The AFB Podcast Episode 244: Marvel Legends Mega Show

Episode 244 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join Eddie, Ben, and Scott for a new show with the latest news and reviews.

This week is a Marvel Legends Mega Show, as we take on the mammoth task of reviewing the Space Venom, Abomination and Dormmamu waves, plus a bit extra just for fun! 

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 244 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

News covered in this episode:

1. 1. Sideshow Collectibles “Han Solo in Carbonite” ⅙
   2. Sideshow Collectibles TMNT “Raphael” statue
   3. Sideshow Collectibles/Prime-1 New-52 “Superman” statue
   4. Phicen “Demon Huntress” ⅙ action figure
   5. SH Figuarts Geonosis Battle Droid
   6. Hellraiser Pinhead 1:1 Bust
   7. Figure-rise Mechanics Frieza's Hover Pod
   8. Bleacher Creatures Doctor Strange plush   
   9. Icon Heroes Wonder Woman “Defender” paperweight
   10. Funko Pop Gilmore Girls & The Blacklist & Conan & Red Sonja Funko Pop Cowboy Bebop
   11. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 1/10 Scale ArtFX+ Statue - K-2SO
   12. Harley Quinn ArtFX Statue

The AFB Podcast Episode 242: NYCC 2016 News / Kotobukiya ArtFX Rogue and Bishoujo Spider-Gwen

Episode 242 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join John, Adam and Scott for a new show with the latest news and reviews.

This week, our Toys of the Week are the ArtFX Rogue Statue and the Bishoujo Spider-Gwen Statue from Kotobukiya, and we also have all the latest news including reveals from New York Comic Con 2016. 

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 242 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

News covered in this episode:

1. Hasbro Marvel Legends reveals from NYCC 2016
2. Hasbro Star Wars Black reveals from NYCC 2016
3. DC Collectibles Wonder Woman (Movie) and Nightwing statue reveals
4. DC Collectibles display at NYCC 2016
5. Sideshow Collectibles Marvel & DC
6. Kotobukiya Marvel & DC also here
7. Cryptozoic DC busts
8. Playmates announce “Voltron” toyline
9. Sideshow Collectibles “Iron Giant” maquette up for pre-order
10. Hot Toys Star Wars Episode VII “Finn Stormtrooper” ⅙ scale figure
11. Funko Pop Vinyls, “Harry Potter”,
12. Dynamite “Women of Dynamite: Vampirella” Bust
13. Eaglemoss acquire a ton of licenses
14. S.H. Figuarts DBZ
15. Diamond Select minimates, Select Toys & More
16. NECA “Predator 2: Ultimate City Hunter” action figure
17. DC Superhero girls
18. Mezco 1:12 Collective “Red Skull” action figure
19. Playmates Walmart exclusive “TMNT/WWE” mash-up figures
20. TItan Merchandise “Metal Gear Solid” Titans

The AFB Podcast Episode 241: SH Figuarts Super Saiyan Trunks / Sabretooth Premium Format

Episode 241 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join Adam, Scott, Eddie, and Ben for a new show with the latest news and reviews.

This week, our Toy of the Week is the SH Figuarts DBX Super Saiyan Trunks and our discussion topic is a Toy Breakdown of the Sideshow Collectibles Sabretooth Premium Format Statue

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 241 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

News covered in this episode:

1. Good Smile Company “Legend of Zelda” Figma figures
2. NECA Aliens Colonial Marines 30th Anniversary 2-pack
3. Comicave Suicide Squad 6” figures.
4. KidRobot Frazetta Death Dealer Labbit
5. Gentle Giant Animated “Punisher” statue
6. Sideshow Collectibles TMNT “Donatello” statue
7. Sideshow Collectibles Iron Giant announcement
8. ThreeA Judge Dredd ⅙ action figure
9. ThreeZero Hannibal Lecter ⅙ Figure
10. Gantaku The Bat King ¼ Statue
11. Hot Toys Star Wars Ep7 “Luke Skywalker” ⅙ action figure
12. Hot Toys Star Wars Rogue One “Darth Vader” ⅙ figure (no lightsaber blade?)
13. Kotobukiya ARTFX Kylo Ren
14. Hasbro Retailer Rogue One exclusives
15. S.H. Figuarts Rogue One K-S20, Scarif Stormtrooper, Death Trooper, Storm Trooper, Hover tank Commander
16. Funko Pop! Rogue One
17. Funko Pop! Animaniacs and Pinky and The Brain

The AFB Podcast Episode 214: Mega Easter Toy of the Week Round Up

Episode 214 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join the whole AFB crew for a great new show packed full of toy fun!

This week, our Toys of the Week are:

• Mezco Deluxe King Kong
• Boss Fight Studios Vitruvian Hacks Kickstarter Coral Gorgon
• Bandai Neo Shodo Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Vegeta
• Mattel WWE Legends series 4 Ultimate Warrior
• Bandai SH Figuarts Mighty Morphin Power Rangers : Red Ranger
• Hasbro Marvel Legends 3 ¾” 2016 Wave 1 Figures

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 214 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!

Bowen Designs Professor X in Hoverchair Statue Review

I’m working my way through a backlog of purchases to catch up on reviews, and while I’m setting aside most of the older purchases I’ve made, there are a few I can’t pass up - and one is the great Professor Xavier Statue from Bowen Designs which came out earlier this year. 

Digital Sculptor Khurram Alavi has helped Bowen make fans of the Claremont / Lee era X-Men happy by producing this great statue of X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier in the hoverchair he got around in during that iconic era of Marvel’s Merry Mutants.

There is some very clever design involved in this piece - the hover effect for Professor X’s hoverchair is created by the suspension of the chair over the base by a clear riser pole. The set includes two poles of varying heights to suit your desired effect and display space. I’ve chosen the shorter pole for my display and these photographs. It’s a particularly clever achievement when you consider that this was all designed as a digital sculpt. 

The end result of this engineering is very effective, but caution is advised when assembling and moving this piece - once the riser pole is inserted, the statue swivels freely on the base. From a design point, this was a wise move as it makes the piece more durable and less prone to any kind of internal breakage if a more rigid slot or peg system was used, but it does make the piece slightly unstable when being moved.

While the chair is the eye-catching feature of this statue, there are some other lovely details, such as the leather-look padded back to the interior of the chair and the striped blanket that covers Charles’ lap, the lines of which are sculpted, not just painted. The paint work is very solid here, with a metallic finish for the exterior of the chair and a matte finish for the softer surfaces. 

Professor X himself is very nicely sculpted, and I appreciate the restraint in the pose - it would have been very tempting to have him with his hands to his brow in full-on telepathy mode, which would have been a bit corny for my tastes. If I have any criticism of the piece it is that Charles looks rather young and could have done with a wrinkle or two, or just some lines on his face to highlight an expression, as he does look a tad blank. 

There still seems to be a chance that a classic Professor X in a standard wheelchair may come from Bowen at some point, which would fit nicely with the sets of Original and Classic X-Men that Bowen is currently producing. I had initially planned to hold out for a possible wheelchair version, but now that I have this in my display I’m very glad I didn’t wait - it’s a great addition to the Bowen X-Collection!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the November AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Bowen Designs Web Exclusive Hydro-Man Bust Review

Bowen Designs does a number of website exclusive items each year, but their ordering system for the Bowen Exclusive Hydro-Man Bust, which I’m reviewing tonight, went one step beyond that. As well as being a web exclusive, Hyrdo-Man was made to order, meaning that only the number ordered were produced. This explains the unusual edition size of 483. As far as I’m concerned, this also means there are 483 extremely lucky people out there, as this is a truly amazing piece.

The amazingly talented Kucharek Brothers can always be counted on for a top quality sculpt and something a little bit out of the box to go with it, and it is really great to see them doing busts for Bowen as well as their excellent statue work. Hydro-Man is the Kuchareks at their best, and the end result of this piece is one I am very glad to own.

These days Morris Bench sports a more modernised costume for his crime fighting, but his iconic look was a black t-shirt and jeans long before Superboy appropriated it for himself. It’s this look that Bowen has chosen, which means he will fit nicely with the majority of Bowen’s Spider-Man Family (and Foes) collection. The design of this piece, with Hydro-Man’s water arms up behind his head ready to pounce, is genius. It does make him a bit of a space hog for collectors short on shelf space, but this piece is worth making a focal point.

Apart from the overall concept and design, the making of this piece is the use of translucent materials for the water elements of the statue. There is an incredible level of detail in Hydro-Man’s giant water arms, and the translucent material creates a stunning visual effect.
Many Bowen collectors tend to be bust only or statue only, and there continue to be many requests for a Full Size Hydro-Man Statue. While this could be done magnificently, I almost don’t see the need. There is nothing “mini” about this bust - it stands nearly as high as some statues! When you consider Hydro-Man’s power and take into account the manhole base, it’s easy to imagine this is Hydro-Man coming out of the ground and put him alongside your Full Size Spidey collection, as I have done.

The pickings have become a bit slimmer for Bowen bust collectors in recent times, but it’s some comfort to know that when the busts do come, they are complete home runs. With the move towards more oversized busts that Bowen seems to be making, even the most die hard statue-only collector really needs to give these great pieces consideration!
You can see more pics on Facebook, and discuss this at the AFB Forum!
Until next time!

Bowen goes Disco with a Dazzler Statue!

One of the great things about the level of interaction that Randy Bowen of Bowen Designs has with collectors is that we often see statues right from the development phase and can really enjoy anticipating their release. My review tonight looks at a statue that has been a long time coming - from years of fan demand to finally appearing on our shelves - the Bowen Designs Dazzler Statue. 

This is sculpted by Mike Cusanelli, who has been doing a great deal of work on the ladies of Bowen lately. While there are often some composition issues with Cusanelli’s work (lack of energy in poses is usually my big complaint), he does have a great command of the female form, and I love the way that Dazzler has been sculpted as a healthy, shapely woman and not just a stick figure.

This statue has an issue that is not terribly uncommon with pieces like this - when viewed at eye level, it’s a little bit hard to see Dazzler’s face as her head is angled facing down. To get a full appreciation of the character’s visage, you either need to place her on a high shelf or lie on the floor and look up at her. These angle issue always strike me as odd, as you would expect these things would be ironed out in production, and the fact that the angle presents as different from both the promo and the packaging shots (again, a common occurrence) seems to me to indicate that producers see the issue as well. I’m not sure what the answer is here but it’s something I often scratch my head about when opening and inspecting new statues. 

As for Cusanelli’s composition issues, they appear here not just in the angle, but in the pose, which makes absolutely no sense. Dazzler is holding her microphone in her right hand behind her head like a hairbrush or a back-scratcher while her left hand is outstretched. There might be a degree of logic to this if she was emanating some sort of light construct from her outstretched hand, but without it the pose is, at best, bemusing.

At one stage it was suggested that a cord might be included with the microphone which would swirl around Dazzler. While it was a clever idea, I’m glad they decided against it as there is enough happening here and I think ultimately it would have detracted from the overall look and effect of the piece. 

Pose aside, the sculpting is solid. Very nice lines and natural folds and creases in her clothing, and her jewellery accents are very nicely done with some clever detail. Her voluminous hair is beautifully sculpted. I am always impressed with sculptors who can really give the impression that a subject is wearing clothes instead of them just looking painted on, and Cusanelli has definitely accomplished this with Dazzler’s outfit, with lovely touches like her collar and flares very nicely done.

The paint job does a great job of adding dimension and depth to the piece with a nice mix of matte and sheen finishes. There is a lovely shine to Dazzler’s white costume which really adds a lot to the overall effect. The only issue I have with paint is on the hair, where it’s perhaps a little bit thick and blocky, causing some of the sculpting definition to be lost. 

One thing that surprised me about this piece was the construction of the base. The statue slots into a half mirror ball base, and also comes with a black disc for the mirror ball to rest on, but the two are separate pieces with no connectors, so the two together are a bit slippery to carry or move - be careful. Bowen has done this type of base construction before (see Brown Costume Wolverine) but not for some time.

While there are some issues that keep this statue from being perfect, I don’t think any of the things I’m bothered by would dull the enjoyment that diehard Dazzler fans are going to get from this long-awaited statue. It does make a very impressive sight on the shelves and fills a big gap in the 1970s-era Bowen Display. As a big fan of Dazzler’s original X-Men tenure, I am really hoping that we will see a blue costume version coming soon to make a great set of Bowen Dazzler bookends!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the July AFB Comment of the Month Contest!
Until next time!