Nintendo - POM POM!

World of Nintendo - 4" Series Wave 39 - Pom Pom - Jakks Pacific 2024

I've been collecting the Jakks Pacific World of Nintendo line for almost ten years now, but 2024 marks the first year that I was exposed to a new character that I had never seen before (and there's a new-to-me Sonic character coming, too). Pom Pom is a "new" Koopa Kid introduced in 2011's Super Mario 3D Land as a counterpart to Boom Boom. She has a face and body design very similar to Boom Boom, but with more proportional arms, pink skin, and feminizing details (like eyelashes, a ponytail, bows, and her namesake pom-poms). Since 2011, she has appeared in ten different games, but somehow I had never seem her image before. I stumbled across solicitation images of this figure on a foreign website back in June and have been eagerly awaiting her ever since. Her entire wave has been showing up at GameStop for a few months now, but Pom Pom seems to be excluded. I luckily picked mine up from a toy seller at NYCC in October and I think she's awesome. Let's check out Pom Pom below!

Halloween Kids - THE CREATURE!

ReAction Halloween Kids - Creature From the Black Lagoon - Super7 2024

Happy Halloween! One of my favorite recent toy trends is the representation of the simplistic Ben Cooper costumes of the 70s and 80s in action figure form. NECA has the Ben Cooper Costume Kids which are 5" fully-articulated figures wearing soft-goods costumes. And Super7 has the ReAction Halloween Kids line, which don't appear to be officially branded for the vintage costume companies, but they definitely give that classic homage. This Creature from the Black Lagoon girl is my first purchase from the line, and I'm quite obsessed. As my favorite of the Universal Monsters movies, she was always going to grab my attention. But the fact that the figure is female (as is the NECA Creature figure), further appeals to me because I feel it pays tribute to the creator of the Creature costume, Milicent Patrick, who was only properly credited in recent years (read The Lady From the Black Lagoon book for more!). I can't help but think the gender of these toys was intentional because of that. Let's check out Creature below!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - JENNIKA!

BST AXN - Jennika (Standard & SDCC Battle Ready) - Loyal Subjects 2024

There have been several attempts to introduce a female turtle to the TMNT universe over the years, but they never seem to last. Jennika is one of the most recent females in a half-shell and she has impressively been going strong for five years in the IDW comics (with two solo series and now two action figures). I even saw her graphic novel in Target last month, and their book department is (sadly) getting smaller and more selective each year. Jennika was introduced as a human foot clan assassin who was (four years later) injured and given a blood transfusion from Leonardo, triggering her mutation. I've always liked her design and the use of yellow as her signature color. In my mind, there has been a race to see which toy company would merchandize her first: Playmates, Loyal Subjects, or NECA. But my money was always on Loyal Subjects. Their work on the IDW versions of the other Turtles has been great, and Jennika is no exception. Let's check out her standard action figure and her SDCC redeco below!

MOTU Origins - LADY SLITHER!

Masters of the Universe Origins - Lady Slither - Mattel Creations Exc - Mattel 2023

An amazing thing about a property as rich and celebrated as Masters of the Universe is the occasion to infuse the lore with new characters and stories. A whole arena of Eternian mythos that never quite appealed to me was the Snake Men. I remember the vintage toys being all the rage among my young peers. And I know the 200x series thrilled those same fans years later with further reptilian exploration. But I think the lack of female characters in the stories just kept me at bay. But then about ten years ago in the height of MOTU Classics, there was a mysterious new character introduced in the mini-comics: Lady Slither, the Queen Empress of the Snake Men. She was surprisingly the only MOTU character to have a serpent's lower body (a design choice I thought would be a given for a diverse reptilian race). The brief glimpses of her created buzz and the fan demand for an action figure was immediate. It took ten years and a new toy line, but we finally have her. Let's check out Lady Slither below!

MOTU Origins - SNAKE TEELA!

Masters of the Universe Origins - Wave 13 - Snake Teela (200x) - Mattel 2023

I like that Snake Teela has become a unique variant of the traditional Teela character. This design originally appeared in a single Second Skin episode of the 200x show where several characters were temporarily turned into Snake Men. She was likely a visual nod to the early 80's Goddess character, but she was unique in most ways apart from the green hue. The 200x Snake Teela had actual scaly skin, reptilian eyes, fangs, and a forked tongue. In 2003 there was a ToyFare Magazine exclusive repaint of Teela in this scaly form and, in my mind at least, that solidified her as a unique iteration separate from the Eternian Goddess. That said, I still kind of groaned when this was announced as the next Origins female. With so many characters unrepresented in the line, a fourth Teela wasn't the most exciting option. But the figure actually has a new torso and boots, and uses the 200x head which we've only seen once. Combine that with the distinctive green coloring and she makes for a very unique variation.

TMNT Cartoon - MONA LISA!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Dirk Savage & Mona Lisa - NECA 2023

One of the main reasons I never fully bought into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise was due to the lack of costumed (read:mutated) female characters. The main female (in my opinion) was Mona Lisa, a mutated human physicist (mutated into a salamander) who appeared in a single episode of season 4 ("Raphael Meets His Match"). The setting of the episode is a costume party where the Turtles think Mona Lisa is a human in costume. By the end of the episode they all reveal their true identities and a romantic tension with Raphael is formed. An action figure was made of her a few years later in 1993 (which incorrectly labels her as a lizard). This original toy was my first exposure to the character and I never saw her episode until recently. Different versions of Mona Lisa have appeared in the turtles franchise since those early days, but this figure is only her second piece of merchandise made. I'm excited to see what other TMNT ladies NECA might highlight in the future. Let's check out Mona Lisa below!

Nintendo - WENDY O KOOPA!

World of Nintendo - 4" Series Wave 30 - Wendy O Koopa - Jakks Pacific 2023

I just realized that Wendy O Koopa is a turtle. Sure, Bowser and all the Koopa kids have prominent turtle shells on their backs, and they rule over all the Koopas, which quite literally look like turtles, but I for some reason always thought they were dragon-type creatures. I know Koopas aren't technically turtles, same as a tanooki isn't a raccoon, but for my simple analysis, my revelation holds true. This Wendy from the 4" World of Nintendo line is the first figure that looks a little goofy to me. It doesn't help that this character's design is very odd - with potatohead-like feminine details stuck on her like an afterthought. But this larger figure somehow looks more absurd than her previous 2.5" version. I think her head looks more inflated than we are used to and her leg articulation doesn't allow for her signature ballet-like pose. Still, it's very exciting to see her in the 4" line. We still need Daisy, Toadette, Birdo, and Rosalina, but I'm fine promoting Wendy to the front of the line. Let's check out Wendy below!

Percy Jackson - MEDUSA!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Medusa - Jazwares 2010

The Percy Jackson films were a hard pill to swallow. My coworker was a big fan of the books and insisted I give them a shot. I listened to the first 3 or 4 on audiobook before I heard the news that it would be hitting the big screen. I was genuinely excited for what I assumed would be the next Harry Potter. I was even already a fan of Logan Lerman from his role in Jack and Bobby (a highly underrated show IMO). But I sat there in the theatre baffled by the interpretation I was seeing. Everything was just off. And cheesy. I can't pinpoint any one thing that was wrong, but my disappointment was palpable. I disconnected from the franchise and never even acknowledged the toys until I stumbled across Medusa this Summer. I was impressed at the quality of her sculpt and I always love a gorgon. She doesn't look much like Uma Thurman, but I always have low likeness expectations at this scale. Looking forward to the new show in 2023 and hopefully some new toys. Let's check out Medusa below!

The Land Before Time - RUBY!

The Land Before Time - Earthshakin' Mountain Playset - Playmates 2007

I have very fond memories of The Land Before Time. I was a little old for it when it came out in 1988, but even then I could appreciate a good juvenile adventure story like An American Tail or the Rescuers Down Under. And I thought The Land Before Time was the best of them. It's no surprise to look back and see that Don Bluth, George Lucas, and Stephen Spielberg were all involved. I knew that there had been a lot of sequels and spin-off projects. I worked in a video store all through the late 90s and there was literally a new direct-to-video movie every year. The fourteenth (yes, fourteenth) movie came out in 2016 - which must have set some sort of sequel record, but I can't prove it. Typical of most kid-focused properties, there were just two token females for the majority of the series, Cera and Ducky. Although both iconic and memorable characters, I never felt the need to get toys of them. But recently I discovered this new character, Ruby. I'm always a sucker for pink dinosaurs and dragons.

Nintendo - WENDY O KOOPA!

World of Nintendo - 2.5" Series Wave 32 - Wendy O Koopa - Jakks Pacific 2021

Ever since Jakks Pacific started releasing Nintendo figures I have been hoping for a Wendo O Koopa in the line. When we first met the Koopa Kids in Super Mario Bros 3, I actually kind of hated Wendy. Something about her giant bow and rings just didn't align with my adolescent aesthetics. But over the years I really grew to appreciate her as one of the very few female characters in the Mario Universe. And as far as villains go, I'm pretty sure she and Birdo are the only ladies. The 2.5" Nintendo line has been a staple of checkout lines and Target aisles for years, but surprisingly the last female (Samus from Metroid) was released over five years ago. I had pretty much stopped paying attention to the line when I saw a pic of this figure show up in Instagram. I was beyond excited to be on the hunt and found her pretty quickly (and also learned a Daisy is coming soon!) As far as I know this is the first toy of her ever. I couldn't even find a gashapon or PVC. Let's check out the long-awaited Wendy O Koopa below!

HealeyMade - THE ASSASSIN!

Designer Action Figures: The Assassin (R-Complex) - HealeyMade 2021

Anthropomorphic action figures are pretty much my favorite thing in this toy-collecting hobby. I tend to group them into four main categories: Felinoids are the most popular, Reptilian is second, followed by Insectile and Avian. But in general it's pretty rare to get female figures of any of them. That's why I was super stoked to get this Assassin figure from HealeyMade. I've been paying attention to the designer toy market for years. The genre is 99% male characters, but I keep tuning in to see if the next drop will be of the female persuasion. The few times over the years where the stars aligned, I was an hour or two late and missed the brief on-sale window. But a few weeks ago I was in the right place in the right time and snagged this amazing Assassin in all her green reptilian glory. For a first designer toy purchase I think I got really spoiled. The sculpt, paint, and plastic quality are all top notch. I'm excited to see the obligatory color variants in the future. Let's check out the Assassin (R-Complex) below!

Iguana no Musume - IGUANA GIRL!

Fewture Comic Character Series - Iguana Girl - Art Storm/Fewture 2002

In 1992, a unique 51-page manga called Iguana no Musume (Iguana Girl), written and drawn by Moto Hagio was published in the manga magazine Petit Flower. It's a bizarre little tale about a young girl named Rika whose mother sees her as an Iguana. Other characters see Rika as a normal, albeit plain, young girl. But in her mother's eyes, she is a scaly beast in a dress. Her mother treats her very poorly, especially in comparison to her fair-haired perfect little sister Mami (whom the mother adores). The story follows Rika from birth to adulthood and illustrates how deeply she is affected by her mother's behavior. She is plagued by low self-esteem and fear of falling in love, believing that she actually is an Iguana inside and will only bring hurt to those around her. The story is insightful with a fairy tale quality that I adore. I personally exhibit a few adult character traits that are a direct result of my parents' perception of me as a child. So I have always found this story to be a unique, poignant, and universal tale. 

Masters of the Universe - SNAKE TEELA!

Masters of the Universe (SnakeMen) - Snake Teela - ToyFare Exc - Mattel 2003

The 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series really focused on the evil SnakeMen factions on Eternia. They were a favorite among fans of the vintage cartoon and toys, but they were criminally underused. The 2002 series really fleshed out their mythology and even titled the entire second season "Masters of the Universe vs The SnakeMen." The later waves of action figures featured lots of repainted figures, with snake-themed accessories, and green SnakeMen packaging. But this ToyFare Exclusive Snake Teela figure is special. She is the only repainted figure with reptilian skin as seen in the episode Second Skin. In the episode, King Hssss found the ancient Serpent Ring artifact that could transform anyone into SnakeMen. Only a handful of heroes were changed: Man-at-Arms, Mekaneck, King Carnivus, and Teela. But only Teela's transformation got the toy treatment. The great thing about this is the big nod to Teela's association to the vintage Snake Goddess character. Let's check her out!

Space Jam - WHITE MAMBA!

Space Jam: A New Legacy - On Court Rivals - White Mamba - Moose Toys 2021

Here's a shocking confession: I know absolutely nothing about organized sports. I may love playing sports, but I have no interest in watching other people do it. Basketball has always been especially difficult for me to focus on. So here's shocking confession #2: I have never seen Space Jam. Despite its place as 90's cultural phenomenon, and the introduction of Lola Bunny, it just never intrigued me enough to actually watch it. I wasn't very big into toy collecting back then, so when I heard about this new movie, my very first thought was that I could finally add a Lola to my collection. What I wasn't expecting was any other action figures that would excite me. This White Mamba figure was an amazing surprise. Diana Taurasi plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and was nicknamed White Mamba by Kobe Bryant due to her penchant for scoring in crucial scenarios. I love that Warner Bros took a cue from her nickname and made her into a true white mamba gorgon. Let's check out White Mamba below!

Gremlins - GRETA!

Reel Toys: Gremlins 2 The New Batch - Ultimate Greta - NECA Toys 2021

I just watched Gremlins 2: The New Batch for the second time ever (it's streaming on HBO). I saw it originally in the early 90s but I remember not liking it as much as the first one. But watching it now I can see it's a wholly different concept. Where the first movie was mysterious and a bit scary, the sequel was pure camp. I was just a little too young to pick up on the cues that it was one long running gag... like Christopher Lee as Dr. Catheter? Completely over my head. One thing that really stuck in my memory though was the green-haired female Gremlin, now known as Greta... no real details about her other than the visual though. When I watched the movie again this weekend I was excited to see which Mogwai she evolved from. But alas, the mythology was changed so that Gremlins could be spawned from wet Gremlins, skipping the Mogwai step altogether. Also, Greta is a male/genderless Gremlin who drinks a gender hormone and essentially becomes a sexual predator. Oh 1990s you are endlessly problematic.

Imaginext - SERPENT QUEEN!

Imaginext: Treasure Hunters - Serpent Queen & Camel - Mattel/Fisher-Price 2017

For years now I've been wishing for an Egyptian-themed Imaginext figure for my collection. I expected a regal Cleopatra-type, but I have to admit I am much happier with this evil-looking Serpent Queen instead. I love a good animal-themed character, especially when it's a villainess. And the great thing is that this figure will very likely be re-released as a more-human looking variation. The sole required change would be the scaly reptilian hands. The only predictions I've made for this line that haven't come true now are a Statue of Liberty and a Rosie the Riveter. I'm hoping to see them in a couple years at this rate. For those unaware, Imaginext had some major DC reveals last week. We're getting Huntress, Batwoman, Star Sapphire, Katana, Killer Frost, Donna Troy, Artemis, Black Canary, Jessica Cruz, and a new Harley. My mind is blown. After this new wave is released I don't even know what figures to wish for (beyond Supergirl). It seems like the sky is the limit now. Let's check out Serpent Queen below!

Kulipari - STRAWBERRY BULLFROG RANGER!

Kulipari: An Army of Frogs - Ranger PVC Figure - Mattel 2015

There aren't nearly enough anthropomorphic toys in my opinion. Sure there have been extremely cool toylines like ThunderCats, Biker Mice from Mars, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that gave us some cool product. But female anthropomorphic action figures are still a rarity despite the genre's popularity. Earlier this year I was perusing Netflix and discovered this Netflix Original cartoon called Kulipari: An Army of Frogs. The cartoon has a pretty self-explanatory title, and while I enjoyed the character design and concept of the series, I am just not in the target demographic and didn't love the actual show. However, I was intrigued enough to look into any toys based on the property. Surprisingly there was a set of small 2.5-3" figures released by Mattel in 2015 (they may have been exclusive to Amazon).  The specific frogs themselves are unrelated to the cartoon, but I just couldn't resist adding a pink frog girl to my collection. I'm going to seek out more amphibious characters now. Let's check her out below!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - KARAI SERPENT!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Karai Serpent - Playmates 2015

All my Turtle education comes from the original animated series from the 1980s. So when I was researching females in the TMNT line about 5 years ago, I belatedly discovered this elusive daughter of Shredder. I was impressed, but I also was bummed because I couldn't afford the eBay prices her action figures were fetching. This version of Karai is from the 2012 Nickelodeon cartoon. They changed her character a lot in this series. Most notably is that she is now Splinter's daughter, although raised and brainwashed by Shredder. In a scheme by Shredder to turn the Turtles into snakes, Karai accidentally fell into the mutagen and became a serpent herself - while retaining the ability to revert back to human form at will (albeit with reptilian eyes). This figure was first teased a long long time ago. So long ago that I had given up hope to find her almost a year ago. Then a couple weeks ago I found her in TRU sitting randomly on a shelf in front of the Power Rangers. It was kismet. Let's check out Karai below!

DC Collectibles Arkham Origins COPPERHEAD!

Batman: Arkham Origins 3-Pack - Copperhead - DC Collectibles 2014

It isn't often when I have to give props to a video game for introducing a new character.  But Batman: Arkham Origins has done just that with this updated female version of the classic DC rogue Copperhead.  This character is the daughter of the original (New52) Copperhead and will soon begin appearing in the comics.  This action figure is amazing on a number of levels.  The most notable features of this toy are the incredibly detailed paint applications, and the high level of articulation.  Copperhead is a snakelike contortionist assassin, so the added articulation is really nice and appropriate.  I actually think the toy looks better than the video game screenshots on the web (I still don't play any games).  And that is a major rarity.  It's also nice just to get another female villain in the Bat-universe.  I know there are already a lot of ladies taunting Bruce, but a new character is almost always welcome.  Let's check out this creepy new villainess in detail below!

The Girls of LEGO CHIMA!

Eris, G'Loona, Windra, Rinona, Crooler, and Spinlyn - LEGO: Chima 2013-14

Hello my name is Alex and I have a Lego problem.  At first I would just pick up the occasional DC Lego: Catwoman, Harley, Ivy, etc.  Maybe I would aim to get one or two figures from each minifigure wave.  I was keeping it all in check.  But then they introduced this amazing little theme called  Legends of Chima.  Damn them.  Chima introduces a vast world of anthropomorphic characters.  So far, there are about 18 different animal tribes.  Some are good, some are bad, some are both.  So far, the only females figures have been in the Eagle Tribe, Lion Tribe, Crocodile Tribe, Rhino Tribe, Gorilla Tribe, and the Spider Tribe.  There are at least two more females due out later this summer from the Lion and Mammoth tribes.  But there are undoubtedly more ladies coming in the future.  I would love a female Bat, Vulture, Phoenix, and Fox.  These figures all come in big expensive sets which are completely breaking my bank.  Luckily they show up on eBay pretty regularly loose.  Let's check out the first 6 ladies below!