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Shameless Plugs > OAFE Podcast, Top Ten Action Figures of 2013

I’ve been remiss in mentioning a couple of gigs I had recently. Topless Robot contacted me to put together a list of the best action figures of 2013:

TR’s Top 10 Action Figures of 2013

I always have a hard time putting together this kind of list because I really only collect a few lines (seriously, I think a lot of you would be surprised by how few figures I actually own – it’s a lot compared to a layman, but on the small side compared to your average collector). So this time I solicited some help, and the comments seem fairly positive about my choices. One thing to mention is I did try to enter a last-minute draft update where I swapped out Springer for Masterpiece Soundwave, but somehow it didn’t make the cut when the list went live.

I also did the whole best-toys-of-the-year thing on a podcast with OAFE.net, along with my old OAFE-mates Rustin Parr, yo go re and Shocka. You can listen to that here.

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.

Doc Thomas Probes > Action Features, Part I

Last week I poured my heart and soul into a well-received little shindig on Holy Grails. (Thanks for all the excellent comments! I hope you all can one day find the Holy Grails you seek, as well as a good wife! Not like mine, of course, who’s dead!) This week I’m continuing my insane ramblings with a contentious topic I have a lot to waffle on about: action features.

My good friend, mentor and Karate Buddy has already weighed in with his thoughts on action features in an article spawned from a message board debate (the source of most of history’s finest intellectual discussions and genocidal wars) and also included a nifty little poll to the side there asking readers what most drew them to an action figure as a wee child. It’s very interesting reading, though I think Poe’s focus is slightly to the side of the real issue. I feel that, like tacos, USB gadgets, the papacy, and nearly everything else in life, action features aren’t necessarily a bad thing –they’re just done badly the majority of the time, which makes them seem worse than they actually are and gives them negative stigma and connotation of childishness.

The Great MOTUC Debate, Revisited

motu-classics

You’ll recall back in December of last year, I posted a series of articles with quotes from various high-profile collectors regarding their thoughts on Masters of the Universe Classics. (You can read them here and here.)

Well, it’s been nine months, and at this point it’s safe to say that MOTUC has been a success. However, a financial success does not always equal an artistic success (see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), so I thought I’d contact some of the contributors from last time and see whether their thoughts on MOTUC have changed since the line debuted.

There are a couple more contributors I was waiting on–I’ll add their comments if/when i receive them.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Terminator Salvation Endoskeleton T-700 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Hard to believe it, but somehow Hot Toys continues to improve.”

Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Autobot Skids, Deep Desert Brawl, Autobot Wheelie and Chromia figures. Excerpt: “… ‘pop a wheelie’ sounds just wrong in the context of the rest of this wave …”

Darren Cilenti reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-16 Dinobot figure from Beast Wars. Excerpt: “A very good update …” (See also.)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Sideways, Sideswipe, Rampage and Breakaway figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Breakaway) It may end up being a pegwarmer, which is a shame, as it’s probably the best overall TOY (i.e. thing for a kid to play with) of the wave.”

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Scout class Ransack figure. Excerpt: “… a mightily impressive effort for the first Transformers biplane.” (See also.)

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Classic Series Legends class Jazz figure. Excerpt: “… Jazz’s biggest failing is an injudicious lack of paint in some areas …”

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Corey Tincher reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Hall of Heroes Firefly figure. Excerpt: “… this is my early favorite for most fun 3.75 inch figure of the year.” (See also.)

Wes reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends The Incredible Hulk Limited Edition Hulk Target exclusive figure. Excerpt: “If it weren’t for the fact that you could buy a much better Hulk on eBay for the same price as this guy, I’d have no problem recommending him.”

yo go re reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Wolverine figure. Excerpt: “Wolverine’s X-Force costume may be graphically interesting, but it’s murder on the paint apps.” (See also.)

5 Questions With > Rustin Parr

Today we have an interview with a good friend of mine, Rustin Parr of OAFE. Rustin and I first met through OAFE in the early 1990s, and despite living on separate coasts, we’ve met in person many times since then. An passionate if idiosyncratic movie buff, Haunted Mansion enthusiast, and King Leonidas look-alike (well, maybe not the abs, but the face, anyway), Rustin has agreed to bare just a bit of his soul to us here at PGPoA.

338381890_lCode name: Scott McEachen, alias Rustin Parr, alias Gunstas von Artlefuasdensein, D.D.S.
Specialty: Dreaming Big and Accomplishing Small
Base of Operations: Monterey, CA
History: Began the adventure in gorgeous Hermosa Beach, California, whence an egregious lust for action figuring took hold. A lack of sculpting ability and painting prowess propelled him into the world of Motion Picture production whose frivolities spat the man into the cutting edge of Neuro Marketing during which a healthy imbibing of toys and movies keeps the life juices flowing. It was a hot and sunny day when a close personal friend, the self-titled Lord of the Nazgul, brought together Rustin with Yo Go Re and Poe Ghostal, all posters at the formerly awesome and important/relevant spawn.com message boards, the latter two being founding members of oafe.net. After one particularly long and laugh-riddled evening in which Rustin performed his then-constant desperate rage upon the unprepared Yo’n’Poe towards falsely accused inept waitresses and rightfully, if not righteously accused George Lucas and his modern films, Poe’n’Yo dragged the Froce’o’da’nature into the fold at OAFE where on Rustin continues to this day to be less entertaining than that first eve and less consistent in producing reviews than his editor would prefer. Rustin is survived by his collection projected to consist of over 2,000 individual action figures, 500 hundred vehicle and location replicas 9in varying scales) and hundreds of plus-sized and resin collectibles, not to mention a DVD collection of some 1200 discs.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Artemis reviews the Diamond Select Toys Star Trek Deep Space Nine Dr. Julian Bashir figure. Excerpt: “The face is where it falls apart …”

Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Bumblebee and Soundwave figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Soundwave) … for the most part this is a toy you leave in robot mode.” (See also.)

Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Fast Action Battlers Devastation Blast Long Haul figure. Excerpt: “A brutish mold for a brutish Decepticon …”

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Monkey Boy reviews the NECA Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 (Pescadero Escape) figure. Excerpt: “Despite the dearth of accessories and the lack of mobility below the waist, this really is a fine figure.”

Poe Ghostal reviews the NECA Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 (Pescadero Escape) figure. Excerpt: “NECA’s Kyle ‘Tankman’ Windrix once again proves he’s one of the best in the business when it comes to detailed sculpting and high-quality likenesses.”

yo go re reviews the Diamond Select Toys Marvel Minimates Punisher War Zone Punisher and Jigsaw Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive two-pack. Excerpt: “We normally try not to gush in our reviews, but this time, I just can’t help it.”

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