Shalla-Bal is a legacy character in Silver Surfer lore. She first appeared in Silver Surfer #1 back in 1968 as Norrin Radd's (the original Silver Surfer's) love interest on their homeworld of Zenn-La (where she also happens to rule as Empress). Like most unpowered (yet powerful) female love interests (ie Lois Lane, Mary Jane Watson, Carol Ferris, Pepper Potts, Betty Ross, etc), Shalla has occasionally adopted the abilities and identity of her titular male counterpart. In Shalla's case, this has almost always happened in alternate-universe scenarios or issues of What If. Over the years, she has wielded the Infinity Gauntlet and become (at least) two different Heralds of Galactus. Her specific incarnation as Silver Surfer was in the Earth-X storyline from 2000. Shalla's surprise appearance in the Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer was very exciting for me, but her prescence is also a bit of a potential clue to the plot of the film (don't Google her before the movie if you don't want spoilers). Let's check out Silver Surfer below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Skin-Metallic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skin-Metallic. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Fantastic Four: First Steps - SILVER SURFER!
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Super7 ReAction - STEELHEART!
When Super7 first announced the SilverHawks license a few years ago, they mentioned all the types of product they were planning to produce. While the Ultimates line gets the lion's share of attention (and the SilverHawks Ultimates have been amazing) I was personally even more excited by the ReAction figures. Of course, it took them nearly three years to finally make them, but they are amazing and very much worth the wait. In all the different vintage-inspired toylines I collect, the goal is always to assemble a Ladies of the Eighties lineup. And with some of the lesser-produced ladies, like Jem, already in the line, ReAction is ahead of the game. I predict we'll even see the TigerSharks ladies in the next few years. I suspect the delay of this SilverHawks wave had to do with the perfecting of the metallic deco. While I truly appreciated the pearlized gray animated look in the first Ultimates figures, the multi-colored metallic just looks so much better. Let's check out the ReAction Steelheart below!
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Marvel Legends - FRANKIE RAYE NOVA!
Frankie Raye as Nova has been one of my most-wanted Marvel Legends figures for years. I first discovered her when reading the Infinity Gauntlet/War/Crusade series in the 90s (along with the 93 tie-in comics that I obsessively read). Very early on in that story (in Silver Surfer #51 specifically) Nova was featured as a central character and I was very intrigued. I admit that I initially latched on to her as a stand-in for one of my favorite all-time characters, Firestar. I had viewed Frankie as "Firestar in space" before eventually loving her on her own merits. Her origin story is fascinating and I hope we actually get a repaint in her original yellow and red Fantastic Four design. (Perfect for the Vintage Series). But first, of course, we needed her iconic gold deco. I know articulated toys can rarely achieve a true metallic finish, but this pearlized gold is a great compromise. I wish I didn't have to shell out $400 bucks to get her, but nothing could have stopped me once she was announced. She's perfect. Let's check out Nova below!
Friday, May 21, 2021
Toy Biz - FRANKIE RAYE NOVA!
Frankie Raye is a step-daughter of Phineas Horton, the scientist creator of the original Human Torch (the android Jim Hammond version from 1939, not Johnny Storm from 1961). Frankie was accidentally exposed to the same chemicals that created the Human Torch's flame powers. Her father decided to give her a skin-tight body suit to contain the fire and then hypnotized her into forgetting about the powers and the containment suit itself. She lived a normal life until she was a young woman dating Johnny Storm. Frisky Johnny discovered the bodysuit and eventually she broke through her mental block. She became an unofficial member of the Fantastic Four before fate intervened and she became a Herald of Galactus named Nova, complete with a Silver-Surfer-esque metallic makeover. Recently I've been thinking how she would make for a great Marvel Legends figure. There are enough flame-based characters out there to justify the hair sculpt and the body is essentially a featureless buck.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Marvel Busts - FRANKIE RAYE NOVA!
The Infinity Saga comic storyline really scarred me as a young comic reader. It was the first time I got sucked into a big "Event" storyline. I eagerly bought all three series (Gauntlet, War, and Crusade), as well three years of "Crossover" books that Marvel touted as essential reading: Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Quasar, Sleepwalker, Cloak & Dagger, etc, etc. And newsflash, they were not essential. The story got convoluted and boring and I felt like a total sucker for taking the bait and wasting so much of my hard-earned lawnmowing money. However, in retrospect, I love that these comics are what first exposed me to Frankie Raye as Nova. The MCU movies have clouded my memories about the comics, but I know that Silver Surfer and the heralds of Galactus played a significant role. When I first saw Nova, I thought she looked like a futuristic Firestar, but I quickly embraced her as a unique and awesome character. This 2006 Bowen bust is a rare and amazing representation of her. Let's check her out!
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Marvel Legends - JOCASTA!
This is the ideal type of Marvel Legends figure I like to see. I love (relatively) obscure characters, I love uncomplicated costumes, and I love 70's and 80's comics. It also earns a lot of points by using so many features of the Moonstone buck, which has a sturdy, strong build that looks and functions great. So many recent female Legends have had flimsy rubbery legs that wilt after a month of standing. This body, however, has already stood the test of time. Jocasta first appeared in the 1977 issue of Avengers #162 as Ultron's self-created mate. Her name has obvious oedipal connotations, but she's more of a Bride of Frankenstein type character. Ultron intended for Jocasta to house the consciousness of Janet Van Dyne (the Wasp), but Jocasta rebelled and fought against Ultron, eventually earning a spot on the Avengers. However, she retained some of the "psychic residue" from Janet which contributes to Jocasta's human persona. Let's check out Jocasta below!
Sunday, June 21, 2020
The Authority - THE ENGINEER!
In my young adult years I only had one friend who was into comics. It was fun to geek out with him, but it was also difficult because we had completely different tastes with our reading habits. He was mostly into shock value and extreme scenarios, while I'm always more into the relatable heroes and sympathetic villains. The Authority is one of the many books he tried to get me to read, but it was just not my thing. There were even a few issues drawn by my favorite artist, Arthur Adams, but nothing could convince me to enjoy this series. But then years later I came across this Engineer figure clearanced at Five Below and I found myself really drawn to her. She has an unexpected retro vibe and James Shoop's sculpting always reminds me of his Legion of Super-Heroes line (which are some of my favorite figures of all time). So despite my aversion to the comics, this gorgeous figure is a welcome addition to my collection (even if I pretend she's one of the many unnamed LOSH members). Let's check out Engineer below!
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - NEBULA!
There were a lot of things I loved about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2, but one of the coolest things about the film was the development of Nebula's character from the first movie. She suddenly became very multi-dimensional and you started to wonder what was behind her ruthlessness and sibling rivalry. It was an unexpected but wonderful plotline within the movie. When the 2014 GOTG Marvel Legends series came out, there was specific mention of a second series featuring Nebula. That never came to fruition, but it's possible this figure was planned for an earlier release, especially since most GOTGv2 merchandise seems to have Nebula in a different rust-red costume (which I frankly don't really remember her wearing in the film). But I think this purple outfit looks much cooler and is more reminiscent of her comic look. This figure is probably my favorite from the GOTGv2 wave. It's not a perfect figure by any means (my criticisms are detailed below), but overall it has the most appeal. Let's check her out below!
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Mini-Mate Women of GUARDIANS of the GALAXY V2!
I just bought my tickets to go see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 this Friday and I'm getting pretty hyped up. I've managed to accumulate a decent amount of merchandise from the movie already. Lots of Funko stuff, Marvel Legends, animated spin-off figures from Hasbro, etc. But the first figures I actually picked up were these Diamond Select Mini-Mates. Mini-Mates never fail with Marvel movie products. Even movies that are mysteriously never fully merchandised (like any of the recent X-Men films or Dr. Strange) will get a full lineup of characters in Minimate form. This GOTG2 series was actually the first time I saw that Ayesha would be in the movie. I was first exposed to Ayesha when she was known as "Her" (the counterpart to Adam Warlock aka "Him"). It's funny how there will be a Marvel Legends Adam Warlock (who I'm not sure is even in the film) but Ayesha is left out. At least DST will always give us a full roster. Let's check out the Gamora, Nebula, Mantis, and Ayesha below!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Microman - LADY COMMAND!
Microman is the grandfather to modern action figures. They burst onto the scene in 1974 with small scales, interchangeable parts, and an average of 30 points of articulation per figure - a set of characteristics that is still impressive even by today's standards. G.I.Joe and Transformers owe their development to these fantastic toys. Their unique scale and articulation is a clear inspiration for modern 3.75" figures, and later robot-themed Microman waves were literally rebranded to become the earliest Transformers. I also love that Microman has such a unique, timeless style. The bright colors mixed with their trademark metallic heads and occasional translucent pieces is still recognizable and utilized by the brand today. The Lady Command series was rare and represented the only females in the original run (1974-1984). So when a major resurgence in the line happened in 1999, they were some of the most popular reissues. Let's check them out in detail below!
Monday, September 8, 2014
The Women of WETWORKS!
Whilce Portacio's Wetworks was originally intended to be one of the core titles of Image Comics' initial barrage of titles in 1992. It was delayed for 2 years which, for me, made it become the "breath of fresh air" for Image after my interest in the erratically released Spawn, Wildcats, and Youngblood had begun to wane. Whilce Portacio gained much fame for his pencils in X-Factor and Uncanny X-Men, but it took Wetworks to make me view him as the 90's powerhouse artist he was. I think the metallic design of the characters really showed off his talents. Wetworks is about a Black Ops team who utilize golden metallic symbiotes as full-body protection when warring against supernatural foes (lots of vampires and werewolves). A great storytelling twist is that they were doublecrossed by their parent organization and are now rogue - it's like A-Team meets Underworld meet Silverhawks. There were several great female characters in the comics and luckily three were made into toys. Let's check them out below!
Friday, December 28, 2012
DC Universe Signature Series PLATINUM!
Team completion is one of the greatest feelings for an action figure collector. It amkes you feel as if you've acheived a goal of sorts, and it makes you feel like the toy companies really care about us weirdos. I was a regular on the DC Message Boards before they were axed last year with with New52 reboot, and team completion for the Metal Men was one of the most constant topics. I honestly never thought it would actually happen, but these past few years have surprized me over and over. Platinum is the third female figure in the first year of Mattycollector's Club Infinite Earths DC subscription program and they've really proved that they're going to squeeze in those desperately needed final figures for us. The Metal Men have been fan-favorites since their debut in 1962. They're quirky, fun, and adventurous, which is always a winning combination in comics. All the members are a living metal, proudly displaying their elemental symbol (or at least a symbolic representation), and they all exhibit Plastic Man / Mister Fantastic body distortion talents. Platinum has a Pinocchio complex and thinks she's a real girl.
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