Imaginext Black Manta and Sub Vehicle set coming soon!

Almost as exciting as yesterday's Imaginext Wonder Woman with Invisible Jet reveal, Target.com has also revealed an upcoming Imaginext Black Manta and Sub vehicle set from Fisher Price! Still no physical sightings of these, so keep your eyes peeled!

I See a Red Tornado and I Want It Painted Black Manta

I've owned both the Brave and the Bold Red Tornado and Black Manta for years, and although I've already posted about Black Manta, I have never posted about Red Tornado until now.

I believe Red Tornado came to my via Jboy of Revenge From the Cosmic Ark fame. He sent him along with a ton of other goodies years ago, and I just never got around to making a post about him. Thanks Jboy!

I found Black Manta at the flea market years ago. He's one of the nicest B and the B figures because there's absolutely zero parts re-use. His toy design is exactly like his toon design, and a neat design it is.

Every piece is unique to Black Manta on this action figure, or at least they all started that way. Not sure if they later re-used any of these pieces for other figures.

Both of these figures were boxed up for a couple years, and each suffered from that weird dusting that Mattel plastic often gets. I tried to wipe as much of it off as I could, but sometimes it's tough to get in the little detail areas. Anyways, back to old Reddy:

Red Tornado is a good action figure, but his characterization on the Brave and the Bold cartoon was never really my favorite. He's not a figure I would have searched out on my own when the line was new, which is why I am glad he was given to me. I felt the same way about the Atom at the time, and sort of wish I had him now. So I am sure I would regret not having Red Tornado if I didn't own him today. Funny how that goes, isn't it?

His weapon of course attaches to all those hex holes he and his B and the B pals have. It can be spun like a top or flung like a disc, so it's cool and character relevant. Of course I do like his cloth cape too. Cloth capes rule!

RT does have a neat and colorful aesthetic, and that face is very robotic and emotionless.

Like Colin over at Super Duper Toy Box, I have been feeling nostalgic for The Brave and the Bold recently. I'm glad I picked up many of the best when they were new, and have been lucky enough to find a few more with relative ease on the secondary market. I even picked up another half season of the show on DVD and am remembering just how awesome the cartoon was. I sure do wish it had been more successful and had lasted longer, not to mention wishing that it had spawned more unique characters in the toyline! Every time a new or different character pops on screen I think 'He/She would make a GREAT action figure!'

Alas, it was not meant to be.

Sympathy for the Devil Ray

My recent JLU score also contained Devil Ray:


Why they couldn't call this guy Black Manta is beyond me (damn lawyers,) but there's no doubt about who he is supposed to be. Devil Ray has a great head sculpt, and a neat scuba/propulsion pack on his back, as well as many fine painted on details...

...including "guns" painted on each of his forearms. Nice touch!

Black Manta Devil Ray looks good next to my Superpowers Aquaman which I recently acquired in a toy trade.
Classic Aquaman all the way - this Superpowers action figure has an "action feature" like all figures in the line. Aquaman's legs "kick" when you squeeze his arms for fast swimming action!

Hmmm, these guys are fun together. I think I need a bath. I'll just take these guys into the bathroom with me so no one steals them. Yeah, that's it.

*splishsplashsplishsplash