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 …”

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.

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.)

Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Binaltech BT-20 Argent Meister figure.

Yuki Bune reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Encore Omega Supreme figure.

Shishioh, Gamu, K2O and Hima-toy review the Bandai Saint Myth Cloth God Cloth Pegasus Seiya figure from the Saint Seiya Hades Chapter Elysion OVA.

Shishioh, Mojya and G.S.R. review the Bandai Souchaku Henshin Kamen Rider Kiva (Dogga Form) figure.

K2O reviews the Bandai In Action Offshoot Knightmare Frame Gloucester (Cornelia version) from the Code Geass series.

Mojya and SR../Blood Zwei review the Bandai HCM Pro Gundam Heavyarms 1/200-scale figure from the Gundam Wing series.

Ka2-yuki reviews the Bandai HCM Pro Wing Gundam 1/200-scale figure from the Gundam Wing series. (See also.)

Ramuna reviews the CM’s Corporation Mecha Action Series Dancouga Nova figure. (See also.)

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

Damien Sancho reviews the Yamato GN-U Dou Macross Plus YF-19 figure. (See also.)

Ebi and Pokotannu review the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-05 Hot Rodimus figure. (Note: Pokotannu removed the gold plating from the rear spoiler.) (See also.)

Ebi reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei D-03 Astrotrain figure. (See also.)

Hinatatiki reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-03 Grimlock figure. (See also.)

Syuuamamori reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech YF-19 (Isamu version) from Macross Plus. (See also.)

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

G.S.R. reviews the Banpresto SCM (Special Creative Model) EX Z Gundam figure. (See also.)

Kaz reviews the 3R Imperial Japanese Army Nakamura Ryuichi 1/6-scale figure.

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

Yuu-yui reviews the Max Factory Figma Takamachi Nanoha (Barrier Jacket version) figure from the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS series. (See also.)

Syuuamamori reviews the Max Factory Figma Izumi Konata (Cosplay version) Wonder Festival and mail order exclusive figure from the Lucky Star series. (See also.)

Gamu reviews the Basil Lady Roses Coral 1/18-scale garage kit. (See also.)

Damien Sancho reviews the Maisto Wild Rides Fresh Metal Blurred Vision and Blue Speed 1/18-scale toys.

Retro reviews

Ebi reviews the Popy Big Scale Goggle V Goggle Caesar toy.

Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Galaxy Force GC-16 Liger Jack figure.

Hirohiro reviews the Bandai MSIA (Mobile Suit in Action) Sky Grasper Dengeki Hobby Magazine exclusive toy from the Gundam SEED Destiny series.

Toy review roundup

Artemis reviews the Diamond Select Stargate Atlantis Athosian Teyla Previews exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… her inability to do cool kung fu stances with her sticks is annoying, but she’s a good likeness …”

Michael Crawford reviews the Toynami Futurama Bender and Build-A-Bot Robot Devil figures. Excerpt: “I love being able to alter his look in such a critical way, and you could use him like your own little mood ring …”

Michael Crawford reviews the Sideshow Collectibles Shaun of the Dead Shaun and Ed (regular and Sideshow exclusive versions) 1/6-scale figures. Excerpt: “The killer here is really the outfits and the old body.”

Josh Bernard reviews the Yamato GN-U Dou Macross Plus VF-11B figure. Excerpt: “… go get one.”

yo go re reviews the NECA Alien versus Predator: Requiem Predator (masked version) figure. Excerpt: “I really only bought the Predator as a way of showing thanks to NECA for what they did for the Four Horsemen, but ended up being pleasantly surprised …” (See also.)

Jin Saotome reviews the NECA Player Select Raziel (Material Plane and Spectral Plane versions) figures from the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver game. Excerpt: “This is how you make a figure …” (See also.)

Terry Dizard reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Baroness and Cobra Commander (with MASS crystals) figures. Excerpt: “… finally - FINALLY - Cobra Commander has his trademark detail.” (See also.)

Jess C. Horsley reviews the Peril Unlimited Bloody Betty Zombie 1/6 scale figure. Excerpt: “While there are a few things wrong with the headsculpt, the fact an hour or so on a work bench could take this from a good figure to a great figure …” (See also.)

Josh Bernard reviews the Konami Busou Shinki Fighter Asuka figure. Excerpt: “If you want the definition of play value - look no further.” (See also.)

Josh Bernard reviews the Jada Toys Speed Racer Mach 5 1/24-scale toy. Excerpt: “I wish it had a few more gimmicks, but at that price I really can’t complain.”

Retro reviews

Stormhawk reviews the Hasbro Zoids Blox BZ-104 Ray Saurer 1/72-scale kit. (See also.)

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