Wonder Woman in theaters NOW!

I saw Wonder Woman last night and loved it. I really believe that if the WW film franchise carries on (and there's no reason to believe it won't) then Gal Gadot will be the Christopher Reeve of this generation. The whole movie was great, but a stand-out for me was seeing the Golden Age villain Dr. Poison, played by actress Elena Anaya. She didn't have a ton of movie time but every moment with her on screen was mesmerizing. I hope the action figure lines are successful enough to get a second wave so I can get me a Dr. Poison action figure!

All the Amazon stuff was great, (I'd watch a whole movie about kid Diana, played by little actress Lilly Aspell), all the WWI stuff was great, it was just a great movie. Go see it!

In the meantime, here's a handful of Wonder Woman toys that belong to me and my daughters. Viva la Wonder Woman!

Robins of Toyriffic Past :: Robin Week Concludes

All good things must end, including Robin Week. But if you haven't had enough of that red, green and yellow kid's stuff, check out a sampling of  Toyriffic's past Robin posts!

Batman Returns Tim Drake Robin.


DCUC Robin and DCUC predecessor 6" Batman line Robin.



Toybiz Robin.

The New Batman Adventures Robin.


Redbird by Corgi.

Teen Titans Red X Robins.



DC Infinite Heroes Earth 2 Robin (with DCIH Tim Drake Robin.)

Three cheers for the original kid sideckick!

Another Killer on the Loose! DCUC Killer Moth :: Countdown to Halloween 2014 :: It's Haloween Eve!

Another Killer from the DC Comics universe: Killer Moth!

Say what you will about Mattel and their handling of the DC Universe Classics toyline (at this point it's all been said), but one thing is for sure; they gave us some really unexpected characters in toy form, including this fashion-senseless Bat-villain from the Silver Age of colorblind evil.

Killer Moth is a pretty hapless doofus. I suppose his name is 'Killer' for the same reason a big guy is named 'Tiny'. Either that, or for what his outfit does to our eyes.

Killer Moth came with a 'cocoon gun' which isn't in proximity to my photography studio, so you will just have to take my word for it.

Happy Halloween eve! If you haven't figured out your costume yet, perhaps you can take a cue from Killer Moth here and just slap a bunch of mis-matched clothing items onto your person and call yourself a super-villain.

It works in Gotham City.

What an Abomination!

I've posted about my Marvel Legends Abomination action figure before, but he's so cool I decided to take some more shots and post him again! There's just something about old A-Bomb that I love.

I've never been a huge Incredible Hulk fan, or a big Marvel Legends collector, but this guy has always been a favorite of mine. He's just so incredibly cool and resides in my collection still to this day even though so many other Hulk themed toys of mine have moved on to...wait for it...greener pastures.

He's just so massive and imposing and old-school monstery...
\

he sort of reminds me of a 'roided out Creature from the Black Lagoon!

All in all he's really quite...

'Shut up, human! Kalibak demands to know who this mutant cucumber thinks he is; this is Kalibak territory!'

As you can see, Toy Biz released some pretty massive figures in the Marvel Legends line proper, while DCUC reserved 'big' figures for their C and C pack in components...and yet they were still dwarfed by Marvel Legends!

'Who are you calling a dwarf?!?! Kalibak will put this pickle in his place!'
BAM!

SOCK!
'Oooh, it is on now, you overgrown gourd!'

Well, what do you think? Who would win in an all out brawl between Abomination and Kalibak?

It's AzBout Time!

I've owned this AzBats for a couple years now, but am only now blogging about him!

I believe Azrael Batman here was the last DCUC figure I actively pursued until the recent slew of cool Batman Unlimited figures like the Batman of Zur Ehn Arrh and The Dark Knight Returns Batman.

I'm surprised I ever did find this guy to be honest - After months and months of this toy being in the 'marketplace' and me wishing to find it like a normal person, you know, at a store!!!! and seeing all the cool kids find it and blog about it before me, I finally procured a DCUC AzBats from an actual honest to goodness retail establishment! For an honest to goodness retail price!

The left leg was of course wonky in package, something that is always expected from Mattel, but otherwise the figure looked fine on the shelf...exceptional actually...dare I say...flawless...until I got it home and looked much closer at the belt.

THE DAMN THING IS ON UPSIDE-DOWN! I know he's a Bat-imposter, but he's not Batzarro fer cryin' out loud!!!

Dammit Mattel, can't you get ANYTHING right? Bad enough his gauntlet/scallops/bat-thingamajig-wrist-whatevers are wrong and were wrong from the point of design forward yet no one caught the problem, but now my AzBats is dropping smoke pellets and flash-bang grenades and his Ritalin all over the street every time he swigs through Gotham because his stupid utility belt pouches are UPSIDE-FREAKIN-DOWN!

Whatever. He is very cool nonetheless and I am glad to have him in my collection.

AzBats is a great looking figure and the first blue/grey 'almost final iteration' AzBats action figure ever as far as I am aware.

A repainted two-pack version was around for a while, but I never saw it at retail. Apparently it later ended up at discount stores like Ross for super cheap too - I also did not find it there either! I'd love to have found AzBats in his FINAL final iteration and maybe with his belt on correct too, and for CHEAP, but you can't have everything I suppose. I'll stay content with the blue/grey version of this costume.

The two pack re-paint re-release also came with a Bruce batman with some battle damage...

Methinks Batman in a wheelchair would have been more apropos:

Brainiac Trust

I've posted in the past about my DC Superheroes Brainiac and my recently acquired Super Powers Brainiac, but I really wanted to shoot the two together. Each Brainiac is a stand-out in their respective lines and each is a great example of what a cool action figure was/is in their eras.

The 80s Superpowers Brainiac has five points of articulation, an action feature, and a vac-metal coating to simulate a metallic finish. The 200x DC Superheroes Brainiac has a highly detailed sculpt, a shit-ton points of articulation, stands a head+ taller than his 80s counterpart, and even has clear bits on his head and shoulders with 'wires' and other electronic looking parts underneath.

Although I am usually of the 'less is more' camp when it comes to articulation, I must say having so much works well on a character like robo-Brainiac, since the unsightly seams and joints meld into his robotic form effortlessly. Both figures are great, but since I have no emotional connection to the original, having never owned him as a kid, I have to say the more recent version is far superior.

Random Christmas Pic (and overdue review!) :: Santa Kalibaklaus

"Merry Christmas, filthy Earth worms!"

One of the few DCUC 'Collect and Connect' figures I was actually able to complete is the second favorite son of Darkseid Kalibak the Cruel! I have been reading Kirby's New Gods lately and my love of all things Kirby has been re-ignited, so I dug out my Kalibak and realized that I have yet to review him on Toyriffic! Crazy but true!

I'm so far away from DC Universe Classics now that I honestly can't remember which wave Kalibak appeared in as the 'Collect and Connect' figure...checking Google...ahh, it appears he was part of wave 6 which included black suit and mullet Superman, Mister Miracle, Hawkman, Killer Moth, and Captain Marvel. That was a nice wave, and explains why I wanted them all to complete Kalibak. But truth be told, I would have completed a whole lot of waves had Mattel had any inkling on how to distribute these things...but I digress. The only other DCUC Collect and Connect figures I was able to complete are Metamorpho and Gorilla Grodd, so owning Kalibak is somewhat of an accomplishment. 

Kalibak is a massive figure and a great likeness of Orion's half-brother. When I dug him out of the box he was stored in I forgot to grab his Beta Club, so I'll have to go back for that soon. In the meantime Kalibak is going to serve as a Santa stand-in at home because he's awesome, as are pretty much all things Kirby.

Just when you think you are out, they pull you back in

Mattel's Batcentric DCUC replacement line 'Batman Unlimited' reveals, due out some time in 2013:

The Dark Knight Returns Batman who, if I am not mistaken, appears to be made up of parts from the Masters of the Universe Classics toyline. VERY interesting if so.UPDATE: I am not mistaken.

And the Batman of Zur-en-Arrh! Sure, a simple repaint (with new head/cape) but damn this is a repaint I can really get behind. Bat-Mite also has a new face sculpt.

Shit on a swizzlestick, I gotta have these bastards. The QC and availability on these better not suck ass.

DAMN YOU MATTEL!

UPDATE: I preordered. So keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned.

via BigBadToyStore

Poisunday Ivy :: DCUC Poison Ivy

I hate Mattel's subscription model for 'collectible' toylines and their quality control is far too shoddy for the price they ask for their toys, but they do employ some top notch sculptors and designers.

Case in point: Coming soon from Mattel's DCU Club Infinite Earths is this fine example of Poison Ivy.

I doubt I'll try to get her when she becomes available on MattyCollector.com, but I admit she does look good!

Pics courtesy ActionFigurePics.com

Mattel goes Platinum

Had anyone told me they thought Mattel would make a DCUC version of Platinum of the Metal Men I would have bet them anything that they were wrong. I'd have said 'If Mattel makes a DCUC Platinum, I will eat my hat.'

And had that conversation occured, I'd be eating a hat right now.

Mattel has already released Iron, Mercury and Gold (as a gold-damned Walmart exclusive!) and although tempted by the awesomeness of the Metal Men in all their Silver Age glory, I never bought a single one of them. Because I swore Mattel would never complete the team by making Platinum. Yeah I know, they also had to make Tin and Lead to complete the team, but I know Mattel, and I figured they'd make Tin and even Lead LONG before they made Platinum (not at all) so what was the point.

Even though I am also convinced Mattel will never make Lead due to the irony of Mattel making a Lead based action figure. Get it? Hahaha! Anyone want to take me up on a bet?

Then Toy Fair 2012 and THIS happened:

Okay, I am partially vindicated that Mattel will not release Platinum at retail, opting instead to convince you that there is value to their STUPID subscription system by offering her online only as part of their Club Infinite Quality Control Issues Earths line, and maybe making some available on day of sale if you can get past their web store system which was designed on a Commodore 64.

So even though I hate MattyCollector.com and I have as many other Metal Men as I have faith in Mattel (read: zero), I will probably actually try to get Platinum when she goes on sale. Better Platinum (and companion piece Tin) and no other Metal Men than vice-versa, in my humble opinion.

Pics courtesy ActionFigurePics.com

Don't B'Dg - there's a Despotellis on your Dex-Starr!

Eww, the cat is puking again!

Actually this is Dex-Star, Despotellis and B'dg, from the recent DC Universe Classics Green Lantern Wave 2.

I initially had to have this three figure set because of B'Dg. How freaking cute is this little fellow? As soon as I saw the previews for this set of three figures I knew it would have to be mine for the space rodent alone!

But upon opening the toy I quickly fell in love with Dex-Starr. Dex-Starr is actually an Earth cat who watched as his owner was murderd and was then subject to cruelty before a red lantern ring found him and harnessed his rage. That's pretty cool, and I like how he wears his ring on his tail!

Now I'm no lantern color guard expert, having read only a few of the Blackest Coffee, Brightest Student comics, but it seems red lanterns are so full of rage they constantly barf red energy. Or cherry Kool-Aid. Not sure, but Dex-Starr has a removable translucent barf-wad which is also kind of fun and in keeping with the fact that he is a cat. RAGE HAIR BALL!

And B'Dg is pretty dang cute too! What a cute widdle gween wantern! Hi gween wantern! Want a peanut, gween wantern?

'Don't make me punch your nuts, sir!'

Finally the set comes with a yellow lantern named Despotellis. He looks like a...yeah...ahem. Anyways, he's pretty silly but let's face it, they made him and he's totally off the wall, so any Green lantern comic fan should be pretty stoked to get such a nutty character in toy form.

Even if he does look like a walking marital aide.

The set does come with a large piece of the Collect and Connect figure Stel, but I don't have any intentions of getting any more of these figures.

I just wanted the cute super pets! More super pets please, Mattel!