Toy links
Wheelie say “Yo Joe” today.
Another cool custom by Dr. Vile. (Click on the images for a better look.)
Tech Weapons Specialist.
A custom Stikfas figure with neat accessories.
Assemble Kaiju.
Scroll down for a creative Assemble Borg fanmode. (Click on the image for a better look.)
Longview.
misodrill combined the Transformer and the Assemble Borg Barrels Speeder toys together with amusing results.
Yotsuba & … Yotsuba.
plastic_dollz’s custom plastic Dal.
Interlinked.
A fantastic macro photo by pairadocs of the McFarlane Toys Interlink 6 combiner.
Tonight on Oprah.
A touching reunion courtesy of Stanford.
Chemical warfare.
“The Pentagon today announced the creation of a new toxic toy division that will begin immediate operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Tom Seaton’s Toy Town Antiques.
“I’ve got toys here that are 100 years old … Old toys are hard to come by, but they’re so unique.”
Toy movie story.
“The 2007 success of Transformers, starring Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf, opened studio executives’ eyes to the power of the children’s toys and games.”
Let’s assemble checklist
Updated the Assemble Borg checklist with wave 2 review link.
Toy review roundup
Jeff Parker reviews the Hot Toys The Dark Knight Bat-Pod 1/6-scale toy. Excerpt: “… for me it’s as near perfect as it could get …”
Jess C. Horsley reviews the Hot Toys The Dark Knight Two-Face/Harvey Dent 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “… Hot Toys once again proves they can make some of the best mass-produced heads in the business.”
Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece The Dark Knight The Joker (Bank Robber version) 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “This is an outstanding figure, and even Hot Toys is going to be hard pressed to follow it up with anything that’s better.” (See also.)
Updatedude reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-13 Hound set. Excerpt: “This toy is a thing of beauty.” (See also.)
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Star Wars The Legacy Collection Clone SCUBA Trooper figure from Clone Wars. Excerpt: “… an extremely impressive figure that will be a welcome addition to any Clone Trooper action figure army, and any Star Wars figure collection.” (See also.)
Erin Snyder reviews the Mezco Toyz HB II Red (open-mouthed variant) 7-inch-scale figure from Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Excerpt: “Hellboy is a great figure with a few problems.” (Related.)
Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel DC Universe Infinite Heroes Crisis series Hawkman and Thanagarian Warriors three-pack. Excerpt: “I was ready to be a fan of this line, but poor distribution, poor paint quality, over priced single packs, and a lack of accessories have pretty much soured me.”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Mattel DC Universe Infinite Heroes Crisis series Shazam! figure. Excerpt: “… this is a really superb figure of a character who … deserves better treatment than he seems to have gotten in recent years.”
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel Batman The Brave and The Bold Sea Spear Aquaman figure. Excerpt: “With surprisingly good paint, a show accurate sculpt, and a fair price, Aquaman is saved from his poor articulation model and weak potential for fun.”
Artemis reviews Lego Bionicle Mistika 8688 Gali Nuva set. Excerpt: “It’s difficult not to like Gali …”
Retro reviews
MicroBry reviews the Romando New Microman BioSuit BS-1 Night Operation Mission Type and BioSuit BS-2 High Temperature Nuclear Hyper Type Wonder Festival exclusive kits. Excerpt: “The BioSuits mark an intriguing direction the toyline might have turned towards.” (See also.)
Andrew reviews the Hasbro Transformers Generation 2 Dreadwing set. Excerpt: “…a real gem of a set.” (Related.)
Philip Reed reviews the Marchon Roadbots Cementorr figure. Excerpt: “… Cementorr hasn’t really improved with age.”
Toy links
G.I. Joe versus Transformers Hound.
A fine custom by Dr. Vile.
Ghost Rider (ver. Lego).
Another cool Lego MOC by Johnny Tang.
One-man pod.
An Assemble Borg creation (resembling the RB-79 Ball) from the official blog.
Twi’lek in the dark.
Another fine shot by Tatsuru.
Old is gold.
A beautiful photo of a beautiful toy by Mark.
An embarrassing moment at a toy party.
An amusing photo by Eric Stettmeier.
Light work.
With R2-D2 doing almost everything, the other astromechs struggled to remain relevant.
Proto Scout Troopers.
A digirama by Ronald Bayan.
Bungie breaks in a new employee.
The interview process must be especially brutal over there.
The Kenner Super Powers Collection Firestorm figure.
“… this being the first Firestorm toy made this figure very special to Firestorm fans.”
Checklist visited
Added Doala (visitor version) to the Figma checklist.
Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
(Please do not hotlink images on these sites.)
Koshihara Hitoshi reviews the Medicom Toy Real Action Heroes Street Fighter Chun-Li 1/6-scale figure.
Gamu reviews the Medicom Toy Project BM! Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form 1/6-scale figure. (See also.)
Syuuamamori reviews the Volks Super Robot Wars Original Generation Full Action Figure Arblade Dengeki Hobby Magazine and online store exclusive figure.
Kaz reviews the Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Hercus figure from Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love. (See also.)
Mojya reviews the Bandai S.I.C. (Super Imaginative Chogokin) Kamen Rider Zeronos and Deneb Imagin set. (See also.)
Gamu and Syuuamamori review the Kaiyodo Revoltech Danbo Mini (Amazon.co.jp version) exclusive figure from the Yotsuba&! manga. (See also.)
Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Street Fighter Online Chun-Li figure. (See also.)
Tom reviews the Bandai Robot Tamashii 0 Raiser toy from Gundam 00. (See also.)
Syuuamamori reviews the Max Factory Figma Chunichi Dragons Mascot Doala (visitor version) figure.
Machu reviews the Max Factory Figma Fate T. Harlaown (Barrier Jacket version) figure from the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS series. (See also.)
Toyhunter reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Encore 14 Hoist figure.
Alfes reviews the Hasbro Transformer Universe Cybertron Series Voyager class Vector Prime (with Safeguard) figure.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-11 Ironhide figure. (See also.)
Toyhunter reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Deluxe class Autobot Ratchet figure. (See also.)
Nekonekokoara reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Spider-Man figure.
Gun0826 reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Resolute Duke figure. (See also.)
Retro reviews
G.S.R. reviews the Bandai Trijacket Series DraftRedder figure from Tokusou Exceedraft. (See also.)
G.S.R. reviews the Bandai DX Soldozer figure from Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain.
Red reviews the Takara Transformers D-70 Cyclonus figure.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers C-67 Rewind figure.
Nekonekokoara reviews the Toy Biz Marvel Legends Showdown Booster Pack Beast figure.
Toy links
Trakker.
A nifty Marvel Legends-scale custom by Boskoes Toys. (Check out their Miles Mayhem custom, too.)
Variable Gyrotor.
A transforming Microman-inspired BJPM creation by misodrill.
Elephant Robo.
Scroll down for an Assemble Borg fanmode by matsuri. (Click on the image for a better look.)
Lego fan-turned-designer Mark Stafford interviewed. [via]
“The LEGO Company is proud of its studs, and a model without any at all is actually frowned upon.” (Part two. Part three.)
Life in Plastic.
El Dave’s toy photos collected in a book.
Assemble Borg checklist
Updated Mar. 7
Kaiyodo‘s Assemble Borg is closely related to the Japanese company’s highly successful Revoltech line. What’s not commonly known is development on Assemble Borg predated Revoltech and contrary to popular assumption, Revoltech is actually a spin-off of Assemble Borg.
Revoltech’s main purpose was to sell highly posable representations of popular manga and anime characters. Towards that end, Kaiyodo made use of the Revolver joint, which was actually developed with Assemble Borg in mind. Toytribe, a figure brand helmed by manga-ka and enthusiastic toy fan, Yasuhiro Nightow, designed the joint to facilitate interchangeability, outstanding articulation and withstand the wear and tear of play.
Assemble Borg is intended to fully exploit the Revolver joint through original Toytribe designs created to be completely interchangeable. The resulting line is the ultimate expression of the mix and match play pattern seen in Henshin Cyborg, Microman, Blockman, Mugenbine and Xevoz. Any fan of those classic and cult favourite lines will immediately appreciate the outstanding play value and fanmode creativity fostered by Assemble Borg’s interchangeability.
That said, there’s a lot going against Assemble Borg. The products are pricey for what you get. (The 13.5cm-tall basic figures retail for USD28.) The figures may lack appeal to those who collect figures mainly for their display value. The characters don’t have nostalgic appeal or history and there’s no anime or mass market manga to promote them.
Kaiyodo, perhaps understandably, seems a little nervous about Assemble Borg’s chances. The company set the line’s release back several times and is currently content to sell Assemble Borg only through its Kaiyodo Museum Store site, the Hobby Lobby Tokyo store in Akihabara and the Assemble Borg Official Shop in Nakano Broadway. Toy fans outside Japan will have to pay hefty mark-ups to get the figures through third-parties.
Still, the hesitant toy fan should keep this in mind: there’s no other action figure line available now that’s as ambitious as Assemble Borg, no line as interchangeable, no line as ingenious.
The following checklist lists the figures released thus far and includes links to Japanese reviews with a generous amount of photos.
Mr. Assemble (released 15 Dec. ’08)
Reviews: Gamu, The G, Mojya.
Barrels Speeder (released 15 Dec. ’08)
Reviews: Gamu, Tom, Taoo.
Assemble Borg Baron (released 15 Jan. ’09)
Reviews: Taoo, Tom, Maruo.
Assemble Borg Cyber (released 15 Jan. ’09)
Reviews: Taoo, Tom, Maruo.
Jarknoid XO (released 1 Jun. ’09)
Reviews: Taoo, Asakusa, Kaz.
Jarknoid Yeeg (released 1 Jul. ’09)
Reviews: Taoo, Asakusa, Kaz.
Jarknoid Zain (released 1 Aug. ’09)
Reviews: Taoo, Yo, Kaz.
Doom Diver (released 1 Sep. ’09)
Reviews: Yo, Taoo.
Barrels Speeder Lightning Cougar Custom
Note: Figure Oh magazine mail-order exclusive.
Reviews: Nekonekokoara.
Ghost Gunner (released 1 Jun. ’10)
Reviews: Taoo, Nekonekokoara.
Tristriker (released 1 Jul. ’10)
Reviews: Taoo, Nekonekokoara.
Panzer Puncher (released 1 Aug. ’10)
Reviews: Taoo, Nekonekokoara.
Sonic Slasher (released 1 Sep. ’10)
Reviews: Taoo.
Tristriker Luna Stingray Custom (released Nov. ’10)
Note: Figure Oh magazine mail-order exclusive.
Reviews: Taoo.
Wilderness Crawler (released Dec. ’10)
Reviews: Taoo.
Strato Flier (released Jan. ’11)
Reviews: Taoo.
Abyss Seeker (released Feb. ’11)
Reviews: Taoo.
Barrels Speeder Type B (released Mar. ’11)
Reviews: Taoo.
Barrels Speeder Type C (released Mar. ’11)
Reviews: Taoo.
Toy links
My Little Backstabbing Traitor.
“This is Starscream, based on the newer animated version and colors.”
Howling Tieren.
Gullwing used parts from a Tieren kit for this Busou Shinki Dog Howling power-up. (Check out his Maochao Sumo as well.)
Strength.
This Lego MOC by kawazu1120 certainly looks powerful. (More.)
Busou Renkin Shinki. [via]
mollycoddole did brilliantly to craft an anime opening out of Busou Shinki Diorama Studio screenshots.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s HM Armed Forces.
“Senior commanders who gave their blessing to the project are hoping that the highly-detailed figures will capture the imagination of a new generation of children and help boost the profile of the hard-pressed Armed Forces.”
Toy review roundup
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Hawkman figure. Excerpt: “… a magnificent figure.”
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Mr. Miracle figure. Excerpt: “Mr. Miracle’s weak paint and marginal fun are the only thing holding him back from greatness …”
Action Toy Review reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Amazo Wal-Mart exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… other than the problem I had with his ankle, it is generally a good action figure.” (See also.)
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Jakks Pacific WWE Deluxe Build N’ Brawl CM Punk figure. Excerpt: “I’m getting a little tired of buying figures that will barely stand up …”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends Ultimate Nick Fury and Ultimate Captain America two-pack. Excerpt: “If you’re a Marvel Legends fan, this ‘Ultimate’ set has a lot to offer.”
Updatedude reviews the Bandai Motion Revive Series (MRS) Monster Hunter Kado Karyudo Reus (swordsman) trading figure from the Monster Hunter series. Excerpt: “… as much as I’m disappointed he’s not as great as Kirin, objectively, Rathalos is still one of the better 3.75" figures you can get if you can find him.” (See also.)
Updatedude reviews the Bandai Motion Revive Series Kamen Rider 1 (The Next version), Rider Action Kamen Rider Blade (Jack Form) and Rider Action Kamen Rider Ryuki figures. Excerpt: “… all good figures worthy of being tracked down …” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Collector’s Edition 64 GADEP e-Hobby exclusive figure. Excerpt: “In some ways his colours are an improvement over those of Omega Supreme, so he _is_ a good toy, but he’s unusually large and expensive for an e-Hobby exclusive, so I’ll stop short of recommending him.”
Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Deluxe class Rescue Ratchet (with Legends class Prowl and Starscream) Target exclusive set. Excerpt: “(Re: Rescue Ratchet) The idea of a Movie-style deco of the toy was a decent one. Too bad that’s not what we got.”
Blitzwing reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe G1 Series Deluxe class Autobot Hound with Ravage figures. Excerpt: “Leave it to QC to spoil an otherwise rocking party.” (See also.)
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Classic Ultra class Onslaught figure. Excerpt: “… this Onslaught is almost the same height as the combined form of G1 Bruticus – how’s that for an upgrade!” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Titanium War Within Grimlock Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive figure. Excerpt: “Worth getting if you’re a fan of the line …” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Titanium War Within Prowl Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive figure. Excerpt: “As with many 6" Titanium toys, Prowl suffers from flaws that should have been ironed out.” (See also.)
Philip Reed reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Starscream figure from the Transformers series. Excerpt: “… an awesome toy that is going to the office with me so that Starscream can live on my desk and be near me as I work.” (See also.)
Jeff Parker reviews the ZC Girl Janice 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “… I’m certainly going to be watching how this brand develops.”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends Fan’s Choice Shadow Stormtrooper figure. Excerpt: “The figure is extremely impressive, and very cool.” (See also.)
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Imperial EVO Trooper figure from The Force Unleashed game. Excerpt: “… the design looks awesome.” (See also.)
Updatedude reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Blowtorch figure. Excerpt: “… he’s not the best G.I. Joe ever.” (See also.)
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel Batman The Brave and The Bold Battle Slam Batman figure. Excerpt: “A little more attention to detail and higher production values would’ve really helped here.” (See also.)
Artemis reviews the Lego Star Wars 7671 AT-AP Walker set. Excerpt: “You wouldn’t want this one to start your collection with …”
Erin Snyder reviews the Mattel Hot Wheels Speed Racer Mach 6 1/24-scale toy. Excerpt: “… the toy, as a whole, feels a little light on features for its size and cost …”
Michael Crawford reviews the McFarlane Toys Guitar Hero Duets Feedback (Effervescence), Frydaze (Forge), Voracious (Cubert) and Widowmaker (Dragon) accessories.
Retro review
Philip Reed reviews the Kenner Star Wars Expanded Universe Spacetrooper figure from Heir to the Empire. Excerpt: “… one of the worst of the 1998 series.” (See also.)