Toy review roundup
yo go re reviews the DC Direct Watchmen Rorschach figure. Excerpt: “This figure is only slightly above ‘mediocre’ by 2009 standards …”
Jeff Saylor reviews the NECA Gears of War 2 Marcus Fenix vs. Locust Drone two-pack. Excerpt: “… the best Marcus Fenix figure ever released.”
Philip Reed reviews the Mezco Toyz HB II Hellboy San Diego Comic Con exclusive 3.75-inch figure. Excerpt: “As nice as some of the other Hellboy figures out there look, I really prefer this 3.75" version …”
Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Hawkman, “Shazam!” and Collect and Connect Kalibak figures. Excerpt: “Mattel has GOT to get this quality control problem under, well, control.” (See also.)
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Killer Moth figure. Excerpt: “Did someone spill a box of Skittles or is that a toy?”
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics “Shazam!” figure. Excerpt: “… it’s $12 well spent.”
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Space Heroes 2 Pack Adam Strange and Starfire Mattycollector exclusive two-pack. Excerpt: “Starfire is just generally disappointing while Strange is a great figure marred by a number of quality control issues.”
Action Toy Review reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Mongul figure from the Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive Cyborg Superman and Mongul Super Enemies Figure Pack. Excerpt: “… surprisingly a very cool looking figure.”
Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics He-Man, Beast Man and Skeletor Mattycollector exclusive figures. Excerpt: “I have no interest in the Masters of the Universe cartoon, and yet I’m loving this line so far.” (See also.)
Jorge Pelaez reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Skeletor Mattycollector exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… a must-have addition …”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the McFarlane Toys Halo 3 Campaign ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) figure. Excerpt: “… I recommend gently testing the articulation points.” (See also.)
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Star Wars The Legacy Collection Battle Packs Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol set. Excerpt: “… two very cool and distinctive Speeder Bikes, and two very cool and very distinctive Imperial troopers.”
Phillip Donnelly reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Sting Raider with Copperhead set. Excerpt: “… a great update to a classic vehicle, with a very cool figure to pilot it.” (See also.)
Phillip Donnelly reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Ghost H.A.W.K with Lift Ticket set. Excerpt: “This successor to the Sky Hawk is an impressive vehicle.” (See also.)
Phillip Donnelly reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Comic Pack Beachhead and Dataframe two-pack. Excerpt: “I would recommend it on Beachhead alone …” (See also.)
Phillip Donnelly reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Comic Pack Scrap-Iron and Wild Bill two-pack. Excerpt: “… Hasbro gave us the Sunbow Wild Bill! In a comic pack.” (See also.)
Phillip Donnelly reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Comic Pack Hard Master and Snake Eyes two-pack. Excerpt: “An odd looking bald man and a dull, gray ninja don’t really appeal all that much to me.” (See also.)
Mike reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Headhunter Driver International G.I. Joe Convention exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… the figure is rather well done, if uninspired.” (See also.)
yo go re reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Cobra H.I.S.S. Driver figure. Excerpt: “Why does a guy driving the tank need thigh-high armored boots?” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Deluxe class Swindle figure. Excerpt: “… Swindle is one of the more impressive Animated toys.” (See also.)
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Mattel Hot Wheels Batman 1966 TV Series Batmobile 1/18-scale replica. Excerpt: “Mattel has done a really superb job with this vehicle …” (See also.)
Retro reviews
Leonardo Flores reviews the Bandai Saint Seiya Full Action Saint Gemini kit. Excerpt: “If you are a hardcore Saint Seiya and Spiral Zone collector this set is definitely worth picking up …”
Leonardo Flores reviews the Bandai Astro Boy Interactive Astro figure. Excerpt: “… a beautiful link to … the early days of anime.” (See also.)
Leonardo Flores reviews the Matchbox Robotech Veritech Hover Tank figure. Excerpt: “… one of Matchbox’s stand out pieces in the line that was filled with so many misfires and bad quality control.” (See also.)
Artemis reviews the McFarlane Toys Beowulf Grendel’s Mother figure. Excerpt: “… it never really wows you.”
Toy links
Rebel Alliance Multi Unit System.
A cool fan-created Lego Star Wars concept. (Click on the images for a better look.)
Krang Android.
A fine custom by speedlee. (See also.)
Guns … lots of guns.
A Marvel Legends-style Solo custom by OLJA1.
Michael Phillis’ Dolls.
“Calling someone a U.P.P. is a particularly stinging insult, signifying as it does ‘useless piece of plastic,’ and reserved for those unfortunates born without a single working joint.”
Mattel and Hasbro embrace regulation.
“The regulations give the big toymakers a federal stamp of approval, and they make it harder for upstarts to challenge the big guys-or even survive. Without the regulation, parents might put more trust in a local, independent toymaker they know. After the regulation goes into effect, that toymaker is out of work.”
Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
(Please do not hotlink images on these sites.)
Shishioh, Yuki Bune, Gamu, SR../Blood Zwei and Nekonekokoara review the Bandai S.I.C. Kiwami Tamashii Kamen Rider Hibiki figure.
Gamu, K2O and Hima-toy review the Megahouse Variable Action Queen Cideron figure from NG Knight Lamune & 40.
Mojya reviews the Bandai HCM Pro Seravee Gundam 1/200-scale figure from Gundam 00.
Kaz reviews the Bandai S.I.C. (Super Imaginative Chogokin) Kamen Rider Zeronos and Deneb Imagin set. (See also.)
Kanon reviews the Banpresto Kiba Musha Gaiden Knight Gundam (sword and lance versions) and Kiba Musha prize toys. (See also.)
Damien Sancho reviews the Banpresto Kiba Musha Gaiden Knight Gundam (sword and lance versions) prize figures.
Alfes reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Deluxe class Beast Wars series Dinobot figure. (See also.)
Red reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Deluxe class Generation 1 series Smokescreen figure. (See also.)
Mojya reviews the Max Factory Figma Kagamine Len figure from Vocaloid2. (See also.)
Ken Murasame reviews the Hasbro Iron Man Iron Man Prototype figure. (See also.)
Hinatatiki reviews the Takara Tomy Zoids Graphics Twinhorn kit.
Retro reviews
neko no tesaki reviews the Takara Dual Model Series Combat Armor Soltic 1/72-scale figure from Dougram.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Shin Getter 1 (Getter Scythe version) figure from the Getter Robo Armageddon OVA.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Shin Getter 1 (black-coloured devil wing version) figure.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Neo Getter 1 (metallic paint version) figure from Shin Getter Robo vs Neo Getter Robo OVA.
Gamu reviews the CM’s Corporation Sunrise Mecha Action Series B.ATM-03 Funny Devil figure from Armored Trooper Votoms: The Blue Knight.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers C-107 Crosshairs figure from Transformers The Headmasters.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers C-108 Artfire figure from Transformers: The Headmasters.
Mondo reviews the Konami Busou Shinki EX Weapons Set Builder Grapprap accessory set. (See also.)
Toyhunter reviews the Bandai Key Bots Brave Zeek and Alex Bots set.
Toy links
Skotraxx.
An impressive Lego Bionicle MOC that looks dangerous when ready to pounce. (More.)
Black Knight.
As this custom by speedlee shows, McFarlane and SIC go together well.
Training in the mountains to fight on the streets.
A cool digirama by Zelevol.
Game over, man, game over.
McFarlane’s Military take on NECA’s Alien in this diorama by Ed Speir IV.
Optimus Prime at the Louvre.
Preparing to foil Megatron’s dastardly plan to wipe that smirk off Mona Lisa.
Bernie Madoff figure. [via]
Costs 50 billion dollars. (Okay, not really.)
Re: Fanmode’s review roundups
Fanmode’s been highlighting toy reviews both in English and Japanese since its launch in October 2007. We may have linked to a lot of reviews since then but we’ve also omitted a lot of reviews from our roundups.
We’re generally pretty easygoing about the Japanese toy reviews included in our roundups published on Mondays and Thursdays. Our readers may not read Japanese — some may not even have Japanese font support installed — so the main purpose of the Japanese toy review roundups is to showcase toy releases that might otherwise get only minimal English-language coverage. We’re mainly looking for plenty of clear photographs from a variety of angles that hopefully convey pictorially what the toy is all about. Importing Japanese toys is particularly costly these days since the yen is stomping all over the US dollar, and the photos might help toy fans make a purchasing decision or interest those who simply want to see cool new designs from Japan.
We have different criteria for the English reviews included in Fanmode’s toy review roundups published on Tuesdays and Fridays. Here’s what Fanmode is looking for: honest, insightful, well-written reviews of interesting toys.
Anyone who’s been following Fanmode for a while will realise we’re generally uninterested in toys as display pieces to be admired from afar. If it’s an unposable piece of vinyl, Fanmode isn’t interested. If it’s a statue or bust, Fanmode isn’t interested. There are other sites that cover those with greater enthusiasm.
We don’t mind reviewers covering toys received from manufacturers and retailers. We do, however, expect that fact to be prominently and explicitly stated in the review. We also expect a thorough and fair review from a reviewer making a “buy this” recommendation for a toy he didn’t purchase himself. Fanmode is not interested in linking to sloppy reviews with bland observations that were hurriedly written by reviewers aiming to please manufacturers and retailers in order to get more free toys.
We’re not keen on reviews of prototypes and bootlegs though we’ve linked to them in the past. We understand the allure of having rare and unusual prototypes but we question the ethics of buying and reviewing goods smuggled out of factories. There’s no question bootlegs can be highly amusing as Bizarro World representations but we feel it’s unconscionable to reward bootleggers in any way for illegally benefiting from the creativity and work of others. Couple that with the fact bootleggers are now deceiving buyers and retailers by passing off bootlegs as originals and you have every reason to boycott them.
We hope to provide our thoughts on what constitutes Fanmode’s idea of a good toy review but in the meantime, we strongly recommend checking out the reviews of yo go re over at Online Action Figure Entertainment. He consistently comes up with insightful reviews that are enjoyable to read. You may not agree with his opinion but you will appreciate the effort he makes in expressing it. You’ll learn something about the toy, something about the story behind it and you may even look at your own toys in a new way.
Now that’s a review worth linking.
Toy links
Oh, fools will be pitied.
A great G.I Joe-style custom Mr. T with a new ride.
The Dutch company.
G.I. Joe-style custom figures of the team from Predator.
Chris Morada’s Thundercracker and Skywarp.
“Minor sculpturing fix on both heads and slapped on a clean paint job using HOC paint(House of colors).”
Contra.
“Using acrylic rods and beads I made the Spread show, Machine gun shot, and Laser shot! They magnetically attach to the front of their guns so you can switch them around.”
Metal Gear Assemble Borg.
This unusual Assemble Borg fanmode by Ryoku Kasinn is reminiscent of Metal Gear Gekko.
Black Lightning.
Digirama by Clarkent78.
Automaster rides again.
Iinchoa discovers the Maisto 1/18-scale die-cast bikes make perfect rides for Microman 200X figures.
Conkers.
Ee chee wa maa!
Bette Davis eyes.
“I chose this background color to work with her lovely eyes.”
Autobots, transform, roll out and stimulate the economy.
“Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday confessed he’d like the help of Transformers leader Optimus Prime to solve the current economic crisis.”
Toy review roundup
Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Predator 2 Lost Predator 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “… you won’t feel like you got some sort of steal, but you’ll know why you spent that much money.”
Jeff Parker reviews the Hot Toys Alien 3 Dog Alien 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “You couldn’t describe it as a bargain, but the work lavished on it certainly makes it fair …”
Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Skeletor Mattycollector exclusive figure. Excerpt: “While I think this is a great sculpt, there’s no question it’s lacking in a lot of the traditional hallmarks of what is often considered great action figure sculpting …”
Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Deluxe class Generation 1 series Smokescreen and Beast Wars series Dinobot figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Dinobot) I think this design team is just not Beast-compatible.”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe G1 Series Deluxe class Cyclonus with Nightstick set. Excerpt: “He’s easily the best of this newest batch, so snap him up as soon as you see him.” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Fast Action Battlers Desert Blast Brawl figure. Excerpt: “The tank mode looks good and the colours are good, but I’m not sure this is enough to save the mould.”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends Ares series Vision Wal-Mart exclusive figure. Excerpt: “Did we really need another?” (See also.)
Nathan Newell reviews the Bandai Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Super Legends Green Power Ranger figure. Excerpt: “This is pretty much what I’ve been waiting for all these years …” (See also.)
Action Toy Review reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Cyborg Superman figure from the Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive Cyborg Superman and Mongul Super Enemies Figure Pack. Excerpt: “… we are lucky that Mattel has decided to re-release this action figure at a reasonable cost because it certainly is not worth the $80-$100 that most eBay sellers were asking for before the new 2 pack arrived.”
Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel Batman The Brave and The Bold Cyclone Spinner Red Tornado figure. Excerpt: “… this toy is probably the most disappointing B:BatB figure out yet.”
EVA Unit 4A reviews the Thinkway Toys WALL-E Search ‘N Protect EVE toy. Excerpt: “… I don’t think that Thinkway Toys could have done any better.” (See also.)
Updatedude reviews the Bandai Ben 10 Alien Collection Diamondhead figure. Excerpt: “A neat little toy …”
Artemis reviews the Lego Bionicle 8698 Vultraz set. Excerpt: “… he’s cruising around impressing the bimbos while the honest goody-two-shoes Bionicles look on in envious fury.”
Artemis reviews the Lego Bionicle Barraki 8916 Takadox set. Excerpt: “… a creepy-looking and fun figure.”
Retro reviews
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Star Wars Death Star Trash Compactor (Luke Skywalker and Han Solo) and Death Star Trash Compactor (Princess Leia and Chewbacca) sets from Star Wars: A New Hope. Excerpt: “… a really excellent diorama.” (See also.)
Updatedude reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Deluxe class Wreckage figure. Excerpt: “When Wreckage first came out, he was arguably one of, if not the best Movie Deluxe available.”
Toy links
Speeder.
This Assemble Borg fanmode looks ready to break the land speed record. (Click on the image for a better look.)
Ultron.
A fine custom by Tonyz Customz.
Old school.
Jack Szwergold is posting a lot of neat Microman-related scans on Flickr.
Ghost of Mars.
A photo by shadowowl.
Neo Henshin.
A painting by The Robert Droid Project.
Toys and auction houses.
“The house recently sold an empty box that had once held a Hornby Dublo model of the locomotive Sir Nigel Gresley for a staggering £1,300 …”
Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
(Please do not hotlink images on these sites.)
Kanon reviews the Volks N.E.X.T. Linebarrel (Super Limited version) Volks exclusive 1/144-scale figure.
Taoo reviews the CM’s Corporation Mecha Action Series DX Zerberus VR-Maxima figure from Votoms: Blue Knight Berserga Story.
Mojya reviews the Banpresto Kiba Musha Gaiden Knight Gundam (lance and sword versions) and Kiba Musha prize toys. (See also.)
Gamu and Red review the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei D-07 Cyclonus figure. (See also.)
Hinatatiki reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-13 Hound figure. (See also.)
Gamu reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei D-06 Galvatron figure. (See also.)
Toyhunter reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Crossovers Iron Man figure. (See also.)
Damien Sancho (part 2) reviews the Happy Well RoadBot Kawasaki Ninja ZX12R 1/10-scale figure. (See also.)
Kaz reviews the Bandai DX Chogokin VF-25S Messiah Ozma Custom from Macross Frontier. (See also.)
Ramuna (part 2) reviews the CM’s Corporation Brave Gokin Gakeen (normal colour version) set. (See also.)
Reisende reviews the Bandai In Action Offshoot Glasgow Tamashii Web exclusive figure from Code Geass. (See also.)
Nekonekokoara reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Zartan figure. (See also.)
Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Mattel The Dark Knight Battle Armor Batman and Bruce Wayne 4-inch-scale two-pack.
Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Mattel The Dark Knight Batman and Two-Face 4-inch scale two-pack.
K3 reviews the Bandai SDX Knight Gundam figure. (See also.)
Ebi and Koshihara Hitoshi review the Bandai Henshin Belt DX Decadriver role-playing toy from Kamen Rider Decade.
Retro reviews
neko no tesaki reviews the Takatoku Toys Dorvack Kahen Mecha Mugen Calibur 1/55-scale figure.
neko no tesaki reviews the Bandai Saint Seiya Saint Cloth Series Aries Cloth figure.
Esuyu (part 2, part 3) reviews the the Bandai Soul of Chogokin GX-03 Combattler V set. (See also: 1, 2, 3, 4.)
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Getter 1 (normal version) figure from the Getter Robo Armageddon OVA.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Getter 1 (full mantle version) figure from the Getter Robo Armageddon OVA.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Getter 1 (test and training machine version) Anime Export exclusive figure.
MaruH102 reviews the Aoshima Shin Seiki Gohkin Getter 1 (original weathering version) Anime Export exclusive figure.
Esuyu reviews the Takara Transformers Beast Wars Metals D-59 Jaguar figure. (See also.)
Alfes reviews the Takara Transformers Collection 8 Inferno figure.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers C-109 Stepper figure from Transformers: The Headmasters. (See also.)
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Car Robot C-005 Artfire figure from the C-011 Spychanger DX6 set.
Mondo (part 2) reviews the Ohtsuka Kikaku Hyper Hero Collection Box Ultraman (C type) versus Uchuu Kyouryuu Zetton set.
Nekonekokoara reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Valor vs. Venom Kamakura with Ninja Lightning Cycle set. (See also.)
Toy links
Them!
“When I was small, my dad and I used to watch monster movies together … I decided to commemorate this experience with a diorama as a gift for my dad.”
Titan Command (ver. 2009).
misodrill’s cool homage to the vintage Microman Magnemo figures.
Time Warrior.
Zina’s outstanding Stikfas custom.
Gigantic.
This is the tallest Assemble Borg fanmode so far. (Click on the image for a better look.)
Gundam Double X.
An abstract but still identifiable Lego MOC. (Click on the image for a better look.)
Schnell, schnell!
A fantastic photo by castor photo.
Obelix and the magic potion.
It turns out Getafix’s concoction was a lot less exotic than he made it out to be.