MOTU Masterverse New Eternia Panthor

 Like everyone, I was excited to hear about Mattel Creations releasing a Masterverse Panthor, and the thing did not disappoint! The box art is magnificent, front and back, which continues onto the inner slip panel, which features a panoramic scene of Snake Mountain on the verso:

The overall metallic sheen of Panhor and his armor make the whole thing sizzle, bringing out the texture in the sculpt. The horned bracers on the front legs and spear are nice extras. Panthor's green eyes are really a standout, set back under their realistic, glassy depth. Really nice. Additionally, his upper fangs drop down when you open the cat's jaw. Panthor also has subtle leopard pattern over his body, largely covered by his saddle and helmet.

This Panthor was made to carry my Masterverse New Eternia Battle Armor Skeletor ...!

Below, Masterverse New Eternia Battle Armor Skeletor and Panthor with my MOTU Origins Battle Armor Skeletor and Panthor. I also have had the MOTU Origins Collector's Edition Flocked Panthor boxed since 2021! 

Below, Masterverse New Eternia Panthor with my Masterverse Revelation Battle Cat and Revolution Battle Armor He-Man! I got my Battle Cat at 50% off retail, but some collectors have wondered aloud if we will see a New Eternia Battle Cat- is there a demand for it like Panthor? I suppose it's possible, and while I'm happy enough with my Revelation Battle Cat for now, Panthor superior in presentation and features.

At forty bucks plus six ninety-five to ship, I say this deluxe Panthor is a good value- a beautiful toy that MOTU collectors have been waiting a long time to get. The perfect steed to my Battle Armor Skeletor and looks great next to my Battle Cat. Recommended!

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DC Multiverse Collector's Edition Power Girl & Gold Label Superman

I preordered my Gold Label Superman from Nerdzoic some time ago but only stumbled upon the Power Girl in the wild last weekend while out of town! Since they are cousins, I thought they'd be a nice pairing to post about. I have a love/hate relationship with McFarlane DC Multiverse that's mostly positive, but they have made some great looking figures, and I'm liking the move to wired cloth capes.

This Gold Label Superman looks to be mostly a repaint for the Action Comics 1000 Superman that came out about five years ago, but with a wired cloth cape- with an S on the back this time. For whatever reason, they removed the sculpted chest insignia, replacing it with a flat tampograph, inexplicably printed in metallic red. It has nothing to do with the tomato reds throughout the outfit, but I like it for some reason. I'm unsure the butterfly shoulders help articulation, and we get the original single hinged elbows from the older figure- there are better, updated bucks that have superior articulation. Regardless, the wired cloth cape makes him 10X more interesting, and we were given a flight stand.

I didn't care for the skin tone or facial portrait on this McFarlane Hush Superman, and though he may have better articulation than this Gold Label Superman, I'm not convinced the sculpt is better. The Gold Label looks more natural...

Funny, I posted another McFarlane Toys Superman only a couple weeks ago- 

the fantastic Super Powers Classic Superman!

I felt like this Gold Label Superman had a lot in common with 

my old DC Universe Classics Superman, especially the dark blue.

Below, Superman with Martian Manhunter, The Flash, and Aquaman ...

To my dismay, Power Girl quickly sold out online and I accepted I might not get her but was surprised to find her a Walmart while out of town recently! I love this mostly classic version of Kara- especially the confident, beautiful facial portrait. Another wired cloth cape, but disappointingly no flight stand like Superman. Her cat Streaky has a cloth cape as well.

Below, McFarlane Power Girl with my DC Universe Classics Power Girl, 

and DC Collectibles New 52 Power Girl...

... and Power Girl with my only other female McFarlane DC Multiverse female, Batgirl!

Superman and Power Girl dispatch Lex Luthor ...!

While Superman has a lot of reused parts, and Kara is possibly out of scale with a lot of earlier McFarlane DC Multiverse figures, I did enjoy these figures. They both have great facial portraits, and the wired cloth capes are fantastic. McFarlane figures often confound me with their awkward articulation and instability, and some of that applies here, but the figures look great overall.

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Spin Master Batman Forever Batmobile, Batman & Robin

I was surprised to see these at a local Target, the Batmobile priced at an unbelievable price of $19.99, a buck less for myself using my Target Redcard! I wasn't impressed with the Riddler figure, which was way out of scale with Batman and Robin, and the Two-Face didn't come with a pistol, so I passed on him for that oversight. Batman Forever wasn't my favorite Batman movie, but I enjoyed it well enough, and though I wasn't into the toys of that era, I really like the retro aesthetic Spin Master put into these. Check out the video:

The McFarlane Toys Batman Forever Batmobile looks fantastic, but it's not cheap, so this Spin Master version is a very affordable alternative. I was delighted to realize it included a Batman figure- he was just sitting in the driver's seat, the canopy taped shut, inside the box! You can't help but feel Spin Master released this knowing all those '90s kids would buy one, some for their own kids.

The box art on Batmobile is fantastic! Colorful, exciting and '90s nostalgic:

Below, the individual Spin Master Batman Forever figures- I absolutely love these...

The sliding canopy on this Batman Forever Batmobile is fantastic! I saw one online complaint about the included Batman not easily fitting into the cockpit, but mine fit just fine. It's seating for one, so the Boy Wonder will have to take the Two-Shoe Express!  :D

I'd have a hard time choosing between these two Batman figures, both identical in sculpt, so I'm glad I have them both! Batman has added articulation in the hinges in the shoulders. My main complaint with these figures is the lack of accessories- I'd have paid even more for a few batarangs and a grapple hook.

While I took a pass on the two villains in this line, I'm mad for the Batman, Robin, and Batmobile- the latter a stunning value at $19.99. Make no mistake, these aren't adult collectibles- they are toys, and they are made for play. I highly recommend these and look forward to seeing what Spin Master releases later this year!

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McFarlane Toys Super Powers Classic Superman

There is just something toyetic about this new Super Powers Classic Superman by McFarlane Toys- appealing to kids of all ages. I haven't purchased but a handful of these new Super Powers figures, 'cause you can't just have everything you like, but I could not pass on this. While I had outgrown toys by the time the original Kenner Super Powers figures dropped in 1984, I am fond of their classic depictions of the heroes featured in DC Comics of the Bronze-Age -my sweet spot. Their seven points of articulation severely limit their poseability, and purists lament the absence of their former action features, but I do like their styling. This classic Superman looks so appealing on his cardback that I have just been displaying him like that. Below, Super Powers Classic Superman with my Super Powers Fleisher Superman- note the updated buck on the Classic Superman...
 

Below, Super Powers Classic Superman with my carded DC Direct Super Friends Superman!

And finally, McFarlane Toys Super Powers Classic Superman with most of the other Classic Superman figures in my collection: 8" Mego 50th Anniversary Superman, Mego 13" Superman, 8" Mego Classic Superman, 7" DC Direct History of the DC Universe Superman, 6" DC Universe Classics Superman, 13" DC Direct Superman, 12" Mattel Movie Masters Christopher Reeve Superman...

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Marvel Legends Dracula

 

I preordered this Marvel Legends Dracula loose from Nerdzoic awhile back, forgoing the BAF figure piece to build Blackheart as part of the recent "Strange Tales" Wave. A few others interested me, but you can't have everything. I'd love to see a '70s Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula figure from Hasbro, but I liked the sculpt on this newer version in medieval armor. I really appreciate the alternate head accessory with a neutral facial expression and love the sword. That ponytail is articulated/has a swivel. I've not seen this version of Dracula in Marvel Comics, but I purchased it based purely on its merits as an action figure.

Below, Dracula with my Marvel Legends Venompool Wave Morbius .... 

...and finally, Dracula with some other recent figure acquisitions, MOTU Masterverse Emperor Hordak and his Horde Trooper, and my Super7 Thundercats Deluxe Mumm-Ra...

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TMNT Mutant Mayhem Astronaut Raph

I've passed on this figure more than once, but was having so much fun with TMNT, that I finally picked up the Mutant Mayhem Series Astronaut Raph. Not sure this space faring scenario occurred in Mutant Mayhem, but there was an astronaut themed turtle figure in the original line, which ballooned in scope due to its ridiculously over-the-top variant turtle figures. 

I was mildly disappointed the chest circuitry was a sticker as opposed to a tampograph, but I do like that the dome can be removed to articulate the neck- very cool. This figure has good articulation, knees and elbows included, but I wish we had some stowage options for the weapons.

There's no real gap between Astronaut Raph's digits, so he can't grip his sai the same way my Mutant Mayhem Raphael can, Again, some sheaths for these would be nice, but Playmates did paint the handles.

Below, Astronaut Raph with my TMNT Mutations Bishop Mech...

My Loyal Subjects BST AXN Android Body Krang would be a perfect figure for Astronaut Raph to battle- he might use his laser blaster arms to attack our plucky hero! I've had more fun all the time pitting this extra-large figure against others in my collection- so absurd, so fun! 

I had fun playing with Astronaut Raph- he's just a fun variant turtle to have among the ranks here in the Super-DuperToyBox. On the lookout for the Playmates Donatello as Dr. Spock now but may missed prime peg time awhile back on that, being late for the dance as it were.

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