The New Teen Titans - RAVEN!

Legion of Collectors - The New Teen Titans 3.75" Figures - Raven - Funko 2018

Around ten years ago, collector's subscription boxes were all the rage. The most I ever subscribed to was two at a time, and honestly even that felt a little overwhelming. You would get a shoebox of surprise goodies every other month and it was an exciting aspect of the hobby for a while. I say "for a while" because the novelty wore off quickly. After several consecutive boxes with nothing particularly appealing to me, I started to feel like a sucker. That said, there were plenty of true gems that came out of these subscriptions. Funko was one of the leaders and I distinctly remember a Marvel subscription and a separate DC subscription. The second to last DC box was (in my opinion) the best of the bunch with two (of 4) 3.75" New Teen Titans action figures included. It was sad because it was hard to get all four, and even sadder that they never made more (like Beast Boy and Wonder Girl) like they hinted at in their YouTube videos. But the figures we were able to get are amazing. Let's check out Raven below!

TMNT Dimension X - APRIL O'NEIL (IN SPACE)!

TMNT: Dimension X - April O'Neil (Space Comrade) - Playmates 2016

I recently found myself combing through my old external harddrives looking for a spreadsheet I used to keep of all my MTG Cards. I never found that spreadsheet, but I did find tons of old photos intended for blog posts that never came to fruition. I now plan to pepper them in throughout the year.. most likely at the end of the end of the month when I feel I won't make my (self-imposed) post quota. These posts will be amusing because I pretty much dislike all the figures (there was a reason they never made the cut after all). But time has softened my disapproval. I now appreciate this April O'Neil figure for the sheer absurdity of the "in Space" trope. Four Ninja Turtles and a reporter floating around in zero gravity... it's pretty amusing. But on a more genuine note, I truly do appreciate female astronaut action figures. Even if they are nonsensical. "Astronaut" is one of the tags I rarely get to use on this site, so I'll jump at the chance to add another. Let's check out Space Comrade April below!

Batman Classic TV Series - CATWOMAN Bust!

Batman Classic TV Series - Julie Newmar Catwoman Mini-Bust - DST 2015

I'm pretty obsessed with the mini-bust format. In the early 2000s and throughout the 2010s, these were everywhere. Bowen Designs, Gentle Giant, DC Direct, and Diamond Select seemingly had releases every month. Plus several companies came to the game late like Monogram and Eaglemoss and produced some great pieces. But unfortunately, since 2019 almost all production seems to have ceased - with the exception of Diamond Select who was still occasionally releasing Star Wars and Gargoyles busts until just a couple years ago. My favorite character to collect in this format was Catwoman. I believe I have 12 different mini-busts representing a variety of her incarnations over the years (surprisingly there were never Pfeiffer or Golden/Silver Age representations - two glaring omissions). I excitedly bought this Julie Newmar Batman '66 bust when it came out 11 years ago, but was pretty disappointed in the paint quality. The difference between the paint masters and the production version was simple, but impactful. The solicitation photos looked decently like Julie Newmar (not great, but close enough). 

Sons of Anarchy - GEMMA!

Sons of Anarchy - 6" Action Figures - Gemma Teller-Morrow - Mezco Toys 2014

My post of Leela (as Clobberella) from Futurama last month made me think of other toys I might have of Katey Sagal. I have a figure somewhere of her signature Peg Bundy role, but I forgot about this Sons of Anarchy Gemma that I picked up years ago on clearance when all the Toys R Us stores were closing. Sons of Anarchy was a show on FX that aired 92 episodes over 7 seasons from 2008-2014. I don't usually watch violent television dramas (like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Justified, The Wire, etc). I get that it's a super popular genre, but I just gravitate towards sci-fi and comedy. I've been tempted to start watching this show several times over the years purely because of the cast, but even the few YouTube clips I watched tonight while typing this reconfirm that I don't have a stomach for violence and crime. But at least I can appreciate that there was enough of a cultural impact to inspire a cool toyline and get another Katey figure in my collection. Let's check out Gemma below!

Titan Vinyls - LADIES OF STAR TREK!

Star Trek: The Original Series - Chapel, Rand, Uhura, Vina - Titan Vinyls 2017

It's been a while since I've purchased or reviewed any Star Trek merchandise. But the upcoming waves of figures from Nacelle Toys have me excited and looking back to what I already own. I realized that I never posted these fun super-deformed vinyls from Titan. I've have them for nearly 9 years and I love how odd they are. I also love that they included so many of the women from Star Trek: The Original Series. I will always loved the TOS episodes most and the trifecta of Uhura, Rand, and Chapel bring me a lot of joy. Nacelle's announcement of all three ladies in Wave 3 of their new Star Trek is a gift. I'm still feeling loss over the cancelled Diamond Select/Art Asylum figures of Rand and Chapel... 17 years ago (I can hold a grudge). I kind of miss these Titan Vinyls. Somewhere I have Ghostbusters and Edwards Scissorhands ones too. They remind me a lot of the KidRobot Vinyls (of which I have many). Let's check out the ladies of Star Trek: The Original Series below!

DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (PRISCILLA)!

DC Universe Classics - Series 13 - Cheetah (Priscilla Rich) - Mattel 2010

I will always have a powerful nostalgic draw to the original Priscilla Rich incarnation of Cheetah. She first appeared in the 6th issue of Wonder Woman way back in 1943 and became Diana's fist costumed adversary until her eventual death in the 1980s (twice). I can't quite remember when I first discovered her, but I know it was in backissue bins and reprints in the 1980s. Of course I know some of my memories are conflated with the Paula Brooks version of The Huntress who I also developed an early obsession with, but Cheetah was clearly the more prominent cat-villain. Her spotted bodysuit with cat ears and tail always makes me very happy. It's cheesy, but oddly relatable. As an animal-obsessed kid this costume is the exact sort of thing I would have come up with for myself. This figure was a 50/50 variant with a Barbera version in the 13th Wave of the groundbreaking DCUC line. The figures definitely had issues, but the character selection was mindblowing. Let's check out Priscilla below!

DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (BARBARA)!

DC Universe Classics - Series 13 - Cheetah (Barbara Minerva) - Mattel 2010

DC Universe Classic was a very interesting toyline. It was the first modern DC action figure line in mainline retail stores, it was reasonably priced, and it hit some very obscure characters over its four-year run. I was on-board from the start, but I was also highly critical of this line. As a collector who focuses on the female characters, the production quality was left wanting. This is especially a shame because the 2-Up sculpts and paint masters by the Four Horsemen were always beautiful. But the figures we saw in stores had squished faces, scrawny short arms, and most egregiously, a neck peg that often entered the skull in a too-far-forward position giving the character no neck undercut. These problems seemed isolated to the female figures and were a constant source of disappointment for me. But the interesting character selection kept me hooked. The fact that we got two versions of Cheetah (modern and retro) in the same figure slot is a testament to the fan service Mattel was providing.

Legends of Tomorrow - HAWKGIRL!

DC TV - DC's Legends of Tomorrow - #2 Hawkgirl - DC Collectibles 2017

With Hawkgirl set to make her big-screen live-action debut in Superman next month, I thought it would be fun to look back at the first live-action Hawkgirl from the Arrowverse CW show DC's Legends of Tommorrow (2016-2022). This show featured a variety of characters already introduced in Arrow and Flash (and plenty of new characters) in time-travelling adventures led by Rip Hunter the Time Master. Some of the notable characters are White Canary, Firestorm, Vixen, The Atom, Steel, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl (played by Ciara Renée) and Vixen (played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers) were my main draw to the show. Personally, the CW shows never appealed to me, but these two characters were very cool and thankfully got the action figure treatment. I always felt the DCC Arrowverse figures looked a little stiff and unappealing in the packaging, but in person they are more dynamic than I was led to believe (but not overly so). Let's check out the Legends of Tomorrow Hawkgirl below!

Alteration Man - CARROLL!

Alteration Man - Carroll (Blue Knock-Off 2007 Movie Arcee) - Machine Boy 2014

Knockoff toys are something I rarely pay attention to. I typically buy items as soon as they are released, so picking up an unofficial reissue of a desirable figure is just not in the cards. But every now and then there is a redeco that I obsess over. When these Alteration Man Carroll figures were produced (by Machine Boy circa 2014), there was a main version which was a seemingly exact duplicate of the 2007 Movie Arcee from Hasbro in her dark fuchsia colors (so, a knockoff that I was barely aware of). But then there was this surprise blue variation that thrilled me. Any time I see a blue fembot, I think of immediately of Chromia. But in actuality, this is likely an attempt to replicate the Prime Arcee which was so popular in 2012-2013. Regardless of the intent, I was thrilled to have another variation of my favorite early fembot mold in my collection. The colorful lineup of variations is impressive (not quite as impressive as Energon Arcee, but a very close second). Let's check out Carroll below!

Transformers Movie - ARCEE (G1 COLORS)!

Transformers (Movie) - Deluxe Class - Arcee (Wonder Festival G1) - Hasbro 2008

When I first started collecting female action figures as an adult (circa 2002), I was really resistant to anything pink. I felt it was a reductive and 'simple' design choice. At least that's what I told myself. In retrospect, I realize I felt shame at the prospect of having a Billy bookshelf loaded with pink toys in the corner of my bedroom. Thank goodness I was able to shake off those deep-rooted societal hangups eventually. But the unfortunate fallout from my arrested development, is that the very pink figures I sneered at back then have become nearly unobtainable holy grails to my older (and wiser) self. This Wonder Festival Japan Arcee is a prime example. She was available on eBay and other sites back in 2008, but I scoffed at the "forced femininity" of her pastel deco and ignored her. It took many many years to finally get her into my collection, but I can only blame myself for that delay. I think this is a landmark figure and deserves more recognition. Let's check out the Wonder Festival Arcee below!

Lego LED Keychains - BATGIRL & HARLEY QUINN(S)!

DC Super Heroes LEGO Keychain LED - Harley Quinn & Batgirl - Santoki 2016-17

I have several things going on in my life right now. Firstly, I'm on sabbatical and have ample free time for the next month. Secondly, I have a new computer and I'm struggling with all sorts of software and operating system issues. And thirdly, I have been focusing on finishing long-outstanding unfinished art projects and also reorganizing my toy room. The larger effects of all these events is that I will have less time for blog posts this month and the posts I do make will likely be products and photos from 5+ years ago that were never finalized (I have quite a backlog). This post features the latest three Lego LED Lites featuring the Gotham Girls. I've always loves Legos, but collecting minifigures is a who different genre from my norm that I find intimidating. But these larger 3" figures appeal to me greatly. The larger scale lets them blend in with my traditional action figures much better. And the limited character selection is actually obtainable. That said, it's been eight years and I'm ready for more. Let's check them out below!

Female Character ACTION FIGURE COMICS COVERS!

The Coolest Variant Cover Trend of Recent Years - Fantasy Action Figures

This is the first post I've made on this blog that doesn't have to do with real action figures or statues. Comic Book cover variants are a major trend in the hardcopy comic world. Back in the day, variants would be rare incentives for some super-special issue. But now it's actually rare when and issue doesn't have at least one variant. Different companies will have themes, like Lego covers or Women of Power. But my favorite by far has been the Action Figure covers. There are a few early examples of this kind of cover, but I believe the current trend was kicked off by the various Marvel Star Wars comics from Spring of 2015. There were tons of action figure variants across all the Star Wars titles at the time. Then later that Summer, Marvel's Secret Wars event used the same tactic and its momentum has only grown since then. There are usually a few Marvel Action Figure Variants each week now. And other publishers are picking up on the trend as well.  Let's check out a slew of these covers below!

Miniforce X - LUCYBOT!

Miniforce X Commander - LucyBot Genesis Machine (KO Version) - Jumpgo 2018

This figure has been a thorn in my side for many years. I have ordered her multiple times but have been scammed repeatedly. Recently I tried again, after a several year hiatus, and was successful. Albeit, for a knockoff version, as the original is now scarce and expensive. The anthropomorphic fox character, Lucy, has had several bot forms over the many seasons of Miniforce, but I love this one because it looks the most like a G1 Transformer. Miniforce (and many other kid-focused South Korean shows I've seen) is amazing because it blends genres seamlessly. Lucy is a cute cartoony pink fox that would appeal to very young children. But when the action arises, she can change into a human Super-Sentai-esque warrior. And then that human form can pilot different robot mecha (like we see here), and then those bots even combine into a mega-bot. I can imagine kids growing with this series and just latching on to different aspects as their interests change. It's rather genius. Let's check out the knockoff Lucybot below!

Transformers - ARCEE (ONLY HUMAN)!

Transformers/G.I.Joe Collector's Club Exc - Arcee (Only Human) - Hasbro 2017

There are only a handful of classic Transformers episodes that are still fused into my brain as an adult, and amazingly most of them have managed to get action figures. An iconic episode for me was Only Human (S3 E23, November 1986) wherein Ultra Magnus, Springer, Rodimus Prime, and Arcee fall victim to a plot by the mysterious Old Snake (Cobra Commander in disguise) and have their consciousnesses transferred into humanoid synthoids while their empty robot bodies are piloted as weapons by the bad guys. Three figures were released based on this episode; Arcee, Rodimus Prime, and Old Snake. (Springer, Ultra Magnus, and Victor Drath prototypes were shown at conventions, but never produced). This episode is quite well-known for linking the Transformers and G.I.Joe universes (even if it's just strongly implied), so producing these club-exclusive Transformers figures using G.I.Joe body construction was a genius move. They are pretty amazing. Let's check out Only Human Arcee below!

Marvel Select - LADY DEADPOOL!

Marvel Select -  Marvel Comics Lady Deadpool - Diamond Select Toys 2017

This post is an interesting one because I have already written it. Longtime readers might even have slight deja vu. In September of 2017 I purchased this figure and promptly photographed and reviewed her. There's plenty of evidence to support this, including hotlinks on other blog posts made years afterwards (which are created directly from the existing post). But at some point it got deleted. I don't know how that could have happened, but for years now I would notice the missing post and dead links. The photos were still uploaded and present, but no actual content existed. So I'm finally re-treading old territory for consistency's sake. I remember when this figure came out and my excitement at her quality and scale. A lot of previous Marvel Select ladies looked stiff and awkward to me, but this figure marked a turning point. She blends in with Marvel Legends scale-wise and her sculpt seems a lot more natural than previous figures like Gamora and Black Widow. Let's check out Lady Deadpool below!

Dark Knight Rises - CATWOMAN!

MAFEX No. 009 - The Dark Knight Rises - Catwoman - Medicom Toys 2015

The MAFEX line from Medicom has come a long way since its beginnings in 2014. This specific Catwoman figure is the 9th release from 2015. And while this figure is very nice, it pales in comparison to the 2021 Hush Catwoman I recently opened. In fact, there is a version 2.0 of this Dark Knight Rises Catwoman released two years later in 2017 (MAFEX 050), that appears greatly improved. Unfortunately, that 2.0 figure's secondary market price is often in the hundreds of dollars. (But meanwhile you can easily get this MAFEX 009 version for $25 bucks today). I was really happy to finally open and review all my backlogged DKR Catwoman figures. I've had this one for seven years and she looks great finally displayed on my Catwoman shelf. My desire to do a group photo with the new McFarlane DC Multiverse figure made me finally dig all these figures out of the depths of my closets and finally give them the attention they deserve. Let's check out this (long-neglected by me) Mafex DKR Catwoman below!

Dark Knight Rises - CATWOMAN!

S.H.Figuarts - The Dark Knight Rises - Catwoman - Tamashii Nations/Bandai 2018

This figure sent me on a crazy internet-searching frenzy this week. When I was photographing this figure, I had the sudden realization that she looked exactly like Sarah Michelle Gellar. This idea got so implanted in my head that I couldn't unsee it and created the (fictional) idea that Gellar was possibly considered for the role before Hathaway was cast. We see a fair amount of toys that are based on pre-production design, so my theory had merit (in my mind). Alas, I was wrong and the likeness is just a coincidence. But, wow, there is a lot of fancasting out there for Gellar in the role of Catwoman. For a long time, this S.H.Figuarts figure from Bandai was the nicest DKR Catwoman out there. She has great textural details, excellent articulation, and perfect proportions. Plus she was the victim of some bizarre merchandising practices and was heavily clearanced at GameStop for $30. This purchase started my obsession Mafex, S.H.Figuarts, and Figma (which I had always avoided). Let's check out Catwoman below!

Dark Knight Rises - CATWOMAN!

Dark Knight Rises: The Bat 1:12 Collectible Set - Hot Toys/Sideshow 2014

This figure was the Bane of my existence for years (pun intended). As a surprise pack-in figure for the gargantuan deluxe The Bat vehicle from Hot Toys (MSRP $779.99), she was simply unobtainable for me. I had hopes that someone would split up the set and eventually sell her cheap(er) on eBay, and a mere eight years later I finally had her. Beyond the general character appeal and my obsession for collecting variations, I also wanted this figure as a rare example of a 1:12 scale figure from Hot Toys. As a company known for its large high-end 1:6 figures and smaller SD Cosbaby line, a traditional 6" scale figure is an oddity. And while she's not as detailed or articulated as her Mafex and SHFiguarts versions, she is still a fantastic rare figure. Her face and eye details are especially amazing. Although she kind of looks like she's about to cry with that Hot Toys' signature glassy shine and pink-lined eyelids. She probably saw her pricetag. Let's check out this rare Dark Knight Rises Catwoman below!

Nintendo - 8-BIT PRINCESS PEACH!

World of Nintendo - 2.5" Series - 8-Bit Princess Peach - Jakks Pacific 2017

In the late 80s and early 90s, Nintendo was a ridiculously huge part of my life. The main reason I don't play any video games today is because I realized at a young age how all-consuming my gaming habits become when unchecked (and it scared me). Like most of my peers, the game that started it all was Super Mario Bros on the NES. There are parts of that game that are so imprinted into my memory that I still dream about them 35 years later. And one of the most iconic visuals is that of Princess Toadstool in the final screen of the game. Seeing her was the culmination of hours of concentration and adrenaline, and holding this today today still gives me a whisper of that same feeling. I wish the packaging called her Princess Toadstool instead of Peach. I know they are retroactively supposed to be the same person, but to me this red-headed princess is always a unique character. (The name Peach (in English) wasn't used until Super Mario 64 (1996)). Let's check out the 8-Bit Princess below!

Wild Republic's SISTERS OF THE SEA!

Sisters of the Sea: Mermaids - 6" Action Playsets - Wild Republic 2014-2023

Mermaid action figures are very hard to come by. As common as mermaid dolls, mermaid plushes, and mermaid figurines may be, articulated action figures are extremely rare. I first discovered these Wild Republic mermaids back in 2014 when the first Sisters of the Sea figure showed up at a beachside 5&10 shop while I was on vacation. Then I quickly found a color variant and I knew I'd be obsessing over this line for a long time. The newer figures have swapped out the catchy "Sisters of the Sea" name for - ahem - "Mermaid Moveable Playset" but the colors and wow factor just keep improving. This line is notoriously hard to find. I suggested your zoo, aquarium, and museum gift shops, and any beachside novelty shops. I check all my locals places obsessively, but it's worth the effort to score a well-sculpted (yet inexpensive) mermaid. They are not collector toys. So, yes, the paint can be sloppy, and yes, the joints can be loose, but I love them anyway. Let's check out the Sisters of the Sea below!