WWE Elite Collection - ASUKA!

WWE Elite Collection Series 47 - NXT Wresting -  Asuka - Mattel 2016

There's something I have always loved about action figures with removable masks. My first action figure ever was a Remco G.I.Joe knockoff with an orange dragon mask and armor that you could take off. Then I was obsessed with "head-flipping" characters like Tigersharks and Mon-Starr from Silverhawks. But soon I found Zartan with a classic snap-on mask again and became a purist for that kind of simple accessory. It's still a pretty rare feature for a female action figure to have, so when I see one I always have to buy it. Aside from the cool mask, this Asuka figure also has the most outlandish outfit I have ever seen on a toy, and she's not even in a superhero costume! Plus she has a very different body style than 90% of the other WWE girls in this line (and my collection definitely needs some more diverse body types). Overall she's a great addition to my WWE ladies. Sometimes the higher price of the Elite figures can be hard to justify, but this one is unique enough to get a pass. Let's check out Asuka below!

WWE Wrestling - TAMINA!

WWE Basic Series 69 - WWE Women's Division - Tamina - Mattel 2016

I'm back again with another review of a figure from a line I swore I was done collecting. Mattel's WWE line never ceases to impress me with their inexpensive but unique looking toys. This Tamina figure has a body that we've seen re-used a billion times over the years, but her haircut and black outfit - not to mention that cocked-eyebrow taunt - make her a stand out figure to me. I've had her opened and photographed for months, but kept putting off posting her. Then I recently bought two more WWE ladies (with similar irresistible qualities) and that gave me the proper motivation to avoid a backlog and get this post up. Tamina was introduced as a villain in Raw in 2010. She then went on to SmackDown and NXT, and took part in the Divas Championship and the NXT Women's Championship. Eventually formed a trio with Naomi and Sasha Banks as Team B.A.D. (Beautiful and Dangerous) who were antagonists for Team Bella. (That's the story behind her shirt on this figure). Let's check out Tamina below!

Character Spotlight on CARRIE KELLEY (AS ROBIN)!

A Small Collection of Carrie Kelly (as Robin) from Dark Knight Returns

This time last year I didn't own a single Carrie Kelley toy, but I was just learning about all the new figures about to be released and decided that I needed to assemble a small collection of the most popular female Robin in the DC Universe. I started by picking up the old DC Direct figure from 2004 and within a few months I was hunting the Mattel Multiverse Robin. Now a year later I've added three new Carries to my collection: an Eaglemoss figurine, a Funko POP! vinyl, and an animated-style DC Collectibles figure. There is also a recent mini-bust from DST in her animated style, but I've decided to pass on that particular item along with a few of the higher-end statues that have come out over the years. I somehow doubt that we'll see much more Carrie as Robin merchandise, but with the Dark Knight themes in the Multiverse line, there's a slim chance we could see her as Catgirl (from Dark Knight Strike Again) or Batgirl (from DKIII: The Master Race). Maybe there will be some surprises at SDCC. Let's check out Carrie below!

Imaginext DC Super Friends - HIPPOLYTA!

Wonder Woman Imaginext: Hippolyta & Battle Chariot - Mattel/Fisher-Price 2017

Imaginext has had a lot of impressive reveals lately. As a brand that is really setting a new standard for preschool toys, the notorious lack of female characters was a complaint heard in every corner of the internet. In the past few months however, there have been many new figures solicited including several new Wonder Women, Hawkgirl, Vixen, a modern Cheetah, Starfire, Raven, Scorpia from Power Rangers, repaints of Batgirl and Poison Ivy, as well as an aviatrix repaint and a new Serpent Queen set. But now we have to play the waiting game to see how many actually make it to market in our countries. Imaginext seems notorious for difficult-to-find figures but my fingers are crossed that I'll eventually get them all. This Hippolyta figure is part of the Wonder Woman movie tie-in lines currently hitting Walmart. Despite it being a straight-up repaint of the Warrior Queen blind bag figure, I think this is a really good representation of the Amazon Queen. Let's check her out below!

Funko POP! Batman Classic TV Series BATGIRL!

POP! Heroes #186 - Batman: Classic TV Series - Batgirl - Funko 2017

One thing that Funko has proven to me over the years is that just because some time may pass, it doesn't mean they won't complete a line. When the Batman '66 Catwoman came out back in 2013, I was immediately excited for a Batgirl in wave two. I have a great fondness for the purple and yellow Yvonne Craig Batgirl from my childhood, and there are far too few representations of this look in plastic. Every year at Toy Fair I was excited to see if they would unveil this figure, but she was never there. But at the same time, I never closed the book on the idea of her being released. And sure enough, a mere four years later we get this fantastic Classic TV Batgirl to add to our collections. They did a spectacular job taking the older "squat" body style and making it look both modern and classic. The fact that she has three distinct tones of purple on her makes her really pop (pun intended). And I'm expecially glad they included the glittered body to match Catwoman. Let's check out the Batman Classic TV Series Batgirl POP below!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - MANTIS!

Marvel Legends - GOTGv2 Mantis Build-a-Figure Wave - Mantis - Hasbro 2017

One of the biggest surprises for me in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 was the heavy female presence. As popular as heroines have become in the print comics over the past few years, the movies have still been quite a boy's club. From all the advance merchandising, I had a clue that Ayesha and Mantis would have decent roles in the movie, but I had no idea that almost every scene would have such a strong female presence. Mantis is a character that has a bit of a convoluted history in the comics. Her origins, powers, and appearance have fluctuated quite a bit from her appearance in 1973. In the film, her origins are still a mystery, but her powers seems to be limited to empathy and telepathic suggestion. But considering how much they developed Nebula in her second film, I'm hoping we'll learn a lot more about Mantis in Avengers: Infinity War and GOTGv3 (both of which she's been cast in). This figure is extremely well made. The likeness and execution is practically perfect. Let's check out Mantis below!

Marvel Legends - MARY JANE WATSON!

Marvel Legends - Spider-Man & Mary Jane 2-Pack - Toys R Us Exc - Hasbro 2017

The action figure world historically isn't very inclusive of civilian characters. Even obvious choices like Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent and Diana Prince rarely get the action figure treatment. Secondary characters like Alfred Pennyworth, Mary Jane, and Lois Lane seem to fight an uphill battle for representation in plastic. I think this is only the third true action figure of MJ. In 1999 there was a Toy Biz figure (with a bizarre Santa Claus redeco later the same year), then a 3.75" Marvel Universe figure in 2010. (I'm excluding movie figures and mini-figures like SHS, Lego, and Mini-mates). So, yeah, this Marvel Legends Mary Jane was a long-awaited addition to the line. Lately she's been donning spider-costumes as Spinneret, Iron Spider, Mangaverse Spider-Woman, and multiple other-earth Spider-Woman roles. So who knows, this civilian Mary Jane could just be the tip of the iceberg. Not to mention the current MJ cover theme which always has the potential to generate a new character a'la Gwenpool. Let's check out Mary Jane below!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - NEBULA!

Marvel Legends - GOTGv2 Mantis Wave - Daughters of Thanos - Hasbro 2017

There were a lot of things I loved about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2, but one of the coolest things about the film was the development of Nebula's character from the first movie. She suddenly became very multi-dimensional and you started to wonder what was behind her ruthlessness and sibling rivalry. It was an unexpected but wonderful plotline within the movie. When the 2014 GOTG Marvel Legends series came out, there was specific mention of a second series featuring Nebula. That never came to fruition, but it's possible this figure was planned for an earlier release, especially since most GOTGv2 merchandise seems to have Nebula in a different rust-red costume (which I frankly don't really remember her wearing in the film). But I think this purple outfit looks much cooler and is more reminiscent of her comic look. This figure is probably my favorite from the GOTGv2 wave. It's not a perfect figure by any means (my criticisms are detailed below), but overall it has the most appeal. Let's check her out below!