Middle Child Syndrome

That's right folks, following a delay, a huge breakdown, and a reconciliation, Middle Child Syndrome is BACK in action. With a new banner, a new attitude, and new reviews.

okay, maybe not the new attitude, I'm the same old opinionated wiseass I always was, but still, the point is, we're back.

Up for review tonight are two of the latest entries into my collection. the MOTUC Matty Collector exclusive Webstor, and DCUC Wave 9's illustrious Build-A-Figure, Chemo.

now, I do have quite the backlog of Mattel products to review, after my swearing off of them, and my subsequent realization that Matty is Jack Twist to my Ennis Del Mar, and I wish I knew how to quit him.

anyway, I will be getting to a few other MOTUC figures in the near future, as well as my wave 9 Figures (I only buy the figures I like, which means NO Super Powers exclusive look characters).

onto the fun.


Chemo:

Chemo is originally a Metal Men villain, but since the Metal Men don't regularly have a feature sometimes, the character has been co-opted for use in the main DCU as well, mostly because he's a cool villain. This version of Chemo is the Modern version, Seen most notably in Infinite Crisis, when a plane full of villains dropped this version of Chemo onto Bludhaven, decimating it entirely.

Sculpt: Chemo is a Build-A-Figure, and other than the copper-colored armor the character sports, would've been completely smooth. I think they chose the MA version simply due to the fact that the character is rather plain otherwise. But, rather than just giving us a gigantic man made out of Flubber, Mattel went the extra mile, and sculpted bubbles into the various parts of the figure, on the INSIDE, which makes it look like there's lots of chemical reactions churning away inside the character, turning what could've been a very BLAND BAF into a very interesting character, visually. Of particular note, I have the running change variant featuring an even more detailed inner 'tube' of bubbles, adding even more depth to the figure. This is an outstanding figure, which easily draws the eye. Very dynamic in the sculpt and look. A+



Articulation: Chemo's articulation isn't standard, just simply due to his bulk and shape. He is adequately articulated however, featuring 21 points at the shoulders (four points, two on each), elbows (four points, two on each), wrists (four points, two on each) waist, hips (two points, one on each), knees (two points, one on each), and ankles (four points, two on each). The articulation doesn't afford a lot of posing, but it's decent. A bicep swivel would've probably been doable, but really, this guy's supposed to stand there and look menacing. B+

Deco: There's not much paint here, mostly just the armor, but it's mostly neat. There's some overspray in areas, but for the most part, color is where it is supposed to be, and not where its not. A

Accessories: Zilch. F

Overall: Characters like this are what Build A Figures are supposed to be about. This is an obvious, and excellent choice, I just hope that everybody who wants one has a chance at one. It really is a very striking Build A Figure, and from the upcoming waves, they're only gonna get better. Giant intimidating villains are always a plus, but when they're made of clear plastic (and who doesn't love that) with lots of bubbly bits churning around inside?, it's even cooler. Very eye-catching, and I get the feeling that any kid who is lucky enough to assemble this guy will get a lot of play out of him. And Collectors will find plenty of use for the big guy too, especially with the Metal Men on the horizon! This figure is a definite A.



Webstor:

Emmanuel Lewis has always been a terrifying creature of the night, who has haunted the dreams of millions, but WHAT a makeover!, Okay, I had to do an obligatory Webster/Emmanuel Lewis Joke. You can't talk about Webstor without it. It's internet law. Webstor was always a visually striking character, and I always thought it was a shame that he didn't get his due in the 200X series of figures. Granted, he got a Staction, but it would've been nice to get a figure of him, especailly after seeing him in the toon. Well, the MOTUC version feels like a consolation prize in that regard, but I'm not gonna judge it by that standard. I really wish we were getting more 200X styled figures in this line, but I"m not gonna complain too loudly.

Sculpt: Because the MOTUC line sees heavy reuse, all of the new additions to the base sculpt really have to do a swell job of selling the character. In that regard, it doesn't disappoint. As I've said in past reviews, I feel I'm eventually going to get tired of this base sculpt, but it is what it is. I have six MOTUC figures in my collection, and will likely have many more by year's end. Webstor's sculpt features a lot, and you really get the feeling that this figure is worth the money, due to the fact that he's overloaded. The new face/head is suitably monstrous/terrifying, the armor is great, and the spindly legs are awesomely executed, as is the climbing pack and accessories. One of my favorite additions to the character are the four extra legs. C'mon, this guy is a SPIDER, he should have eight legs, and now, he does. This has upset a lot of purists, due to the fact that they think the figure should look exactly like the original figure except feature new articulation. I say FUCK YOU PURISTS. This figure is better than the original. The figure also features more eyes than the original. Due to the heavy reuse, I can't in good conscience give this top marks, but it definitely does as best as it can with what it's got to work with, so it earns a solid A. 

Articulation: Webstor goes above and beyond in this category, giving us a whopping 35 Points of Articulation!, he has all the standard MOTUC articulation, featuring balljointed shoulders (four points, two on each), bicep swivels (two points, one on each), elbows (two points, one on each), swivel wrists (two points, one on each), ab crunch (1), waist (1), balljoint hips (four points, two on each), thigh swivels (two points, one on each), knees (two points), boot tops (two points), and rocker pivot ankles (four points, two on each), but, that's not all!, in addition to the standard articulation, he has those four arms on the backpack, each sporting a ball joint, for an additional eight points! (two on each arm)! That definitely puts him in top marks in this department. A+

Deco: Once again, the differences are what sell these things, so deep blue skin, purple armor, and a cool orange rifle (featuring several copper and bright orange highlights), plus a big monstery grin full of sharp teeth add up to making this guy a very unique character, despite an overwhelming case of verisimilitude. A

Accessories: Webstor comes with his rifle (a two handed affar, that afforded its own paint deco), as well as his climbing hook/backpack apparatus. a pretty decent array when you count the pack's extra playability. A

Overall: MOTUC has another winner. This guy will probably be a very in-demand character. He's got that scary monster/villain appeal, as well as all of that articulation. A definite showstopper, and an excellent addition to any collection. A definite A.

I've got a few reviews planned before the weekend, but I'm leaving for the weekend.

a couple more updates are planned for next week, but again, I have plans for the weekend.

we'll see how it all works out. I'll definitely update this week, however.

It's time to put this back on track.

I tried, I really did.

but hey, at least I admit I'm weak.

anyway, going back to regular features soon. Keep an eye open!

I will no longer be reviewing Mattel product. As I will no longer be purchasing Mattel Product.

I love a lot of what they're doing, I find their products to be of the highest quality, and the characters in DCUC to be very avant garde.

and with Mattel on the cusp of becoming the Modern Day Kenner, it breaks my heart that I have to do this, but the recent announcement that Mattel has no intent to produce Masters of the Universe Classics figures in their 200X outfits, I can no longer support this company with my money.

We, as fans of 200X were led to believe that we would be getting figures in these outfits, on the Classics standard body. It has recently been announced that this is not the case, and that they would be merely half-assing any 200X style figure they made.

200X Zodak did not wear furry boots, nor have a furry loincloth.

200X He-Man has a sporran on his loincloth.

these are details that are just as important to the look of that particular style as He-Man's classic harness and paigeboy haircut are to that version.

omitting any one of them would make the character a hybrid at best. And if they're gonna half ass it, I'd rather they not make it at all. But then, that comes back to my Pal Psy's philosophy regarding DC Direct. "They have a habit of giving us what we want in such a way that we don't want it any more".

that quote is far more flexible than I ever thought, when he first said it. 

i broke my wrist two weeks ago, to the tune of eleven grand.

So, I never thought I'd get into Silver Age comics.

I mean, the writing is so formulaic, the dialogue completely ridiculous. But some of the greatest moments happened back then, and I found a guy who has a lot of Silver Age issues, for reasonable prices.

and I'm not talking about just run-of-the-mill stuff either. I'm talking Teen Titans #1, Justice League #21, Adventure #346 all in VG condition.

all of which now belong to me.

I'm telling you, I really wish I could afford the entire lot. these are very clean copies, and very well taken care of.

good solid 12 cent issues. I'm talking Batman #200 (Buying it next week) in VF condition. Maybe even NM. just crisp, bright copies.

of course, revealing the source will ruin it for me, but I will say that many bargains are yet to be had. And I get the feeling that there are still more to come.

I'll be honest. I'm tickled shitless.

Mattel's SDCC Exclusive this year is the Wonder Twins from the Superfriends.

Mattel has stated that the focus of the line would be "Comic Only", and then they loopholed in these asshole characters. Naturally it made the Kool Aid Drinkers foam at the mouth in anticipation for this vaguely incestuous, ambiguous couple. And everything associated with them (such as the stereotype pals, Apache Chief and Black Vulcan)

Y'know, the people who don't actually read the comics, and only care about the characters they saw on the TV.

now, I think this is a huge slap in the face to comic fans everywhere, because if this line ends and we don't get more deserving characters (and let's face it, against a cartoon character, any DC character is more deserving. From Bat Hombre to Crazy Quilt, to Brother Power the Geek, and hey, I'm gonna even include Marvel Characters. I'd rather DCUC feature MARVEL characters before the Superfriends.)

but the point I"m making here is, Gleek will not be available outside the convention.

suddenly there's phenobarbitol in the kool aid.

they're going APE SHIT. over the SHIT APE.

and I'm loving every minute of it.

they've even coined a clever catchphrase "No Monkey, No Money".

I have one of my own. "Shape of Scalper Bait, Form of Ebay Markup!"

"No Monkey, No Money"?,  No Problem I'll sell you one for a reasonable markup after the website sells out ANYWAY!

because the less the fans buy, the more there are for the scalpers, and once regret sets in, there's only one place to go.

so, good luck to all of you in your stupid little protest.

it's nice to see the "Yes Men" holding the shit end of the stick for a change.

it's funny. I didn't want this garbage, and it seems now the people who WANTED this garbage don't want it either.

but y'know what?, if they sit on these things, you're not gonna get any more Superfriends, because Mattel will look at the numbers on this and say "Nobody wanted them".

and y'know what?, nobody does want them.

It's a goddamn shame that the Golden Age Hawks were shelved, but this shit is "Full Speed Ahead".

So, I know I'm behind on my reviews, and I'm gonna try to have something up tomorrow night.

but I wanted to take this time to let you know why I haven't been on much.

see, last Friday night, my brother, who I hadn't seen in six months came home.

and while a large portion of his time home has been spent sleeping, we've been out catching up, and doing things.

we are planning a day trip sometime next week after we both have some money to blow (Income Tax Returns are expected) and I'll have a lot of great stuff to review afterwards.

so, stay tuned, I assure you this is only a momentary lapse, and I'll get back to the weekly reviews!

Well, it's been over a week, but a lot has happened to keep me away. I TRY to update once a week, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.

up for review tonight however, is the first half of DCUC Wave 7. Big Barda, Captain Cold, Flash and Kid Flash.

This is the wave with the Atom Smasher Build-A-Figure, and it's supposedly the first to feature new QC, I experienced no problems with stuck joints, thank goodness, so that's a plus.

anyway, on to the reviews!

Big Barda:

Barda is a great figure, in scale with the others in the line, she is the biggest female character they've done so far. Many people claim she isn't big enough, taking the name literally, but that simply isn't the case. Barda is the correct height, as she is supposed to be shorter than Scott (sources have her at 6'2").

Sculpt: Barda is an entirely new sculpt, reusing NO pieces from existing figures. The sculpt captures her distinctive look perfectly, and while there's a variant, I believe it would've been better just to give her a removeable helmet. I won't dock points for that, but Mattel needs to give us a break, and start including remvoable accessories and alternate heads. A+

Articulation: Barda features standard DCUC Articulation, at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. Unfortunately her skirt inhibits the upper leg movement quite a bit, so you don't get any forward or lateral movement, and for that I have to give it a C

Deco: Barda features proper paint apps in all the right places, everything is clean, and I noticed very little slop. She looks like she's supposed to, and stands great in any New Gods or Morrison JLA display! A

Accessories: Barda comes with her club thingie, and one of Atom Smasher's arms. I wish she had included a removable helmet, so I don't have to buy a variant, but Mattel's in this to make money, so that's that. B

Overall: Barda's skippable if you don't care for her, or aren't planning on building Atom Smasher, but she's a solid effort nonetheless, and a great sculpt to boot. I'm disappointed in the limited upper leg movement, but she display well, and stands fine on her own regardless. I give the figure a B

Captain Cold:

Captain Cold is one of the Flash Rogues, and the SA Flash's arch-nemesis. While I'm not partial to this particular character, personally, I do think he's got a great unique look (I'm more a Mirror Master and Trickster fan, personally, when it comes to the Rogues), and blends in well with all the other SA inspired figures.

Sculpt: Captain Cold features an all new sculpt, with few (if any) reused parts. He's got his parka sculpted on, as a baggy one-piece suit, this could be reused in the future, as a Prison uniform for Lex Luthor, I suppose. The mantle is a separate piece made of flexible plastic, so his arms can move. Also his holster is on a swivel, so it can move about a little. The sculpt is spot-on, and the head has a lot of personality. I could see several of these being modded into henchmen for Mister Freeze, as well. A+

Articulation Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: There's not much paint here, but it's neat where it's needed. Most of the figure is molded in color. Great look, and instantly recognizable. A

Accessories: Captain Cold includes his freeze-ray gun, which can stow in his holster, he also includes the head and lower torso of Atom Smasher. A

Overall: Absolutely solid figure, and probably one of the best in the wave so far. he stands well against Flash, but looks great in a villain lineup as well. He's essential for anybody building the Secret Society of Super Villains, but if you're using him to build the Legion of Doom, I want you to go fuck yourself. A

The Flash II:

Barry didn't interest me at first, mostly because I'm just tired of the character. I don't care that they're bringing him back, and Wally has proven his worth as the Flash. I see Barry's role in comics to be over, and largely unnecessary in today's market. That said, it is a good idea that they did a figure of him, but I still think they should've done Wally first.

Sculpt: Barry is mostly reused parts. The only things new are the boots, and the head. Still, they do an adequate job of capturing the character's look, and if cutting corners on Barry gets us more detail on Barda and Captain Cold, I'm all for it. C

Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: Most of Barry's color comes from paint as he's cast in red plastic. The paint apps are clean, and the lightning bolts and insignia are bright. Also Barry's blue eyes are captured prominently (the Flash's eye color is important to me. Barry has blue, Wally is green, and Bart is yellow). A

Accessories: Barry includes a display stand, that for the life of me I cannot find a way to use in a running pose. D-

Overall: Barry is a key character if you're assembling a classic Justice League Lineup, but if you're NOT, or you're waiting for Wally, you can skip him, because he doesn't even include a BAF part. Take him or leave him, I give him a B



Kid Flash I:

This figure has come under fire from a lot of collectors for being too small, and while I can understand many concerns about that, I want my "Fab Five" Teen Titans to look small. And I'd hate for them to upscale the next releases from this team, to address complaints, and have Wally be undersized in comparison (Much like with the Megos of the 70s, where Robin was oversized, as he was produced earlier). I'd rather just hope for a later, taller release, for the New Teen Titans, or maybe a boxed set.

Sculpt: Wally is an all new sculpt for the most part. He's the same size as MA Robin, but I don't think there's too much parts sharing between them, if any. B

Articulation: Wally features standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: Wally kinda fails in this category largely due to being cast in yellow plastic, which always looks plasticy. the red paint apps are applied well (but then it's always easier to do dark over light), as is the apps on his face. I really can't complain about the paint. A

Accessories: Wally includes one of Atom Smasher's arms. C

Overall: This figure's value remains to be seen. If you're team building the New Teen Titans, I'd say he's not for you, as he's too short, but if you're building the fab five, then his value will be determined by the scale of the remaining members. Taken merely as Barry's sidekick, however, I give him a B.

Okay, so it's no secret that DC Universe Classics is my toyline of choice. I love it, I love collecting it, I love finding all the figures, and I love the Super Powers homages. I wish more of my favorite characters were included, but we've got a long way to go. I think it's likely that down the line it will happen.

I don't like the fact that they're incorporating Cartoon garbage like the Wonder Twits, but what can I do?, They said "Comic Only" a week later they proved they lied,that's the end of it.

anyway, I'm still collecting, at least until the Kool Aid Drinkers hijack this line completely.

Up for review today are four rather hard-to-get figures. Two incredibly rare offerings from wave five of DCUC (available only at one Wal-Mart in Rural Nebransas, between the hours of 5 and 6 am, every second wednesday of every other month, it would seem), and the Matty Collector Exclusive "Space Heroes" Twopack.

Up first we'll review Adam Strange and Starfire: 

Both figures feature newly sculpted heads, and a few exra parts, but as you can see, one of these things is not like the other.

Artemis is a 'variant' figure of Wonder Woman, from wave 4. The other wave variant is a gold Captain Atom, which features his shitty "Kingdom Come" look.

since I don't give two fucks about Alex Ross, I didn't give two fucks about that figure, but since Artemis is an entirely new character, she was a must-have. I knew she was getting harder to find, and that my window of opportunity for finding her was closing, and I didn't wanna come away empty handed. Fortunately, I found her at retail on a jacked card, and that's all it took for me to buy her!

The Figure is basically the Wonder Woman sculpt (for the most part), but it's more than just a repaint, there are several additional sculpted elements that set the figure apart from the standard Wonder Woman, and it's enough that if you're riding the fence on picking this one up, I suggest you go for it.

ARTEMIS:

Sculpt: Artemis shares many parts with Wonder Woman, pretty much everything from the top of her shins to her waist, and then from the waist to the neck is all Wonder Woman, so you've seen it before. What's different are the feet, the waist, and the head. The feet are Sandaled, and feature winged detail (sadly hard to see in my pictures) the waist features a sling with a quiver, and the lasso is on her left hip (as opposed to Diana's right). And then Artemis gets a completely new head sculpt, with a ponytail, and lots of bangs! A+

Articulation: Artemis sports standard DCUC Articulation, at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: While Artemis is rocking Wondy's duds for the most part, there are a few changes in the paint as well. For one Artemis is a redhead, secondly, Artemis' bracers are Gold while Diana's are Silver. There are additional paint apps on the new boot details, and waist as well. These extra decos boost the deco score to an A+

Accessories: Artemis really only has two accessories, her bow, which features two arrows on the nock, and the BAF Despero piece (right leg, same as Diana). This hampers the score a bit, and she only gets an A-, but it's still a solid effort.



Overall: Best Female figure in DCUC to date. No question. I have always liked Artemis better than Diana, for some reason (I do like redheads), and the added details just ice the cake so to speak. A+


BRAVE AND THE BOLD BLUE BEETLE:

I love Jaime Reyes, I love all three Blue Beetles, but Jaime is a great character, and I absolutely love his book, I love him on the Titans, I love his costume, I love his supporting cast, I love everything about him. It saddens me that his book ends next month. I hardly knew him. But then, when it comes to comics under the Didio Regime, I've resigned myself to saying goodbye to the things I love.

anyway, Jaime is a frequent guest star on Batman's new animated show "Brave and the Bold" and it was a foregone conclusion that he'd get a toy in the line. (Actually he got three). The one I'm reviewing tonight is his "Deluxe" Figure. How'd it fare?, read on.

Sculpt: The sculpt is very basic, based on the animated look of the character, and while the pic I've taken to the right is quite flattering, please don't be fooled. while the sculpt isn't bad, it's ruined, utterly, and terribly by a design choice I'm sure wasn't decided upon by the sculptors. All the B&B figures feature HUGE sockets on the shoulders, elbows, and mid-calf, that are ugly, impossible to overlook, and completely destroy any redeeming qualities the sculpt might posess. Unless you posess SIGNIFICANT customizing ability, avoid these toys like the plague. I only bought it because I'm a fan. D-

Articulation: I don't expect much articulation out of my animated figures, and this figure doesn't offer much either. Jaime features neck cut, shoulder cut, elbow cut, waist cut, and hip cut joints, and that's it. C

Deco: The paint is pretty good on the figure, and it's very faithful to the character's look both in the book, and on TV. but also very basic. Three colors. Nothing mindblowing in the way of shading or washes. C

Accessories: Jaime is a "Deluxe" Figure, so you pay three extra bucks for a missle launcher, and some snap-on blades for his arms. None of which I found significant enough to take pictures of, so that tells you everything. D

Overall: I bought this because I'm a fan of Jaime. I feel like I overpayed, I feel like the figure lacks quality, and play value. This is my first and hopefully only F

I tried to be unbiased, and I didn't wanna be completely unfair. If the sculpt were clean, and unmarred by the sockets, and if he had a decent scarab backpack, I'd bump him up to at least a "C", but as the figure is, it's a mediocre toy. I'm sure kids would get a big ass kick out of him, but I'm reviewing from an adult POV, and for adult collectors, and therefore I'm reviewing with those people in mind. If you're buying this for a kid, bump it up to a "C", as they'll be playing with it more with other figures from the line, and with a lot more 'snap on' options.

Next review I'm gonna start playing with the format a little bit, and trying to get some actual paragraph formatting going.

I know there's a wordwrap feature, and I am eager to try it out, and post several pics into my entries.

anyway, we have one figure up for review tonight (and another tomorrow). Masters of the Universe Skeletor!



SKELETOR:

John Moores asked me to do less neutral poses, so I hope he likes "Skeletor In Extremis". Heh.

Skeletor is Matty Collector's Fourth release in the "Masters of the Universe Classics" line. Following hot on the heels of Beast Man, He-Man, and the SDCC Exclusive King Grayskull. how did he fare?, read on.

Sculpt: I get the feeling that I"m gonna get tired of that base sculpt after seeing it a dozen or more times over the next couple years. early on it's still fresh, and with the different colors, and decos, it's still pretty solid. But where this figure REALLY shines, of course, is the new details. With Skeletor, we get a new head, new forearms, new hands, new waist, new shins, and new feet. And while many of these parts are slated for reuse down the line, they're new to Skeletor, and are a welcome addition. Now, I don't make any attempt to hide the fact that I prefer the hyperdetail of the 200X line over the retro downgrade that is Classics. But the elements DO combine well, to create a decent update to the original Skeletor figure of old. A

Articulation: Skeletor features what's becoming Standard Mattel Articulation, Balljointed head, balljointed shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, mid-chest, waist, balljointed hips, upper thigh, knees, mid-calf (Unique to MOTUC) and ankles. Just enough for great posing, without overdoing it like way too many ML figures. A+

Deco: All of Skeletor's parts are molded in color, there is very little paint, but then, what's there is subtle, and very well executed. the colors are bright, they pop, and they blend to make a character who is instantly recognizable, and totally classic. If you only get two MOTUC figures, it's gotta be He-Man and Skelly. I plan on a few more purchases, but doubt I'm gonna be buying this line long-term. A

Accessories: Skeletor doesn't include as many accessories as He-Man, but he still has a few. At the price point these are selling, I expect great paint, and ample accessories, in both categories, I feel these are somewhere in the middle. Skeletor includes his Havoc Staff, His Purple Power Sword, and the purple half of the combined sword. Three accessories is a good deal more than you get with a lot of mass-market toys, and they're all logical choices. Some extra hands, or a Keldor Head would've been icing on the cake, but the selection isn't bad. A

Overall: This figure is a solid endeavor, and a great addition to any fan's collection. Value for your Money is up to debate, but it's a well made, well painted, well articulated, and well-outfitted figure. A solid A, and the second best Skeletor figure made (right after 2002) IMHO.

Well, they arrived quicker than I thought they would (I was honestly expecting them closer to Wednesday). But Mike shipped 'em fast, and so we'll do it today!

Mike was holding onto the Doctors for me, but when I saw he had Cybermen on special as well, I had him tack a pair of those to the order as well. Kinda glad I did, $5 each is a hell of a deal!

so, onto the review:



THE FIFTH DOCTOR:

Peter Davison's Doctor has gotten TWO releases from Character Options so far. This is actually the second. The first was packed in an exclusive "Time Crash" Set for the San Diego Comic Con, which also included the Tenth Doctor.

The figures are the same sculpt, but there are two notable differences. The SDCC version has a different paint deco on the pants, and also features Davison's signature "Decorative Vegetable" a stalk of celery on his lapel.

Mike says he has a few of that set left, and I might be compelled to purchase one soon. I dunno.

anyway, onto the actual review!

Sculpt: Character Options is second to none in the Sculpt Department. When you hear the name, you know you're gonna get a faithful sculpt, and a great figure. This is doubly amazing, because I hear they don't use 2 Ups, they're sculpted in 5" scale! This is a very faithful likeness to Peter Davison. Perfect in every way. A

Articulation: Character Options recently upped the articulation count on these, and it's a great help. The Fifth Doctor features articulation at the neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, waist, hips (two points), and knees. At this scale that's a pretty ample amount. A+

Deco: What astounds me is the lack of slop on most of these figures. While Davison has a few areas where this is apparent, it's still very clean, and I can find very little wrong with the paint deco. But I did notice, that even though you cannot see them, the question marks are painted onto his lapel. THAT is amazing attention to detail! B+

Accessories: The Fifth Doctor includes his Sonic Screwdriver, and the Right Arm of the K1 Robot Build-A-Figure. B

Overall: This figure is another great sculpt of a Classic Doctor. A very solid addition to any collection! A


THE SIXTH DOCTOR:


Colin Baker portrayed the Sixth Incarnation of the Doctor. sporting a bright wardrobe described as "An explosion in a rainbow factory", the bright colors offset Baker's oftentimes dark mood. Looking like a cross between Willy Wonka, and the Mad Hatter, he definitely brought a visual flair to the Doctor.

Sculpt: Once again, very faithful sculpt. All the key details are present, and it makes for a very distinctive presence on your shelf.

Articulation: Same as the Fifth Doctor, Colin sports articulation at the neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, waist, hips (two points), and knees. A+

Deco: This figure's true shining moment. Look at it. all of those colors, seamlessly painted. Not a line out of place, and the pattern continues to the figure's back!, This is simply an amazing amount of paint decos. I'm astounded. Paint is usually the first thing sacrificed to cut costs, but not in this case. They went the extra mile, and produced a stunning, and faithful look. They even managed to get the cat pin on his lapel! (I originally thought it was a paint smudge, and attempted to wipe it off!) Simply amazing. A+

Accessories: Colin includes his Sonic Lance, and the Upper Torso of the K-1 Robot Build-A-Figure. B

Overall: This is the Import Figure of the Year. Hands Down. A+ All the way!



CYBERMAN:

This is an older release, but I bought a couple, and figured since I was reviewing the other two, I might as well do him as well.

Sculpt: Totally faithful to the onscreen models. Absolutely perfect. Everything I'd expect on a New Show Cyberman is there, in amazing detail. Fantastic sculpt, especially considering that it's an older figure. A

Articulation: The Articulation isn't bad. But it was before the inclusion of the mid-thigh and bicep swivels. Still, what's here is pretty functional. The Cyberman features articulation at the neck (balljoint), shoulders (balljoint), elbows, wrists, mid-torso (swivel), Hips (balljoint), knees, and ankles (swivel). Not bad for this scale. A

Deco: Not a lot of paint on this guy, he's mostly molded in color, but there are a few places (like the eyes) and some sprays and washes here and there. Not bad, but some more definition on the wires would've been nice. B-

Accessories: The Cyberman includes no Accessories. F

Overall: Pretty middle ground, but still nice to have in your collection. C

I keep saying this isn't just a Toy Blog. But I've reviewed nothing but. I need to get some Book, TV, and other reviews up, but just haven't had a chance. And the cool toys just keep coming.

Up for review tonight? Seven New Figures. DCUC Wave 6, Including Hawkman, Superman, Mister Miracle, Captain Marvel, Killer Moth,  and the Kalibak Build-A-Figure, and DCUC Wave 2.5 Firestorm (Jason Rusch).

Also debuting tonight is my universal grading scale. (as opposed to the arbitrary Grading Scale I have been using so far.

the scale will be on the following categories:

Sculpt
Articulation
Deco (this was gonna be 'paint' but some colors are molded in)
Accessories
Overall

each category will be assigned a letter grade much like in School. A, B, C, D, and F. Each can also recieve a Plus or Minus for exceptional (or deplorable) quality in each category.

First up, will be Firestorm, then on to the new stuff.








FIRESTORM:

Sculpt: The Sculpt is pretty faithful to the character's model in every appearance I've seen him in. This sculpt differs in two places from the first (Ronnie) Firestorm we got back when this wave first appeared. 1: The head is completely different, and 2, the legs from the knee down are new sculpts.  The flame on the head is different between Jason and Ronnie as well, so major props for not reusing that part, and giving them both distinct flames!, Everything else is the same, sculptwise, and it was a solid sculpt then, and just as good now. B


Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: Very little slop, faithful deco, bright, colorful, and the figure stands out. A+

Accessories: He comes with a BAF piece for Grodd (a Leg), and two snap on atomic bursts for his hands. B

Overall: There's not much to hate about this figure, to be honest. Say what you will about the actual CHARACTER, but the figure is pretty much perfect. A




And now we come to wave six. A very colorful wave, considering that each character's costume is pretty vivid, with some wild schemes on the villains.  This isn't the full wave, as I don't yet have the Recovery Suit Superman, or Doctor Impossible (I wanted to get the figures I wanted most, and still be able to build Kalibak, so those other figures will have to wait until I find them locally.)


First up




SUPERMAN:

Yup, the Man of Steel himself got a makeover in wave six. This is the first Superman in his classic costume in the newly-relaunched DC Universe Classics line. Previously there were two Electric Supermen, and he DID get a figure WAAAY back in DC Super Heroes, but this is the first Red Yellow and Blue Supes in the new line. And he's sporting that 90s Mullet look. More on that in a moment.

Sculpt: This is a good sculpt, I do like the shorter cape, and it really is a pretty iconic Man of Steel. My gripe comes from the fact that he should've come with a separate head, with short hair, so that fans could CHOOSE which to display him with. This figure is slated to be re-released in a twopack with the Silver Age Brainiac, and he'll have short hair there, but he's supposed to have red 'heat vision' eyes. So fans can't win. For this simple oversight, I have to drop the sculpt down to B It is a great representation of Morrison's Superman, but it could've been more.


Articulation: Standard DCUC articulation. Same as Firestorm. neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. There's gonna be some hindrance at the mid-torso because of the cape, but everything else is solid. A

Deco: I have some serious Likes and Dislikes about the Deco. First, the colors are a LOT brighter than the original DCSH Superman. I like it on the red, as the brightness really pops, when next to the previous Superman, but I prefer a lighter Blue than the one used here. Another thing I like is that they included the Yellow "S" on the back of his cape. What I don't like, actually, I outright HATE it, is the smaller S-Shield on the front of the figure. There is also a bit of slop on the legs where they meet the sideways joints.  I give the deco a C



Accessories: He comes with a Build-A-Figure piece, for Kalibak (Left Arm). B

Overall:  This Figure offers a lot, especially to those who didn't have a chance at the original Superman. And while I do like certain things about it, my only gripe with the previous Superman was the splay-legs. I'm actually gonna hafta say I like the original a bit better here. The overall score is gonna be right in the middle.C+



CAPTAIN MARVEL:

The package says "Shazam!", but that's not entirely accurate. For copyright reasons, he has to be called "Shazam!" on all packaging (and comic covers). Since I'm not subject to such things, I can call him by name and do.

Sculpt: Captain Marvel is pretty much an all-new sculpt. His torso features the flap of his costume, molded in. And every detail, from the bracers, to the sash, to his cuffed boot tops, to his distinctive cape is captured in exquisite detail. some have asked if there's something wrong with his right shoulder, but I think that's mostly attributable to the way the cape hangs on his left shoulder more than any problems in the sculpt. B+

Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: Cap doesn't have much in the way of paint, but he's got it where it counts. The Lightning bolt logo is crisp, his bracers are bright, as is the trim on his cape. The boots are painted on, but just about everything else is molded in color. Zero slop. A+

Accessories: Cap comes with Kalibak's left leg. B

Overall: Very solid figure. The figure captures the Captain's signature look, with a smile that is genuine, not goofy, and a face sculpt that isn't stylized. He fits in perfectly with this line, as he should. A



MISTER MIRACLE:

Mister Miracle is definitely a mixed bag. One of my favorite characters, the figure has a lot to love, but fails to live up to some minor expectations in some key areas.I don't outright hate him, And he makes up for what he lacks in certain areas, with some pluses in some others.


Sculpt: Mister Miracle shines in the sculpt department. There is no detail omitted, and some added features that I didn't expect (the bottom of his feet, for instance). The face sculpt is good, and the figure looks great in a display.) A

Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation it would seem, but the neck is stuck fast. I'm gonna boil it at some point, but right now, it won't budge, he also has articulation at the, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. B-

Deco: This is where the figure starts to falter. And only for a minor reason. The deco is pretty good, the paint is clean, with very little slop (noticed some where the yellow and red meet, but at least it's not as bad as with Red Tornado.) the MAJOR gripe I have, is the black spray on his upper thighs. I don't know why it's there, but it's so noticable that it takes a great deco, and makes it a mediocre one. C-

Accessories: Here's where Scott Free starts to recover. He's LOADED with accessories. He includes his flight discs (two, one for each foot), a pair of awesome, Kirby-Esque handcuffs, and he's got a Mother Box accessory that connects to a small peg on the back of his belt. It's a shame that he doesn't have an open hand to use it with. And finally, he comes with the Right leg of Kalibak. A+

Overall: He's a very vibrant, and colorful figure. There is a lot I like about him, and little that I don't. for a score that's all over the place in individual categories, the good outweighs the bad, and I can give this figure a very solid B.




HAWKMAN:

Sculpt: Hawkman's sculpt is mostly new. He features a new, shirtless chest mold, with an all-new back piece (to accomodate the harness, and wing aperture). The wings are exquisitely detailed, and move in a pretty convincing manner. The boots feature sculpted (not just painted) detail on the high points, and the head is perfect. A+

Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles, as well as articulation where the wings meet the torso, and a mid-wing joint as well, for flight poses. A+



Deco: The paint is applied properly with little to no slop. The figure is appealing to the eye, and the deco screams "Classic Hawkman". the wings have a drybrush effect on them, giving them texture and depth. Perfect. A+

Accessories: Hawkman includes A Mace, a Shield, a Sword, and a BAF Part (Kalibak's Right Arm). The weapons are sculpted faithfully, and each is appropriate to the figure. The sword stows in a small loop on Hawkman's belt. A+

Overall: This is a perfect figure. Everybody should have one. A+



KILLER MOTH:

Killer Moth represents something more than just a crazy brightly colored moth costume. It represents the potential for this line.

here we have a very unlikely choice. One never before done, by any company (let alone DC Direct). This is the breakout star of this line, and it illustrated just what potential the line has. Anybody's possible if this guy's possible.

further proof comes from the lineup of wave eight, where we get Gentleman Ghost.

Sculpt: This figure uses the standard body sculpt for DCUC, but it's apt for the character depicted. I don't mind reuse, when reuse warrants it, and this figure definitely qualifies. The figure does get new parts in the form of the head, belt (which features a small loop to stow his gun), and wing aperture, and they're all put to great use to create a figure that is stunning. A+


Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: Yeah. Bright, garish Moth costume. Purple, Green, Yellow, Orange. All bright, all distracting, all comes together to create a great (and memorable) costume. Vivid, Loud, Tacky, and unforgettable. The alternating stripes on his legs are evenly spaced, with little to no slop, and also serve to hide the mid-thigh articulation, which is a great use of deco. A+

Accessories: Killer Moth includes two accessories. His gun, and the Head and Torso of Kalibak. A

Overall: This figure is amazing beyond belief. Not just for how cool the figure actually IS, but also because of what he represents. Everything about this figure exudes coolness, because by all rights, he shouldn't be. But he is, and he's awesome. Now bring me Ambush Bug. But before you do, buy this thing. I'd score it higher, but I don't think I can type that many pluses. A+



KALIBAK :


This wave's BAF, is the Dog of War himself. Kalibak. Son of Darkseid, and voiced in many animated incarnations by Michael Dorn (Worf from ST: TNG).

This figure is very Kirby-Esque. I like it.

Sculpt: The sculpt is faithful to the source material. Many fans would prefer the look from which the Super Powers figure was based, and may feel a bit slighted that Kalibak sports this look instead. I however, find it to be a visually appealing choice, and agree with the decision. A

Articulation: Standard DCUC Articulation at the neck, shoulders (two points), Biceps, elbows, wrists, mid torso, waist, hips (two points), mid-thigh, knees and ankles. A

Deco: No slop, clean paint. For a pack-in, they didn't skimp on the details. Great figure, plenty of heft, and an imposing presence on the shelf. B+

Accessories: Being essentially an accessory himself, they managed to pack in a surprise or two with him. He includes his Null Rod, or whatever that club thing's called, as well as an over-the-shoulder harness with a clip to attach it to. This harness is removable. B+

Overall: Very solid figure which will look good in any Jack Kirby/New Gods display. Excellent figure with the standard DCUC articulation. they probably could've singlecarded him, and you'd definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth. B+


And that's all for today. Next week I'll be reviewing the Doctor Who Classics 5th and 6th Doctors, as well as the New Show Cybermen.

I might throw in a book or DVD review in this week sometime too.

Okay, so this is the first part of a two part toy review (part two will also feature a book review) encompassing my Christmas/Birthday haul.

the first part will focus on Character Options' fantastic 5" Doctor Who Line.

Simply put, this is the finest line in this scale that I've ever seen. The sculpts are spot-on, the paint is clean, and the variety is amazing.

I purchased the lot from Mike's Comics and he came through in a quick, and timely fashion. The figures were well packed, and I can't recommend him enough!

Reviewed here tonight is the Regular Wave 4 Davros (from the current/new series), Classics Wave One Tom Baker/4th Doctor, and Classics Wave One Classics Dalek Pack.

We're gonna start with Davros, since he's odd man out this time, but then, he's always been a little odd. Heh.


DAVROS:


Davros is the Doctor's arch-enemy. Creator of the Daleks, this scary dude seems unable to do anything but spout his hatred for the Time Lord, and everybody he cares about.

The figure is simply amazing. LOADS of detail everywhere, my picture just doesn't do him justice. There was not a single detail omitted from the costume/prop, anywhere. From his glowing blue forehead eye, to his scabbed over sockets, to the metal crown he wears, to the individual control knobs and buttons on his chair, everything is there, and in meticulous detail. They didn't skimp on the paint either. all paint is smooth and clean, with little to no slop. This figure is a solid A+ Despite the limited articulation (limited to the neck, right shoulder, right bicep, right elbow, and right wrist)





CLASSIC 4TH DOCTOR/TOM BAKER:


Tom here is who I used to think of when I thought "Doctor Who". Before I fell in love with David Tennant, and before I was properly introduced with Paul McGann (Some of you might say Paul McGann wasn't a proper introduction, but to you I say piss off!) Anyway, This figure properly captures both of Tom's important looks, Serious, and Goofy. With an interchangable head, and a removable scarf, there are plenty of display options. Combine that with the standard CO Articulation (Neck, Shoulders, Biceps, Elbows Wrist, Waist, Hips (articulated at two points) and knees), and you've got a solid figure of an iconic character. This figure is aces, once again, they didn't skimp on the paint, the multicolored scarf is proof enough of that. and again, no slop. Another A+ figure!

Tom also includes a piece to build the K-1 Robot (From his first adventure as the Doctor). I would LOVE to get all of the figures from wave one, to complete the robot, but they're pricey. I do want all eleven (Yes, today they announced the eleventh) Doctors eventually, and will be buying all of them, for certain.



CLASSIC DALEKS:



Finally, we come to the Who Classic feature I've wanted most. Ever since I first knew what Doctor Who was (back in my Star Trek watching days), I had most been intrigued by the Daleks. So when the new series came about, and was merchandised, my focus was on the Daleks. But the Daleks from the new series were lacking something (they looked great, and had a ton of detail, but the charm of the original 60s ones just wasn't there). THESE are the Daleks I remember from all of those fanzines. I'm glad I waited to become a Doctor Who fan, because looking at the older Dalek toys, I can definitely tell, that oldschool fans were living in the Dark Ages if they wanted a decent Dalek figure.

These guys have it all. And the attention to detail (c'mon, they've got bent guns, and misaligned armor plates, just like the much-used props did!) it's amazing.

My favorite is the Dead Planet Dalek (The Silver and Blue one), followed closely by the Supreme (the Gold and Black one), The figures feature articulation at the dome, and the eyestalk, and the weapons are also balljointed. Each figure is a solid A+, and the customizing options on these guys are endless. I've already seen some customizers work wonders on 'em, and I can't wait to see what Character Options gives us next!

Being an American, these figures are hard to acquire, ESPECIALLY the Classics which are insanely popular. But as long as CO keeps making 'em, I'm gonna go out of my way to try to get as many as I can.

Okay, next week I plan on putting up a Comic review as well, but this week all I offer is a quickie toy review.

but at least it's a good one.

I'm a big fan of the 1980s Transformers Movie. Even more than I am of the contemporary big budget one. It is my guilty pleasure, and I make no apologies for it.

but since it came out in the 80s, most of the toys that came out at that time just weren't up to par. Sure, back then they were great, and the character models WERE based on the toys, but with today's toy tech being pretty much down to an engineering science, fans clamor for more true-to-form Transformers toys, and Hasbro is willing to give it the old college try.

I have a fondness for the movie characters/designs. But I gotta admit, the Galvatron (Megatron's reincarnated form, after losing to Optimus Prime), was pure shit. the figure looked good, and was reminiscent of the actual film model, but it suffered from poor design, and bad execution. To be sure, a good toy could be made from it, but Galvatron it ain't (First off, Galvatron is a cannon, this figure turns into a tank), second, they tried to do too much with it, and the figure suffered as a result. Tank Feet?

anyway, this isn't a review of Galvatron, this is a review of Galvatron's flunkie, Cyclonus. And in every single area Galvatron failed as a toy, Cyclonus succeeds.

ROBOT MODE:


With any transforming toy, there is the hurdle of making both modes work. Usually designs of one have to be sacrificed to make the other work, as a result certain toys have to lose something in one mode or another. This becomes extra difficult when the fans have a certain 'look' already in mind when they think of the character, and when you're paying homage to that look, you really have to remain faitful.

I am pleased to say that the robot mode of Cyclonus is quite faithful to the animation model. There is ZERO kibble (the leftover vehicle parts that hang off the body when it transforms into a robot), and the figure looks amazing. Great articulation, and everything pegs together properly.

the Targetmaster Nightstick is also very well done. he can either be held in Cyclonus' hand, or the hand can be pivoted back, and it can plug directly to his arm!

When I think Cyclonus, this is the look, perfectly done.

VEHICLE MODE:



Remember when I said something had to be sacrificed, usually, between modes? This time nothing was. The transformation is smooth, and he converts into a pretty faithful representation of his classic altmode. This is the perfect Cyclonus. If you're a Transfan, you either already have this, or you're looking for it. If you're not looking, I hope you accidentally slam your testicles (or tits) in a car door.

repeatedly.

This is everything I love about Transformers in one $10 toy. Buy it.


Next Week: My Christmas/Birthday Haul. gonna be fuckin' sweet, don't miss it.

That's right, SEVEN!

Why so many?, because I've gotten quite a few in the last couple weeks.

Tonight I'm gonna be reviewing two of the DCUC Exclusive Toys 'R' Us Twopacks, the Hellboy II Angel of Death, Marvel Legends Guardian, and Masters of the Universe Classics He-Man.

Now you all know how much I love Mattel. They are my toy purveyor of choice, since they hold the license to a property very dear to me. That being DC Comics.

now this isn't just a Toy Blog, though I admit toys are a MAJOR focus of it. I do plan on getting some comic reviews up at SOME point, as well as some movies and TV as well.

Anyway, on to the reviews!



BATGIRL AND AZRAEL:

The reason I purchased this pack was simple, I missed both of these figures when they were initially available, but wanted BOTH of them.

Batgirl:
I'm not as crazy about Barbara Gordon as some longtime fans (I am an unapologetic fan of the late 90s era of comics), but I do like this figure. The sculpt is pretty solid, even if some longtime fans may have gripes about the costume's colors, and certain details. The cape is sufficiently soft, so it can move out of the way for certain action poses, and her articulation is quite ample, sporting all of the major points you'd expect out of a Mattel DCUC male character, packed into a very feminine sculpt. She looks like she could kick your ass, and that's precisely the point.

Azrael:
Az is one of those characters you either love or hate. I for one love him. I have two figures of this costume at this scale. The first is the old Knight Force Ninjas Azrael, and the second is this one. I'm glad I now have this one, because KFN Azrael doesn't hold a candle to this one, in terms of sculpt or posability. Dark, Forlorn, Moody. These are the things the early 90s were made of, and that's what this Azrael figure evokes as well. he features full DCUC articulation (25 points!), and every one of them works. This is the definitive Azrael figure.

and while I'm not usually a fan of sculpted 'power effects' I really like the execution of the flame trails coming off of his fist blades. it makes it look like they're red hot, and they're sizzling the moisture in the air! The Four Horsemen are definitely masters at their craft. I hear some of the other rarer figures from the previous DCSH line are gonna make their way to DCUC in the form of more twopacks. Including Two Face and Clayface (Perhaps "Faces of Evil" would be a good name for that pack?), and while I have Clayface, I'm eager for another chance at Harvey!.

I think what I like most about these twopacks is that they're the same figures released singly. Not a single detail is redecoed!



Cyborg Superman and Mongul:

Cyborg Superman was the standout from this pack for me, as I managed to find Mongul in my various trips.

This pack excited me, nevertheless, when I finally saw Hank Henshaw's patchwork face staring at me from the shelf at Toys 'R' Us.

when I got it home, however, I was less than thrilled.

Cyborg Superman:
Great sculpt. If it weren't, I would've set this figure on fire by now. Why such vitriol?, because of the fucking right arm. As I was freeing his articulation up, I twisted his right bicep. Completely off. I broke him seconds out of the package. Fortunately I've broken toys in the past, so I am adept at fixing them. In addition, the shoulder ball  was stuck on mine, and it was stuck hard. Freezing didn't help, boiling didn't help. eventually I boiled it, pried it apart with a screwdriver, and discovered the problem. Some jackass glued the shoulder ball to the joint assembly. Nice. After putting it back together, it finally worked, but what a mess. Great figure, and once all the problems were solved, great articulation. You'd never tell I broke it by looking at it. But damn, what a waste of time to get to that point.

Mongul:
I really didn't wanna review Mongul, but he comes in the pack. He's big, he's ugly, he killed Coast City. Mongul. The man who gave Superman Everything. Yellow, Angry, Dangerous to everybody (and every Green Lantern) he meets. This was billed as a "Super Enemies" pack, and while both have tangled with the Man of Steel, they've both been seen most recently laying waste to the Green Lantern Corps. Mongul is a great sculpt, faithful to the look of the character as he's appeared more recently, but still evoking many classic elements. Solid construction too, I'm sure he can take a bit of abuse, which is only fitting for the character. Paint is clean, all joints move nicely, and he displays well with the likes of Darkseid, Despero, Parasite, and other Super Baddies.



HELLBOY II Angel of Death:

The moment I saw this character, I wanted a figure of it. So how did the figure meet my expectations?, rather well.
It's a pretty faithful sculpt, hindered by the economic crunch hitting the paint ops.

The figure sports eight points of articulation (balljointed shoulders, and balljointed wings. That's it!) I didn't expect much more than that, but elbows would've helped.  the paint could've been better, a wash on the chest could've really brought out the details, alas, the sculpt is amazing, and the figure is hollow. I can imagine some goth using this as the angel on top of their Christmas Tree this year.

The Eye Wings are cool too, and give this figure an added presence it would've missed otherwise. Not just in the creep factor, but because they really draw your eyes, the upswept look and the doubled-up look make them visually interesting. They also add height to the character, which stands roughly the same size as any regular figure in the line (the character in the film was huge).

I still like the figure, despite its many flaws. It's a faithful reproduction of the character as it appeared in the film, but might be better suited to the 3 3/4" line than the regular 7" line.



Marvel Legends Guardian:

Hasbro's Marvel Legends are pretty hit or miss. And this one, right out of the package, sadly, is a miss.

I'm not a HUGE fan of Alpha Flight (Canada's answer to the X-Men), but Guardian is a very visually interesting character in his own right (I like characters who utilize their nation's flag as their costume). So I was expecting, when he was announced, that he'd be a faithful reproduction of the character as everybody knew and remembered him from the comics.

namely, a man in a suit patterned after the Canadian Flag.

can someone please tell me where the BLUE is on the Canadian Flag?, Okay, so it's on the Labatt Blue label, but this is the national symbol of Canada. Not some awesome beer. as you can see above, I repainted it. I couldn't stand looking at the figure otherwise. it wouldn't be so bad if it had been a light wash, but this was heavy spray, and it was everywhere there was white. It had to go, it was the only way I could redeem this figure.

the figure is almost completely reused from Quicksilver. New head sculpt tho.

and finally, we come to the final entry into our seven figure review.


Masters of the Universe Classics He-Man.

The second Best He-Man figure ever. Right behind 2002.

Okay, so we're back. I had to work all day on Black Friday, so forigive me for skipping a week. Hope two reviews will make up for it!

I promised I'd continue to update this weekly. It gives me a reason to keep this thing going, since my old blog on my myspace page wasn't doing the trick (Just had too many friends who didn't care about my obsession with toys and popular culture).

now, originally, this was going to be a review of the Crystal Skeleton Exclusive from the Indy line, but the last review was about Indy, so I decided to do some Superhero Reviews instead.

what we have here is three figures from Hasbro's Marvel Legends line. These are all Wal-Mart exclusives, from the Ares BAF wave.

Featured this week are Vision, Crossbones, and Kang. All are reused sculpts, and some work better than others. So on to the review!

VISION:

Vision is one of my favorite Avengers. The costume is striking, and the color choices blend well. I was not lucky enough to have found the original, Toy-Biz Vision, and as a result, my Avengers display was noticably lacking in this key character. This figure fills the hole nicely. Great articulation, great proportions, and not too many Hasbro joints. The figure IS a bit pinheaded (he repurposes the Silver Savage body, but they gave him a new head). And why they just didn't reuse the old Vision sculpt is beyond me, but he is a good figure of a character my collection was missing, so I'm glad to have a second chance at him. I'm particularly fond of his clicky joints that allow him to hold plenty of poses well, without falling over, and also to assume a neutral stance when required.

CROSSBONES:

Crossbones is a towering sculpt. I initially bought him because he was easy trade fodder, but ended up falling in love with the look. Plus he looks a lot like Bane, and I figured if I hated him later, he'd make a good base for a Bane custom. Well, I like him, so he remains Crossbones. That's not to say he is without his faults. His flak vest is removable, but underneath, he reuses the Teddy Altman/Hulkling body from the Young Avengers Boxed set. It is a pretty distinctive outfit, so there's no disguising who it's supposed to be, so without the flak vest, he looks like Hulkling in a Luchadore mask. Another gripe is that his forearms are articulated above his gloves, which means the part is cast in black plastic, and painted fleshtone. This is particularly noticable anytime the joint is turned even a fraction. as the black shows underneath. Why they didn't articulate at the glove is beyond me. He also repurposes the arsenal of the Hydra Soldier (so it has hydra logos on it). Could've done better by giving us the Punisher's arsenal, but hey, gotta get some mileage out ot that mold somehow.

KANG:

Kang is a complete rerelease of the formerly hard-to-find Fantastic Four Kang by Toy Biz. the colors are a bit darker, but everything else is the same (they didn't even bother to remove the Toy Biz copyright!). This figure was great when it was done by the 'Biz, and it's great now. The only difference is, it's cheaper! I've always liked Kang's look, ever since the days of Mattel's Secret Wars. Now that I'm a Young Avengers fan, I've learned to like him in a whole new way. Glad to have him in my collection. Great figure!.


SPECIAL ULTRA-MEGA BONUS FEATURE THAT 
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUPERHEROES!!!!!



Supermarket Toys Mothman Versus Flatwoods Monster Action Playset!

These figures are based on the art of David Horvath (of Uglydolls Fame). They depict two very real (if you believe!) Cryptids spotted in West Virginia in the 50s and 60s.

Mothman (The Black Thing) is about 4" tall, and made of solid plastic. He's quite heavy, and could cause some serious damage if you threw him at someone. The sculpt is great, and he stands well.

Flatwoods (The Green Thing) is about 3 3/4" tall (to the tip of his leafy thing), and features even more detail!, he's hollow on the bottom, to facilitate the more involved sculpt, but that means you can use him as a finger puppet!

The Paint on both figures is adequate. The teeth could've had better coverage, but that's really all that needs touching up. There is no slop to be seen, but the paint apps are rather basic anyway, so the cleanliness really helps the presentation. Since these are done in small runs usually, they can take their time with the details.

the set also includes a tree and a fence (both part of the legends of the Flatwoods Monster), to complete the set.

the figures are very sturdy, and are designed as 'art toys'. They came bagged with a header card, that featured a small bio about the creatures. They retailed for about $10. Great figures if you're into neat little conversation starters, that have a great aesthetic all their own!