Kalibak (DC Universe Classics)

February 17, 2009 | Poe

Kalibak is the son of Darkseid and Suli. Suli appears to have been a relatively normal-looking woman, so apparently Kalibak’s good looks come purely from his father’s side of the family.

A member of Jack Kirby’s New Gods, Kalibak is a bruiser who is constantly seeking his father’s approval. He hates his half-brother Orion, whom Darkseid admires despite the fact Orion has sworn to destroy him. Most appearances of Kalibak, in both comics and cartoons, involve him getting into a knock-down, drag-out battle with Orion or Superman, with lots of property damage. One of my personal favorite fights is in the Justice League episode “Hereafter, Part 2,” where Lobo piles car upon car on top of Kalibak until he cries uncle.

Kalibak is the Collect-and-Connect figure for DC Universe Classics Wave 6. (more…)

Poe’s Point > A Reviewer’s Manifesto

February 17, 2009 | Poe

che_skeletorRecently, I was taken to task in the comments section of one of my figure reviews. The commenter believed I am generally too lenient on the figures I review, and that my grading system did not reflect the actual quality of the figure. In my response, I explained I review figures based on the idea that I’m reviewing it for those who would be interested in this particular figure, not objectively against every action figure ever made.

The analogy I used was movies: can a movie like Finding Nemo be objectively compared to Citizen Kane? One could try, but if I wrote a movie review where, in my head, I’m constantly thinking to myself “Would someone who thinks the Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever like Finding Nemo?” the end result would be pretty damned weird, and probably unreadable. No matter how great a film it is, Finding Nemo is a film intended for a young audience, while Citizen Kane is not, and trying to review one based on the other for the purposes of making a recommendation to someone strikes me as silly.

(more…)

Toy reviews roundup (via Fanmode), 2/14/09

February 16, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Sanjeev reviews the Kridana Epic Ramayana Series Hanuman figure. Excerpt: “This particular toy holds a lot of meaning for me.” (See also.)

Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Iron Man, Punisher, Black Panther and Wolverine figures. Excerpt: “Iron Man is the outstanding figure …”

Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Silver Surfer, Human Torch, Spider-man and Daredevil figures. Excerpt: “The figures themselves, even with the leg articulation limitation, are really fun little toys.” (more…)

Mattel mid-February Q&A Roundup

February 16, 2009 | Poe

mattel logoI’m not planning to do any more of the monthly Mattel Q&As for this site. There are enough out there, and too many repeated questions. I think it would make more sense for Mattel to sort through the questions from everyone and post one large round of answers on Mattycollector.com, but hey, that’s me. In any event, I’d rather focus on getting you more interviews with the Four Horsemen and other Mattel designers and staff.

However, you can still come here for your one-stop shopping for all the Mattel Q&As around the Web. Here’s the roundup for mid-February:

Also, don’t miss this great interview with the Four Horsemen at Kastor’s Korner!

Rustin’s Rants > The Good Business of Bad Distribution

February 13, 2009 | Rustin Parr

Note: the opinions of Rustin Parr do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Poe Ghostal.

mattel logoWith NYCC a few days behind us and Toy Fair a few days ahead, I find myself caught up in the tumultuous whirlwind of being a collector and fan of Mattel’s DC Universe Classics toy line. Wave 9 was revealed at NYCC, which is actually quite darn remarkable considering the series only launched little more than a year ago. However, despite its clear success, DCUC has been plagued by two issues almost from the get-go. In riffing on Toybiz/Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line, not only did Mattel come up with some inventively clever nomenclature (Classics vs. Legends, Collect-n-Connect vs. Build-a-Figure – “what marketing whiz came up with that one,” asks Mr. Seinfeld) they took up the mantle of poor Quality Control. And while I often must buy and return multiple figures before I get a decent enough paint job to open/keep, the real thing that’s got me going tonight is their so-called distribution. (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…)