Toy review roundup
Jeff Parker reviews the Hot Toys Predator Major Alan “Dutch” Schaeffer and Private Billy Sole 1/6-scale figures. Excerpt: “Well, once again we are in the territory of ‘Dallas and Kane’ where one actor/agent/lawyer has given permission to use his likeness and the other hasn’t …”
Newton Gimmick reviews the Playmates TMNT Mini-Mutants Exoskeleton Shredder figure. Excerpt: “… while it’s obviously inspired by Exo-Squad it has tons of little traits that definitely make it TMNT.”
Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Scout class Rollbar, Dead End, Knock Out, Dirt Boss, Depthcharge and Ransack figures. Excerpt: “… it seems like they used a much more brittle plastic in most of these than the designs would have worked best with.” (See also: 1, 2, 3, 4.)
Brent Johnston reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Generation 1 Series Ultra class Autobot Countdown figure. Excerpt: “Countdown is one of the better Ultra-class figures out today, despite being a repaint of a Cybertron-line figure.”
Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel Batman The Joker 12-inch Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive figure from The Dark Knight. Excerpt: “… there’s a lot of wasted potential here, especially considering the price point.”
Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Zodac Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… my own fondness for Zodac’s character and design is giving him an extra half-raven he probably doesn’t quite deserve.” (See also.)
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Mr. Terrific figure. Excerpt: “I guess Mattel liked that left-leg sculpt so much, that they wanted to use it twice.” (See also.)
Artemis reviews the Lego Bionicle Phantoka 8685 Toa Kopaka set. Excerpt: “… he looks badass.”
Toy links
E4-GTM Efrem.
A phenomenal mecha Lego MOC by ragnarock01. (More.)
Moose MOC.
By ArzLan.
Red eye.
A photo by codenamesilentg.
Design tips.
“Now more than ever, we need to find new and innovative ways to design toys with economics in mind.”
Old school.
“Why? Cuz it’s awesome.”
Plain Pamela.
“Mattel, which has been criticized in the past for promoting unrealistic standards of beauty, claimed that the new doll would not only improve the self-esteem of growing girls, but would also give them someone to feel superior to for hours on end.”
The greatest letter ever.
“Is He-Man really a magician?”
Assemble checklist
Updated Assemble Borg and S.H.Figuarts checklists with Jarknoid Zain and Kamen Rider Black review links respectively.
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.)
Ryu-Oh reviews the Kaiyodo Assemble Borg Jarknoid Zain figure.
Nekonekokoara reviews the Kaiyodo Assemble Borg Jarknoid XO figure. (See also.)
Gamu and Tom review the Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Black figure.
Tom reviews the Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kyokagaikokkaku Zero figure from Kakugo No Susume. (See also.)
Itsuki and Yo review the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-06 Rampage figure.
Itsuki, Hiitan, Alfes and Onbashira review the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-04 Soundwave figure.
Maruo reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RA-07 Knock Out figure.
Yuki Bune and Red review the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-07 Dead End figure.
Yuki Bune reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-08 Dirt Boss figure.
Itsuki, Gangu Shiro and Koshihara Hitoshi review the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-01 Megatron figure. (See also.)
Yuki Bune, Yo, Maruo, Hiitan and Alfes review the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RD-05 Sideways figure. (See also.)
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Revenge of the Fallen RA-04 Sideswipe figure. (See also.)
Mojya and Lem review the Medicos Entertainment JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Hierophant Green figure. (See also.)
Natsume and Damien Sancho (part 2) review the Bandai Super Imaginative Chogokin (S.I.C.) Kamen Rider Gaoh and Kintaros Imagin set from Kamen Rider Den-O. (See also.)
Damien Sancho reviews the Bandai Robot Tamashii 0 Gundam figure from Gundam 00. (See also.)
Yo reviews the Bandai Robot Tamashii Nirvash type the End figure from Eureka Seven. (See also.)
Hikutori reviews the Konami Busou Shinki Ninja Mizuki Konami Style exclusive figure. (See also.)
Asakusa reviews the Kaiyodo Fraulein Revoltech Yoko (movie version) figure from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. (See also.)
Nuu reviews the Max Factory Figma Asahina Mikuru (Fighting Waitress version) figure from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. (See also.)
F2 reviews the Max Factory Figma Hiiragi Tsukasa (winter uniform version) figure from the Lucky Star series. (See also.)
Mondo reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Nightwing figure. (See also.)
Nekokami Sigma reviews the Takara Tomy Tomica Hero Rescue Force Rescue Vehicle Series DX Rescue Max set.
Taoo reviews the Lego Power Miners 8960 Thunder Driller set.
Retro review
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers D-335 LioKaiser figure from Transformers Victory.
Toy links
Michael, Gabriel and fallen angel.
Very cool customs by Blayne Scott.
Swine of Steel.
A custom inspired by Pig-Iron from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!
Thumper.
A Stikfas custom by Shadow Master.
Assemble Styracosaurus.
A dinosaur-inspired Assemble Borg fanmode by Mr. P. (Click on the photo for a better look.)
Wotta Revoltech development this is.
A photo by optimus-convoy.
The Other Side.
“… well thought out and well presented photos of ordinary toys …”
LJN Wrestling Superstars.
“I’m glad my mother was still alive to see her son made into an action figure …”
Fanmode interview: Bryan Wilkinson (part 3)
Long-time Micronauts and Microman fan, Bryan “MicroBry” Wilkinson, is one of the select few who’ve made the transition from toy fan to toy designer. His website was one of the earliest to draw attention to Transformers’ (then) little-known origins, and he was given the opportunity to work on Palisades’ Micronauts revival in 2002. As Transformers celebrates its 25th. anniversary and Microman celebrates its 35th., we thought it only appropriate to ask him about Micronauts, Microman, Transformers, fandom, and making the transition from consumer to creator.
(Due to its length, the interview will be presented in several parts. Parts one and two were published earlier.)
How did you get involved with the Palisades Micronauts line?
Palisades originally picked up the Micronauts license partly because the person representing Abrams Gentile Entertainment (the rights holders then) at an industry event had implied that they had access to the original molds and tooling. Palisades believed that they’d be able to bring back any toys from the full series without having to worry about new sculpts and the like. This turned out not to be the case, and after looking at the breadth and complexity of the original toys, they had to scale back the project as everything needed to be built from scratch.
(Takara mysteriously had no involvement in the development at all, and stories differ from all sides on that matter. It’s a shame because a collaboration could obviously have proven mutually beneficial.)
When Ken Lilly, head of Palisades’ product development then, put out the word on one of the toy forums that he was looking for vintage samples for the line, I helped put him in touch with interested collectors willing to help out. Many in the community wanted to see this work and do what they personally could to help make the dream of bringing the Micronauts back a reality. As I was co-moderator of the Micropolis Embassy Yahoo! Group, I helped as a sort of liaison and then as a general fan consultant for the project. The group’s owner and main moderator, Ray Miller, also became heavily involved and gave a lot of additional quality control suggestions and feedback on the pre-production samples, and InnerSpace Online‘s Dave Waugh happened to live near Palisades and contributed a huge deal.
Read more
Toy links
Cobra-a-a-a!
A Lego interpretation of the classic HISS tank. (More.)
Blue Zombie.
A custom of the Darkstalkers character Lord Raptor.
Blue Chiss.
Niktom makes a connection.
Man of steel, toy of magnetism.
A photo of the Mego Diecast Metal Superman figure by cobra.creations.
Cake is the right of all sentient beings.
Just remember, there’s a thin line between being a hero and being a cake.
Toy review roundup
Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Hellboy II: The Golden Army Hellboy 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Hot Toys is sort of like Pixar these days – it’s hard to judge them on the same scale as everyone else, because their work is so far above the competition.”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Scout class Ransack figure. Excerpt: “Forget the rehashed Ironhides, Starscreams or Bumblebees, and go for something new. Or, in this case, something old.”
yo go re reviews the Diamond Select Toys Marvel Minimates X-Men Origins Wolverine Weapon X Wolverine and Silver Fox Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive two-pack. Excerpt: “… a nice value.”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Star Wars Comic Packs Luke Skywalker and Deena Shan set from Star Wars: Rebellion. Excerpt: “… while neither Luke nor Deena are perfect, they’re not awful.” (See also.)
Newton Gimmick reviews the Shocker Toys Indie Spotlight ShadowHawk (variant) figure. Excerpt: “It’s tough to find too much fault with this figure …” (See also.)
Retro reviews
Nathan Newell reviews the Art Asylum Star Trek The Original Series Captain James T. Kirk, Commander Spock and Doctor McCoy AVON mail-away exclusive set. Excerpt: “These Art Asylum figures show the absolutely ineptitude of the new Playmates Star Trek line.”
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Shattered Glass Razorclaw BotCon 2008 exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… a very forgettable repaint and certainly isn’t worth tracking down …”
Toy links
Conan, what is best in life?
Getting a custom action figure based on DC Superheroes Clark Kent.
Andrew Ryan.
A man customises. A parasite says, “What will the neighbors think?”
Not even in the face of Armageddon.
“He was made using an Angel Season 5 Wesley figure from Diamond Select as the body, and the head is from the Toys R’ Us exclusive unmasked Rorschach figure.”
Old school.
Photos by oly_wood.
Maochao.
“… take a very bright and low-contrast photo using my camera, extract the details I want by tracing them in black, erase everything that’s not black to leave a line drawing, then manually block in colors and shadows.”
Checklist (Tengen Toppa edition)
Updated the Revoltech checklist with Gurren & Lagann review link.