Toy review roundup

BigGuido reviews the Mezco Toyz Hellboy II: The Golden Army Hellboy (cigar variant), Liz Sherman and Johann Krauss 7-inch-scale figures. Excerpt: “The paint on all of Mez’s Hellboy figures has been above par for the most part, but these figures aren’t up to Mez’s usual standard.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Heroes of the Rebellion Han Solo Smuggler: Tatooine Sideshow exclusive 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “It is an improvement over the Bespin Han, and it is recognizable as Solo, but this isn’t going to be the be all end all version.” (See also.)

WIKD reviews the Takara Tomy Zoids Malder Guylos Specification e-Hobby/International Tokyo Toy Show 2008 exclusive kit. Excerpt: “… a welcome addition … ” (See also.)

Poe Ghostal reviews the Hasbro Iron Man Iron Monger (opening cockpit version) figure. Excerpt: “The new Iron Monger (v2, as it’s known among collectors) is superior in every way to the first version except for one thing …” (See also.)

David Yeh reviews the Sideshow Collectibles Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins Sideshow exclusive 1/6-scale figures. Excerpt: “There are a few things that I wish were handled differently or better, but overall I really enjoy having these characters join the rest of the Fellowship at last.” (See also.)

Josh Bernard reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Lazengann figure from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Excerpt: “Lazengann is a typically great Revoltech release, if you can overlook the wrists.” (See also.)

EVA_Unit_4A reviews the Bandai Go-Onger Engine Gattai Series Engine Gunpherd toy. Excerpt: “It’s a good little toy, though a bit featureless compared to some of the others.” (See also.)

Michael Crawford reviews the Medicom Star Wars Vinyl Collectible Dolls Wicket figure. Excerpt: “This figure was one of the bigger disappointments in awhile.”

Shogundan reviews the Taito Super Mechanics Cosmo Zero prize toy from the Space Battleship Yamato series. Excerpt: “… I was disappointed with the lack of paint detail on this model.” (See also.)

Artemis reviews the Mezco Toyz Cinema of Fear Nancy Thompson diorama from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Excerpt: “… I can’t really bring myself to like this ‘figure’ that much - for all that it’s an interesting attempt …”

Retro reviews

Tom Prankerd reviews the Bandai Metal Joe Fighter Lock, Dial Lock, Armor Lock, Chain Lock and Sword Lock figures. Excerpt: “… anyone who likes cute twists on the transforming robot idea - not to mention high quality manufacturing and some good, compact designs - should keep an eye out for these little guys.” (See also: 1, 2, 3.)

Leonardo Flores reviews the Bandai Spiral Zone Protect Suit Bull Solid 1/12-scale figure. Excerpt: “… 30 years later they still hold their value and art design very well …” (See also.)

yo go re reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Comic Book Pack # 26 Tommy Arashikage, Lonzo R. Wilkinson and Classified three-pack. Excerpt: “It would be worth buying this set just to get the comic, let alone the three figures!” (See also: 1, 2, 3.)

Tom Prankerd reviews the Bandai Godaikin DX Bio Man, DX Daimos and ST Laserion sets.

Tom Prankerd reviews the Popy The Chogokin ST Voltes V figure. Excerpt: “Whatever the faults of the ST figure as a transformable toy, it can’t be denied that it looks good in robot mode.” (See also.)

Tom Prankerd reviews the Select Convertors Bulldozer figure. Excerpt: “The robot is an odd looking thing …”

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.)

Gamu reviews the Yamato Bubblegum Crisis Transforming Moto Slave and Priss (part 2) 1/15-scale set.

Mojya reviews the Kotobukiya Square Enix Final Fantasy VII Play Arts Sephiroth figure.

G.S.R, Gamu and Tom review the Bandai S.H.Figuarts Shocker Rider figure from the Kamen Rider the Next movie.

Ken Murasame review the Bandai MSIA (Mobile Suit in Action) Tieren Ground Type figure from the Gundam 00 series.

Kaz reviews the Bandai Mugenbine MugenKnight, MugenLio, MugenUnicorn, MugenLeviathan, MugenPhoenix and the combined form, Mugen Arthur, from Mugen Kenseijyuu trading toy set. (See also: 1, 2, 3, 4.)

Gamu and Mondo review the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Gloucester (Cornelia version) from the Code Geass series. (See also.)

Ken Murasame reviews the Yamato GN-U Dou Macross Plus YF-21 figure. (See also.)

Syuuamamori reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech YF-21 (Guld version) from Macross Plus. (See also.)

The G reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Lazengann figure from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. (See also.)

Acro_characin reviews the Max Factory Figma Koizumi Itsuki (Uniform version) figure from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. (See also.)

Nekonekokoara reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Cobra Viper figure. (See also.)

Gun0826 reviews the Hasbro Indiana Jones Colonel Dovchenko figures from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. (See also.)

Pokotannu reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Voyager Cybertron Mode Megatron figure. (See also.)

Pokotannu reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Optimus Prime figure from The Battle Begins: Optimus Prime versus Megatron set. (See also.)

Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Hasbro Transformers Allspark Power Overcast figure.

Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers MD-17 Payload figure. (See also.)

Ebi reviews the Takara Tomy Tomica Hero Rescue Force Hero Tools Series DX Rescue Crusher role-playing toy.

Hikutori reviews the Plastica Outerskin Yovkodori (black and white versions) costume accessories for Busou Shinki MMS figures.

Retro reviews

Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Takara Microman Magneforce MagneMicroman Achilles figure.

Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Kenner Transformers Beast Wars Iguanus figure.

Toy links

Jack Walsh’s All My L’il Ninjas. [via]
Over six minutes of ninjas. Can it get any more awesome than that? Silence! (Episode 2. Over nine minutes of ninjas!)

Claudio Dias’ Bumblebee papercraft. [via]
Incredible.

Powerpinch.
Pisuwo’s custom Transformers Allspark Power Payload figure was inspired by the Beast Wars character.

She saved the world. A lot.
An excellent Buffy diorama by Sasha Powell.

FarePlay, ToyFare blog launches.
“This is going to be your best bet to get your favorite ToyFare-y goodness in the 29 days a month between issues.”

Fanmode faves

Fanmode presents about a few hundred toy-related links every month and it’s possible a few may have slipped your attention. Here are ten of our favourites for June ‘08.

Lady Roses Coral.
Bike transformers are tough to pull off. We consider the Gobots Throttle to be the best of the 80s and Transformers Animated Prowl to be the cream of the crop in modern times. That is, until we saw Basil’s 12,000 yen 1/18-scale garage kit. Takara Tomy, get this man a job.

Sonic Diver Rei-jin in action.
Tamaki’s Little Treasure may update infrequently but we still check the site almost daily because the new digirama is always a treat.

Barricade Girl.
A remarkable Transformers-inspired custom figure by shibamura_prime. (See also.)

What’s this?
Plamoo’s stop-motion toy videos are typically brilliant and nigh incomprehensible.

Cobraganda.
Wars are not won with ninja commandos alone. Chris Sims takes a look at G.I. Joe’s efforts to win hearts and minds.

The Meat.
We’ve seen some strange toys over the years but this accessory set from the JAKKS Pacific Rocky line was completely unexpected.

Cosmo Crusher, Gaia and God Mars (Lego-style).
Johnny Tang’s Lego reproductions of classic super robots are always link-worthy.

Gizmodo goes to Lego.
Learn what Lego calls its pieces, why both “Lego” or “Legos” are wrong, how many pieces have been produced since 1958, why Lego sets are expensive and what the best-selling set is among other things.

Cutar.
This isn’t the most intricate of Lego MOCs but we simply love the fact izzo was inspired by his son’s drawing. (More.)

Lego Darth Vader.
He’s more Lego than man now.

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