G.I.Joe Classified - PYTHONA!

G.I.Joe Classified Series #172 - Cobra-La Pythona (NYCC) - Hasbro 2025

As a kid I was always mimicking the cartoon characters I idolized. It wasn't necessarily blatant or intentional. I wouldn't hold a stick aloft and shout "By the Honor of Grayskull" or anything so obvious. In fact, I think it was largely subconscious. I went through a phase where I couldn't pass a broomstick without performing some type of acrobatic vault. I realize as an adult I was mimicking Diana from Dungeons & Dragons. I once leapt off a dresser fully expecting to glide across the room to my bed a'la Princess Peach in Mario II (I was on crutches for months), and most disturbing to my young classmates, I went though a phase in 1987 where I chased kids around the playground with worms and slugs acting out all my Pythona fantasies. The opening sequence of G.I.Joe the Movie (1987) features the mysterious Pythona stealthily infiltrating the Cobra Terror Drome with a menagerie of gross biological weapons: electric eels, shellfish, tentacled larvae-like things, exploding spores, and her own acid-tipped claws. 

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - PYTHONA!

G.I.Joe: The Movie - ReAction+ O-Ring Action Figures - Pythona - Super7 2025

I think Pythona was the character that first made me realize the desparity between male and female action figures in the 80s. When G.I.Joe the Movie first air on TV (serialized) in 1987, I tuned in and taped it every day that week. The first episode seemed dedicated to this new intriguing character named Pythona. It wasn't long before I saw toys at the local Hills department store dedicated to the movie. There was a 3-Pack of Cobra-La characters, including Golobulus, Nemesis Enforcer, and a Cobra-La Royal Guard. It seemed like a blatant mistake to exclude her considering she received more screen time than any of the others. So, despite my love for all things. Cobra-La, I never got this set. It just seemed like an incomplete roster without Pythona. Like the Fantastic Four without Sue or the Power Rangers without the Pink and Yellow Rangers (both of are common toy exclusions). But who could have guess that 38 years later that Pythona void would be filled so spectacularly. Let's check out this beauty below!

Toony Terrors - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

Toony Terrors - Universal Monsters Series 2 - Bride of Frankenstein - Neca 2025

I'm pretty obsessed with the Toony Terrors line from NECA. I can admit that most of the male figures are not to my liking. True to the line's name, they looks a bit too cartoonish and silly for me. But there is something about the way that NECA treats the female characters that really appeals to me. The first figures I picked up, the Grady Twins, don't even look "toony." I thought that was a fluke, but then the next figures I bought, Elvira and Vampira, were also pretty great. I tend to focus on retro characters so I skipped M3GAN, Ghouliana, Wednesday & Enid (Netflix), Hocus Pocus, Nadja (WWDITS), and Lydia, Astrid, & Dolores (Beetlejuice). That is a lot of female representation in a relatively short time. I feared I wouldn't ever get another classic lady to add to my collection. But eventually they announced this amazing Bride of Frankenstein. Now I just need Morticia Addams and Lily Munster to complete my classic spooky Femme Fatales. Fingers crossed for both of them. Let's check out the Bride below!

World's Smallest - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

World's Smallest Universal Monsters - Bride of Frankenstein - Super Impulse 2023

I have a huge backlog of Bride of Frankenstein figures to open and review and I'm finally going to try and get through a lot of them this month. I've had this World's Smallest figure for a few years and thought "Oh, this will make for a quick and easy post" (I've been really busy with work and travel lately so easy is good). I thought the size and lack of poseability would equate to speedy work. But alas, the photos were all blurry and it took several sessions to get them halfway decent (and I'm still not satisfied). But at least I finally got the ball rolling. Now I only have to find the rest. The NECA Ultimates is not exactly small so it can't be too hard to unearth in my basement, but the other Reactions and smaller figures may be quite a challenge. In that sense, it's really surprising I was able to find this microscopic figure first. I'm actually pretty much a completist with the Super Impulse action figures. But it's rare to have a female in these assortments. So I'm glad the include the Bride in the first Universal Monster set.

Court of the Dead - GALLEVARBE (NAGA)!

Court of the Dead Wave 2 - Gallevarbe (Eyes of the Queen) - BossFightStudio 2024

I'm taking a leap of logic and labeling this version of Gallevarbe as a Naga. I base this purely on the lack of a final fluke fin on her tail and the sculpted reptilian scales on her shoulders. On the flip side, her written description and water effect accessory makes me think she might be another aquatic form like her Death's Siren figure. Either way, I'm mentally making making a Mermaid/Naga distinction in my head. This Eyes of the Queen version of Gallevarbe actually looks better than the Death's Siren version (in my humble opinion). Something about the color gradients and the headsculpt just appeal to me more than the mermaid form (which really surprises me as a mermaid loyalist). Plus they both have a sinister creepy vibe which made them perfect for October. I'm also curious to put the BFS parts-swapping intent to the test with these figures. I might just combine all my favorite parts into my ultimate sea witch. I'll add pics if I do. Let's check out Gallevarbe, Eyes of the Queen, below!

Court of the Dead - GALLEVARBE (DEATH'S SIREN)!

Court of the Dead Wave 2 - Gallevarbe (Death's Siren) -Boss Fight Studio 2024

This figure was a rough one for me. Overall I love it. But I am super squeamish about gory or zombie-like toys. It's a completely ridiculous mental thing. But after I hold a Walking Dead action figure or any superhero "blood-splattered variant", I feel odd and immediately feel compelled to wash my hands. On the other hand, I love mermaids. Especially if they're evil. Reading Mermaid Forest back in the early 90s was a formative event for me and happy pretty mermaids have played second fiddle to the wicked ones ever since. Luckily, the gory/decaying parts of this toy are a rich pink color against the dark green of her tail, so my brain registers it more as a natural skin pattern rather than open wounds. This Gallevarbe character can change shape and was given two pretty awesome figures in Wave 2: This Death's Siren mermaid figure, and the Eyes of the Queen naga figure I will be reviewing next. I'm hoping for a larger mermaid in the new 1:12 line next. Let's check out Death's Siren below!

POP Funko - HALLOW'S EVE!

POP! Marvel #1560 - Marvels Strange Tales - Hallow's Eve - Funko 2025

I'm a spineless weakling. I broke my Funko Pop collecting parameters by picking up a modern character. I typically try to limit all my Pops to nostalgic Comic, Movie, and TV characters from my 1980's youth. But I have a strong fondness for Halloween and this time two years ago I fell head over heels for the new Spider-Man villain, Hallow's Eve. So when I saw this Pop in Gamestop last week, I couldn't resist. Hallow's Eve is a longtime civilian character in the Spider-Man universe. Janine Godbe was simply Ben Reilly's love interest for nearly 30 years of comics before she was swept up in a storyline involving Limbo and the Goblin Queen, and emerged as Hallow's Eve. I would describe her as a sympathetic villain and a great lead character. She has a bag of cursed masks that imbue her with the traits of that mask character, often with corruptive effects. Her stories are a lot of fun and I can't wait to start re-reading her TPB tonight, it's my annual October tradition. Let's check out Hallow's Eve below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - COVER GIRL!

G.I.Joe: The Movie - ReAction+ O-Ring Action Figures - Cover Girl - Super7 2024

How crazy is it that after 40-some years, this original version of Cover Girl is getting so much attention. I frankly never understood why she got the weird redesign after her 1983 debut. I assume it had something to do with Hasbro's avoidance of long hair on their figures. But giving her short auburn hair just made her look like a variation of the Scarlett toy. Considering she would have been the only blonde main character as well made this a very confusing decision. But it seems like this "M.A.S.S. Device" design is finally getting some attention with three figures in a few short years. I bought this Reaction+ O-Ring figure just shy of a year ago. I bought so many versions of her because her eyes were always off-center, and by the time I secured a good one, the "newness" excitement was gone and I never opened her until this week. The new Pythona figure lit a fire under me and made me finally free these ladies from their packaging. They're pretty great. Let's check out Cover Girl below!

Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - JINX!

G.I.Joe: The Movie - ReAction+ O-Ring Action Figures - Jinx - Super7 2025

G.I.Joe was the first action figure line that captured my attention as a youth.. mostly because it included a decent amount of the female characters from the cartoon. Then when I was in my twenties and made a conscious decision to start collecting action figures, my first goal was to assemble all the female G.I.Joes. It wasn't terribly hard to get them all back then, but I quickly realized many of the characters didn't really resemble their animated counterparts. A major one for this was Jinx. She has several very iconic scenes in G.I.Joe the Movie, but her toy just looked different. Mainly, she never wore the generic ninja mask that her toy sported. She was either completely unmasked or blindfolded (this figure really should have come with a blindfold). So seeing this figure so early in the Reaction+ O-Ring line really brought me joy. It's not quite as exciting as a never-before-seen vintage figure (like the just-released Pythona), but she is still super cool to have. Let's check out Jinx below!

Toy Biz - FERAL!

Marvel Comics -  White's Guide Exclusive - X-Force's Feral - Toy Biz 1998

There's an interesting trope when it comes to superhero team building in bronze and modern age comics. You typically see a big looming muscle guy in the background, a token female, some sort of "alpha male" leader,  and there is almost always an animalistic growling character squatting on the side. I loved the rare occasions when the wild character was female. To me, the most famous example of this is Feral, the runaway Morlock who joined up with Cable and the remains of the New Mutants just as X-Force was forming. I always found her very appealing, even if she could be chalked up to a simple Wolfsbane stand-in. Her backstory is very gritty in a typical 90's style with abuse, death, and drug addiction taking center stage. But I mostly found her design and aggression fascinating. Also, her antagonistic-but-protective relationship with her visually-similar mutant sister, Thornn, was amazing. This Toybiz exclusive figure is an awkward mash-up of the Deathbird head paired with the Tigra body.

Epic Hero Series - INVISIBLE WOMAN!

Marvel Epic Hero Series - Fantastic 4 First Steps - First Family - Hasbro 2025

I'm not surprised that Fantastic Four: First Steps was such a hit. From the very first teasers and trailers I knew they finally got Marvel's First Family right. The retro vibe, the shiny space age aesthetic, and the strong family dynamic in the forefront was the perfect recipe. What was surprising was how off-the-mark the previous three movies were. I saw each of them once and just felt they were each lacking the heart that makes this team so great. It's a little odd that there is a belated rush of merchandising months after the movie left theatres, but suddenly we have Titan Hero Series and Epic Hero Series. I quite enjoy these 1:18 scale Epic Hero Series figures (now called Epic World of Action). Their production planning is pretty bizarre with only a few select movies and properties getting figures. But I'm glad First Steps made the cut. Now of course I would love a few more figures, namely a powered-down Sue and a Silver Surfer (but my hopes aren't very high). Let's check out Sue Storm and the First Family Collection below!

Princess of Power - DESPARA!

Mattel Creations Club Grayskull - MOTU Origins - Despara - Mattel 2025

One of my favorite things to arise from the modern Masters of the Universe stories was the introduction of Despara. While not a wholly new concept, the name and costume of this character are a welcome reimaging to one of the glaring issues (in my humble opinion) with the original She-Ra, The Princess of Power cartoon. We all know that an infant Adora was kidnapped by Hordak from Eternia and raised in Etheria to become a powerful Captain in the Evil Horde. But when we met Adora in this role, despite having the cool title of "Force Captain Adora", she looked and acted identical to the pleasant and pretty member of the Great Rebellion we followed for the rest of the series. I always thought this was a missed opportunity to give She-Ra a wicked side. Well, more than 20 years later, DC published a digital MOTU comic that reimagined Adora as the evil Despara, complete with a mask resembling her abductor "father" Hordak. This was actually a more extreme redesign than I imagined, but I really like it.

Powers of Grayskull - SHARELLA!

Mattel Creations Club Grayskull - MOTU Origins - Sharella - Mattel 2025

The origins of Sharella have always been a bit confusing to me. I was aware of the tiny anonymous female character sprinting in the background art on the 1987 Megator box, and that she was some unnamed warrior from the Powers of Grayskull pre-Eternian storyline. But at some point she was given the name Sharella and tied into the earliest Masters of the Universe lore. Currently Sharella is generally accepted to be the "human" form of the Pre-Eternian Snake Goddess (sometime errantly referred to as "Green Teela" or "Green Goddess").  When I think of Teela and her eventual transformation into the feathered Sorceress of Grayskull, I can grasp that Sharella is the warrior (or priestess) that eventually becomes the Pre-Eternian Goddess. This figure is the prefect type of release for the Mattel Creations Club Grayskull exclusives. Diehard fans (who would subscribe to the Club) would be the target audience for such an obscure character. It certainly made me happy. Let's check out Sharella below!

Transformers Furai Model Kit - ARCEE!

Transformers Furai Action Model Kit - Arcee - D4 Toys/Flame Toys 2025

I've been hesitant when it comes to purchasing heavily stylized Transformers toys over the years. I'm specifically the super-detailed, almost cinematic, figures made for the Asian toy markets. Some of these are 3rd Party, and some are officially licensed by Hasbro. But while the male characters look strong, dynamic, and interesting, the predominant trait for the female characters is often sex appeal. The Arcee (Nicee) figure from Big Fire Bird (and all her retools/repaints) is a prime example. The figure features enormous organic-looking breasts on slim robotic body. I find it bizarre and off-putting personally. For a long time, I judged these Furai Model Kits in the same way. There is definitely some intended titillation in the underwear region (there is always a thong motif and a pronounced pubic mound), but at least they look largely robotic. The true reason I caved and picked up a couple of these, though, is that I love putting together action figure model kits. This one was very satisfying. Let's check out Arcee below!

Void Rivals - SOLILA (and DARAK)!

Transformers & G.I.Joe - Void Rivals SDCC Exclusive Boxset - Hasbro 2025

Void Rivals is one of the best comics I've read in recent years. I was a little late to the party and only picked up the Vol 1 TPB this time last year, just as the Vol 2 TPB was being released. I had read the Cobra Commander TPB a few months before and was thoroughly impressed by the art and story. The way they tied in so much great 80's G.I.Joe lore and told an engaging origin story with that modern Image Comics edge just blew my mind. The Transformers crossover was a surprise to me as well. I decided to dive deep into this new Energon Universe created by Robert Kirkman and Skybound for Image comics. This universe merges the Transformers and G.I.Joe properties while also including original titles, like their inaugural release Void Rivals. The story starts out with two lone representatives of warring worlds, Solila the Zerkonian and Darak the Agorrian, crash landing on a rocky planet (or moon, asteroid, or comet? It's desolate and barren and far from home) while each attempting to capture a

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.

She-Ra the Princess of Power - CATRA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #61 - Catra - Altaya 2024

As much as I've been loving these Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power import figurines from Altaya, there always has to be a least favorite in the bunch. The prize-holder of of that esteemed position is Catra. I love this character. I love her design, I love her power, and I'm even quite fond of her incessant purring. This figurine, however, has a really odd pose. I feel like it's intended to look strong and impactful, but the position of her hands and her slightly stooped-forward position looks awkward. Also her face doesn't quite look right (it's definitely good, but all the other figures have been near perfection). And finally her angled placement on her stand is just odd and makes her stand out from the other figures in the series in a bad way. All the others are facing forward, but her staring off to the left screws up my display. It's such a first-world series of complaints I know, but I'm still happy to add another Filmation Catra to my collection, even with all her quirks. Let's check her out below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - SCORPIA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #70 - Scorpia - Altaya 2024/2025

There is something about Scorpia from the original 1985 She-Ra: Princess of Power cartoon that makes her stand out to me as one of the greats. Namely, she is the only prominent character with beastly characteristics (that all the male Horde and evil Warrior members take for granted). Yes, I know Octavia is pretty monstrous, but she only appears in two short episodes. Meanwhile Scorpia appears in fifteen with her signature snapping claw hands, whipping scorpion tail, and absolutely horrible voice. Realistically, I acknowledge that she is an idealized woman with a few gimmicky add-ons, but in a universe where "pretty" was seemingly a prerequisite, Scorpia stood out as being badass and awesome (awesome looking... I still can't stand her voice all these years later). My fingers are crossed for a Cartoon Collection figure reveal of her soon (her image has been featured on packaging and the upcoming Sting-Or figure has a great scorpion tail). Maybe an NYCC debut? Let's check out Scorpia below!

Batman '66 Comics - WONDER WOMAN!

Batman '66 Comic Retro Series 11 - Wonder Woman - McFarlane Toys 2025

Between 2013 and 2016, a big trend in DC Comics publishing was Batman '66 comics featuring the likenesses of Adam West and Burt Ward. It started with a core title of 30 issues and was followed by a wacky assortment of various 6-issue team-up mini-series like Archie, Green Hornet, Man from U.N.C.L.E., Steed and Mrs. Peel, and Legion of Super-Heroes. These stories effectively added a ton of non-canonical characters to the wider Batman '66 universe (like Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn, among many others). An additional source of characters came from a variant cover theme in the Summer of 2014 where eighteen DC titles had Batman '66 variants drawn by Mike Allred. This cover series is where we saw Wonder Woman in Batman '66 style for the first time. (The later Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 comic series doesn't count because it was drawn to resemble Lynda Carter). It's amazing that those covers inspired a toy ten years later. Let's check out Wonder Woman '66 below!

Batman '66 Comics - BATGIRL!

Batman '66 Comic Retro Series 11 - Batgirl (BTAS) - McFarlane Toys 2025

When I think about fun color variations to the Batman '66 Batgirl mold, I can admit this release wasn't one of them. I would have much preferred a more unique color combination for a re-release; like the New52 version with purple and black, or a Steph Brown blonde version (or a re-issue of the Yvonne Craig version to pair with the new Batgirl Cycle). But instead, we got a Batman the Animated Series repaint. Without the cartoony Bruce Timm sculpt to go along with it, this looks almost identical to the recent The New Adventures of Batman figure except a slightly darker palette and blue gloves and boots (and differently painted eyes). It sounds like some significant differences, but in person they are just way too similar for my tastes. Of course, that doesn't mean I can resist a Batgirl toy when I see her on the shelf... it only means I am unmotivated to open her and delay her review for almost a year. I'm still holding out hope for a Poison Ivy in this line, but that looks unlikely. Let's check out Batgirl below!

Transformers Cyberworld - ELITA-1!

Transformers: Cyberworld - Quick Change Cyber Changers - Elita-1 - Hasbro 2025

The newest animated incarnation of Transformers is a webseries on YouTube called Transformers: Cyberworld which debuted in July 2025 and is produced by Hasbro and Omens Studios. There are only seven 5-minute episodes so far (as of me writing this post), featuring a Secret-Wars-type setting where characters are tested and challenged in different battle scenarios. It's pretty random but fun to watch. The cast is small with only nine characters so far. Luckily Elita-1 is present as the token female character and luckily Hasbro green-lit the series for a toyline. The character designs are small and blocky, but I appreciate the variation from the other figures on the shelves right now. Elita-1 has a cool color scheme which I can only describe as Coral and Guava. It's pretty hard to photograph but has a cool sherbet-y aesthetic in person. She also transforms into a boat which is a unique vehicle mode for her. The Cyber Changers lines don't offer a lot of articulation, but I still love having her in my collection.

Transformers Rescue Bots - ELITA-1!

Transformers: Rescue Bots - Classic Heroes Team - Elita-1 - Hasbro 2025

Several years ago the popular Transformers: Rescue Bots preschool toyline had a spinoff line featuring additional classic characters like Starscream and Mirage. This line was called the Classic Heroes Team and had packaging graphics that occasionally featured Arcee (you can spy her on the back of this figure, too). Ever since first seeing this illustration, I was obsessed with getting a classic Transformers fembot in this blocky preschool format. Well, it took three years but we finally got one. Of course, it's Elita-1 and not Arcee, and it's just a simple repaint of Bumblebee, but I still think she's really fun. It's easily the most feminine of the modern Rescue Bot sculpts, and her bold pink paintjob certainly adds a lot of bright color to the existing female lineup of Quickshadow and Whirl. I hope we'll eventually get the teased Arcee and maybe some others, but realistically they'd probably just be repaints of this same figure. Let's check out the Classic Heroes Team Elita-1 in detail below!

Tron Kubrick - YORI!

Kubrick Disney's Tron - Set (A): Tron, Yori, & Orange Light Cycle - Medicom 2002

I've had this set for ages but finally got around to opening it last week. I frankly don't remember purchasing this, but when I was moving house four years ago, I found it buried in a closet encased up in bubble wrap with zero recollection of how I got it. I probably paid a fortune and blocked out the memory over guilt. It was funny to mark it off my "must have" checklist by accidentally discovering that I already owned it. I also found multiple Planet of the Apes Kubrick sets in the same box so it was a thrilling discovery. This figure is notable for being the first toy of Yori ever. As the token female of Tron (1982), and a pretty significant character, she was criminally neglected in the merchandise department. So far I have three Yori items, but hopefully there will be momentum for more in the future, but I definitely would love to see more. I think a company like NECA should take the reigns and give us a full vintage line (hopefully with characters unmade in the DST line). Let's check out Yori below!

POP Funko - TRON'S YORI!

POP! Movies #1855 - Disney's Tron (1982) Vinyl Figures - Yori - Funko 2025

When most people hear about modern movie sequels or reboots of classic pop culture films, there is a mixed bag of reactions. There is always an initial pang of nostalgic excitement, usually followed by the creeping dread that these things very rarely turn out well. But a third reaction I always have is speculative excitement about the potential classic product to ride the wave of renewed media interest in the property. When I first heard about Tron: Ares a couple years ago, my overriding reaction was that we might finally get more Yori products. Tron is a classic movie from my youth. It was one of the only VHS rentals my siblings and I could agree on. We frankly didn't understand the plot too well, but the visuals were mesmerizing and we loved it. The token female character, Yori, has been criminally under-merchandised. While the male characters got multiple vintage (and modern) toylines, Yori didn't appear in plastic for 20 years with a small Kubrick figure, and then another 20 until the next (Super7 ReAction). 

M&Ms - GREEN, MS. BROWN, and PURPLE!

Metalfigs - M&Ms Diecast 3" Series - Green, Brown, & Purple - Jada Toys 2025

Earlier this year I was obsessively stopping into all my local FiveBelow stores (I have more than 25 locations in a 15-mile radius, including the flagship store, so this is no small endeavor). There have been a lot of small collectibles that are either exclusive-to, or easiest-to-find-at, FiveBelow. At the time I was obsessive hunting the Easter deco Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite CheeBee figures from TLS Toy, and I stopped in my tracks seeing this Jada M&Ms series. I had picked up the two larger 4" Green and Brown figurines (with hopes that the third Purple would eventually be made), when I saw these smaller inexpensive ones with the whole lineup, including the new (2022) Purple character. This purchase made me so happy, especially since I didn't know these figure existed. (FYI, the Purple and Blue seem to be shortpacked with only one per case). I would still love to see a Purple in the 4" line or Hollywood Rides, but I have a hunch this is all we will see. Luckily she looks great. Let's check them out below!

M&Ms Spokescandies - MS. BROWN!

Metalfigs - M&Ms Diecast 4" Collectible Series - Ms. Brown - Jada Toys 2023

Ms. Brown was introduced to the M&Ms Spokescandies lineup in a 2012 Superbowl add. She was only the second female introduced since the creations of the modern characters eighteen years prior in 1994. She is notable for being a serious "Girlboss", being the tall non-nut character, and for being the only with an accessory (her glasses). I was surprised that she was voiced by a notable celebrity like Vanessa Williams. But then I researched and realized that Orange was voice by Owen Wilson, Jon Lovitz voiced Red, and John Goodman and J.K. Simmons voiced Yellow. Among many lesser-known but notable voice actors and comedians (like Mel Blanc and Amber Ruffin). This 4" Jada Metalfigs figure was released in 2023, soon after the third female, Purple, was introduced. I was very excited at the notion of getting three animation-perfect of these characters (I have this internal mantra of "three makes a collection"). But unfortunately a 4" Purple has yet to be produced. Let's check out Ms. Brown below!

M&Ms Spokescandies - GREEN!

Metalfigs - M&Ms Diecast 4" Collectible Series - Green - Jada Toys 2022

I remember when the Green M&M Spokescandy debuted in the late 90s. I loved that there was finally a female element in the wildly popular M&M commercials. (Plus green is my favorite color, both in my daily life but also in my M&M consumption). But the weird thing is that she was super sexualized right from the start. The male characters had a goofy Monsters Inc "Mike and Sully" banter, but Green was shown sauntering down the street fielding cat-calls of "mmmm.. I'd like a piece of that", lying seductively on a carpet, drawing attention to her mouth, and even stripping out of her candy shell (that last one might have been fan-made). Thankfully, she eventually became more that just a "sexy character" with witty brazen comebacks and being a voice of reason among the boys. And my fondness for her grew. I honestly wouldn't have ever picked up this diecast figurine for my collection if not for the introduction of the female Brown (2011) and Purple (2022) characters. I love a triad. Let's check out Green!

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - BLACK CAT!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Black Cat (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Black Cat first appeared in the August 1941 issue of Pocket Comics #1, published by Harvey Comics and created by Al Gabriele. Black Cat was a stunt woman and actress who used her skills to become a costumed heroine and thwart Nazi spies in Hollywood. She proved very popular and got her own title by 1946. I personally have always loved this character because it is one of the earliest examples of the style of pointed domino mask later worn by so many of my favorite comic characters. Of all the nearly-forgotten Golden Age heroines who have entered the public domain in recent years, I think Black Cat has had the most interesting second life. I don't know if this is just my experience, but when I go to conventions and art shows, I see her image everywhere. Painted on clocks, glued onto magnets, dipped in epoxy. There must be something about her simple stylish costume and penchant for acrobatics and motorcycles that appeals to these artists. Either way, I approve. Let's check her out below!

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - BULLETGIRL!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Bulletgirl (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Bulletgirl first appeared (in costume) in the April 1941 issue of Master Comics #13. In an origin that likely inspired Barbara Gordon 26 years later, Susan Kent is the daughter of Police Sergeant Kent - who was always trying to uncover the identity of Bulletman. Susan had been a character in Bulletman comics since his first appearance in August of 1940, but she didn't discover his identity and get her own helmet until 1941. When this Amazing Heroes Series 7 lineup was being teased back in 2021, Bulletgirl was one of the top characters on my wishlist (along with Kitten and Owl-Girl). One of my favorite things about golden age comics was the ever-present sidekicks. Back then it was a 50/50 shot whether the sidekick would be a young boy (a'la Robin and Bucky) or grown young woman. Mary Marvel is the only female sidekick from this era to truly stand the test of time, but I love the genre and I'm so glad this Bulletgirl figure is giving the character some long overdue recognition. Let's check her out below!

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - PHANTOM LADY!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Phantom Lady (BBTS) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Phantom Lady first appeared in the August 1941 issue of Police Comics #1, published by Quality Comics and created by Arthur Peddy. (She was a regular feature for 23 Issues). Her original costume was a yellow and green design that resembles her current DC Comics incarnation today. Over the years, her clothing got skimpier and skimpier and by the time Fox Feature Syndicate gave her a solo title in 1947, she was a notorious example of Good Girl art (and it was also her solo title which changed her color palette to red and blue). She was a focal point of the comic censorship campaign on the 1950's. One of her covers (#17) was famously touted as "a sadist's dream" (in that horribly annoying book that people are still quoting 70 years later). Phantom Lady was a gadget-based vigilante who used "black light" technology to blind her opponents and render her invisible. Of all the female heroes in this Retroverse wave, she easily has had the greatest comics legacy. Let's check out Phantom Lady below!

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - MISS MASQUE!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Miss Masque (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Miss Masque first appeared in the September 1946 issue of Exciting Comics #51 by Pines Publishing and Lin Streeter. Miss Masque was a popular debutante who unwittingly buys a mardi gras costume possessed by the "Spirit of Justice" and becomes the scourge of the criminal underworld. Her design always struck me as a little amusing because it looks like a cross between Carmen San Diego and Ronald McDonald. But it's just the bright colors that make those connotations. In many ways, Miss Masque reminds me of the most quintessential 1940's heroines because she looks like so many of silver screen actresses of the age. The hat and trenchcoat-style dress (not represented on this toy, but she almost always wore it) has instant ties to classic characters like Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. She's had several modern reboots in 2003's Miss Masque, 2009's Masquerade, and 2022's Scarlet Sisters. It's very cool that she's still around nearly 80 years later. Let's check out Miss Masque below!

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - LADY SATAN!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Lady Satan (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Lady Satan first appeared in the December 1941 issue of Dynamic Comics #2, created by George Tuska. This character is a bizarre one. Mostly because for a long time her actions and origins didn't fit her ominous name. She was a masked vigilante roaming the streets of Nazi-occupied France avenging her husband who was killed at the hands of said Nazis. And her main weapon was a chlorine gun (?). The "Satan" name must have caused alarm in the conservative 1940s. The other characters featured in her anthology books were all wholesome like Dynamic Man, Dynamic Boy, Major Victory, K-9 (a police dog), Lucky Coyne, the Green Knight, and other milquetoast characters. Eventually she gained bizarre "shadow world" powers with no explanation. But even still, I think her name is the main gimmick here. But overall, I really dig her simple monochromatic costume. And fun fact: In 2022, she starred in the comic Scarlet Sisters from Dynamite alongside Miss Masque and the Woman in Red.

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - FANTOMAH!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Fantomah (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle first appeared in the February 1940 issue of Jungle Comics #2, published by Fiction House and created by comics legend Fletcher Hanks. She starred in a 7-page solo story and continued to be a regular feature in the next 50 issues until March of 1944. Fantomah appears as a beautiful blonde woman who transforms into a frightening blue skeleton to enact gruesome revenge scenarios on anyone bringing harm to her jungle home. Most comic heroines of the time were built on a solid foundation of beauty. Every other character was a model or a pageant queen in her backstory. And even in their masked crimefighting eras, beauty was always an essential trait. I believe Fantomah was the first female character to embrace being frightful. Even in modern comics, very few characters ever exhibit unattractive appearances. She has been rebooted in modern comics a few times and the skeleton effect is still jarring, even in these desensitized times. This figure is a standout in the series.

Amazing Heroes Retroverse - MISS FURY!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Miss Fury (BBTS Exc) - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Miss Fury first appeared (as Black Fury) in the April 1941 in a Bell Syndicate Sunday newspaper comic strip created by Tarpe Mills. She got her own comic title in Winter 1942 (which initially consisted of reformatted black & white newspaper strips, but was eventually full color new material). Miss Fury is a wealthy socialite who is bequeathed a special panther suit from a mysterious uncle that gives her enhanced speed and strength. Although she has several recurring enemies, what I always found more evident was her recurring mission to avenge abused women. There is a lot of domestic slapping and women with black eyes even in the earliest newspaper strips. Her motivations still hold weight today, which is more than you can say for a lot of Golden Age comics. Plus, I'm a sucker for feline-themed vigilantes. Let's not forget that Catwoman didn't put on a cowl until 1946, and even Kitten didn't appear until December of 1941 - Making Miss Fury quite possibly the first feline femme fatale. Let's check her out below!

Amazing Heroes - QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE!

Amazing Heroes Series 7 - Queen of the Jungle - Fresh Monkey Fiction 2022

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle first appeared in the September 1938 issue of Jumbo Comics #1, published by Fiction House and created by Will Eisner. There was a seemingly endless number of nearly identical "jungle women" in the Golden Age of comics, but Sheena somehow has stood the test of time and is notable for being the first female comic character with her own title (debuting in March of 1942, three months before Wonder Woman's solo title). Like most Jungle heroines, Sheena has heightened agility and can communicate with animals. Since her debut she has had multiple comics series, two television shows, and a feature film. She always stood out to me personally because she is often shown riding a zebra, which is a visual I love (and I plan of seeking out an in-scale zebra for this figure). I assume the official name of Sheena is copyrighted in her past multimedia licensing, so this figure is officially going by her lordly title, Queen of the Jungle. Surprisingly, I think this is her first action figure ever.

Auldey Transformers - ELITA-ONE!

Transformers - Alpha Elite Action Series 02 Blind Box - Elita-1 - Auldey 2025

I'm thrilled with the Alpha Elita Transformers blind box figures from Auldey. In quick succession they have given us the two most iconic female Transformers in amazing G1 designs and for a very reasonable price (for blind box imports of course). No, these figures do not actually transform. But for a collector of fembots with a penchant for classic animation designs, the modern Hasbro and Takaratomy transforming toys have so much kibble that the sleek animation references get lost pretty quickly. I realize that the female autobots in the G1 cartoon defied physics with their transformations even more than the male characters did, and that's exactly why these figures are so great. We've seen some great figures of Bumblebee, Megatron, and Optimus Prime that both closely resemble their animated appearance and also transform, but for the female characters we haven't been so lucky. Their petite designs just can't contain the sheer mass of their vehicle forms without a miracle of modern engineering. 

Gatchaman - JUN THE SWAN!

Gatchaman 1/12 Action Figures - Jun the Swan - Storm Collectibles 2025

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is one of those properties that I discovered relatively late in life but meets all the criteria for a show I would have been obsessed with if I were aware of it in my youth. Although it first aired in Japan in 1972, the first proper English-language broadcast is from 1978 when it was re-christened Battle of the Planets. A later adaptation happened in 1986 under the additional name G-Force: Guardians of Space followed by yet another release in 1996 as Eagle Riders (in Australia). With all that staying-power, I'm surprised that I never knew anything about it until the early 2000s when a resurgence of interest hit the US comic and toy markets. The series features a team a bird-themed space adventurers solving environmentally-themed challenges. The token female is Jun the Swan (also called Princess and Agatha in later interpretations). I've been wanting a great toy of her for twenty years now, and this BBTS-exclusive figure knocked it out of the park. She's beautiful. Let's check out Jun below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - GLIMMER!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #65 - Glimmer - Altaya 2024

She-Ra: The Princess of Power (1985-1987) was full of iconic female characters. The diversity of personalities, powers, and color palettes was frankly a little overwhelming. But one of the most steadfast and recognizable characters to me was always Glimmer. Glimmer was the daughter of Queen Angella and the Princess of Bright Moon. Before Adora defected from the Horde and arrived in the Whispering Wood, Glimmer was the leader of the Rebellion (but she quickly deferred to Adora's military prowess). In true 80's fashion, her "light" power was represented in dozens of different ways - from emitting blinding flashes to invisibility to flight (almost all the characters exhibited omega-mutant level powers if you paid attention). Glimmer was a constant presence in the cartoon as She-Ra's (best?) friend and a formidable warrior. She would appear in about half the episodes, but it seemed like more. This Altaya figurine perfectly represents her animated look. Let's check out Glimmer below!

Fastest Feline in the Universe - CHEETARA!

Masters of the Universe x ThunderCats - Wave 01 - Cheetara - -Mattel 2025

The MOTU mashup toylines continue to impress me. There is seemingly endless potential for crossover properties based on this classic MOTU aesthetic. Some notable mashup projects have included WWE, Stranger Things, and Transformers. But I personally feel the most exciting toys have come when two similar-but-distinctly-different licenses get to play off each other. We saw this with the Turtles of Grayskull line (April and Teela), and now with MOTU x ThunderCats. As a child of the 80s, I always wanted this crossover. They were both iconic fantasy cartoons that could potentially blend together nicely. But the action figures were just too different, both in scale and construction. Beyond being just a creative mashup of the two properties, this new line seems like a long overdue wish fulfillment to have these two genres occupy the same play space. And the fact that they come with the pieces to create the classic looks solidifies that theory. They're fantastic. Let's check out Cheetara below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - MADAME RAZZ!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #67 - Madame Razz - Altaya 2024

I can freely admit that, historically, my least favorite part of She-Ra: The Princess of Power was Madame Razz. I just never appreciate the comic relief elements in cartoons. These characters were a staple of the genre in my youth. My peers loved them, but I found them unbearably irritating. That said, I acknowledge she is iconic to the series and any line-up of POP characters would seem incomplete without her. My second admission is that the phrase "Oh, dearie my!" is permanently in my verbal repertoire when I'm feeling goofy (read: intoxicated), even if no one gets the reference. I have purchased quite a few of these Spanish Altaya figurines (all 17 females and a handful of the men), and Madame Razz was notable for being the only one that arrived broken. Luckily it was a clean break; the bottom of her feet off the base. But the extra effort I had to put into repairing her oddly enough made me more attached to the kooky old broad. Let's check out Madame Razz below!

Transformers One - ELITA-1!

Transformers Studio Series - Transformers One - Elita-1 - Hasbro 2025

The Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class line can be a bit confusing with their releases. In the Transformers One movie from last year, Elita-1 was a major character. She is in all the big scene and she is in the core group of all the promotional images, but her Deluxe Studio Series figure didn't come out for a year after her contemporaries. And with the last big theatrical movie, Transformers Rise of the Beasts, they released figures of Airazor and Nightbird, but skipped on Arcee. The Airazor was essentially a concept design (not in the film) and Nightbird's scenes were so quick that you never got a great look. And with the Bumblebee (2018) film, the two ladies (Shatter and Arcee) were released 15 months and 43 months after the premiere (whereas the leading male characters are on the shelves before the movie is released). This Elita-1 got the same predictable delay, but she's basically the quintessential TFOne Elita released so far, so she was worth the wait. Let's check her out below!

Auldey Transformers One - ELITA-1!

Transformers One - Action Figure Series 1 - Elita-1 - Hasbro/Auldey 2024

When I got my first Auldey Transformers figure last month (a beautiful G1 Arcee), I instantly started researching what other toys this company had made. I knew there was a G1 Elita-1 coming in wave two, but a quick search on eBay pulled up a bunch of listings for this Transformers One Elita figure that I previously knew nothing about. All the images I saw were clearly digital renderings, but I was so impressed by Arcee, that I bought this figure blindly. I was admittedly surprised when the figure arrived in a simple (printed) cardboard shipper box with a plastic tray inside. She was nearly twice and tall as the Arcee from a few weeks before and she was essentially a statue with almost no articulation. She was inexpensive so I wasn't upset, but I had a lot of errant preconceived notions I needed to accept. But the fact that she still looks very cool and imposing (she's about the same height as the large Yolopark Cogged Elita-1 figure) makes me glad to have her in my collection. Let's check out Elita-1 below!

Transformers: Age of Extinction - KSI WIDOW!

Transformers Studio Series - AOE Concept Art KSI Widow - Hasbro 2025

In 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction film, a nefarious company called KSI has manufactured their own Transformers by reverse engineering scavenged debris and downloading the consciousness of slain robots from the battlefields of the first three movies. Mixed into this melting pot was the consciousness of Megatron, who was resurrected as KSI's main weapon, Galvatron. In several scenes, Galvatron has taken control of other KSI Transformers and is controlling them like drones. Several of these only ever appear in vehicle form, and that is when Hasbro had the idea to take some unused concept designs for a character named Widowmaker and merge them with one of these background character (cars) retroactively. Whatever the convoluted origin, I am obsessed with this toy. She reminds me a bit of Marvel's Danger, with a dash of Shatter and the BM Blackarachnia mold. Her headsculpt and and color palette are unlike anything in my Transformers collection. Let's check her out below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - KOWL!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #41 - Kowl - Altaya 2023/2024

It's a very rare thing for me to post a review for a male figure on this website. I buy a fair amount of male characters. (Lately I feel like I'm picking up two Batmen per month). But I like to keep this space dedicated to the ladies. My first exception was The Shape of Water Amphibian Man, simply because I loved him. And now I make an exception for Kowl, mostly because he is such an iconic and steadfast presence in the She-Ra: The Princess of Power cartoon. Kowl is seemingly a mashup of an owl and a koala with Dumbo-esque ears. He has an almost royal sensibility and highbrow wit... balanced with cowardice in the heat of battle (most of the time, at least). Although Madame Razz is the actual "Orko" of the series, Kowl hovering around the main characters always mirrored Orko's presence more than she ever did for me. And randomly, my friends and I have a (pointless) inside joke where we try to mimic the "...and Kowl" part of Melendy Britt's opening monologue. It's fun. You should try it. Let's check out Kowl below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - SHE-RA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figure #22 - She-Ra - Altaya 2022/2023

This She-Ra figurine is the item that sent me down the rabbithole of the Altaya Masters of the Universe Figurine Collection. I had been spying the Teela and Evil-Lyn that were released earlier in the line, but I have an abundance of those two characters in my collection and the secondary market import prices were prohibitive. But when this She-Ra was announced I knew I was a goner. The pose is perfectly iconic to me. Some of these figurines strongly resemble the large PopCultureShock MOTU Statue line (which are stunning pieces), but I actually prefer the pose and design of this little plastic version over that large polystone statue I always coveted. By the time I found a decently-priced eBay seller who combined shipping, Altaya had already announced Dree-Elle and Shadow Weaver and I knew this collecting endeavor would last for years (And it did, 2021-2025). I kind of hope they have a legacy like Eaglemoss and keep resurfacing with supplemental sub-lines. Let's check out She-Ra below!

MiniForce: Super Dino Power - LUCY!

MiniForce: Super Dinosaur Power - Lucy & Triceratops - Jumpgo 2020

With the myriad of MiniForce product that have saturated the Asian toy market since 2014, it was surprising that a 1:18 action figure line (with associated in-scale mecha) didn't hit the market for six years. I feel like similarly-themed Super Sentai toys in the American market seem to hit the shelves right away. But it wasn't until the fifth season, MiniForce Super Dinosaur Power Season 1, that this line finally got made. Interestingly, the core MiniForce Agents were released in a variety of sets with different transforming armor or beasts over the course of several years and from several different toy manufacturers, but the human figures seemingly stayed the same throughout. Therefore I wasn't picky about which 3.75" Lucy set I ordered, but I'm glad I got one with her Triceratops beast because I love a good human-and-steed combo. I only wish there were more costumed female characters in this show so I could get more toys. Although with current shipping and tariffs, maybe that's a blessing. Let's check out Lucy below!

MiniForce: Super Dino Power 2 - LINA!

MiniForce: Super Dinosaur Power 2 - Armorbot Series - Lina - Toytron 2021

MiniForce is a long-running Korean animated series from SAMG (nine seasons between 2014 and now) that is notable for merging genre styles in a kid-oriented format. The show features a team of cute anthropomorphic animals who can turn into human-like Agents or Rangers (in a Super Sentai aesthetic). Then these rangers can pilot various mecha or robots (in a Transformers or Robotech aesthetic), and again back to Sentai when in season 6 and 7, the mecha would transform into dinosaurs (akin to Zords). for the majority of the series, there was only one token female, a pink fox named Lucy. But in the 6th Season (Super Dinosaur Power 2 - 2020-2021), a new white bunny character named Lina was introduced (sometimes translated as Rina) who turned into an orange ranger and piloted the Stegosaurus Armorbot. (Note that one of the core characters, Max, is a yellow beaver who is often represented with an orange hue. When Lina joined, he consistently appeared more yellow and her more orange).

Masters of the Universe - QUEEN MARLENA!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Figures #58 - Queen Marlena - Altaya 2024

As much as my nostalgic obsessions tend to focus on witchy villain or strong hero characters, another powerful archetype for my childhood fascinations is the maternal character. These are rarely costumed characters and rarely ever get merchandised. But when they do, they are special. Queen Marlena is a quintessential example. As the mother of the most powerful man and woman in the universe, as well as the Queen of Eternia alongside King Randor, she was a constant voice of reason in my adolescent TV viewing. What I never expected, of course, was the events that unfolded in the infamous He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special where Queen Marlena was revealed an astronaut from Earth that was stranded on Eternia. I both loved and hated this development. I loved the new unique history of the character, but I having Earth be mentioned took me out of the fantasy (similar to the live action film). I was extremely happy to get Marlena included in this Altaya figurine line. Let's check her out below!

She-Ra the Princess of Power - SHADOW WEAVER!

Masters of the Universe - Collectible Fig #32 - Shadow Weaver - Altaya 2023/24

In my humble opinion, Shadow Weaver was the character that made She-Ra the Princess of Power (1985-1987) such a great show. The heroes in the Great Rebellion were all great. But, objectively, the were all pretty girly with pastel colors and toyetic (doll-like) features. The main antagonist was Hordak, who I really appreciated because he attracted the male He-Man audience. (If Hordak was more powerful that Skeletor, than She-Ra must be taken seriously, right?) But with such a female-centric show, the female villains were going to be the focus for the hardcore fans. Most of these villains were bumbling caricatures. The voices alone made them silly, let alone the many botched schemes throughout the series. But standing right by Hordak's side, and appearing in nearly every episode, was Shadow Weaver, the creepy and powerful spellcaster who provided a sharp contrast to all the pastel heroes and incompetent villains. She balanced the abundant stereotypes and leant a strong cool factor to the show.