Star Wars: Power of the Force - MON MOTHMA!

Star Wars: The Power of The Force - Mon Mothma w/Baton - Kenner/Hasbro 1998

In the late 90s, the excitement over the upcoming film Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) triggered an absolutely flood of nostalgic Star Wars product. I was pretty unaware of this movement at the time. Oddly enough, I remember my sister obsessively stopping in toy stores hunting for these Power of the Force figures that her boyfriend was collecting (this was several years before the action figure collecting bug bit me). When I revisited all the Star Wars collectibles years later, I was overwhelmed by the numbers of toy released in the late 90s. They were mostly in the same scale as the vintage Kenner figures, but had slightly more dynamic sculpts that gave them a unique aesthetic in the history of Star Wars collectibles. This Mon Mothma figure was the first time she was produced in plastic. As such an iconic character and such a long-awaited release (15 years), I'm surprised this figure isn't more valuable (I picked her up last week for $4). She's pretty great. Let's check her out below!

Star Wars Retro - MON MOTHMA!

Star Wars Retro Collection - Return of the Jedi - Mon Mothma - Hasbro 2023

Star Wars was a big deal in my home growing up. We had picture books, toys, and bedsheets emblazoned with the characters. But interestingly, due to the era, I didn't see A New Hope or Empire Strikes Back until the mid-80s when we finally got a VCR. So my focus was on Return of the Jedi which I saw in the theatre and which had all the spinoff TV movies and cartoons feeding my childhood awe. A unique character from Return of the Jedi was Mon Mothma, the poised and commanding leader of the Rebel Alliance. I found her captivating. Princess Leia and Oola also stood out to me, but something about Mon Mothma's presence really shaped my early respect for powerful women. When Hasbro started releasing the Retro Line a few years ago, this is exactly the type of figure I wanted; unproduced core characters missing from the vintage line. Frankly I'm surprised there haven't been more like this, it's really a missed opportunity. Check out her eBay prices if you want to see the demand. Let's check out Mon Mothma below!

Star Wars Retro Collection - AHSOKA TANO!

Star Wars Retro Collection: The Mandalorian - Ahsoka Tano - Hasbro 2022

I was reading recently about how when Ahsoka Tano was first introduced, she was met with a lot of fan hostility. I never watched the animated Clone Wars series (or movie), but this is where Ahsoka Tano was introduced as a 14-year-old Padawan under the tutelage of a 19-year-old Anakin Skywalker. Without reading any more details, I can imagine the writers falling prey to same tropes of teenage character stereotypes. I bet she was surly, cool, obnoxious, witty, and scrappy - yet promising. And I'll bet she came off as annoying. That's all just my hunch based on decades of seeing teenage elements inserted into a serious genre. But thankfully the fanbase came around and the character matured. Because the character we see today is pretty awesome. Rosario Dawson's portrayal in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett was masterful. And the fact that her solo show, Ahsoka, is premiering in August 2023 is no surprise at all - and I can't wait! Let's check out the Retro Collection Ahsoka Tano below!

Star Wars Retro Collection - THE ARMORER!

Star Wars Retro Collection: The Mandalorian - The Armorer - Hasbro 2022

The Armorer has surprisingly become one of my favorite characters in the Disney+ Star Wars Universe. When she first appeared in The Mandalorian, I was excited to hear a female voice behind one of the helmets, and I thought it was very interesting to see a detailed view into a weaponry-and-armor-centric culture like the Mandalorians. But she definitely didn't seem like a character who would play a part in major plot developments. She seemed non-combative in role and Din Djarin was literally only visiting the planet when we met her. But as the years have passed, we've seen her become an influential leader and voice of reason among the Mandlorians. She's been prominent in later seasons of the The Mandalorian and even appeared in The Book of Boba Fett. I should have realized there were bigger plans for her since we've seen her 6" Black Series figure released three times already. It's amazing how clairvoyant the toy world can be. Let's check out the Armorer below!

Star Wars Retro Collection - BO-KATAN!

Star Wars Retro Collection: The Mandalorian - Bo-Katan - Hasbro 2022

I'm amused by my love of the Star Wars Retro Collection. When Star Wars figures were all the rage in my youth, I only cared about Ewoks. When I got into Star Wars figures again in the early 2000s, I found the world of 3.75" figures overwhelming. The modern ones were plentiful and the vintage ones cost a fortune (and had a fair number of reproduction accessories being passed as original). I probably only picked up a dozen figures before I got burnt out. The Black Series 6" line provided the fresh start I was looking for as a collector. But I didn't have any nostalgic connection to this universe in that scale. But then the Retro Collection started and I was ecstatic. Finally I could satisfy my modern (read: more-than-ewok) love of the Star Wars franchise with the retro Kenner style that is so signature to the brand. And I love that the line tends to focus on the new properties, letting the vintage Kenner collectors retroactively incorporate these new characters into their displays. Let's check out Bo-Katan below!

VR Troopers - KAITLIN STAR!

Saban's VR Troopers - Deluxe Figures - Battle Grid Kaitlin Star - Kenner 1996

VR Troopers was the first "spin-off" of the Power Rangers franchise which ran on US Television from 1994 to 1996. It has no connection to Power Rangers, but it followed a similar formula of taking existing action sequences from a Japanese property and re-splicing it with new American footage. Where Power Rangers was created from the Super Sentai Series, VR Troopers came from the Metal Hero Series (Big Bad Beetleborgs was the only other property adapted from this series in the US). VR Troopers is unique because it creatively mashes together three different shows, and it uses the oldest footage (1984) of all the 90's Saban properties. VR Troopers was focused on the popular 90's theme of virtual reality and features three teens who meet a hologram who exposes them to the the VR dimension and makes them heroes. Kaitlin is the token female and a budding photographer and journalist. She had three action figures produced, but this particular one stands out. Let's check her out below!

The Women of ROBOCOP!

Robocop - Nancy Miner, Anne Lewis, Lisa Madigan - Toy Island & Kenner 1988-98

I've been wanting to do this review forever. I literally took some of these photos 6 years ago, but am only now getting around to posting them. I was listening to a conversation lately about how many R-rated properties in the 1990s were turned into kid-friendly cartoons and TV shows with the express interest in selling toys to a younger demographic. It seems like a crazy notion, but it happened all the time. Robocop had three R-rated movies produced between 1987-1993, but spawned four different television series (2 live-action, 2 animated) between 1994-1998. Almost every version had a toy line geared towards kids. I find this amusing because my primary memory of the entire franchise is in the beginning of the first film when the ED-209 prototype malfunctions and obliterates the businessman in the most gory fashion possible. My brothers and I must have played that scene in slow motion a hundred times. Hardly a property I would expose kids to. Let's check out the ladies of the franchise below!

Star Wars 40th Anniversary - PRINCESS LEIA!

Star Wars - Black Series 40th Anniv (Kenner Series) - Princess Leia - Hasbro 2017

Princess Leia is one of the most recognizable fictional females of all time. Whether she's in her iconic metal bikini or the trademark hair buns, her image is known across the world. That's why it is so surprising that there has never been an action figure that captures her likeness well until very recently. This 40th Anniversary figure has the most amazing Leia face sculpt I've ever seen. She also comes on an amazing Kenner-style retro cardback. Unfortunately she's also wearing a lumpy potato sack for her robes. I will never understand cloth outfits for toys in this scale. I just bought an E.T. figure from NECA last week and he is cloaked in a sculpted white blanket that is flexible, removable, and looks great. I wish Hasbro would take a cue from NECA and re-release this Leia with sculpted attire. I would buy her in a heartbeat. In the meantime I will play around with pinning back the bulky sections and dusting off my needle and thread skills - cause that face deserves a better presentation. Let's check her out below!

Women of the COOPERSTOWN COLLECTION!

Starting Lineup - Dottie Kamenshek (Kenner 1996) & Pepper Davis (Hasbro 1998)

I've been meaning to review these two figures forever. Then recently I saw a post from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Facebook page (I suggest following it!) about 2017 being the 25th Anniversary of A League of Their Own. I love that movie and it exposed me to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League when I was a young lad of 13. At the time, Startling Lineup figures were the bane of my existence. Scarce toy aisle space was being taken over by sports junk, and along with it came jock collectors, which was an awkward hybrid kind of peer I had trouble relating to. It wasn't until about six years ago that I discovered the inclusion of eight female athletes in the line. My favorites of the group were easily the two baseball players from the AAGPBL. I only wish they had made more. It's notable that these two figures also mark the transition between the Kenner and Hasbro brands (All the Kenner lines were absorbed into Hasbro between 1991 and 2000). Let's check out Pepper and Dottie below!

Batman & Robin - ICESTRIKE CYCLE BATGIRL!

Batman & Robin (Movie) - Deluxe Figures - Batgirl w/ IceStrike Cycle - Kenner 1997

Normally the 1990's trend of creating completely random variants of staple characters annoys the crap out of me. I've seen enough neon camouflage Batmen to last a lifetime (not to mention the current Iron Man and Spider-Man lines keeping up the tradition). But every once in a while a variant comes out of left field and actually looks cool (I'm thinking of Ice Armor He-Man and Mandarin Spawn in particular).  While this IceStrike Cycle Batgirl isn't as grand as those two, it certainly is a pretty great variant. The color palette is muted and the armor seems like something that could have appeared in the film.  Plus the entire figure has been redecoed with great little sculptural details. All in all she's a fantastic alternate to the original figure. It would not have been unheard of for Kenner to simply repackage the first figure with her motorcycle and call it a day, but luckily we got this really fun figure out of the deal.  I unfortunately don't have the IceStrike Cycle itself, but the figure is more than enough to keep me happy.

Batman & Robin - BATGIRL!

Batman & Robin (the Movie) - Series 01 - Batgirl - Kenner 1997

The 1997 Batman & Robin movie is pretty much universally accepted as a flop. At the time I didn't think it was exactly horrible, but I understood that it was taking huge step backwards in the "cool" department established by the other Batman films. But the introduction of a new Batgirl was always enough to keep me in line as a supporter of the film. I bought this movie on DVD a few years ago and I was surprised at how watchable it was. Removed from the pressure of the other films, I finally saw this script for what it was: a super-campy colorful action farce. The puns are ridiculous and the glow in the dark biker gangs are utter nonsense, but it's still fun. Alicia Silverstone was totally the it girl in 1997, so her casting was a great choice. The character changes were weird (She was now Barbara Wilson, the niece of Alfred), but the overall presentation was pure cheesy goodness. I love the toys made for the movie. They were some of the last "classic" style DC action figures made.  Let's check out Batgirl below!

The Real Ghostbusters JANINE MELNITZ!

Ghostbusters: Fright Features - Janine Melnitz w/ Tickler the Ghost - Kenner 1989

How could I have a Halloween month (however loosely based) without a Ghostbusters figure?  Last year I reviewed Gozer and Zuul, which are definitely the coolest ladies from the property, but Janine is arguably the most loved.  Originally played by Annie Potts in the original movies, the bored-and unfrazzled secretary saw a ton of character growth in the the later animated series The Real Ghostbusters (voiced by Kath Soucie) and Extreme Ghostbusters (voiced by Pat Musick).  In several episodes of these series, Janine would get pulled into the adventure and "suit up" in her own Ghostbuster uniform, often with a proton pack of her own.  Kenner produced a handful of Janine figures between 1986-1991, but this Fright Features figure has always been my favorite.  All the Fright Features figures had really cool dynamic action features (one of my favorite trends of 80's toys) and these gimmicks made them some of the most popular Ghostbusters toys ever.  Let's check out Janine below!

Panther Prowl CATWOMAN!

Batman : Legends of the Dark Knight - Series 2 -Catwoman - Kenner 1997
 
Of all the 1990's Batman lines to come out of Mattel, Hasbro, and Kenner, I think Legends of the Dark Knight is most definitely my least favorite.  I can only assume that Kenner was trying to bank off the successful styles of McFarlane Toys and Moore Action Collectibles.  However, the lanky bodies, sinewy muscles, Liefeld-esque poses and overall elseworldiness of these figures did not go over well with fans.  Luckily the next few attempts were good ones (Including Total Justice and JLA).  There were two women released in the LOTDK lines:  Batgirl and Panther Prowl Catwoman.  The Batgirl is horrendous in my opinion.  She looks like something out of Devilman (not that I have anything against Mr. Nagai, but it doesn't didn't work with Babs).  Catwoman is much better, but still pretty iffy.  I put this figure in the same category as the Halle Berry version.  I don't totally reject her, but she gets a spot in the back row.  Let's check her out below!

Legends of Batman EGYPTIAN CATWOMAN!

Legends of Batman - Egyptian Batman vs Catwoman 2-Pack - Kenner 1996
 
Legends of Batman was a very interesting toyline produced by Kenner in the late 1990s.  It was one of the earliest lines I can think of to make creative variants of all the A-list characters rather than just painting them neon and giving them ridiculous accessories.  Instead, Kenner approached these figures as potential Elseworlds-type characters.  Some of the gems of this series include: Samurai Batman, Pirate Two-Face vs Pirate Batman, Dark Rider Batman (very Sleepy Hollow), and Cyborg Batman.  I know crazy non-canonical variants aren't everyone's cup of tea, but then I see popular comics like The Return of Bruce Wayne or that cool Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Time Out for Vengeance" and I think these figures were just a little ahead of their time.  Plus, they gave us Egyptian Catwoman.  It makes sense somehow that she would be represented as a cat-goddess (although that doesn't make me accept the Halle Berry movie yet).  It doesn't hurt that this figure, in all it's 90's overly-posed glory, is actually pretty sweet.  Let's check her out in detail below!

Jack-in-the-Box KARATE KICK BATGIRL!

DC Super Heroes - Jack-in-the-Box Kids' Meal Toys - 2001
 
Animated figures were something I avoided in my collection for years.  That was mostly due to the fact that I just didn't watch many cartoons.  But it was also a little bit because I just didn't like the quality or design of the toys.  In my mind, they were overpriced, too small, not articulated enough, and they just couldn't stand up properly.  It wasn't until years later that I became more of a character-driven collector, then I couldn't ignore the gaping holes in my collection.. especially for my Batgirls and Catwomen.  I'm still not a completist when it comes to animated figures.  I usually just try to find the single best representation of an era.. or at least limit myself to unique sculpts and skip the numerous repaints.  It was my constant eye out for the best representation of a character that led me to these awesome Jack-in-the-Box toys from 2001.  I reviewed Supergirl last month and easily proclaimed her to be the best animated Supergirl out there.  This Batgirl gets the same nod from me.  She's amazing.  And she's even better than Supergirl because her action feature is practically unnoticeable.  Let's check her out below!

Aliens LT. RIPLEY!

Space Marine Lt. Ellen Ripley - Aliens: Series 1 - Kenner 1992

I've had this figure of Ripley for quite a while and never really gave much thought about reviewing her.  It's not that this isn't a great little figure, but it always seemed a little generic, brightly colored, and too unlike Sigourney Weaver to warrant much attention.  This toy line from Kenner came out six years after the film's release and coincided with the release of Aliens 3 (which didn't get much love from the plastic world... or the film critics).  Anyway, like I said, I never really gave this figure much thought until a reader of this blog pointed out the similarities between this figure and the Karen Ross figure from Kenner's 1995 Congo line that I reviewed last week.  I'm a sucker for interesting little tidbits like that so I immediately began researching shared Kenner moulds.  I've been aware of the Robin Hood / Star Wars parallels for a long time, and I was really excited to think I might have found my own (Thanks to Artistix!).  Interestingly, these figures share almost no identical parts, but I am just as intrigued by the level of minor retooling that I guarantee no one would have cared about.  Let's check out the Ripley figure (and clone) below.

Gargoyles ELISA MAZA!

NYPD Detective Maza - Gargoyles Series 2 - Kenner 1996

Gargoyles is a very unique Disney property that still has a large fan following to this day.  The original animated series ran from 1994 to 1997 and introduced the world to the mythos of rival clans of Gargoyles waging war high in the night.  The characters were complex and the storylines were dark.  All in all it was very original and fun and really opened up new doors for the Disney crowd.  It's no surprise that the storylines were continued in comic book form years later (2006-2009) by SLG.  Elisa Maza was the main human protagonist of the series (kind of like April O'Neil now that I think about it).  She was a friend and ally to the peaceful Manhattan Clan of Gargoyles (and even a potential love interest for the Gargoyle leader, Goliath).  Another fun fact is that this character is part Native American, which is a demographic rarely seen in the action figure world (especially among females).  This toy is pretty cool, although I think the jetpack and uniform are inventions of Kenner.  Let's check her out!

Congo's KAREN ROSS!

Michael Crichton's Congo (the Movie) - Karen Ross - Kenner 1995
 
I miss the days where random movies would warrant a series of action figures.  Nowadays it seems that even big-budget character-driven movies go under the radar in the toy aisles (X-men First Class, anyone?).  But the 1990's were a different story.  It was actually pretty ridiculous how many movies got the action figure treatment.  Congo is one of those lines that probably had a lot of people shaking their heads.  I personally loved the book as a teenager and I really enjoyed the movie as a result.  Congo is a story about an African expedition by a team of American scientists for rare impure diamonds (needed for some newly emerging laser technology).  Their travels take them deep into the jungle where they encounter the remnants of a long-forgotten civilization "haunted" by ghostly monsters (spoiler: feral albino apes).  It sounds a little hokey, but it's actually pretty clever and exciting.  I don't really remember how well the movie portrayed the story, but I remember liking the visual of the ruins and the jungle a lot.  Karen Ross was the leader of the expedition.  Let's check her out below!

Jack-in-the-Box POWER PUNCH SUPERGIRL!

DC Super Heroes - Jack-in-the-Box Kids' Meal Toys - 2001

I love when promotional toys are made to blend in with an established retail line.  I really never need to see a tiny ill-formed Batgirl riding a motorcycle or a weird Wonder Woman-shaped card case.  No, what I want is action figures.  Imagine if cereal boxes and Happy Meal bags contained exclusive JLA figures or never-released Young Justice toys?  I would easily be twenty pounds heavier, but my improved collection would more than make up for the extra weight.  Very few promotional toy lines have achieved this ideal, but this 2001 DC Super Heroes collection from Jack-in-the-Box Restaurants is arguably the best of them.  The entire series of nine figures is roughly the scale of various Mattel JLA or Kenner Animated toylines.  The only downfall is that they actually tried to improve on the retail lines by incorporating action features (which unfortunately often distort the sculpts).  One of my favorites of this series is Power Punch Supergirl.  Let's check her out in detail below!

Vintage Goodness: SilverHawks STEELHEART!

The "Partly Metal, Partly Real" SteelHeart - Kenner's SilverHawks 1986
 
SilverHawks was one of those fantastic late-80s properties that combined toy and cartoon culture and became an instant hit.  Rankin & Bass created SilverHawks as an outerspace counterpart to ThunderCats.  (Rankin & Bass also developed 1987's TigerSharks, which is a personal favorite of mine, but unfortunately produced no female action figures).  The SilverHawks were a team of cybernetically-enhanced heroes in the galaxy of Limbo who fought against the evil Mon*Star (yes, he has a star instead of a hyphen).  SteelHeart is the codename for Emily Hart, the sole female of the group and twin sister of Will Hart, aka SteelWill.  She is the technician of the team and is often seen tinkering with their spaceship(s).  All the SilverHawks have cybernetic wings, facemasks, and a robotic bird companion.  Unfortunately these figures don't display their masked variations, but all-in-all, they are some of the best 1980s cartoon-based toys out there.  The likenesses are great, the action features make sense, and the sheer playability is amazing.  On to the review!