Marvel Legends - STINGER!

Marvel Legends Astonishing Ant-Man 2-Pack - TRU Exclusive - Hasbro 2018

Toys R Us has given us some amazing Marvel Legends exclusives over the years. Just in the past twelve months, we've got Mary Jane Watson, Dark Phoenix, five great figures in the A-Force box set, and the recent Shuri as Black Panther. I especially love them because the majority of the figures are characters we would never see in a big box store. The final two ladies, a Scarlet Witch redeco and this Stinger figure, are keeping up the high standard, but it's kind of a solemn affair knowing these are likely the last of their kind. When the description of this set was leaked several months ago, the description was "Scott Lang and Cassie Lang" and I think the collective nerd conscious instantly got excited for a Stature to add to our mix-matched Young Avengers lineups. Clearly, we were all mistaken, but I am super happy with her Stinger incarnation as a consolation. In the late 90s, the alternate universe of MC2 was created and featured the children of various heroes and villains all grown up and donning costumes.

Marvel Legends - SHURI as BLACK PANTHER!

Marvel Legends - Black Panther: Shuri & Klaw - Toys R US Exc - Hasbro 2018

I'm very single-minded with my toy obsessions. Whenever there is a movie announced, I instantly think of the most far fetched comic-based character that might be squeezed into the movie merchandise. (My Captain Marvel wish is for a Ms. Marvel vs Rogue 2-Pack). When Black Panther was announced, I immediately thought how much I would love a Shuri in the Black Panther costume. I think she only wore the costume for 12 issues, but I loved it. I thought for sure this was an unobtainable longshot, but then a year later I'm actually holding her in my hands. Now, let's be real about this figure: It's basically a very successful kitbash with a new head. The body is identical to Hellcat, the Cape is from Lady Loki/Sif, the staff is from T'Challa, and the belt is from Rogue (it's spun around so the "x" is on the back). The only new sculpts appear to be the head and necklace. But don't get me wrong, this figure is terrific. I applaud Hasbro for getting us an obscure character in the most efficient way possible. Let's check her out below!

Late 2017 Collection of MARVEL MINI-MATES!

Marvel Mini-Mates Series 72, TRU 24, and Walgreens Wave 5-7 - DST 2017

Photographing small toys is a bit cumbersome for me. My photo tent is set up for 6 inch figures, so when it comes to the little guys I have to construct a stage of sorts to ensure they're properly lit. So out of laziness I tend to pile up a bunch of tiny figures and photograph them all at once. Mini-mates are a prime example of that. This post will collect all the Mini-mates I've picked up since May (when the Guardians of the Galaxy waves hit). Included will be Spiral, Hela, Gwenpool, Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Black Cat, Proxima Midnight, Spider-girl (Petra Parker), Medusa, and White Tiger. Diamond Select Toys really haven't been skimping with character selection. It seems like every couple months there is some heavy-hitter heroine on the shelves. Plus I love having yet another reason to stalk all my Walgreens stores. I hope Mini-mates last a long long time and I will keep buying them as long as they keep this level of character diversity up. Let's check out this newest batch of Mini-mate ladies below!

Marvel Legends - LADY LOKI!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exclusive A-Force 6-Pack - Lady Loki - Hasbro 2017

I've come to the last of the A-Force reviews. This group is kind of unprecedented so I've been taking it slow. We all see female Legends figures sitting unsold in stores, and every time I see three Beetles collecting dust on a peg I fear that it will not bode well on the future of female characters in the line. But then Hasbro assuaged my fears and made this amazing all-female exclusive. It's a wonderful set, but Lady Loki is probably the figure with the most glaring issues of the group. Her accessories make her bulky and clumsy to pose and her hands are humorously unproportional. But even with those detractors, I can't deny that she is still a really great looking figure. Her headsculpt is gorgeous, the paint apps are very detailed (the metallic green scallops look great), and the overall look seems very complete. I don't think anyone expected Lady Loki to ever get a toy, especially considering she was overshadowed by the more popular kid-Loki successor. But I'm not complaining one bit. Let's check out Loki below!

Marvel Legends - ELSA BLOODSTONE!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exc A-Force 6-Pack - Elsa Bloodstone - Hasbro 2017

Elsa Bloodstone has really surprised me by being one of my favorites of the A-Force boxset. When I first saw this solicitation I had no clue who she was.. or rather I couldn't remember who she was. I had read Nextwave when it first came out, but these figures inspired me to go out and buy the trade to read it all again. It is such a good series. If you haven't read it, imagine a cast of Marvel's lesser-known hero going on clandestine missions in a story steeped in Deadpool-esque humor. It's written and drawn very well and the 12-issue run is kind of a perfect length. Someone at Hasbro must love this series because so far we've received Monica Rambeau, Elsa Bloodstone, and Dirk Anger in the Nextwave outfits. Plus an unexpected Machine Man (albeit in his classic comic look). Elsa is a monster hunter with a Van-Helsing-ish family legacy. I thought the solicit images of this figure looked really boring, but in person she is pretty striking. Her red hair, olive complexion, and orange bodysuit really work well together. Let's check her out!

Marvel Legends - MONICA RAMBEAU!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exc A-Force 6-Pack - Monica Rambeau - Hasbro 2017

It's rare when a character changes names as often as Monica Rambeau yet still manages to always wear a recognizable outfit. When I first became aware of her in the 1980s, she was Captain Marvel, next she was Photon, then she was Pulsar, and most recently Spectrum (and somewhere in there she briefly adopted the monikers Sceptre and Daystar). Most people seem perfectly comfortable referring to her as Monica Rambeau though. I had honestly completely forgotten about this character until 2009 when I saw the Secret Wars Mini-Mates boxset (including Photon) in TRU. It brought back all these 80s memories. Since then I went back and read a lot of key stories and became a big fan. My favorites are Nextwave, Marvel Divas, and Captain Marvel #1 (1989). This figure was a long time coming. Although my perfect Monica would be in her classic 80s outfit, this modern version is a great second choice. A consistent color palette and chest emblem go a long way. Let's check her out below!

Marvel Legends - (A-FORCE) SHE-HULK!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exclusive A-Force 6-Pack - She-Hulk - Hasbro 2017

This Jennifer Walter She-Hulk figure is surprisingly my least favorite of the entire A-Force box set. Considering how great Hasbro has been with releasing a variety of different body types lately, I'm really disappointed at how off-base this one seems. The ironic thing is that this buck was used on the 2013 Red She-Hulk figure, which I still think is a fantastic toy. But for some reason it seems like a dud on Jennifer. Maybe it has to do with the fact that her skull size is the smallest of the set, or maybe that she has the most bored vacant stare, or maybe it's that all the other figures are using much newer bodies (that are vastly superior in direct comparison). Some other gripes are that her eyes are sculpted too flat and tend to reflect light like a mirror from certain angles (I think this is the Betty Ross head with new hair), and also that her skin tone is a few shades too dark. It's just a bummer all-around, but only because my expectations have been so high lately. She is actually a perfectly decent figure. Let's check out She-Hulk below!

Marvel Legends - Warrior Goddess SIF!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exc A-Force 6-Pack - Warrior Goddess Sif - Hasbro 2017

This is the figure that thrilled me the most when the A-Force box set was revealed back in February. Before Jane Foster Thor, Thor Girl, and Storm as the Goddess of Thunder, Sif was the Asgardian Warrior I wanted to see take center stage more than any other. She's received a fair amount of attention from her appearances in the Thor movies, and although I like that they retained the general color scheme (and Jaimie Alexander is awesome), I always think a good Norse warrior needs a headdress of some sort - specifically the "winged headpiece" type worn by Thor and She-Ra. I also really loved Sif's bright red and white color scheme with her stark black hair. So, yeah, I've been waiting for this figure for years. You can always trust that a classic comic style figure is on the horizon when the character appears in a movie. It may take six years, but it will eventually happen if you're patient. Now we just need a proper movie version. (It's surprising we're getting a Valkyrie first). Let's check out Sif below!

Marvel Legends - SINGULARITY!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exclusive A-Force 6-Pack - Singularity - Hasbro 2017

Hasbro is pretty good at surprising me, but I can honestly say I never expected to see a Singularity figure in my lifetime. One of my favorite comic book tropes out there is the "mysterious stranger." I always get obsessed with these characters. Especially when they are timid (but suspiciously powerful) females. In Alpha Flight, I got hooked on Marrina; in Generation X, I fell for Penance; and in Legion Lost, I was obsessed with Shikari. That's just naming a few off the top of my head (let me know if you have others!) Singularity is the mysterious stranger who first appeared in 2015's A-Force #1. She is initially distrusted (as is always the case in these stories), but she proves to be a powerful ally. Singularity is a living pocket dimension. She is able to teleport herself (and others), make things disappear into a void, and track people psionically (just like Shikari from above!). I'm really excited to catch up on my A-Force reading now - I'm so behind. Hope everyone had a great Eclipse day! Let's check out Singularity below!

Marvel Legends - DARK PHOENIX!

Marvel Legends - X-Men Dark Phoenix & Cyclops 2-Pack - TRU Exc - Hasbro 2017

I had honestly given up on the idea of a good Jean Grey action figure. I don't know why her character always seems to get second-rate treatment in the toy world. Even her inclusion in last year's (beautiful) X-Men Legends wave inexplicably got a salvaged head from a figure rejected three years prior. It was a dud compared to the newly-sculpted Rogue and Kitty. She just can't seem to win. Now this Toys R Us Exclusive Dark Phoenix has hit the shelves and she looks great. A huge added perk is the surprise inclusion of two alternate heads. I might be wrong, but I think this is the first time a Marvel Legends female has ever come with two heads. And the great thing is that two of those heads happen to look fantastic on last year's green Phoenix. So it's as if we're getting two great Jean Grey figures at once. This makes me very excited for any SDCC reveals in a few weeks. With all the love given to the classic characters lately, I think there could be some awesome surprises. Let's check out Dark Phoenix below!

Marvel Legends - MARY JANE WATSON!

Marvel Legends - Spider-Man & Mary Jane 2-Pack - Toys R Us Exc - Hasbro 2017

The action figure world historically isn't very inclusive of civilian characters. Even obvious choices like Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent and Diana Prince rarely get the action figure treatment. Secondary characters like Alfred Pennyworth, Mary Jane, and Lois Lane seem to fight an uphill battle for representation in plastic. I think this is only the third true action figure of MJ. In 1999 there was a Toy Biz figure (with a bizarre Santa Claus redeco later the same year), then a 3.75" Marvel Universe figure in 2010. (I'm excluding movie figures and mini-figures like SHS, Lego, and Mini-mates). So, yeah, this Marvel Legends Mary Jane was a long-awaited addition to the line. Lately she's been donning spider-costumes as Spinneret, Iron Spider, Mangaverse Spider-Woman, and multiple other-earth Spider-Woman roles. So who knows, this civilian Mary Jane could just be the tip of the iceberg. Not to mention the current MJ cover theme which always has the potential to generate a new character a'la Gwenpool. Let's check out Mary Jane below!

Wonder Woman Movie TRU Exc - WONDER WOMAN!

DC Multiverse Wonder Woman (Ares) - Wonder Woman TRU Exc - Mattel 2017

I've always said I'm not a collector of Wonder Woman figures, but as the most merchandised female superhero in the world, it's been almost impossible to resist picking up the occasional figure. Then comes all the movie merchandise. Between BvS and Wonder Woman, my small Diana collection has nearly doubled. I just got back from seeing Wonder Woman and I truly loved it. The Themyscira scenes in particular were cinematic perfection and I'm so happy they honored the movie with so many great toys. This TRU exclusive Wonder Woman figure may be the best of the bunch though. It has (almost) the same body as we saw last year in the BvS figure, but the new headsculpt is a stunning improvement. I'm glad she seems to be easy to get ahold of too. All my Toy R Us stores have of a ton of her. My only hope is that there will be a late-entry exclusive somewhere of Antiope.. maybe Amazon, maybe SDCC.. but I would love one more Amazonian! Let's check out the TRU Wonder Woman below!

Wonder Woman Movie - MENALIPPE!

DC Multiverse Wonder Woman Ares Wave - Menalippe TRU Exc - Mattel 2017

One of the greatest joys I get in this modern age of action figure collecting is a surprise announcement of an exclusive figure. With all the conventions and toy shows, the fact that these can remain secret until the last moment is pretty amazing. Beyond the fact that this Wonder Woman Multiverse line has been near perfection so far, there are two awesome Toys R Us exclusive additions: an uncloaked Wonder Woman and this Menalippe figure. In the comics, Menalippe was always a priestess-type character, but in the movie it appears she is a Lieutenant and the sister of Hippolyta (and therefore Aunt to Diana). I don't know how prominent her role will be in the movie, but I'm so glad she was given the green light for an action figure because I really dig this cinematic Amazon look and I want a whole army. My only complaint is that I wish she was bigger. According to everything I've read, Menalippe is supposed to be tall and imposing, but this figure is smaller than Diana. Let's check her out below!

True Heroes: Sentinel 1 - BLINDSIDE!

True Heroes: Sentinel 1 - Smash & Blindside 2-Pack - TRU/Geoffrey LLC 2017

I have a lot of obsessive compulsive qualities. For your sanity, I'll only mention the toy-related ones here. Many years ago I got the idea in my head that the "True Heroes" TRU G.I-Joe knock-off brand would eventually have to introduce a female character. In my mind, this was a certainty. Since then I have checked the military aisle every single time I've gone into the store (which is at least twice a week). FYI I also have made the same search for a random toy on Yahoo Auction Japan every day for about 10 years (I have serious issues). These obsessions almost never pay off, but last week I found this little two-pack with what I believe is the first ever female Sentinel 1 character, Blindside. These figures are cheap with minimal articulation (like the Chap Mei Discovery Channel figures), but I still think she's really cool. Years ago the True Legends line had a Medusa figure that was pretty cool too. Of course now, my obsession is not itched, but rather teased. I'll be eagerly hunting the next one now.

Aliens ELLEN RIPLEY!

Aliens - Space Marine Lt. Ripley - TRU Exclusive (Kenner Repaint) - NECA 2016

I always struggle with buying detailed movie-based action figures. I love pretty much every pop culture franchise out there, and it seems natural that I would want to include action figures from them in my collection. But from an overall aesthetic, my collection is 90% bright and colorful superheroes. And movie figures are almost always dark and gritty with an attempt to have lifelike details that really contrast from my She-Ra and Harley Quinn shelves. I have really struggled with all the awesome Ellen Ripley toys that have been coming out in recent years for just these reasons. But then NECA announced a Toys R Us exclusive repaint of Lt. Ripley from Aliens in the brighter "Kenner" colors and I knew this would be the one for my collection. The original Kenner action figures from the early nineties looked nothing like the movie characters, but I have a soft spot for that particular phase of the hobby. Thank goodness the fine crew at NECA has an eye for nostalgia as well. Let's check out Lt. Ripley below!

Marvel Legends - KATE BISHOP HAWKEYE!

Marvel Legends - Toys R Us Exclusive Avengers 3-Pack - Hasbro 2016

When I first saw this Toys R Us exclusive 3-Pack solicited earlier this year, I was immediately reminded of the amazing Young Avengers comic series from 2005. Obviously Kate Bishop owes her origins to the Young Avengers, but at first glance I thought The Sam Wilson Captain America was Eli Bradley as a grown up Patriot and I thought Vision was an alternate version of the Young Avengers' Vision. I hadn't been aware that Falcon ever became Captain America and I haven't been reading the new Vision series, so I had no clue who her companions were. It was a little deflating to realize my mistake, but I'm still super happy that we got a Kate Hawkeye. Now all we need is a Stature and Speed (and of course updated figures of all the rest). If you haven't read the first run of Young Avengers yet, I highly highly suggest you do. It's truly one of the most enjoyable comics I've ever read. I just started re-reading it all last night. Let's check out Kate Bishop as Hawkeye below!