Batman Classic TV Series - CATWOMAN Bust!

Batman Classic TV Series - Julie Newmar Catwoman Mini-Bust - DST 2015

I'm pretty obsessed with the mini-bust format. In the early 2000s and throughout the 2010s, these were everywhere. Bowen Designs, Gentle Giant, DC Direct, and Diamond Select seemingly had releases every month. Plus several companies came to the game late like Monogram and Eaglemoss and produced some great pieces. But unfortunately, since 2019 almost all production seems to have ceased - with the exception of Diamond Select who was still occasionally releasing Star Wars and Gargoyles busts until just a couple years ago. My favorite character to collect in this format was Catwoman. I believe I have 12 different mini-busts representing a variety of her incarnations over the years (surprisingly there were never Pfeiffer or Golden/Silver Age representations - two glaring omissions). I excitedly bought this Julie Newmar Batman '66 bust when it came out 11 years ago, but was pretty disappointed in the paint quality. The difference between the paint masters and the production version was simple, but impactful. The solicitation photos looked decently like Julie Newmar (not great, but close enough). 

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - EVIL-LYN!

MOTU Origins - Cartoon Collection - Evil-Lyn (200x Version) - Mattel 2025

I remember when the Mike Young Productions He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series started in 2002. At the time, I had no television stations and relied on DVDs and VHS for my entertainment. I think I was able to get a few episodes pirated through Limewire or WinMX, but I honestly wasn't super impressed (and I still have never watched the whole series). I had first learned about it because I had some coworkers who were coming back from their lunch break with action figures from the show. I was super curious. My true adoration came later that year when Image Comics started publishing a comic based on the animated designs. I distinctly remember seeing a splash page of Evil-Lyn and being captivated. I loved the "bony" details added to her costume. She seemed more sinister and imposing. And of the three main females of the series: Teela, Sorceress, and Evil-Lyn, hers is the only redesign I liked. It's great to get another version of her in plastic. Let's check out Evil-Lyn below!

New Etheria - DESPARA!

Masters of the Universe Masterverse: New Etheria - Despara - Mattel 2026

I wasn't expecting to like this figure nearly as much as I do. When the New Etheria Despara was revealed last year, I was lukewarm. I really enjoyed the idea of Despara (because I always thought it was lame that Force Captain Adora looked identical to Great Rebellion Adora). But I was very happy with the Classics and Origins figures we already had. The last thing I needed was a reinterpretation of a reinterpretation (especially when there are so many classic Etherian characters not represented in the line yet). But when I got this figure in-hand and saw and all its versatility, I fell in love. The funny thing is, my least favorite part of the figure is the actual Despara Hordak mask. It looks cheap and doesn't look like Hordak (despite technically being very similar). But on the bright side, there is a great Force Captain Adora look (at least that's how I'm referring to it) with a bat-winged headpiece, as well as a full Adora look. Her hair is a little flat, and her expression is a little vacant, but I'm still obsessed. Let's check her out!

Titan Hero Series - GHOST-SPIDER!

Spider-Man Titan Hero Series - Ghost-Spider (Gwen Stacy) - Hasbro 2026

It's been more than three years since the last female Titan Hero Series figure (Shuri from Black Panther). I was excited at the prospect of a Yelena figure from Thunderbolts, but I'm guessing now those images circulating the internet were fake. I have a feeling with the dawn of AI there are going to be a lot more fake figure rumors I will be gullibly falling for. An updated Spider-Gwen for 2026 was not something I expected. I was pretty happy with the original release (from 2018's Into the Spider-Verse movie), but she wasn't a perfect figure. She has a very thin body and limited articulation. I didn't realize all the improvements in this 2026 version until I got her in-hand. She has added articulation in her knees and elbows, her whites are brighter and her pinks are bolder, and most importantly she now has a more realistic torso. The narrow chest on the older figures always looked a little off. I hope this is the start of a whole new era of Titan Hero Series. I'm hoping for many more. Let's check out Ghost-Spider below!

ActionVerse - GHOST-SPIDER!

ActionVerse - Marvel's Spider-Man Series 1 - Ghost-Spider - Hasbro 2026

It was quite a surprise to see solicitations in late 2025 advertising a new Hasbro Basic Series from Hasbro called ActionVerse. The details were scant, and I assumed (along with most everyone else) that these figures were just an upgraded Epic Hero Series with added articulation and more accessories. But when I found them at Target a few weeks later in early January, I was shocked to see these were at a noticeably larger scale (more in the 4.5"-5" range) and had a completely different feel than the 3.75" Epic figures. They've already released Star Wars and Avengers ActionVerse figures so I think we can assume this is the new Hasbro evergreen format for the foreseeable future. I'm expecting that we'll see a Black Widow and an Ahsoka Tano before too long. They just seem like the obvious female choices for the Stars Wars and Avengers lines. I just hope they still release the occasional Epic Hero Series figures because I really dig that scale as well. Let's check out the ActionVerse Ghost-Spider below!

DC Comics - POWER GIRL!

DC Multiverse Collector's Edition - Power Girl - McFarlane Toys 2025

It took me a long time to get on board with Power Girl. For most of my youth I viewed her as a pretty lame character. I didn't like her costume, her backstory, and I felt she was portrayed as a cheesecake character and a vehicle for boob jokes. And honestly, if you look at her portrayal throughout the late 80s and 90s, she didn't have a lot of depth. But in the early 2000s, she became a major character in JSA and Infinite Crisis, eventually getting her own ongoing title. This is when I got hooked. And the best part about my shift is that nothing really changed with the character. Her costume was identical and boob jokes were plentiful, but I credit the team of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with giving her a fresh, funny, memorable book. They also performed their magic with Harley Quinn, Terra, and Starfire - they're my favorite creative team for solo heroine titles. And now I'm a fan of Karen Starr no matter who is at the helm. I'm really impressed at how nice this figure is. Let's check her out below!

McFarlane Digital - BATGIRL!

McFarlane Digital Series - DC Comics Batgirl - DC Direct/McFarlane 2025

I've heard a lot of collectors griping about this new Batgirl Digital release, but I'll be the first to say that I am a fan. I understand the arguments. Sure, it's a simple redeco of a figure we've seen three times already. And, yes, there have been improvements in the McFarlane line in the five years since she was first released. The fanbase especially seems to love the newer wired capes. But the dynamically-sculpted short cape on this figure really appeals to me so I'm happy to see it again. I'm especially happy when a Batgirl figure is produced in the trifecta of Barbara Gordon colors: Gray, Black, and Purple. It isn't rare for this to happen (Batgirls from McFarlane Batman '66, Spinmaster 4", and Imaginext all come to mind), but I love all three color outfits so it's very satisfying to complete the trio with a sculpt I like so much. This final year of McFarlane DC product is off to a very interesting start and I can't wait to see what's next. The multiple Poison Ivy rumors are especially intriguing. Let's check out Batgirl below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - ARCTIC SCARLETT!

G.I.Joe RAH ReAction+ O-Ring Action Figures Wave 6 - Scarlett - Super7 2025

In the second episode of G.I.Joe, The M.A.S.S. Device Part II, Slave of the Cobra Master (September 1983). Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, and Snowjob (and others) head deep into the Arctic to seek a red radioactive crystal (one of the three elements needed for the M.A.S.S. Device). The scene is relative brief, but memorable - especially because it is so early in the vast G.I.Joe canon. Super7 seems to love G.I.Joe The Movie and The M.A.S.S. Device. The number of ReAction figures they've made based on these two storylines is pretty amazing. A figure of Scarlett in an arctic parka was not on my bingo card at all, and if pressed I could come up with a handful of never-before-made characters I would have taken in place of her, but now that she's in my collection I'm pretty happy to have her. The exciting is that their character choices are getting so obscure that I have no idea what might be coming next. (I'm always hoping for Oktober Guard and more Cobra-La though!) Let's check out Arctic Scarlett below!