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ToySECT - Action Figure and Toy Review - 015 - Indiana Jones - LJN (1984) and Hasbro (2008-2011)

Continuing with our nostalgia theme, next up is one of my favorites from the 80s. If adventure has a name, it truly must be Indiana Jones. When I was a kid, I really wanted to be Indy. I bought a $10 bull whip from a magic shop, borrowed one of my dad's fedoras, and used the brown bomber jacket I got for Christmas. My backyard became such exotic locals as the Well of Souls and the Temple of Doom. As an adult, I put together one of the most expensive costumes I have ever assembled to recreate Dr. Jones here, getting some replica items and vintage originals as well. I'm glad Harrison Ford came back to visit the roll, because now I can wear this every Halloween until I'm old and grey. 

Woohoos!


Instead of looking at just a few figures, I'd like to address the entire line of toys, vintage and modern. One of the great things about this collection is it's size. There really weren't that many figures released in the old or the new, and and compared to other toys like Star Wars or G.I. Joe it wasn't totally out of the question to get 'em all. Also, with everything revolving around Indy, you could have some pretty great adventures with just his figure and somewhere outdoors. The grass of your lawn became the the jungles of South America. Stack some rocks and you had a cave to explore. The possibilities were endless. When I was a kid, summertime meant I had to be outside playing from 9am to 5pm, weather permitting. Nowadays it seems quite the opposite, with parents keeping a very close eye on their kids at all times (and understandably so). The original Kenner Indiana Jones figure was unique in that he had an action feature that didn't hinder his appearance and actually made sense. His whipping action was incredible in that he could actually take down the bad guys. Combine that with bending knees (a feature I wished my Star Wars figures had) and what you get is a fantastic all-around toy. With Kenner adding some vehicles and a playset in the mix, it was one of the great movie tie-in lines of the 80s. With the forth Indy movie, Hasbro revisited the line with movie themed waves, even more vehicles, and a new playset based on the Star Wars Episode III Mustafar base. 

D'ohs!


For what we got, I was pretty happy. If I had to complain, I would say I don't know what Lucasfilm was thinking when they gave the license to LJN in 1984. Only three figures, and no playsets or vehicles. (There are pictures of Willy Scott and Short Round figures with a mine cart playset, but they were never produced.) Hell, I never once even saw the Indy figure in stores, only Mola Ram and the Guard. (The one in the pictures was acquired only a few years ago.) Thankfully, when Hasbro revisited the line, they did a Temple of Doom wave with the missing characters, although that wave was never in stores and you had to resort to on-line to get them. I wished they hadn't put out so many Raiders and Crystal Skull figures, as they were clogging the pegs and made it difficult for future wave to make it out. They did release the "Lost Wave" of Raiders figures, but as a SDCC exclusive that was somewhat hard to get. Probably the finest of the modern line. At least we finally got a Last Crusade wave with Indy's dad, a young Indy, and the Grail Knight. 

What if...


With Indy 5 slated for 2019, I would like to see just a few figures from each movie, each with articulation similar the original Kenner line, bendy knees and all. (Please do vintage style cardbacks!) A 6" line similar the Star Wars Black Series would be fantastic! Just one wave of six figures and were all set. Indy with jacket (young and old portraits), Indy without jacket, Marion Ravenwood, Mola Ram, Henry Jones Sr, and Toht with melty face. Fantastic. Oh, and a 3 3/4" Indy in his tux. 

Finish Him!


This line is accessible. Get the whole thing or just an Indy to go exploring with. I recommend the vintage Kenner offerings, but the Hasbro stuff is probably cheap right now. 5 out of 5 sacred stones for Indiana Jones. They belong in a museum. Just don't look into the Ark. 

ToySECT - Action Figure and Toy Review - 014 Superman - DC Comics Multiverse 3 3/4"

This week we are going to change things up a bit by not only focusing on a smaller scale of the 3 3/4" realm, but also the nostalgia of old favorites in new forms. Today's entry is one I've always wanted as a child, but did't get until a fews years ago. The DC Multiverse Superman from "Superman The Movie" finally showcases Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel in plastic form. "Superman The Movie" and "Superman II" are still some of my favorite comic book movies, even with today's modern offerings from DC and Marvel. I can still remember going to the theater with my parents to these two blockbusters when they were shown on the big screen. After the release of Star Wars in 1977, movie studios scrambled to get their own blockbusters out to the special effects starved audiences who were craving for more. Besides films like Superman and Star Wars, movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, Tron, Clash of the Titans, Ghostbusters and others made it something special to go to the theater to experience them on the big screen. This was a time when cable TV or VCRs weren't available for everyone to just view their favorite movie at home. Getting the toys was the closest thing to experiencing the excitement without a trip to the local cinema. It only took them decades to get this figure into my collection, but was it worth the wait? 

Woohoos!

When I was about 6 years old, the first place I could go and look at comics was the local drug store around the corner from my grandparent's house. While my grandma was doing her shopping, I would browse the wire metal display with wonder. I remember the pharmacist coming up to me one day and saying "I remember when your father was your age and would look at the comics in this very spot". Right then and there I knew comic books were for me. If my dad was into it, so was I. Superman was his favorite. The story of Superman had a lot to do with the father/son motif, and that's why the character has always been very special to me. Sure it was cool that he could fly and punch planets and stuff, but it was the fact that he always tried to be the good man that his father was is where the heart of it lies. As a toy, this figure has a good sculpt that resembles Christopher Reeve, has the coloring down perfect, and a great bid S on his cape. It brings back many memories of what it was like to be a kid in the era I grew up in and what those toys of our youth really meant to us. 

D'ohs!

So what's wrong with Supes' here? This may be the only time I ever say this, but I think the toy has too much articulation. Without swivel biceps or ankle joints, I thinks the extra hip joints and swivel thighs are just unnecessary for it's enjoyment. They could've just left them out and the figure would've looked just as good, if not better. Give me the ankle joints and more pivot for the head for better flying poses, but for something that's just going to sit on my shelf and make me smile every time I look at it, the simpler toy would have been just fine. 

 What if...


How about a 6" version? With loads of accessories (kryptonite, different hands, that green crystal thing, and a big cellophane S) Get the likeness right and you'd have a winner.  













Finish Him! 


So I'm super pleased to have this in my collection. He's not very cheap to get as of this writing, but if you're a fan of the original movies and if you like nostalgia too, I think you'd really enjoy him. 5 out of 5 leaps over tall buildings for our hero. Now how about a Ms. Tessmacher!

ToySECT - Action Figure and Toy Review - 013 Ben Reilly Spider-Man - Marvel Legends

Well today's the day. Spider-Man: Homecoming has hit theaters and today's review has absolutely nothing to do with it, other than it's another Spider-Man toy. (I did see it this morning and I'll talk about it at the bottom) This time it's Marvel Legends Ben Reilly Spider-Man. He's a clone of Peter Parker who took up the role of Spider-Man for a time, as well as being the Scarlet Spider. His costume is a new take on an old favorite, and even though there's nothing better than the original, I like it. 

Woohoos!


This guy is growing on me. Sure he's not Peter Parker, but he comes packed with goodies. Three sets of hands - check. Great articulation with good range - check. Good coloring and well applied webs - check. Carnage head and claws?!? - yep. Hasbro has given us an update on one of the classic Toy Biz figures, Spider-Carnage. Other than being cast in a translucent red plastic, this toy is a great update to an old favorite. I told myself I wasn't going to get every Spider-Man toy Marvel Legends had to offer, but I found this one at a Gamestop on clearance for $4.97. I've been lucking out like that lately. At twice that price it still would have been a good deal.

D'ohs!


I saw this one sit on the pegs for a while, just like Scarlet-Spider and pizza Spider-Man, and like those figures they all sold through eventually. $20 for a figure that's really similar to few I already own is tough. I would have passed if I hadn't found him on clearance, even with the Carnage bits. No real downsides here, it just boils down to how many versions of Spider-Man can you (and your wallet) absorb. 

What if...


Packed to the gills with accessories, I can't think of anything else Hasbro could have included with Benny here other than an unmasked portrait. With his blonde hair, I'm sure some people would have been confused. It was best to release him the way that they did.





Finish Him!


So yet another Spider-Man review has come and gone, and all I got was a bag full of rocks. (As in, these figures really do rock!) We'll take a break from the webhead for a while, as most of the ones I have left to do are of the same classic costume. (You're welcome.) Get this guy if you're a fan of all things Spider-Man, Carnage crazy, or if you just find him on the cheap. 4 out of 5 clones for Mr. Reilly. 

At the Movies  (minor spoilers)

A funny thing happened to me on the way to see Spider-Man: Homecoming. I actually ran into my sophomore year homecoming date who was there with her husband to see the film. Crazy. No good trailers were shown, as I expected at least The Last Jedi or an Avengers Infinity War teaser. 25 minutes to sit through before the feature started, but those new reclining seats do make it nice. This new entry in the MCU was different. It really let go of some of the serious undertones all the other Spider-Man films seem to rely so heavily on. Don't expect a backstory here, but it was a nice change of pace just to hit the ground running. We still aren't sure about the fate of a certain uncle. Peter still has girl troubles, but it's not what drives him the most here, or at least as much as pleasing another father figure or joining the Avengers. There are some major rule changes in this universe. (Some rules are completely broken.) As a longtime fan, I wasn't sure how I would deal with the differences, but It was fun to watch and I liked how the tech suit filled in the gap left by the absence of a certain spidey-power. For a serious Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield may still be my favorite, but for a lighthearted, more comical Spidey, Tom Holland did great! He's not the wise-cracking web slinger (yet) in this one, but it was enjoyable to watch him fumble through the film. Michael Keaton did a good job of playing the bad guy, but I wished they had used him more. RDJ was fun as usual, and I was glad to see Jon Favreau back as Happy and one other player from Iron Man's past. The one who I really enjoyed when she was onscreen was Marisa Tomei. Her Aunt May (or just May) was far different from the her comic book counterpart, but she still came across as caring and worried for Peter. (and yes, I still have a crush on Marisa) The last scene before the credits roll may be one of my favorites of the whole film. Other cameos you'd expect (and some you don't, if you watch close enough) show throughout and one main character of the Spider-verse is revealed towards the end and possibly the next villain in the first post credit scene. Definitely stay until the very end of the credits but don't expect anything but a good laugh. 

ToySECT - Action Figure and Toy Review - 012 Black Suit Spider-Man - Marvel Legends

You're back! Welcome to yet another edition of ToySECT. Keeping with our Spider-Man theme, today we have the Marvel Legends Black Suit Spider-Man. This costume was introduced in the early 80's in the Marvel crossover event called Secret Wars. Not only was it a limited comic series, but it also showcased a toy line as well. Even though most characters in the line shared the same body mold, it was one of my favorites growing up as a kid. Many familiar heros and villains appeared here, plus some new flavors, like our new black suited friend here. This new version is part of the Sandman build-a-figure wave, and is a much needed upgrade from the last time we were treated to a 6" Black Suit Spidey. 

Woohoos!

What we have here is a no brainer for Hasbro. A simple recipe of a little white paint on some black plastic and Bam!, we have a winner. The body is the same as the last few Spider-Man figures, but there's something special about this one. The quality of the plastic seems to be top notch. He has the same articulation you'd expect on Marvel Legends figures, and his range of movement is fantastic, but I am amazed how well his joints move and keep their position. He only has two sets of hands in the box, as this Spider-Man shoots his webs from the tops of his fists, so no need for the classic web shooting hands. This guy has tons of personality. For a simple figure with minimal accessories, he's quickly become one of my favorites in the line. The black suit is my second favorite Spidey costume, but right now this is my favorite Spider-Man figure. Oh, and I got him on sale at Target for $12.49. Word.

D'ohs!

Well there's not much to dislike here. Even though he's light on accessories, he makes up for it in playability. The last 6" Black Suit release had some blue painted on for some shading and tone, but I'm glad they left it off this one. I would have loved to have a second portrait included, either a half-masked or a symbiote-up-the-face head, especially since we did't need the third set of hands, but what can you do.  

What if...

There have been some damn fine releases in this line, so what does the future hold for more Spider-Man figures? Repaints? More/less articulation? Spider-Ham? (Please!) Hasbro has done pretty well with it's offerings since it redesigned the line's look starting with the Amazing Spider-Man 2/Green Goblin build-a-figure wave. Let's hope it keeps getting better.

Finish Him!


If you like the costume, and you want a fun toy, I say get him. He poses great and looks cool hanging around your computer. I still see him in stores, but I'm betting he'll dry up soon. 5 out of 5 goth kids for our back-in-black web slinger here. 

Side note:

My Target put up their Spider-Man: Homecoming endcap up today and I saw their exclusive Large Scale Marvel Legends Black Suit Spider-Man today. $59.99. Yep. Twice the size of this guy and three times the price. He does come with an extra Peter Parker head (and classic web shooting hands, "Do you guys even watch the show?") I just found the big Deadpool at Target that came 'n went on the back clearance endcap for $14.98. I suspect this one will join him soon.