Toy news roundup, 2/9/09

February 9, 2009 | Poe

newspoe

  • NECA wasn’t in attendance at NYCC, so there are no updates on the status of their Ninja Turtles line.  It’s not looking good though, folks.
  • However, Playmates is going forward with their Mirage-based line. Here are some photos of the Turtles, Shredder, Splinter, and a Foot Soldier. The Turtles and Splinter look all right, but Shredder and the Foot Soldier look terrible. But then, Playmates seems to be having trouble with human figures lately.
  • Captain Collector has photos of DCUC series 6 and 7 up. Lovin’ that Flash. Kid Flash is way too small, though.
  • In case you missed it, Mattel announced how you can redeem those Anti-Monitor points you’ve been getting from your Infinite Heroes figures. 50 points gets you a 3 3/4″ Anti-Monitor figure at SDCC (alternatively, you can buy him for $10); while each 25 points gets you a raffle ticket for a titanic 30″ Anti-Monitor figure with light-up eyes (one will be raffled off each day at the convention). Before you ask, Mattel apparently told reporters “the figure is so large that mass production tooling was too expensive to do. Mattel instead hand-made each and every 30″ Anti-Monitor to be given away.” At least you do get two raffle tickets when you purchase a 3 3/4″ Anti-Monitor for 50 points. I can’t help but feel like this is another (unintentional) kick in the teeth from Mattel, though. They don’t seem to understand how annoyed, stressed and sometimes downright angry it makes collectors to know there are things out there they’ll never own, even if they were willing to spend the money on it.  I know if this was a DCUC thing, I’d be really annoyed. Part of me thinks it would be better for Mattel not to make the 30″ Anti-Monitor at all…what do you think?
  • Hmm…there wasn’t as much toy news as I thought there would be out of NYCC. I suppose Mattel is ahead of the curve in making NYCC their primary collector’s con. We’ll have to wait until SDCC for all the cool toy-related panels and so forth.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 2/4/09

February 5, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Poe Ghostal reviews the NECA Bionic Commando Nathan “Rad” Spencer figure. Excerpt: “… a great action figure.”

Shocka reviews the SOTA Street Fighter Revolution Zangief figure. Excerpt: “This will be the only Street Fighter Revolutions figure I’m reviewing for OAFE because the others all had the misfortune of breaking before I got them out of their boxes …” (more…)

Toy news roundup, 2/2/09

February 2, 2009 | Poe

newspoe

  • G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra Super Bowl clip (TNI)
  • Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Super Bowl clip – I doubt I’ll see either of these films in theaters, unless you guys really want me to. I suppose a review or two might be fun, but be warned, I’m not particularly well-predisposed to these movies. (ENI)
  • If you haven’t seen it, here’s the Mr. Potato Head ad from the Super Bowl. It’s pretty cute. (Hulu)
  • I can’t get the video to work, but if you can, check out what is possibly my favorite Robot Chicken skit ever, starring MOTU’s Faker. (adult swim)
  • Since I’m such a whore for brown costume Wolverine, I’m toying with ordering the BBTS Marvel Select variant. Articulation looks like crap, though, and I hate that pre-posed torso. Also: why can’t anyone make non-warped Wolverine claws? SOTA got it right with Vega years ago. (Figures.com)
  • NECA to make Dead Space figures. Anyone played this game? Is it good? (Figures.com)
  • A nice history of Watchmen action figures. It sucks we never got those comic-based ones. Has it ever been confirmed that a falling out with Alan Moore was the reason the line was shelved? Also, I’d love a retro-styled Watchmen line like the one depicted in the original comic. (Cool Toy Review)
  • Something weird is going on over at Sideshow Toys. That’s all I know.
  • Jesse Falcon claims 6″ Marvel Legends line not dead. It’s just pining for the fjords. (Fwoosh)
  • Hasbro’s 66th Star Wars Q&A round-up. (Rebelscum)

Review > Nathan “Rad” Spencer (Bionic Commando, NECA)

February 2, 2009 | Poe

bc_1

It’s rare that I’ll buy an action figure based on a movie, TV show, comic, or videogame unless I’m already a fan of that property. Sometimes I’ll become a fan of the property because of the action figure, but it’s quite rare for me to buy a licensed figure with no intention of getting to know the property at all.

Yet, that’s what I did last week when I picked up Nathan “Rad” Spencer, based on the upcoming videogame Bionic Commando, a sequel to the 1987 Nintendo classic. To be honest, the main reason I got him was that I had a gift certificate at TRU that could only be used on that day from 6-9 p.m. (weird, I know), and there was just nothing else I wanted. Rather than waste the gift certificate, I decided to grab “Rad,” reasoning that he might at least make for a good extra in shots of my various NECA figures of the Alien, Predator, Terminator, and so forth.

As it turns out, I almost wish I were a fan of Bionic Commando. (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…)

5 Questions With > JDP Design

January 29, 2009 | Poe

A few weeks back, I reviewed an Action Figure Display from JDP Design. I was so intrigued by the concept, I asked the boys at JDP to chat a bit about how the product came out and their own experiences with toy collecting.

bio-card-pictureCode Name: JDP Design
Real Name(s): Dan and Jeff Phillips, co-owners
Base of Operations: www.actionfiguredisplays.com
History: Our company creates Action Figure Displays, which are detailed, themed environments that give your toys a world to live in. We have always loved action figures and enjoy displaying our collection. We created Action Figure Displays because we wanted a way to more effectively display and photograph our figures. Years of developing our product has resulted in quality displays that include a wide variety of themes that can accommodate almost any type of action figure.

(more…)

Pic of the Day

January 27, 2009 | Poe

NECA – Aliens 03 by Ed Speir IV

Poe’s note: Despite some QC issues, this is probably my favorite Alien-related action figure ever made, which is saying something. Watch for a review of this figure by yours truly at OAFE.

Pic of the Day

January 23, 2009 | Poe

Alien Xenomorph 1 by yours truly

Aliens Xenomorph 1

Poe’s note: I never notice the little dust and hairs sticking to my figures in these extreme close-up shots until after I’ve downloaded them. Also, getting that inner jaw to come out was a bitch.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 1/20/09

January 21, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Scott Rubin reviews the Toynami The Masterpiece Collection Robotech The New Generation VFB-9H (Rand version) figure. Excerpt: “The fighter mode does suffer from a sort of anti-kibble …” (See also.)

Corey Tincher reviews the NECA Street Fighter IV C. Viper figure. Excerpt: “… she’s actually a great action figure and solid first entry for NECA in the Street Fighter franchise.” (more…)