I think the inevitable dilemma of any hardcore X-Men fan is "what is your favorite version of Jean Grey?" As arguably the most powerful of the core X-Men roster, she has been the epicenter of multiple iconic storylines and had numerous iconic costumes in the process. I personally love her in green and yellow. My favorite is her skirted costume with the domino mask from 1967-1976, but this X-Factor (1986) costume and her green Phoenix suit (1976) are close runners-up. X-Factor was a book with a great premise - the original five X-Men brought back as government mutant hunters who were secretly saving all their targets. In the beginning, they all wore these classic "X" costumes in bold colors. Jean's was classic green and yellow for the first 25 issues until she swapped it for the red and yellow costume (I fully expect this figure to be repainted in red someday). This figure was a Target exclusive in the Summer of 2025 and became quite the shelfwarmer. She's great though. Let's check out Jean below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Redhead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redhead. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Marvel Legends - JEAN GREY!
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Thrilljoy Pixl - BATGIRL '66!
No, you're not experiencing déjà vu. This figure is virtually identical to the Thrilljoy PIX Batgirl I posted yesterday, but half the size. Actually my only complaint with my scant Thrilljoy PIX purchases is that they seem fractionally larger than I would prefer, so these 2.5-3" PIXL figures are a great solution. I only fear that they won't have the wide characters selection I predict the larger figures will have. Plus the larger blind-box assortment cases mean it will be harder to get your specific character (I picked up mine on eBay to avoid the stress and because I didn't know where to buy them - I have since seen them at Hot Topic). I don't expect to be buying a ton of these vinyls. I have hopes I can get some more key iconic characters like Cheetara and Jem - that will honestly be the only way I stay engaged in this collection. But so far I've been enjoying my little foray into the Thrilljoy universe and I look forward to seeing their booth at NYCC in a couple months. Let's check out the Batgirl '66 PIXL below!
Friday, August 14, 2026
Thrilljoy PIX - BATGIRL '66!
The last thing I ever expected was to start collecting a new Vinyl figure line. Funko provided me many years of fantastic products. I was an early adopter with the first Funko Force line in 2010 (coincidentally my first purchase was that 2010 SDCC Exclusive silver Batgirl) and I continued gleefully until recently in the last few years when the character selection just stopped being appealing to me (or were so scarce I couldn't obtain them). So I had checked out of the vinyl market and thought I would focus on true action figures going forward. But then at NYCC last October I walked by the Thrilljoy booth and saw this convention exclusive Batgirl '66 figure. Regular readers will know I'm a total sucker for a Yvonne Craig Batgirl. There was miraculously no line and I spontaneously bought her. And within a few months I also bought a She-Ra. I currently only own five Thrilljoy products (one purchased today at Box Lunch), and I'm kind of excited to see what random characters might come next. Let's check out Batgirl below!
Saturday, August 8, 2026
DC Blokees - JUSTICE LEAGUE MERA!
Although Mera's presence in the Justice League and Aquaman movies wasn't groundbreaking or even very memorable (I'm a big fan of the character and I can barely remember her role), that silver screen incarnation granted us eight action figures between 2017-2023 that fit in nicely with a comic-based display (thank goodness for a classic costume!). For comparison, the upcoming McFarlane Mera figure is only the third non-cinematic action figure of her we've ever seen (not counting the two Imaginext figures). So my little Mera shelf is dominated by representations of her fleeting three live-action appearances. This second wave of DC Defender Version (aka 2.5" scale) Blokees is based on the Justice League movie, but with a cartoon design aesthetic. The inclusion of Mera is what made me start obsessively collecting Blokees a few weeks ago. I had to make a detailed spreadsheet to sort out all the scales and characters. This could be a very slippery slope. Let's check out Mera below!
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!
Every time I get an old DC Direct figure into my photo tent I am blown away by the sculpt and attention to detail. I was very excitedly buying lots of toys back then. I loved all the Silver Age and Legion of Super-Heroes figures in particular. But in general, I was really taking this early-aughts toy renaissance for granted. I should have been buying ever single toy put out there. I think Starfire is a tricky character to get right. Especially when trying to replicate the early-80s George Pérez design. Honestly I've only seen it done right twice in toy form: the 2018 Funko mini figure, and this DC Direct figure from 2000. I desperately tried to find who sculpted this, but the information seems lost to time. My best guess is Tim Bruckner. But it could easily be Sam Greenwell as well. Both were very active with DC Direct at the time, but the sculptor names being featured on the packaging was inconsistent in those early years. Whoever the artist is knocked it out of the park though. Let's check out Starfire below!
Monday, June 29, 2026
DC Universe Classics - STARFIRE!
This figure stirs up a lot of old feelings for me. I remember the campaign for the first DC Universe Classics in the Mattycollector Exclusives program. The pictures online (and maybe in ToyFare?) looked great. But the reality of the figures were very different when they arrived. I felt a little ripped off. When the final product had such drastic differences from the preorder prototype images, the whole subscription process seemed unreliable and scammy. All these years later, I can appreciate her for what she is; scrawny limbs, limp hair, and anatomically bizarre cleavage and all. (Seriously though, she has more modest costume options that should have been used if they had to use this cloth-sculpted torso). In photos it doesn't look that bad, but in person there are a lot of sculptural details that just look off. The perfection of the Four Horsemen prototype compared to the sloppy Mattel tooling felt insulting to collectors who purchased these on good faith. 27 years later and I'm almost over it. Let's check out Starfire below!
Sunday, June 28, 2026
The New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!
The new Entertainment Earth DC Super Powers line from McFarlane Toys has me very excited. The main retail waves of these figures were pretty cool, but they were a total boys club (aside from 4 repaints of a Wonder Woman mold). But since the EE-exclusive waves were announced, we've already seen pre-orders for Supergirl, Power Girl, Starfire, and Raven. Anticipation for the latter two has put me on a bit of a Teen Titans kick. I've recently been photographing a lot of older figures that I never got around to posting about prior, and I'm really obsessed with the classic look of the characters. The 2018 Legion of Collectors Teen Titans subscription box from Funko contained 2 of 4 potential 3.75" classic Perez-era Titans figures. These are in the same style as the Batman '66 figures (Batgirl and Catwoman) from the year prior. For years these fetched about fifty bucks each on eBay, but now they can be found for less than retail. It's just a shame they didn't make the other characters. Let's check out Starfire below!
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
DC x Sonic - STARFIRE!
I love how modern interpretations of Starfire have been so covered up. I know her original barely-there costume is iconic and classic, but I always found it so cringey - especially in a team of teenagers. Ironically, the first time I truly started to love this character was in the New52's Red Hood and the Outlaws when her outfit was even tinier and her actions were portrayed as much more cold and sexual than she had ever been before. Something about the art and older appearance of Koriand'r made her super appealing to me. But since then, DC has really course-corrected and she's mostly been costumed in an almost prudish way. But honestly I love it. This DC x Sonic design is new to me, but I realize it's her primary costume in the most recent (2023-present) Titans series. She still has the iconic orange skin, firey hair, purple outfit, and bright green alien eyes, but the pulled-back hair and more utilitarian uniform really makes this design stand out. It's crazy that Jakks was the first to give us a figure. Let's check out Starfire below!
Monday, April 27, 2026
Masters of the Universe - TEELA!
I'm pretty excited to see the Masters of the Universe movie in June. I admit I have had extremely low expectations for the long-rumored cinematic return of MOTU, but the trailers legitimately have me feeling optimistic. They seem to have a great mix of modern and nostalgic vibes. Of course, I will be at an out-of-town wedding the weekend it comes out with no movie theatre for miles, so I will be avoiding spoilers and reviews until I can make time to see it. I'm happy to see that the main four females from Eternia: Teela, Evil-Lyn, Sorceress, and Queen Marlena are all featured in the film. Camila Mendes plays Teela. I first noticed her as the iconic Veronica Lodge on Riverdale, but she's stayed in my media rotation in her movies Upgraded, Do Revenge, and The Perfect Date... plus her role as the dancing hotel maid in the Side-Effects music video which has been on my YouTube gym playlist for years. It goes without saying that I'm a fan. In fact, I'm a fan of everyone cast in the movie (which is a rarity these days).
Sunday, April 19, 2026
TMNT The Last Ronin - GRANNY APRIL!
I told myself a long time ago that I would never buy an April O'Neil figure unless she was wearing her signature bright yellow jumpsuit. This was both because I display characters in groups (and I love visual uniformity) and also so I could avoid trying buy any odd variations or blue-suited comic versions. But tempting figures keep coming out that I just can't resist. I thought I would certainly be skipping this Granny April figure. I never read the Last Ronin comics, she isn't in her signature yellow, and utilitarian-looking characters just don't appeal to me. But I somehow missed the announcement that she would be coming with mini figure of young Yi and Moja, the two sisters in the second generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I'm rather obsessed with these new turtles. Their varying body types/species, genders, and secondary mutations are fascinating and very visually appealing. I bought Granny April as soon as I saw her and her adorable pack-ins. Let's check out Granny April, Yi, and Moja below!
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Toy Biz - MS. MARVEL (SHARON VENTURA)!
In the late 80's I was about 9 years old and moved to a new town (from the boonies). This town had a main street I could walk to (alone) with three comic shops (plus ice cream parlors, newstands (with comics), and a Woolworths and a local drugstore that each had decent toy sections). It was amazing. Of course a few years later 90% of the storefronts were vacant - and the street still struggles to this day. But those comic shops kickstarted a lifelong passion for me. I only spent my meager allowance on G.I.Joe comics, but I browsed every item in the store with endless curiosity. I have vivid memories of this redhaired heroine wearing all the primary colors and seemingly holding her own in male-dominated titles. I never learned too much about her, and she didn't stick around very long, but I now know her as Sharon Ventura, the second Ms. Marvel. Sharon was a pro wrestler and love interest to the Thing. She underwent genetic enhancement, got powerhouse abilities, and took on a superhero persona.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
New Eternia - TEELA!
This figure has had me on a rollercoaster of emotions for the last year. When first announced, I was excited to be getting another New Eternia lady. The 2024 Evil-Lyn was a favorite of mine. But soon leaked production pics started showing up... and they looked bizarre. Her head was tiny and her eyes had an elongated reptilian quality. But I convinced myself that you often see unimpressive prototypes that end up looking gorgeous in person (like the 1987 Movie Evil-Lyn). Then I got her in October 2025 and she looked just as bizarre and unfortunate as I had feared, at least in the packaging. I just opened her last week, and I can admit that (when she has her armor on), she is probably the nicest Teela figure I own. I realize the awkward head size is likely to accommodate for her headdress. And likewise, her weird eyes look fine when she's armored-up. The coppery color of her accessories is very eye-catching and the overall figure is stunning - something I'm still shocked by. Let's check out Teela below!
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Masters of the Universe - QUEEN MARLENA!
One of my favorite bits of Masters of the Universe lore is the origin story of Queen Marlena. As a kid, I certainly didn't watch the episodes in order, so even though her backstory was first told in the second episode (Teela's Quest), it was a late revelation to me when I eventually watched it. Captain Marlena Glenn was an astronaut/pilot from Earth who travels off-course and crash-lands on Eternia. She meets Randor, they get married, and then she gives birth to the twins Adam and Adora. The fact that the two main heroes of the franchise are secretly half-Earthlings was my favorite piece of trivia as a child (and will probably be a story point in the upcoming movie). I love that this new Cartoon Collection Queen Marlena figure continues the MOTUC tradition and has the option to be displayed as Captain Glenn (sort of). This Queen Marlena is perfection to me. For a character who appeared in the majority of episodes, she has been really neglected in the merchandising department. Let's check her out below!
Friday, February 27, 2026
TMNT Dimension X - APRIL O'NEIL (IN SPACE)!
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!
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom - CLAIRE DEARING!
I have a pattern where I stockpile figures in my basement - essentially ignoring that I own them - until I realize I've assembled a small group from the same line and feel the urge to open and review them asap. I pretty much buy every female figure in the modern Mattel Jurassic line. That's no small feat considering how many there have been in the 7 years and how many have come in large expensive playsets. As a reference, it took the G.I.Joe line 21 years to produce as many female figures as the Jurassic line did in 7, and a large portion of the G.I.Joes were repaints. Claire Dearing has been a great character in the Jurassic World movies. Of all the main characters, she has shown the most growth; from a (somewhat) heartless businesswoman in a white skirt-suit to a geared-up survivalist and outlaw. The Hammond Collection offers deluxe versions of their 3.75" figures. Claire features swappable parts to give us two of her iconic looks from Fallen Kingdom. Let's check out Claire below!
Monday, February 23, 2026
DC Classic - BATGIRL!
Now that the McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse is coming to a close, it's amazing to see how good the figures are becoming. I have a lot of Batgirl action figures in my collection. Just on this blog, I have 112 posts tagged with "Batgirl" and even more I've never posted about. And I don't exaggerate when I say that this new DC Classic figure is my favorite of them all. She uses the same body as the 2021 Three Joker's Batgirl (which I always thought was a great buck), but with bright classic colors, a long wired cape, and an amazing headsculpt reminiscent of the art of Adam Hughes or Terry Dodson. The only thing I don't love about this figure is the metallic sheen of the cape. I would have much preferred a flat blue, but that's a small complaint. I have similar praise for the recent Ice figure whose head was clearly sculpted by the same artist. I just hope the remaining ladies coming this year pack the same punch. There are a handful of rumored characters we haven't seen yet. Let's check out Batgirl below!
Monday, January 26, 2026
McFarlane Digital - BATGIRL!
I've heard a lot of collectors griping about this new Batgirl Digital release, but I'll be the first to say that I am a fan. I understand the arguments. Sure, it's a simple redeco of a figure we've seen three times already. And, yes, there have been improvements in the McFarlane line in the five years since she was first released. The fanbase especially seems to love the newer wired capes. But the dynamically-sculpted short cape on this figure really appeals to me so I'm happy to see it again. I'm especially happy when a Batgirl figure is produced in the trifecta of Barbara Gordon colors: Gray, Black, and Purple. It isn't rare for this to happen (Batgirls from McFarlane Batman '66, Spinmaster 4", and Imaginext all come to mind), but I love all three color outfits so it's very satisfying to complete the trio with a sculpt I like so much. This final year of McFarlane DC product is off to a very interesting start and I can't wait to see what's next. The multiple Poison Ivy rumors are especially intriguing. Let's check out Batgirl below!
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Toy Biz - MEDUSA!
I have a great appreciation for the 1990's Marvel action figures from ToyBiz. I remember seeing ads in comics as a kid and thinking that I should buy them all, but I just never did. In fact the first one I bought was near the end of the era, a Magik I found in a Kay-Bee clearance bin for a dollar circa 1999. But as an adult, I've become pretty obsessed with them for their character variety, classic costumes, and creative re-use of molds. I also have a strong compulsion to collect every piece of merchandise for certain characters (especially when there is a new Marvel Legends released to motivate me), so backtracking to pick up these old figures on eBay is a common occurance for me. The new Marvel Legends Medusa inspired me to dig out this old Medusa ToyBiz figure that I've had forever, but sadly never really celebrated. She's a prime example of what I love about the 90's ToyBiz figures: and unexpected character in a classic design (and easy to pick up cheap, even 30 years later. Let's check out Medusa below!
Monday, December 22, 2025
The New Teen Titans - BLACKFIRE!
Of all the character who deserve a figure in McFarlane's DC Multiverse line, or even a second re-do figure, Blackfire no even on my radar. Last year's Platinum edition Blackfire in her Titans Reborn design was a great figure (albeit in a lesser-known outfit). So I was shocked to see this redeco solicited in an odd design reminiscent of her first appearance, but missing her voluminous hair, large cape, and ornate headdress/tiara. I was fully planning on skipping this figure, but FOMO during the preorder blitz this past fall made me cave. She's a pretty cool figure, and I know a lot of collector's missed the Platinum release last year, so I kind of understand how she was awarded a coveted figure slot ahead of so many other contenders. And for someone who was on the fence, I appreciate how significantly different the color palette is, and the multihued purple/blue legs are mesmerizing. They have a color-shifting effect like an oil slick, and I've never seen that on a toy. Let's check out Blackfire below!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
POP Funko - HALLOW'S EVE!
I'm a spineless weakling. I broke my Funko Pop collecting parameters by picking up a modern character. I typically try to limit all my Pops to nostalgic Comic, Movie, and TV characters from my 1980's youth. But I have a strong fondness for Halloween and this time two years ago I fell head over heels for the new Spider-Man villain, Hallow's Eve. So when I saw this Pop in Gamestop last week, I couldn't resist. Hallow's Eve is a longtime civilian character in the Spider-Man universe. Janine Godbe was simply Ben Reilly's love interest for nearly 30 years of comics before she was swept up in a storyline involving Limbo and the Goblin Queen, and emerged as Hallow's Eve. I would describe her as a sympathetic villain and a great lead character. She has a bag of cursed masks that imbue her with the traits of that mask character, often with corruptive effects. Her stories are a lot of fun and I can't wait to start re-reading her TPB tonight, it's my annual October tradition. Let's check out Hallow's Eve below!
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