Imaginext Blind Bag Series 1 Diver

Thanks to a trade with a fellow Imaginext collector I was able to finally add the Imaginext blind bag series 1 Diver to my collection. The diver comes with a pet Manta Ray and removable helmet.

I needed this diver to compliment the Pirate Dive Suit I recently acquired.

The diver that comes with the dive suit armor is a completely different than the blind bag diver. I like the steam-punk vibe of the armor driver, but I think Imaginext missed an opportunity to include the dive helmet from the blind bagged figure.

Now the dive suit pilot can leave his armor and go exploring!

And he's not the only one...

The helmet doesn't show the Space Ape's face, which gives him a real Robot Monster vibe!

"Hail Hydra!"

Voodoo Man :: Countdown to Halloween 2013

I have no idea when or where this 'Voodoo Man' character appeared in the Scooby Doo cartoon. I can only assume he was either part of one of the more modern iterations of the series or that he was made up for this Mystery Micro-Figures blind bagged series 1 by Character Builders.

Regardless, to me he comes across more as some sort of Salem witch trials type character than a voodoo character. Also he looks like he should glow in the dark but sadly he does not.

I usually squeeze to figure out what I'm getting, but since I already identified Velma and Daphne, I decided to fly blind for a couple more figures, and Voodoo Man is one I ended up with. Not terribly excited or disappointed, he's kooky but does not hit my nostalgia bone at all.

Imaginext Mystery Figures Series 1 :: The Mummy!

After picking up the new Imaginext Mystery Figures Series 1 Luchador and having him around for a few days, basking in his coolness, I decided I probably ought to return to Target and nab another.

Although initially enamored with the James Bond inspired figure, I decided that The Mummy and that sweet Anubis mask of his looked too nifty to pass up:

The Mummy turned out nicer in person than the pamphlet that was included with the Luchador lead me to believe. He's a great looking little figure, with beautifully sculpted wraps and jewelry, painted-on eyes and sallow green hued skin.

The Mummy comes with a neat cobra headed staff and the Mask of Anubis. The Anubis mask is blue (not black as the pamphlet shows) and I think the color gives the figure a little more oomph - it really pops in person, whereas had it been cast in black it might have been a little drab.

So far these figures are much nicer in-hand than in the pictures shown on (and included within) the packaging - which makes me crave even more of them!

The Anubis mask has lots of sculpted details and looks great on the mummy. It is made of a soft, pliable rubber and slips on and off easily. If you are using the 'squeeze method' to find these guys, feel for the mask - especially the big ears and snout.

You can also feel for the curved end of the staff and/or the cobra end.

None of that is necessary however, as long as you have the codes - Each figure has a 'secret' code stamped on the top left back corner of the packaging for easy identification:

14 - Royal Guard
15 - Deep sea Diver
16 - Alien
17 - Racecar Driver
18 - Luchador
19 - James Bond
20 - Lumberjack
21 - The Mummy
22 - Soccer Player
23 - Robot

Although lacking in the customizeability that makes most building toy based blind-bagged minifigures so much fun, these Imaginext Mystery Figures are cute and well made and slopping over with charm.

I have no intention of being a completist with this line (I rarely am with any line for that matter!) but it has it's gems and I really hope we see many future series. I can only imagine what might be in store for Series 2!

Imaginext Mystery Figures Series 1 :: Luchador

The latest (quite surprising) addition to the 'blind bag' mystery figure craze is none other than Fisher-Price's Imaginext line!

I just heard about these last night from The Clawful Punch's John (aka Jboy) who sent me an email letting me know he spotted them. I had no idea this was happening, but when I got a gander at that Luchador on the packaging, I knew I had to have him!

As luck would have it, my local Target JUST re-stocked their Imaginext section (with a TON of surprising new DC Comics themed sets too...more on those later) and I used the tried and true squeeze method and found my Luchador!

This guy is tops! Muy muy bueno! He not only has all sculpted details on his mask, boots and even his tank top, but he comes with a removable cape AND a wrestling dummy too! Hours of fun in one small $2.99 package!

When John told me about these I quickly did an internet search for info - I was able to see this figure came with the cape and dummy, so those are the parts I squeezed for. No easy task, I squeezed every figure in the bunch and didn't find Luchador until second to last (isn't that always the way?!?!)

Not sure if he's short packed, but I only felt one Luchador in all the figures I squeezed. I'm glad I was able to find him, he's sure to be the fan favorite of the series regardless of how many are in each box.

There are ten Imaginext Mystery Figures in Series 1. Each figure comes with two accessory pieces themed to their figure and a checklist:

Deep Sea Diver, British Guard, Alien...

Racecar Driver, James Bond (I might have to go back for that one!), Luchador, Lumberjack...

Mummy, Robot, and Soccer Player.

Not sure if there is any sort of crackable code, but there are some numbers embossed at the top of the packaging, as well as some code numbers near the upc code.

Back top left corner: 18

EDIT: this does appear to be the code. Over at Action Figure Insider a collector bought them all and posted the codes for each figure:

14 - Royal Guard
15 - Deep sea Diver
16 - Alien 
17 - Racecar Driver
18 - Luchador
19 - James Bond
20 - Lumberjack
21 - The Mummy
22 - Soccer Player
23 - Robot

Of course, you can always squeeze for the figures you want. Feel for Luchador's cape and dummy, and you can also feel the lacing and wings on his shoes.

Oh, and about the new Imaginext DC figures: in addition to the Wonder Woman/Invisible Jet and Black Manta/Manta Submarine I posted about a few weeks ago, we were all blindsided by brand new figures of Gorilla Grodd, Darkseid, Green Arrow and Red Tornado all available in various new figure sets! See pics over at She's Fantastic since I have yet to buy any (although Green Arrow and Grodd were pretty darn hard to walk away from!)

Harley Qwednesday :: Playmobil Arkham City Harley Quinn

Arkham City Harley Quinn: Playmobil style! Custom by BubbaShelby:

Part of the play/fun value of the current Playmobil Fi?ures series is that, unlike your standard Playmobil 'klicky,' the 'Fi?ures' are designed be taken apart and mixed and matched together to create your own custom character.

An odd angle to take from Playmobil, who were never in the 'building toy' market before. But a neat concept and probably fun for kids. Also: a pain in the butt to those of us squeezing the packages to determine their contents!

At first I didn't care about or for the custom angle; the figures I wanted I wanted complete.

I wanted Zorro, not Zorro in a dress.

But now we're two series into 'Fi?ures' and I got to thinking: could I make a Playmobil Harley Quinn?

I think those things.

I figured, maybe I could do so if I can find other sets and use pieces with some of the Fi?ures out now...and I better not delay because once we get further into the series' run much needed parts may be long gone or hard to find!

Also, if I start now, in the future when a 'perfect' piece pops up in a set (ex: jester headgear) I can add/modify instead of starting from scratch.

I began looking at what was available now and in my mind's eye I formed a plan. A standard Harley is out of the question without major customization, and I'm not in the mood for that right now. Plus, I like keeping things like this 'simple.' Even YOU can do it!

I realized that with just two or three Fi?ures from Series 2 and/or (if I was lucky enough to find it still in stores) one from Series 1, I could make an Arkham City Harley Quinn! If the Series 1 figure I needed was unavailable, a third Series 2 figure would have to round out my custom.

I returned to the toy store where I found Series 2 last week and as luck would have it (although it took some time!) I was able to find all the figures I wanted, even the Series 1 figure (which was one of only three Series 1 girl figures left in the store!)

And now I am the proud (and probably only) owner of an Arkham City Harley Quinn Playmobil figure!

I may someday add a domino mask, or maybe smudged black eyeshadow, or red and black tips to the ponytails, but for now she's a simple parts-mix-custom that anyone can make using only three figures with the following recipe:

Arkham City Harley Quinn Playmobil 'klicky' recipe:
Series 1 Rocker Girl arms and pants.
Series 2 Geisha head.
Series 2 Gretel hair, torso and flowers (don't build all the flowers, leave a few off off for some broken stems.)
Optional: Series 2 Lara Croft handgun (only borrowed for now until I can find a more appropriate weapon, like a baseball bat or a bazooka or something less subtle than a simple handgun. Use your imagination and parts you already may have, Playmobil has tons of weapons available!)

The third Series 2 Fi?ure I purchased for parts was the cheerleader (because of her red arms) but the tattooed arms of the Rocker Girl were just too perfect for the Arkham City look, so I scrapped that idea. Also, while I had planned on maybe using her skirt, I discovered that the cheerleader has different torso/leg construction than most of the other Fi?ures, so she can't be mixed-and-matched in the same way.  But I'm sure the parts will come in handy in future series for future Playmobil Harley customs!

Anyways, as consolation and to validate the purchase, here's a picture of Cheerleader Harley:

I'll also be on the lookout for Playmobil nurse paraphernalia from now on for an Arkham Asylum Nurse Harley version!

Have fun!

Dark Horse

One of the best 'Fi?ures' to come from Playmobil's blind bagged Series 1 was 'Zorro.' I was able to find my Zorro a horse at the flea market a few weeks back and the combo of the two just makes him all the more awesome.

'Z' Marks the Spot

The other day I returned to the local educational toy store to squeeze at their Playmobil Fi?ures Series 1 blind bagged figures in order to obtain Zorro! How cool is he?!?! So cool, he even comes with spurs!

Although I am not a Playmobil collector (or at least I wasn't until now, apparently,) Zorro was my second 'must have' right after I discovered the existence of these figures and obtained The Executioner. Fortunately the store still had plenty of the blind bags left to squeeze upon my return, and I was easily able to ascertain which one contained Zorro by feeling for his hat and sword.

I still remember my first ever Playmobil figure. I was in Kindergarten at the time. My mom had signed up for some sort of mail-away promotion, and after a while in the mail arrived a plain white box. Inside was a Playmobil figure in white 'clothes' with a bunch of random accessories (not sure of all of them, but I remember a rake and maybe a shovel.) A pretty simple toy, but perfectly suited for my young imagination which could turn any toy into anything I wanted it to be. To this day Playmobil defines imaginative play for that very reason, and I am really enjoying these new 'Fi?ures.'

Still not sure if there's any sort of decipherable code for these guys, but the black printed numbers on the back of Zorro are as follows:

14811 0506 002167 5203 01

Which gives us the following codes so far:
Blue Bag:
Executioner: 14611 0784 008357 5203 01
Sue Sylvester Award Winner: 15111 0506 000206 5203 01
Zorro: 14811 0506 002167 5203 01

Pink Bag:
Highwaywoman: 15311 0784 000845 5201 01

Good luck!

More fun with (Playmobil) Series 1

As I recently reported, Playmobil Fi?ures (Figures) Series 1 blind-bagged figures are hitting store shelves now. I was super excited to get The Executioner (which I squeezed and squeezed for - hint: feel for his axe (haha that sounds dirty))

Anyways, I also picked up one for my girlfriend's son and one for my daughter too, and here's what they got:

The boy got...Sue Sylvester from Glee?!?!

OK. Well, it's supposed to be some sort of award winner I suppose, and it's supposed to be a dude to boot, but damned if it isn't the spitting image of the Glee club's arch nemesis herself. Sufficed to say the boy wasn't too excited about this one.

The girl fared far better in my opinion. She got this awesome 'Highwaywoman' figure! A sort of female Robin Hood, this brigand babe comes with a musket and a bag for loot (or heads, which is what is in there when she's hanging out with my Executioner, according to my daughter.)

Speaking of whom, I completely forgot to show you under the hood last time. Well here he is. Gotta love that Prince Valiant hairdo, and the face tattoos or face paint (or if you ask my girlfriend, tears of blood like the vampires in True Blood - sheesh!) make him look pretty cool under that morbid red hood!

Uh oh, Sue doesn't stand a chance against these two ne'er-do-wells!

These Playmobile Fi?ures are brand new, and I don't know if a code has been cracked for the blind bags yet, but the ones we have came in bags with the following numbers printed in black on the backs of the packages:

Blue Bag:
Executioner: 14611 0784 008357 5203 01
Sue Sylvester Award Winner: 15111 0506 000206 5203 01

Pink Bag:
Highwaywoman: 15311 0784 000845 5201 01

Not sure if those mean anything, but maybe they'll help, so good luck and happy hunting.

Playmobile :: Under the Red Hood

Playmobil has gotten in on the act that Lego is making famous by releasing 'Playmobil Fi?ures' (that's how it is spelled on the package) or probably more accurately just plain 'Playmobile Figures.' A local educational toy store just received Series 1, and after looking at all the figures available I just HAD to squeeze and prod the packaging to find:

Aw yeah Plamobil Executioner! How wonderfully morbid is this guy? And of course it would take little to customize this dude into a Mad Monk or a Red Hood or something like that. But in the meantime I think I'll build a gallows or a torture chamber out of Legos for this guy to hang out, I mean 'perfect his craft' in!

Here's a look at all the dudes in Series 1, and I mean that literally...

You see, Playmobil has separated all males and females into their own distinct packages. I'm not usually one for gender role separation when it comes to toys, but for any parent of a boy who has ended up with a Lego ice skater figure or parent of a girl who you would love to finally find that Lego ice skating figure but keep ending up with the viking...well at least this way you have a better chance of making your kid happy. And if your son is okay with a mermaid or your daughter is fine with Zorro, you can just ignore the gender-cliche pink and blue and go for whatever you want!

EDIT: I should add too that these figures come (surprisingly) un-assembled, making figure determination via the squeeze method that much more difficult.

Etrigan and Again

I briefly reviewed Etrigan here before,
'Twas in an older ToyRiffic post of yore.

But I wanted to soon get straight back to him,
So his entry today is not on a whim.

Etrigan here, he is a rhyming demon,
Whose shackled in Hell, he is not a free man.

But fused to a man by the wizard named Merlin,
Etrigan oft gets reprieve from Hell's hot burden.

He's now summoned forth by the noble J. Blood,
When forces arise against that of the good.

Etrigan is DCUC Wave One's best,
I would almost have been happy sans the rest!

His sculpt and his likeness are simply tres groovy,
Hey WB, please make a Demon movie!

Feeling Gassy

Rex Mason, aka Metamorpho, is the "Collect and Connect" figure for DC Universe Classics Series One. In order to obtain him you must first purchase the entire series, collecting a piece of him along with each figure. Left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, and torso. Once you have them all, you can construct Metamorpho, the Element Man! The figure is brilliantly sculpted, capturing his multi-elemental properties with a mud leg, a clear glass/ice leg, a rocky arm, and his other arm which is some kind of purple chain mail...I guess.

And as if a complete Metamorpho weren't cool enough, he even comes with added appendages to enhance his elemental changing powers!

His right arm comes with a rocky, magma-esque enlarged hand:


His left arm comes with a metal looking hammerhead at the end of a gaseous wrist transformation:


And his right leg comes with a mud-like fountainous mount:


All together, Metamorpho becomes quite the formidable hero!


This figure is great. There are plenty of reasons to collect the entire DCUC Series One, but Metamorpho alone would be enough to convince me!