The Munsters - MARILYN MUNSTER!

Super7 ReAction - The Munsters Series 3 - Marilyn Munster - Super7 2023

I typically avoid Black & White grayscale action figures when there are colorful versions available. But last year I realized that it was seeming pretty unlikely we would ever see a color version of this Marilyn Munster ReAction figure. When I came across her next in a store (she had been sold out for a couple years), I didn't hesitate to get her. The original The Munsters series ran for two Seasons and 72 episodes from 1964-1966. Marilyn was played by Beverly Owens for the first 14 episodes and by Pat Priest for the remaining 58. Although the two women look different, the likenesses of her figures are so vague that I can't be 100% sure who it is supposed to be. Marilyn is the niece of Lily who is pretty and charming and normal. The running gag of the show is that her suitors are always scared away by her monstrous family... but everyone is too aloof to realize why. I normally don't usually buy figures of "civilian" characters, but something about Marilyn always got her a pass. Let's check out Marilyn below!

Dark Universe - DRACULA'S BRIDE!

Universal Studios Dark Universe 2-Packs - Dracula's Bride - Universal Parks 2025

In the Spring of 2025 I went to Orlando for the second time in my life. The purpose of the trip was to see the Muppet portion of Disney's Hollywood Studios before it was torn down for the new Monster's Inc attractions. But the timing of that trip was also interesting because the new Dark Universe park was set to open in just a 3 or 4 weeks. A couple days before my trip, pictures started leaking online of exclusive action figures for this monster-themed Dark Universe park. I quickly learned that there was a gift shop already open in the lobby of a nearby hotel that was selling this early merch. And miraculously, it was located between my hotel and the Disney Parks. I ended up stopping by 4-5 times but they never did get this set in. I was eventually able to order it online a few months later after stalking the Universal web shop obsessively. These figures used to be absurdly overpriced at $84 per set, but a year later the standard price was reduced to a reasonable $40. Let's check out Dracula's Bride below!

POP Funko - MARTIAN SPY GIRL!

Funko POP! Movies #1876 - Mars Attacks! - Martian Spy Girl - Funko 2025

I have a relative who buys me Funko Pops every Christmas. I always try to casually mention throughout the year that I don't really collect them like I used to and I'm hyper-selective now. But every year I get that familiar rectangular wrapped gift handed to me no matter what. Her selection is usually off-base. But last year I was genuinely happy to get the Mars Attacks Martian Spy Girl. I had picked her up multiple times in stores and almost bought her. But I didn't love the details of the tearaway face so I (reluctantly) never made the purchase. The Martian Spy Girl was my absolute favorite part of Mars Attacks. I saw the movie in the theatre opening weekend my freshmen year in college not knowing what to expect... and I loved it. It was silly, colorful, funny, and a little gross. But the highlight was Lisa Marie doing her inhuman sauntering across the screen as the Martian Spy Girl. It was instantly iconic. I'm really happy to have another in my collection. Let's check her out below!

Universal Monsters - PRINCESS ANCKESENAMON!

Universal Monsters Mini-Mates Series 3 - Princess Anck-es-en-Amon - DST 2012

I just unearthed this toy from my basement after it had gone missing nine years ago. I picked her up when my local Toys'r'us was shutting down back in 2017. She had already been out of stock for years at that point, but they must have found this lone straggler in the backroom or under a shelf when clearing out. In The Mummy (1932), the resurrected Imhotep has assimilated into modern society. After ten years, he seeks out the tomb of his love, the Princess Anck-es-en-Amon, to hopefully resurrect her in the same way. But instead he meets a socialite names Helen Grosvenor who bears a striking resemblance to the Princess. Imhotep believes Helen is her reincarnation and attempts to sacrifice and mummify her. In the process, Helen becomes fully possessed by the spirit of Princess Anck-es-en-Amok. That's what this toy represents. There was supposed to be another figure of the civilian Helen, but it was unfortunately cancelled. But at least we got her in the Princess garb. Let's check her out below!

MOTU Origins - SKELETAL LADY SLITHER!

Masters of the Universe Origins - Skeletal Lady Slither - Mattel Creations 2026

I love when a female character can be creepy and scary. For some reason, aside from the occasional witch or vampire, these traits are almost always owned my male characters. (Note that I didn't say gross or gory. There seem to be no gender hang-ups with blood-splattered or mutilated figures. But I digress). I have a special fondness for skeletons. I can see six skeletal things in my house as I type this from my couch - and they are year-round, not seasonal. So when Mattel announced this Skeletal Lady Slither as part of their Snake Lair crowd-funding campaign, I was obsessed. A skeletal female action figure in a retro style seems like something custom-made for me. The reptilian details are just icing on the cake. The only downside was that she was included in a $300 bundle that took a year to arrive. But I'm patient and irresponsible, so it was the perfect product for the perfect customer. I meant to review her sooner, but she seems very appropriate for spooky season. Let's check out Lady Slither below!

Casper - KAT HARVEY!

Funko Minis (Five Below Exc) - Casper (1995 Movie) - Kat Harvey - Funko 2026

My childhood was full of exposure to Harvey Comics characters. Between cartoons and the comics my parents would grab from the spinner racks whenever we were sick, my siblings and I were fed a steady diet of Richie Rich, Hot Stuff, Sad Sack, Wendy, Baby Huey, Little Audrey, Little Lotta, etc. But the most prevalent was easily Casper the Friendly Ghost (and his troublesome uncles the Ghostly Trio). I was working in a video store when the Casper (1995) movie was released on VHS. It was very popular among kids, but I was in college and couldn't be bothered. But years later I randomly popped it in and was charmed. Anyone of my generation who was even the slightest bit of an outcast probably feels an affinity towards Christina Ricci. She was the unspoken representative for all of us. Now this movie is in my annual Halloween rotation, but I never expected to see any merchandise (Kat at least) from the movie. But 30 years later FiveBelow and Funko fill that void. Let's check them out below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - AMY ROSE!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Touma Edition Blind Box - Amy Rose - T-BASE 2025

I'm often overwhelmed at how quickly my Sonic the Hedgehog toy collection is growing. In the past 24 months, I've added fifteen figures to my Sonic shelf. And when you consider that I'm only purchasing the female characters, the number is pretty impressive. Of course seven of those are the DC x Sonic crossover series (which I know isn't everyone's cup of tea) but that leaves eight ladies from the main license. And while the vast majority of these figures have been from Jakks Pacific, there have been a few surprises from companies like JusToys and these collectible vinyl blind-boxes from T-BASE. The size and quality of these figures is a pleasant susprise. Although they are designed by the toy artist Touma, they aren't nearly as stylized as I might have expected based on his original characters. They blend in perfectly with all the traditional mainstream toys, although they are larger, with better plastic and elevated sculptural details. Let's check out the T-BASE Touma Amy Rose below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - TRIP THE SUNGAZER!

Sonic the Hedgehog - Touma Edition Blind Box - Trip the Sungazer - T-BASE 2025

When I was traveling in Japan last month, one of the most important items I wanted to snag was this blind box Trip figure. I didn't know much about it before I arrived in Tokyo, only that I had seem them pop up on eBay for $75-100 each on the secondary market in the US. I quickly learned that T-BASE is an art toy company similar to Kidrobot. And there is only one physical store left - in P'PARCO (a mall in the Toshima City section of Tokyo). This store is pretty small but full of really cool sofubi and art vinyl. These Sonic blind-boxes are designed by toy artist Touma and are exclusive to this location (and at under $15 US a box they are easily the most affordable thing in the shop). Instead of buying a whole box (which guarantees a full set - no chases), I decided to try my luck. Unfortunately it took me 10 tries before I landed a Trip, but she is amazing so I'm glad I was obsessive (and glad the employee was so friendly and understanding as I made all those consecutive purchases). Let's check out Trip below!

Little Nightmares - THE LADY!

Little Nightmares - Mini Figure Collection - The Lady - Bandai/Namco 2023

I was traveling in Japan last month and stumbled across this creepy little figurine that I instantly became obsessed with. I didn't know the context of the character, but I loved that she looked a lot like the traditional touristy souvenirs I was seeing everywhere, but with a subtle macabre aura to her. I have since learned that Little Nightmares is a popular horror-puzzle video game from 2017 that already has two sequels. The main character is a tiny little girl in a yellow raincoat named Six. But The Lady is featured very prominently throughout. I believe it's Six's visions/dreams of The Lady that starts the whole horror storyline. I read that she is the main antagonist of the series, but the videos I've watched don't appear entirely antagonistic. She is inhumanly tall and moves with a silent grace. She wears a dark brown kimono and a creepy blank Noh mask (that hides her disfigured face). I bought a lot of cool stuff in Japan, but I think this random unarticulated figurine might just be my favorite. Let's check out The Lady below!

Marvel Legends - IRON SPIDER!

Marvel Legends Magic the Gathering - Mary Jane as Iron Spider - Hasbro 2025

I remember seeing Mary Jane Watson as the Iron Spider in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #15 ten years ago and being absolutely obsessed. To my knowledge, this was the first time Mary Jane became a costumed hero. We've since seen her as Jackpot, Spinneret, and the current Venom, but this original (short) stint as the Iron Spider blew my mind. We had seen similar characters like Pepper Potts, Lois Lane, and Betty Ross don the mantles of their respective superhero love interests in the past, so it was surprising that I never even considered the same path for MJ. She only wore the Iron Spider costume for a single issue, so it is almost unimaginable to think we would have an official toy of her 10 years later. I even attempted a custom once we got good (male) Iron Spider and could pair the mechanical legs with a simple buck like Mayday Parker. But this official version is way better. Her inclusion in the Marvel Magic the Gathering game prompted this amazing figure. Let's check her out below!

Transformers - ARCEE!

Culturefly VS - Transformers the Movie - Arcee & Soundwave - Culturefly 2026

One of my favorite things about being an older toy collector is the modern trend of figures in nostalgic homage designs and scales. The most prominent has probably been ReAction figures from Funko and Super7 which feature all types of properties in a Star-Wars-type late-70s 5-poa style. But we've also seen lots of modern figures in Masters of the Universe scale, Secret Wars, and even recently the big rubbery wresting figures. One mash-up I didn't expect in 2026 however was Transformers in a Battle Beasts homage, complete with rub reveal stickers. The new "VS" line from CultureFly was first shown back in February at Toy Fair NY. So far they they've only shown eight Transformers figures (four 2-packs). But I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a new trend. I'm pretty sure they have vinyl licenses for Star Wars, TMNT, Aliens, DC, Marvel, and more. It would be so cool to see more of these quirky little toys in the next few years. Let's check out Arcee below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - COVER GIRL!

G.I.Joe: Glow Patrol (SDCC) - ReAction+ O-Ring - Cover Girl - Super7 2026

I'm so glad that Super7 is continuing their original G.I.Joe faction, Glow Patrol. I am still obsessed with their initial 2022 Glow Patrol figures released in the 5-poa Reaction format as SDCC exclusives. I always wanted there to be more, but honestly never expected any. Then four years later we got an additional six brilliantly glowing figures in their O-Ring Reaction+ format (again as SDCC exclusives). This just seems like a deco that should have been released in the 80s. Almost all the major toylines back then had at least one GITD character, so why wouldn't G.I.Joe turn that gimmick into a whole faction like they always seemed to be doing. That dream never came true, but we have them now. I only hope the fun continues and we get more next year. It would be awesome to see some characters in the orange color that S7 does so well. Jinx or Pythona would be amazing. But honestly I'd be happy with anyone. Lady Jaye in green would be great, too. Let's check out Cover Girl below!

Stranger Things - ELEVEN!

Stranger Things Season 5 - Eleven & Hopper Target 2-Pack - Jazwares 2025

I truly wasn't planning on getting this Target-exclusive Hopper and Eleven 2-Pack when I stumbled across it in the Stranger Things specialty aisle in Target this time last year. I had just bought the single-carded Eleven figure and didn't think a second purchase with a slight sculpt difference was something I needed. But in retrospect I'm glad the fomo won out because I have a hunch the 3.75" Stranger Things line is going to keep giving us surprise releases, and I would hate to have missed out on this early figure. I don't know much about Stranger Things Season 5 since I've only seen the first episode or two, but that is enough to give me a reference for Hopper looking like a lumberjack and Eleven in her survival training clothes. It would have been better to get this second figure in an entirely new outfit than the single release, but they are pretty inexpensive so it isn't a huge deal. There are lots of chances for news figure with Jazwares' penchant for unannounced releases. Let's check out Eleven below!

Stranger Things - ELEVEN!

Stranger Things Season 5 - 4" Series - Eleven (Masked) Jazwares 2025

It's been a full year and I still haven't finished watching Stranger Things Season 5. The runtime of the episodes intimidated me. Several were almost two hours long and I just couldn't find the time to focus on it. However, I have watched the first couple episodes so I definitely know the reference of Eleven in these Goonies-inspired 80s workout clothes. We see her running survival courses with Hopper (in a montage that thematically reminded me of Sarah Connor in T2... training relentlessly for a battle she knew was coming). When Stranger Things Season 5 was about to debut, Target stores surprised us with an entire specialty aisle dedicated to the show. I personally didn't know Jazwares had won the action figure license. Previous year's figures were made by McFarlane, Bandai, and Funko, but this newest transfer was off my radar. The quality and likenesses of these small figures isn't the greatest, and some are downright bad, but they are pretty fun overall. Let's check out Eleven below!

Stranger Things - NIKKI!

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (Netflix Animated Series) - Nikki - Jazwares 2026

Nikki Baxter is a new character to the Stanger Things Universe introduced in the Tales from '85 Animated Series on Netflix. She is the daughter of the kids' teacher, Mrs. Baxter, who gets attacked by vines and ends up joining the main crew of kids in their creepy adventures. When I found this toy at Target back in Springtime, I hadn't seen the show and didn't know anything about her character. But I have a penchant for the punkier people in life, so her aesthetic naturally pulled me in. Of all the 80's tropes that the live-action series exploited (not always accurately), I always thought the edgy counter-culture punk vibe was missing. And it seems like a pink-mohawked newcomer was a great way to fill the void. The Jazwares Stranger Things line(s) have been a little hit-or-miss for me so far. But I think the two Tales from '85 ladies so far are easily the nicest looking so far. I think animated designs are always a little easier to portray in this scale compared to live-action likenesses though. Let's check out Nikki below!

Transformers - VERTEBREAK!

War For Cybertron: Kingdom (Core Class) - Fossilizer Vertebreak - Hasbro 2020

There have been a decent amount of new factions introduced in modern Transformers lore. My favorites are the Armorizers (rocky looking robots that transform into rocky looking vehicles... apparently inspired by Inhumanoids) and the Fossilizers (Maximals and Predacons with skeletal dinosaur beast modes). I think these are both really fun concepts with some really great designs (and some not-so-great designs as well). There is also a fun added gimmick with these two lines in that the figures can be broken apart into all their component pieces and reassembled/swapped with other figures, creating new characters and combiners in limitless variations. However, my only female Fossilizer, the Predacon Vertebreak, does not have this feature (except for her tail!). This figure doesn't look entirely feminine, but she's small, uniquely designed, and I always appreciate another female "dinobot" in my collection - especially if she's an evil skeleton pachycephalosaur. Let's check out Vertebreak below!

Stranger Things - ELEVEN!

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (Netflix Animated Series) - Eleven - Jazwares 2026

I think it's a very smart move for Netflix to rewind, continue, and expand the Stranger Things universe in the form of an animated series. When we first met the kids of Hawkins, Indiana way back in 2016, the actors we roughly 12 years old. And by the time Season 5 wrapped up the series, they were in their 20s. The youth and energy of the first few seasons is personally what leant the series most of its charm in my opinion. Movies like E.T., Stand By Me, Goonies, and Super 8 are some of my favorites, and the youthful adventuresome (and nostalgic) spirit is the main appeal for me. So establishing an animated universe for Stanger Things seems like an extremely smart thing to do. You lock-in the character ages and your special effects budget is no longer an issue. I personally haven't watched the series yet, but I love the character design. Season 2 of Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres tomorrow so I thought it was a good time to finally post these pics. Lets' check out Tales From '85 Eleven below!

Sonic the Hedgehog - DIGITAL AMY ROSE!

Sonic the Hedgehog 2.5" Series 25 - Digital Amy Rose - Jakks Pacific 2026

Jakks Pacific never ceases to amaze me with all their surprise releases. This Classic Amy Rose in an 8-Bit deco was just unveiled in an SDCC slide show about five weeks ago. And now I have her in hand thanks to a well-stocked Macy's/Toys'r'us. The existence of this figure itself is also a surprise. While the 8-Bit digital figures from Jakks have been fairly plentiful (I count nearly 30 so far between Sonic, Mario, Donkey Kong, and Megaman), Amy is only the second female (after the 2017 Princess Toadstool). This figure is great. Pixelated 8-Bit toys conjure an unmistakable nostalgia that's really fun and playful. I've tried to make my own (unarticulated) ones as a pandemic craft project with knockoff brick toys but it's very difficult to make look good. The process was so frustrating that I have a massive appreciation for figure like this. The sculpts capture the looks of the characters from every angle. I hope they make a 4" one to match the recent Sonic/Tails/Knuckles 3-pack. Let's check out Digital Amy below!

Marvel Legends - SPIDER-GWEN!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider - Hasbro 2024

I remember buying this figure a few years ago in a fit of retail therapy after I almost died. It was around noon on the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2024 and I found myself driving on a steeply-inclined highway during an early-in-the-season snowstorm. IT was accumulating fast and I was sliding all over the road and losing traction on the hills... and there was only a flimsy guardrail between me and a huge embankment down into the dark woods below. When I next saw civilization I breathed a sign of relief, pulled in to a shopping center, and found myself walking through a Target for an hour while my nerves calmed and I waited out the storm. In my shaken state, I filled up my basket with all sorts of stuff I didn't need. I truly has no intention of buying this Spider-Gwen since I had so many figures of her already. But in retrospect, I'm really glad I did. The super-thin animated body sculpt is so unique and her punky hair color looks great. It only took me two years to appreciate her. Let's check out Spider-Gwen below!

Thrilljoy Pix - WONDER WOMAN!

Thrilljoy PIX - DC Comics - Wonder Woman (Event Exclusive) - Thrilljoy 2026

With all the Funko Pops I've bought of the years (dozens, possible even hundreds), I surprisingly never pickup up a single Wonder Woman. I have countless Batgirls and Harley Quinns, but for some reason Diana never made the cut. She is the most merchandised heroine out there, so I suppose I was intimidated by the notion of a potential deluge of star-spangled Amazons into my overcrowded toy room if I were to purchase a single one. Whatever the reason, it wasn't conscious. I've some to really appreciate the aesthetic of a "classic" Wonder Woman. I put that in quotes because everyone has their own definition of that word. For me, it's the Wonder Woman that I saw in coloring books and on lunchboxes throughout my childhood in the 80s. When I saw this Wonder Woman Thrilljoy PIX at Box Lunch a couple weeks ago, I immediately appreciated the design and knew she deserved to be purchased as the third figure in my new 80s' Ladies collection. Let's check out Wonder Woman below.

Marvel Legends - SPIDER-WOMAN!

Marvel Legends - Spider-Woman - Marvel Unlimited Exc - Hasbro 2025

Once again the Marvel Unlimited exclusive figure has given us a fun variant we might have never seen in plastic otherwise. In June 2024, there was a variant cover of Spider-Woman #7 by artist Peach Momoko featuring Jessica Drew in a black spider suit with some face markings that implied this was a symbiote. This was a one-off image that did not correlate to the story (very similar to 2020's Kamala Khan as Spider-Girl, which was also from a single cover illustration). But it makes for a perfect exclusive figure. Meaning: this is not a crucial, nor even canonical, figure to own; but she's awesome for super-fans; and she is made from some simple repurposed parts (The 2019 Polaris head was a surprising choice, but it works well). I'm already so curious what obscure figure will be revealed for next year's subscription. I have a ton of ideas. But I will personally get most excited for any new Spider-Lady figure to my collection (so I knew this Momoko design was an instant must-have). Let's check out Spider-Woman below!

Marvel Legends - JEAN GREY!

Marvel Legends Vintage - Uncanny X-Men - Jean Grey (X-Factor) - Hasbro 2025

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!

Thrilljoy Pixl - SHE-RA!

Thrilljoy PIXL - Masters of the Universe - Blind Box S1 - She-Ra - Thrilljoy 2026

I'm a sucker for a tiny cartoony She-Ra figure. Unlike a lot of iconic heroes, She-Ra doesn't get this playful treatment very often. She's had a handful of Funko Pops (2013, 2021a, 2021b, and 2022), a very cool Dorbz, a criminally-scarce Rock Candy, an "unreleased" Eternia Mini, and a recent Funko Mystery Mini. That may seem like a decent list, but He-Man literally has dozens of figures in this aesthetic, so her exclusion from a lot of these lines is very noticeable to me. Luckily, Thrilljoy, the new vinyl collectible company by Brian Mariotti (the former CEO of Funko), has produced a She-Ra vinyl in two scales so far (plus a variant). That's a very strong showing right out of the gate for me. The character selection for Thrilljoy seems a bit random without the clearly defined "waves" of characters belonging to the same license we've come to expect. But that kind of excited me because I immediately dreamed of a Cheetara and Jem to display along with her. Fingers crossed! Let's check out She-Ra below!

Thrilljoy Pix - SHE-RA (CHASE)!

Thrilljoy PIX - She-Ra Princess of Power (LE 6000) Chase - Thrilljoy 2025

I'm still pretty surprised the 40th Anniversary of She-Ra: The Princess of Power in 2025 didn't have more fanfare. There were rumors flying of a ton of Mattel product that unfortunately never surfaced. There were justifiable excuses of tariffs and shipping delays, but I now think they were simply wishful thinking. Still, we got a New Etheria She-Ra, Origins Despara and Shadow Weaver, the Origins Swiftwind set. And the (super expensive) Mondo She-Ra and Swiftwind pre-orders. A surprise for me was this Event Exclusive She-Ra Thrilljoy PIX. I discovered it after coming home from NYCC last year with my newly-acquired Batgirl '66 PIX and curiously Googling the Thrilljoy catalog. I'm not normally a fan of Chase figures, because they typically have a paint deco I don't particularly covet, and I get frustrating with the blind box experience. But in this case I really want the Chase variant (which has a shield) and I was luckily enough to get one on the first try. Finally got a lucky break. Let's check out She-Ra below!

Thrilljoy Pixl - BATGIRL '66!

Thrilljoy PIXL - Batman Classic TV Series - Blind Box S1 - Batgirl  - Thrilljoy 2026

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!

Thrilljoy PIX - BATGIRL '66!

Thrilljoy PIX - Batman Classic TV Series - Batgirl (LE 6666 pcs) - Thrilljoy 2025

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!

DC Blokees - JUSTICE LEAGUE WONDER WOMAN!

Blokees DC Defender Version 02: Justice League - Wonder Woman - Blokees 2026

It's pretty amazing that the first DCEU Wonder Woman we saw was so spot-on. Gal Gadot had a perfect blend of beauty, grit, and presence that set a high bar for all future live-action Dianas. Her four films, the Zack Snyder Cut, and two film Cameos (The Flash and Shazam) is a lot to live up to. I figure the new James Gunn casting will be leaked before too long and the comparisons will begin. But in the meantime, we are still getting slow trickle of Gal Gadot Wonder Woman product. This second wave of DC Defender Version (2.5" scale) Blokees features a DCEU Justice League assortment that thrilled me with the inclusion of both Mera and Wonder Woman. And if the DC lines are anything like the Transformers assortments, we are likely to see dozens of new characters over the next few years. I expect there to be themes like Batman '66, Teen Titans Go, or maybe Batman: Hush, but my fingers are crossed for some seriously obscure deep cuts. Let's check out Wonder Woman below!

DC Blokees - JUSTICE LEAGUE MERA!

Blokees DC Defender Version 02: Justice League - Mera - Blokees 2026

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!

DC Blokees - ARKHAM KNIGHT BATGIRL!

Blokees DC Defender Version 03: Arkham Chaos - Batgirl - Blokees 2026

Blokees has been dominating both the collector and commercial toy markets in the last few years. They produce figures at a rapid pace, they have great character selection, they are inexpensive (these Blind Box model kits are $3), and they are fun to put together. Other cool thing is the wide variety of scales that exist within each license. These Defender scale figures are the smallest at around 2.5" tall. I think they are pretty fun and adorable. The Transformers Defender line is already up to Series 08 (in two short years), so I have hopes that same momentum will exist for DC and give us a flood of characters. My excitement for these is reminiscent of how I felt when I discovered Mini-Mates or Medicom Kubricks; A fun tiny scale, cool characters, and a lot of product. The Arkham Knight Batgirl design was never my favorite. I always felt that her cowl was too bulky and the gold gauntlets and boots contradicted the gritty aesthetic. But in this scale I find it much more palatable. Let's check out Batgirl below!

DC Blokees - ARKHAM KNIGHT CATWOMAN!

Blokees DC Defender Version 03: Arkham Chaos - Catwoman - Blokees 2026

About ten years ago the Arkham Series of video games dominated the Gotham Girls merchandizing. For a brief period of time, I loved the new spin on my favorite characters. But I can admit it got old pretty quick. The darker, grittier designs were just too far of a stretch from the simplified comic designs that initially drew me to the characters. I would have been more excepting if almost every action figure of Catwoman between 2012 and 2018 wasn't in this style with a little tuft of hair on her forehead and unnecessary cleavage. But by the time her 2022 McFarlane figure was released, my criticism had abated a lot. So last week when I first learned that the third wave of the Blokees DC Defender blind box minis was Arkham themed, I was genuinely excited to hunt them down. And then within a couple days, my local toy shop got them in stock. Luckily the ladies are almost always the lightest figures in the assortment so they're relatively easy to pick. Let's check out Catwoman below!

Super7 O-Ring - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

Universal Monsters Reaction+ Wave 2 - Bride of Frankenstein - Super7 2026

I've been a big supporter of the O-Ring renaissance in recent years. I didn't realize how much I loved this 80's staple until it started trickling back into the action figure world a few years ago. And companies like Super7 are riding this renewed wave of popularity hard and producing all sorts of interesting properties. Micronauts, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Ghostbusters are not licenses I would have expected to work so well in this format, but they certainly do. My favorite line, aside from G.I.Joe, so far is the classic Universal Monsters. As much as I was always fond of the old Universal Monsters Remco and Placo toys, the production style was a bit unpolished for my tastes and they never included the Bride of Frankenstein.. so I never bothered to collect any of the vintage figures. But now finally getting a Bride in a vintage format scratches an itch I didn't even know was there. I think she's glorious. And I'm already anticipating an eventual GITD or a mummy-head variant. Let's check her out below!

G.I.Joe Classified - STEEL CORPS TROOPER!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #95 -  Steel Corps Trooper (Female) - Hasbro 2023

I have these great childhood memories of my brother "sending away" for exclusive mail-in toys. He would be constantly collecting UPCs, cereal box tops, Bazooka Joe wrappers, and reading the Free Stuff For Kids books. We always suspected he would grow up to be a problem gambler or an extreme couponer (he didn't luckily). But I was always kind of jealous of the toys he would get. I remember Mumm-Ra coming in the mail, and well as the G.I.Joe Major Bludd and Super Trooper. But the most intriguing one was easily the G.I.Joe Steel Brigade soldier. The big gimmick for this mail-away toy was that it was supposed to be You. The toy would come with a personalized filecard and an iron-on patch to wear. It's was a very cool idea. The toy itself was a little generic. It had a new (helmeted) head with repurposed body parts from other characters. When I saw this Steel Corps 2-Pack advertised, the memories of that old forgotten toy resurfaced. And finally there's a female trooper too. Let's check her out below!

G.I.Joe Classified - PYTHON PATROL VYPRA!

G.I. Joe Classified Series #88 - Cobra Vypra (Python Patrol) - Hasbro 2023

I remember very fondly when the Python Patrol faction was released in the Hasbro G.I.Joe toy line. I was just about losing my interest in all things 'Joe (it was 1989 and I, along with the rest of the world, was renewing their obsession with Batman). But those Python Patrol repaints sucked me right back in. It seems silly considering how young I was at the time, but I found the nostalgia for those re-used original sculpts irresistible. The cartoon explanation of the faction was pretty generic (magically-induced camouflage) and the actual deco with yellow (geometric) diamond patterns and splashes of red, wasn't very snake-like at all, but the alliterative name, Python Patrol, and seeing all those old figures again was all my young brain needed to get me fully obsesssed. This Python Patrol Vypra figure is a repaint of the Cobra Blue Ninja. It's amazing to get a female character in the faction, even if we had to wait 34 long years. I hope they repaint one of the Classified Valkyries now too. Let's check out Vypra below!

G.I.Joe Classified - COVER GIRL!

G.I.Joe Classified (Vintage) Series  - Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger - Hasbro 2025

It's amazing how the G.I.Joe Classified figures just keep getting better and better. This Vintage-Card Cover Girls figure from last year (in her M.A.S.S. Device design) is probably the best looking female figure in the line so far. It's very rare to see a sculpted smiling face that doesn't look creepy, but this figure achieved it in spades. She comes with two heads and two separate hairpieces to give you four unique display options. When she first came out I had several preorders arrive on my doorstep only to find some very unfortunate paint errors marring my figures. I kept buying her desperate to find one without crossed eyes or a crooked mouth. I eventually found a booth at NYCC with about 15 of her and and I finally found my good one. The sculpt was just too good to not go the extra mile hunting a great paintjob. This blonde version of Cover Girl only appeared in the first 5-episode G.I.Joe miniseries in 1983, but her popularity is still strong 40+ years later (3 figures in the last 4 years!) Let's check out Cover girl below!

Batman the Animated Series - ZATANNA!

DC Direct - Batman: The Animated Series - Zatanna - McFarlane Toys 2026

I just went down a rabbit hole watching all the animated appearances of Zatanna I could find. Since she is not typically thought of as a character who associates with Batman or Gotham City, I have wrongly thought for ten years that this was a Bruce Timm design from Justice League. (I say 10 years because this sculpt was originally released by DC Collectibles back in 2016). But when I compared her to the Justice League Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl figures, the scale and style didn't match. So I came to the conclusion that this figure is indeed a representation of her single-episode BTAS appearance in 1993 (S1E50 "Zatanna"), despite appearing in at least 7 episodes of Justice League Unlimited (FYI I believe she wears a white bowtie in all her JLU appearances). The TNBA stand this figure comes with further confused me. I watched Zatanna's single BTAS episode twice before I realized she was the dark-haired plainclothed wedding guest sitting with Jason Blood. (Like I said, quite the rabbit hole tonight).

DC Universe Infinite Heroes - RAVEN!

DC Universe Infinite Heroes - Crisis Series - Raven (Teen Titan) - Mattel 2009

In 2003, the Teen Titans animated show premeired and exposed a whole new generation to thee characters. The influence was undeniable. The aisles were suddenly full of toys, the fast food chains had promotions, and school supplies were emblazoned with the characters. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the slapstick nature of the show nor the cartoony redesigns. But within a few years, those same new costumes were incorporated into the mainstream comic titles, and they began to grow on me. I once thought the red ornamentation on Raven's costume was distracting, but now it seems pretty iconic. I just saw SDCC images of the new McFarlane Raven coming later in 2026 and it features a lot of these modern animated details (and looks pretty great). These DC Universe Infinite Heroes figures were all the rage 17 years ago, and this Raven was one of the more tricky figures to get. But I'm glad I eventually did because this was the gateway drug that got me to accept some change. Let's check her out below!

DC Universe Infinite Heroes - STARFIRE!

DC Universe Infinite Heroes - Crisis Series - Starfire (Teen Titans) - Mattel 2009

As SDCC approaches this week, I find myself remembering back to the late aughts when Mattel was regularly blowing our collective minds with new product. Both DC Universe Classics and Masters of the Universe Classics began in 2008 and revolutionized the toy industry (I know Marvel Legends had started way back in 2002, but I think their female sculpts were pretty terrible until 2013). With all the focus on Mattel's 6-7" scale back then, it's easy to forget that their 3.75" DC Universe Infinite Heroes line also launched in 2008. It only lasted two years, but it gave us an absolute flood of characters. I believe there were 67 individual figures and 17 multipacks. That's roughly 3 new characters each month for two years. I recently dug out my old Starfire and Raven in anticipation of their new Super Powers figures on Entertainment Earth. I find the Infinite Heroes to be a little weird, a little awkward, and sometimes they're downright hideous, but I still adore them. Let's check out Starfire below!

Digimon - SAKUYAMAN!

Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 3 - 6" Digi-Warriors - Sakuyaman - Bandai 2001

This figure has been a holy grail of mine for many years. She is one of the scarce female characters in the 6" line of original Digimon characters from Bandai. She's a popular character and it's almost impossible to find her complete for under $100. Technically, she is a genderless being, but the genders in this franchise aren't exactly subtle. My favorite thing about her is the fox/kitsune motif to her design. Beyond her fox armor and belt buckle, her characters has four tubes attached to her belt (unseen on this figure) that contain four Kuda-gitsune spirits (aka Tube Foxes) representing the elements of Fire, Water, Wind, and Thunder. These colorful fox spirits wrap around her from four directions and make the figure look super awesome. Coincidentally, these fox spirits are the missing culprits of the "incomplete" figures you see all over eBay. I picked up my Sakuyamon loose, and the fixes seem pretty firmly attached (except for the yellow one that pops off), but my previous owner might have glued them for safety.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - TEELA!

MOTU Origins - Cartoon Collection (200x Wave 4) - Teela - Mattel 2026

I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of the character designs from the 200x Mike Young Productions He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon. With Teela in particular, the impossibly-long gravity-defying ponytail seemed extremely silly. And her blue shoulderpads were an odd departure from her typically-simple color palette. That said, I really appreciate when an action figure is a good representation of an animated design. And this Cartoon Collection Teela is a great example of that. There have been a few Teela figures from this show in the past, but they didn't look anything like the source material. But this one looks really good and actually makes me like the 200x animated design a little more. I even splurged on the Mondo preorder after I felt my judgement waning. I'm now surprising myself by looking forward to the Sorceress figure coming in Wave 6 (and I always felt like her redesign was the most tragic). Here's to changing opinions! Let's check out Teela below!

G.I.Joe Classified - SNAKE-EYES!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #197 - Dawn Moreno (Snake-Eyes III) - Hasbro 2026

In 2016, IDW Comics introduced a new Cobra recruit named Dawn Moreno in the pages of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero. Dawn caught the attention of all the baddies and was eventually mentored by Cobra Commander, Baroness, and Storm Shadow. But when she goes in for Dr. Mindbender's brainwashing program (to fully indoctrinate her), she is accidentally given Snake-Eye's memories. Already a skilled fighter, she now has all the basic skills and knowledge of an Arashikage ninja. She continued training with Storm Shadow (and his mother!) but the good memories of Snake-Eyes were too potent and she eventually joins the Joes. (This costume didn't appear for a full year - in issue #244). I regularly noticed this new Snake-Eyes gracing the covers of numerous comics over the years (I just counted 18!) and her design always caught my eye. But I admit it was actually this figure that made me truly become obsessed with the character. Her masked head is perfection. Let's check out Dawn below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - LADY JAYE!

G.I.Joe RAH ReAction+ O-Ring Wave 9 - Lady Jaye (Covert Ops) - Super7 2026

Lady Jaye has always seemed like one of the simpler characters to be made into a cartoon-accurate toy. She has a classic 2-tone green military uniform, a short haircut, and her signature weapon is a classic (looking) javelin. But her first figure inexplicably had a hat, a single-color bright green uniform, and they turned her simple javelin into some sort of gun. It was still a great toy and probably the best of the vintage female figures, but you never realize how off it was until you see this new Super7 ReAction+ version. Before this, the closest thing to a vintage-style cartoon-accurate Lady Jaye was her 5th version from 2006, but that was in the era where all the figures had disproportionately small heads. This new figure is perfection. It makes me excited to see their take on an update Scarlett - who suffered the most from the limitations of the 80's toy design. If this Lady Jaye and the previous Jinx are any indication, she will be great. Let's check out this classic Lady Jaye below!

Bluey - YOUNG CHILLI (as SHE-RA?)!

Bluey - Single-Pack Action Figures - Young Chilli with Sword - Moose Toys 2026

Bluey is an extremely popular Australian children's show that ran from 2018 through 2023. It's technically only on hiatus while a movie is in production and will likely return with more full seasons. I've watched quite a few episodes while babysitting and it is a fantastic show. If you ever had a great teacher in your life who could explain heavy concepts to young children without being patronizing or annoying - this show gives that same vibe. It's charming and comforting. I think that kids will learn a lot by watching it, and adults will learn new communication skills from the delivery presented in the show. I'm a fan. There is a Season 3 episode called Fairytale where the sisters Bluey and Bingo are being told a story by their father Bandit about when he met their mother Chilli. The setting of that story is a 1980's Halloween and and 8-year-old Chilli (dressed in a She-Ra homage costume) runs up to a young starstruck bandit to return his hat. It was a great flashback. And now it's a great toy! Let's check out Chilli below!

Masters of the Universe - KITTRINA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figures #56 - Kittrina - Altaya 2024

This time last year I posted the first review from my Altaya figurine collection. That was Dree-Elle, which I was excited to open because I had just gotten my Mondo Dree-Elle in the mail. That fateful day opened the floodgates and I knew I would have to finally open and photograph all 20 of the MOTU figurines I had purchased (of 77 total). The lone straggler of all those post was Kittrina, the fan-favorite single-episode character from The Cat and The Spider (1984) where she grappled with Teela and flirted with Battle Cat - all while sharing screentime with Webstor, who was introduced in the same episode. Despite her C-list status and minimal screentime, she is very much a fan-requested character. The funny thing is that both figures of her so far (the 2020 Super7 figure and this 2024 Altaya figurine) are pretty odd and lackluster. The main reason I delayed this post is because she is my least favorite of all my Altaya purchases. I'm probably too critical though. Let's check out the long overdue Kittrina post below!

New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!

DC Direct Action Figures - The New Teen Titans - Starfire - DC Direct 2000

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!

DC Universe Classics - STARFIRE!

DC Universe Classics - Starfire & Adam Strange (Mattycollector Exc) - Mattel 2009

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!

The New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!

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

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!

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!

DC x Sonic - WONDER WOMAN!

DC x Sonic - 5" & 2.5" Hero 2-pack - Wonder Woman & Amy - Jakks Pacific 2026

It's been quite a while since we've had a non-McFarlane, non-preschool Wonder Woman figure on the shelves. There was an under-the-radar 9.5" figure from Spin Master in 2023, but before that was 2020. That's six years without fun little off-scale Dianas filling the gaps between McFarlane releases. The DC x Sonic comic and toyline isn't something I would have expected to work so well. Mashups can be a tricky thing.. they have the potential to bring together two large fandoms. But if either one of the fandoms is misrepresented, it can easily be a double failure. I'm glad the decision to keep the DC heroes untouched while having the Sonic characters don DC costumes was a very smart move. Having Wonder Woman in animal ears would look goofy, but Amy in a star-spangled costume looks cool. It gives sidekick vibes and I love it. These hero multi-packs are unexpected. I assumed true DC action figures were already tied up in existing licenses, but apparently not. Let's check out Diana below!

DC x Sonic - BLAZE as STARFIRE!

DC x Sonic - 5" & 2.5" Hero Multipack - Starfire and Blaze - Jakks Pacific 2026

I am having a great sense of vindication about owning these figures. Back in November, I posted an image on social media featuring the lineups of the next few waves of DC x Sonic figures. The post was several blurry graphs of character renderings, but no actual figures. I knew this leak was authentic (and it was proven to me when I was officially asked to remove it). But the collector community (outside of my amazing network) jumped all over me in the few short hours the post was up. The majority consensus was that it was fake and I was lying. Comments like "Blaze and Starfire don't even make sense. And it's blurry. Fake" flooded my feed. I made sure to screenshot them for posterity (read:grudge holding) before removing the post. About five weeks after the post, the next series of DC x Sonic comics was announced with promo images of the exact characters I leaked. Flash forward six months and I have the first few figures in hand. It's a smug sense of satisfaction that I'm loving. Let's check out Blaze below!