Toy review roundup

Jin Saotome reviews the NECA Bionic Commando Nathan “Rad” Spencer, Ninja Gaiden Ryu Hayabusa and Castlevania Simon Belmont figures. Excerpt: “Ryu is a must-buy …” (See also.)

Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Faker New York Comic Con and Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “If you want to charge the same price for this guy as all the rest, you need to get a little creative when it comes to the extras.” (See also.)

Nathan Newell reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Faker New York Comic Con and Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “This is a great figure, but Mattel just missed making another perfect figure.”

yo go re reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends Wolverine and Forge set. Excerpt: “Don’t pass this set up just because it’s not as flashy as some of the others.”

Philip Reed reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Captain America figure. Excerpt: “Intellectually, I know that he’s not a perfect toy. In my heart, though, this is the best figure in the Marvel Universe series and maybe the best 3.75-inch action figure we’ve seen this decade. ” (See also.)

Retro reviews

Tom Prankerd reviews the Bandai High Complete Model (HCM) RMS-106 Hi-Zack 1/144-scale figure from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Excerpt: “It’s not pretty, but it gets the job done.”

yo go re reviews the Hasbo Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends Biker Scout figure. Excerpt: “His legs aren’t quite wide enough to ride a speeder bike, but then, he doesn’t come with one.” (See also.)

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Classic Legends class Perceptor figure. Excerpt: “A toy you can easily pass up …”

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Cybertron Legends class Scourge figure. Excerpt: “One of the best Legends toys from Cybertron …” (See also.)

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Classic Legends class Trypticon figure. Excerpt: “… a fairly well done repaint, but the tribute is an odd choice.” (See also.)

Toy links

Name’s Ash. Housewares.
“I love the versions of Ash that appear in the AoD comics, with Ash being really muscular and more hardened from fighting through time – so I went for a mix of the comic stylings.”

The collector.
Justin Manny used Transformers Animated Activators Optimus Prime as a base for this cool Pipes custom.

Scarabos.
“It really looks like a lost Mego vehicle made just for Antron, who seats inside perfectly even with all his weapons attached …”

I thought you said you were done making weapons?
It’s completely harmless.

Mari Kasurinen interviewed.
“… I’ve decided never to sell My Little Edward Scissorhands because he’s so good when it comes to opening letters.” (Her customs were recently featured in Guardian’s Life & style section.)

On display.
“How do you turn your living room into a pop-culture museum? That’s the question I’m going to try and help you answer in a set of articles dedicated to the art of toy display.” (Part 2. Part 3.)

Points of Articulation.
“… figures with lots of PoA but can’t even frickin’ stand on their own power, ala Revoltech.” For a counterargument, see the few thousand photos in the Flickr Revoltech pool featuring Revoltech figures standing on their own.

Labour of love.
“The 20ft by 2ft wooden model features shops, houses and even a cinema with miniature billboards advertising films the couple watched on their first dates.”