Action Figure Blues

The AFB Q&A Episode 2: Justin!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:16:10 PDT

It's time for another one-on-one conversation with one of the AFB Podcast Hosts, and this time around it's the turn of our friend Justin!

You'll learn exactly how Justin became the collector he is today, hear about his main toy collecting interests and wishlists, and gain some other fun insights along the way!

You can download Episode 2 of the AFB Q&A - an interview with Justin "NiteOwl" Ayshord, direct from our site now. For iTunes subscribers, the show should be available shortly!

We look forward to your feedback on these special episodes!

Until next time!

Marvel Select's Green Goblin Glides In!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:33:39 PDT

Marvel Select is becoming the little action figure line that could in my book. Their latest release, the Marvel Select Green Goblin Action Figure, is one of the most exciting figures to come out of the MS line in recent times.

I usually start with sculpt and work my way down to accessories, but I’m going to start this review with the “extras”, because they are so great!

One of the features of the Marvel Select line is some form of highly detailed pack-in base or prop, which usually end up in a storage bin in my house as I don't have the space to display them. The pack-in in this instance is the best form - a great little replica of the Goblin Glider. This is the kind of extra I'm happy to pay for, as it doesn't take up much extra space in the display and adds a great deal to the visual appeal of the figure.

Taking this particular accessory over the top is the fantastic cloud of energy and smoke it rests on and which forms a supportive base for the figure. It’s an exciting burst of colour with some translucent elements, and it’s a unusual shape that looks like it shouldn’t balance the glider, yet it does that perfectly. This is the sort of pack-in that will keep me coming back for more!

There are other accessories for this action figure - a satchel and an extra hand with a pumpkin bomb attached, which are nicely done and add a great deal to the overall package.

As for Mr Goblin himself: the articulation of this figure is outstanding. I am on record at not being the best at posing figures, but even with my limited skills there are a number of great poses that can be easily achieved with this figure. There would be nothing worse than having a great pack-in like the Goblin Glider but not being able to pose the figure properly on it - that's definitely not the case here. The ankle, knee and hip articulation of this figure makes it possible to get some great poses with the Green Goblin astride his flying machine.

The sculpting job is excellent - there is a fantastic amount of detail throughout this piece. His headsculpt, including freaky teeth, is brilliant, and the scales on his arms and legs are very nicely done. His gloves and boots are also nicely detailed.

There are two things that I have to criticise about this figure. One is an artistic choice, and one I think is a QC issue. Something that I find a bit peculiar about this figure is the lack of pupils in Green Goblin’s eyes. When think about Green Goblin’s look, his tiny pupils in the middle of his large eyes is part of what creates his unhinged, crazed look, and I think this figure ends up feeling just a tad “off” because these are missing.

The other issue is about colour choices. The green of Green Goblin’s skin on his face doesn’t match the green on his arms and legs. I’m not sure if it’s just because the limbs have a metallic edge to them, or because the greens are just different, but they are not the same. I have to say this didn’t really strike me until I was processing the photos of this figure, so it’s not jarring at first sight, but it does seem odd.

There is so much “right” about this figure that neither of these are fatal flaws in my book. I love the articulation, the ease of posing this figure and the excellent, excellent Goblin Glider With Included Energy And Smoke Cloud. This is a must buy in my book!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the May AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 14: Rapid Fire Reviews: TV Toys / Action Figure Photography

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:05:15 PDT

Episode FOURTEEN of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!

Join Scott, Eli, Adam and Ben from the AFB Forum for Episode Fourteen of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Fourteen includes Rapid Fire Reviews on TV Toys, with a discussion on Action Figure Photography.

We also have the next answer and clue in the "Name That...." Audio Game run by our friend Engineernerd from TV & Film Toys .

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Fourteen here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

AFB Asks Matty for 15 May!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:08:40 PDT

It's time for another round of questions and "answers" from Mattel as AFB Asks Matty! In an AFB First, we got the exact same answer to two questions, including the same typo!

Q: Is the Death figure on offer at SDCC an indication of where Mattel's future DC offerings will go?

A: It is a form factor we are exploring. Right own (sic) there are no further concrete plans but we are curious to see how well this item does.

Q:Why Death and not Sandman? When will we see Sandman?

A: Over the years fans have often criticized our female 6" figures so we wanted to try something new and start with a female since this statue form factor lends itself well to female anatomy.

Q: Will Club Lion continue in 2013?

A: It is too early for us to comment on 2013 at this point for any brand.

Q: Have we seen everything there is to see in terms of Mattel SDCC Exclusives?

A: We have yet to reveal some details for the Hot Wheels, Monster High and Dark Knight items.

Q: The SDCC Tiny Titans set is awesome! Is there a possibility we might see future Tiny Titans toys if these do well?

A: It is a form factor we are exploring. Right own (sic) there are no further concrete plans but we are curious to see how well this item does.

That's all for this round. You can discuss this or add questions for future rounds at the AFB Forum, or comment here to enter the May Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

AFB returns to Club Eternia Coverage with Sorceress, Fisto and Shadow Weaver

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:16:21 PDT

It’s been quite some time since I reviewed any items from Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Classics line. There are a couple of reasons - first is that I once I got a bit behind with these the backlog grew very quickly, and the second is that thanks to a snafu of the Digital River kind it looked for a moment like my Club Eternia Subscription was going to be cancelled, in which case I would have given the line up out of sheer frustration.

Things did come good in the end after I went as far up the tree as I could for help (if you’ve been listening to the AFB Podcast you may recall this saga) and so I thought I better pick up with my MOTUC reviews again. The recent arrival of a box containing three significant characters in the line, Sorceress, Fisto and Shadow Weaver, seemed like as good a place to pick up as any!

Sorceress is a key figure in this line and would certainly be counted as a much-awaited figure, both because of her important role in the MOTU universe and her visually striking look. She would have to be one of the most instantly recognisable He-Man characters.

I have read a fair bit of criticism about this particular figure, but to me it is very well done when you consider the constraints of working with a standard buck and only a certain budget for custom tooling. Her wings are well constructed with a series of individual pieces that provide a decent wing span.

The Sorceress also comes with her falcon form, Zoar. I don’t know if all of the birds in the original He-Man mythos were designed to make the most of a single mold, but Mattel has certainly made the most of it!

What I will criticise about the Sorceress figure is the hands. A character whose main schtick is flight really needs some sort of outstretched hand for flying, not two semi-closed hands that can be posed in a “thumbs-up” pose. Mattel seems to deflect questions about hands that suit the character (to hold accessories, demonstrate powers, etc) back to “Four Horsemen sculpting decisions”, but to me this makes little sense - I’m sure it’s about tooling and cost. When you’re using standard bucks such as these it seems like there would be merit in creating options for hands in different poses so that they can be used logically - definitely not the case here.

Fisto is definitely one of the strongest figures in the line in quite some time. He has a distinctive, hokey look which has been faithfully updated here and he makes a visually striking figure. The sculpt is very strong, with clear lines and great paint to support them. His massive right fist is beautifully done.

I particularly like the fact that despite the fact that Fisto’s namesake is nicely sculpted and has some weight, he can be posed in a number of ways without the fist overbalancing him. This speaks to the solid and well designed basic bucks that feature in the MOTUC line.

We were told not to expect any more 200x heads, but Fisto comes with one. Weird in terms of Mattel communication, but great for us. I definitely prefer the head without the man-tiara (which has a matching WWE-style belt) but it’s great to have options for display.

In addition to the swap-out head, Fisto comes with some great weapons a rather average purple sword and then The Sword To End All Swords - which has to be one of the most awesome MOTUC weapons ever!

The Club Eternia Subscription Exclusive for the year is Shadow Weaver, the Horde Witch. This is a significant figure in the line for a number of reasons - it is the first Club Eternia Exclusive to come from the She-Ra side of the MOTUC family tree, and a figure that is comprised of what seems to be entirely new parts. It’s also a figure that seemed unlikely to be made when this line first started, as she is a Filmation character which Mattel only recently acquired the rights to. Making Shadow Weaver the Club Exclusive for 2012 most certainly would have given sales a boost, due to her status as a long-demanded character.

In my estimation, the wait has been worth it, as the Four Horsemen have done an outstanding job on this figure. The sculpting of this figure is outstanding, from the very distinctive headsculpt to her long, ragged sleeves to her flowing gown. Her cape is constructed and attached in a way that does not limit the movement of her arms, and her hands are also new sculpts.

Shadow Weaver has been sculpted without articulated legs - instead her cape forms the base of the figure, which makes her sturdy and easy to stand. She has a hollowed out underside so that a stand can be inserted to give her extra height and a floating look. This is an optional stand which provides choices for display. I like the extra height as it creates levels in one’s display.

The figure comes with two accessories - a wand and a spell book which I understand each appeared in a Princess of Power episode - a very nice touch. The paint job is excellent, with a dark wash used over the purple to provide some depth.

I am not yet prepared to commit to the 2013 Club Eternia Subscription, because I feel that the gaps between “hits” is getting longer and it may actually be cheaper to spend a bit more on the secondary market for the remaining characters I do want. Having said that, I would definitely put all three of these characters into the “hits” category - I just wish this was representative of every month of MOTUC!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the May AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 13: Avengers Movie Review / Avengers Toy Rapid Fire Reviews

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:28:26 PDT

Episode THIRTEEN of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!

Join Ben, Adam and Scott from the AFB Forum for Episode Thirteen of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Thirteen is our All Avengers Episode, with an Avengers Movie Review and Rapid Fire Reviews of our favourite Avengers Toys.

We also introduce a brand new segment - a game run by our friend Engineernerd from TV & Film Toys - have a listen and see if you can work out his clue!

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Thirteen here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

The AFB Podcast Episode 12: Enterbay Leon / Movie Tie-In Toys

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:23:45 PDT

Episode TWELVE of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!

Join Justin, Scott and Ben from the AFB Forum for Episode Twelve of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Twelve includes our Toy of the Week Feature on the Enterbay Leon (The Professional) 12: Figure and our Discussion Topic is “Movie Tie In Toys".

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Twelve here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

AFB Asks Matty for 1 May 2012!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:12:43 PDT

It's time for another round of questions and "answers" from Mattel as AFB Asks Matty! (Actually, it appears we got "MattyJL" this time...)

Q: What influence did fan reaction have on the decision to rethink Mattel's DC 6" offerings?

A: From MattyJL: I’m not sure what you mean. We always consider the fans when creating a 6” DCU line, but we also consider retailers and the appropriate channel to deliver fans their figures. We’ve been planning for quite a while to deliver something new in 2013 as the writing was on the wall. DC Universe All Stars was a band aid but getting us more in the right direction.

Q: The Back to the Future Hoverboard is an exciting offering. Are there any plans for action figures?

A: No, no plans for figures right now.

Q: The cancellation of the Young Justice line leaves 6" collectors without a complete team. What plans are in place to address this?

A: At this point, there are no plans to release the rest. Sorry! Additionally, we will not be continuing YJ on Matty.com in any scale (at this time). We tried a similar brand, JLU, in many form factors (singles, 3 packs, 4 packs and a 7pack of all new figures) and none sold well enough. This makes it a bit harder to continue YJ online. A toyline like YJ really takes Mom and Kid interest to keep it going. We cannot keep the line like YJ going on collector support alone. JLU proved this.

Q: Will any figures in the 2013 Club Infinite Earths Subscription be determined by a fan poll?

A: No. We won't be running a poll for the 2013 line, but we did look a lot at fan requests online!

Q: The WWE Display Stands are excellent! Are there any other accessory or display type items planned for WWE?

A: Not at this time.

That's all for this round. You can discuss this or add questions for future rounds at the AFB Forum, or comment here to enter the May Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

The AFB Comment of the Month Contest for May 2012

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:38:21 PDT

First off, thanks to everyone who commented on last month’s blog posts! Congratulations to "3B" of 3B's Toy Hive for being our randomly selected winner! Once we hear from 3B, (you can can PM your choice to "Andy" at the AFB Forum or email me at scott@actionfigureblues.com), his choice of either the either the Batman Legacy Series 3 Arkham Asylum Harley Quinn figure or the Marvel Minimates Wave 43 Jean De Wolff & Spider-Man Two Pack from DST will be on the way when available from Mike’s Comics N’ Stuff.

Now to May's Contest: on offer are two great prizes, either the Arkham City Wave 2 Catwoman figure from DC Direct or the Marvel Legends Wave 2 Unmasked Dark Wolverine from Hasbro - either of which would be a great prize!

A few bits and pieces:

every genuine comment on a post from the calendar month will be eligible to receive the prize. I’m going to stick to my own time zone and call it at 23:59:59 Australian Eastern Standard Time – best to comment often and comment early!

if my super scientific randomizer comment selector system chooses an Anonymous comment, I’ll skip it and go again – you need to leave a name, a link, your AFB Forum username or email addy so that I can contact you if you are the winner. Blogger comments allows you to do this, as long as your profile is not set to private – check your settings.

you will be given a choice of one of the two figures on offer from the month’s contest – figures will be in their original packaging. figures will be sent by first class mail within the US (Mike is sending them, remember) and first class international to any overseas winner. An overseas winner can elect to chip in for Priority Mail or Insurance, but otherwise we can’t take any responsibility for a parcel that doesn’t arrive – after all this is coming out of AFB’s not dreadfully deep pockets!

Once again, thanks to Mike for making this all possible for us, and here’s to another happy month of commenting! Until next time!

Marvel Universe Wave 17 Review and Pics

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:06:30 PDT

Hasbro's Marvel Universe line shows no sign of losing steam, with new characters still being introduced to the line each wave. Tonight I'm reviewing Marvel Universe Wave 17, which is another great addition to Hasbro's 3 3/4" Marvel offerings.

Psylocke is brand new to the line and is a standout figure in the wave. I have been very impressed with some of the quality female head sculpts Hasbro has been able to achieve at this scale, and this is one of the best we've seen. Her hair is very nicely sculpted and there is a pleasing amount of detail in her face with complimentary paint apps.

Psylocke comes with two accessories - a power blast and her psychic blade, and a named display base - something that seems to be going away in the line and which I will miss a great deal.

The Classic Storm figure has previously been seen in the Giant Size X-Men Box Set, but this is her first appearance as a single figure, and my first chance to have a close look at the figure since I'm keeping my GSXM Set in the box.

Most of the elements of this figure are excellent. The headsculpt is great and is supported by great paint work. The paint work falls down, however, when it gets to her uniform. A blue wash has been used with the black base of her gear and the results aren't totally successful. Her bust has ended up mostly blue in contrast to her body suit, and the look isn't the best.

Thankfully, Storm's great headsculpt takes one's eye away from this, and she also comes with two lightning blast constructs - a type of accessory that Marvel Universe has excelled in. Whereas I'm never inclined to spend much time fussing with extra weapons, I love the power blast accessories and will always try to use them.

Patriot is a bit of a surprise inclusion, and I hope it means that Hasbro intends to get to the rest of the Young Avengers in time. This is a clever use of parts from several existing figures that ends up feeling brand new with different paint and a tad of custom sculpting.

Once again, paint is excellent on this piece. The rivet buttons that border his tunic aren't quite sculpted on straight which is a tad distracting. He comes with his shield which is also painted well.

I tend to stay away from Marvel Universe repeat characters unless the are significant variants, and there are two in this wave that qualify - they are both simple repaints but each brings us an important alternate version of a key Marvel character.

The first of these is a black-suited Daredevil. Hasbro has certainly managed to get some good mileage out of Matt Murdoch, but this is the first version of Daredevil in quite some time to make the grade for my purchase. I was keen to have this version of the character, but also to have him on a larger and better buck compared to his earlier appearances in the line.

One thing that continually escapes me about Daredevil action figures is why he always seems to come with numchucks and rarely with his signature billy club. It's such a unique weapon, and seeing as Hasbro likes to have a Daredevil in every third wave, they could certainly get their mileage out of it!

The second repaint is Iron Fist in his white costume. Hasbro has made the most of Iron Fist as well in the line, but like black gear Daredevil this is a very valid variant, and in some ways I think this could be my favourite MU Iron Fist to date!

Iron Fist gets a grey wash over his white gear which is much more successful than Storm's wash. He comes with an energy accessory. His chest emblem really stands out on the white background - very effective stuff.

Apart from the issues with Storm I mentioned above, the paint apps are solid across this wave. This is always a hit and miss undertaking with the Marvel Universe figures - it seems this wave got a "good factory". A good wave to luck out on this as there are a number of characters with lines and designs in costumes that really could have been spoiled by bad paint work.

At present, I don't have a display space for this scale of action figure, but I'm still keenly collecting this line simply because of the breadth and depth of characters being covered. As long as new characters keep appearing in the line, I'm going to keep buying!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum and comment on this post to enter the AFB Comment of the Month Contest for April!

Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 11: Bowen Spinning Hammer Thor / More for More

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:11:30 PDT

Episode ELEVEN of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!

Join Ben, Scott and Justin from the AFB Forum for Episode Eleven of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Eleven includes our Toy of the Week Feature on the Bowen Designs Classic Action "Spinning Hammer" Thor Statue and our Discussion Topic is “Would you pay More for More?".

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Eleven here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

Captain Action Deluxe Action Figure and Spider-Man Costume Set Reviews

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:09:38 PDT

Tonight I'm starting off the first of my reviews of the latest look at Captain Action. This review will cover the Captain Action Deluxe Action Figure and the Captain Action Deluxe Spider-Man Costume Set.

I have to start off this review by saying that I don't have a personal nostalgia for Captain Action. His original heyday was before my time, and the previous attempt at reviving this line was before my collecting years. If not for the impressive photos of the Marvel Costume sets attached to this particular revival of the line, I most likely wouldn't have given this a second look. All I can say is, I'm glad I did!

This is the third time around for 12" Captain Action toys. The first line was produced by Ideal starting in 1966 and ended up covering a wide range of characters from a number of properties before ceasing production. The line was revived in 1998 by the now -defunct Playing Mantis. This incarnation lasted only two years but delivered some great revisits and never-before done characters like sidekicks Kato and Kabai Singh.

This new revisit is by Captain Action Enterprises and Round 2, and once you do your research on the original toys, you can see clearly that the creators of these toys have a great love for the property and it's history. They've brought a great deal of passion to these new toys and have been promoting them with gusto.

To fully appreciate these items, you need to have a sound understanding of the history of Captain Action and the original offerings from the line, and of what Captain Action is all about. Most of the criticisms I've read about these modern products can be answered by looking in to the vintage line and its products.

The idea behind Captain Action's costume sets is that Captain Action is a master of disguise and takes on these different roles. This is where the costume sets come from - this isn't simply a 12" cloth costume Spider-man, it's Captain Action AS Spider-man, and has to be looked at as such.

This answers the main complaints I've heard about these new sets - firstly that the costume sets do not come with an actual figure, and secondly that the character heads are masks instead of a swappable head. While having to buy extra Captain Action figures to display your costume sets is somewhat of a drawback, this line is ultimately about Captain Action himself - having him under the mask is an essential part of spirit of the line.

As I said, I don't have a personal history with Captain Action, so I'm firmly in this for the Marvel Characters. Still, I'll start with the good Captain himself, since as I said this is really all about him!

To me, Captain Action seems to be all about that late 1960s sci-fi hokeyness, and the producers of this new line have made a very sensible decision to embody this spirit rather than attempting to modernize the character.

While this is a loving and faithful recreation of the original toy, some sensible updates have been made. The biggest and best change is to the Captain Action head sculpt. The original Captain Action had a rather odd head, both in shape and facial expression, and this new version has been given a much needed update.

The Captain's outfit is very well constructed, and includes a removable cap and boots on top of his bodysuit. The workmanship on all of these pieces is excellent, and the bodysuit is easy to remove and put back on when the need for a costume change arises.

Captain Action comes with several accessories, the main items being very faithful recreations of his original gear. He has his sword and ray gun and each comes with a holster which fits on his belt. His belt is a bit of a challenge to keep together - it come unsnapped and the snap is so small that I had quite a time getting it reconnected.

The first Captain Action Costume set I'm reviewing is Captain Action as Spider-Man.

The packaging of these sets is so outstanding that I really felt it was a shame to open them. The boxes are colourful and the pieces are arranged beautifully. Thankfully this has all been designed so that you can put your sets together, and while it will take up more space to store them his way, I definitely plan to keep the boxes as they just look fantastic.

The Deluxe set comes with a swag of options and accessories. There is a regular Spider-man mask and a Peter Parker mask, two options for arms (which come in the form of hands with long gloves that you replace Captain Action's hand with) and a great set of boots. There are spiderweb shooters and a belt if you want a classic version of Spidey, or you can leave those in the box to keep your Spider-man modern as I have done here. There are other bits and pieces such as a camera and a copy of the Daily Bugle which, with my well publicised apathy to accessories, aren't my cup of tea, don't necessarily get me buzzing but are sure to excite accessories enthusiasts.

Once again, the fabric costume is very nicely constructed and fits on to the figure rather easily. The costume seems durable and the colours used are fabulous. The little spiderwebs that make up Spidey’s “wings” are a nice touch. The plastic pieces are very high quality and seem designed to last the test of time.

The Spider-Man mask is a challenge to put on, but worth persisting with as the result is great. The end result is a very slightly over-sized head, but when you keep in mind that you're disguising Captain Action as Spider-man the concerns go away for me.

The main issue I had with Spidey's assembly was keeping his arms attached. The gloves and hands replace Captain Actions hands and are meant to lock in, but I found challenging to get the right arm to click together. I did manage to accomplish this with persistence and would expect it to be easier to do on future attempts.There are two choices for Spidey’s hands, including one set in web-shooting mode.

The figure has a very good range of movement and is easy to pose in a number of different arrangements. I’m not always very successful at getting poses to work, and I found this figure very easy to work with and pose, which is especially important for a character like Spider-Man.

All up, I feel that all of my excitement as I anticipated the relaunch of this line has been worth it. The more I look at these pieces and assemble the different options, the more I love them. If Round 2 can reach someone like me who isn’t really into this type of figure, I can only imagine how Captain Action enthusiasts are responding to these loving, faithful updates.

The Marvel Costumes come with a “build a costume” theme - pieces for a Hawkeye costume which I can’t wait to assemble. I’m definitely in for this first set! We know that Loki and Thor sets are coming up and that Loki will fit on Captain Action's nemesis, Dr Evil, who is also on the way. No word yet on whether or not Captain Action's kid sidekick, Action Boy, will be making an appearance.

In my next review for this series, I’ll be covering the Captain America Deluxe Costume set - and I think we’re in for another treat!

These are apparently going to appear at Toys R Us in Australia, but no sign as yet. I got mine from AFB Sponsor Big Bad Toy Store, and they still have both sets in stock - worth checking out!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the April AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Pre-Order Hot Toys' The Avengers Captain America

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:10:12 PDT

The latest Hot Toy from the Avengers film is up for pre-order, and it's a great new version of Captain America with an impressive Chris Evans swap-out head:

Click here to pre-order through Sideshow Toys now and support AFB at the same time!

Attention Captain America and Avengers fanatics, Hot Toys just released their first look at the upcoming Captain America Sixth Scale figure, available for pre-order now! Even better, it's just in time for "Marvel's The Avengers," in theaters and IMAX 3D May 4!

Check out Cap in his modernized Avengers gear, which really makes this action figure come to life. Standing a little over one-foot tall, features of the Super Soldier figure include:

- One newly developed helmeted head (hand-painted)
- One newly developed alternate head with authentic likeness of Chris Evans as Captain America (hand-painted)
- Muscular body with more than 30 points of articulation
- Movie-accurate facial features with detailed wrinkles and skin texture
- One pair of palms holding shield
- One pair of palms for throwing
- One right palm for pointing
- One pair of relaxed palms
- One pair of fists
- One blue, grayish-white, and red garmet with embossed pattern as well as stars on chest
- One pair of blue pants
- One blue belt with pouches
- One pair of red boots
- One metal-like electroplated shield
- One metal-like battle damaged eletroplated shield
- One alien weapon
- Figure stand with Captain America nameplate and the movie logo

SPONSOR NEWS: Just arrived at Popcultcha.com!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:02:47 PDT

Our friends at Popcultcha.com have just advised of some latest arrivals at their web store. Free shipping for orders $100 and over within Australia! All prices in AUD.

Bowen Designs Polaris Full Size Statue Review

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:11:30 PDT

Bowen Designs' fantastic output of Marvel Statues shows no sign of letting up. After delivering a fairly comprehensive range of Classic X-men in mini-bust form, Bowen has turned their attention to delivering Full Size Statues of characters like tonight's offering: the Bowen Designs Polaris Full Size Statue.

Most of my collecting is about team or universe building, and while Polaris probably falls into the category of a character that I “need” for the purpose of completing a character group as opposed to a character that I want, there are a number of aspects about this piece that make it a very welcome addition to my statue collection as a piece in its own right.

Sculptor Mike Cusanelli has been working on a number of Bowen females lately, and this is another of his efforts. While his posing generally leaves me cold due to the lack of energy and power in the forms he creates, the detail on this statue is very nice to look at. The laces on her boots and natural creases in her body suit are very nicely done and show that Cusanelli definitely has skill.

The colour choices made for the greens on this statue are stunning. I always enjoy the judicious use of metallic paint on statues, and it has been used to great effect here. I love the effect - which is very nicely contrasted by the lighter green matte paint used for Polaris’ hair.

The Internet is a brilliant tool for stirring up worry over nothing, and this piece was the subject of some panic postings about the angle the statue stands at. To me it seems this is an issue of how the statue is inserted into the base. While it is built on a taller and thinner base than many recent offerings, I took a moment to make sure I was placing Polaris at the correct place on the base, and the end result is that mine doesn't lean awkwardly at all.

I'm not sure if Bowen takes displays into account when deciding base size and height, but to me this statue's height is a very nice touch - as I mentioned she's a bit higher than many recent X-Men Full Size Statues, and this helps her fit well into a display of like characters. Whether it's by design or coincidence, this is a nice touch.I can see an argument that it might have been nice to have Polaris on the same level as Havok

The issue I'd raise with this piece is pretty minor. It’s the color of Polaris' lips - the choice made was pink, as opposed to the green lipstick she's often depicted with, and the result is that it makes her face a tad washed out amongst the brightness of her hair and costume.

While this statue is unlikely to come up in any “best of” lists at the end of the year, it’s a more than serviceable effort which does more than just fill the gap of a much-wanted character. The great green metallic work and the slightly elevated height are both nice touches that give this a couple of steps above the average.

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the April AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 10: Rapid Fire Reviews / Classic vs. Modern

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:07:06 PDT

Episode Ten of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now!

Join Scott, Ben and Andy from the AFB Forum for Episode Ten of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Ten includes our Rapid Fire Reviews on the Sideshow Captain Rex 12" Star Wars Figure, the DC Direct Big Barda Ame-Comi PVC Figure and the Gears of War Anya Figure.

Our Discussion Topic is “Classic v. Modern".

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Ten here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us postive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

AFB Asks Matty for 15 April 2012!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:02:57 PDT

It's time for another round of questions and "answers" from Mattel as AFB Asks Matty!

Q: Does Mattel own Digital River?
A: No, they are a vendor.

Q: What's the thinking behind using a fictional character ("Matty") to communicate issues like delays and acknowledgements of QC issues? Doesn't anyone at Mattel actually want to put their name to these announcements?
A: It allows us to have one voice for news regardless of whom is working at Mattel at any given time.

Q: How do you think that the delays and ongoing customer service issues with Digital River will impact on subscription sales for 2013?
A: We hope all of these issues will be resolved very quickly now that we have a new US based customer service team.

Q: Will we see any further waves of the Batman Legacy line?
A: At this point, there are no plans. We are relaunching 6” at mass retail in 2013 and we’ll let you know more closer to the date.

Q: Will we see any further fan polls to determine future WWE figures?

A: We would like to do more polls in the future but don’t have any to announce just yet.

That's all for this round. You can discuss this or add questions for future rounds at the AFB Forum, or comment here to enter the April Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

DC DIRECT RE-LAUNCHES AS DC COLLECTIBLES, EXPANDS ONLINE OFFERINGS

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:11:57 PDT

DC Comics has issued a press release today regarding changes to DC Direct and DC's online collectible offerings. The press release is followed by AFB's thoughts below"

"BURBANK, CA, April 11, 2012 – DC Entertainment announced today that its collectibles product line, previously known as DC Direct, has been re-launched with a new brand – DC Collectibles. Additionally, in early May 2012 DC Collectibles will expand its online store (www.DCComics.com/Collectibles) to offer its entire product line for sale on the web, in addition to the line’s primary availability in comic book retail locations. For those fans who prefer to purchase a product in-store, the website will also provide information on the closest retail location that carries a particular DC Collectibles product.

“We’ve taken the past year or so to become laser focused on what makes the products in this line special, and what has emerged from that process is DC Collectibles,” stated Geoff Johns, chief creative officer for DC Entertainment. “We’re extremely proud of our line of unique, high-end collectibles, and feel that it caters to fans looking for limited edition, authentic products based on our characters and stories, created by the same artists who work directly on those characters and stories.”

As part of DC Collectibles online sales expansion, two “online exclusive” products will be offered in May and a new line of custom prints will be available for sale only on the web. The first online exclusive is a Flashpoint Action Figure Box Set including: Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and a previously unreleased Emperor Aquaman. The set also include a $500 Wayne Casino Poker Chip. The second online exclusive is a Heroes of the DC Universe: Blackest Night Green Lantern and Sinestro Bust. The new online prints will represent different graphical and artistic themes, branching out beyond comic book artwork. Twenty different designs will be available for sale, all printed on thick, archival paper that is perfect for framing.

“Not all of our fans have access to comic book retail locations, so by expanding our website to offer the entire product line, we’re adding an element of convenience and the ability for fans to collect every single product they’re interested in,” stated Hank Kanalz, senior vice president of digital, DC Entertainment.

For fans attending C2E2 in Chicago this weekend (April 13-15) Geoff Johns will moderate a DC Collectibles panel that will showcase the new website and brand logo, and offer an exclusive sneak peak of never announced DC Collectibles products coming later in 2012. The panel is on Friday, April 13 at 2:30pm CT."

AFB says: This is obviously interesting news. It's great to see that DC is committed to continuing to produce action figures and statues, but what remains to be seen is how expansive those lines will be - will they continue to cover the full range of DC Comics characters from across the years, or be DCnU all day, all the time?

Naturally, this "international" collector will also be interested to see if the DC Collectibles site ships outside of the U.S.

I'm going to call this a promising development simply because it means that DC is still producing these lines - and reserve judgement for much later on.

Also - I'm going to try to find out from someone at DC if that's the actual Aquaman coming in the Flashpoint set, since that's clearly the Brightest Day Arthur and not Emperor Aquaman.

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter theApril AFB Comment of the Month Contest!
Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 9: MOTUC Wind Raider / To Open or Not to Open?

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:12:19 PDT

Episode Nine of the AFB Podcast is now live at iTunes and available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! Follow the link and click "View in iTunes" to see the new episode!

Join Scott, Justin and Andy from the AFB Forum for Episode Nine of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Nine includes our Toy of the Week feature on the Masters of the Universe Classics Wind Raider, and our Discussion Topic is “To Open or Not to Open".

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode NIne here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us postive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

SPONSOR NEWS: New items in stock at Popcultcha.com.au

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:54:50 PDT

SPONSOR NEWS: Popcultcha.com.au has new items in stock - and free shipping in Australia for orders $100 and over!

Check it out while you can! All prices are in AUD

DC Dynamics goes out with a bang - Joker style

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:11:57 PDT

The DC Dynamics Statue line has been a very enjoyable run from DC Direct, if you like your statues a bit more high concept and artistic. The DC Direct DC Dynamics Joker Statue seems to be the final release from the series, and if that’s the case it takes the line out on a very high note.

When you’ve been in the superhero statue sculpting game for as long as Tim Bruckner has, it’s not surprising that you’d want to try something a bit different, and the DC Dynamics line certainly are that. This line plays with light and shape and produces something much more artistic than the average supehero collectible. We’ve had six hero statues, followed by two villains, with Joker being the last.

I was originally in two minds about purchasing this statue - I had made a definite decision to pass on the Sinestro version because it was the modern Sinestro Corps version, and so wondered if it was best to keep this as a heroes-only set. Once I saw some in-hand pic from other collectors, however, I knew that I wouldn’t feel like my DC Dynamics collection was complete without Joker on the shelf.

In contrast to the majestic constructs and energy bursts that the DC Dynamics heroes burst out of, Joker is enveloped in murky plumes of what would appear to be his trademark laughing gas. These green plumes create a very distinct silhouette fitting of Batman’s mad archenemy. They may be murky, but they are crafted out of a similar translucent material to the heroes’ constructs, creating a clear link to the other pieces in the line.

While each of the heroes that has appeared in this series has had a fairly classic styling, there’s a bit more of a modern edge to the Joker’s look - in particular the headsculpt, which is extremely detailed and includes the yellowed, rotting teeth which have become a trademark of the modern age Joker. There is no detail missed here - including fantastic detail in the folds and seams of Joker’s jacket and shirt - the kind of sculpting skill that has become synonymous with Bruckner’s work.

Alongside the fantastic sculpt, there are some nice details - like the goofy, evil smiley faces on the smoke bombs that create the plumes of green Laughing Gas that Joker is enveloped in. They’re very well done, and are a nice touch to an already excellent piece.

Paint work on this piece does nothing to let it down - great colour choices mesh with seamless application to finish off a real gem. Whether you’ve collected DC Dynamics or not, any serious Joker / Batman fan needs to consider owning this piece - this is the Joker, Tim Bruckner and DC Direct all at their best.

So, for all intents and purposes, that brings us to the end of the DC Dynamics line. Tim Bruckner released in-progress pics of a Flash version that was in the works but cancelled, and I must say it’s a shame that one never came to light as it would have made a great centrepiece to the collection.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and with DC Direct we can usually count on that happening to soon....

You can see my previous reviews of DC Dynamics pieces here: Aquaman was reviewed on his own, then Wonder Woman and Batman as a set, then Superman, Supergirl and Green Lanternas a trio.

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the April AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

The Thing From Another World - the new AFB Custom Challenge!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:10:09 PDT

It's time to announce the first AFB Forum Custom Challenge for 2012, and I for one am excited!

The Theme is "The Thing From Another World", and all of the rules and contest info can be found at the AFB Forum, but in essence:

You can enter any character that was not born on any Earth in any genre - alternate Earths count! True Aliens only!

You can use any scale.

Your character can come from comics, film, anime, television, books (remember those?) - anywhere!

Again, check out the Challenge Thread at the AFB Forum for a full run-down - the deadline is June 17th, so get busy!

Bowen Designs Giant Man Statue - 21" of Classic Avengers Glory!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:11:30 PDT

Bowen Designs has shown an extraordinary commitment to bringing every incarnation of Hank Pym to statue form. We’ve had Ant-Man and Yellowjacket, and will have two different versions of Goliath before the year is out. Towering over them all is the Bowen Designs Giant Man Statue, and its this mega-piece that I’m reviewing tonight.
This piece was also featured as a Toy of the Week Discussion on Episode 4 of the Action Figure Blues Podcast if you’d like to have a listen.

Coming in at 21 inches tall, this piece stands at the same height as a standard Sideshow Premium Format figure, which makes him a substantial piece and gives him ample height above his fellow Bowen Full Size Avengers to more than adequately depict his growth powers.

This statue delivered a surprise to me as soon as I opened it, and that was that he is all one piece (base withstanding). I’m accustomed to statues of this size coming in pieces, and expected that some assembly would be required to make Giant Man truly giant, but that was not the case. The box isn’t particularly big by Sideshow standards, but it’s rather large for a Bowen box. Good fun.
Bowen “Museum” statues, the style of statue that shows a plain, standing pose, often come under some criticism for their lack of action, but in general I don’t have issues with that - I like displaying my statues in groups / teams and so statues that take up less space are my preference. In this instance, though, I do think there may have been a bit of room for a pose with a bit more energy. This really is about as “bland vanilla pose” as you can get.

I suspect, however, that the majority of those that have purchased this significant piece will be planning to do what I am, which is to put him in the centre of a classic Avengers display. For that purpose the pose is pretty much exactly what’s needed – and perhaps that was the idea all along.

Pose aside, the sculpt work here is excellent – the headsculpt in particular ticks all the classic Giant Man boxes. All costume lines and breaks are sculpted, and there are nice details like the natural folds in his trunks and the raised layer of his harness – which isn’t his first appearance get-up, but the later “V” style.

He has a nice set of antennae, which are made from a slightly pliable material to save snapping off from a bump. I’d be interested to know how these are applied, as they seem very securely fixed to the head but there is no sign of any glue or other means of affixing them.

The paint work is very tight on this statue. All lines are clean and paint is well applied. Red is a challenging colour to work with, and there is a great deal of it here. The wash used to provide depth and definition is a tad dark for my liking, but it does do the trick. There is some sort of blue wash added to the silver belt to provide

The base for this statue is a standard Bowen base with the circuitry type pattern that features on many of the Avengers statues. I appreciate the simplicity and the small circumference of the base as it minimises the space (width wise at least) that this statue needs and makes it possible to make him the centrepiece of an Avengers display.

Speaking of that display, the only genuine issue I have with this great statue is where I’m going to place him. He’s too tall to fit on any of the shelves I normally use for my Bowen pieces, so I have him up on top of my display cases with my Sideshow pieces, where he fits in scale but not theme. Working him into a classic Avengers display is not impossible, but it’s going to take some doing, however it is most definitely a project work doing.

Bowen really does need to be commended for tackling challenges like this, especially for such small production runs. A Classic Wasp is on the way that will allow us to fully assemble the original team in statue form very soon!
You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the April AFB Comment of the Month Contest!
Until next time!

The AFB Podcast Episode 8: Hot Toys Blade / Articulation vs. Aesthetics

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:12:19 PDT

Episode Eight of the AFB Podcast is now live at iTunes and available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! Follow the link and click "View in iTunes" to see the new episode!

Join Eli, Ben and Andy from the AFB Forum for Episode Eight of the Action Figure Blues Podcast! The AFB Podcast is a weekly look at action figures, statues and other collectibles from the worlds of comic books and popculture.

Episode Eight includes our Toy of the Week feature on the Hot Toys Blade Movie Action Figure, and our Discussion Topic is “Articulation vs. Aesthetics".

If you can't use iTunes, you can download Episode Eight here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us postive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

Keep your collection organized with Mint Condition Collection!

scott@actionfigureblues.com (AFB Productions) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:49:33 PDT

Largest Action Figure Collection Database Launches with 55,000 Toys, Powerful API and Social Features

Chicago, Illinois - April 3, 2012 -Mint Condition Collection launches today as the largest free database for action figure collectors and enthusiasts to catalog their collections, track their want list, trade with collectors, and share their passion with plastic lovers from around the world. Best of all, all new users who register will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

With more than 55,000 action figures, statues, playsets, and vehicles, Mint Condition Collection (http://MintConditionCollection.com/) launches the largest and easiest to use action figure database on the internet. By joining, members can utilize “ToyPI”, Mint Condition Collection’s application program interface (API), which provides access to more than 20 datapoints. Automatically add related action figures to your blog posts or create specialized checklists for your website using ToyPI.

Mint Condition Collection offers the best action figure collection system available, built specifically for action figure collector’s needs. Features include:

Contribute to the wiki-style database, adding and updating any toy or custom action figure
Showcase your collection display in image or video galleries
Tag toys with personal information, like quantity, location, and condition
Trade and send messages to collectors
Rate and write reviews (or post video reviews) of all toys
Earn Collector Points and Collectible Badge achievements to show off your collecting skills
Share your collection on your personal website with provided Javascript code
Take your collection anywhere by exporting it as an Excel file
Experience Mint Condition Collection for free

“I built Mint Condition Collection because just playing with my action figures wasn’t fulfilling enough,” says founder Michael Sherrin. “I wanted to share them, rate them, and track them. Action figures, like most things, are best when played with others.”

Mint Condition Collection was developed because no collection tool catered to the needs of action figure collectors. Michael Sherrin designed a system that is easy to use and robust in its features, while always remaining free and open.

“Some collection tools want you to pay for basic features, while others fail to account for unique action figure collecting quirks, like tracking custom action figures or allowing you to add only one figure from a two-pack,” says Sherrin. “Mint Condition Collection makes tracking your action figure collection fun and simple.”

About Mint Condition Collection

Mint Condition Collection (http://MintConditionCollection.com/) provides the largest free database for action figure collectors and enthusiasts. Founder Michael Sherrin has worked as a web developer for more than a decade, and he has published more than 100 articles on comic books, entertainment, and technology. He is currently an MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management. He owns more than 600 action figures and 10,000 comic books. You can view his collection at http://mintconditioncollection.com/collection/prodigeek.