She-Ra the Princess of Power - HUNTARA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #59 - Huntara - Altaya 2024

I'm typically not a huge fan of one-off brutish characters in 80s cartoons, but in Huntara's case I make an exception because I like her purple skin and her design origins. There is a adventure cartoon trope where a new character arrives on the scene and is duped by the bad guys into think the main hero is actually the enemy. The episodes always pan out the same.. with patience, reasoning, and communication winning the day (plus a new hard-won ally for the hero and a thwarted villain). I think this plot existed several times in She-Ra, but the episode "Huntara" from November 1985 definitely seems to have made the most lasting impression. Huntara comes from the warrior planet Silax and is greeted by the deceitful Hordak upon her arrival and convinced that She-Ra is a great scourge to Etheria. She appears very different from other Princess of Power characters with a punk Road Warrior vibe. My favorite tidbit is the writers described her as a "Grace Jones type" and she does indeed resemble the 80's icon.

Sonic - BLAZE THE CAT!

Sonic the Hedgehog - 4" Series Wave 14 - Blaze the Cat - Jakks Pacific 2023

This 4" Sonic the Hedgehog line is really thrilling me. It seems like every few months there is a new exciting figure to hunt down. The 2.5" line and all the Sonic: Prime products are great as well, but this 4" core line is my favorite and I hope it continues for a long time. This newest figure, Blaze the Cat, is perfect. I first learned of her character in 2012 when the Jazwares figure came out and was highly sought after. I was drawn to her because, similar to Rouge the Bat, Blaze wasn't very cutesy like the majority of Sonic females. Instead she was formidable and serious with a regal air befitting her royal (princess) status. I love the executions of this figure with her multi-hued purples and pinks and model-accurate sculpt. If Jakks happens to make a Wave the Sparrow next, then they will have produced an updated version of every female Sonic character ever merchandised in previous lines. Then they can tread new territory with brand new additions like Sally Acorn and Tikal. Let's check out Blaze the Cat below!

MOTU Revolution - MOTHERBOARD!

Masterverse - Mattelcreations Exc - MOTU Revolution - Motherboard - Mattel 2023

Few things are as gratifying to me as when old lore is expanded upon in a smart and creative way. Especially when it fills in some story gaps. Flashback to a young me in 80s expaining Zoar and Screeech to my younger brother. "Who's this?" "That's Zoar, a magical falcon that turns into this character, the Sorceress." "Cool. Who's this?" That's Screeech, the evil version of Zoar." "Cool. Who does Screeech turn into?" "No one. Screeech is a robot." "Oh." Flash forward to this Summer when that old dead-end storyline gets new life. Meet Motherboard, the female form of Screeech. As we saw in Revelation, Tri-Klops had formed the Cult of Motherboard, a group that worshiped technology with a religious fervor. Whiplash, Trap-Jaw, Blast-Attak, and a slew of Skelecons were in the cult as well. The upcoming second series of Netflix's MOTU series called Revolution will apparently show the cult successfully summoning Motherboard, a sort of techno-Sorceress. Information is scant so far, but I'm very excited to see her.

Gargoyles - ANGELA!

Disney's Gargoyles - Ultimate Action Figures - Angela - NECA Toys 2023

When the Demona figure was released last year in Neca's Gargoyles line, I honestly expected her to be the only female character. I know there are lot of females in the show, but Demona is the token female for the first half of the series alongside a lot of prominent males. So I expected a second female figure to be a distant dream. Angela is easily the second most popular female Gargoyle. She was introduced halfway through Season Two as the daughter of Goliath and Demona, having been raised by humans from stolen eggs in the magical realm of Avalon (where time runs differently, hence her appearing almost the same age as her mother). She's a great character that provides an interesting "outsider" perspective when she joins the Manhattan Clan. The new comics from Dynamite feature Angela on the covers a lot - enough for me to comfortably say that she is the new token female of the series. That said, there are a lot of cool characters who could also use this buck. I'm optimistic! Let's check out Angela below!

Monsters, Inc - CELIA!

Disney Pixar 7" Featured Favorites - Mike Wazowski & Celia - Mattel 2022

This 7" Pixar line from Mattel is unexpectedly awesome. I say unexpectedly because I don't typically buy figures from genres that aren't superhero or sci-fi. Sure, I've seen and enjoyed every Pixar movie so far, but I can honestly say I've never finished a film saying "oh man I need action figures of these characters." But when this line started hitting the shelves last year I was really intrigued at the quality and scale of the figures. Especially at the price point of roughly 10 dollars per figure (so 20 for this 2-pack). The first one I bought was Merida from Brave, followed by a few Incredibles. Then I realized they paired well with my Toy Story 4 Bo Peep figure. I didn't know how many others I would buy, but then I saw this amazing Celia figure from Monsters, Inc. I love odd characters with alien-like features, and her cyclops eye, medusa hair, and octopus legs always thrilled me. Even in this Pixar-specific line, she is not a character I ever expected to see, but I'm ecstatic that she was. Let's check out Celia below!

He-Man Animated Series - RAM MA'AM!

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (Netflix) -  Ram Ma'am - Mattel 2022

I don't think anything about Netflix's CGI He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series has impressed me so much as the creation of the character Ram Ma'am. Upon first hearing the name, I can admit I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Her name is ridiculous, but in retrospect, it's classic MOTU brand to have laughable names. And upon watching the show, I concede that she is a shockingly awesome character. Ram Man in the 80s was very popular, but he just annoyed the crap out of me. His dim-witted (supposedly comedic) dialogue and the boing-boing noises as he bounced around took me out of the fantasy aspect of the show instantly. But Krasstine, aka Krass, aka Ram Ma'am, aka Rampage was anything but. She had depth, demons, and visually cool powers. If you haven't watched the show, the major gimmick is that all the heroic "Masters" get powered up by the Power Sword, not just Adam. So they all have transformation sequences and a chance to shine. Especially Krass. Watch the show, it's fun.

Blackstar - MARA!

Blackstar - Basic Series 01 - Mara the Princess of Secret Power - Galoob 1983

Blackstar is Filmation's immediate predecessor to Masters of the Universe and contains a mere 13 episodes, all airing in 1981 (a full two years before MOTU). The series features the hero, Earth astronaut John Blackstar, crash landing on the planet Sagar, where magic and sorcery rule. Blackstar and the main antagonist, Overlord, each have one half of the magical PowerSword, which imbue the wielder with heightened senses, strength, skill, and invulnerability (when the sword halves combine, they form the PowerStar). He rides Warlock, an intelligent flying dragon-horse, and has two main sidekicks: the shape-changing elf, Klone, and the powerful enchantress, Mara. This series might have been forgotten in 1981 if He-Man didn't renew interest in sword-and-sorcery properties two years later. The episodes began to be re-aired, and a belated toyline was made by Galoob to ride the coattails of Mattel's MOTU success. The Mara figure is awesome and a gem of my collection. Let's check her out below!

I Am Elemental - ELEMENTS OF WISDOM!

I Am Elemental - Elements of Power Series 2: Wisdom - Rebel Elements 2016

Sometimes I buy a lot of action figures all at once and then get overwhelmed at the thought of opening, photographing, and displaying them. That is literally the only drawback to maintaining this website; I no longer get to experience the frantic tearing open of my toys as soon as I get them home. But on the plus side, the photography process has created a new unboxing ritual that is very enjoyable in its own way... when I eventually get around to it. That brings us to one of my favorite toy lines in recent memory: I Am Elemental. I've had this second series unopened on a storage shelf for 4 years, which is a shame because this is an amazing line that I'm excited to display. The colorfully costumed heroines, the crayola spectrum of skintones, and the trademark domino masks create a unique product that is unlike anything else out there. And this Wisdom series stepped it up a notch with even brighter colors and wilder accessories. I can't believe I sat on them so long. Let's check them out below!

Miraculous Ladybug - PUPPETEER!

Miraculous Ladybug Action Figures: Wave 03 - Puppeteer - Bandai 2018

I think it's super great when an obscure character is given the full action figure treatment. The Miraculous toy line from Bandai is full of fun, colorful, female-centric characters and is really unlike anything else on the market right now (it was similar to DC Superhero Girls, Mysticons, and WWE Superstars, but it appears all those other lines have failed). Miraculous has all but disappeared from US toy shelves, but there has been a steady flow of new releases in Europe (it's a French cartoon). I believe the Puppeteer only appeared in a single episode of the show as a child that Marinette was babysitting who gained powers and became the tantrum-driven villain for an episode. The fact that this character warranted an action figure speaks highly to the potential of this line. It's a pet peeve of mine when we just get endless redecos of the same main characters over and over. And while we still see some variation of Ladybug in each wave, the B and C-list characters are endlessly present. Let's check out Puppeteer below!

Fortnite - DARK BOMBER!

Fortnite Action Figures (Series 02) - Dark Bomber - McFarlane Toys 2019

McFarlane Toys has really been surprising me lately. For many years I didn't much like the aesthetic of their product. Hyper-detail and gore does not appeal to me. So it just wasn't a natural fit. But at the same time, I can't deny that I was super impressed by a few offerings in those early years (Danger Girl and Wetworks in particular). However, in the 2010s they really upped their game with very amazing figures for Halo, Assassin's Creed, and The Walking Dead. The articulation and character selection was better than most of their competitors and I found myself buying figures that I had no connection to just because they looked so good. That trend has continued, and the variety in figure types has expanded impressively. This dynamic Fortnite line makes me really excited to see what develops with the DC Comics license (and the upcoming Dark Crystal figures of course). This Dark Bomber figure is pretty stunning. The monochromatic tones and mix of metallic and flat paints looks great. Let's check her out!

3.75" Fortnite - CALAMITY & DARK BOMBER!

Fortnite: 3.75" Figures Wave 2 - Calamity & Dark Bomber - Jazwares 2019

I must admit I was a little worried about the 3.75" Fartnite (I'm leaving that typo - you're welcome) figures from Jazwares. The first wave didn't move nearly as well as I had expected. I actually don't know any sales numbers, but the figures have been warming the shelves since before the holidays. Jazwares has a history of ending toylines too soon. Their Hanna-Barbera and Assassin's Creed lines showed so much promise, but only ever saw a single wave. And their Sonic line lasted years, but still ended abruptly. So I was expecting a similar pattern with Fortnite, but it turns out they definitely had a second wave in the works, as well as a surprise 6" line that just recently hit the stores (I can't wait to see if they include any female characters in the future). I don't totally love the execution of these two 3.75" females in this newest offering. Dark Bomber is a simple repaint of Brite Bomber and Calamity has a costume that creates a lot of bulk and immobility. But these issues seem kind of universal in this scale. Let's check them out below!

Marvel Toy Biz - BLINK!

Marvel's Most Wanted - Marvel Collector Editions - Blink - Toy Biz 1998

I love to collect by character. To me there's nothing quite so appealing as having a cluster of figures of the same character, especially when that character has a unique and consistent costume and has been produced in a variety of product lines. Lately these little character clusters have been inspired by a new action figure, usually from the Marvel Legends or Multiverse lines. Then I will become obsessed with that character and hit eBay and all my local vintage toy shops to collect all their toys.  This method of collecting has the wonderful side-effect of re-exposing me to the various Toy Biz and Kenner lines of the 90s. I would see these figures in comic shops, Kay-Bee Toys, Sam Goody, and Tower, but I rarely bought any back then. When collecting modern figures, it's easy to look back at these older figures and sneer, but I'll be the first to admit I am pleasantly surprised by most of these figures. The sculpts are cool, the articulation is good, and the accessories are fun. True transitional relics. Let's check out Blink below!

Marvel Legends - BLINK!

Marvel Legends - X-Men (Caliban Build-a-Figure Wave) - Blink - Hasbro 2019

I stopped reading mainstream comics in 1993. Marvel and DC had lost a lot of great talent to Image Comics a few years earlier, and honestly the resulting Image titles were mostly show and little substance. I was then drawn into Indy and Manga for years. But I would still browse all the X-titles on the shelves every week... usually glad I no longer felt the need to shell out my hard-earned paper route money for hologram covers and bad (extreme!) 90's art. I have distinct memories of disliking Blink. I thought her appearance was far off-base for a mutant book. She looked like a reject from the Lodoss Wars or some fantasy video game RPG. But I kept hearing about her. For years my friends would rave about her and I would see fan art almost every month in Wizard magazine, but I honestly never thought much about her until I saw this action figure revealed. My childhood disdain somehow transformed into nostalgia and curiosity. Now I have some apologetic reading to do. Let's check her figure out below!

The Ladies of STAR WARS RESISTANCE!

Star Wars Resistance - Wave 1 - Synara San & Torra Doza - Hasbro 2019

I've always tried to limit my collecting of 3.75" Star Wars figures. I mean, I still have dozens (mostly Ewoks), but without setting limitations I would easily have hundreds. However, one thing that always draws me in are the figures from the new animated shows. I love the way they incorporate lots of classic cinematic elements but with bright colors and simplified designs. They really appeal to me on a base level. The newest entry in the Star Wars animated universe is Star Wars Resistance on Disney XD. This series takes place between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens and deals with a cast of characters (mostly pilots) who are spying on the New Republic to see who might secretly be siding with the New Order. I have only watched small portions of this series so far but I'm excited to dedicate some time to binge the entire season. I like how there are real tie-ins to the films, especially the characters like Poe Dameron, BB-8, and Captain Phasma. Let's check out Synara San and Torra Doza in detail below!

Disney Junior's VAMPIRINA!

A Collection of  Disney Junior Vampirina Action Figures - Just Play Toys 2017-18

Vampirina is a Disney Jr cartoon about a young vampire, her vampire family, and all of her friends (human and monster alike) as they run the Scare Bed & Breakfast in Pennsylvania. I always love it when child and adult genres are mixed like this. When I was a kid most monster stuff was too mature for me, so when I see new properties like Vampirina I am hit with a mix of nostalgia and jealousy for all the cool options that kids today have. I've been eyeing the Vampirina toys since they first hit the shelves back in October of 2017. However, I never planned on buying any until I found the new Scream Girls box set featuring the titular character and her three awesome bandmates. Suddenly I had to have them all. Now I'm looking forward to scanning the Disney aisle for future characters. There is a gill-girl and ghost character in a picture below that I would love to see. Although they are unnamed extras from a music video, so that's pretty unlikely. Let's check out all the cool Halloweenie girls below!

A Bug's Life - PRINCESS ATTA!

Disney / Pixar: A Bug's Life - Basic Figures - Princess Atta - Mattel 1998

When I was a kid I was a major nature nerd. I grew up in the boonies until I was in 5th grade and didn't have a neighbor for miles. My parents had a small brood of kids and were predictably frugal so a lot of my toys were hand-me-downs and birthdays and Christmas were the only occasions for presents. But I was born a collector. The lack of retail stores and spending money wasn't going to stop my compulsions. So I scoured our mountain for different spiders and insects and stored them in ornate tackle boxes. As an adult, I've always been really tempted by insect-themed toys, but they don't usually blend in well with the spandex and capes crowd. I've still been buying them of course and I'm finally getting around to reviewing three of my favorites this week. A Bug's Life was Pixar's second film. Back in 1998 I was working in a video rental store and this movie was possibly the most popular movie during my 5 years working there. It appealed to every demographic and cemented Pixar's place as a powerhouse studio.

Masters of the Universe Classics - CRITA!

MOTUC Collector's Choice - Crita - Mattycollector Exclusive - Mattel 2016

Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics has easily been the most epic toy line of my hobby. In eight short years (they really flew by!) I was able to add 41 amazing ladies to my collection. There were just about as many female figures released in the DC Universe Classics line, but they just pale in comparison to these beauties. Mattel and the Four Horsemen made an unprecedented achievement in recreating classic animation characters in modern form - and the character selection went beyond my wildest imagination. Crita was the sole female villain in The New Adventures of He-Man. I don't really remember much about her beyond her appearance. From my hazy memories I believe she looks like a witch, but has no witchy powers. She has a small scepter which extends into a whip. She flirts with Skeletor and fights with Mara. Also, she has two very distinctive costumes in the cartoon. I definitely prefer this iconic witchy look though. She is a beautiful figure and an amazing penultimate lady in the MOTUC line.

Aion Online - AIVA!

Aion Online - Limited Collector's Edition Box Figurine - NCsoft 2009

Aion Online is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game released in 2008.  I don't play games myself, but I was taken by the character design and this figure proved too tempting to resist.  The game takes place in the world of Atreia which is structured as two concave hemispheres connected by a tower.  The outside of the planet is lifeless, but the hollow halves contain warring classes and creatures (many of which seem angel-like).  (I'm a mythology nerd and I know the Greek deity Aion represents an orb that encompasses the Universe... very cool play on theme here).  This unarticulated figure was an exclusive that came with the 2009 Limited Collector's Edition Box of the game. Aiva is a female winged Asmodian Daeva.  I don't know what that means but it sounds cool.  She is heavily detailed and could pass for a McFarlane figure easily. There is a seller on ebay selling her in mass quantities very cheap.  I'm assuming the seller has some kind of connection to NCsoft.  Go buy her!

Masters of the Universe Classics - HUNTARA!

MOTUC - Club Eternia Huntara - MattyCollector.com Exclusive - Mattel 2015

Sorry for the delay on this post. I received Huntara several weeks ago and immediately set up a photo shoot for a review. Unfortunately my first round of photos were a disaster. This second round is still iffy, but it's a vast improvement. There is something about the plastic of her lavender skin that creates of glowing blur in my photo tent. I adjusted the levels on my camera as best I could to compensate, but it was a royal pain. This figure is gorgeous though so it was worth the effort. Huntara appeared in only one episode of She-Ra but has been a total fan-favorite ever since. I was personally never a huge fan just because of her crazy voice and her appearance. I like her appearance by all means, but it seemed very out-of-sync with the rest of the She-Ra characters. She always seemed like a He-Man character to me. Anyway, all my personal opinions aside, this figure is wonderful and a great example of MOTUC's commitment to the fans. Thirty years after her debut she got a long-deserved figure.

Kickstarter - I AM ELEMENTAL!

I Am Elemental - Series 01: Elements of Courage - Rebel Elements 2014

What a great way to bring 2014 to a close! I was really anxious to get my hands on this  I Am Elemental series since it was my first foray into the world of Kickstarter and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was taking a gamble. I have friends who have backed Kickstarter campaigns in the past and have been disappointed by the final product (or lack thereof). My paranoia was assuaged though by the professional and thorough framework presented by creators Julie Kerwin and Dawn Nadeau. The concept, design, funding, and delivery of these figures was fully fleshed out before the Kickstarter even went live. It's amazing to think that a mere seven months after I first heard of the concept of these toys, I am holding a fully realized, beautifully made set of action figures. I know there is a future series in the works (Series 02: Wisdom), and I know without a doubt I'll be adding it to my collection. I'd also like to add that I had zero QC problems with this set;  no sloppy paint lines; no stuck joints; no casting seams. I don't have this much confidence in any of the top toy companies. Let's check out the Elements of Courage!