Transformers - ARCEE!

Transformers AMK (Advanced Model Kit) Mini - Series 2 - Arcee - Yolopark 2025

It's easy to get a little confused by all the Arcee figures that have been coming out over the past few years. Between the official licensed product and various 3rd Party manufacturers, there have been a plethora of little pink robots invading my toy room. I'm not complaining, I'm just amazed (and a little embarrassed that I can't keep them straight). This non-transforming Yolopark model kit is the newest addition and she's pretty great. I first heard of Yolopark this time last year when they released two Transformers One Elita-1 figures before Hasbro mentioned one. They were fun pre-painted snap-together inexpensive model kits. This Arcee from the AMK Mini line is a (predictably) smaller scale with very condensed packaging. Her pieces were already removed from the sprues and contained in a foil pouch within the small box. I'm desperately waiting for one of these lines to make more G1 ladies beyond Arcee and Elita-1, and I have a good feeling Yolopark will be the first. Let's check out Arcee below!

Masters of the Universe - SHADOW WEAVER!

MOTU Origins - Cartoon Collection - Shadow Weaver - Mattel 2025

As 2025 winds down, I won't lie that I have a little disappointment over the She-Ra 40th Anniversary year output. We've had some great releases, and there is still a heavily rumored Glimmer on the way. But I had high hopes for some deep cuts. I wanted Octavia, Peek-a-Blue, Castaspella, and a million others. Perhaps there is a whole lineup of additional POP characters stuck in tariff limbo, but for now I'm trying to be grateful for the one we already have. Shadow Weaver is easily the most iconic villain from the original She-Ra cartoon. She was in 52 episodes and her simple sinister design was hard to forget. I always knew she was a shoe-in for the Cartoon Collection line, but I'm a bit surprised that her head looks the least like her Filmation design than almost all of her previous figures. The shape of the face hole, the overly-pronounced nose sculpt, and the overall hood silhouette just looks off. But the draping cloak and sleeves look incredible. Overall I'm pretty happy with her. Let's check out Shadow Weaver below!

Super Friends - THE CHEETAH!

DC Super Friends - Wave 2 - Cheetah (Legion of Doom) - McFarlane Toys 2025

I think Cheetah is one of the coolest comic villains out there. Granted, I'm obsessed with cat-themed characters and retro vibes, so she has a major unfair advantage in my ranking. Her bright yellow cat suit is both ridiculous and awesome. As later incarnations of the character became more and more feline (fur, fangs, claws, etc), I found her less interesting and always returned my adoration to the original Priscilla Rich design. I thank the Super Powers animation of the late 70s and early 80s for cementing her in the public consciousness. Despite being a regular fixture in comics, it often takes some other significant entertainment media to break a character out of comic book obscurity. That said, she wasn't a major character in the show, but I still think this role is the reason why the retro Priscilla catsuit hasn't been completely overshadowed by the modern werecat versions. Plus the occasional piece of merchandise celebrating her from in the Super Friends cartoon is always a treat. Let's check out Cheetah below!

The Golden Compass - MRS. COULTER!

The Golden Compass - Mrs. Marisa Coulter - Corgi/CardsInc/PopCo 2007

I remember when The Golden Compass film came out back in 2007, it was a very buzzworthy film. Between its intriguing trailers, strong cast (Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, among others), conservative group boycotts, and general appetite for YA fantasy at the time (Harry Potter and Narnia franchises were in full swing), this movie seemed like a slam dunk. But I remember watching it and being unimpressed. There were details I loved, like the cold arctic setting, the armored intelligent polar bears, and the characters' souls being represented by dæmons with the appearance of animals. But something about the movie just didn't capture the magic of the books (the His Dark Materials HBO series from 2019 did a better job). But still, I remember my 2007 anticipation well and when I stumbled across this Mrs. Coulter action figure in a collectible toy shop this Summer, I had to get her. This line is made by Cards, Inc (a subsidiary of Corgi - makers of car replicas and figurines), and distributed by PopCo

DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (PRISCILLA)!

DC Universe Classics - Series 13 - Cheetah (Priscilla Rich) - Mattel 2010

I will always have a powerful nostalgic draw to the original Priscilla Rich incarnation of Cheetah. She first appeared in the 6th issue of Wonder Woman way back in 1943 and became Diana's fist costumed adversary until her eventual death in the 1980s (twice). I can't quite remember when I first discovered her, but I know it was in backissue bins and reprints in the 1980s. Of course I know some of my memories are conflated with the Paula Brooks version of The Huntress who I also developed an early obsession with, but Cheetah was clearly the more prominent cat-villain. Her spotted bodysuit with cat ears and tail always makes me very happy. It's cheesy, but oddly relatable. As an animal-obsessed kid this costume is the exact sort of thing I would have come up with for myself. This figure was a 50/50 variant with a Barbera version in the 13th Wave of the groundbreaking DCUC line. The figures definitely had issues, but the character selection was mindblowing. Let's check out Priscilla below!

DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (BARBARA)!

DC Universe Classics - Series 13 - Cheetah (Barbara Minerva) - Mattel 2010

DC Universe Classic was a very interesting toyline. It was the first modern DC action figure line in mainline retail stores, it was reasonably priced, and it hit some very obscure characters over its four-year run. I was on-board from the start, but I was also highly critical of this line. As a collector who focuses on the female characters, the production quality was left wanting. This is especially a shame because the 2-Up sculpts and paint masters by the Four Horsemen were always beautiful. But the figures we saw in stores had squished faces, scrawny short arms, and most egregiously, a neck peg that often entered the skull in a too-far-forward position giving the character no neck undercut. These problems seemed isolated to the female figures and were a constant source of disappointment for me. But the interesting character selection kept me hooked. The fact that we got two versions of Cheetah (modern and retro) in the same figure slot is a testament to the fan service Mattel was providing.

DC Comics - WONDER WOMAN!

DC Direct Page Punchers - Wonder Woman (1st App) - McFarlane Toys 2025

McFarlane Toys has made a lot of Wonder Woman figures in the last five years. I personally own twelve, and I skipped a lot of variants and retools. Aside from a super classic bronze age design, my most wanted was always a first appearance figure in all her Golden Age glory. Her early stories in Sensation Comics and Wonder Woman are iconic and her costume is still instantly recognizable after 80 years of redesigns. I'm always a little surprised that there aren't more collectibles featuring this look. My historical knowledge of 1940's Wonder Woman is a little scant, but I gather that different artists interpreted her as wearing either a star-spangled skirt or short culottes, but I think I prefer the skirt interpretation for this figure. The only odd thing about this figure is that she is very tall. I feel that Wonder Woman's stature has gradually increased over the years, but I usually don't associate this First Appearance design with towering Amazonian height. She looks awesome, but looks odd in a lineup. Let's check her out below!

Super7 ReAction - UNDERSEA GAL!

Nightmare Before Christmas - ReAction Wave 2 - Undersea Gal - Super7 2022

The Nightmare Before Christmas was a slow-burn of acceptance and adoration for me. It was released when I was in High School and at the time I didn't love musicals or "dark" aesthetics. Yes, it was playful, but goth was a true social strata at the time that I just didn't fit into. The goth kids were eating this movie up. It was actually my high school art teacher who first started my appreciation of the movie. He made us watch the film (on laserdisc!) followed by the "making of" documentary every semester. In late high school I became huge fan of Ray Harryhausen, which in turn made me appreciate all stop-motion film a lot more. But the big plunge was a decade later when I dated an NBX superfan. I would be coerced to watch the movie several times a year, and I would research all the Neca figures and slowly purchase them as gifts for every occasion. Flash forward 20 years and I love it. Any my favorite character is Undersea Gal, the Creature from the Black Lagoon homage who has several cool cameos.