Transformers Mini-Con WINDSHEAR!

Transformers: Generations Series 02 #13 - Mini-Con Assault Team - Hasbro 2014

This little lady snuck right by me this past year. I feel like I impatiently flipped by this figure a thousand times this year while frantically seeking Windblade, Arcee, and Chromia. Then while searching for a picture of Flamewar, Flareup, and Transmutate for my Year-End Review, I found the *ahem* fuckyeahwarriorwomen tumblr which had a group photo of all of 2014's fembots including this mysterious little green lady. I was immediately on the hunt. I soon discovered that Windshear is a part of the Mini-Con Assault Team alongside Heavytread and Runway. Mini-cons are small human-sized Transformers that combine to form a standard-size Transformer. These three mini-cons combine to form Centuritron. The great thing about discovering her in the 11th hour is that the Assault Team pack was on clearance in almost every store I went to. It was a no-brainer.  I wish all my purchases could be so obviously pre-ordained.  Let's check out Windshear below!

Halo SprüKits - COMMANDER SARAH PALMER!

SprüKits - Poseable Figural Model Kit - Halo: Sarah Palmer - Bandai 2014

I never would have guessed an action figure could spark the reaction in me that this figure did.  I bought this kit at Toys'r'us to appease myself after a fruitless day of searching for the X-Men Legends Wave (Storm in particular) back in December.  I kind of forgot about the purchase until after the holidays when I dedicated an evening to clearing off the coffee table, popping in a movie, and hunkering down for a very nostalgic few hours.  Just the muscle memories that were triggered from twisting all the little pieces off their sprues was euphoric.  I spent many hours in my youth building model planes, submarines, and dinosaurs, and this figure just brought that all flooding back.  For those unaware, Bandai's SprüKits line are snap-together model kits that build highly-articulated action figures.  This figure had 113 pieces and it's only a level 2 (of 3).  Aside from the nostalgic element, the fact that I've assembled all the little pieces of a double-hinged knee makes me respect the engineering of action figures so much more.  I highly suggest picking one of these sets up.  Let's check out Halo's Commander Sarah Palmer below!

Decool BootLEGO - Dark Knight Rises CATWOMAN!

Decool Super Heroes - DKR Catwoman Brick Figure - Decool 2014

I've had an interesting change of heart in the past six months or so.  When I started collecting LEGOs a few years ago, I was instantly frustrated by the questions of authenticity when purchasing figures on eBay.  I started my collection with the second round of DC Superheroes in 2011.  I quickly bought up Harley, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy in stores.  Then tried to hunt down the old 2008 releases only to consistently confronted with fake versions.  I hated it.  I vowed never to buy a fake LEGO.  But that was before a few very interesting 3rd Party manufacturers started to produce characters we would likely never see in an official LEGO set.  My first cave-in purchase was the Fantastic Four, quickly followed by Stargirl.  Then about a month ago this little Catwoman started appearing on eBay.  This is the first BootLEGO character that was a definite must-have for me.  I must say that she is of excellent quality and I will now be keeping my eye out for future figures like this.  Let's check out DKR Catwoman!

WWE Elite - Class of 2013 - TRISH STRATUS!

WWE Elite - Hall of Fame - Class of 2013 - Target Exc Trish Stratus - Mattel 2014

2014 was a quite a year for re-released characters in Mattel's WWE line.  Of the handful of female wrestling figures we get in an average year, this year had repeat figures of Vickie Guerrero, Natalya, Amy Lee, Alicia Fox, and now Trish Stratus.  I usually avoid these because they are typically simple redecos of the original figures.  But this year most of these figures were different enough to convince me to take the plunge.  This Trish Stratus figure has the same head as her 2013 figure, but the change in hair color and more streamlined outfit made her look like an improved figure to me.  Still, I'd much prefer some brand new figures in 2015 (in addition to the Paige and Emma figures we're already slated to get).  Trish is now retired after 7 years in the WWE during which time she was named Babe of the Year three times, WWE Hardcore Champion and Diva of the Decade.  She also won seven WWE Women's Championships, the most in WWE history.  Let's check out Trish (version 2) below!

The Walking Dead - CLEMENTINE!

The Walking Dead (Video Game) - Skybound Exc - McFarlane Toys 2014

The Walking Dead is a pretty amazing property.  A few years ago you never could have convinced me that I would be obsessed with a zombie television series.  I don't like gore or horror and honestly I don't watch much TV.  Then I bought the Michonne comic-styled action figure and that convinced me to start watching the show.  Now a few years later I find myself inexplicably drawn to the show every season.  I never even considered additional characters in the video game franchise until I saw this Clementine figure solicited.  Clementine is the 11 year old protagonist of the Season Two game.  She is in the Season One game as well, but not as a playable character.  She's known as a smart and capable character peppered with the understandable naivety of an 11 year old.  The toy is cool.  She's so much smaller than any other figure in the line, but she looks like she has the gritty determination to hold her own alongside the other figures.  Let's check her out below!

Power Rangers Dino Charge PINK RANGER!

Power Rangers: Dino Charge - Basic Figures Series 1 - Pink Ranger - Bandai 2014

Power Rangers: Dino Charge is the latest iteration of the long-running American Power Rangers series.  This is based off the 37th Sentai series Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger.  As far as I can tell, this is the third Ranger series with a dinosaur theme (after 1993's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and 2004's Dino Thunder).  What I really like about this current series, though, is that there is representation of some very cool dinosaurs outside of the obvious bunch. The Black Ranger is a Parasaurolophus, the Purple Ranger is a Plesiosaur, and the Gray Ranger is a Pachycephalosaurus.  Fellow dino-nerds will really appreciate the selection.  The other great thing about this series is the prolific number of rangers.  There are 6 main Rangers, 5 additional "independant" Rangers, 1 evil Ranger, and a team of 6 Future Rangers.  The females are the Violet Ranger from the independent group and the Cyan Ranger from the future team.  I hope we get figures of them all.  But for now, let's check out Pink Ranger below!

DC Collectibles Greg Capullo BATGIRL!

DC Comics Designer Series: Greg Capullo - #12 Batgirl - DC Collectibles 2014

I was just having a conversation the other day about how Batgirl figures seem to arrive in bursts. The last great example was back in 2008 when we got Showcase, Alex Ross, and All-Star Batgirls between June and September. We are currently in the middle of another such wave.  Beginning with the New 52 Batgirl at the end of Sept, followed by this Capullo figure in December, and culminating in the animated figure in February.  I'm also expecting to see a burnside Batgirl in the next year.  Figures of her, Batwoman, and Black Orchid are my biggest DC hopes for Toy Fair next month. As I mentioned back in the Capullo Catwoman review, I have no real connection to Capullo's art, but that doesn't stop me from totally digging these figures! I think they're fantastic. Artist-stylized figures like these are what separates DC Collectibles from the other action figure brands. Unless there was a blockbuster movie backing her, there's no way any other company would release so many Batgirls.  Let's check her out!

Happy New Year!! - YEAR-END REVIEW!

This Year's Most Amazing Ladies - Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai, etc 2014

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you had a great (and safe) time celebrating.  I had these grand plans to take a gigantic photo of all the great action figures we've received this year.  I would have probably had to do this in my living room or maybe on the stairs just because of sheer space requirements; there were a lot of ladies this year! Unfortunately I got a cold and therefore was very sluggish wrapping up my end-of-the-year work duties and just ran out of time.  Instead I'm compiling a post full of photos and links highlighting one of the most prolific years for female action figure collectors yet.  Seriously, I'm highlighting 94 figures here - and that's by no means a complete list.  I hope to make this an annual tradition.  If nothing else than to remind me of the ridiculous amount of money I spend on toys in any given year.  I really need to start soliciting for free samples!  Anyway, onward to the first annual She's Fantastic year-end review!