Titan Hero Heroes - THOR!

Marvel Titan Hero Series - Thor Love and Thunder - Mighty Thor - Hasbro 2022

I saw Thor: Love and Thunder tonight. I won't give any plot details, just a general impression. I wasn't a fan. I feel like it was trying really really hard to be funny and irreverent... every second. But it came off like a 2 hour tiktok video: thirsty, weird energy, and repetitive music. Plus I was shocked at how beloved characters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor himself were so oddly written (dare I say annoying?). But there was a lot I did like: The villain, the final climactic scene, and (luckily) everything with Jane Foster was great. I'm really curious to see where the Asgardian storylines will go next. But of course my favorite thing about most comic book movies is the toys they inspire. I saved my review of this Titan Hero Series Mighty Thor because I knew I would want to rant about the movie. That's especially funny since this was the first Love and Thunder product I found (back in April). It's a great addition to my 1:6 collection and finally Valkyrie has a fellow Asgardian on the shelf. Let's check out Thor below!

Marvel Basic Series - THOR!

Thor: Love and Thunder - Basic Series 1 - Jane Foster Thor - Hasbro 2022

It's crazy how two figures in the same assortment can have such wildly different production aesthetic. I reviewed the Basic Series King Valkyrie earlier this week and she was a cool, no-nonsense figure with a good sculpt, and simple, but workable articulation. Yes, she had weapons molded in her hands, and yes the action feature was gimmicky, but she displayed nicely and was a great basic figure overall. Then I opened this Thor figure and was surprised at how different it was. The standard pose is awkward with jutting elbows. The overall sculpt seems bulky. The sculpted hammer dominates the figure and becomes an awkward focal point. And the action feature is chaotic - by squeezing her legs together, her hammer-wielding arm rotates fast at the elbow. It looks painful and doesn't make anatomical sense. With the new plastic-free packaging, I didn't know exactly what I would be getting, and honestly I probably would have skipped this one if I had better insight to the actual product. Let's check out Thor below!

Marvel Legends - KING VALKYRIE!

Marvel Legends - Thor: Love and Thunder - King Valkyrie - Hasbro 2022

Since the last time we saw Tessa Thompson on screen as Valkyrie, an interesting thing has happened. She became one of those rare cinematic characters who inspired a new comic character. Sure, there have been other "Valkyrie" characters in the history of Marvel Comics, but the MCU version had zero connection to them (other than name). But in 2021, a new Valkyrie character was introduced in the pages of Mighty Valkyries #1 who was a direct interpretation of Tessa's character. Of all the MCU heroes and villains seen so far, the one character always leaving me wanting more was Valkyrie, and I thought this comic would be the only chance for detailed storylines. But then the toys for Thor: Love and Thunder were revealed and suddenly we learn that she has become King Valkyrie and is the ruler of New Asgard on Earth. I can speculate a lot from two toys and a 26-word blurb on the cardbacks, but I think it's fair to assume we are going ot see a lot of Tessa in this movie. Let's check out King Valkyrie below!

Marvel Legends - THOR!

Marvel Legends - Thor: Love and Thunder (Korg Wave) – Thor - Hasbro 2022

When I first heard that the successor to the wildly popular Thor: Ragnarok was titled Thor: Love and Thunder, I knew it meant Natalie Portman as Jane Foster would be wielding Mjolnir as the new Thor. I was super excited and immediately started explaining how great this storyline could be to all my MCU fanatic friends. When Jane took over the mantle of Thor in the comics I was thrilled. Not only does the costume look great on her, but the fact that Jane is proven worthy says a lot about a character who typically doesn't get a lot of story outside her role as a love interest. Without spoiling too much, I loved how the hammer had additional importance to Jane beyond a simple symbol of power. And Jane as a hero opened up a whole new world of possibilities for a character who had relegated to civilian life for 52 years of comics... and I've loved her journey ever since. I can't wait to see the story played out on the big screen. I hope it stays true to the comics, but only time will tell. Let's check out Thor below!

Marvel Basic Series - KING VALKYRIE!

Thor: Love and Thunder - Basic Series 1 - King Valkyrie - Hasbro 2022

Basic figures are improving with every movie cycle. Years ago they looked like glorified dollar store toys, but lately they're just slightly simplified versions of Marvel Legends. The big advancement this time is the addition of an action feature. Of course the prices are also increasing. These ten dollar toys are suddenly fifteen (but Legends are now $25, so it's still significantly cheaper). But the sculpting is great, and they fill an interesting role of typically being the first movie product on the shelves. In Thor: Love and Thunder, Tessa Thompson's character is now apparently called King Valkyrie. I guess we won't know the context until July, but her costume is not too drastically different from her two previous looks. I was hoping for something more distinctive, maybe with some head ornamentation. But who knows, maybe we'll get a mid-movie costume upgrade like she had in Ragnarok (and then we won't get another figure of her for two years). Let's check out the basic series King Valkyrie figure below!

Marvel Legends - SYLVIE!

Marvel Legends What If...? (The Watcher Series) - Sylvie (Loki) - Hasbro 2021

When I started watching Loki on Disney+ earlier this year, I had pretty low expectations. I wasn't the biggest fan of Falcon and Winter Soldier (never finished it in fact). And after the creative wonder of WandaVision, I didn't expect a show focused on a duplicitous trickster (who I was never a big admirer of even in comics) to capture my attention. I only started watching because my friends in a nerdy group chat I'm in  insisted I start and I had hopes that Lady Loki would make an appearance. Long story short, I ended up really enjoying the show. Despite themes of time travel and alternate realities (which I find exhausting and tedious after 30+ years reading comics and sci-fi), I was intrigued and really enjoyed it. An unexpected joy was the introduction of Sylvie Laufeydottir, an alternate timeline Loki and the MCU's version of Sylvie Lushton (the Young Enchantress character from the Young Avengers comics). One more step towards the Young Avengers movie I predict is coming. Let's check out Sylvie below!

Avengers Endgame - VALKYRIE!

Marvel Legends - Avengers Endgame (Thor BaF Wave) - Valkyrie - Hasbro 2019

I'm first and foremost a comic nerd, and I have a special penchant for cheesy Bronze Age characters. While this era may not be a total cheesefest, my favorite characters are the awkward ones where I imagine the writers would come up with a name, then slap together a (super stereotypical) look based on that. Valkyrie is a prime example. She's a tall busty blonde with thick braids, metal cone bra, and spear... right out of a Looney Tunes opera (and I love everything about her). So when Tessa Thompson was revealed as a leather-clad warrior-type with bare arms and face tattoos, I had extreme reservations. However, watching Thor: Ragnarok, it quickly became clear that although this was an entirely new concept for the character, it was solid, funny, believable, and Tessa had a great screen presence. And all doubt was eliminated when she donned an amazing white outfit with gold and blue details by the end of the movie. Two years later we get a figure of this look and it was worth the wait! let's check out Valkyrie!

Marvel Titan Hero Series - VALKYRIE!

Avengers Endgame - Titan Hero Series: PowerFX - Valkyrie - Hasbro 2019

When Thor Ragnarok product started hitting the shelves a couple years ago I was very wary of this cinematic version of Valkyrie. I had always been fond of the tall busty blonde Scandinavian warrior from the comics, and the image of Tessa Thompson as a normal-statured woman of color with face paint and futuristic armor seemed like a huge departure from the classic Brunhilde. And when I finally saw the movie, I learned I was right. This cinematic Valkyrie was stubborn, technologically savvy, and often drunk. But I liked her. And I realized that a classic comic version would have been extremely awkward in that movie. Her presence in Avengers Endgame just solidified my newfound appreciation her. Seeing her sweeping across the screen astride Aragorn was one of the highlights of the movie for me. This Titan figure was leaked many months ago, but I feared she might never be released when she was absent from the first wave of Endgame product. But luckily she was just a part of the secret second batch.

Marvel Legends Thor Dark World - SIF!

Marvel Legends - Marvel Studios the First Ten Years - Thor & Sif - Hasbro 2018

Hasbro has really made a lot of fans happy with their new Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years line. Similar to the DC Multiverse Signature line, Hasbro is making figures from the earliest MCU movies. This is giving collectors a lot of the characters that have been sorely missing from their collections for years. My favorite inclusion in this line is undoubtedly Jaimie Alexander as Sif. This character is special because she is one of the elite few who has appeared in both film and television. We know the universes overlap, but we rarely actually see it. I was upset that she didn't appear in Thor: Ragnarok but later interviews have indicated it was a scheduling conflict and not a case of a character being brushed under the rug. I really hope we see her again. And if not, I hope she at least gets absorbed into the Wonder Woman cinematic universe. She just has a great warrior vibe. This figure has a phenomenal face scan and armor details. My only gripe is her small scale (pics down at the bottom). Let's check out Sif below!

Eaglemoss Special - JANE FOSTER THOR!

Marvel Fact Files Special #26 - The Mighty Thor (Jane Foster) - Eaglemoss 2017

I have a real soft spot for Eaglemoss figurines. They were the first non-action-figure collectibles I bought when I started to branch out in my adult hobbies. But lately a lot of their flagship lines (the DC and Marvel Classic Figurine Collections) have come to an end. Then the various chess sets ran their course as well. Now the third wave is upon us and we have DC All-Stars, BTAS, Batman Busts, and Marvel Fact Files. This Thor figure is the first purchase I've made from any of these new lines. This particular sculpt is not the most dynamic or fun design. The pose seems stiff and the face seems expressionless. Previous Eaglemoss releases have never been known for expressive faces, but that was because the scale was small so it was also about colorful costumes and dramatic poses. But this Thor figure is huge. From base to hammer she is 7" tall and the figure herself is a hair over 5" - I think at this new scale they need to up their game. I'm excited for their new Wasp and Captain Marvel figures so my fingers are crossed.

Thor Ragnarok - VALKYRIE!

Marvel Legends - Thor Ragnarok (Target Exc) - Thor & Valkyrie - Hasbro 2017

I'm really looking forward to Thor: Ragnarok. My excitement is mostly focused on my obsession with Cate Blanchett, but I'm also pretty intrigued to see how Tess Thompson's portrayal of Valkyrie will be. I honestly don't have a fixed opinion on how Valkyrie should act. I have a generic impression of her being humorless gruff warrior, but it's a vague idea (and likely outdated). The one aspect of Valkyrie I did have a solid idea on was her appearance. I won't lie and say I wasn't hoping for a more traditional Valkyrie; super-tall, broad-shouldered, blonde-braided Brienne-of-Tarth Norse warrior type. This is purely based on my nostalgia for the comic design. But I am very open-minded and excited to see this new envisioning of the character in action. Hopefully she isn't just a replacement for Sif and gets a chance to shine and be an individual. It can be tough being a supporting character in a big superhero movie. (And if she's popular enough, we might even get a figure of her in her white armor!) Let's check out Valkyrie below!

Marvel Legends - LADY LOKI!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exclusive A-Force 6-Pack - Lady Loki - Hasbro 2017

I've come to the last of the A-Force reviews. This group is kind of unprecedented so I've been taking it slow. We all see female Legends figures sitting unsold in stores, and every time I see three Beetles collecting dust on a peg I fear that it will not bode well on the future of female characters in the line. But then Hasbro assuaged my fears and made this amazing all-female exclusive. It's a wonderful set, but Lady Loki is probably the figure with the most glaring issues of the group. Her accessories make her bulky and clumsy to pose and her hands are humorously unproportional. But even with those detractors, I can't deny that she is still a really great looking figure. Her headsculpt is gorgeous, the paint apps are very detailed (the metallic green scallops look great), and the overall look seems very complete. I don't think anyone expected Lady Loki to ever get a toy, especially considering she was overshadowed by the more popular kid-Loki successor. But I'm not complaining one bit. Let's check out Loki below!

Marvel Legends - Warrior Goddess SIF!

Marvel Legends - TRU Exc A-Force 6-Pack - Warrior Goddess Sif - Hasbro 2017

This is the figure that thrilled me the most when the A-Force box set was revealed back in February. Before Jane Foster Thor, Thor Girl, and Storm as the Goddess of Thunder, Sif was the Asgardian Warrior I wanted to see take center stage more than any other. She's received a fair amount of attention from her appearances in the Thor movies, and although I like that they retained the general color scheme (and Jaimie Alexander is awesome), I always think a good Norse warrior needs a headdress of some sort - specifically the "winged headpiece" type worn by Thor and She-Ra. I also really loved Sif's bright red and white color scheme with her stark black hair. So, yeah, I've been waiting for this figure for years. You can always trust that a classic comic style figure is on the horizon when the character appears in a movie. It may take six years, but it will eventually happen if you're patient. Now we just need a proper movie version. (It's surprising we're getting a Valkyrie first). Let's check out Sif below!

Thor Ragnarok - JANE FOSTER THOR!

Marvel Legends - Thor Ragnarok (Hulk Build-a-Figure Wave) - Thor - Hasbro 2017

This is one of those Marvel Legends figures that I've been dreaming of for a long time. One of my favorite themes in comics is when an established bedrock character gets re-imagined as female. This has been happening a lot in recent years, especially in the Marvel Universe, and when Jane Foster picked up Mjolnir back in 2014 and assumed the mantle of Thor, she became one of my favorite examples of this gender-flip. Now of course I have a reignited desire to see characters like Laura in the All-New Wolverine costume, Riri as Ironheart, and America Chavez (ideally in her America #1 shield-shirted costume that was an homage to the Madeline Joyce Miss America of the 1940s). Who knows, with the movie buzz we may even see a Shuri Black Panther in the next year as well. This Thor figure is simply gorgeous. The detailing of the costume and the paint apps are perfect. I'm super excited to get an A-Force set and photograph all the unlikely Asgardian ladies together. Let's check out Jane Foster Thor below!

Thor Ragnarok Marvel Legends - HELA!

Marvel Legends - Thor Ragnarok (Hulk Build-a-Figure Wave) - Hela - Hasbro 2017

Today was a great day for a toy hunt. August 1st was the street date for all the Thor Ragnarok toys as well as all the Justice League merchandise. It didn't hurt that I happened to be home sick so was able to be at the stores as they opened. (And it's nearly impossible to find a silver lining in having a cold in Summer). So I was home by noon with my bounty (I had to go to 3 TRUs and two Targets to get everything I wanted) but then I was too exhausted and sick to photograph them until late this evening. Under normal circumstances I would have just waited, but I was too impatient and wanted to free this beauty from her box. Marvel Legends has just been making perfect action figures recently. Maybe I'm foggy from meds, but I have no criticisms of this figure whatsoever. When I first saw the imagery of Cate Blanchett as Hela I was not impressed (I thought it looked like the movie Rita Repulsa), but over the months it has really grown on me and now I can't wait to see her on the screen in November. Let's check out Hela below!

Rock Candy - WOMEN OF MARVEL!

Rock Candy - Capt. Marvel, Thor, Spider-Gwen, She-Hulk, Mystique - Funko 2016

I've had this group of Marvel Rock Candy figures forever but have been delaying posting them out of sheer laziness. I'm really impressed with this line overall and I'm so glad to see it growing in leaps and bounds. It seems like every few weeks there's a new announcement, and I'm already finding myself being very selective with my purchases. If I manage to find the exclusive Gwenpool and Red She-Hulk Rock Candys in the next few weeks I'll want to post on them right away and I didn't want to be caught too far behind with this first Marvel wave. The Rock Candy line started a little over a year ago with a DC Wave and was followed up several months later with this first batch of Marvel figures. I was a little bummed when I realized that, yet again, the Marvel figures must be bobble-heads. But I found that by jamming some tissue up in the head you can make it stay still in a normal position and overall I'm very happy with this group. (I'm still shocked there wasn't a Masked Captain Marvel variant though). Let's check them out!

Marvel Legends - ANGELA!

Marvel Legends - Guardians of the Galaxy: Titus Series - Angela - Hasbro 2017

I would have never guessed I would be so excited about an Angela action figure in 2017. Way back in 1993 I was up to my neck in all the new Image Comics titles. I loved them all, but I'll admit my least favorite was Spawn. I was very artist-focused and although McFarlane beat them all in terms of excessive details, flowing capes and flying chains, I really didn't like the way he drew faces. I still read Spawn for the first few years though and was eagerly awaiting the first appearance of Angela (who I think I saw teased in Wizard). She was created by McFarlane and Neil Gaiman. I was pretty young for Gaiman at the time and I was convinced reading Sandman would make me turn evil. But the issue finally came along and I was really disappointed. I loved the concept of her character, but her design was the epitome of everything I disliked about 90's heroines: domino mask eyepaint, "armor" with all the soft bits exposed, oversized weapons, and gravity-defying hair. I would have written her off as another tragic blip

Marvel Tsum Tsum - WOMEN OF POWER!

Marvel Tsum Tsum Series 2 - Women of POWer! Walmart Exc - Jakks Pacific 2016

I can't say I really understand the Tsum Tsum trend. They started in Japan (of course) as a cute stackable line of plush Disney character collectibles. I always thought they were supposed to be gerbils or something, but apparently they are shaped this way just to be stackable. Either way, between the fact that they were plush, large (7-11"), over-stlyistic (in my opinion), and centered on characters I wasn't interested in collecting, they were just completely off my radar. Then the Marvel characters started and I began to pay attention. But I still wasn't tempted because of the plush thing. Then along comes Jakks with a license to produce small vinyl versions. I honestly wasn't planning to get any until I came across this 9-figure Women of POWer set at Walmart. Getting an instant collection like that was quite an incentive. I actually think I will try to get all the ladies in the collection now that I'm only missing a few. They're pretty cute little additions to my collections. Let's check out the Women of Power below!

Marvel Legends - ENCHANTRESS (V2)!

Marvel Legends - Dormammu Series - Mystic Rivals - Enchantress - Hasbro 2016

When this Enchantress figure was announced this past August I was royally pissed off. I had just dropped roughly $140 for the giant SDCC exclusive Raft boxset (specifically to get the Enchantress figure and sell off the rest). The Dr. Strange/Dormammu wave was only a month from hitting the shelves and the lineup had been announced, or so we thought. But five days after the SDCC Hasbrotoyshop sale they announced this slightly repainted version would be a secret addition to the retail wave. I felt really taken advantage of. And I had been on cloud nine with the Marvel Legends line for years so that really bummed me out. But then when I saw her in person I decided there were enough color variations to warrant a duplicate purchase. Yes, both figures are blonde in green outfits, but almost every shade is different. This character gets so little play in the merchandise world that I couldn't help myself. Anyway, I still feel like a sucker so I put off this review for 4 months. Let's (finally) check her out below!

Marvel Legends - ENCHANTRESS!

Marvel Legends - The Raft SDCC Exclusive Box Set - Hasbro 2016

This figure is a very bittersweet one for me. I have had a longstanding obsession with Enchantress. The first time I encountered her was in the New Mutants Special #1 from 1985. This story was part of the Asgardian Wars storyline and featured all the young mutants getting scattered and stranded on Asgard with Enchantress being their main adversary on these adventures. I don't think I've read a single comic issue more times in all my life. So with all that longstanding adoration of Amora, I was really excited to see her in Legends form. It wasn't the first time that I splurged for an expensive SDCC exclusive while only intending to keep one figure. I'm ususally happy to do it because I can sell the others without much hassle. But this year, a mere two days after I got my Raft set in the mail, Hasbro announced that she will be a part of the Doctor Strange wave due out in September. I'm trying to balance the feelings of betrayal versus my joy over this figure. It's quite the existential crisis for me. Sigh.