TOY NEWS FOR 9/30/2013 - NECA - PREDATOR SERIES 10 - NEW "KENNER STYLE" PHOTOS

These photos are just awesome!

If you're a long-time toy collector (i.e. "old") like me, then you'll recognize this style of photo-shoot from the old Kenner lines of the 70's-- especially Star Wars.

The single color lit backdrop with the little diorama pieces in front (sort of like the old Star Trek sets from the original show!) are just a perfect callback to those toy photos of old!

Plus, how amazing do these figures look? So imaginative and cool! Keep this "Kenner" Predator line coming, NECA!

These should be out some time this month (Oct)!!

TOY NEWS FOR 9/30/2013 - BANDAI - S.H. MONSTERARTS - AvP - ALIEN WARRIOR

Here are some new and better pics of the recently reported on Alien Warrior from the new AvP SH Monsterarts line from Bandai.

Looks like one hell of a fantastic looking figure!

This figure is set for a January release at Y5,775 (approx $58.00)

TOY NEWS FOR 9/30/2013 - BANDAI - S.H. FIGUARTS - KAMEN RIDER GARREN & RED RHOMBUS 2-PACK

From Kamen Rider Blade comes this 2-pack featuring Kamen Rider Garren and his Red Rhombus cycle.

I wouldn't mind seeing more of these kinds of 2-packs in the future-- especially if it means getting a re-release of some of the older, out of production Riders, with their bikes!

Look for it in January for a Yen price of Y8,400 (approx $85.00)

TO NEW FOR 9/30/2013 - KAIYODO - REVOLTECH - IRON MAN 3 - IRON MAN MARK 32

Yay! Here it is! The Iron Man armor that always fell apart! And they even have a special stand that recreates just that feature!

Seriously, how did the Mark 7 survive the "Battle of New York" in the Avengers and an armor, 25 "marks" ahead of that one, fall into piece every time it hit the ground-- or a bus?

Hooray for you, Iron Man 3! You made little to no sense at all.

But, the figure from Revoltech looks pretty cool...

He'll be out in January for Y4,500 (approx $45.00)

TOY NEWS FOR 9/27/2013 - BANDAI - S.I.C. - KAMEN RIDER 1 (ICHIGO)

UPDATE 9/30/2013 - NEW PICS!!!

So excited for this release! A Kamen Rider 2 is sure to follow!

Rider Kick!

Rider Punch!

A comparison with the original release.

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At last! We finally get a remake of the original Kamen Rider from SIC!

This character was one of SIC's first figures from Bandai's SIC (Super Imaginative Chogokin) line way back in 2000. At that time, SIC's figures were more like statues, sort of like McFarlane Toys figures became around the same time.

They then did a second, more articulated release, in 2002 that included his Cyclone cycle. While that version was way better, it was still one of SIC's early "re-imaginings" and looks nothing like the beautiful work they've done in recent years.

In case you're not familiar with SIC, it a line of figures produced by Bandai in which two very popular and talented sculptors-- Takeya Takayuki and Ando Kenji-- re-imagine Japanese Takusatsu (superhero) characters in a more hyper-detailed and realistic style.

For the most part, the Kamen Rider TV series has been their main focus, although they've also produced characters from Inazuman, Kikaider and Akumaizer 3.

As someone who collects this line, we've been in dire need of better versions of some of the earlier Riders-- which were produced early in the line-- and I'm hoping that this is just the first of new versions of those Riders that we'll be seeing. (At the very least, new versions of KR 2, KR 3 and Riderman are a must!)

If you want to be really impressed with a beautifully detailed, designed and sculpted figure line, I can't recommend Bandai's SIC line enough-- and this figure, the very first Kamen Rider from the original 1971 TV series, would be a great place to start!

Look for him to be released in January for a Yen price of Y5,000 (approx $50.00)

TOY NEWS FOR 9/27/2013 - HOT TOYS - MOVIE MASTERPIECE SERIES - THE WOLVERINE

Usually we'll see sneak peeks or teasers for Hot Toys' figures long before we get any official pictures or announcements, but this figure was just an out of the blue surprise.
I honestly didn't think they were making a figure from the new Wolverine movie-- but I'm certainly glad to see that they are.

I have the original Wolverine figure from Wolverine: Origins, and while it's still a great figure, this one-- especially the head sculpt-- blows the old one away. I'm glad to see that they'll be including the "wife beater" and other pants. Wolvie in a suit isn't exactly his "iconic" look.

Only problem is that we're looking at almost a year from now until this one gets in our hands! That's a long-ass wait, but that's how Hot Toys rolls, not much we can do about it.

I don't expect this to be the only new Wolverine figure coming from Hot Toys. Don't forget, we've got the new X-Men film coming next summer, and I'm sure we'll see another Wolverine along with plenty of other character from the film-- and I'm excited to see who those will be!

He's supposed to be out in May 2014, but we all know how that goes... So expect something more like June/July. He'll have a surprisingly pricey price tag at $224.99