Gormiti The New Era - SKYE!

Gormiti The New Era - 6" Scion Series - Skye (Air Clan) - Giochi Preziosi 2024

Gormiti: the New Era is the newest iteration of the long-running Italian franchise featuring numerous toylines, television series, and games. This version is the first live-action show and suddenly features elements very similar to the popular Super Sentai series. The four teens chosen to be scions to the elemental Gormita now feature very Power-Ranger-like helmeted costumes and transformation sequences. These costumes are probably my least favorite part about The New Era. But that is because the Gormita and villains have such surprisingly cool designs that overshadow everything else. The funny thing is, what I just said is true for the toys, but opposite on the show. In the show, the Gormita and villains are all CGI and look a little clunky (but the toys look incredible), and meanwhile the live-action Scion costumes are real and look pretty great. Skye is the Scion of the Air Clan, but honestly doesn't exhibit any design traits to represent that (she looks like the Scion of Sunflowers). Let's check out Skye below!

Gormiti The New Era - WINDEL!

Gormiti The New Era - 6" Gormita Series - Windel (Air Clan) - Giochi Preziosi 2024

My favorite thing about the new Gormiti: The New Era show is the character design for the for the elemental Gormita characters. The token female is Windel, the Gormita of the Air Clan. With her gold armor and wings, she looks like a futuristic angel warrior and immediately drew me toward this toy line. In the past Gormiti (animated) iterations, these Gormita have been very organic/beastly looking characters, with no female characters beyond the first or second season. So this is a stark change, but a cool one. It's only a shame that Giochi Prezio seems to have their product confined to the European continent now. Once upon a time, you could find Gormiti toys on North American toy shelves, but those days seem like a distant memory now as they've only been available in Europe for many years. I bet if these toys showed up in the US, they would sell very well. In the meantime, I'm awaiting news about a potential second wave. These are too fun to be one-and-done. Let's check our Windel below!

Gormiti The New Era - GENERAL AUDRA!

Gormiti The New Era - 6" Villain Series - General Audra - Giochi Preziosi 2024

Gormiti:The New Era is the most recent iteration of the long-running toy and animation Gormiti franchise, and notable for being the first live-action interpretation. The premise is essentially the same as the previous animated series, with several young civilians being selected to have a connection to different elemental deities in order to combat hidden threats and save the world. The design for The New Era is very different and is suddenly very reminiscent of the Super Sentai genre. The four teen scions looks like an alternate universe version of the Power Rangers and the villains looks just like the Evil Mutants. General Audra is the first female villain merchandised in the entire Gormiti franchise, and I think she's amazing. As first glance, she reminds me of Scorpia from Sectaurs (unfortunately she's too short to pair with Stellara). I haven't watched this show yet, but it's my understanding that Audra is a former Gormita of the Air Clan who is now one of Graven's evil Generals. Let's check out Audra below!

ThunderCats Ultimates - CHILLA!

ThunderCats Ultimates - Series 9 - Chilla (the Icy Lunatak) - Super7 2024

ThunderCats is one of my childhood properties that I have a fierce love for. But as an adult, I can acknowledge that my obsession was purely based on general concept, toys, and character design. Because my knowledge of the characters who were not merchandised and even my memories of the actual cartoon are scant or non-existent. Until fans started begging Mattel for an action figure of Chilla back in 2016, I honestly never heard of her and would have wagered that there weren't any cool female villains in the series. I do have vague memories of the Lunataks, but thinking they were a bit silly. In concept they are a formidable collective of ancient evil warriors from each of Plun-Darr's moons. But in actuality, they are a bit like a bumbling group of misfits. With the sole exception of Chilla. On her own merits, she is very cool (pun intended). She had the most traditionally human body of the Lunataks and her abilities are reflected in her icy appearance (I love a monochromatic design and elemental powers).

Imaginext - POISON IVY!

Imaginext - DC Super Friends - Rivals Pack - Poison Ivy - Fisher-Price 2024

Poison Ivy has been having a bit of a renaissance in the comics recently. Her ongoing solo title is up to issue #26 already and is developing her character in new and interesting ways. The art by Marcio Takara is amazing and the first story arc is reminiscent to The Last of Us, which is gloriously dark. I've even been hearing comic shop chatter about Ivy being in the next Batman film. To be clear, people are wishing for her to be the next film villain. And I would love that too. Similar to Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy is another character that is often sanitized for young audiences. It's easy to reimagine her as a mild troublemaker snaring her foes with vines and pollen rather than a ruthless eco-terrorist leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. But at least Poison Ivy's slightly wicked persona stays pretty consistent regardless of the target audience. This Imaginext figure represents Ivy in the newest DC Girls launch. Time will tell if this is simply a Fisher-Price theme or a wider multi-media push. Let's check out Ivy below!

Unicorn Academy - LAYLA!

Netflix's Unicorn Academy - Laya Fletcher & Glacier - SpinMaster Toys 2024

One thing I love about Unicorn Academy is that most of the rider-and-unicorn pairings have elemental powers and designs. Layla is the brainy one of the bunch (she's wearing glasses, duh!) and her unicorn, Glacier, has Ice-based powers. So both Layla and Glacier are adorned with pastel colors, lots of icy blue details, and of course snowflakes. I find it amusing that Layla is not an expert equestrian like most of the students. Luckily Glacier is around to keep her balanced and confident. Season two of Unicorn Academy debuts on Netflix this week and Target is promoting that with an endcap dedicated to this new line of action figures and dolls. It's been a while since there has been a female-based action figure line in the big box stores. Between 2016-19 we saw DC SuperHero Girls, Mysticons, WWE Superstars, and Miraculous filling the shelves. But since then there has been almost nothing. I have a strong hunch that Unicorn Academy marks the resurgence of action figures in the pink aisles. Let's check out Layla below!

X-Men '97 - STORM!

Marvel Epic Hero Series - X-Men '97 5-Pack (Target Exc) Storm - Hasbro 2023

I've been eagerly watching each episode of X-Men '97 on Disney+ since it debuted a month ago. Leading up to the first episode, I watched every episode of the original X-Men the Animated Series (which I had never completed before) and was excited to see how the adventures of all my favorite characters would continue. Without giving any spoilers, Storm's storyline was shockingly dramatic and upsetting (but by episode six it was all better) and I'm hoping she gets plenty of screentime in the final four episodes. Hasbro's new Epic Hero Series is a long overdue reboot of their 3.75" Marvel Universe line (2009-2015). (At least that's the way I view them). Regardless, it's nice to have the basic-level figures of all their different media franchises (Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and now X-Men '97) in a consistent scale. I only wish they were produced with more regularity and with more properties. At the very least I would love to see a Jean Grey and maybe a Jubilee. Let's check out Storm below!

MAFEX - Batman: Hush - POISON IVY!

MAFEX #198 - Batman: Hush (Jim Lee) - Poison Ivy - Medicom Toys 2023

2002 was an eventful year for me. I had graduated college the year before, but the world was in turmoil so my adult life was a little delayed. In 2002 I moved to a city, launched my career, had my first mature relationship, and once I accepted that my life was (somewhat) stable, I began resurrecting my old hobbies that I hadn't indulged since high school. I suddenly had access to comic book stores again and there was a bit of a renaissance happening. My favorite titles on the shelves that year were Darwyn Cooke's Catwoman, Mike Allred's X-Force, Olivier Coipel's Legion, and of course Jim Lee's Hush storyline in Batman. With a rogue's gallery as impressive as Batman's, it's shocking that no one had attempted a storyline that brought them all together before. Hush was special because, despite it's huge cast, each character truly got to shine. The writing, art, and complex character histories were a recipe for a perfect comic event. It was so impactful that we're still getting merchandise 20-plus years later.

Youngblood Bendems - VOGUE & RIPTIDE!

Image Comics Youngblood Bend-ems - Vogue & Riptide - JustToys 1995

The news this week that LooseCollector will be producing action figures from Rob Liefeld's Extreme Universe has me very excited. In the late 80s and early 90s I was a huge fan of Rob Liefeld. His work on Hawk & Dove, X-Factor, New Mutants, and X-Force is some of the most nostalgic comic art of my adolescence. (I still read both his Hawk & Dove runs every few years). When the Image exodus happened in 1992, I was immediately obsessed with Youngblood. The characters were colorful and seemingly pulled inspiration from every trendy comic trope at the time, but with that signature Liefeld flare that embodied the era. The issues were beautiful, but sparse. The release schedule was very slow and the story was forgettable, but the character design and lore of this world still has my attention 30 years later. I have always wanted true action figures. Previous attempts have been almost entirely male-centric. Hopefully the Extreme Universe includes Youngblood or some other costumed heroines.

DC Direct - POISON IVY!

Secret Files Series 3: Batman Rogues Gallery 2 - Poison Ivy - DC Direct 2008

When I was reviewing the recent Uma Thurman Poison Ivy earlier this week, I was surprised to realize that I had never made a post on my all-time favorite Poison Ivy figure. It's possible that the new McFarlane figure might take that title, but I'll have to reassess when the newness wears off. But without a doubt my favorite Poison Ivy figure for the past 15 years has been this 2008 DC Direct figure based on her iconic Brian Bolland cover. I often feel that toys of Poison Ivy fail to capture her essence. Usually they look either too sexy or too bland. I think the perfect recipe is to have her looking stern and statuesque... with a touch of indifference and vindictiveness on her face. The overall result is indeed sexy, but not because of exposed skin or pouty lips. Ivy's seductive appeal was always in her voice, body language, and coldness. Brian Bolland captured this well on the cover of Gotham Knights #15 (2001) and the brilliant Jack Matthews translated that image into plastic. She's gorgeous. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Batman & Robin - POISON IVY!

DC Multiverse - Batman & Robin (Mr. Freeze CtB) - Poison Ivy - McFarlane 2023

Batman & Robin (1997) was a unique theatre experience for me. This was the first movie I ever saw that got a horrible public response that I just didn't understand. I thought it was fun. Sure, if I went in expecting a darker moody film like Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), I would have been very confused. But Batman Forever (1995) signaled the shift to a campier, more colorful tone. So Batman & Robin met (exceeded?) my expectations. I was excited to see Batgirl and Poison Ivy on the big screen, and was pleasantly surprised by additional characters like Floronic Man, Bane, and even an obscure Scarecrow cameo. I think Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy stole the show though. She was so over-the-top with witty entendres and a Mae West vibe. Plus she had a ton a screen time and several iconic costumes. Frankly it's shocking that she hasn't had a proper action figure before now. The Funko Pop from 2020 was the frontrunner before this McFarlane perfection. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Marvel Legends - STORM!

Marvel Legends - X-Men '97 Disney+ Vintage Wave - Storm - Hasbro 2023

One of the things I'm most curious about for the upcoming X-Men '97 show on Disney+ is the representation of Storm. In the original X-Men the Animated Series, her voice was so booming and theatrical that it was both humorous and iconic. In the end, I loved it. And I think it played a part developing her later comics persona as well. I kind of hope this characterization continues in the new show, but I expect that they will tone her down a bit for modern (more critical?) audiences. I don't think I've ever seen Storm in the combination of her white costume with her mohawk hairdo. Overall, I like it. It's a fun distinction from her previous appearances without doing something too far out of canon. I'm hope we get more Marvel Legends figures from this series. Beast, Jean Grey, and Jubilee are contenders. But until the show airs in early 2024, we don't really know the full roster. Perhaps some interesting villains alongside Magneto. (This could possibly be how we finally get Destiny!) Let's check out Storm below!

Gormiti - JESSICA THE AIR LORD!

Gormiti: Elemental Fusion - Jessica (The Air Lord) - Giochi Preziosi 2008

Gormiti is one of those properties that is a perfect recipe for great action figures. The characters are brightly-colored, creatively-designed, and nature-themed with great elemental factions. The television portion of the franchise essentially reboots every few years with a new assortments of characters, and I always scour the internet to check out the new toys. The main distribution is in Italy with availability across Europe, but here in the US we barely see any. I always wish for more female characters that can get merchandised, but it would also be a double-edged sword because they're really hard to get. As for now, there is only one merchandised female character, Jessica the Air Lord, who got three action figures between 2008-2010. This Elemental Fusion version is a repaint of her first figure with less (no) accessories but with an added voice feature. She was exceptionally hard to get (not because she's valuable, but because overseas shipping is out of control). Let's check out Jessica below!

Gormiti - JESSICA THE AIR LORD!

Gormiti: Lords of Nature Return - Jessica (The Air Lord) - Giochi Preziosi 2008

This toyline has been an obsession of mine for 15 years now and I'm finally getting around to posting in the last few figures. Gormiti was a 2005 toyline featuring small nature-themed beasts divided into elemental factions (similar in spirit to Battle Beasts). But by 2008, there was an animated series created and there was a conceptual shift introducing four human characters who could transform into the Lords of Nature. Jessica, the token female of the group, turns into the Lord of Air with control over all beasts in the Air faction. She had several different forms across several seasons and this toy represents her original look (with faery wings as opposed to later feathered wings). As far as I know, the only Gormiti toys released in the US were the small 2-3" unarticulated beast figures. But in Europe there have been several larger-scale articulated toylines over the years by Giochi Preziosi (including some as recent as 2020). These toys are always colorful and extremely fun. Let's check out Jessica below!

Marvel Legends - STORM!

Uncanny X-Men #275 3-Pack (Storm, Forge, and Jubilee) - Hasbro 2023

When I first started reading superhero comics in the 80s, I was always consistently and predictably drawn to team books with matching costumes. The New Mutants were the most accessible example and grabbed the majority of my attention, but I also loved Sun Devils, Atari Force, and Challengers of the Unknown. And honestly I'm still a sucker for that aesthetic. I always equate the X-Men with this matching uniform design, but in actuality, they almost never sport a unified look. They wore their original matching costumes for four years from 1963-1967, and then they wore unique individualized costumes for 24 years until Uncanny X-Men #275 in 1991. In this issue, the X-Men were in a transition period. The X-Tinction Agenda storyline had just ended and the launching of X-Force #1, the new X-Factor roster (Polaris!), and the splitting of the X-Men into blue and gold teams in two different titles was just a few months away. All the memorable iconic 90's mutant moments all happened within a few short months in 1991.

X-Men: The Animated Series - STORM!

Marvel Legends - X-Men the Animated Series (VHS) - Storm - Hasbro 2022

I think one of the best things about X-Men: The Animated Series is that it finally exposed Storm to the world. Sure, Ororo Munroe has been a major player in the X-Men comics for 17 years already and had several high-profile (to me at least) animation appearances in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and Pryde of the X-Men. But it wasn't until her 1992 television debut that kids were running around the playground impersonating her. She's a great character for emulation with her commanding voice and elemental power, and add her calm demeanor and maternal vibes and you have an all-around icon. There have been a few great attempts at creating a toy representation of 90's animated Storm, but this one is easily my favorite so far. The cel-shading and voluminous hair is a relatively simple change from that last attempt in 2019, but it makes a huge difference. The X-Men VHS line is likely over, but hopefully some Spider-ladies get this treatment, too. Let's check out animated Storm below!

Marvel Gallery - STORM!

Marvel Gallery PVC Statues - Storm (First App) - Diamond Select Toys 2021

I am infinitely impressed by Diamond Select's Marvel Gallery and DC Gallery series of PVC statues. The funny thing is that I don't really pay attention to them in the convention and solicitation areas. Rather, whenever I walk into this one local comic shop of mine, a store that seems to stock every single Diamond Select product, I see a new Gallery statue that I can't live without. I restrain myself and only buy one at a time, and this store is on the other side of my city (and they never order TPBs) so I only go there every few months. And this is a great thing because these statues only fit on the top of my shelves and a windowsill, and I'm quickly running out of room. My newest "must-have" is this very classic looking Storm. I saw it for a first time a few weeks ago (despite visiting the DST booth at multiple conventions since it was released in 2021). The sculpt is perfect and the pose is streamlined and dynamic (and not to overuse the word, but she is statuesque). Let's check out the Marvel Gallery Storm below!

The Batman - POISON IVY!

The Batman - EXP (Extreme Power) - Arkham Asylum Multi-Pack - Mattel 2006

Of all the various Batman animated shows and movies, I think my favorite character designs are from 2004's The Batman. For the first time, the characters seemed to have individualized designs as opposed to a formulaic look. Don't get me wrong, BTAS and TNBA were groundbreaking and looked great. But the female characters all essentially shared the same body and facial characteristics. In The Batman, Jeff Matsuda's character designs were really diverse. They were all different shapes and sizes, and even looked like they incorporated different illustration styles altogether. Poison Ivy is my favorite of the bunch. She looks heavily inspired by Ted Naifeh's early Gloomcookie art, and it really suits her. Her action figure is one of the more exclusive ones released. She was readily available and I would see her in stores often, but she only came in two multipacks and never saw single release like most characters. But she's totally worth the bulk purchase. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

Gormiti: Supreme Eclipse Era - LORD OF THE AIR!

Gormiti: The Supreme Eclipse Era - Jessica (Lord of the Air) - Giochi Preziosi 2010

Gormiti is a popular Italian toy line created in 2005 by toy company Giochi Preziosi. The original incarnation of Gormiti was small 2-3" monster figures very reminiscent of 1987's Battle Beasts. The figures were split into good and evil factions and themed after four natural elements: Water, Earth, Forest, and Air. These toys were very popular and have really interesting color-themed designs. By 2008 there was an animated series. The major new development in the cartoon was the introduction of four young characters who gained the ability to transform into the Lords of Nature. The young Jessica Herleins could now become the Lord of the Air and rule over all the Air creatures. These human characters led to larger-scale (true) action figures. There were three iterations of the show and each featured an evolution of the character design. This feathered version of Jessica is from the second series (the Supreme Eclipse Era). In the first series she looked more like a Faerie. Let's check out Jessica below!

Kickstarter: I AM ELEMENTAL!

Series 01: The Seven Elements of Courage - I Am Elemental (Kickstarter) 2014
 
So I took the plunge and backed my first Kickstarter campaign today -- and I'm super-duper excited because it looks like the project is going to be a success.  I've been tempted by the Four Horsemen offerings in the past, and I unfortunately missed the boat with the Backyard Heroes.  But I'm almost glad I held out because the I Am Elemental campaign seems perfect for my first time.  The initial series of figure consists of seven brightly colored, highly articulated female characters representing different Elements of Courage (Bravery, Energy, Honesty, etc).  It has a ring of the "Seven Deadly Sins/Seven Holy Virtues" motif which I find very appealing.  The skintones are wildly colored (and racially ambiguous).  And the figures share a common core buck, but have unique accessories, heads, and variations on boots and gloves that offer some amazing variety while sticking to a common visual theme.  I think they're perfect.  Plus by the nature of the theology behind their design, they are tastefully sculpted and focused on true heroics rather than the typical thinly veiled titillation.  Let's check them all out below!