Target Optimus Prime and Autobot Bullseye
Transformers - Generations (Hasbro) - Exclusives
Rated 4.75 stars by RMaster007
The Transformers franchise has been home to all sorts of unique collaborations and products, ranging from mash-ups with other pop culture licenses like Disney and Jurassic Park, to more unusual ideas, mainly incorporating Optimus Prime. Remember that Pepsi-themed version, or a 7-11 redeco of the Masterpiece, and how about one that turned into a mini PlayStation One? One of the latest in the continuing series of odd mash-ups gives Optimus Prime a Target-themed repaint. They've been a Transformers retailer for years with plenty of exclusives, so it only seems appropriate. There was a time when the Transformers line went windowless and plasticless, and the end result was some very attractive packaging. Hasbro decided a while back to go back to windows and trays, but that doesn't mean they...[See More]

Slash (Binky's Day Out)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Classic Cartoon (Neca) - Basic Series
Rated 4.85 stars by RMaster007
In the midst of all sorts of unique designs and characters, some of which are getting figures for the first time, NECA has gone back and updated a few familiar faces in the TMNT world, cartoon specifically. First they improved the turtles themselves, then they redid April, a character who much needed an upgrade, and most recently, Slash. The first toon Slash they did, coming packed with Leatherhead, was fine, but still rather flawed looking back on him. Now Slash is back by himself, and he's much easier to get ahold of this time around. We're now at "volume 18" of the toon Ultimates, and they continue to draw inspiration from the old FHE video tapes for box design. Slash's is a bit more unique, depicting him holding his old pet bowl, but with a shrunken Bebop and Rocksteady on the...[See More]

Scarlett
G.I. Joe (Super7) - Ultimates
Rated 3.95 stars by RMaster007
For an incredibly divisive team of military operatives, G.I. Joe has surprisingly very few women. Case in point, the original cartoon had only three female members on the good guys' side: Lady Jaye, Scarlett, and Cover Girl. At least with the women, Super7's been able to get almost all of them out as quick as possible in Ultimates form. We already got Jaye and Baroness (three versions at that), and Cover Girl should be out within the next month, should that leaves Scarlett to look at. Last wave's Jaye and Baroness had great female likenesses, but they were held back by a lack of painted skin, instead using cheap-looking glossy colored plastic. Scarlett doesn't have this issue, as Super7 made sure this wave had painted skin tones, and it helps make the eyes and lips blend in with it...[See More]

Stump Wrestling 4-Pack
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Neca) - Adventures
Rated 4.75 stars by RMaster007
Once NECA began making figures from the TMNT Adventures comics, the four brother themselves were inevitable. But rather than doing regular versions, they went the extra mile and produced them in their iconic Stump Wrestling outfits. We saw early prototypes at SDCC last year, and this year's show presented finalized, articulated samples. Amazingly, they got released barely a month later, showing up now at Target. They're pretty easy to find and are arriving in large amounts, but I can see a mass release happening soon. Since this is a four-pack, the turtles come in a long window box, and a very attractive-looking one at that. There's plenty of illustrations all around, from both Adventures artist Ken Mitchroney and TMNT fan artist turned NECA illustrator Aaron Hazouri. The turtles are...[See More]

Vampire Mr. Burns
Simpsons (Jakks Pacific) - Premium
Rated 4.30 stars by RMaster007
When The Simpsons premiered on TV, it marked a significant turning in animated series, proving that they could be made for adults instead of just kids, and it kickstarted a rise in adult animation. Despite that, The Simpsons was still a series meant for families, and has been just as popular with kids as it is adults. Jakks Pacific seems to understand, as in addition to their regular products, they've made "premium" action figures, aimed towards more dedicated and older fans of the series. One of the first premium figures is Mr. Burns, but not just any version of him; it's the vampire Burns from Treehouse of Horror IV. Excellent! The packaging is a little different from the regular releases, as while it still has the same cast of characters background and pictures of the figure on the...[See More]

Sheila the Thief (Invisible)
Dungeons & Dragons (Super7) - Ultimates
Rated 4.40 stars by RMaster007
Despite being around for less than ten years by that point, 1983 saw Dungeons & Dragons getting its own animated series. I've seen a few episodes of it, and it's surprisingly good for a cartoon at the time. About decades after the show ended, Hasbro gave it a short-lived line of figures, and Super7 picked up the mantle earlier this year with the announcement of Ultimates. The first wave should be out in the Fall, but in the meantime, they gave us an exclusive released around SDCC, depicting Sheila making use of her cloak of invisibility. For those unaware, Super7 has began cutting back on the use of slipcovers, making for a better packaging display on the shelf. Sheila's box depicts the window as a dragon's open maw amongst a rocky background, looking rather fierce, and the back gives us...[See More]

Homer (Donuts)
Simpsons (Jakks Pacific) - Basic Series
Rated 4.30 stars by RMaster007
Since last month, Jakks Pacific's new Simpsons line has been trickling into various of their usual retailers, namely Target and Walmart. They haven't been super abundant for me, and I suspect the aisles have been picked over by the time I get there, but I've been able to find almost everything out so far. The first wave of their 5" figures is part of the initial offerings, and with it comes some good variety. Once again, Homer is the key character in the debut wave, but I consider the sculpt in this scale to be a bit weaker than the smaller version. My reason being that the top of his head is a bit bulbous and misshapen. It looks fine from the sides, profile view, and the back, but from the front, he looks quite off. Comparing him to the smaller version, the head on that is about as...[See More]

Toilet Taxi
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Classic Collection (Playmates) - 40th Anniversary - Accessories
Rated 4.35 stars by RMaster007
Since last year or so, Playmates has been going heavy into nostalgia for the Ninja Turtles line, re-releasing plenty of figures and vehicles we never thought we'd see again. One of the most unexpected releases is the "Wacky Action" Toilet Taxi, a rather goofy vehicle released back in 1990. The Wacky Action figures haven't been reissued yet, but this seems to be a start. The box is about the same as the original, but the illustration on the front has been completely redrawn, with different colors and details from the original art, the most notable change being that Donatello is on the vehicle instead of Leonardo. The text descriptions are preserved from the original, and even with the changes, the packaging could fit fine with the OG releases. The inside makes use of cardboard to protect...[See More]

Bellybomb
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Neca) - Adventures
Rated 4.80 stars by RMaster007
NECA run's with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license has given us plenty of firsts when it comes to characters, doing a variety of allies and villains that haven't gotten figures before. They've done the first official Jagwar figure, the first Dreadmon figure, and now, the first Bellybomb figure. If you aren't familiar with him, he was a character made solely for the Archie TMNT Adventures comics (though the 2012 cartoon had a character clearly based off him), being present in three issues aiding Krang in his evil plans, and was introduced in the same issue as Slash. After all these years, this alien menace finally has some merch. I usually talk about the head first when it comes to figures, but in Bellybomb's case, he's almost all head. His name comes from the fact that his mouth is...[See More]

Living Room Diorama
Simpsons (Jakks Pacific) - Dioramas
Rated 4.20 stars by RMaster007
At the start of the 21st century, Playmates put out their best line that wasn't Ninja Turtles: Simpsons. The main gimmick of said line was that the figures could be plugged into playsets to spout lines from the show, and said feature was hit or miss at times, especially in its later years. Despite that, both the figures and sets looked fantastic, and now we have somewhat of a successor in Jakks Pacific. They're putting out figures in the same scale as Playmates, but with no talking feature. We have gotten a playset, however, but scaled to go with the smaller figures. Unsurprisingly, it's the Simpson residence. I've already discussed the packaging with the 2.5" figures, and the box for the set is more of the same, but windowless. You still get some good photos of the set, showing off all...[See More]