Friday, November 30, 2012

TOY NEWS FOR 11/30/2012 - HASBRO - GI JOE CLUB EXCLUSIVE - BIG BOA

UPDATE: COVER GIRL CARDED IMAGE


Here's a first-look at the carded version of one of the figures from the GI Joe Club's upcoming exclusive figure line-- Big Boa.

No word on if this will be one of the first two figures that will be released next month, but I'm going to assume that it is since this is the first image we're getting.

If you didn't sign up for the Club's subscription service (which is the only way to get these exclusives) then you'll have to pay some pretty hefty prices on e-bay for these-- especially Big Boa who is looking to be the most wanted figure from the line.


TOY NEWS FOR 11/30/2012 - NECA - CARRIE 2013 FIGURES

So it looks like NECA will be continuing their horror line with a pair of figures from the upcoming Carrie film. (This film isn't a "remake" of the original, but rather a "reinterpretation" of King's original novel.)

This.... isn't my cup of tea. And to be honest, the likeness of actress Chloƫ Grace Moretz just isn't anywhere in that sculpt to my eyes. And, unless this is a 2-pack, I'm not too sure who is going to want the "pre-blood soaked" version of Carrie. But, what the hell do I know!?

 Look for them in Jan/Feb.

TOY NEWS FOR 11/30/2012 - NECA - ROCKY SERIES 3 - NEW IMAGES!

NECA has given fans some new images of Rocky Balboa and Clubber Lang from series 3 of their Rocky line.

NECA made brilliant move with their Predator line when they began to use a semi-translucent plastic for the Predator's flesh. (Although why some new figures form the line still don't utilize this feature even though NECA already uses it for others is frustratingly confusing.) This gave the figures an amazingly realistic look, especially when combined with the overspray paint detailing they did on top of it.

NECA has taken that production concept and applied it to their Rocky figure line to give them an amazing look that really stands out beyond any regularly painted or molded color process.

Of course, the other thing that makes this line so outstanding is the quality of the sculpting and the liknesses-- even on the figures who are sculpted in a way where they're supposed to be getting "slo-mo" punched in the head, complete with flying blood!

Enjoy these very cool images..!










Look for them in stores (mostly Toys R Us) and online in Jan for around 17.99 each.

TOY NEWS FOR 11/30/2012 - NECA - PROMETHEUS - DAVID AND DEACON

Here are the latest images from NECA of the second wave of their Prometheus action figure line.

The David figure looks especially good. Amazing detail and a damn good likeness.

While I really don't think I'll be getting these (I can't buy everything!) there's no question that they'd look great in any toy geek's collection.

 "David" with 2nd helmeted head

"Deacon" with decapitated Engineer head and "Hammerpede" creatures

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

TOY NEWS FOR 11/28/2012 - NECA - GEARS OF WAR 3 3/4" FIGURE LINE - WAVE 1

So after doing such an amazing job in the 7" market, and delving into the 18" market with their badass Predator line NECA is now going to try their hand at the 3 3/4" market.

Hasbro is the undisputed king of this scale. Their figure range everywhere from really impressive (GI Joe Pursuit of Cobra Low-Light) to complete shit (Avengers Chitauri Soldier), but how will NECA's stack up?

The 3 3/4" scale is a true test of a company's design and quality control. Remember when Mattel tried to do their DC figures in this scale? Disastrous.

While I trust NECA to give us the best stuff possible in the American market with their other scaled lines, I'm anxious to see how these figures will look. Could they be a good of a scaled down version of their regular figures as the Kawami Tamashii figures are of the regular SIC Kamen Rider figures? (For those of you who know what the hell I'm talking about when I say that.)

I think the Gears of War line is a good choice to star off this scale with. With all the characters this property can offer, it should give the line a good bit of diversity and longevity.

I will say one things though: I hope NECA is pursuing some new licenses. Aside from wanting to see their take on other properties, I think their current licenses are running a bit thin.

L to R: Marcus, Carmine and Baird

Release date is Feb for 11.99 each.

TOY NEWS FOR 11/28/2012 - MATTEL - SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL PROTOTYPE PICS

These figures? Look like shit.

See how Mattel handled the Green Lantern and Batman lines? See how they cluttered up the half the toy isles long after their films were out? See the way Mattel way over played their hand in the hopes that children would eat this stuff up? See how retailers were the ones who had to all that crap instead?

Well, just replace Green Lantern or Batman with Superman and you'll see the same shit happen for 2013.

The Movie Masters-- assuming they make them-- will be the only thing of any quality from this entire line. For some reason, both Mattel and Hasbro have decided that kids will buy shit toys as long as the shit they're molded from look like characters they recognize.

Wrong.

I was a kid once, and you know what I loved and why I kept buying toys? I love the cool, quality stuff of the 80's. I loved the stuff back then toy companies gave a damn about making quality toys. When things were detailed and made of good plastic and figures had joints and weren't junk figures just because they came with a vehicle and they were painted with detail and care and playsets were like small versions of the real thing with all kinds of working parts and---- Ah, to hell with it. Crap like this will never be remembered. This is not going to spark a child's imagination to want Superman figures for the next five years of his life because the toys are cool. This is a cheap cash-in figures that's meant to be sold to a parent or child on name recognition alone and then end up in a junk bin within a few weeks.

This is why the American toy market is nothing but crap. (No, not you NECA. You're still my favorite! <3)



TOY NEWS FOR 11/28/2012 - MATTEL - DC UNIVERSE WAVE 3

These figures look....weird.

Superman..? Looks weird. Darkseid..? Looks malformed. Aquaman..? Looks terrible with that huge torso joint.

When Mattel first added in this "ab crunch" joint, it was a nice addition to a previously ailing figure design that really needed an update, but I think we've reached that point once again.

Having a huge joint cut garishly located dead-center of every figure's torso just seems a bit archaic at this point. Harbro actually does this same joint much better and less obviously on their superhero figures-- even the 3 3/4" ones. (Although when thy use it to take the place of a waist joint, I find it to be a pretty shitty and cheap way of doing things.)

Time to revamp that design a bit, I think.

But, for those of you still willing and wanting to give you money to Mattel, here is the pic of the figures in question.

L to R: Superman "Injustice Gods Among Us", Darkseid (New 52) and Aquaman (New 52)
Not pictured but also in this wave: Joker "Injustice Gods Among Us"

TOY NEWS FOR 11/28/2012 - KAIYODO - REVOLTECH - AVENGERS - IRON MAN MK VII

Have 100 Iron Man figures at this point? Looking to have 101? Then Kaiyodo has you covered with their new Iron Man Mk VII!

But, in all seriousness, if you collect figures in the 6" realm, then this is probably the Iron Man you've been waiting for-- even if you didn't know it.

Revoltech continues to step up their game with each new release, relying less and less on revolving the figure around their joint system, and moving more towards revolving their joint system around the likeness and quality of the character that they're trying to represent.

I'm not sure how this will look next to Hasbro's Marvel Legends figures-- or Diamond's Marvel Select-- in terms of scale, but I think it might fit in just right.

If you've been anticipating this one, then you'll enjoy a look at all these great new pics.













Price and release date are still TBA.

Monday, November 26, 2012

TOY NEWS FOR 11/26/2012 - NECA - JASON VOORHEES FROM FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER FIGURES

The Friday the 13th series is probably my favorite of all the old-school horror franchisees that I grew up with. There were definitely a few clunkers in the series, but over all, I think that Jason is just the most fun and cool looking of all the horror villains out there.

Now, this isn't my preferred version of Jason-- which would definitely be the sort of zombified version from Part VII: New Blood-- but this is still one great looking figure. And, thankfully, NECA continues to improve their articulation as this figure features 25 wonderful points of articulation for all kinds of "killer" poses!

The pics here represent the two different versions of Jason that will be available, both regular and "battle damaged".

If you're a fan of NECA's horror series, then you'll definitely be wanting to add these to your collection.







Release date and pricing info TBA.

TOY NEWS FOR 11/26/2012 - McFARLANE TOYS - HALO LEGENDS 3-PACK

Coming soon from McFarlane is another salvo in the never-ending HALO barrage.

The set features Master Chief, Fredrick-104 and Kelly-087 from the Halo Legends animated movie.








Release date is Jan. Price TBA.