Random Toy Pic :: Super Hero Squad Volcana

I now dang near nothing about Marvel's Volcana except the obvious, she has fire powers of some sort. Regardless, she's a neat transluscent flame-on female super(villain?) and is super cute in Super Hero Squad style.

I think Volcana was only available in a Toys R Us exclusive multi-pack. but don't quote me.

Imaginext Ice-Ice-Clayface!

A couple years ago Toys R Us began selling an exclusive Mr. Freeze Lair playset. The set came with a lair, a re-colored Mr. Freeze, a Batman, a Bat-Snowmobile and an ice version of the Imaginext Clayface!

The only piece  from the set that I had any interest in was Ice-Face (as I have dubbed him.) So I couldn't excuse the purchase of the whole set just to get Ice-Face. I just had to bide my time until this past weekend when I literally walked next door to find him for sale at a yard sale for a dollar...and I also got the lair and snowmobile for that same dollar!

Ice-Face is clearly in 'played-with' condition, having a few scuffed teeth and some scratches throughout, but for the price I can't complain. If I never find a nicer specimen I'll still be happy with this one. As with Clayface before him, Ice-Face's head is hinged and you can place a standard Imaginext figure inside him. What gives Ice-Face an added bit of 'oomph' is the fact that he's made of transluscent plastic, so you can see the guy just chillin' in his belly when he's inside.

It's really cool that I was able to skate on over to the neighbor's house and get Ice-Face for such a small amount of cold hard cash! HAW HAW HAW! I may be cold but my jokes are red hot!

Batman Animated Batman Back in Black

This black and grey Batman Animated re-paint was released with a Toys R Us exclusive repainted Batmobile in dark blue with red trim a few years into the line. It was long after the original Batmobile was unavailable at retail, but I really wanted one so I settled for the red trimmed Batmobile because I could get it at retail - It was not the best looking re-paint of the original Batman Animated Batmobile and not the worst, but this is a gorgeous action figure re-paint to be sure and helped me take the plunge on a not perfect Batmobile.

This Batman is the same sculpt as the original 'Combat Belt' Batman, but with black and darker grey and a black bat symbol sans yellow oval. One of my favorite Batman looks of all time!

I had actually forgotten that I owned this Batman action figure. It wasn't until I started down this rabbit hole of looking at my Batman Animated toys again here on the blog that I came across a photo I took years ago which included this Batman. I then had to dig through a couple boxes to find him and through the internet to remind myself how he was released. I knew I owned the Batmobile he came with, I had just forgotten that the Batmobile came with a Batman at all! And since this Batman had essentially spent 99% of his life in the cockpit of said Batmobile (both on display and for the past few years in storage) his existence had completely slipped my mind.

I'd still like to own a Combat Belt Batman with his toon accurate costume colors, but lacking him in my collection hurts less knowing I own this guy. This figure reminds me of the scene in the cartoon where Bruce first dons the cape and cowl and Alfred reacts with a gasp, which is pretty much what I did when I found him again after all those years boxed away.

Grundybuster Iron-Robin! :: Imaginext Robin Mechanical Suit Playset

"Side-Kick SMASH!"

Imaginext re-colored their Lex Luthor Mechanical Suit in red and black and released it as the Robin Mechanical Suit. The set is a Toys R Us exclusive, and comes with an exclusive Tim Drake post Death-of-Superboy red/black garbed Robin!

First things first: I hate hate HATE that Robins in the Imaginext world are capeless. A capeless Robin is absolutely absurd, an abomination, a blight upon human decency and good taste and beyond unacceptable; no caped Robin in the Imaginext line has prevented me from bothering with any of them even though I am a big fan of Robin.

Until now.

Don't get me wrong, I am still bothered by Robin's lack of a cape. BUT this is a gorgeously sculpted Robin. Imaginext's most recent Robin effort, the details in the costume are incredible. Just look at those gloves! Plus: the domino mask is a sculpted element, not just painted on a blank face (ala Harley Quinn.)

The coloration here is beautiful too - this specific black/red Robin is only available with this set. The sculpt is available in the most recent Imaginext Batcave, but in a more 90s era red/green coloration.

Not to mention this sweet Robin Mech Suit. I can justify the lack of a cape because Robin is in his Mech Suit and therefore probably retracted his cape or something. I know, it's a thin excuse for Robin not having his cape, but a neurotic's gotta do what a neurotic's gotta do!

Robin fist snugly in the cockpit of his Mechanical Suit.

Not being big into the Superman themed Imaginext stuff, I don't already own the Lex Mech Suit, so this guy is all new to me. I can imagine it being a piece of Wayne Enterprises/Luthor Corp. tech that Luthor commandeered for nefarious purposes, and Robin getting in on the action with his own to help Batman and Superman stop him. Or something from the Batcave trophy room that Robin re-painted in order to keep up with the Batmobile.

"Who needs a sidecar?"

"Get away from her you BITCH!"

The Robin Mech Suit has an operable claw for a right hand, and a missile firing feature above the left. I forgot the missile during the photoshoot as I display this piece without it anyways. Articulation is simple - hips, knees, and shoulders. But it's a giant Mech Suit, so what do you expect it to move like, Jack LaLanne?

I absolutely love this thing. It's fun and absurd, just like comic book adventures should be.

As mentioned before, this is a Toys R Us exclusive; part of their Gotham City line-up. Not sure how easy it might be for folks to find, but I have only seen it the time I bought it a couple weeks ago. I suggest if you want it you nab it when you see it.

Imaginext Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy action figures!

Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy!

I have never been secretive in my dislike for Spongebob Squarepants. The cartoon is ok I suppose, and the character designs are cute. But THAT VOICE! Good lord it's so grating.

But one thing I have always loved about the show (or should I say two things) are Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. Parodying not only the most obvious pair Aquaman and Aqualad, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are also homages to Batman and Robin (in the form of television's Adam West and Burt Ward) and maybe even The Skipper and Gilligan. With a tiny bit of 'Little Mermaid' thrown in.

Voiced in the show by the not-at-all-grating Ernest Borgnine (Rest in Peace) and Tim Conway, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are retired superheroes in the undersea world of Bikini Bottom.

The Imaginext Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy action figures are a Toys R Us exclusive, and have just recently started appearing on their shelves.

These guys are wonderfully designed, fitting right into the Imaginext aesthetic while representing their cartoon designs almost perfectly.

Mermaid Man has swivel jointed shoulders and his legs swing forward in unison. About as much articulation as you can expect from an old dude like him!

Barnacle Boy has the same articulation as Mermaid Man. His head might turn, but I'm not going to force it.

Mermaid Man comes with his Mermerang...

...and Barnacle Boy comes with his Water Ball.

I absolutely adore these two figures, as much for their association with Aquaman as with their association with Adam West and Burt Ward. They are conceptually wonderful and hilariously designed. Even if you aren't a fan of Spongebob, you owe it to yourself to track these guys down. 

'...part of your wooooorlllld!'