Toy review roundup

Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Voyager class Lugnut and Grimlock figures. Excerpt: “(Grimlock) doesn’t really try anything astounding, settling for a solid update of the G1 design. But this is not a bad goal to have …”

EVA Unit 4A reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Voyager class Lugnut figure. Excerpt: “… the biggest letdown for this Voyager-class toy was his size compared to his on-screen counterpart.”

yo go re reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Voyager class Deep Space Starscream Target exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… unless the plan was always to do these repaints and force fans to double-dip, why not do them right in the first place?” (See also.)

EVA Unit 4A reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Deluxe class Prowl figure. Excerpt: “… this will probably be one of my top favorites of the whole line.” (See also.)

Engineernerd reviews the Hasbro Indiana Jones Monkey Man figure from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Excerpt: “For a ‘Monkey Man’ figure, I expected a bit more from the monkey.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest Cannibal King Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones 1/6 scale figures. Excerpt: “Jack is in the running with only a couple other sixth scale figures at this point for best of the year.” (See also.)

Poe Ghostal review the Mattel Movie Masters The Dark Knight Batman with Crime Scene Evidence figure. Excerpt: “… we’re seeing a raising of the stakes in the movie-based action figure market.” (See also.)

Jeff Saylor reviews the NECA Alien Alien 18-inch-scale figure. Excerpt: “… at this price point, it is a bona fide bargain.” (See also.)

Matthew Kessen reviews the NECA Alien Alien 7-inch-scale figure. Excerpt: “If your other action figures need to be menaced by something, it comes highly recommended.”

Jess C. Horsley reviews the Tonner Doll Company Lara Croft, Tomb Raider Legend doll. Excerpt: “… few fans will want to miss this one …”

Chong Kah Fai reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Chrysaor Krishna and Merak Beta Hagen figures from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)

Retro reviews

Matthew Kessen reviews the Kenner Star Wars Patrol Dewback set. Excerpt: “… the creature’s face sported an enigmatic, reptilian Mona Lisa smile.”

Atom reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Grand Pope Shion figure from the Saint Seiya series. Excerpt: “I’m glad I grabbed him …” (See also.)

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

svelte_corps reviews the Lego Agents 8635 Mission 6 Mobile Command Center set. Excerpt: “I love it to pieces and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone, whether for parts or for play value.”

Deinonychus reviews the Lego Agents 8634 Mission 5 Turbocar Chase set. Excerpt: “I’m very comfortable recommending this set to anyone.”

Michael Crawford reviews the DC Direct Deluxe Collector Figure The Dark Knight Batman and The Joker 13-inch figures. Excerpt: “This Ledger Joker is the best Deluxe 13″ figure DCD has produced.”

Matthew Kessen reviews the DC Direct Batman The Killing Joke Collector Set Batman and The Joker figures. Excerpt: “Bolland’s straightforward artistic style is captured beautifully.”

yo go re reviews the Hasbro Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection Expanded Universe Pre-Cyborg Grievous figure from the Star Wars Visionaries comic. Excerpt: “… it’s cool to see where he came from.” (See also.)

Josh Bernard reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech YF-19 (Isamu version) from Macross Plus. Excerpt: “While I prefer the styling of the GNU YF-19, this one has it beat on accessories.” (See also.)

yo go re reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Allspark Power Deluxe Salvage figure. Excerpt: “Salvage is actually a sort of double homage …” (See also.)

Blitzwing reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Voyager class Optimus Prime figure. Excerpt: “This is just about as show accurate as it gets.”

Blitzwing reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Voyager class Deep Space Starscream Target exclusive figure. Excerpt: “While still not perfect, the color alone is an improvement over the original release.”

yo go re reviews the Four Horsemen FANtastic Exclusive Ggruxx and Ssejjhhorr exclusive figures. Excerpt: “… you can’t appreciate the good without the bad.”

Artemis reviews the Hasbro Spider-Man Mary Jane figure from Spider-Man 3. Excerpt: “… a very dull figure.”

Scott Rubin reviews the Bandai Ben 10 Alien Force Humungousaur and Swampfire figures. Excerpt: “… fun figures for kids, and neat collectibles for more adult fans.”

Josh Bernard reviews the Mattel Hot Wheels Speed Racer Mach 5 1/24-scale toy. Excerpt: “… the Mattel version is a bit more expensive, it is still a great piece.”

Retro reviews

WIKD reviews the Tomy Zoids EZ-076 Brastle Tiger kit. Excerpt: “… an awesome addition to any collection.” (See also.)

Atom reviews the Bandai Saint Myth Cloth Hades Shun from the Saint Seiya Hades OVA. Excerpt: “For fans of the show, Hades is a nice addition … .” (See also.)

Toy links

International Tokyo Toy Show 2008 reports by Toybu (part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5), Damien Sancho (part 2, part 3), Hinatatiki (part 2, Bandai: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and Shimazou (Takara Tomy and Konami).

Life on the Death Star.
“How many times do I have to tell you that Lord Vader’s Lightsaber is not a toy?!”

Shootout on Cobra Island.
Wild Bill is outnumbered and outgunned but not outdone in this excellent diorama by fifthconspiracy.

Action Master ver. 2.0.
Scratch-built Convoy and Lambor custom figures.

Lego Sea Dragon.
A creative MOC by tkh. (Be sure to view his other cool Saint Seiya Lego MOCs.)

A rose for Nanna.
Supersteen apparently created this Lego MOC for their 7th anniversary.

Cliffjumper ver. Animated.
A Transformers custom by grayfox.

Ragin’ Cajun.
A nice custom Stikfas figure by Sabermaker.

Wingdom Gundam. [via]
A custom HCM Pro Wing Gundam figure by Nick.

Toys and art from recycled material. [via]
“They’re all hand made in the townships around Cape Town and the artists make a living from selling them.”

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