TOY NEWS FOR 8/31/2014 - NECA - PACIFIC RIM - (NON-BATTLE-DAMAGED) KNIFEHEAD KAIJU

Well, I guess we all knew that this was coming...

In a very strategic and smart move by NECA, when they offered their newly scaled Knifehead 2.0, they made him "battle-damaged". Almost every collector couldn't wait to upgrade their original Knifehead to the far more awesome version. But, by making it "battle-damaged" they offered the, shall we say, less desirable version of what could have been made-- a non-battle-damaged version be the more desirable one.

If you wanted the new Knifehead though, you had to get the battle-damaged version. Now, NECA offers the non-battle damaged version, thus, essentially, selling the same figure twice to the same collectors because, who isn't going to want this new version once again. Sadly, I know I'll be buying this new Kinfehead, which will be my 3rd of this same figure. Although, to be fair, the upcoming battle-damaged Gypsy Danger 2.0 will still look great battling the battle-damaged Knifehead 2.0, so it's not a complete loss like the original Knifehead was.

Some collectors might find this tactic anywhere from irritating to down right enraging, but, this is the system that a small-- but awesome-- toy company like NECA must employ in order to actually make enough money from these figures to stay in business and keep making newer and better stuff for us. It is, as they say, the nature of the beast.

This should be out (supposedly) in October for around $29.99

TOY NEWS FOR 8/31/2014 - NECA - PACIFIC RIM - DELUXE JAIJU - OTACHI

Here are some official NECA images of the upcoming Otachi deluxe Kaiju figure from Pacific Rim.

This beast will stand 7" tall and measures 30" long.

Also, according to the NECA spokesperson I talked with at SDCC, there will be a winged version coming as well.

He should be shipping early next year for around $70.00

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - PLAYMATES - TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES - ORIGINAL COMIC BOOK SERIES

I think it's absolutely wonderful that Playmates is releasing a line if basic figures based on the original comic book styled Ninja Turtles. I mean, they don't even come close to NECA's brilliant versions of the same figures, but it's nice to see Playmates giving the original Turtles-- and their fans, like me-- their due.

But, once again-- once a-freakin'-gain-- Playmates has pulled a switcheroo on us. As you can see, the prototype images show figures that are wonderfully painted and detailed, but if you look at the packaged figures, you can also see that Playmates has completely removed all these apps from their official retail release.

I think that this is a serious bullshit move on Playmates' part and they do it will all of their TMNT figures. They get collectors all excited for these great looking figures and then deliver crappy, minimally painted figures at retail. Playmates needs to stop doing this. It's not the 90's anymore-- where Playmates was also the biggest offender (Skeleton Warriors anyone??!)-- people expect to get what they see in the promotional pictures when they buy your items. Quit playing this deceitful game, Playmates, and either give us what you show us or show us what you're going to give us.

'Nuff said.

And he's the packaged images. (Click to enlarge.)

These should be available on store shelves within the next month or so.

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - FEWTURE - TRANSFORMERS - ULTIMETAL UM-01 - OPTIMUS PRIME

This could be the ultimate version of Optimus Prime-- depending on what kind of Transformers collector you are.

I think the bulk of TF collectors feel that if a figure of a TF character doesn't transform, then it can't be a true "Transformer". While as a kid, I loved transforming my TF's, but I truly despise it now. These damned things are complicated! (And I'm talking about Masterpieces and high-end 3rd party figures.) I feel like my parents used to feel when they held my Transformers and had no idea how to transform them-- probably like a dumbass.

But, for me, the fun isn't in the transformations, it's in owning figures that finally and truly look like the ones I watched in the cartoons. I never display my TF's in "alt mode" and don't have any desire to transform them other than the one time it takes to get them into robot mode if they don't already come that way right out of the package.

So, with that in mind, I can not wait to get my hands on Hot Toys' upcoming Optimus Prime figure-- even if most other TF collectors turn their nose up at it. The same goes here for Fewture's incredible "Ultimetal" version of my favorite pop culture character of all time (probably followed by Snake Eyes), Optimus Prime!

But, as much as I want this awesome piece of work, I probably won't be getting him. I don't know that I love any toy or figure enough to drop $800-1,000 on it. I mean, that's a lot of dough!

I'm not saying this figure isn't worth it by any means, I'm just saying that, with all the other stuff I collect, this just isn't in my budget. (Maybe if it was $450, tops.)

Optimus will stand at 17" tall and come with a remote to active lights and sounds (all in Japanese I assume). As you can see from the pics, just like with Bandai's DX Soul of Chogokin Mazinger Z (who also comes with a remote to activate lights and sounds-- Hmm... I wonder where Fewture got these ideas...) you can also remove his outer parts to reveal all of his internal mechanisms.

Maybe, just maybe, if he doesn't jump up in price too much and is still available during a month where I've got loads of extra cash to burn I'll try to pick him up. He's certainly a centerpiece for any Transformers collection.

Here's a look at the also planned Ultimetal version of Megatron. So awesome!!

Optimus will be released next month (Sept) for a yen price of Y78,000 which is about $800 USD, although sellers like BBTS are charging as much as $950.00. Because of the size and weight of this piece, you can also expect to pay major shipping costs if you can't acquire him from a US seller and need to have it shipped from HK or Japan.

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - MAX FACTORY - FIGMA - SILENT HILL 2 - PYRAMID HEAD/"RED PYRAMID THING"

I don't know why Figma is calling this figure "Red Pyramid Thing", maybe that's what they call it on the credits of the film, but we all know its real name is Pyramid Head!

I really enjoyed some of the Silent Hill games. They're probably some of the best horror games out there. Truly scarey, creepy and with some of the most twisted designs I've ever seen. I also really enjoyed the films and I feel like the captured the bleakness and tension of the games rather well.

If you're a fan of either the video games of movies, then you might very well be interested in this 8" figure from Figma.

Look for it to arrive in April of 2015 for $59.99

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - NECA - PREDATOR SERIES 12

NECA often Tweets out photos like this of upcoming product that they've just received the final, packaged versions of, and I don't know who takes these pics but, come on, you work for NECA, I know you can do better than this! (By the way, I cropped and cleaned up this photo from the original.)

All their "just arrived" photos are just thrown down on a flat, cluttered/dirty/junky surface and taken at a horrible angle. How about investing in some two dollar foam board and pulling it out to lay the figures on when you want to take these kind of photos. And please, take them at an angle where we can actually see the the beautiful work you guys do!

Okay... Rant over. I love you NECA, but y'know... Jeeze.

Anyhoo, here's the pic of the just arrived packaged versions of their Series 12 Predator line-- of which I have all of (except the ones from "Predators").

Some sites are reporting that this series will be out any day now despite the fact that it has yet to appear on NECA's own online release calendar all the way up to the end of September.

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - NECA - BIOSHOCK INFINITE - BOOKER DeWITT

Here's a look at the packaged image of the main character-- Booker DeWitt-- from Bioshock Infinite-- certainly one of my favorite games from 2013.

He's set to be released on the 18th of September for around $22.99

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - TOYNAMI - VOLTRON - 30th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S SET

Man, this set is definitely the most beautiful and definitive Voltron set yet.

I'm not a Voltron collector, but just looking at ol' Beast King GoLion here (that's right, before he was brought from Japan to the US and renamed "Voltron", he was called Beast King GoLion) he's screaming to be added to my diecast Japanese robot collection.

The figure stands 11" tall and comes with weapons, display stand and light-up eyes!

This awesome set is available now for around $249.99

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - MATTEL/MATTY COLLECTOR - MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE - "GIANTS" ACTION FIGURE LINE

I usually don't report much on the Masters of the Universe Classics line because, as a collector, you're either in it or you're not. If you are in, then you know exactly where to get all your up to the minute breaking news, and I can't compete with those guys.

But, MOTU Classics is one of my absolute favorite current toys lines and I'm ecstatic that it's been extended into 2015! There's a lot of great new figure I'm looking forward too-- like Squeeze, Multi-Bot, Dragtor and Blast-Attack. It will be very interesting to see how Mattel and the Four Horsemen execute those crazy designs!

But, getting to the topic of this post, Mattel has officially announced the opening of a subscription service for those giant, over-sized MOTU figures that were shown at SDCC.

The subscription will open on the Matty Collector site on September 10th and run through the 25th and will consist of four figures-- He-Man, Skeletor, Beast-Man and Stratos.

These figures are styled pretty much like Gentle Giant's "jumbo" Star Wars line, with complete recreations of the original packaging. Sadly, Mattel did not make the packaging "collector friendly" so if you want to open the figure for display, you must ruin the card.

TOY NEWS FOR 8/28/2014 - BANDAI - STAR WARS - MOVIE REALISATION SAMURAI TAISHOU DARTH VADER

Well, I guess this is kinda cool.... right?

Yeah. I guess. I think... Damn, I'm really undecided on this figure!

I like the idea, but I think it lends itself to more of a statue than an action figure.

Everyone knows that the inspiration for Darth Vader's design came from old style Samurai armor, so I guess this design just takes that idea to its most literal conclusion. The results are pretty baddass, regardless of my own ambivalence on the figure itself.

This figure by Bandai will stand just about 7" tall.

Are Samurai style Stormtroopers in the works, too?

This figure will be out in Dec/Jan for around $90.00

HOT TOYS - MMS - IRON MAN 3 - IRON MAN MkXXXVI "PEACEKEEPER"

What would a month going by be like without another Iron Man offering from Hot Toys?

Well, luckily, we don't have to worry about such things because here comes yet another Iron Man armor-- the MkXXXVI-- "Peacekeeper".

Gotta say, this one is particularly badass looking. Feels like a combination of Igor and Red Snapper-- which are probably my other two favorite armors (aside from the MkVII).

You can grab yours right now exclusively at sideshowtoy.com for $269.99. He's set for an October 2014 release.