Tag: SOTA Page 1 of 2
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.
Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many interviews with fellow collectors!
MisterBigBo, who comments here occasionally, is a real-life friend of mine who I’ve actually spent time with in person. He’s taken time out of his busy schedule as a brand-new dad to answer a few questions about his toy collecting.
Codename: MisterBigBo
Base of Operations: The Commiewealth of Taxachusetts
History: Regular ‘ole suburban lower middle class kid who grew up in the 80s. Star Wars fan first, but like most boys of that generation I had a healthy action figure collection. I have gone on to become a teacher, a dad, and study traditional Japanese martial arts, but the toys are still there.
1.) What were your favorite toys or toy lines as a child?
Though I started with Star Wars, moved with the trends to Transformers and He-Man for a while, GI Joe was my favorite. The designs and the articulation caused me to stay with the line into junior high, after most of my friends had moved on. As a youngster I had a little of everything: a few M.A.S.K. vehicles, and one or two Sky Commanders, Army Antz, Silver Hawks, C.O.P.S., Centurins, Marvel Secret Wars and D.C. Super Powers, Captain Power, Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos, Battle Beasts, Starcom, Eagle Force. . . those are the faves that I can remember right now . I suppose my tendency these days to collect only one or a few of any given line is a continuation of that trend.
yo go re reviews the Shocker Toys Indie Spotlight Kabuki figure. Excerpt: “… Shocker Toys did a better job on these toys than anyone expected they would.â€
Michael Crawford reviews the Playmates Toys Terminator Salvation T-600, T-700, T-R.I.P and Marcus (Battle Damage version) 3¾-inch-scale figures. Excerpt: “These are quite a bit better than the 3 3/4″ Star Trek line from Playmates, also on pegs right now, and they’re a bit better than I’ve seen most folks giving them credit for.†(See also.)
Philip Reed reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe The Thing figure. Excerpt: “… if it wasn’t for The Thing’s articulation this would be a great action figure.â€
When I encounter something cool–a TV show, a movie, a book–I often end up wanting action figures from it. That’s not an unusual trait among toy collectors, but it’s something I’ve been doing ever since I was a wee tyke.
Here’s a list of ten things a young Poe always hoped to get action figures of, but never did.
Sanjeev reviews the Onell Design Buildman Ranic (Standard and Reverse versions) figures. Excerpt: “… equal parts action figure and building toy.â€
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Star Wars The Legacy Collection Clone Trooper (with Cip-Quad) figure. Excerpt: “… he certainly comes with an impressive piece of weaponry that goes way, way beyond the usual blaster pistol these guys tend to be issued.†(See also.)
Scott Rubin reviews the Mattel DC Universe Infinite Heroes Crisis series Starfire, Captain Boomerang and Raven three-pack. Excerpt: “… a diverse and motley mix of figures.â€
Poe Ghostal reviews the NECA Bionic Commando Nathan “Rad†Spencer figure. Excerpt: “… a great action figure.â€
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 …â€
- 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)
- Mattel hints at new 6″ line, to be unveiled at New York Comic Con: “It is not Thundercats and it is not WWE (come on, how could WWE be a mystery announcement since it is public knowledge that we are doing WWE in 2010!) It is a new 6″ line and it is sculpted by the Horsemen. If that doesn’t whet your appetite we will reveal these figures at NYCC and the first figure in this line will be available at SDCC!” (My guess is it’s a Four Horsemen-created property, i.e., Seventh Kingdom or Magma CORPS.)
- Mattel explains MOTUC continuity, reveals that She-Ra, Princess of Power figures will join line in 2010.
- SOTA announces new statue of Nyarlathotep, one of H.P. Lovecraft’s monstrosities. There’s no pic, but the press release says, “”featuring all the horrific detail of the Messenger of the Great Old Ones,” which is interesting, since unlike Cthulhu, I don’t believe Nyarlathotep has a definitive description in HPL’s work–beyond being a “tall, swarthy man,” at one point, because he’s a shapeshifter by nature. However, most of the HPL-related media (games and so forth) depict him with a tentacle for a head, and that’s what SOTA has gone for here. (Action-Figure)
- Wizardworld has postponed WW Los Angeles and cancelled WW Dallas. No word on when the LA show will resume, but the Chicago and Philadelphia shows will go on as planned. I’m afraid this is just an early casualty of the economy in consumer-based hobbies like comics and toys. (Action-Figure)
- I was at a Toys ‘R Us over the weekend and was surprised to see the Art Asylum classic Kirk and Spock on the pegs, in new packaging. Am I just out of the loop on this? In any event, it’s great they’re re-releasing those.
- TRU will give 15% discount to anyone using a KB Toys gift cards until the end of the month (TFormers)
- Star Wars Legacy prototype pics leaked? (Potf2)