Kingdom Builders - LADY TWIST!

Kingdom Builders - Series 01 Action Figures - Lady Twist - Little Tikes 2018

When I think back to the preschool toys that lined the shelves when I was a little kid, I have trouble thinking of many female action figures. Sure Fisher-Price's Adventure People had a decent number of women, but their roles were hardly adventurous (at least compared to their male counterparts). I can remember seeing a cavewoman from the Definitely Dinosaurs line in the Christmas catalogs, but never actually seeing her in a store. That lack of female presence among preschool action figures is why I got so excited over this new Lady Twist toy from the Kingdom Builders line by Little Tikes. Even that brand name hearkens back to my childhood (I honestly didn't even realize Little Tikes still existed). Kingdom Builders is a medieval fantasy line where (most of) the characters transform into actual tools that can be used to dismantle and reform the playsets. There is also a CGI animated YouTube series to promote the toys. It's a really fun concept and I hope it proves successful. Let's check out Lady Twist below!

DC Multiverse Rebirth HARLEY QUINN!

DC Multiverse (Lex Luthor) Walmart Exc Gotham Girls - Harley Quinn - Mattel 2018

At some point I'm going to have to stop buying Harley Quinn figures. It seems like every time I blink there is a new one tempting me and my Harley shelf is positively overflowing. So far though I can only think of a single one that I intentionally skipped (and I won't mention the exact one since I'm friendly with the sculptor). But most figures, including this comic style Rebirth one, are so unique that I feel I need to have that version represented in my collection. Plus I am very impressed with the direction that the DC Multiverse figures have been heading recently and I want to support the line to ensure this momentum continues. The upcoming Vixen, Hawkgirl, and Starfire look especially good and I can't wait to see what is next. These recent Harley comic designs are interesting because they incorporate pieces from Suicide Squad and the Arkham Series games while also seeming to retain a style all their own. But we all know she will change her look again, so it's just fun to sit back and observe her evolution unfold.

DC Multiverse Stephanie Brown as SPOILER!

DC Multiverse (Lex Luthor) Walmart Exc Gotham Girls - Spoiler - Mattel 2018

Stephanie Brown is one of those comic book characters that I just can't get enough of. She first appeared as a secondary character in the pages of Robin. She was a vigilante with the single-minded purpose of "spoiling" her villainous father's (the Cluemaster's) plans. I honestly didn't really like her costume back then, so I didn't grow to appreciate her until much later when she briefly became Robin. Like all "brief" Robins, she was killed. But also like all slain Robins, she came back - this time as Batgirl in a fantastic run from 2009-2011 until the New 52 reboot happened and Barbara Gordon reclaimed the cowl. She was then off the radar until 2014 when she reappeared as Spoiler again in the pages of Batman Eternal with this great new look (which is a hybrid of her previous costumes). She is quite a survivor and her stories are always smart, fresh, and fun. But I was frankly shocked when she was announced in the Multiverse lineup. Considering her fan-favorite status, she never gets much merchandise.

MOTUC Filmation Style - SORCERESS!

MOTUC - Club Grayskull (Series 2) - Sorceress - Super7Store Exc - Super7 2018

Despite all my obvious obsessions, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is not a property I naturally would have gravitated to as a child. Warriors and swords were just a genre I had no connection to. My interests were completely focused on animals. I grew up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere without a neighbor for miles, only three fuzzy TV channels, and parents who trusted us to roam free. Animals were literally my entertainment. I knew where to hide to catch glimpses of fox, rabbit, and deer, I knew all my bird calls, and I collected (live) insects. I was pretty single-minded so all my cartoon favorites were loaded with animal lore. I liked Voltron for the robotic cats, I liked G.I.Joe because the villains were all snake-themed, I liked Transformers because of the Insecticons, ThunderCats, SilverHawks, and TigerSharks are obvious. And of course I loved this little show called He-Man and the Masters of the Universe because the title sequence featured a feather-clad woman who transformed into a falcon.

MOTUC Collector's Choice - GRANITA!

MOTUC - Collector's Choice (Series 2) - Granita - Super7Store Exc - Super7 2018

For many years my number one wish for the Masters of the Universe Classics line has been Granita, the always-neglected member of the Rock People from two episodes of She-Ra. I've always been obsessed with her design. The monochromatic green skin and hair combined with the red and pink outfit and pupil-less eyes is the recipe for a character tailored to my tastes. This figure is a welcome relief from the somewhat problematic ladies released in the past few years, because there is really very little wrong with her (of course I will nitpick a few things that are detailed below). Now that we have this beauty I'm a little unsure what unreleased characters are still on my wishlist. Kittrina, Enchantress, and Garth and the only ones I can think of and at this rate I think it's a fair chance were might see them. Hopefully we'll see another female reveal at NYCC this week. (With this body they could easily make a redeco into Robowoman or Facet). Let's check out Granita the Heroic Comet Combatant below!

Aquaman Movie Multiverse - MERA!

Aquaman Movie DC Multiverse - Trench Warrior C-n-C - Mera -  Mattel 2018

I'm pretty excited about all the comic book movies coming out in the next few 6-8 months. Aquaman, Venom, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. None of these are top-tier movie choices for me, but there is something about each one that has me excited. For Aquaman, I'm obsessed with the aquatic monsters like the Brine King and the Trench Warriors, but I can't deny how excited I am to see Mera on the big screen again. I barely remember her from Justice League (I don't remember much from that movie honestly). But the character is so classic and underused that she deserves a more memorable role. I'm shocked that Mattel gave us a brand new figure to be more accurate to her new look, when characters like Wonder Woman were just getting minor repaints. And honestly, the Justice League figure looked great and would have really benefited from a repainted release (she had a lackluster face). But I'm not complaining, just observing. Let's check out the Aquaman movie Mera below!

Spider-Verse SPIDER-GWEN!

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Series 01 - Spider-Gwen - Hasbro 2018

I'm very excited for the Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse movie. I've appreciated comic-based animated movies in the past, but none of them have had the theatrical quality that this one seems to. I know a character like Spider-Gwen is very unlikely to show up in a live action Spider-Man movie anytime soon, but I think both she and Peni Parker will have very influential roles in this one, and I chalk that up to the fact that it's animation. I could foresee future movies like A-Force, Generation X, or Alpha Flight in this style and I'm very hopeful that Spiderverse is successful and more projects get greenlit. I was very nervous about this figure since she looked so stiff and awkward in the solicit photos, but in person she is really fun, despite being essentially a "basic" figure. All the product showed up this past weekend at Walmart. I was impressed to also see a Peni Parker and SP//dr set that was previously unannounced (I didn't not buy it, but I posted pics on Instagram). Hopefully there is more product coming as well!

Transformers - SHADOW STRIKER!

Transformers: Cyberverse (Ultra Class) - Shadow Striker - Hasbro 2018

I love a good villainess. And there's something especially great when they're in the Transformers family. This is probably because Crasher from GoBots terrified me as a child and I've always though there was something wonderfully wicked and detached about evil fembots ever since. I was really excited at all the new SDCC reveals for the new Transformers: Cyberverse cartoon showcasing four new female figures. Two of these were decepticons (Slipstream being an unfortunate Starscream repaint) but the Shadow Striker immediately thrilled me. While her face and color scheme seem very similar to recent animated villains like Blackarachnia and Airachnid, she is actually a reboot of a Decepticon from the early 2000s (who coincidentally had a twin sister, the Autobot Roulette.. who I really hope gets a toy as well). This toy is a little less than ideal, but I hope the character proves popular enough to get a more traditional release. Let's check out Shadow Striker in detail below!