Monday, January 30, 2023

Marvel Legends X-Men Dump


Marvel Legends seem to be coming out with increasing frequency as the last few years have progressed. Though I can't buy them all, I hardly have time to review what I do buy. Due to this ever-growing pile of unopened figures, I've opted to dump several figures into one post- more of an overview of all the figures than an in-depth look into each figure individually. They are also less trouble to ship if I want to sell any. While the new X-Men Retro Card Apocalypse was a recent acquisition, the other X-Men Retro Card figures are over two years old now, and some of the others were purchased around 2017-18. Bishop and Forge have certainly been around that long...



Shatterstar is a fantastic figure with some nice detail- the leather texture/coloring on his shoulder pauldron and head gear is fantastic! He looks great next to his X-Force teammate Cable ...



Dani Moonstar is actually one of the New Mutants- she came with hand and head accessories for Karma and Wolfsbane, two of her New Mutants teammates. There are a handful of other New Mutants in my Marvel Legends collection, but I teamed her up with Warpath below, as they are both Native American ...




Sunfire is a figure I've had for several years now- one of several I bought on sale at Walgreens. The buck this is on has some fantastic articulation, including butterfly joints at the shoulders. The head sculpt is fantastic! He is pictured below with fellow flamester Human Torch...



When they started dropping these X-Men Retro Card Series figures, I was thrilled- particularly by the inclusion of Gambit and Rogue- the latter of which I had missed out on during her first release...


The Walgreens Exclusive Mystique included the head from that first Rogue figure, half transformed in blue skin. ...it seems a little big on this Rogue, but I sure love the inclusion of the glove holding hand on the new version.


Hasbro also released a black version of this Retro Card Storm with the soft goods cape. The Giant-Sized X-Men Storm that came with the Thunderbird 2-pack may be the best of these, but I love the punker mohawk Storm ...!


I already had the first release of Gambit before Hasbro dropped the superior X-Men Retro Card Gambit ... the painted playing cards, brighter colors, and better hair sculpt were an improvement.


Aside from the unfortunate aura effect on his Cerebro helmet, Professor X may be the best deluxe Marvel Legends figure ever- my favorite part about it are the sliding arm rests that reveal hidden control panels!


With my recent acquisition of the X-Men Animated Series Jean Grey and Cyclops, and the rest of this X-Men dump, I have a respectable '90s X-Men team...


My Marvel Legends Professor X can finally meet the Moira MacTaggert I got a couple years ago!
Moira is the longtime human love interest with Charles Xavier, recently retconned in the 2019 House of X storyline to have been a mutant that can redo her life every time she died. 


This X-Men Retro Card Apocalypse is exactly what the fans ordered, and I couldn't be happier with it- he looks like he stepped out of the '90s Animated X-Men show! I missed out on the BAF figure several years ago, and I'm glad 'cause I like this one way better.



It's somewhat odd how the vivid colors of this Apocalypse really looks like the animated X-Men version but doesn't share the same "cel-shading" deco as Jean and Scott, in spite of also having retro packaging. Regardless, they look great together...


Not an exhaustive look at each figure, but it was time to get some of the Marvel Legends I've had open- both to save space and make way for some new Marvel Legends X-Men on the way. There are some other figure "dumps" I need to do of boxed figures that I've had for awhile, as well as some newer aquisitions, including an entire wave or two of Marvel Legends. Stay Tuned!


More Later- Make It FUN!

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Marvel Legends X-Men Animated Series VHS Cyclops & Jean Grey


While I'm somewhat indifferent about the cel shading on these Marvel Legends Animated figures, I like the overall designs of these two figures, who were underrepresented in my collection. They were way overpriced at $27.99 on Hasbro Pulse, but I will say that the box art is really fun. Take a look at the figures on the turntable in my video:


Hasbro's redesign of this Cylops is fantastic- the straps on his legs and shoulder harness are all built in to prevent sliding while posing, a problem the previous "Jim Lee" Cyclops had. Choosing between Jean's two head sculpts is difficult, though I lean toward the fuller hairstyle, which didn't weigh the figure down in back as much as I'd feared. She is mostly a reissue of the previous "love triangle" boxed set that also came with Cyclops and Wolverine.





Below, Scott & Jean with some other X-Men in my Marvel Legends Collection: Nightcrawler and Beast, Jubilee, and Wolverine. I have several more Marvel Legends X-Men that have been on ice for some time that I need to bust out. Stay Tuned!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Super Joe Unlimited

I have zero recollection of/nostalgia for Hasbro's short-lived Super Joe Series from 1977, but the retro appeal of these updated Super Joe Unlimited figures was undeniable. Their toyetic aesthetic certainly appeals to a '70s/'80s kid who collects larger figures with soft goods outfits like Mego figures. After discovering White Elephant Toyz at the online Mego Museum, I compulsively purchased two! Check out the video:


I received all the parts from White Elephant Toyz individually bagged, as they are purchased from menu at their site. I also purchased the Obsidian Comic Weapons accessory pack with the longer sword, different pistol, and sun/star pendant. There were a variety of heads and other accessories available as well. The price for the two bodies and all the parts was $41.00 each, plus shipping, so they were not cheap, but the quality is fantastic. I was so impressed that I ordered a third figure in the darker skin tone. I'm looking forward to seeing what's coming next!





Initially disappointed at my misunderstanding regarding the scale of these 8.75" Super-Joes, incompatible with my 8" Mego figures or 9" Hasbro Marvel figures pictured below, their cool factor quickly won me over. They kind of exist in some super-fun universe unto themselves. Plus, more figures have yet to be released, including some alien characters. Recommended!


Visit 3DSuperJoes.Com for more history about Hasbro Super Joe Adventure Team!
More Later- Make It FUN!

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Marvel Legends Lizard and Hammerhead


 I want to say I got both of these back in November, and am just getting around to opening them, but in fact, I have figures that have been stowed far longer. I've collected quite a stash of these Spider-Man Retro Card figures, and have opened only one ...? Lizard was a Walmart exclusive preorder, and Hammerhead a discounted Amazon purchase just south of eighteen bucks.


Hammerhead is an outwardly unremarkable, plain clothed figure, but the red tie and HEAD brass knuckles are nice, if small touches, that make him special. He also comes with alternate hands to hold the included baseball bat, like the Jigsaw I reviewed here in November. Jigsaw's suit is an entirely different sculpt from Hammerhead...


Below, Hammerhead and Jigsaw have a run-in with my new Marvel Legends Toei Spider-Man... 



I really like the realistic proportions and fabric creases of the Toei Spidey sculpt! He makes a perfect hero for these two street-level bad guys! I'm unsure how many civilian-dress Marvel Legends I have, but it's not many- these suited figures are great examples. Hammerhead and Jigsaw are a great fit with my Bratz Rock Angelz Cruiser!


Lizard is the classic version Marvel Legends fans have wanted, complete with a detachable bendy wire tail that can rotate position at the base. the chemistry flasks and alternate head sculpt really add a lot.



Everyone has raved about this Renew Your Vows Spider-Man was the best Spider-man we've ever got from Hasbro, and they are right. I am loving that toe articulation ...!



Below, Lizard with my new Marvel Legends Spider-Man Retro Card Series Rhino, another fantastic classic character addition to my collection, and maybe the only other of this series I've opened ...


These were a couple great Spider-Man villains to add to my collection- I knew I'd love the Lizard, but surprised how much I liked Hammerhead, a character I was not familiar with.  As I said, I still have several of these Spider-Man Retro Card Series figures on ice, including the entire first wave- so many figures, so little time. Reccomended!


More Later- Make It FUN!

Monday, January 16, 2023

Turbo Wheels Dirt Bike Conversion


I saw Mike the Hunter customize these dollar store Turbo Wheels Dirt Bikes on YouTube last week, and set out to make some of my own. After disassembly and sticker removal, I spraypainted the body, adding embellishments with gold and silver paint pens on the shocks, engine block, wheels, brake pads, etc. The final touch on Mike's tutorial was an adhesive backed 3/4" jewel mounted to the headlight base, giving it a semi-realistic dimension that really put the proverbial cherry on the top. Genius!


My colors were based on what was in the studio, but I could see making more of these in different colors, perhaps a green, maybe a Tiger Force striped, orange. Mike intended to use his for his 6" G.I. Joe Classified, a natural fit, but Marvel Legends would also work well of course. I intend to keep an eye peeled for more cheap vehicles/accessories that can easily be customized for dioramas and photography.

More Later- Make It FUN!

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Marvel Legends Toei/Tokusatsu Spider-Man


I had no childhood nostalgia for this Toei/Tokusatsu version of Spider-Man, never having learned about the Japanese Spider-Man as an adult- ironically, '78-'79 would have been a high point for Spider-Man as a child, playing with my Mego Spider-Man and reading his comics then. The similarities between the Japanese and American Spider-Man pretty much ends at the suit, but the character, Takuya Yamashiro, appeared in the Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Verse story, and will return in the forthcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse this June. I liked the figure for the realism of the figure's physique and the folds and creasing in his mask and outfit, making his seem like a more realistic, classic Spider-Man. Perhaps such a character in our universe would only have one clunky webshooter ...?


I didn't have any Hasbro Power Rangers to compare with this Toei Spider-Man but did have a Goldar from the Lighting Collection to do battle with Takuya- authentically Tokusatsu, if I say so myself ...!






I imagine Herald of Thunder Thor commandeering Godar's power sward from Toei Spider-Man after the villain's defeat ... a weapon not intended for mortal men ...!


I feel the Simu Liu head from my Marvel Legends Shang-Chi is a pretty good fit on the Toei Spider-Man -maybe a little big, but not terrible. I still haven't seen the movie, but I liked that Marvel Legends wave a lot...


I also like the Zombie Hunter Spidey from the Marvel Legends What If ...? Wave...



I've really enjoyed some of the latest Marvel Legends Spider-Man figures- below, Toei Spider-Man with Renew Your Vows Spidey, Amazing Fantasy Spider-Man, and Iron Spider...


More Later- Make It FUN!