I Am Elemental - ELEMENTS OF WISDOM!

I Am Elemental - Elements of Power Series 2: Wisdom - Rebel Elements 2016

Sometimes I buy a lot of action figures all at once and then get overwhelmed at the thought of opening, photographing, and displaying them. That is literally the only drawback to maintaining this website; I no longer get to experience the frantic tearing open of my toys as soon as I get them home. But on the plus side, the photography process has created a new unboxing ritual that is very enjoyable in its own way... when I eventually get around to it. That brings us to one of my favorite toy lines in recent memory: I Am Elemental. I've had this second series unopened on a storage shelf for 4 years, which is a shame because this is an amazing line that I'm excited to display. The colorfully costumed heroines, the crayola spectrum of skintones, and the trademark domino masks create a unique product that is unlike anything else out there. And this Wisdom series stepped it up a notch with even brighter colors and wilder accessories. I can't believe I sat on them so long. Let's check them out below!

I Am Elemental - Core Power COURAGE!

I Am Elemental: The Core Power Series - Courage - Rebel Elements 2015

The next couple years are going to be groundbreaking as far as female-empowered action figures are concerned. We've all heard about Mattel's DC Superhero Girls at this point. They are making the claim that it will be the first ever action figure line aimed at girls, but let's not forget this great little line from last year that lit up Kickstarter like nothing I've seen before.  The first I Am Elemental series was a line of 7 "Elements of Power" heroines in 3.75" form.  This 6.5" Courage figure is essentially their Megazord/Voltron/Combiner form.  It is a very awesome toy that is worth every penny. (I ordered mine here). The next series is "Wisdom" and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.  Like I started mentioning above, this year is going to have a lot of girl power. Ladybug and Cat Noir are getting a toy line from Bandai, and Mysticons are being handled by Playmates.  Add that to the DC Superhero Girls, and I Am Elemental and it's going to be a stereotype-shattering season in the pink aisles.  And I can't wait!

Photos from NYCC 2015!

A Small Collection of My Favorite Action Figure Reveals at NY ComicCon 2015

New York Comic Con seems to have less and less toy presence every year.  Hasbro and Mattel were always staples on the showroom floor and all the smaller toy companies would really step up to compete.  But in the last few years things have changed.  Hasbro has only been holding pre-show press events outside the con (and hosting a few panels) and Mattel has been either a no-show, or had a small presence in the lobby. When I saw that Funko had a huge block reserved on the floor map this year, I was excited that this would maybe usher in a new resurgence of impressive toy displays.  But alas, their area was essentially a giant waiting queue to buy their exclusives, with no other products on display. Someday I think NYCC will regain its position as a venue for introducing lots of new toy product. The wait between SDCC and Toy Fair seems longer and longer each year. But in the meantime, we still have a great handful of products to look at.  Let's check them out below!

TOY FAIR 2015 Coverage - OTHER COMPANIES!

Mezco - NECA - NJCroce - Madame Alexander - Monogram - Schleich - I Am Elemental

Kickstarter - I AM ELEMENTAL!

I Am Elemental - Series 01: Elements of Courage - Rebel Elements 2014

What a great way to bring 2014 to a close! I was really anxious to get my hands on this  I Am Elemental series since it was my first foray into the world of Kickstarter and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was taking a gamble. I have friends who have backed Kickstarter campaigns in the past and have been disappointed by the final product (or lack thereof). My paranoia was assuaged though by the professional and thorough framework presented by creators Julie Kerwin and Dawn Nadeau. The concept, design, funding, and delivery of these figures was fully fleshed out before the Kickstarter even went live. It's amazing to think that a mere seven months after I first heard of the concept of these toys, I am holding a fully realized, beautifully made set of action figures. I know there is a future series in the works (Series 02: Wisdom), and I know without a doubt I'll be adding it to my collection. I'd also like to add that I had zero QC problems with this set;  no sloppy paint lines; no stuck joints; no casting seams. I don't have this much confidence in any of the top toy companies. Let's check out the Elements of Courage!