More Toy Shopping: Resale Scene August 2016

Some more sights I took in during August checking the local action figure retail scene, this batch mostly from local resale shops V-Stock & Slackers! Pictured above and below, 6" DC SuperHeroes. predecessors to the hugely successful DC Universe Classics line which I collected several of during their run. These were some of the first....

Below, the DC Direct JLA Series Wonder Woman, a classic rendering of the heroine. I'm looking forward to the forthcoming film, and am enjoying the character's introduction into the DC cinematic universe, portrayed by actress Gal Gadot. Check out my post on the DC Direct All Star Comics Series Wonder Woman!  

Now I collected more the 10" scale of '90s Toybiz figures two or three years ago, but I admire these smaller figures of this era for the same charming simplicity. If there was a sale I may have picked these up...

Pictured below, the new Gentle Giant Secret Wars Spider-Man, enlarged reissues of the popular '80s action figures I loved as a kid. Still have my Dr. Doom! I hate that these are going for such outrageous prices- I'd own some if they were priced more reasonably.

Below. some of the processors of the 3.75" Marvel Universe figures, which have been rebranded at least a couple times since I stopped collecting them, first as the Infinite Series, and now just under the Legends Series banner like the 6" and recent 12" figures. Though not listed on the Marvel Universe Checklist on ItsAllTrue.Net, these obviously predate the inaugural 2009 lineup of the highly articulated figures...

I'm unsure when the die cast figures pictured below were produced, but they sure have that '90s ToyBiz charm! I was particularly fond of the Human Torch/Dragon Man 2-pack! Like a lot of the Marvel ToyBiz figure lines, these have their own team franchise marquee, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, X-Men, etc....

And finally, a new Power Rangers line I discovered running through TRU afterward- a little off this post's theme, but I thought they looked cool! Though I was not into the Power Rangers during their '90s heyday, I've collected a few Sentai/Power Ranger figures in the last year or so, interested mostly in their uniform aesthetic. I've bought a few domestic Bandai, as well as several of the more detailed imports...

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Marvel Legends 12in. Iron Man

For awhile I think I knew I would buy this Iron Man, and after watching some YouTube reviews and seeing him on the shelves, I found a better price online and bit the bullet on him. I liked the Capt. America and Spider-Man, but ol' Shellhead was the one that interested me most. I have a respectable Iron Man collection, but it's mostly limited to MiniMates, Legos, and 3.75" and  6" action figures. I loved the movies and how it brought this great character to the forefront of the Marvel cinematic universe. I became obsessed with the character and have fond memories of  this time, my interest in comics renewed and this blog started. Check out my video:

For comparison, my 9" ToyBiz Famous Covers Series Iron Man, one of my favorite toys in my collection that also sports a Tony Stark head. I must say, the new 12" is now also top of the list among my most beloved Iron Man figures. Fun!

This post and video are dedicated to Glenn Webb, the best action figure YouTuber I've found out there- we will all miss your informative and hilarious videos and amazing custom figures. The purchase of this Legends Iron Man in this post was decided upon after watching one of Glenn's videos, in fact.  I didn't know you as some who mourn your passing, but the action figure community will be a little duller without you. Godspeed.

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Toy Shopping: Marvel Isle, TRU August 2016

I can hardly believe they have the new cinematic Spider-Man in action figure form already, but there he was in a 3-pk with Cap and Iron Man at a local TRU last weekend. He was too darkly colored, but had a grip on Cap's sheild just like in the movie!  :D   Far more interesting to me were the new 1:6 scale Marvel Legends line- very cool! I could not have imagined both DC and Marvel would go big like this, especially with the recent reduction in articulation on the 3 3/4" scale figures, peg saturation with simpler toys for smaller children, and the like. They are well articulated too, unlike the Titan Series. I't like the return of the Icon Series from 2006-2009! Wonderful!

Back to the 3 3/4" scale Legends for a minute, isn't it great we are seeing both movie based figures like Falcon from Capt. America: Civil War and the classic Triton from Jack Kirby's Inhumans on the pegs at the same time? Unfathomable! I kind of wish Marvel had left the series names unique, Icons, Legends, and Universe. It gets old watching companies rebrand every six months, and doubt it helps, but they didn't ask me. They probably should have   :D

And in the 6" Legends department, I still love that black & gold Marvel NOW! Iron Man! Great redux on the Iron Avenger! I'm pretty sure this was the first Kitty Pryde I've seen in person, there was a Phoenix Jean Grey in green and gold as well, among others! I've all but stopped buying 3 3/4" and 6" figures like these, but I had to stop and look...

And just because I love Guardians of the Galaxy so much, the 5" scale Rocket Raccoon and Groot- yes their teammates were backing them up. I got into Guardians about a year or so before the announcement a movie would be made- I was surprised at the decision, and delighted with the movie! I like these!

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Mattel Batman Unlimited 11.5" Bat-Mech

I passed on this guy a couple times at TRU, but eventually succumb to the realization that a Batman mech is hard to come by- lots of armored Batman following the Batman v Superman film, but few Batman robots. Additionally fun is that the Bat-Mech's chest is the cockpit for the Batman Unlimited Mighty Minis!

This is a big, dumb toy in essence, but does feature a respectable range of articulation- the hinge/swivel elbows make up for lack of lateral motion in the shoulders, and he can do the splits with those hinge/swivel hips. The knees are jointed as well, and the head and wrists swivel. Bat-Mech's batarang pegs onto ports in the forearms, shoulders, and back much like the Batman Brave and the Bold Series figures I loved so much. Check out my video:

Pictured below, Bat-Mech with my Brave and the Bold Series Proto Bat-Bot...

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Toy Shopping: DC Comics Isle, TRU July 2016

BubbaShelby reminded me this weekend that it had been awhile since I last posted here on the SuperDuperToyBox, and while it's been on my mind and I have plenty in my collection to show, the truth is that I'd been very busy posting on my Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog. That said, Bubba's comment did inspire a trip to TRU to check out the scene, which was revealed some new  Suicide Squad merch, including six and twelve inch Mattel figures pictured above and below. I loved these! There were only Deadshot and Harley in 12", but there is also a Joker!

Also on the shelves were some great Jada diecast statues of the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Deadshot! I have an Batman v Superman Armored Batman like this from Jada, which has some problems standing, but these don't look as top heavy. 

It looked as though the demand for '66 Batman merch has slowed, most of it on sale for 30% off! Very tempting, but I'm so far behind photographing what I'd bought this past spring that it wouldn't make sense.

Also of personal interest was this great Mini Mezitz Batman Returns box set- at $24.95 the value is dubious, but what a great pack! This is possibly my favorite Batman movie of all time- I still have  the movie poster, which I framed around the time I started this blog.

While I've seen DC Direct/DC Collectibles release multi-packs of Batman and Superman, this may be the first time I've seen Mattel do it. If you are new to collecting action figures, these would get things started for you in a fun way! I collected from all these different lines, except the 6" Batman v Superman series... 

I've started to notice elements of the Flashpoint storyline seeping into different toy lines, including the very cool Batman Unlimited Molten Mayhem set pictured below, featuring a Batman figure obviously inspired by the Thomas Wayne Batman from the popular pre-New 52 storyline. Check out my Medicom Real Action Heroes Flashpoint Batman I reviewed in April!

And finally, what I went back to check out once more, these extremely cool Green Arrow and Bat-Mech figures from Mattel. While it's started to gain some more traction due to the recent Batman v Superman film, as well as the comics in the last year, Batman as an armored mech can be hard to come by. It's been a theme present in recent animated TV shows like Batman: The Brave & the Bold my personal favorite, but we usually otherwise get an armored Batman- this is a robot! While I do have a sort of Green Arrow sub-collection, my collection of Batman figures, unusual and conventional, is far more expansive, so I chose the Bat-Mech. Tomorrow I will post about him- meet me back here!

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Tatsunoko Heroes Fighting Gear Gatchaman G-1 & G-2

These two 6.75" Heroes Fighting Gear Series Gatchaman were an impulse buy, my nostalgia for the '70s animated TV show Battle of The Planets the driving force. As a child I had no concept of the idea it was an Americanized version of the Japanese anime series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. I do however remember thinking Mark and Jason were the coolest of the five G-Force members, the latter my favorite in his darker uniform. Check out the video:

Aside from snapping one of Mark's shoulder pads, and the butt-end off Jason's gun, they are beautiful figures with TV accurate accessories, including weapons, extra hands, and a sturdy flight stand. If that weren't enough, the chest lights up, the cape is cloth, and most of the limbs, torso and pelvis are diecast metal, giving the figure a satisfying heft. Don't be fooled though, they are fragile and have lots of small parts easily damaged or lost. That said, they honor the beautiful design of the original costumes in an updated, hyper-stylized form.

Below, Fighting Gear Gatchaman G-1 and G-2 with my Marmit Heavy Gokin Devilman, another imported diecast figure based on an anime TV series I found recently...

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Medicom 1:6 Scale Real Action Heroes New 52 Superman

I found this  Medicom RAH New 52 Superman not long after I ordered the RAH Flashpoint Batman in my last post, for an even better price on Jet.com. I love his bright colors, and though I'm leary of it's durability, the shiny vinyl bodysuit. Like the Batman figure, Superman has wire in the cape- I prefer just a straight softgoods piece in this department, but it does add a certain flair, even if minimally. The chest shield on this figure is a raised piece, which does a lot for it visually. As I said before, Hot Toys and Sideshow 1:6 figures offer a better overall value than these Medicom, but they do have their own charm being very comic book in style. Check out the video:

Below, Medicom 1:6 Scale RAH Superman with my other New 52 Supermen, including the 11.5" Mattel Superman I reviewed in back in November of last year. Jim Lee's reimagined Superman outfit appealed to me almost immediately upon DC Comic's New 52 relaunch back in 2011...

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Medicom 1:6 Scale Real Action Heroes Flashpoint Batman

As soon as I discovered this 1:6 scale Flashpoint Batman existed, I hunted down the best deal I could find. In Flashpoint (DC, 2011), Barry Allen is pulled into an alternate Universe where the history of the heroes he knew had been altered, the mantle of Gotham City's Batman filled by Thomas Wayne, son Bruce having been killed that fateful night in Crime Alley. I'd contemplated purchasing earlier Real Action Hero series Batman figures, admiring their styling but somewhat underwhelmed by their construction after viewing a few reviews, but caved when this one was recently released. There is indeed a slightly chintzy quality to the vinyl bodysuit, snap-in hands, and cheap plastic sword. That said, he's sure a looker- check out the video:

Below: Batman, Thomas Wayne, runs Eobard Thawne through with an Amazonian sword at the climax of Flashpoint, setting the stage for DC Comics' 2011 relaunch, The New 52. This book and that moment are are memorable to me, as not long before this I'd regained interest in comics with a passion unmatched before in my life, perhaps even during my childhood.

 Medicom Real Action Heroes Batman with Sideshow Collectibles 1:6 Scale Batman. At about the same price, the Sideshow is a far better value, constructed of superior plastic and fabric, and realistic paint subtleties the Medicom just doesn't have. Still, the Flashpoint Batman does have a simplicity and vampiric style I really enjoy...

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